Untraceable (13 page)

“We’ll be at the ice field in a few hours.” Zach stepped close to Heidi.

Isaiah couldn’t wait for that moment at the end of this ordeal when he would get some personal face time with Zach. He couldn’t know for sure that he would get that chance, like the good guy did with the bad guy at the end of an action-adventure movie, but he could hope.

“We’re not going to make it, sorry.” Cade pulled on his pack. “At least not today. Not even by tonight.”

“What are you talking about?” Zach ground out the words.

“Like Isaiah says, we’re out of fuel, which means we don’t have water. We’ll get dehydrated. We need supplies.”

“So we eat the snow.”

“No. We have to melt the snow and heat the water or die of hypothermia,” Isaiah said, catching Heidi’s gaze.

She had that fire in her eyes as if she was about to knock Zach’s nose into his brain. With Zach holding the weapon, Isaiah wasn’t so sure now was the time, but any other time, he’d say, sure, go for it.

“What are you saying, exactly?” Jason inserted himself into the conversation, but with obvious caution. “Sounds like you know where we can get supplies.”

Cade nodded. “There’s an off-grid cabin just a few miles out of our way, but in the same general direction. A summer cabin, but maybe it will have items we could use. We should head there and stay tonight. Get what we need, then we can make it to your destination tomorrow, alive and well.”

“It’s a trick,” Rhea said. “Zach, they’re playing us. They’re going to take us into an ambush.”

“Shut up.” Zach tucked his weapon way. “This isn’t the Wild West.”

His reaction confused Isaiah. “It’s no trick,” Isaiah said. “Without basic necessities our chances of surviving decrease exponentially. I don’t think we’ll make it otherwise.”

A severe frown creasing his exhausted features, Zach studied Isaiah as though weighing whether or not to ignore their advice. “You don’t
think
? There’s a small window of time for me to make that rendezvous.”

“You, Zach?” Rhea asked. “What about us? We’re all going to be on that plane out, aren’t we?”

“We, I meant to say we. How many times do I have to tell you to shut up?”

From the look on Rhea’s face, it appeared Zach certainly wasn’t good at keeping his friends. Isaiah wondered why she continued to take it. Unfortunately, they were all stuck following Zach for the moment.

“Zach, we’re not going to meet the plane if we’re dead.” Jason kept his distance from his brother. “Call him up and tell him what’s going on. Put him off a day. I don’t want to die over money. Not even...” Jason caught himself before sharing the amount.

Zach probably thought Cade, Isaiah and Heidi wanted to steal the money and that knowing the amount would make it even more worth their while. Right. The only thing important to the three of them was their lives. Zach could have his money, no matter if it was a million dollars or more.

While Zach, Jason and Rhea argued over risking the rendezvous point and stopping for supplies, Isaiah looked from Cade to Heidi. They each harbored their own brand of conflict with him, it would seem. But despite the tension between them, Isaiah hoped they could put their differences aside and work through this problem, which was quickly heading toward a fatal ending. Still, the future was unwritten. It could be changed.

Heidi gave an imperceptible nod, then Cade.

For years, they’d worked together on a SAR team, so they had that going for them. They knew each other well, and Isaiah knew then, they all shared the same thought—they had to make a move soon. The cabin would have to be it. But what would the move be? What could they do that wouldn’t get one of them killed?

Though Isaiah didn’t want to die anytime soon—he was only human, after all—he definitely wouldn’t stand by and watch Cade or Heidi come to that end. Not while he had breath in him.

He’d racked his brain a thousand times to try to think of what he could have done differently, that is, besides not becoming involved with Leslie. Hindsight did him no good. What could he have done to save her? Too many questions with no answers, questions he couldn’t afford to leave unanswered this time.

Zach was talking. Isaiah hadn’t been listening.

“We’re getting supplies at this cabin, but I don’t think I need to remind you what’s at stake if this is a trick. All you have to do to make it out alive is deliver us to the ice field and to our ride out. Don’t try anything or I’ll have to choose which one of you will live to lead us out. In case you’re not any good at math, that means two of you will die in these mountains.”

