Page 36 of Canyon of Deceit
“Any movement?” she said.
“No. The rifle fire came from the north. Chandler’s a crack shot, and yet we’re still alive.” The wind had saved her...
“You and I know exactly why I’m alive.”
I refused to say God, although I had no belief in coincidences. “Chandler is playing games with us, which follows his MO. My question is why? What’s the goal here? Waiting on confirmation that Rurik’s wired the ransom, then hightailing it out of here?” I shook my head. “That’s crazy. He’d have received notice within moments of the transfer.” I searched the northern rocks where I wanted to be.
She pointed to a golden eagle soaring above us. “Like many Native Americans, I believe the bird symbolizes majesty, power, truth, wisdom, and honor.”
“I could use a few answers.”
“Me too.” She’d already ripped open an antiseptic pad, cleansed the minor wound, and placed a Band-Aid on her leg.
“Can you walk on that?”
“Sure. Do we move east and attempt to approach them from behind? The hike is grueling there.”
“Sounds like the best trail to take. With your wounded leg, Chandler will expect us to head straight to where he or they fired the shots.”
“One more time you’re right,” she said. “He’ll find ways to inflict pain until he’s looking at us through his rifle scope again.”
“Therese, listen to me.” I captured her gaze. “Head back to the trailhead, and I’ll go on alone. The FBI will find you. I have supplies, my weapon, a compass, and sat phone. No need to put yourself through this. Once I have zeroed in on Alina’s location, I’ll call for backup.”
“Impossible.” She sucked in a breath and added weight to her leg. “I’m ready. Finding Alina is more important than running from a jerk who fired on us.”
I scowled at her. “Rest a few minutes. Might give you a change of mind.”
“Not going to happen. I’m afraid of Chandler and whoever else is out there, but God’s with me.” She offered a fragile smile.
“He shot you. He’s dangerous. Has no value for human life. Think of your loved ones who would mourn your death. Do you want them to experience such heartache?”
“My distant cousins understand my personality and so do my friends. They are familiar with how I live.”
“There’s a difference between courage and acting foolishly.”
“Then I’ll take the former.”
I gave up convincing her for now. She had the tracking skills, and I had the gun power. We needed each other.
Chandler, what motivates you?He had so many charges against him in the US and other parts of the world that he might be planning to slip into seclusion. How did the ROC’s scheme to assassinate Edik Baranov and assist in kidnapping Alina entice Chandler? In planning an assassination, murdering Daria Ivanov, and kidnapping Alina, where did all the players fit?
The answers weren’t available to me, but I determined to work all the harder. I came here to rescue a little girl, and I had no intention of leaving empty-handed or any of us leaving in a body bag. The clichéd phrase “This isn’t my first rodeo” blew through me like the wind. But this time I rode an unbeatable bronc.
I called Sergio and apprised him of the shooting. “Can you checkto see if any of those on our list have crossed paths in areas other than Houston?”
“I’ll see what I can find out. A helo with armed Rangers is headed to Dog Canyon. The FBI is also working with intel in Moscow. I’ll check in as soon as I have anything.”
I slid my phone into my zippered pocket and sensed Therese frowning. “What’s bothering you?”
“Reality. Fear is dancing through me to the tune of how to make it out of here alive with Alina. I haven’t lost my optimism.” She swallowed hard. “Chandler’s proven his actions are more like a rabid animal, and that’s not good for any of us.”
We both had our analogies of Chandler. I needed to pay attention to how Therese handled fear. Stress was normal, and even a good thing for self-preservation. Except headaches and other physical symptoms paved the way for mistakes. She’d read those in others, but did she have the discernment to see the same in herself?
I adjusted my backpack for the trek ahead. “Those odds were laid out right from the start. Are you hiking back to the trailhead?”
She lifted her chin. “I’m being honest with my partner.”
I expelled a frustrated sigh. “You’re not alone, and while we’re talking truth, the best way to outsmart him, or them, is to put ourselves in their shoes. That’s my number one rule of negotiation.”
