by Mary Alford
She still clutched his hand. “Good.” She wasn’t sure how much farther she could go. As they trekked up the ridge, gusts of wind barraged them with icy pellets.
The weather was closing in on blizzard conditions. The path ahead was obscured by driving snow. Her eyes watered so much that it all but blinded her. They’d been exposed to the elements for a long time. They had to be getting dangerously close to hypothermic.
“Do you see anything?” she asked Aaron when she stopped to catch her breath.
“Not yet, but we’re almost right on top of the ridge.” He leaned forward and strained to see ahead.
Liz didn’t want to think about what might happen if they couldn’t find the cabin. They’d be dead in a couple of hours. As it was, they needed to get out of the weather as quickly as possible.
Everything around them had gotten blanketed in white including the air. Several times, Aaron had been on top of an area that had sloughed away. The rocks crumbling. One false move, and they’d plunge to their deaths.
Liz tried to squash the panic rising inside her. After they’d gone a little farther, the path dipped downward into a valley and then rose.
They kept battling the roaring wind heading in the direction they’d seen the cabin. Liz squinted through the driving snow. She saw something. “Over there.” She pointed in the direction and Aaron squinted to see.
“That’s it.” She’d never heard him sound so relieved. “Thank You, God.”
She smiled and offered her own prayer of gratefulness. Before they headed for the wooded area behind the cabin, Davis caught up with them.
He pointed to a high area that would offer a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of the surrounding area under normal conditions. “I’m going to have a look. Make sure no one else is coming. I have some gear stowed not far from here. Some extra weapons and food and another sat phone. We may need them. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
Liz didn’t believe his excuse for a moment. In this storm, it would be nearly impossible to see anything. Aaron was right. Davis was hiding something from them. She prayed whatever it was wouldn’t end up costing them their lives.
THIRTEEN
Aaron waited until Davis had disappeared from sight before saying, “He’s definitely up to something. There’s no way he can see anything in this storm.”
She nodded in agreement. “But is he working for the men hunting us, or acting alone?”
“Whichever it is, I don’t like it.” He glanced down at the cabin below them. “We don’t know if they’ve been here already...” He stopped and looked her in the eyes. “Or if there’s anyone inside. We have to be careful.”
Aaron focused the binoculars on the area surrounding the cabin.
“I don’t see any sign that someone’s been there.”
Next to him, Liz did the same. “Yes, but still, the sooner we find the information Michael left and get out of here, the better.”
He couldn’t agree more. “How’s your wrist holding up? That was a tough go back there.”
She managed a smile for his sake. “It hurts, but the brace makes it tolerable. I’ll be okay, Aaron. Don’t worry about me.”
She was putting on a brave front, but still he knew she couldn’t take much more physically or emotionally.
Aaron pointed to the back side of the cabin where it joined the woods. “We should be able to go in undetected if someone is watching the place...unless they’re inside.” It was a harrowing thought. They had to get in and out of the cabin as quickly as possible.
Up at the higher altitude, the snow was piled up high. Just walking a short distance was a workout. Especially for someone injured and already running on empty. They were forced to take periodic breaks that slowed their time tremendously.
When they finally reached the edge of the woods, Liz was barely hanging on.
“Wait here. Let me check the place. You’re exhausted.” He was seriously worried about her health. If something jumped up while they were at the cabin, he doubted her ability to defend herself.
That she rejected the suggestion was no surprise. “No, I’ll be okay. I can handle myself.” While he didn’t believe it, he understood her stubbornness. Her future depended on finding the evidence left by Michael. She was banking her life on it.
“Take a moment to rest and catch your breath. I’m going to do some recon.” She barely managed a nod.
Aaron moved a little closer to the edge of the woods, his heart drumming a crazy beat.
“Lord, please...we need Your help. Give her the strength she needs to make it through this. Give us the answers we need. Keep us alive,” he whispered the prayer and then zeroed in on the cabin with the binoculars.
The cabin’s blinds were all drawn. Aaron couldn’t see anything beyond the front and sides of the place. There were a couple of chairs set up on the front porch. Something about them drew his attention. It was almost as if someone had deliberately turned the chairs over. Had it been Michael? Was it some type of signal? He had a sinking feeling, but he couldn’t share it with Liz. He needed her to remain positive.
He headed back to her once more.
“How does it look?” She asked the question he was expecting while watching him closely.
“It doesn’t appear that anyone’s been there recently. I don’t see any tracks out front or leading to the woods behind the place. But then again, the snow would have covered them as well. The blinds are drawn so I couldn’t see inside.” He looked at her. “Be prepared.”
He knew she understood. They could be facing an ambush.
Aaron took the lead as he made his way back to the lookout spot and turned to survey her appearance.
“Are you ready for this?” he asked and prayed that she was up to the task at hand.
“Yes, I’m ready.” She touched his arm when he appeared uncertain. “Aaron, I’ve got this.”