* * *

When Heidi spotted the cabin tucked behind a thick copse of evergreens, hope surged, and she picked up her steps. They all did. The trek through the mountains without any real shelter other than the tents had been long and arduous. No surprise there, but she’d always believed she was in top physical condition. Yet this experience challenged her beyond belief—and she was already stretched thin emotionally.

Maybe spiritually.

The snow wasn’t as deep here, and they all hurried toward the cabin.

Isaiah got there first and appeared to jiggle the lock, Heidi wasn’t sure. But he finally kicked the door in. Breaking and entering? But it was survival. Palpable relief poured from each of them as they filed into the dark, rudimentary cabin.

Cade got busy making a fire.

Isaiah found a kerosene lamp and lit it, then shone it around the cabin in search of supplies. Heidi wanted to follow but Zach closed in on Isaiah, maybe afraid Isaiah would come across a weapon of some kind.

While she helped Cade build a fire, she eyed the woodstove in the corner. Could they get that going, too? She could really use a cup of hot tea. Even coffee would do. Would it be possible they could find hot chocolate? She almost laughed at her racing thoughts. She was wishing for too much.

A frown under his brows, Cade was focused on his task.

“How did you know about this place?” she asked.

“Isaiah and I came across it while we were in the helicopter making our avalanche assessment rounds.”

“Is it government property?”

“I don’t know, but I doubt it would be stocked if it was. Likely private. Maybe even shouldn’t be here.”

Interesting. “How did you
know
it would be stocked?”

Cade glanced up at her. “I didn’t. Still don’t, but a fire like this, the warmth of a cabin, of a roof over our heads for even one night is enough, isn’t it?”

She nodded. “It is.”

For the first time since this ordeal began, she started to think maybe they would survive, despite the odds—though Zach remained their greatest threat.

Jason whooped across the small cabin. “Food. It’s like we hit the jackpot.”

“Never thought I’d be excited to see a can of beans.” Rhea pulled cans off the shelves, letting them fall to the floor.

Heidi blew out a breath. “You don’t have to make a mess of things. This place doesn’t belong to us.”

“Hey, you’re the one that broke in.” Jason stumbled around the room.

The fire blazed, drawing everyone closer. Cade stood and faced the enemy. “I’m sure the owner wouldn’t mind us using the cabin if it’s a matter of survival. But we don’t need to take advantage of or abuse his or her property. And I plan to repay them for anything we use, and include an explanation and a thank-you note.”

“Aren’t you thoughtful?” Zach ogled the canned food, uninterested in the debate.

“Can we get the woodstove going, too?” Heidi asked. “Warm up some food. I see a water pump, so we might not need to heat snow for water.”

“Already on it.” Isaiah stepped out from the bedroom and started to work on the woodstove, a smile on his lips.

Heidi worked the pump, hoping she’d get water.

“Listen up.” Zach raised his voice. “We are not here to get cozy and comfortable. We are here for those supplies, then we move on.”

Rhea moaned. “I thought we agreed to stay tonight. Hike out tomorrow.”

“I couldn’t make contact.”

“Well, try again,” Jason said.

His own crew was ganging up on him again. Zach toyed with his weapon. Heidi wondered if he’d considered cleaning it while they were here. After their journey, the weapon might even malfunction. She’d watched Cade cleaning his weapons often enough, heard him talk about it. As for Heidi, she didn’t like guns. Hadn’t needed to use one with so many brothers packing.

Zach growled and frowned. He was losing control over his partners-in-crime and had to be exhausted, too. He left the warmth of the cabin to try to make contact with their ride on the SAT phone. Rhea and Jason followed, leaving Cade, Isaiah and Heidi all alone.

For a second, they stared at each other. “Should we make a run for it?” Heidi asked. “We could flee out the back. They wouldn’t see us. Wouldn’t know until it was too late and they’d never find us.”

“Don’t kid yourself,” Cade said. “We have no way to protect ourselves if they find us. They have their weapons
and
ours. Two of them are carrying, maybe three, though I haven’t seen Rhea with one.”

“I have.” A pot of hot beans and what other real food she could find might keep them distracted longer. If only Heidi’s mouth didn’t water at the thought. She used a can opener she found in a drawer and opened several cans of beans, then poured them into a large pot. She searched the cabinets for salt, seasonings and spices.

