Alaskan Mountain Pursuit

by Elizabeth Goddard

  “Sylvie, what are you doing? Let’s take the letter with us. We can read it once we’re somewhere safe.”

  “Somewhere safe? Where would that be?” She hated the defensiveness in her voice. “I can’t wait one second longer. This could be the key to everything.”

  “Or the key to nothing. A ploy to keep you here.”

  She unfolded the letter to see that it had been neatly printed out instead of in her mother’s flowing handwriting. “We’re safe at the moment with Ashley here, at least until the bodyguard arrives. Diverman won’t act with witnesses.”

  “Really? Remember what happened on the ferry?” Will paced the room.

  “Nothing can happen here, at my stepfather’s house, that would bring him into question.” At least that’s what she was counting on at the moment.

  Rotor blades resounded outside, the helicopter returning to the mansion after dropping her father at the airport. She tried to push the distractions away so she could focus on her mother’s letter to her. Will thrust his hand through his hair and blew out a breath. His pacing would drive her nuts, but Sylvie focused on the letter.

  Sylvie,

  I’ve tried so many times to share this with you, but I didn’t know how. Despite my troubles with Damon, he’s been a good father to you. I haven’t wanted to destroy that relationship. But now I fear for my life and I must warn you, as well. I’ve written this out to mail to you instead of sending an email that could be too easily discovered, recovered on the hard drive. I’ve found incriminating evidence against my husband, Damon, your stepfather, on an international scale.

  I have the information saved on a thumb drive and have kept it with me. It is worth millions of dollars, far more than my life to some. I don’t know who I can trust, who to turn to with the information. I cannot trust the police here—Damon has too much influence for me to believe they’d seriously investigate him. I’m being followed and I need to get somewhere safe. I have a friend from Mountain Cove whom I’ve stayed in touch with all these years. The same friend who helped me to leave over twenty years ago—a bush pilot, Margaret Pierson. I’ve resented the people of Mountain Cove for too long. Have hated the place and at the same time I’ve longed to return. From there I’ll contact the authorities. I know I’ll be safe in Mountain Cove. No one would ever guess I would return there.

  And once I’m done with this—once we’re through with this—I could rebuild my life on my father’s property. But in the meantime, I wanted to warn you to keep safe. Warn you in case the worst happened to me so that you would know.

  Love,

  Mom

  Sylvie pressed the letter to her heart, tears burning her eyes as fear swirled through her mind. She didn’t know when or how, but she found herself in Will’s arms. He held her and she could have stayed in his arms forever...but she couldn’t let herself be that weak. Sylvie never wanted to be so fragile. Still, she couldn’t find the strength to step from the comfort he offered at every turn.

  Someone knocked.

  “Sylvie?” Ashley’s muffled voice came through the door.

  Sylvie shrugged away from Will and crossed the room. She opened the door and let Ashley back in. “You have to get out of here, Ashley. It’s not safe. Someone tried to kill me and he’s here in the house. He was in the basement. We have to warn Marguerite, too.”

  Ashley’s eyes widened. “How’s that possible? There are security measures in place here. The bodyguard was just an added layer of protection.”

  “Because it’s Damon who hired him.” Sylvie struggled to say the words. “He’s part of it.”

  “You can’t mean that, Sylvie.” Ashley appeared stricken. “I can’t believe it.”

  “My mother says as much in her letter. And you said she was scared. Who else would she have to fear?”

  Hands trembling, Ashley held her cell at her ear. “I’ll get Jeffers up here. He’s in charge of security at the house. And we’ll call the police. But your stepfather has a bodyguard on the way for you. Oh.” She shook her head as realization struck. “Why would you trust a bodyguard if you think your stepfather is trying to kill you? For that matter, can we trust Jeffers?”

