“Come on.” Jon grabbed her hand, pulling her to her feet as she scrambled in the loose sand. Kicking herself into high gear, she lunged upward so fast that she was actually tugging him. Without pausing and still hearing gunshots, they scrambled to the top of the dune, gunshots ringing out again as they dove over it, tumbling down the other side in a flurry of arms and legs and sand. Landing just short of a smelly bog of rancid water, Leah jumped to her feet, extending a helping hand to Jon.
He pointed to the nearby pine trees. “Let’s head there for cover.”
Still clasping hands, they ran toward the wooded area. Leah knew Krantz couldn’t climb that steep dune in his car, and if he tried to scale it on foot, it would be a while before he caught up with them. Just the same, she wanted as much space between them and him as possible.
“This way.” Jon tugged on her hand, pulling in the opposite direction.
“I thought we were going to the jetty.”
“We will. But if someone tracks us from the beach, or if a helicopter comes by, our footprints through this open area will point north. Maybe they’ll think we cut across the wetland area—to get to the road.”
“Right.” She ran alongside him. “But anyone familiar with that terrain knows it’s a stupid way to go. You could be lost in that mess for days.”
“Yeah,” he said breathlessly. “Maybe they’ll think we’re stupid.”
She knew he was right to make a faux trail, but she also knew by his limp that his leg was hurting. Any extra steps would probably end up costing them...eventually. When they reached the shelter of the trees, they turned back toward south—toward the jetty, but staying within the tree shadows.
“How far to the jetty?” she asked as they slowed down to an easy jog.
“Couple miles,” he huffed.
That would’ve been her guess, too. And two miles was nothing for her. She glanced at him, noticing how his injured leg seemed to be dragging. She purposely slowed the pace down. If they could just make it to the jetty, there might be a good place for him to hide around there. If he could just make it. At the moment, she wasn’t sure he could.
After about twenty minutes, they had slowed down to a fast walk. Even that seemed to be taxing for Jon. “Are you okay?” she asked.
“My leg’s not too good.” He wiped his hand across his brow. “Sorry to slow us down. Maybe you should go without me—”
“No,” she insisted. “Not until we get to the jetty and find you a good place to hide.”
“Hope I can last that long.”
“You can,” she assured him. “And we probably don’t have to go fast. I really doubt Krantz would give up his car and try to follow us up the hill.”
“Probably not. But he knows we’re up here. Might send a helicopter.”
“But they can’t see us in the trees.”
“Yeah.” Jon nodded.
“Even if they saw us, they probably wouldn’t shoot—if we held up our hands to surrender,” she said. “Well, unless Krantz was with them. He’d probably shoot, but fortunately, he’s a bad shot.”
“It probably wasn’t easy to drive and shoot at the same time. But I think you’re right. He’s a bad shot.”
“That’s good news for us.”
“Especially since it sounded like he was using his high-powered rifle.”
“What’s that?” Leah pointed to a wide path that cut into the landscape up ahead.
“Looks like some kind of a road.”
“Out here?”
“Maybe it’s a logging road,” Jon suggested as they paused to survey the strip of packed sand and dirt.
“But this is a protected area,” she pointed out.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought, too.” He leaned over to peer down at the road—or maybe to catch his breath. “And a road back in here’s illegal.”
“Maybe it’s an old road from before it was designated a wetland.” Even as she said this, it seemed unlikely. She knew how fast vegetation grew around here. An unused road could get covered up in just a few years.
He knelt down to look closely at the road’s surface. “These are tire tracks,” he said quietly. “Fresh, too.”
“Maybe it’s from a forest ranger’s vehicle.” She felt a chill run through her as she remembered the contents of the folder. “Or maybe this road leads to that warehouse—the one your mom photographed.”
He nodded with a furrowed brow. “That’s what I was just thinking.”
“Should we follow it?”
“I’d like to see where it goes.” He pointed away from the road, back into the trees. “From a safe distance. Just in case.”
“Yeah.”
Although it wasn’t as easy to walk through the brushy woods, Leah felt thankful for the cover of the trees. If that road really did lead to the warehouse—and if that warehouse really was a place to imprison kidnapped victims—this path could be very dangerous. Lethal.
“Do you think your dad’s ATV survived the crash?” she asked quietly, just trying to make conversation, to keep her mind off what might lie ahead.
“ATVs are pretty tough. It’ll probably be okay. With a little mechanical work.” He reached out to help her step over a fallen log.
“Unless Krantz messes with it.” She could imagine Krantz pulling out his guns and shooting the ATV to pieces just for revenge—that is if he could hit it. The image was almost laughable. Except that it wasn’t.
Jon grimly shook his head. “Krantz isn’t going to keep getting away with his lawlessness forever,” he said with determination. “He will eventually get caught. He’ll get what’s coming to him.”