“The risk is too high,” Cade said. “I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

“Three of us couldn’t make it.” At the stove, Heidi kept her voice low while she warmed the beans. “But one of us could break free. Go for help.”

Oh, why had she said that? She couldn’t stand the thought of losing either Cade or Isaiah. What if one of them escaped but didn’t survive? Or what if Zach killed whoever stayed behind? “Scratch that. I... We should all stay together. It’s the only way.”

“I think she’s on to something.” Isaiah spoke to Cade, didn’t even look at her.

He was trying to cut her out of the decision. Heidi fumed, but kept her thoughts to herself. She knew they had little time, if they could even pull off an escape at all. The others would come back inside too soon. She swallowed the knot in her throat.

“Then it has to be her. She can be the one to get away.”

The two men stared at each other long and hard. Heidi felt as if she wasn’t even in the room.

“Guys, I’m here, right here. I need to be part of this conversation, and no, it’s not going to be me. I wish I hadn’t said anything.” No way could she leave anyone behind.

Cade left the fireplace and stood behind Heidi. He turned her around. “I think Isaiah was right when he said that Zach isn’t going to let us live once we get to the ice field. Why should he? We know who he is. It would be days, weeks, maybe even summer thaw before anyone found our bodies. The only way out is now. You have to leave. You have to be the one. We’ll sneak some supplies into your pack and you go for help.”

“But if I leave, then he’ll kill you.”

“No. He still needs a guide to the pickup point.”

Isaiah stood too close. “You’re burning the beans.”

“Oh!” Heidi gasped. She removed them from the stove.

This time it was Isaiah who turned her to face him. “Your brother is right. Someone has to live. Someone has to call for help somehow. We’ll cover for you.”

“You’re in the outhouse or something.”

Heidi frowned.

“I have a better idea,” Cade said. “Two of us go. Zach won’t kill the one who stays behind, which will be me. I know my way around. I’m the only one who really knows how to get him there anyway,” Cade said.

“Then why don’t we all just leave now?” Heidi shook her head, hating their few options.

The cabin growing warm, Isaiah shrugged out of his coat. He scraped his hands through his hair. “I don’t like any of this.”

Her thoughts exactly.

“My idea is the strongest.” Cade moved to the fire and warmed his hands. “But I hear voices outside and they’re coming back in. We missed a chance to run, but we had to talk it through first. At least we had an opportunity. Let’s agree on this. It’s tonight or never.”

“This evening, after they’ve eaten and they’re tired, I’ll take Heidi and we’ll go for help.” Isaiah slumped. “Are you sure about this, Cade?”

“It’s the only way.”

Like Heidi, Isaiah didn’t appear convinced, but it was too late to discuss it further. Zach trudged inside, followed by his cohorts. His eyes grew wide when he saw the bowls of beans laid out for them. Heidi busied herself opening cans of tuna, as well.

“Who would think beans would ever look and smell so good?” Jason sat at the table and started eating as if he was famished.

“Did you reach your person?” Heidi asked. “I mean, are we staying tonight?”

“Why? Are you planning an escape?” Zach sneered.

“No.” Heidi answered too quickly, she knew. Her pulse raced.

“Because let me be perfectly clear.” Zach stepped closer. “Surviving the wilderness in tents while a blizzard is blasting away is one thing, but this cabin is much different. I’ll need to tie you up tonight. If even one of you escapes, you’ll hear the screams of whomever you left behind echo through the mountains.”

Shaking, Heidi stared at the floor. She didn’t dare glance at either her brother or Isaiah. But Zach’s threat rendered her helpless. It seemed strange that they were reduced to this...groveling to a maniac in order to survive.

THIRTEEN

W
armth from the fire suffused the cabin. Isaiah noticed everyone growing sleepy as exhaustion took hold, especially after filling their stomachs with the beans and tuna. If they made it out of this alive, he and Cade would make sure to replace all the group had taken from the cabin. Could be that the owner had left the supplies for just such an occasion.

Zach had not bothered to tie them up like he’d claimed, but Isaiah figured at some point he would get to that. Isaiah would do the same, if he were in Zach’s position. Though in this warm and cozy cabin stocked with food, he and his gang seemed less intimidating than the dangers one could meet with if exposed to the elements outside, which made fleeing a less appealing option at the moment.