  Ashley spoke to someone on the cell, explaining there was an intruder in the house. Then she turned her attention back to them. “I know how much he loves you, and I don’t believe it’s true that he’d try to hurt you. There must be some mistake. Someone else must be behind these attacks. But Sylvie, get out of the house now and call the police. I’ll wait for Jeffers and we’ll look at the security cameras.” Ashley shooed at them. “Go on...”

  “But you’re not safe, either, if you stay here and work for a murderer.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ve taken a position with another company. This is my last week to work for Damon, if that will ease your mind.”

  Will stepped close to Sylvie. “We’re leaving now.”

  “Go, Sylvie. Get out of here.” Ashley opened the door for them, urging them to hurry. “I’m calling the police, too.”

  “In her letter, my mother said she couldn’t trust the police here, so neither should you.”

  Sylvie should let her read the letter, but she held it close.

  Ashley pursed her lips. She took Sylvie’s hand. “Go and be safe. I’ll do what I can from here. I know you resent him for the struggle he and your mother had, but Damon is a good man. Trust your heart. He loves you. He wouldn’t try to kill you.”

  An emotion flashed behind Ashley’s eyes. What was it? Love? Hate? Was Ashley in love with Damon Masters? Was she his most recent lover? Sylvie didn’t have time to ask her, or to consider it further when Will pulled her through the door.

  SIXTEEN

  Pulse pounding, Will led her down the hallway, watching every corner, every angle, knowing that the man after her could jump out and kill her at any moment. They bounded down the steps, and after a cautious peek through the front door into the waning light of day, Will ushered Sylvie through.

  “We should have waited for Jeffers to see us out, Will.” Sylvie rushed with him down the steps and to the circular drive.

  Except...

  “Where’s the car?” Hands on his hips, Will glanced around, searching the property. “Where’s the Camaro?”

  Dread twisted his insides. How would he get her out of here?

  “Who would have moved it?” Sylvie asked.

  “I think we both know the answer to that. Diverman, of course. And he left us without an escape. Now we’re trapped, unless we want to hike out on foot.”

  “Just relax. We can use one of Damon’s cars. Let’s head to the garage.”

  Of course. Why hadn’t Will thought of that? Damon Masters would have more than a helicopter for his transportation. Will kept the sarcasm to himself. And where was that Camaro? In the garage?

  There was no telling what—or who—else they’d find in the garage. Will fingered the knife, pulled it from his pocket. It wasn’t much, but it was something.

  Sylvie led him around to the side of the house with its innumerable overhangs, and wait...a waterfall? Really? Water trickled over stones, pouring from a peaceful pond, and the brook journeyed to meet the river, he assumed.

  Will wasn’t sure this was the answer. “Where’s the garage, Sylvie? Maybe we should hike out, after all. Get to the nearest town and get help.”

  What he wouldn’t give to have a small plane sitting on an airstrip right over there to the left of that helipad.

  The helicopter!

  A man—Diverman—stepped from behind a dark corner and grabbed Sylvie. She screamed. Will started to lunge but the man instantly pressed his gun at her temple. “You’ve caused me more trouble than this ever should have been.”

  “Let her go.” Adrenaline pumped through Will, blurring his vision with rage.

  Diverman laughed. “I don’t think so. You’re not slipping o
ut of my hands this time.”

  “Who...who hired you?” Sylvie tried to sound strong and unafraid, but her words crackled with fear. “Damon?”

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

  “You’re not going to kill me. You can’t kill me here.”

  “You’re wrong about that. I can kill you here. Right here and now and nobody would ever find you. Same as they haven’t found your mother. I’ll make sure you join her since I have to go back there anyway, to search for that thumb drive. All because you couldn’t just let her rest in peace.”

  Will couldn’t lunge at Diverman or he would make good on his word. By the look in his eyes as they took Will in, the man was ready to kill, and he would start with Will. Get him out of the way. While he shot Will, that might be Sylvie’s chance to escape, but Will needed to harm him, to maim him so she’d have a fighting chance of getting away.

