No Safe Haven (21 page)

I sniffed and wrapped my arms around his middle.

Silence stretched between us.

Cole squeezed my shoulder. I snuggled closer. "Your mom and I were talking earlier, and she explained your disorder in more detail."

I nodded. "Okay."

"She also told me more about your brain surgery."

"Yep."

"I had surgery when I was a kid too."

"Really? How come?" Pulling away, I pushed hair from my face and stared at him.

"I hurt my arm."

"Do you have a scar?"

"Yes."

I wonder if it's as big as mine . . .
"Can I see?"

"Sure, we can compare."

"Okay." I grabbed my hair and threw it over the top of my head, then turned around so he could see the back of my neck.

"That's quite a scar."

I turned back around and dropped my long hair.

"Do you have a MedicAlert bracelet so the doctors will have all your info?"

I smiled.
Always worrying about every little detail . . .
"Yes. It's got my info and ID number."

Cole nodded. "Can I see?"

Was he curious to see what it said or to see if I was telling the truth? I shrugged and flipped the bracelet over.

UNABLE TO

SWEAT, HIGH PAIN

TOLERANCE, CHIARI

DECOMPRESSION.

SUBJECT TO HEAT

STROKE. NKDA

Again he nodded. "Cool."

"Can I see your scar now?"

Cole pulled up his sleeve. A small scar ran across his right forearm. Something else caught my attention. I pushed his shirt up farther.

Huh?

"What is it?" He tugged his sleeve back down.

"This tattoo." I tapped his arm.

"What about it?"

I studied his eyes. "My dad had the same one on his arm."

He turned his face toward Mom.

Should I push it?
I had to know, so I plunged ahead.

"Cole, Hank had this tattoo on his forearm too."

CHAPTER TWENTY

JENNA

April 11

8:17 a.m.

Jenna held her breath. When had Andie seen Hank's tattoo? Was it really the same one that Cole—and Marc—had?

"You're right."

She closed her eyes at Cole's answer. What did that mean? Were Cole and Hank in this whole thing together?

"Andie, we all had the same tattoo because we worked together. For a long time."

So Cole wasn't the only one who'd worked with Marc. Hank had, too? How much more hadn't Cole told her? He probably knew all the details and secrets that Marc had kept from her. Deep in the recesses of her mind, she'd known there was more going on with Marc's work than he'd say. But she was too afraid to admit she suspected Marc hadn't been honest with her.

"What?" Andie's agitation was quite clear. "How could you all work together, and then Hank try to kill us? None of this makes sense."

"Andie—"

"What does the tattoo mean?"

Another sigh from Cole. Jenna knew, but understood that Cole would never tell. Marc had sworn her to secrecy. She wiggled to roll over to her side. She needed to diffuse this situation, and now. "Andie?"

"Mom! You're awake!" Her daughter crushed her in an awkward, upside-down hug. "How are you feeling?"

"Not so great. But I'm okay." She squeezed her daughter's hand. "Cole?"

"Yeah, I'm here."

"Can we get out of here?" Their eyes met, and something almost electrical passed between them. But then it was gone, and Cole was all business.

"I'd like nothing more."

Jenna sat up, then coughed so hard she thought she'd bruise a rib. If only she could beat this blasted infection. Her leg throbbed, and moments of clarity seemed few and far between.

"Jenna?"

She looked at Cole. Saw the concern in his eyes. "My leg is getting worse. And I feel the haze closing in again."

"Jenna, please—"

"Mom—"

She held up a hand to stop them. "Don't worry about me." Spots danced in front of her eyes. But she blinked hard, fighting the darkness. "Andie, just remember that I love you. Listen to Cole. And Cole, you remember your promise." Each word took energy she didn't have.
God, help me, please.
"Now, Cole, please get us off this mountain."

Andie's eyes and Cole's brief nod were the last things she saw as the black engulfed her again.

LEAPER

Fairbanks, Alaska

10:24 a.m.

"So, I hear you called the rangers?"

The rookie squirmed under his intense scrutiny. "Yes, sir."

He narrowed his eyes. "I see."

