Vendetta (23 page)

Before she could pull her gun from her holster, he grabbed her and pressed a revolver against her head. “You can't fool me, Nikki. I can see the panic in your eyes. I wondered how long it would take you to figure out who I really am.”

“Cooper?” Tyler stood up on the other side of the shelter. “I
don't know what you think you're doing, but you need to put the gun down. You're outnumbered here.”

“Something I've already anticipated.”

Anderson, Jack, and Simpson pulled their weapons and pointed them at Cooper.

“I wouldn't do that if I were you, gentlemen,” he said. “Nikki, drop your weapon onto the ground. Slowly.”

“Tyler's right.” Nikki's jaw clenched as she did what he told her to. “You're outnumbered and will never get away with this.”

“You don't really believe that, do you? Because you know how much I've already gotten away with. Of course, I'm going to have to change my plan now that you know the truth. I thought about picking you off one by one until only Nikki was left. You're the only one I really wanted up here. But you already know that as well, don't you?”

“You took my sister.”

“Are you surprised? My plan ended up being so much easier than I thought. Just like Hansel and Gretel's trail of bread crumbs. I had you playing right into my hands each step of the way. Your emotional attachment is a handicap, Nikki, but I suppose you've figured that out as well by now.”

“Put the gun down, Cooper,” Jack said. “There's nowhere for you to run.”

“I don't think so.” Cooper held the gun against her head with one hand, then moved his other hand up above her head. “Because I always make sure I have the advantage. I suggest that everyone take a slow step back unless you want me to be the last thing you see.”

“He's got a grenade.” Anderson took a step back. “Do what he says.”

A tangible fear swept through Nikki. The officers continued aiming their weapons at Cooper, but even a seasoned sniper would hesitate in this situation. If they shot Cooper, she'd be dead.

Nikki tried to stem the flow of adrenaline. She knew enough about frag grenades to realize that with the pin out, she'd be dead the second he let go. Along with anyone within twenty feet.

“Tyler . . . Jack . . . all of you need to move back.”

Cooper laughed. “You're finally taking me seriously. That's good. Because not only do I have a grenade, I really don't care if I die with her.”

“Where's Bridget, Cooper?” she asked. “Or should I call you Waters?”

“I'm used to Cooper after all these years, but Bridget . . . she's the least of your concerns at the moment. What you need to worry about is making sure these men do exactly what I say.”

Jack held his weapon steady in front of him. “Then tell us what you want.”

“We're going to walk back to the helicopter—the four of you ahead of me. You can start saying your goodbyes to Nikki on the way.”

They hesitated, then started moving slowly in the direction of the clearing. Raindrops ran down Nikki's face. She blinked
away the water as she struggled on the uneven terrain to keep up with Cooper while he held her against him.

“In case you forgot,” Anderson said, “you killed our pilot, and our copilot's missing. Which means we're stuck here with you.”

“Don't worry. Tyler knows how to fly a helicopter. Don't you, Tyler? It was a part of your advanced training.”

“I took a few lessons, but I'm hardly a pilot. What I do know is that even a seasoned pilot wouldn't take off in this kind of weather. The wind's too strong.”

Nikki caught Tyler's gaze, unsure if he was telling the truth or merely bluffing in order to take control of the situation. If anyone could get her out of this situation, he could.

“Then we'll wait until the storm passes,” Cooper said. “I'm in no hurry.”

“Why don't you tell us what you want,” Tyler said. Any tension in his voice had dissipated. “Because I don't think you really want to die today. Not this way.”

Cooper laughed as they neared the helicopter, the rain still continuing to fall heavily. “Don't play me like you did yesterday with Bridget's mom, because I already know all the tricks of a negotiator. You want me to talk and you'll listen. You'll do and say anything in order to defuse the situation.”

“I just want to make sure we all get out of here without anyone getting hurt,” Tyler said.

“It's a little too late for that, considering at least one of you is already dead.”

“Did you kill Lopez?” Jack asked.

“He was out cold when I left him, though I assume he'll wake up eventually.”

“If the temperature drops any more, and we haven't found him—”

“Forget about him,” Cooper said, the weapon pressing deeper
into Nikki's scalp. “Because I know who you are, Tyler, and how every fiber in your body is itching to take me down and save the girl. But take my advice. Don't even try to play the hero. You think you're capable of saving her, but you're not. Not this time.”