  He’d dropped the brick long ago, but he couldn’t have thrown it and made a difference. But the knife...the knife was made for moments like these.

  In an instant, the man turned the weapon on Will, who flicked the knife in a straight throw, piercing Diverman’s gun hand. Screams erupted from both Sylvie and Diverman, as pain burned Will’s shoulder. The man grappled for his weapon with his other hand, and Sylvie rushed to Will. He wasn’t in a position to fight Diverman, who still had a gun, but at least his aim would be off, his left hand obviously unwieldy at best.

  “Come on!” Will grabbed Sylvie and they sprinted away from the house and garage and across the lawn.

  “Are you okay, Will? He shot you!”

  “No time to worry about that now. Just a scratch.”

  “But the garage is back that way.”

  “Right, and so is Diverman. I have a better idea.” Breathing hard now, he dragged her to the helipad.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  Will wouldn’t stop running until he made it to the helicopter. But Sylvie dug in her feet, and that brought Will to a halt. He turned. “What are you doing? We have to get out of here.”

  “We can’t steal the helicopter. What if he needs it?”

  Had she lost her mind? “We’re not stealing it, we’re borrowing it. It belongs to your stepfather, remember? We were already planning to take one of his cars—this isn’t that much worse. Desperate times call for desperate measures.”

  “What about the pilot? We could ask him to fly us out?” Her shoulders drooped. “You’re right. He could be involved.”

  “Diverman is coming, Sylvie. No time.”

  She didn’t trust Will to fly with his injury. That was understandable. Will climbed in but noticed Sylvie hadn’t followed suit. He jumped out and ran around to her side. “What are you waiting for? Let’s get out of here before we miss our chance. You hate to fly. I haven’t forgotten, but we have no choice.” Will rubbed her shoulders. “Come on, Sylvie. You promised me you would fly again. This is the time to do it.”

  She squinted at him. “You sure you can fly this thing?”

  “As good of a bush pilot as I am, I’m even better in a helicopter.” An exaggeration, but desperate times...

  Will spotted a figure in the shadows running toward them from the house. “I think our time is up. Get in.”

  After he made sure Sylvie was in the helicopter, Will ran around and climbed inside. Glanced at the console, taking it in quickly. He didn’t have time to go through a flight checklist. It was now or never, and he’d rather take his chance that the helicopter was already prepped. At least the engine was still warm.

  Once they were in the air, Will glanced down to see the man running after them, clenching his hand beneath his arm, and firing his weapon off—way off. Will could almost smile at that, but he needed to focus on getting them out of range. He didn’t want to risk a random bullet catching them. He and Sylvie had theorized that her death was supposed to look like an accident, especially if it were to happen at her stepfather’s house. So much for theories. Diverman had become desperate to fulfill his deadly contract or else.

  Will had been through this twice now—someone shooting at him while he was airborne. Shooting at Sylvie, rather, and that was two times too many. He was ready to resolve this, but how? Where to go next?

  “Are you okay? He shot you.”

  “The bullet grazed me, that’s all.”

  “I’m sorry that I hesitated. I know that could have cost our lives. It’s just that... I never told you why I hate to fly. You never asked. You probably assumed it was just a phobia, but there’s more to it.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “I attended a private school in Seattle, growing up. Living secluded as we were here, that meant a daily ride in the helicopter to and from school. That drew too much attention to me. Even though most of the students came from wealthy families, I was embarrassed. But then, one day while on the way to pick me up, for reasons unknown, the helicopter crashed and killed the pilot. A man I had come to love and trust. Not to mention I, too, could have been on the helicopter. I guess the whole incident traumatized me. But after that, I had a tutor at the house. She was a Christian. Faith had never really been part of my life before that. Mom started taking me to a tiny church in town just up the road. Then I went off to college and followed my dreams. I haven’t flown since then...except with you that day when you saved my life.”