"I know what I saw, Leaper. Footprints. So since you insisted on ignoring it, I called the rangers to find out if anyone was climbing Sultana."

"And?"

The man seemed to gain confidence and leaned on the desk in front of him. "I think you already know,
sir.
There was no one climbing that mountain. Hardly anyone climbs it. The targets are alive."

His temper flared as he threw his bourbon glass across the room. "Rookie, when are you going to learn to be part of this team?"

"What are you trying to hide?"

"I'm not hiding anything, you sorry piece—"

"You've known all along they were alive, didn't you?" The kid's nostrils flared. "
Didn't
you?" Clarity settled in his eyes. "So you just covered up the fact that you didn't complete your assignment." Rookie stood up straight. His eyes wide. "And—you—"

Rookie's words stopped abruptly as his gaze landed on the gun in Leaper's hand.

"Intend to kill you? Yes."

The report echoed off the walls as the bullet hit its mark. Leaper leaned back in his chair. "It's a good thing you've got no ties, kid. No one will ever know."

Shadow burst through the door, then jerked to a halt when he saw Rookie's slumped form on the floor. "Leaper?"

"He was a rat." His popped the safety and threw the gun on the desk. "About to doublecross us."

"Yes, sir."

"Clean up the mess, will you? I need some fresh air." He could only hope Shadow didn't see how forced his air of authority was. As he wheeled himself out of the room, two grim thoughts escaped. First, he should be the one lying in his own blood.

Second . . .

He hated himself.

COLE

April 11

Sultana Ridge, Denali National Park

12:05 p.m.

The wind whipped around his shoulders. Andie was tethered to him with a short, four-foot length of rope, but still she held his hand in a tight grip as they worked their way down the threatening terrain. Jenna and her pack were strapped to the sled he pulled behind them. He didn't think she had much time before the infection raged through her blood stream and killed her.

He wasn't going to let that happen. Andie and Jenna's bond was amazing. No way was he going to see Andie go through another loss.

No way was he going through it himself.

That's why he
had
to get them off this mountain.

Not because of a promise, or because they were in danger, or even because they might know something about Marc's work. It was because he cared.

Plain and simple.

Andie tugged on his arm.

He pulled down his mask. "You okay?"

She stopped in front of him. "Yeah, but can we rest?"

"Sure thing. Need to get more Tylenol in your mom."

Andie plopped down onto the snow. "Good. I'm so tired, Cole. And that's normally a bad thing—one of the clues Mom uses. 'Cause I never feel tired unless something's wrong."

"Hey, Squirt," he tilted her chin up so she'd look at him, "it's okay to be honest. You need to drink and eat, and then we'll keep moving. Just make sure you let me know if it feels worse, all right?"

She nodded and stared at her mom.

They ate and drank in silence, and Cole checked their dwindling supplies. Plenty of nuts and granola bars, but only two water bottles remained. No time to stop and melt more snow. He needed to get them rescued.
Now.

"Andie," he motioned her closer, "come help me with your mom."

She seemed more lethargic than before. Did that mean something more dire than just fatigue?
Maybe I should keep her talking as we hike.

"Lift her head up, let's try to wake her enough to swallow these pills." Cole patted Jenna's face, while Andie talked to her.

Jenna moaned.

"Okay, this is going to taste nasty, but I'm going to grind up this Tylenol and mix it with the last few swigs in this bottle. Jenna, you need to swallow it." He continued talking as if she were awake, more for Andie than anything.

"Andie, lift your mom even higher. Try climbing onto the sled behind her and lifting her shoulders and head up onto your knees. I'll coax this into her mouth."

Andie positioned herself under her mom and kept patting her shoulders and talking to her.

With a glance at Andie, Cole nodded and brought the liquefied medicine up to her mom's mouth. "Jenna, listen to me. You need to swallow this quickly. I'll give you some fresh water as soon as you have it down."

She moaned again.

Cole took that as an affirmative answer. Working Jenna's jaw with his left hand, he gently poured the contents of the first bottle into her mouth. As she swallowed, she sputtered and grimaced.

"Blechhh . . . wha . . . ?"

Cole gave her some fresh water to drink. "Good job. Maybe that Tylenol will help bring your temp down." He grinned at her puckered expression. "Keep drinking. You need it."