“What makes you so sure?” she asked with genuine curiosity. She wanted to add, how did he know that Krantz wouldn’t catch up with both of them, shoot them dead and bury them in a shallow grave—and get away with it? Or maybe Jon was talking about something beyond this life. “How do you know Krantz will eventually get caught?”
“I left a note in my dad’s desk—in his secret drawer. I wrote down all the details of this nightmare. I put my mom’s file about human trafficking with it, too.”
“Oh...?”
“Just in case.”
“In case we don’t make it out of this...alive?”
He made a crooked smile, reaching over to pluck a pine needle from her hair. “We’ll make it out alive, Leah.”
“I want to believe that.”
Jon waved a hand. “Hey, just look how far we’ve come already.” He stopped walking, pausing to unbutton one of the pockets of his cargo pants and extracting his phone, checking it then putting it back. “I figured my phone wouldn’t have any connectivity yet.” Now he removed a stainless-steel compass. “This is my backup plan.”
“Good idea.” She studied his bulky-looking cargo pants as he got their bearings. “What else you got in those pockets?”
He made a lopsided grin as he slipped the compass into a higher pocket and they continued to walk. “Some things I thought we might need.” He began to list some random items, including matches, string, wire, a Swiss Army knife and a few other things.
“Were you a Boy Scout or something?”
“No. My dad loved this old TV show called MacGyver. I used to watch reruns of it with him as a kid. Then Dad and I would go on exploratory hikes and put some of our MacGyver skills to use.”
“Your parents sound pretty cool.”
“They are.” His brown eyes shone warmly as he smiled. “You’d like them, Leah. And they’d like you, too.” He patted her on the back. “You’re a real can-do kinda girl.”
“Thanks.”
Just then he stumbled on some underbrush, making a rough landing on his bad leg. As she helped him back up, she felt bad that she hadn’t insisted on replacing his dressing. Maybe the wound was worse than she’d thought yesterday. Or maybe it was infected. Whatever the case, she knew he was in pain.
“Let’s take a break.” She pointed to a nearby fallen log. Far enough from the road that they’d never be noticed if a vehicle happened by.
Jon seemed glad to agree to this and after they sat down, he extracted a water bottle and energy bar from one of his cargo pants pockets. For a couple minutes, they just sat there in the silence of the woods, sharing the water and granola bar between them.
“I really hope you get to meet my parents...someday,” Jon said as he tucked the wrapper of the bar into a pocket.
“Someday,” she echoed absently, as if she didn’t really think he meant it.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said quickly. “I meant someday when we get out of this mess. Someday when my parents get back from their cruise.”
“Oh...?” She studied him, trying to discern what he was really saying. “Well, I’d like to meet them, too. They sound very interesting.”
He tipped his head to one side. “And that sounded like a very polite way of saying you’re really not interested.”
She blinked. “No, that’s not true.”
“I know I already asked you, Leah, if there’s a guy in your life. A boyfriend or fiancé or someone and I’m pretty sure you said you were single. Right?”
She nodded. “Absolutely. I’ve been so busy these past couple of years. Trying to finish my RN degree. Doing practicum in the hospital. Working part-time at The Willows. And before that, I was taking care of my mom. And I sort of help with my great-aunt. On top of all that, I made it a goal to complete a marathon before I turn twenty-five. And, trust me, time’s a-wasting on that one.”
He smiled. “I’ve no doubt you can pull it off.”
“So, honestly, I’ve been too busy for a relationship. I can’t even remember the last time I had a real date.” She narrowed her eyes slightly. “Unlike you.”
“Huh?”
“You and Monica.” She made a little smirk. “I’m sure you can remember the last date you had with her.” Okay, she knew she was being nosy and snarky and incredibly rude, but she just wanted to know.
“It’s been a while.”
“Really? How long?” She studied him closely.
His brow creased. “About a year, I guess. Like I told you, Leah. That’s over.”
“That’s what you say with your lips.” She slowly stood up, knowing they should keep moving. Especially before his muscles started to tighten up. “But I think your paintbrush tells another story.” She grinned as she reached for his hand, pulling him to his feet.
“And I think that you’ve got a very good imagination.”
She shrugged and, without saying another word, she turned around and began picking her way through the woods again. She could hear him moving behind her and she considered continuing their conversation, but really, what more was there to say? Jon could pretend that it was over between him and Monica, but Leah had a strong sense that it was not. And maybe she did have a good imagination, but it all seemed clear to her.
The mysterious Monica had somehow, for some unknowable reason, broken Jon’s heart. It was the only thing that made sense to Leah. It explained his hesitancy to talk about this gorgeous woman, and the reason he portrayed her so exquisitely. And Leah suspected that if Monica came to her senses—and she should in time—she would figure out what a catch Jon was and come running back to him. It seemed as plain as day. The intelligent, handsome, artistic attorney marries the beautiful woman he’s in love with—and everyone lives happily ever after. Well, everyone except Leah. But that was another story.