He brushed hair from her face. She was so beautiful and...he loved her. The way he reacted to her nearness. The fierce desire in him to protect her only confirmed the truth that had been there for a while. He loved her. He wanted a chance for them. For a future. But first they had to survive this and he was so afraid of losing her.
“Aaron?” She said his name tentatively and he realized she was watching him. Seeing him go through the emotions of realizing he loved her.
“I’m okay,” he assured her and then slowly stepped out into the open and immediately felt a sense of exposure. Drawing in a deep breath, he slowly advanced to the back of the cabin all the while praying for their safety.
Once he reached the structure, he stepped up on the back deck. Liz handed him the key and as quietly as possible he unlocked the door.
He turned back to her and mouthed, “On my count.”
She drew her weapon and waited until he’d counted off and then slowly he eased the door open.
Darkness greeted them. There was no electricity. He took out his flashlight and looked around. There were a several lanterns on the kitchen table along with matches. He just hoped they’d light because he’d need to conserve the flashlight’s battery. It took three tries before he was able to get one of the lanterns to burn. He quickly lit the others. And then they got their first good look inside.
Right away, Aaron’s heart sank. The place looked as if it had been ransacked. Someone had turned over furniture and tossed contents haphazardly around, searching for something.
Liz covered her mouth with her hand. “We’re too late,” she said in a broken tone. “Aaron, we’re too late.”
* * *
He hurried to her side. “We don’t know that. I seriously doubt that Michael left the box someplace easy to find. Let’s make sure the place is clear and then we’ll take a closer look around.”
Liz slowly nodded, but as much as she wan
ted to believe him, she didn’t. She took out the note Michael had left her and reread it. There was no indication as to where he’d hidden the box and she couldn’t have felt more frustrated.
With lanterns in hand, they cleared the cabin of perps before taking a more detailed look at its contents. The cabin consisted of a bedroom, a bath, kitchen and tiny living space. Not much area to hide something as important as a box full of evidence.
Aaron walked around the cabin as if looking for some hidden compartment where the files might be.
“Some of these old cabins have attics. Maybe we’ll find something there.”
“I’ll search in the bedroom.” She hurried to the room and left Aaron to look around the living area.
From the light of the lantern, she saw a small bed had been shoved in the corner of the room. A lumpy mattress and a threadbare bedspread the only things on the bed frame. Liz glanced around. There was nothing else in the room. No nightstand, no closet. Frustrated, Liz held the lantern up high and glanced up at the ceiling. Something was off. Was that board slightly out of place?
“In here, Aaron,” she called out and he followed the sound of her voice.
She pointed to the ceiling. “Maybe this is where he hid it?”
“Amazing,” he said and then he went over and moved the bed under the loose board in the ceiling. Aaron had to stand on the edge of the bed frame so that he could reach the board. “It’s definitely loose. Actually several of them are.” He shoved them aside to reveal an opening.
“There’s no way we can climb up there,” Liz said. We need something that will get us up higher.”
Aaron hopped down. “Hang on, there’s a chair in the living room that might work.” He left and came back with a wooden chair and shoved the bed out of the way. “Let me go first and then I’ll lift you up.” It was a struggle for him to gain access to the opening.
He leaned out and held his hand to her. “Take my hand. I’ll haul you up.”
She grabbed hold of his with her good one and he clasped his other hand around her arm and he pulled with all his strength. Liz shot through the opening, landed on top of him, and they both tumbled backward.
“That was some landing,” he told her with a strained chuckle that echoed through the attic.
Aaron got to his feet and she did the same. Liz brushed off her clothes. Dust covered everything in sight. It was pitch-black inside.
Aaron took his flashlight out of his pocket and shone it around. The room was empty. “There’s nothing here,” she said with disappointment in every syllable.
“Hold on. Maybe there’s more to the place than what we can see.”
She looked around while trying to keep a positive attitude.
The room appeared to run the length of the cabin. It was a good ten degrees warmer than the rooms below.
Liz desperately searched the walls for any makeshift opening where Michael might have hidden the box.
Aaron went to the opposite side of the room.
“Over here,” he said and she went over to where he stood. There in the dust was an impression of where something had been stored. It certainly could have been a box of some type. But whatever had been there was gone now.
“Let’s get out of here,” Liz said despondently. She couldn’t believe they’d come all this way for nothing. She felt as if her last chance at freedom had just slipped away. They’d been counting on the evidence being the one thing that could save her and now it was gone.
Aaron came over to her. “Hey, we’ll figure this out. We’re not anywhere close to being done yet.”
It was a struggle to pull it together, but he was being strong for her. She owed him the same.
She managed a smile and slowly nodded.
“Come on, let’s go back down and see if we can piece together the facts that we know so far,” she said.
Using his arms to support himself, Aaron eased through the hole and then leaped to the floor.
“You’ll have to jump. I’ll catch you,” he told her. She couldn’t put weight on her injured wrist so there was no other option. She jumped for Aaron and he caught her in his arms and eased her down to the floor.