Nikki watched Tyler's expression darken and knew he was weighing his options. Weighing whether or not trying to take Cooper down was worth the risk. Trying to determine if the man was really ready to die. But she knew there was no way he could move fast enough. Because stopping a grenade wasn't the same as stopping a shooter with a gun.

One split second. One quick release of the grenade, and they'd all be dead.

Cooper stopped a dozen feet from the helicopter. “Here's what you all have to understand. I didn't walk into this situation blindly. I've spent months planning this. Months studying Nikki, Tyler, and Jack in particular, because I expected the three of you to be here.”

“What are you talking about?” Jack asked.

“Jack Spencer. Thirty-five years old. Single, though not for lack of trying, which makes me wonder if you're simply just afraid to tie the knot. I also know about your juvenile record. Barely escaped a half-dozen brushes with the law. Decided at eighteen to join the army, and that decision probably saved your life. You eventually retired from the military and became a police officer now turned detective for this task force. And apparently no longer the bad boy you used to be.”

“You—”

“And, Tyler, you might not officially be a part of this team, but Nikki respects your input. I know you were part of an elite combat force that was ready at a moment's notice to fight for your country. You led countless missions across the Middle East and other undisclosed locations until a bullet slammed
into your leg and forced you back home. Back to your wife and son. I tried to imagine what it must feel like for you now. You're trained in handling every possible scenario. Swimming, parachuting, surviving, hand-to-hand combat . . . and yet I know your weakness.”

“None of that really matters,” Tyler said. “All I want to do is help you put an end to this.”

Cooper laughed, all signs of the warm fuzzy tour guide gone. “You don't want to help me. You want to see me dead. But believe me, take a step forward and try me. I'll blow us all to smithereens. And it will be your fault. Just like the day you lost your wife.”

Tyler's jaw clenched as he spoke, and Nikki didn't miss the flinch in his eyes. “Today has nothing to do with my wife.”

Cooper was right. He'd found Tyler's weakness.

“It's a cascade effect,” Cooper continued. “An unforeseen chain of events leading to this moment. Because today has everything to do with her, actually. If she hadn't died, you wouldn't be here today with Nikki on the one-year anniversary of your wife's death. That is the chain of events that put you here at this moment in these particular circumstances.

“Of course, if it wasn't you, it would probably be Ryan in your place. That's his name isn't it, Nikki? The rich guy you've just started dating. Flowers. Dinner. The symphony . . . Does he know you came here with Tyler?”

Nikki bit her lip. “That's none of your business.”

“I suppose not.”

How had she missed this? He'd clearly been stalking her. Following her. Just like he'd done with Bridget. He'd known ahead of time she was going to be rappelling with Tyler. Anticipated that she'd end up being the one who took the call when Bridget went missing. He'd discovered a way to find her cell phone number and he'd been there this morning at Sam's house while she'd been sleeping. He'd planned the whole thing
out. Detail by detail. Leading them to this point, just like Tyler had said, and she'd followed him right into a trap.

“You see, I know about the accident on the
Isabella
with your wife,” Cooper went on.

“I said leave my wife out of this.”

“Why, Tyler? She's dead. Died aboard the
Isabella
one year ago yesterday. I read your story online, though I have to say I was surprised about what I read. Maybe it wasn't like today, though. Maybe there were things that were in your control. Maybe there was more to the story.”

“What are you talking about?” Nikki asked.

“I know how quickly things can spiral out of control. Maybe you got in a fight over your son, or maybe she confessed to you that the baby wasn't yours. That she'd been seeing someone else. You lost your temper—”

“What—?” Tyler started.

“All it really takes is a moment of weakness. One moment when you lose control. She falls into the water. You hesitate . . . just a moment too long. And she dies.”

Tyler's jaw clenched again. “I. Didn't. Kill. My. Wife.”

“Temper, temper, Mr. Grant.”

“Tyler, don't,” Nikki said. “He's just trying to egg you on.”

