WILLIAMSBURG, VA

Three days and no word. Anxiety and worry thrummed through Zach like electricity through a power line. Sleep deprived and running on mostly adrenaline, he’d spent every waking moment searching for clues to Arianna’s whereabouts.

He, Tony, and Juan had rendezvoused with Veritas at “The Farm”, a covert CIA training facility in Virginia. The Agency had a multitude of agents working this case though it had little to go on at the moment. Their big break would come when, and if, a ransom call came in. Audio monitoring equipment had been installed on the CNS network phone system, ready to track any incoming calls from the kidnappers. Zach’s phone was monitored, too. For all he knew, he might be the one to receive a ransom call. He didn’t care who got it. He just hoped someone did. The thought of never seeing her again…unbearable. He couldn’t even let his mind go there.

To keep himself busy, he poured through hours of satellite images of boats leaving the port of Cannes around the time of the kidnapping, hoping to zero in on the one containing Arianna. There actually were quite a few crafts that left that day, but none in particular seemed any more suspicious than the other.

When not studying satellite images, he joined a whole host of other agents, scouring social media, checking out the contacts of Amira and Malik Shahab and their terrorist friend, Raja Baz. He knew Amira and Baz were both Iraqi and may have come from the same village. The best guess was that Arianna might have been taken to a location in Iraq. But it was only a guess. Until and unless they heard from the kidnappers, it was pure speculation.

“Why don’t you go back to the hotel and try to get some sleep?” Tony asked, seeing Zach fighting sleep as he sat in front of a computer terminal. “We’ve got people working this twenty-four seven. If anything happens, they’ll let you know right away.”

“I should,” he said, letting out a yawn. “I’m tired, but I can’t sleep…too hyped up.”

“Roger that,” Juan chimed in, “but as soon as we get a bead on her location, we have to move out. You need to be at the top of your game, so go get some rest.”

Zach threw up his hands and sighed in resignation. “You’re right. Let’s get out of here.” He grabbed his jacket, and they headed back to the hotel.

Once in his room, he stripped out of his clothes and slid under the covers. He stared at the ceiling, fighting the fatigue that threatened to overwhelm him. He searched the recess of his brain, trying to think of some resource they hadn’t employed, some technical asset unused, some expert not consulted. Tried to think of anything and everything that might be brought to bear in finding Arianna that possibly had been overlooked.

Overcome with exhaustion, he finally fell into a deep sleep, so deep he thought the buzzing of his phone three hours later was only a dream. Slowly waking, he realized it was the real thing. He sat up straight in bed and grabbed his phone.

“Zach…Veritas here. We got a call. I’m sending a car for you. I’ll fill you in when you get here.”

Zach sprang out of bed, attempted to dress with one hand, while phoning Tony and Juan with the other. “We got a call. Meet me in the lobby in five.”

The agency driver whisked them through security at the entrance to “The Farm”. They rushed through the door and into the command room where Veritas was waiting.

“Okay, let’s have it.” Zach pulled up a chair, and everyone joined him at a conference table.

Veritas cleared his throat and began. “A call came in to the network about an hour ago. There was a ransom demand for four million dollars plus they want the release of a prisoner being held by the US. We tracked the call to Soran, Iraq, territory heavily occupied by Taliban. They didn’t identify themselves, but we have voice prints which we’re analyzing now. Maybe it’s that terrorist, Baz. At any rate, we assess they’re likely holding her somewhere in this area, but it’s only conjecture at this time.

“Zach, I’ve arranged to get you and your team on a military flight out of here within the hour. Soran is near Irbil, so you can once again link up with Masoud and Commander Haji at our OGA site outside the city. I think they owe you after the good deed you did for them a few months ago. You’re going to need their help in mounting a rescue.”

“Roger that. When they call again, be sure to demand proof of life,” Zach said, already standing, anxious to get going. “Let them know that if they hurt one hair on her head, there’ll be all hell to pay.”

“Check. Now, we’ll string these guys along, trying to buy us time to get a fix on where they’re hiding her. Once we do, the ball will be in your court. Be ready.”

“Oh, we’ll be ready all right. Just get me the location. I’ll do the rest.”

“Godspeed, my friend.”

The men left and gathered their equipment which they had stored on site. A car was waiting to take them to the airfield where a C-17 was waiting to take off. As soon as they were wheels up, Zach sat back, put his feet up, and almost relaxed for the first time in days. Sitting around for days spinning his wheels on dead-end searches without a shred of news had been torture. Moving into action mode calmed his nerves. A sense of purpose and resolve washed over him. All he needed was the longitude and latitude of Arianna’s location. Nothing would stop him from setting her free. He just needed to get there in time.