Aaron glanced around at the dust covering the place. “Look at the footsteps.” He pointed to something they’d both missed earlier in their hurry to locate the evidence.
Their gazes tangled. “There’s only a single set of footprints other than ours.”
Aaron stared at the imprints. “Someone’s been here recently. If it was the men chasing us there’d be more imprints. The only other person in the area that we know of is Davis...”
Liz couldn’t make sense of it. “Why would he take the evidence?”
Aaron shook his head. “Maybe he stumbled on the cabin and searched it. Found the box and thought the contents might be worth something.”
“I guess it’s possible.” But she was doubtful. Liz glanced around the place and noticed something else they’d missed in their initial search.
There were photos hanging on the walls. She took the lantern over to one of them. It was a photo of a childhood Michael...with Sam.
“Aaron...” She turned to him in shock, not believing what was right before her. Was it possible that Michael had known Sam since he was a child?
He stared up at the photo. “Unbelievable.”
She met his gaze. The implication clear. “You were right. They did have a connection.”
There was another photo of Michael next to it, obviously taken during his time as a marine, his arm draped around another man in uniform.
She went over to the photo. “Who’s that next to Michael?”
“I don’t know.” Aaron appeared still in shock. “I still can’t believe Michael had known Sam since they were kids.”
Something occurred to her. “Aaron, there’s enough proof to tie Michael to Sam right here on these walls. Maybe we don’t need the rest of the evidence.”
FOURTEEN
Aaron glanced past Liz to the photos that were displayed. “The only problem is, all the photos prove is that Michael knew Sam. It doesn’t exonerate you. You could still have been part of the plan.”
Her face fell. “That’s right. I don’t know what to do.” Her hand swept the photos. “This can’t be all there is. Michael was very clear in his note and it appears there was something hidden in the attic.”
Aaron recalled Michael’s irrational behavior. Maybe there was nothing in the box. Had Michael lied to Liz to get her up here for a reason? If so, then for what end? So many questions raced through his head.
They were missing something. “When did Michael write the note?” Aaron asked.
She thought about it for a second. “I don’t know. I’m guessing while he was in the hospital. You can tell from his handwriting that he wrote it in a hurry.”
“If Michael were involved in the weapons disappearing, and I think we can agree it’s likely, then was it by Sam’s orders or was Michael acting on his own?” He recalled what Liz had said about the time Sam held them hostage. Michael had been taken away for almost the entire day.
Aaron could see that she hated thinking of Michael’s betrayal. “The only way Michael would do such a thing is if he had no other option. Aaron, I think he may have been blackmailed.”
He’d thought the same thing. “That would explain why Sam was so furious with Michael. He was trying to do the right thing. He just died before he could square things.”
Aaron blew out a sigh. “But where did he hide the shipment? Obviously they’re not here and I don’t see how one person could move them.”
Liz stared out into the darkness as a heavy fog completely engulfed the cabin. “Looks like we’re stuck here for a while.”
“I’m going to try to reach Jase again. Let him know our new loc
ation. Maybe he has some good news.” Aaron realized he still had the sat phone that Davis had given him. In all the chaos, he must have forgotten to ask for it back. He took it out but couldn’t get a signal. “The weather must be messing with the satellite signal. Maybe if we can get up a little higher, the phone will pick up service.”
“It’s worth a try.” She glanced at her watch. “Where’s Davis anyway? Shouldn’t he be getting back soon?”
He studied her worried face. “Why don’t you stay here? I’ll go and see if I can reach Jase and then confirm our coordinates.” Before she could answer, a photo on the kitchen wall caught his attention and he took one of the lanterns over for a closer look. “Is this who I think it is?”
Liz stood next to him. “That’s Davis. He knew Michael from the past just like Sam. Do you think he helped Michael hide the weapons?”
There was one more photo hanging nearby, one that turned out to be the most frightening of all. Aaron couldn’t believe his eyes. Was he seeing things? “That’s... Alhasan.”
Liz followed his line of sight. “Sam’s second-in-command with Michael. Who’s the man next to him?”
Aaron took the photo off the wall. “I don’t know. They look an awful lot alike, though.”
He felt as if they had more questions than answers.
“I have an idea,” she told him and he gathered his straying thoughts.
“What is it?”
“If we can get up high enough to get cell service, we can take pictures of the people in these photos. Jessie knew Michael and she’s lived here for a while. Maybe she can help us identify them and tell us how Michael knew them.”
With the weather getting worse by the minute, he wasn’t holding out much hope on the phone working, but they had to try. He took Liz’s cell phone, snapped the photos in question and headed for the door when she stopped him.
“I’m coming with you.”
The sincerity written on her face melted his heart. It reminded him again that she was nothing like Beth. Liz’s character ran deep and he was so afraid he’d lose her.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. You’re hurt and exhausted. Climbing that ridge is going to be a challenge in this weather.”