“I can't help but wonder how hard it's been for you, Tyler. Going back into civilian life. It's an adjustment, isn't it? If you think about it, there really isn't any equivalent job outside the military for what you used to do. I mean, I suppose you could settle for being a swimming instructor, but that doesn't exactly have the same adrenaline rush of being out there in enemy-controlled areas. I'm not even sure rappelling has the same adrenaline rush as that. But I'm done talking for now.” A beam of sunlight broke through the clouds. “The storm's let up enough for you to take off, so I'll give you to the count of ten to board the helo and start the engine.”

No one moved.

“You don't think I'm serious, but you don't have a choice. You leave, or I start shooting before I blow her up. Starting with you.” Cooper turned and aimed his gun at Jack.

She felt her chest press against her lungs. She knew he wasn't just spouting words. And she didn't want to be responsible for someone else getting killed.

Tyler took a step forward. “Leaving Nikki behind isn't an option, Cooper.”

“I have to say, I'm disappointed. Especially considering all you know about me by now. Do you really think this is nothing more than a game to me?”

“None of us think it's a game,” Anderson said. “But it does need to end now.”

Cooper shook his head. “No one ever takes me seriously, but maybe this time you will. One . . . two . . . three . . .”

“Let her go, Cooper. You can disappear into those mountains,” Tyler said. “You know this park as well as any ranger. It would be easy for you.”

“Four . . . five . . . six . . .”

“Tyler, go.” Nikki didn't even try to fight the panic any longer. “All of you. Please.”

“I'd listen to her if I were you.” Cooper aimed the weapon at Jack and fired.

“Jack!” Nikki caught the stunned look in Jack's eyes as he stumbled backward.

A wave of raw terror coursed through her as blood spilled down his neck.

“Go . . . Tyler . . . now, please. Take Jack and get out of here. Do what he says. I'll be fine. If you leave now, before the brunt of the storm hits again, you should be okay.”

“A smart lady,” Cooper said. “I told you to take me seriously, but you refused to listen. Push me, and I'll shoot each one of
you, one at a time, and I'll still win. You've got exactly thirty seconds to get that engine going and get that bird out of here.”

She could see the conflict in Tyler's eyes as the men pulled Jack into the helo. She nodded. “Go. I'll be fine.”

Except she knew she wouldn't be fine. But it wasn't just a choice between her and Jack. She'd seen the hate in Cooper's eyes. He'd kill them all before he let her go. And that wasn't something she was going to let happen.

She watched as Tyler looked at her for the last time, then climbed aboard the helo and turned on the engine. It roared to life as the blades began to rotate. Someone shut the door.

She was going to have to find a way out of this on her own.

A sinking feeling swept through Nikki as the sound of the rotating blades began to fade into the distance. She felt his gun pressed against her head, knew the grenade was right above her. She'd finally found him. The Angel Abductor. He'd killed half a dozen girls, maybe more, and she knew he wouldn't hesitate to kill her as well.

His lack of emotions wasn't his only advantage. He knew the terrain far better than she did. In a few hours, darkness would envelop them, and even with a map, she knew she'd struggle. The sound of the helo faded, taking with it any remaining seeds of hope. She shook away that thought. Tyler would come back for her. She knew he would. And in the meantime, she had to find a way to escape.

“Why are you doing this?” she asked.

“Sit down on the ground and don't move,” he ordered, taking a step back from her.

She hesitated before complying.

“You still don't get it, do you?” His deep laugh sent a shiver down her spine as he jammed the safety back into the grenade
and stuck it in the backpack he carried, along with her weapon. Whatever game he was playing, he clearly had nothing to lose. “This—all of this—was never about Bridget or even your sister. It was always about you.”

“I don't understand.” She caught the darkness in his gaze. If she didn't find a way to escape, he would eventually kill her. “What does all of this have to do with me?”

“You can save your questions for later. We need to get out of here. There's a group of hikers planning to stay here tonight, and I don't want to run into them.” He jutted his chin toward her, his gun still aimed at her. “Give me your phone.”

She hesitated again.

“Let's get something clear.” His icy stare met hers. “You're not in control anymore. I am.”

She counted to five slowly, then handed it to him. He threw it into the trees beyond the clearing, grabbed her arm, then started walking the opposite direction.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“I have a feeling your friends will be back before long, and I don't plan to be here when they do. I've waited too long to have my plans messed up.”

