Page 37 of Canyon of Deceit
“I understand. Tell me more.”
“The game of cat and mouse doesn’t work when the mouse understands the cat’s instincts. I’ve spent our hiking hours putting my feet into his boots. The only way to square off with Chandler is on even ground.”
“Theoretically, you make sense,” she said. “But how are we to implement it?”
I directed my attention east. “Just like the choice we made to find Alina in these mountains. Get behind them and beat Chandler and the elements at their own game.”
EIGHTEEN
Alina and her two captors had vanished from our eyes. But not from my vow to free a little girl. I failed to understand myself. Me, the negotiator. Me, with all my education in behavior. Me, who’d risked my life countless times in the line of duty. Me, who hadn’t figured out if I’d agreed to this mission to save an innocent child or convince a woman I was worth the effort of a relationship. Or both. The part of me who believed man was born good, and evil came from experiencing the world now questioned if Therese had discovered what I lacked. Faith in God.
We all searched for something, and at times a sadness escaped her eyes. I stumbled over those brief moments when something attacked her, as though she wrestled with God. Then she’d blink and the sadness vanished. I’d keep listening and observing—the only way I’d ever understand her.
Demons stalked us all, burying their claws deep into our emotions until we unlocked our chains and escaped, banishing them from our lives. One day I’d discover the source of my real search, then I’d not only escape but chain the demon to what held me.
My mental wanderings worked as a diversion until danger of the mission grabbed a strangling hold. Time slipped like the loose scree beneath my feet. One priority remained.
We hiked our way east, and like Therese had said, the trail—what there was of it—gave me fresh appreciation for the definition of perilous. Sliding rock and unexpected drop-offs caused me to think facing a shooter might be easier. At least I had the skills to balance the odds with my fists or with a gun in my hand.
The good part of the trek was watching Therese’s lithe body scale rocks while her honey-colored ponytail swung with each step. She made climbing true beauty and art. My ability to paint people often missed the details of showing character and personality, but I’d be willing to spend time capturing hers on canvas.
We set up camp like the previous night under the shelter of a hanging rock. Hunger curled in my belly, growled, and spurted like a voice of desperation. I never imagined a can of tuna, crackers, and an apple had so much flavor. And it rivaled Thanksgiving dinner after existing on government-issued rations. We ate without conversation, each of us undoubtedly engrossed in our own solutions and figuring out what lay ahead. Plus, I was too tired to make the effort to speak.
“If we were nocturnal, we’d travel at night,” Therese finally said. “Catch Chandler and whoever is with him off guard and be finished with this.”
I swallowed a gulp of water. “Plan B is a little more to my liking. We’re hiking beyond where we saw them. Is there a trail to approach their rear in the least unsuspecting way?”
She pondered my question. “Yes. It’s a hard climb.”
I leaned in closer and let the fire warm my face. “We can do it. If we found them tomorrow and waited until dusk, is it possible to snatch Alina at night?”
“Nothing is off-limits. Just takes more ingenuity to accomplish.”
“We’d need to stay hidden until backup arrived. A place where visibility is zero percent. My concern is once Chandler learns he’s been duped, he’ll be on our tails. No way the team would arrive in time.” I held up a finger. “We have a helo full of Rangers waiting at the Dog Canyon Visitor’s Center. They can be ready at a moment’s notice.”
She eyed me like I’d lost my brains at the trailhead. “Have you been watching too many movies?”
I purposely widened my eyes. “Aren’t we the type that movies are made from? We agreed this wasMission Impossible.”
“You’re not Tom Cruise.”
I startled. “Are you kidding? We have danger, adventure, and you’re the hot heroine who has all the skills.”
“Ah, most of his women get killed.”
“We’ll be successful ’cause I wrote this script.”
She gave me a high five. “Best news I’ve heard all day. Tomorrow will be the day of reckoning.”
“Ready to move?”
“What?”
“Let’s build a bigger fire, then move to where we can watch our campsite. Take turns sleeping. If Chandler chooses to attack, we’ll see him.”
“All right. Good call. Cat and mouse, right?” she said.
Grabbing our backpacks and gear, we made our way to a secluded area several feet from the fire where we were protected from the cold wind. I took the first watch.
