Untraceable (9 page)

She felt Zach’s eyes on her. She had no doubt he would force them to hide. But maybe a helicopter would spot their tracks before the next storm came through.

Please, God...

Ahead of them, Cade stopped, his rigid form reminding her of their traumatic scale down the ridge two nights ago, only this morning they wouldn’t have to use their night vision goggles. The group crowded together near the edge of a jagged escarpment.

No one said a word, but their shared dread was palpable.

“Why did you lead us this way?” Zach shoved Cade.

“It doesn’t matter which way we go, we’re descending from the mountain summit. That will involve a combination of hiking and rappelling. No way around it. You wanted to make the ice field, this is the only way. It was your decision to put fast over safe.”

Venom filled Zach’s laugh.

“Look at it this way.” Isaiah dropped his backpack. “It will be a breeze compared to the last time we did this.”

Exactly the way Heidi saw it. The only difference was these guys could now see what they were facing and they might panic or cause problems.

Whimpering, Rhea covered her mouth. “I can’t do that! Not again. Please, don’t make us do this, Zach.”

Heidi’s heart went out to the woman. She had panicked the first time she’d been assisted down a ridge, and she hadn’t been able to see into the dark abyss beneath her. Now she had to be a hundred times more terrified.

“Shut up. We don’t have a choice.”

“The burden is on us,” Heidi said. “We’re the experienced climbers, so you don’t have to do anything but trust us. Just like last time.”

In a way, the power now shifted back to the search and rescue team. A tenuous smile crept onto Heidi’s lips. She hadn’t meant for the words to give her any sense of power, but they had all the same. She dropped her backpack and gear and moved to stand next to Cade and Isaiah. Unfortunately, Zach didn’t let her stray too far from him.

“So what are we doing? Same as last time?” Isaiah asked.

“No other choice.” Cade searched for an anchor point. “Anything else and people die.”

That odd sense that things were not right with the world dinged her thoughts. They were working hard to assist this group safely down a mountain—a group that had every intention of killing them when it was over. Insanity ruled the day.

Heidi sighed and gazed down the gash in the valley of the mountain fold they’d been following. They were tiny, insignificant creatures in this wild topography. “It’s going to be close. That’s a long drop. Our rope needs to be twice that length.”

Isaiah flicked his gaze to Zach. The look in his eyes chilled her more than the icy landscape. “Doesn’t matter. We’re going down.”

Dropping his backpack and gear, Zach shifted uncomfortably. Had it occurred to him that the SAR team might attempt to deliver him down the escarpment in a risky fashion, ensuring their own safety?

“I’m heading down and will receive the packages.” Geared up to rappel, Cade dropped out of sight.

Rhea’s face paled. Maybe she didn’t like being referred to as a package.

Isaiah pulled out the seat harness they’d created from the tubular webbing. They would then lower Zach and his friends the entire distance, though, like Heidi said, it was going to be close. Heidi set up the anchor point for the operation and clipped in the carabiner for the belay device. She was vaguely aware of Jason, Zach and Rhea watching as she and Isaiah prepared everything to lower them. Were they aware of the fact they were putting their lives in search and rescue team’s hands? The very team that they had abducted? The whole thing was surreal.

Heidi barely registered that Rhea had meandered over to where she worked. She glanced up and something in Rhea’s eyes made Heidi take a step away from the staggering, jagged-edged drop-off.

Rhea bumped into her.

Hard.

More like shoved.

Heidi teetered before stumbling into a granite boulder that broke through the snow. Her heart jumped to her throat, lodged there and pounded. She could have gone over the edge, falling hundreds of feet to her death.

Had that been Rhea’s intention?

Her knees screaming, Heidi wanted to cry out, too, but stifled her reaction. She rolled away from the rock into the soft snow, praying she wasn’t too injured to hike out, or else Zach would kill her. Of that she had no doubt.

She’d slow them down, and he wouldn’t accept that. He’d made that plain enough when he’d killed one of his own people.

“What was that for?” she asked.

Rhea leaned over her. “I warned you to stay away from him. Next time, I’ll make sure to shove you off a cliff.”

Heidi gasped. “I’ve already told you I have no interest in him. He’s a criminal, and he’s all yours.”

