6:28 a.m. (Mountain Time)
For the last fifteen minutes, Abigail had been thinking about her and Layla’s escape attempt, intermittently quizzing Layla and not getting straight answers. Abigail reviewed the events in her mind, leaving her with more questions than answers. Layla was the one who had wanted to ski in the restricted area. How did she know about the break in the boundary fence? Why didn’t she check on the man lying on the trail? She let me approach him first. Abigail closed her eyes and shook her head. If she could have reached her sore eyes, she would have rubbed them. Maybe, I’m not thinking clearly.
More time passed and Abigail could not shake the nagging feeling. “Layla, I have to know. How did you hit that vase? It’s bugging me. You were right behind me and we were nowhere near it. You would’ve had to go out…of…your…way…” Abigail’s voice trailed off, the loose ends in her mind falling into place like the tumblers on a lock. Her stomach churned, while she stared at Layla.
Seeing the sudden recognition on Abigail’s face, Layla’s demeanor changed and her facial features hardened. She fumbled around in her thick hair and produced a small key. Slipping it into the keyhole in one of the handcuffs, she turned the key and the cuff opened. She did the same thing to the second handcuff before standing and gawking at Abigail. “You’re just too smart for your own good, Abby.” Layla walked to the door and pounded on it. She took a few steps backward, rubbing her wrists. The door opened and more light spilled into the room, forcing Abigail to squint. A man of Middle-Eastern origin appeared behind Layla and spoke to her in a foreign language.
“We’re packing up. We need to leave as soon as possible,” said Yamadi.
“What happened?” asked Layla. “We weren’t supposed to leave for another six hours.”
“Our man in New York called me on my cell phone. We can’t take the chance the communication slipped past the surveillance agencies.” He pointed at Abigail. “What about her?”
Layla rotated her head toward Abigail. “She’s figured out who I am.”
Yamadi shrugged. “I guess it doesn’t matter at this point. Just make sure she understands her safety depends on her cooperation.”
Layla spun her head toward Yamadi. Her concern must have been evident, because he observed her before re-assuring her that everything was still on track. “That’s good.” She motioned toward Abigail with her thumb. “I’ll get her ready to go.”
Yamadi put his hand on Layla’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. We will succeed.” After a short pause, he added, “Allah is proud of you, Calista.”
After Yamadi had left the room, Calista strolled toward Abigail, stopping near the edge of the bed. Crossing her arms in front of her chest, she spoke in English. “Oh, Abby…I’m afraid things are going to get uncomfortable for you now.”