Jenna never opened her eyes, but at least she responded. Andie sat there with her mother's head in her lap, stroking her hair.

"We need to keep moving, so get your mom's headgear back on, all right?"

With a nod, Andie did as she was asked and prepared to go. Within minutes, her small hand gripped his again.

As they trudged along, Cole had dangerous decisions to make. Sultana was steep. Very steep. They could continue straight down and try to hit the Kahiltna glacier, then follow it back up to where the base camp for Denali climbers was located, or they could cut across the ridge to Mt. Crosson and climb down from there.

Either way, they wouldn't make it before sundown.

He chose the ridge, hoping it would be easier with the sled and Andie. As the afternoon wore on, he shoved her hand into the pocket of his coat so he could use his ice axe to help him navigate the narrow ridge. Andie's grip was tight as they trudged through the deep snow.

Conversation lagged as the wind stole most of their words, but he continued to ask questions about her home and her dog. After hours of hiking against the elements, Cole noticed the kid slow considerably.

"Andie, let's stop."

His jerky halt brought her attention to him. She stood in front of him, as if waiting for direction.

"Squirt, I think I need to try to call for help. It's not storming, and the other helicopter hasn't been back."

Her eyes widened. "But Mom said it wasn't safe to use the radio."

He knelt in front of her. "I know, sweetheart, but I don't know what else to do. We haven't seen anyone else, and your mom's getting worse."

"Do you think it'll work?" Her voice seemed so small.

"I don't know. But I think we should at least try."

"Okay." Such complete trust.

He pulled the radio out from under his shirt. Hopefully his body heat had kept the batteries warm enough. "Let's keep moving. And see if we get any response."

As he flipped the channel of the small radio to channel one, he looked back to Jenna. They really needed some good luck.

"Hey, Andie?"

"Yeah?"

"Now would be a good time to pray."

She stopped in her tracks and grabbed his hand. "God? You know where we are, even though we don't. Please don't let any bad guys hear us on the radio, and please help us to be rescued. And please help Mom . . ." Her voice choked with sobs. "Please let her live."

New resolve surged through Cole. He pressed the talk button on the radio. "Is anyone monitoring this channel?"

No response.

He changed to another channel.

Nothing.

And another.

Twenty minutes passed as Cole continued to try the radio. Settling back on channel one, he tried again. "Is there anyone on this channel? Can anyone hear me?" Static trickled through the tiny speaker. His heart sagged.

"We hear you," a voice squawked. "We're climbers on Denali. Identify please."

A sigh of relief—the voice wasn't one he knew. Definitely a good thing. Maybe they actually had a chance. "Party of three, stranded for a week. Need emergency assistance."

"What is your location?"

"We just crossed the ridge from Sultana to Crosson. Can you assist?"

"Will get in touch with the rangers. Anyone injured?"

"Yes, we have one unconscious, severe infection in the leg."

"Stay on this channel. We'll let them know at base camp."

The radio came to life as Cole listened to the interchange between climbers, base camp, and the ranger station in Talkeetna.

Help was on the way.

Hopefully they were the
only
ones on the way.

ANDIE

April 11

Mt. Crosson, Denali National Park

9:31 p.m.

We sat there waiting, tense moments ticking by. Cole crouched beside me, trying in every possible way to get Mom's fever to go down. I tried shaking her shoulder, but all of my attempts just made things worse.

She trembled all over and kept moaning.

All my energy drained into the snow underneath my feet as I sank down next to Mom.

Cole decided we couldn't go any farther since it was dark and he'd told the rangers where we were. I didn't know if I agreed or not. I couldn't stand waiting for the helicopter to come and rescue us. I needed to do something. Something helpful.

But all I could do was pray—pray and hope that by some miracle God would make Mom's leg better and just make the bad guys vanish. That He would get us off the mountain to safety.

"God, You've taken us this far. Please, get us the rest of the way through." The wind howled in my ears and I barely heard my own words.

God, please.

My heart ached. A thousand words wanted to jump out of my mouth, but none came. I needed to ask Cole questions, but they wouldn't form. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what was going to happen.