Rhea’s frown deepened as though she considered Heidi’s remark an insult. Heidi hadn’t intended it as such; she was simply stating the facts. Rhea could take it however she wanted.

Gripping her knees, she glanced up to notice Zach watching the two of them from where he stood at the ledge. She forced a straight face, hoping to hide her pain, and attempted to stand, but fell back in the snow. His face pale and drained, he hiked over. Maybe that was from watching Jason being lowered down the ledge. Served him right.

“What are you two doing over here?” He directed his harsh tone at Rhea. “You need to pay attention to what’s going on, so you don’t get yourself killed. Got it?”

Rhea shrank away from him, then glared at Heidi as if Zach’s scolding was her fault. The woman opened her mouth to speak, but then Zach grabbed Heidi’s hand and assisted her up, a concerned smile on his face. Was he for real?

Not good. Not good at all.

Heidi hadn’t done anything to garner his attention or smile. Couldn’t Rhea see that? But his beam didn’t win Heidi any points with Rhea. And this time, he didn’t appear to be using her as a way of taunting Isaiah or her brother. But she’d buried her fear that he might actually be attracted to her and instead hoped and prayed he was simply using her as a pawn.

Back on her feet, Heidi saw that Isaiah had turned from the edge of the escarpment and spotted the three of them. The power of his dark gaze crossed the distance and held her.

Oh, Lord, please don’t let him interfere.
Or try something that would get him killed. She wouldn’t put it past him to risk it all to save her. Funny to think that even though Cade was her brother, and an overprotective one at that, it was Isaiah who was acting this way. And something in Isaiah’s fierce watchfulness ignited her feelings for him—emotions she’d tried to keep buried. She missed their easy friendship, and wished he hadn’t pushed her away. But even if he hadn’t, Heidi couldn’t trust anyone with her heart.

She’d keep telling herself that. Except, as she watched Isaiah moving toward them, she knew if she could trust anyone with her heart, she’d want that someone to be Isaiah. Good thing her mind reigned over her heart.

And then he stood there in the mix—between her and Rhea and Zach. Heidi admitted his presence brought a measure of relief.

“Isaiah.” She exhaled his name.

Her mind and heart battled for control.

Now she understood how Rhea had known Heidi cared for Isaiah. Hopefully Rhea would see that again now, just a little, but if she recognized it, then unfortunately, Zach would, too.

As if he answered Isaiah’s unspoken but tangible challenge, Zach stood taller, the exhaustion in his features morphing into aggression.

Somehow Heidi had to defuse the explosive tension, and fast.

* * *

“What’s going on here?” An idiot could see that Heidi was hurt. “You guys need to get ready for the ride down.”

Isaiah knew not to draw attention to the fact that Heidi was somehow injured—if Zach didn’t already know. Heidi succumbing to an injury could lead to the criminal-in-charge putting her out of her misery. Isaiah had every intention of facing off with the maniac right here and now if that’s what it came to. After all, half the men were at the base of the cliff. Isaiah could take Zach down if he could separate him from his weapons.

True to form, Zach tugged the gun from his pocket and pointed it at Heidi. Would he do this every time?

Isaiah threw up his hands in surrender and took a step back. “Whoa! Whoa! What are you doing?”

He’d caused Zach’s reaction. Why did he always have to be the reason a woman suffered? Heidi blanched, her eyes pleading with Isaiah. Powerless, there was nothing he could do except back off. But more than anything he wanted to take Zach down and bury him deep in the snow, then wrap his arms around Heidi. He wasn’t worried about Rhea. As a threat, she was a nonissue.

“Just reminding you who is in charge.” Zach’s smirk grew broader.

“Put the gun down.” Palms down, Isaiah slowly lowered his hands. He knew he’d come on too strong in his attitude. “We need to get going so we don’t get caught in another blizzard. We won’t make your rendezvous if we do.” Isaiah wasn’t sure they would make it in time even if they
didn’t
catch another storm.

Deep inside, Isaiah wanted to hope, as Cade did, that making the rendezvous would be their freedom. But no matter how hard he tried, he knew it couldn’t be true. Weird that they had to rush toward this one goal that would only end their lives. They were running toward death itself.

