Page 39 of Canyon of Deceit
Voices grew louder at the opening of the cave where the two men talked. I squeezed my eyes shut and didn’t move. I must listen to every word. One of them had been to our house, and his name was Mr. Falin. He’s mean but the other man was meaner. The meaner man had lines on one side of his face, but not the lines I’d seen on old people. Scary lines, and he hadn’t smiled once. He had told me to sit here on the hard ground and not move. I obeyed. My hands and feet were tied together.
My whole body shook. I wanted to wake up.This can’t be real.
“How long until we get out of this hole?” Mr. Falin said.
The two men argued a lot and used inappropriate language.
“How badly do you want my box of chips?”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“I have my own agenda to handle before the exchange. Those two behind us need to be eliminated.”
“Then why the—didn’t you kill them last night?”
The meaner man cursed. “I gave you a good price for everything you demanded. I told you this would be handled my way.”
“All I’m asking is why the delay? My people are ready to complete the transaction,” Mr. Falin said.
“It’s a game. The two trailing us aren’t a threat without their guns. Besides, the woman is a worthy opponent.”
“A worthy opponent? How?”
“She’s a wilderness-survival expert, and she outsmarted me once, but it won’t happen again. I owe her a slow death. Let me just say I have set her up.”
“But we have a deal. You were paid for Alina, and I’m ready to complete the rest of it.”
The mean man clicked something in his hand. I’d seen his gun. They both had them.
“Hold on, Chandler. No reason to get upset. Your timing. Your way.”
The meaner man—Mr. Chandler—laughed. “What about the kid?”
“She’s collateral until Rurik completes my terms.”
“Then what? Do you think I’m going to carry her down these mountains?”
“I can manage.”
“Idiot. She can identify both of us. We either kill her or sell her. Pretty little thing would bring a good price. Wire the eight million to my account, or we don’t have a deal.”
I understood what the man named Chandler meant. He’d kill me ’cause I might tell my daddy what they looked like. Daddy hadn’t gotten rid of me. The men had kidnapped me, and he paid them.My daddy loved me, but it sounded like money wouldn’t set me free. They wanted something else.
I promised myself to be obedient and not make the men mad. Two people searched for me, and I bet they could get me home. I’d find a way to run away. Daddy had taught me how to follow the stars if I got lost.
My fingers touched on the cave wall and I scraped my finger. The sting gave me an idea. I rubbed the rope around my wrists against it like a knife. I’d cut through the rope and free my hands. Daddy would be proud of me. It didn’t take long for my shoulders to ache. I stopped. Rested. Then kept trying. The ropes were so tight, and wiggling my feet didn’t help with the knot tying them. I’d not give up.
Mr. Chandler stomped into the cave and snatched my school backpack. “Listen up.”
TWENTY
THERESE
I’d never been violated. Nothing had ever stalked me with such fear... The urge to vomit engulfed me, as though Chandler’s filthy hands were all over me.
“He watched us while we slept,” I said through a quivering voice. I wanted to scream, hear my voice echo off the rock formations.
“Therese.” Blane spoke my name in a soft whisper. “Lift your chin and take a deep breath.”