  Will cleared the thick emotion from his throat. “I’m sorry to hear that happened, Sylvie. Real sorry.” And now, of course, she could add her mother’s death to the list of reasons to be afraid of flying. He had his own morbid story but they had other issues to discuss. Will flew low and radioed the flight tower in Bellingham, hoping to land there. And where was that Camaro? His stomach tightened as he thought about what they’d been through. What they must still face.

  “Tell me about the letter now.”

  Sylvie pulled it from her purse, and using a small map light, read the letter to him, her voice shaking. The letter revealed much and yet remained cryptic. They needed a plan and quick.

  “So what’s next, then, Sylvie? Since your mother didn’t feel safe going to the police, should we follow her intended path and head to Mountain Cove? Nobody would expect us to go there, would they? We could show Chief Winters the letter, or get back in touch with the state troopers.”

  When she didn’t answer, he found her staring out the window. She always liked to think before she spoke. He had learned that much about her. She must be more than confused, as was he, about whether Damon Masters was involved or not, considering Ashley had tried to convince them otherwise. The woman sounded emotionally attached to her boss, though—in a way that might color her opinion. Had Sylvie caught on to that? What was Ashley’s role in this, if any, other than as assistant? Will had a lot of questions, but he needed time to think. To clear his head.

  This was moving too fast.

  “No.”

  “What?”

  “We can’t talk to anyone until we have that thumb drive in hand.” She shifted in her seat, turning to look at him. “Don’t you see? Nothing can be proved, even if we go to the police, without the solid evidence on that drive. That’s why they wanted to kill me, so that I wouldn’t find it. They knew I was getting too close. If they’d succeeded, who knows if anyone would have found me for months or even years, if ever?”

  Just like their mothers in the downed plane. Will frowned, watching the airport lights grow near. “If they wanted the thumb drive they would have made the dive and searched for it already.”

  “No. They haven’t found the plane. Only knew that I was diving in the general vicinity where they expected it would have gone down. I haven’t found it yet, either, but I spotted something suspicious—something that looked like it could have been part of the plane, just before Diverman attacked. Think about it, Will. Diverman is the same one we’ve seen everywhere, trying to kill me. He and Rifleman
. He hasn’t been diving after the thumb drive or else he wouldn’t have had time to follow us. And it’s doubtful he, or whoever is calling the shots, wants to bring in yet another person just to dive for that plane. The fewer who know about the thumb drive and information worth millions, the better. Diverman’s only mission, at the time, was to kill me there. Make it look like an accident, but he failed. He told us he doesn’t have the drive yet—that means we still have a chance to get there first. We have to go back. We know what we’re looking for this time, and it’s about much more than finding my mother.”

  Will thought he heard tears wrapped around desperation in her voice.

  “We have to get justice for them, Will. And we might just be running out of time to do that. We have to go back and get the thumb drive before someone beats us to it. I have a feeling Diverman knows that, too. We have to beat him there. We have to find that plane so we can end this once and for all. Our lives are on the line here. I’m not going to trust anyone else with them.”

  Will didn’t respond while he landed the helicopter. He grabbed the first aid kit. They jumped out and he grabbed her hand and they ran. Seemed like they were always running. Sylvie was always behind him. What would life feel like once it returned to normal and he and Sylvie were no longer running for their lives?

  He led her into the airport terminal. Will took care of his wound in the restroom. Fortunately, it wasn’t more than a graze, just as he thought. That could have been so much worse. He’d never discount what his knife-throwing skills could accomplish. Finished with dressing the wound, Will hurried out and found Sylvie waiting for him, then pulled her into a secluded corner. She stared up at him in surprise, her mouth half open as if she wanted to say something, then she shut it.

  Now. Will was ready to respond to her pronouncement. “Let me get this straight. You want to go back to where this all started. Where a diver tried to kill you. And look for the plane?”

  She shook her head. “You heard me right.”

  “You’re asking me to dive?” Didn’t she remember the part where he told her he hadn’t been diving since the diving accident that killed his father?