He glanced at the blue sky. Ominous clouds were building in the distance once again. Why couldn’t he hear the welcome sound of rotor blades? David had to suspect something was wrong by now. But then what would Zach do? Hold them hostage?

“Let’s do it then.” Zach lowered his weapon, though he kept it at his side, and marched to where they’d rigged the ropes. “Just remember, your man Cade is being held at gunpoint at the bottom, should something happen to any of us.” The man chuckled. “We’re in control. We’re always going to be in control. Don’t think you can pull a fast one.”

Isaiah blew out a breath. He was right, of course. The way things were, they could never gain an advantage. It was too risky to try something that could end in harm to one of them. Right now, guiding these creeps through the mountain wilderness was all they could do. Until their chance for an escape came.

Rhea tossed one last glare at Heidi, and even one at Isaiah, then followed her man to the edge. That’s how it would be with her—that is, until Zach had a reason to leave her behind. Isaiah shook his head, and when he thought it was safe—Zach and Rhea were caught up in a conversation of their own—he turned his attention to Heidi. Cade was probably wondering what had happened to Isaiah. They needed to bring the seat harness back up for the next rider.

But Isaiah had to make sure Heidi was all right. Really all right.

She took a limping step toward him, and he closed the distance. Caught her up in his arms. For the briefest of moments he allowed himself to savor the embrace, then he put an arm’s-length distance between them, gripping her shoulders.

“Are you okay?” Isaiah pinned her gaze. Searched it. He wanted the truth.

She nodded. “I will be. My knees are bruised, that’s all.”

He glanced over his shoulder to make sure Zach and Rhea were still occupied. He had to hurry. Cade was waiting on him to manage the rope at this end. “What happened?”

“Rhea. She tried to push me over.”

The news stunned Isaiah. So Rhea wasn’t a nonissue, after all. Isaiah had to make sure that Heidi wasn’t left alone with that woman for even one minute, especially when they set up camp again. He’d make sure he was in the tent, too, to keep them apart.

“Get over here,” Zach called, reminding Isaiah that he wasn’t in charge and couldn’t control if Heidi was left alone with Rhea.

“You know to keep your guard up around her, then.”

The words sounded completely lame when all he wanted was to reassure her that he was there for her. But why would he do that now when he hadn’t been there for her when she’d needed him those months after the accident? Why would she believe him?

But that’s all he could say. He shouldn’t make promises that he couldn’t keep.

“I know. If I hadn’t stepped back when I had then she would have been successful in her attempt.” Heidi looked down, sucking in a quick breath. Then another.

Okay. So Isaiah would make those promises now. He couldn’t let her fall prey to a panic attack in front of everyone. But he’d made promises before. And someone had died in the end, and all because of him. Isaiah closed his eyes for a split second and buried those thoughts—they wouldn’t do him any good here. Wouldn’t help Heidi now.

He opened his eyes. “Look at me.”

Her gaze drew up to his. Beautiful dark brown eyes, the color of black coffee. He’d been drawn into them the moment he’d met her. What was the matter with him? He couldn’t think about that now. “Breathe, just breathe slowly and calmly. I’m here for you. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

Pain flickered behind her eyes and knifed through him. He’d caused that pain, and he wouldn’t deny his own guilt. “Do you believe me?”

His pulse slowed as if with time—he hadn’t realized how important her answer to his question would be. Reluctance surfaced behind those dark irises. Doubt, heavy and suffocating, swirled in them.

Heidi nodded slowly.
She nodded.

Isaiah couldn’t believe it. Why was she lying? But maybe, just as he
wanted
her to trust him, she
wanted
to trust him, despite his actions in the past. Despite the fact that he’d severed their emotional connection just as it had grown strong. Maybe she was simply taking a leap of faith.

“We’d better get those two down the cliff before Zach gets crazy and does something stupid.” She stepped away from Isaiah, freeing herself from his grip and standing tall despite her injury.

Good. She was breathing okay now, too. Heidi was a strong woman, and Isaiah didn’t doubt that for a minute, but this situation pushed each of them to the edge, and would likely test their limits before it was over.

NINE

I
saiah grimaced. Rhea screamed all the way down as they lowered her. Just like last time, only much worse. Her screams echoed through the mountains. Were there any searchers out there to hear her?