Suddenly Leah was brought back to the present by something that felt off. Ahead of her, barely visible through the thick trees, she noticed a dark, tall and somewhat foreboding image. And the road seemed to be leading right to it—the warehouse from the photo!
“Jon,” she whispered as she turned around to grab his arm. “Look.”
He stopped walking and, following her gaze through the trees, barely nodded. Then, holding a forefinger to his lips, he continued forward. Leading them closer, he took his time, carefully picking his way almost soundlessly through the brushy woods. With a wildly pounding heart, she imitated him.
If Jon’s mother’s hunches and Leah’s gut feelings were correct, this place was more than just a little dangerous—this place was the reason Krantz wanted them dead. And now they had actually found it—seen it with their own eyes. And everything about it looked evil. Creepiness just seemed to seep from it, and a part of Leah wanted to turn and run the other way. Except for her worst fear—what if her mother was in there?
Keeping a cautious distance, they slowly inched closer to the building. When they got near enough, they could see that the mud-colored boxlike brown structure was completely barricaded by a tall chain-link fence. Atop the fence was curling razor wire—like around a prison yard. In the front of the windowless building was a solid-looking metal door with not just one, but two dead bolt locks. Not too far from the door was a portable outhouse, also painted a dirty brown. Leah and Jon exchanged uneasy glances.
“Stay low,” Jon whispered as he crouched down, pulling her with him. “Who knows how good those security cams are. Someone could be watching us right now.”
“What should we do?” she whispered back in desperation.
“I’m not sure.” He glanced over to the road, then back to the building.
“Do you think anyone’s inside?”
“Hard to say.”
Her chest tightened as she thought of her easily confused mother. “Do you think my mom could be in there?”
He frowned. “I was just—” But before he could finish, the sound of a vehicle tearing down the road got their attention.
“Get low.” He pulled them both to the ground, into the thick undergrowth of huckleberry and salal plants. From between the green vegetation, they both peered toward the building, watching as the dark car pulled up to the gated section of the fence.
Leah felt only mild surprise to see it was Krantz’s unmarked police car. He got out with his revolver in hand, looking sinister. He was no longer dressed in a uniform, but was wearing dark clothing. He surveyed the surrounding area with an intensity that sent an icy chill down her spine—as if he knew they were nearby. She almost expected him to start shooting into the trees just to frighten them. To her relief, he didn’t. Instead he hurriedly unlocked the gate and entered the compound. With the revolver still in hand, his eyes darting all around, he locked it back up again. Then, giving one long last look all around, he headed over to the building, unlocked the two dead bolts and went inside, closing the metal door with a loud clang.
“What do we do?” Leah whispered.
“Wait,” Jon said quietly. “Until he leaves.”
“What if he doesn’t leave?”
Jon frowned. “He will. Eventually.”
“What is he doing in there?” It made her sick to imagine that creep in there with her poor mother—and she felt certain her mom was in there.
After what felt like about an hour, but according to her watch was less than ten minutes, Krantz emerged from the building. But he was pulling someone out with him. Leah nearly gasped audibly, but somehow controlled herself. Krantz had her mother in tow. Ellen Hampton was still dressed in her favorite pink-and-white flannel pajamas, which were dirty and ripped on one knee. Her short dishwater-blond hair was messy and wild-looking, but it was her terrified expression that sliced through Leah like a jagged knife. She looked fragile and helpless as Krantz dragged her out by one arm, holding her out in front of him like a hunter who’d bagged his prey.
“I know you’re out there!” Krantz yelled so loudly that her mom shrieked and the chirping birds in the trees grew silent. “If you don’t show yourselves right now, I’m gonna kill her.” With his free hand, he pointed his revolver at Leah’s mother’s head. Meanwhile she cowered in fear, sobbing like a small child. “Gonna blow her brains out.”
Leah’s heart was breaking, her every muscle tensed, ready to leap—ready to offer to exchange herself for her mom’s safety, but Jon’s hand remained firmly on her shoulder. Like a heavy anchor, he was holding her down. With a serious expression, he locked eyes with her, firmly shaking his head no, mouthing the word wait.
In Jon’s other hand was his phone. Hidden by the shadows, it was aimed directly at the compound and in recording mode. Of course, being an attorney, he was trying to acquire evidence—and that was good. But all she cared about was her mother’s safety. And as much as she knew Jon was right to lie low for now, everything in her wanted to throw caution to the wind and run to her mother’s aid.
But, really, what could she do? Krantz couldn’t be trusted. He would probably shoot her on sight—which would further horrify her mother—and then, of course, he would kill her mom next. Leah bit into her lip, allowing the pain to seep into her like a sedative as she remained hidden in the brush silently praying—make that pleading—for help.