Into the Darkness

by Margaret Daley

  Slader took the stick Kate had dropped and began to make his own circles, staring at the ground by his feet.

  “I have the feeling your life isn’t what you’ve wanted for some time, so obviously getting angry at God hasn’t solved anything for you. Maybe you should try talking to Him again.”

  “You mean praying?”

  His question held no anger, only soft inquiry. “Well, yes and no. I pray, but I also have conversations with Him. There are no secrets between us.”

  “What time is?” Zach asked behind Kate, his voice laced with sleep.

  She checked her waterproof watch, a constant reminder of the civilization they were returning to. “It’s about an hour before dawn.”

  “Why are you all up then?”

  Kate turned at the same time as Slader, and they both replied, “Can’t sleep.”

  Zach stretched, then rose and stretched some more. “I guess I’ll join you. What were you two talking about?”

  Before Kate could tell her brother, Slader asked, “Have you given any more thought to who might want you dead?”

  Zach settled across from Kate and Slader. “I don’t know.”

  “Tell me about your business partners. We have an hour to kill.”

  “I have three of them, but it can’t be one of them. It must be a rival drug company, but even that is hard to believe.” Shaking his head, Zach laced his hands together and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs.

  Kate knew how hard this was for her brother. They had grown up in a small town, sheltered from the harsh realities of the world, and even though he now lived in Dallas—a two-hour drive from Red Creek—murder and attempted murder weren’t something he was used to.

  “We’re each in charge of a different facet of the company. Anthony Hansom is the president and oversees the global picture. Mark Nelson runs the sales division. Chad Thomas runs the accounting department. I’m research and development. I went to college with all three. Anthony is a deacon at my church in Dallas. Mark and I were childhood friends, and Chad and I were roommates for four years in college. I have known these men well for a long time. So, no, I don’t have any idea who would want me dead nor why.”

  “If we don’t discover who before you return to Dallas, you’ll have a big bull’s-eye on your chest.”

  Kate shivered and unconsciously slid closer to Slader on the log. “What do you suggest we do?”

  “Before you two leave Mandras, find out who hired Slick.” Slader covered her hand on the log between them.

  “Will you help us?” Kate relished the warmth of his touch. Reassuring. Comforting when her own world at the moment was unfamiliar, threatening.

  “I thought you’d never ask. Yes, I’ll help. This is personal now. They tried to kill me.”

  * * *

  The next day Slader returned from his scouting trip. “Just as we left them. Two of them are still guarding the river below the waterfall.”

  “Where is Slick and his friend?” Kate asked, inspecting the green undergrowth around her as though any second Slick and his pal would emerge.

  “Good question. Probably waiting upstream.”

  “If we get past these men, we are home free?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Meaning?” Kate’s anxiety skyrocketed.

  “Slick may be downstream waiting. One thing is for sure. He hasn’t given up.”

  “Why not?” Kate asked. Living on the edge the past few weeks had taken its toll on her. Stress knotted her muscles and caused her stomach to churn.

  “He’s like an anaconda. He doesn’t let go once he has you in his grip, and he thinks he’s got us in his grip.”

  “What do we do?” Zach’s grasp on his machete tightened as though he were preparing for a fight.

  The image of her brother going into battle unnerved Kate. She wanted her old, safe life back, but there was a part of her that realized her old life came without Slader, and she desperately wanted to hold on to this time with him. The simple truth was she loved him. After thirty-eight years, she had allowed herself to fall in love with someone who wasn’t a possible mate.

  “I know these two. They aren’t particularly smart. We’ll take care of them tonight, which—” Slader glanced toward the sky that was obscured by the canopy of trees above him “—will be upon us soon.”

  “How?” Kate asked, feeling as though she were trapped like the prey of that anaconda. She needed to stay focused on the conversation, not on the fact she loved a man who still mourned his dead wife.