“They know it's you. How do you expect to get out of here?”

“They have to find me first, which won't be easy.” He laughed. “I always warn people not to hike off the main trails. It's extremely easy to get lost. There are few if any other hikers to run into for help, and you can't even count on your GPS. I can't tell you how many hikers I've spoken to who have no sense of direction. Makes me wonder what they were thinking, actually. But it also goes to show how easy it is to get lost. Or to disappear and never be found.”

They left the main trail as the rain started up again, the cloud cover making the dense woods even darker. Nikki hur
ried to keep up as the brush became heavier. She stumbled on the root of a tree.

“Watch your step,” he said. “These mountains can be deadly. Stinging nettles, poison ivy, yellow jackets, and black bears for starters.”

“Thanks for the warning.”

Nikki pressed through the thick undergrowth of rhododendrons, ferns, mountain laurel, and magnolias. Past bear scat, salamanders, and moss. She knew he wasn't exaggerating about the dangers of leaving the trail behind. She'd once heard of these thick canopies described by those lost in them as “laurel hells.” A terrifying place to discover you were lost.

But Randall Cooper—or Kenneth Waters—knew this area like the back of his hand. She followed him up the choked ridge and gazed down the gorge beneath the darkened sky. Praying that Tyler and the others were safe. Praying that Jack and Bridget were still alive. That she wouldn't slip and fall down the deep gully. And praying someone would find her before it was too late.

But a fall wasn't what she was really worried about. She had no doubt Tyler and the rangers would return to look for her, but searching here, with darkness only a few hours away, would be almost impossible.

In some situations, darkness actually helped. Night vision amplified light sources, making a search at night easier than in the day. But the brewing storm above them added yet another complication. And Cooper knew it. She just needed them to find her before he killed her. If they didn't, they'd find her unmarked grave . . . or never find her at all.

He gripped her arm. “I'm assuming you're not planning on doing anything stupid. But just in case you are, the weatherman reported lower than normal temperatures tonight. You're going to need me.”

“Just tell me where we're going and what you want from me.”

Nikki tried to pull away from him, but he shoved her back against a tree, reached into the side pocket of his backpack, and tightly secured her hands with duct tape.

“All you need to know,” he said, “is that we're going for a walk, but I don't think I can trust you not to try to escape.”

She frowned. “You were right about one thing. Where would I go?”

Even in the daytime this terrain could be challenging. Six months ago a man had slipped not far from this very spot and later died from injuries sustained in the fall. That wasn't a chance she wanted to take. Lightning struck in the distance. A misty rain was falling. Already she was soaking wet and cold. If he didn't kill her, she could end up with hypothermia by morning if she didn't get warm.

They kept walking as the sun continued to drop toward the horizon. Before long, the only source of light was going to be the moon and the beam of her abductor's flashlight. There were rocks on the trail, a steep slope to her left. One misstep would send her plunging into the dark void below.

“Hurry up,” he ordered.

She stumbled again, struggling to keep her footing. “How am I supposed to negotiate this trail with my hands tied up?”

“I've watched you climb.” He gripped her arm tighter. “You're athletic. Stay right beside me, and you'll be fine.”

She shivered, as much from his words as her fear of falling. “Where's Bridget?”

“Safe. For now.”

A surge of hope seeped through her. If Bridget was still alive . . . “Where?” she asked again.

“Save your questions for later.”

Nikki shivered again. For all she knew, he was taking her in circles. She'd never been off the official trails. Never hiked in a
storm with black clouds swirling above them. Even her warm fleece wouldn't be enough protection. While the days this time of year were typically warm and pleasant, at night the temperatures dropped significantly.

“Do you really know where you're going?”

Cooper laughed. “I've spent years negotiating these trails. Why do you think I brought you here? I know it better than some of these rangers who work here.”

She tried to move farther away from the edge of the trail. Refusing to believe that she would be another one of those who vanished, their bodies never to be found. No. Not if she could help it. But options at this point were severely limited. Without her own flashlight or warm clothing. Without a map or intimate knowledge of the terrain, finding her way out was going to be impossible unless she managed to stumble onto a group of campers. But even that came with its own risks. The man had a gun—and a frag grenade. She couldn't risk another person's life, especially with a man whom she knew wouldn't hesitate to shoot anyone who got in his way.