IRBIL, IRAQ

FIFTEEN HOURS later, they landed in Irbil and were met by a driver who would take them to the CIA outpost, outside the city. Their driver managed to get them through all the post’s check points without getting shot at this time, and they were met by chief of station, Lauren Mathews, and the Kurdish army liaison, Masoud.

“Welcome back, gentlemen,” Lauren said. “So sorry it has to be on such terrible circumstances. Please, come inside, and we’ll talk.”

They entered a Quonset hut where a command center had been established. Seven wide screen TVs circled the front of the room, and two rows of computer terminals along with their operators filled the center of the room.

Captain Haji greeted the men and offered them some refreshment. “We’ve been expecting you, and as you can see, we’ve turned our full attention to this rescue mission. It’s the least we can do to repay you for what you’ve done for us.”

“Please, sit.” Masoud pointed to some seats around a conference table. “Let’s talk a minute, and I’ll give you a current sit rep. We know this village…Soran. It’s not far from us. If this is the location of the kidnappers, we could be in luck. We have some informants in the area though no one’s heard anything yet. Bad news is, it’s a Taliban stronghold. They hate Americans.”

“Any new contact from the kidnappers,” Zach asked. “We’ve been incommunicado during our flight here and the last message was about a day ago.”

“No contact that we know of. Lauren would know more about that.”

“Yeah,” Lauren said stepping up, “I’m in direct contact with our people in the US, and there’s been no additional word from the kidnappers. When they contact us again, we hope to triangulate the incoming source and further pinpoint their location. I’m not going to sugarcoat this; the area around Soran is vast. Without specifics, the chance of finding someone is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Even if we can pinpoint where the ransom call comes from, it won’t tell us where they’re holding Arianna.”

“Understood,” Zach said, “but I trust our people. They do amazing work. I have every confidence they’re going to find her.”

Everyone around the table nodded.

MOUNTAINS OF CHEEKHA-DAR: NORTHERN IRAQ

THE GUARDS escorted Arianna into the dark, dank cave. No natural light existed. The only illumination came from a small oil lamp. Amira shoved her over into a corner and told her to sit.

“There is no use to try to escape. There are many guards and also, you could never find your way off this mountain,” Amira warned. “You would die trying. Now, we wait and see how much your American friends are willing to pay to get you back. If it were up to me, I would not send you back, but it’s not up to me. My friends want money. Me? I just want to kill Americans…revenge my husband’s death.”

“Your husband is a killer. He murdered innocent people.”

Amira reached out and slapped her. “Quiet, American slut. We will kill all you infidels soon.”

That was twice now Amira had attacked her. Had the circumstances been different, she would have tried to retaliate, but there was no way she could defend herself under these conditions. If she ever got this evil bitch alone, she’d show her what an American slut is made of.

Amira turned and left. From the darkness of another corner of the cave, someone said in a British accent, “You’re brave to talk back to her, but be careful. These people are ruthless. She seems to be the worst.” A young woman, about Arianna’s age, moved out of the shadows and came to sit beside her.

“Who are you?” Arianna asked.

“My name is Glynis Parker. I’m an aid worker who they kidnapped a week ago along with two other workers. I believe they’re holding them in another cave. Don’t know for sure. Not much human contact here.”

“Oh, sorry to hear that. Arianna Garrett, journalist with CNS news. Looks like kidnapping is a cottage industry around here.”

“Unfortunately.” Glynis pulled a shawl around her shoulders. “I’m sorry for your circumstances, but happy for the company.”

“Are your people looking for you? Any indication they’ll pay a ransom?”

“Oh, I hope someone is looking, but the organization I work for is a charity. They have no money. My country won’t pay ransom, so I’m afraid it all seems dismal.”

“Maybe they’ll plan a rescue.”

“Ha! I’m sure you came in the same way I did. Who could find you in this remote location? It’s impossible. Don’t mean to frighten you, but it is what it is. I’m just holding on, hoping for a miracle. And you? Will people pay for you?”

“Yes, I hope, but I don’t know for sure. My boyfriend is in the military. Hopefully he can find me, but uh….” Her voice trailed off. What was she talking about? Glynis was right. This place was so remote, she wasn’t sure how anyone could find it.