  Tired lines deep in his features, Slader rubbed his hands down his face. “I don’t know yet. Got any suggestions?”

  Slader’s presence next to her calmed her fragile nerves and gave her the courage to propose her plan to capture the two men. “As a matter of fact, I do.”

  Slader’s eyes grew wide while Zach’s quiet laughter spiced the air. “My sister always has an opinion.”

  “Don’t I know it.”

  For a few seconds, Kate forgot about the men after them, forgot about her brother only a couple of feet away, and riveted her attention on Slader as though he were the only other person alive. The frail bond between her and Slader should have surprised her, but his vulnerability was much like hers. She had seen his interest in why she believed so fervently. Perhaps there had been two reasons for her trip to the Amazon—to save Zach and to save Slader.

  Slader’s expression of exasperation made her smile as he waited for her to reveal her plan. “Maybe I could lure them—”

  “Absolutely not,” Slader cut in, his weary expression evolving into an angry one. “I’m not letting you put yourself in danger.”

  Kate stood directly in front of Slader, waving one arm around to indicate the jungle that hemmed them in on all four sides. “You don’t think I’m in danger right this moment? The second I took up this adventure, I was in danger and until we can solve the mystery of who is trying to kill us and put that person behind bars, I’ll continue to be in danger. So,” she inhaled a deep breath, “I can go into their camp as though I am lost, and no one is left of the expedition. For that matter, we don’t even know if these two men know what I look like. They may think I’m someone else. This could throw them off enough to let you two overtake them.”

  Slader’s eyes became pinpoints as he glared down at her, his arms stiff at his sides. “It has possibilities, but I would like to change things up a bit. Here’s what I think.”

  * * *

  Thirty minutes later after all the kinks were worked out of the plan, Slader motioned Kate and Zach through the jungle toward the two pursuers’ campsite. On the outskirts of their camp Slader positioned himself to watch and wait with Kate on one side of him and Zach on the other.

  Dark blanketed the jungle except for the blaze of the fire the two men kept feeding with wood. They glanced around every few minutes and stayed near the blaze as though they knew they were being watched and it offered some protection. The bigger of the two men had his automatic rifle slung over his shoulder while the other’s lay propped up against the log he sat on.

  God, it’s been five long years since I’ve asked You for anything, but please protect Kate. This crazy plan just might work, but if she’s right, we need You on our side. She believes in You and trusts that You’ll get us through this alive. I—the world can’t lose her.

  Slader’s first prayer in years muttered silently in his mind had come surprisingly easy for him. And even stranger was the fact it felt right to him.

  The bigger man rose and stretched, saying in Spanish to the other one that he needed to take care of business. Now that it was dark and unlikely that people would be traveling on the river, Slader was sure both men felt there wasn’t anything to threaten them but the dangerous animals of the night.

  “This is our cue. Ready,” Slader muttered, looking at Kate.

  Her shirt buttoned all the way to the top, she took a moment to undo two of the buttons and then to bend over, fluffing her hair before tos
sing it back behind her. “How do I look? Helpless?”

  Although Slader saw her strength and self-confidence, for a second doubts plagued him. The plan wouldn’t work. Kate wouldn’t look lost and alone, helpless. Then she ripped one of her sleeves so it hung off her shoulder and smeared more dirt into her clothes and on her face. He nodded, gesturing her to go before he lost his nerve with their plan and pulled her back into the safety of his arms.

  Wetting her lips, Kate slunk into a standing position in the middle of the undergrowth. She took several short puffs of air, then charged forward. She hoped Slader wasn’t feeding her a line about her hair being beautiful down in a curly array of red brown. She had never used the fact she was a woman to lure a man to do anything. She wasn’t sure she knew how, but she was determined to do her part in getting them back to Mandras. The Lord and her resolve gave her courage to keep moving forward.

