CHAPTER 33

Todd barely managed to clip into his seatbelt, holding on for dear life. Claudia held the gas pedal flat against the floorboard, the Jeep engine screaming as they sped away from John and Blackstone, headed for a dirt road at the far end of the property. Several minutes into the ride, she downshifted into a hard right turn, slipping into a grove of trees that camouflaged their position, trying to avoid any open areas. Claudia focused on her driving, gripping the wheel with both hands. Flying over craggy rock bundles, airborne, she bounced the Jeep hard, testing its limits. The momentum of the Jeep smashed Todd’s head against the padded roll bar. Struggling to get his bearings, he braced one arm against the overhead roll bar and the other against the dash. Keeping his arms tense, Todd shoved his feet against the firewall, holding his body rigid - the only way he could remain in his seat.

Claudia had a grin on her face as the Jeep jumped, timing her flight over the uneven terrain. She hooted and yelped as they bounced again; flying into the air, landing hard, slamming flat on the rugged road with a stiff rebound, struggling to keep the nose of the Jeep steady. It was the type of adrenaline rush that Claudia lived for. Driving the Jeep like it was an extension of her physical self, she put everything she had into controlling it; a manifestation of her zest for life.

Her foot never left the floorboard.

They rushed to the back side of the estate, to a gate that led into a narrow wooded path, barely wide enough for the Jeep to pass through. Claudia jammed on the brakes and downshifted hard, pulling the Jeep into a ninety degree stop. A cloud of brown dust covered them. Hopping out of the Jeep, Claudia ran to the gate, dialing a code that opened an electronic lock.

The narrow gate opened and she jumped back into the Jeep. She clipped her seatbelt on and let out the clutch slowly, inching the Jeep through the tight opening. The vehicle scraped the metal columns on either side.

“Hang on,” she said.

Todd braced himself.

Claudia pulled the four-wheel-drive lever back and the Jeep jumped, accelerating through the narrow trail. Passing branches and limbs reached inside the Jeep, slapping Todd’s face as Claudia increased their speed, dashing through the tapered path. Covering his face, Todd struggled, trying to brace himself and roll up the window at the same time.

Driving with one hand, Claudia skillfully maneuvered the narrow mountain trail. During one flat spot where the Jeep kept all four wheels on the ground, Claudia relaxed her grip on the steering wheel, scanning the dense forest that surrounded them, admiring its beauty. Looking at Todd, she turned, and glanced at the back of the Jeep.

What she saw shocked her.

“You brought ski gear?”

Strapped down in the back were two complete sets of poles, skis, boots, all top of the line gear, and ski clothing.

Todd kept his arms and legs braced they continued forward. His voice quivered as they hit a another rut in the trail

“It was supposed to be a surprise.”

Claudia grinned.

“I like surprises.”

At that second, a large tree appeared in the center of the trail. She threw the steering wheel into a hard left and rammed the gear lever down, stepping on the gas as she maneuvered around it.

“After we spoke the other night,” said Todd, cringing at the near miss, “I went to John and made the arrangements to get the gear.” He smiled. “I double checked your size.” He held tight as the Jeep left the ground and bounced off another rock. “We even had the location picked out.”

“Great!”

“But that was before you decided to blow up the mountain.”

“Right,” she said. “I’m sure my admirers back there won’t mind if we stop somewhere to make a few turns.”

Claudia shifted gears, skidding through a switchback in the trail, slowing them into the turn.

Todd’s arms were tiring as he held his tense brace between his legs and arms, pressing against the roll bar.

“How long do you think it will take before we reach the cabin?”

Claudia down-shifted into another turn and headed uphill, in a different direction. Dirt and mud flew everywhere.

“I’m trying to make it hard to find us. We’ll eventually pass through a nearby town. But I don’t want to go near there yet. A few miles on the far side of the town, we will turn off onto a dirt road that will take us to the cabin. You can miss the turn if you’re not careful. But it won’t take us long.”

They bounced again and dropped into a small stream that was covered by a thin layer of snow. The underlying stream had melted and the water flowed freely under the snow. A mound of mud and slush splashed upward, covering the windshield as they passed through. Claudia flipped on the window washer and two clear semi-circles appeared on the windshield. She squinted, keeping her face close to the steering wheel as the wipers cleared away the mud.

They eventually reached a clearing that ran along the side of the mountain top. Slipping around a large boulder, the Jeep made it to the top, giving them a panoramic view of the valley below. The road straightened out and the bumps disappeared. Now on a more elevated but relaxed terrain, Claudia turned to examine the ski gear in the back.

“Actually, I’m glad you brought this stuff,” she said, smiling. “I don’t think the bad guys can keep up with us if we need to make a quick exit from the cabin and give them the slip.”

Todd nodded his agreement, but did not speak. He kept his left hand stretched against the upper roll bar and the other gripped tight on the interior handles, ready for another leap into the air.

Claudia returned her attention to the road and floored the accelerator.

Todd hung on for dear life.

***

Lucien and his men sped along the asphalt highway, careful to stay within the speed limit. At one point they passed a pair of Swiss policeman who were parked on the side of the road, but neither showed any interest in the caravan of vehicles. Lucien checked his watch and occasionally looked for text messages on his cell phone.

Hamid drove the vehicle while Lucien consulted a map of the area. He looked at the information on his cell phone and carefully marked several positions on the map. After they traveled a while, Lucien tapped Hamid and pointed to an upcoming dirt road.

“There,” he said. “Into the woods. Signal the others.”

Hamid signaled and the vehicles followed them onto a dirt road. The three vehicles sped up the mountain trail until they reached a clearing. Two muscular men stood next to a small Subaru. They were crouched over, working on some equipment when Lucien and the men appeared on the scene. The men were wary until one recognized Lucien in the passenger seat. The man waved. When they stood, Hamid could see what they were doing. They were adjusting their ski equipment.

A puzzled Hamid looked at his employer.

Lucien showed him the text message on his cell phone.

“I’m told that these gentlemen are extremely proficient. We may need them and their ski equipment.”

Hamid glanced at the pair and nodded, “Understood, Sir.”

The six men and Lucien exited the vehicles. Hamid assisted the two men as they loaded their ski gear into the rear of Lucien’s SUV. When they were finished, they joined the circle of men that now faced Lucien.

“We will be traveling in three separate groups. Each of you knows where you must go to intercept her.” Lucien placed a map of the area in front of them and pointed out the locations to each of the drivers. “I will be here, you will be here and you will be here.”

The drivers nodded in agreement.

Lucien carefully examined the faces of each group member.

“No matter what, you must make sure that she is not injured. I don’t care what you have to do, but this young woman must not be harmed – at all costs. Back off if you need to. We will eventually get her, but she is the key to our success. Nothing can happen to her.”

Lucien signaled to Hamid.

“Let’s go.”

Hamid addressed the assembled group of men. “You all know what to do and where to go.” He pointed at the vehicles. “Load up and let’s move it.”

The group scrambled into the three vehicles and sped away, leaving the skiers’ Subaru in the remote clearing.