Page 28 of Canyon of Deceit
“I paid the three million plus what I’ve already given you.”
Fury sparked in me. “And where do we find Alina since the kidnappers have their demands?”
“I don’t know!”
How could I stay angry when I’d have done anything to heal Kate? Blane must have sensed my warring emotions and asked to speak to Rurik. I handed him my phone.
“Sir, Therese and I are upset at your unwillingness to provide needed info. But we are committed to finding Alina. The FBI is a part of the case due to varied implications. I encourage you to cooperate in every way possible. Has anything else happened that we need to be aware of?” Blane’s gaze flew to me. “Have you alerted the FBI about the third call?”
My patience with one-sided conversations had met its limit, and my patience with Rurik plunged into a canyon.
“Only you can make the decision. Therese and I are supporting Alina... We’ll keep in touch.” He glanced at me. “I’ll tell her of your apology. Take care of yourself. You have our cell and satellite phone numbers.” Blane returned my device.
“What’s going on?” I drew in a quick breath. Spouting off at Blane solved nothing.
“The man who previously contacted Rurik phoned about three this morning. He questioned why the FBI had stuck their nose into the ROC and Rurik’s private business. I suspect the ROC spotted the Feds snooping around his house and the university.”
I groaned. “What did Rurik tell him?”
“That he’d been mistaken.”
“Doubtful the caller believed him.”
“Right. The caller repeated that seeing Alina again was up to Rurik. The money meant nothing when he’d gone to the FBI. The FBI put a tracer on Rurik’s cell phone.”
“Are the Feds aware of the burner phone he used to call me?”
“What do you think?”
I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel. “I’d love to hear about an arrest anytime now. Why didn’t Rurik tell one of us about the call early this morning?”
“He has Mule Syndrome. No one’s going to tell him what to do,” Blane said. “We can’t trust him, but our mission is Alina. I suspect law enforcement is two steps behind whoever is responsible. We have no time to lose.”
“We’re a team. I have experience with nature’s challenges, but you have insight into negotiations and behavior.”
“No stress whatsoever.” He narrowed his gaze. “Let’s go find Alina.”
“Exactly.” I tossed Blane the keys. “You can keep these until we drive out of here with Alina.”
He opened the Jeep’s door. “I’ll zipper them in my backpack.”
We shrugged on our gear and positioned our water bottles—Blane had finally seen the wisdom of scattering supplies if it only meant the water.
“I’d like to cover a lot of ground before making camp tonight,” I said.
He stared up at the rocky terrain littered with loose limestone. “You lead out on the off-trails, and I’ll keep up. I’d appreciate it if along the way, you’d show me how to read any signs or evidence.”
“My pleasure. I won’t even charge for the tutorial.”
With his familiar chuckle, we followed a narrow, rocky path into the secluded area. At the base of the trail, we removed trekking poles from our backpacks. I peered up at the cloudless blue, then bowed my head. We needed divine guidance, direction, safety, and help finding Alina. And staying alive.
“Are you praying?” Blane said softly.
I lifted my head. “I asked for safety and wisdom.”
“We need both. Glad one of us is on speaking terms with God.”
What’s preventing you?I stopped myself from speaking aloud.Please show Blane Your power and love, Lord.