  “Socorro! Todos están muertos,” she gasped, using the Spanish phrase Zach had taught her after they had finalized the plans. Even though they were still technically in Brazil, they weren’t far from the border, and it was apparent from their earlier conversation these two spoke Spanish.

  The tall, reed-thin man shot to his feet, his dark eyes as round as the full moon of the night before. He stared at her, not making a move toward his gun as she stumbled toward him.

  “Socorro!” She fell at his feet, near the gun. She wasn’t sure she could pick up the weapon, having always abhorred guns of any kind, but she could keep him from getting his hands on it if her body was in the way.

  A scuffing sound coming from the jungle alerted the slender man that something wasn’t right. He turned to peer behind him and reached for the automatic rifle at the same time. Kate bit down hard on the inside of her cheek and flew upward, her fists connecting with his soft stomach before he had a chance to complete his move. Air whooshed out of him as his eyes widened.

  Slader led the bigger man into the camp at gunpoint, his hands laced together behind his head. Slader shouted something at the slim guy Kate dubbed Laurel after Laurel and Hardy fame. With his arms crossed over his midsection, the slender one sidled a few feet toward the fire.

  “Get the gun, Kate.”

  “Do I have to?” Just the thought of touching something so deadly gave her the creeps.

  “Yes.” Slader practically growled the one word at her.

  Kate saw herself as though she were moving in slow motion as she reached for the automatic rifle. Gripping the hard barrel, she heaved it up into her arms and cradled it like a baby.

  “Now bring it over here.” Slader never removed his gaze from either of the two men whom he had herded together on one side of the fire.

  Kate, too, kept her attention trained on both Laurel and Hardy. The more she looked at them, the more she thought her names for them were appropriate. Hardy was big and massive with a round belly that his dirt-stained T-shirt didn’t completely cover, whereas Laurel’s limbs reminded her of bamboo poles sticking out of his shirt and pants. Besides, she found it much easier to think of them as the famous comic team rather than two men trying to hunt them down to kill them.

  Slader relieved her of her rifle, shouldering it behind him, all the while watching Laurel and Hardy. “See if you can find something to tie them up with.”

  Kate noticed their packs on the ground near their hammocks. In one hammock, covered up by the mosquito netting was a satellite phone sticking out partway. She ignored it and dragged the backpacks nearer the fire. She wrinkled her nose at the moldy smell that assaulted her as she rummaged through the first one. Judging by the size of the shirt she pulled out, she guessed it was Hardy’s belongings, and he definitely needed lessons in how to take care of his clothes. Mold on his shirt gagged her throat, threatening to cut off the air to her lungs. She dropped the offending piece of clothing and hesitantly delved deeper into the bag.

  “Dump the contents on the ground.”

  Slader’s simple suggestion had been so obvious, but old habits were hard to break. She had never gone through another person’s possessions, and she couldn’t shake the funny feeling she was intruding on his privacy.

  Turning the backpack over, she shook the contents free. Disappointment hunched her shoulders when she saw nothing that could be used to tie up their captives. She moved to Laurel’s bag. Dumping his belongings on the ground, she spied some rope and let out a squeal of delight. You would think she had found a Gutenberg Bible by her giddy response. She held up the rope.

  “I want you to hold this gun on them while I tie them up.”

  Slader’s request sent panic through her. Hold the gun? On the men? “I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

  “After what I’ve seen you do these past few weeks, you can do this, Kate.”

  The confidence in his deep, husky voice eased her misgivings until he placed the cold, hard metal in her hands. Then she nearly dropped the gun because her palms were so sweaty. Gripping the rifle tighter, she aimed it toward Laurel and Hardy. She prayed they didn’t see her shaking and rush Slader and her.

  With the other rifle strapped across his back, Slader approached Laurel first, cut the rope in half with his machete and quickly had the slim man tied up like a wild boar. He lay on the ground with his hands and feet bound together behind his back. Next came Hardy, who threw punches at him until Slader struck him in the jaw. Hardy’s dazed state gave Slader the opening he needed. Shoving the large man down onto the ground, Slader went about tethering his hands and ankles together, too.

  The whole time Kate held the gun, which shook visibly now. Once Hardy was bound, she quickly relinquished her tight grasp on it and lowered it to her side.

  Slader grabbed it before her loose hold caused it to fall to the ground. “Ready,” he whispered for her ears only.

  She gave him a slight nod.

  He spun about and pointed the gun at the large man, telling him in English, “You know, the more I think about it, the more I think we should kill them. Why keep them alive? It’s a long night, and I don’t want to have to worry about them.” His fierce tone and emphasis on the words kill and alive made the two men blink as fear invaded their expressions.

  Laurel and Hardy might not know English, but they understood the substance of what they were talking about. Sweat glistened on their faces and soaked their shirts.

  “You can’t kill them!” Kate gestured wildly at them. “Please, Slader.”

  Slader took a menacing step toward Laurel. “Why not? They are scum. They wanted us dead.”

  Again, the word dead had a visible effect on both bound men. Hardy tried to scoot away, while Laurel bucked and twisted against his restraints.

  Slader waved the gun and shouted, “Stop.”

  Hardy froze. Laurel grew still.

  “See what I mean? Trouble. Not worth our time.” Slader turned away from Laurel and Hardy to give Kate a quick wink they couldn’t see.

  She almost laughed and spoiled the little drama they had planned for the two men. She pressed her lips together to keep the smile that threatened inside.

  When Slader raised the rifle to aim at the large one on the ground again, Kate stepped in front of him and blocked his shot. “No! You can’t. I won’t let you.”

  Slader glared at her for a long moment, then blew out a rush of air and lowered his weapon. He stalked to the log and sat with the rifle cradled in his lap. As planned, Kate went to comfort him while he continued to watch the two captives. Laurel shook as badly as she had when she held the weapon. Behind Hardy’s glare, fear lurked. Sweat coated his stained shirt and flowed in rivers off his face. Kate hoped neither man would try to escape, which might force Slader to shoot them.

  As she sat next to Slader, she could tell by the strained lines on his face that their little drama had cost him. She remembered he had fought in the Middle East, and she wondered about his time as a soldier. Had this scene brought back memories he had wished to forget?

  “Are you all right?” she asked in a
low voice that the crackling of the fire and the jungle sounds masked.

  “Having this automatic rifle in my hand reminds me that I know how to use it. Have been well trained to use it.”

  “I figured that.”

  He shot her a look of surprise.

  “I think you and I have gotten to know each other well these past few weeks.”

  His gaze swung back to the two captives. “I guess you’re right.”

  “Does that bother you?”

  “I should say yes, but strangely it doesn’t.”

  “I would have thought, by the kind of life you’ve been leading, you would be used to violence.”

  “Not if I can help it. When I go into the jungle, I carry a shotgun for protection and to hunt for food. And the protection isn’t usually from man, but from animals.” He sent a scowl toward the men. “When I was drinking heavily after Renee’s death, I got quite a bad reputation. I suppose that has kept the riffraff from bothering me, which in this case works to our advantage. After that little display, I doubt they will test me.”

  This time Kate averted her face and smiled at Slader’s feigned fierceness. “We have a few hours to kill.”

  “Don’t say that word too loudly. They’ll think you’ve changed your mind.”

  Resting her elbows on her thighs, Kate ducked her head and massaged her neck. “You didn’t tie them up too tight that they can’t get loose, did you?”

  “Why, Kate, you doubt my abilities?”

  “No, but they look like they aren’t going anywhere.”

  “They aren’t for a while. After we take their canoe tomorrow, though, I bet they’re untied in an hour or so.”

  “I hope so. I don’t want to wait forever for Slick to show up. We have a murderer to catch. Hopefully the guy in Mandras who hired Slick will have a name for us.”

  “Maybe.”