She needed his gun and his flashlight, and the best she could hope for was to bide her time until an opportunity presented itself.

She also needed answers.

“Tell me how a computer engineer decides to leave behind his corporate world and become a volunteer in a national park.”

“It was a process. I was being sucked dry. My boss didn't like me, the government was taking a huge chunk of my income, and commuting made for a twelve-hour-plus day. I didn't have a life anymore. Or at least one I wanted.”

“And prison? Was that a part of that process?”

“I was wrongly accused by a co-worker.”

Right.

Her foot slipped on a patch of rocks. He grabbed her arm
and pulled her away from the edge. “Be careful. You could fall and kill yourself.”

“Would it really matter?” She didn't even try to bite back the sarcasm. “I thought that was your plan.”

“Not yet.”

“I told you I was going to have problems negotiating the trail tied up. Besides, there isn't exactly anywhere I can go.”

“Nice try.”

Her mind drifted to Sarah. Was this what Sarah had gone through? Was this what she'd felt like, knowing she was going to die?

She tried to ignore the fatigue laced with panic. She needed to think clearly if she was going to find a way to escape, but even if she had a cell phone, reception was poor in most places up here. Help could be nearby, but she had no idea where the nearest trail was.

Nikki felt her foot slip again. This time she screamed, breaking the relative quiet of their surroundings. Her feet slid out from under her, and she plunged off the steep embankment. Unable to use her hands, she tried to dig her feet into the ground but couldn't stop herself from crashing through the thick undergrowth and rolling down the steep slope.

Seconds later, her back slammed against a tree at the bottom of the darkened incline. She stopped suddenly. Pain shot down her shoulder. For a moment, all Nikki could feel—all she could hear—was the pounding of her heart. She lay still, knowing he was coming after her. She could hear him making his way down the slope, a volley of pebbles falling in his wake. If she got up now, she might be able to get away, but pain engulfed her body while a fog engaged her brain.

Adrenaline flowed. Her body screamed at her to run, but her legs and arms wouldn't move. She glanced up at the top of the ridge that she'd fallen from. He would be here any second . . .
She forced herself to sit up. As far as she could tell, nothing was broken, but she was going to be black and blue come morning. Ignoring the pain, she managed to push herself up without the use of her arms and stumbled to her feet. She had to run. Now.

She spun around slowly, with no idea which way to go. The overhanging clouds blocked any patches of sunlight, leaving it hard to see in the thick expanse of trees hovering beneath the storm's shadows. Back up the incline wasn't an option. To the left, the trees seemed to thin out, and she could hear the sound of rushing water.

By the time she started running, he was almost to the bottom of the ravine. She kept moving, her shoulder burning as she tried not to worry about what else might be out there. The sounds of the forest seemed amplified around her. She knew bears weren't the only animals that lived in the park. Wolves, copperheads, timber rattlers, cougars . . . But that wasn't what terrified her the most. She could hear his footsteps crashing behind her. He was getting closer. She struggled to catch her breath and forced herself to keep moving. He had two guns and at least one grenade. And clearly no qualms in using either.

Strings of spider silk stuck to her face and hair as she ran through a web, but there was no way to brush it off. She kept running straight ahead as fast as she could, but here—unlike on the main trails—the path wasn't maintained. Swerving to avoid a thornbush, she barely missed tripping over a rotting log.

Help me, God. Please . . .

She glanced back, her heart pounding in her throat. She couldn't hear him behind her anymore. Had she lost him?

The orange flame of a campfire flickered in the distance. If she could just get to a phone and call for help.

She paused again. Listening for his footsteps. Maybe she
had
lost him.

She stumbled into the campsite. Two couples sat around a
fire, warming up from the chill of the storm. A few college-age kids hung out under the shelter's covering playing a game of cards. She stopped, realizing what a mess she must look like with her hands duct-taped in front of her and spiderwebs in her hair.

“I'm sorry . . .” She worked not to sound hysterical. “I'm Special Agent Nikki Boyd with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations, and I need your help.”

One of the men stood up slowly from where he sat. “Are you all right, ma'am?”

“No. I need a phone, and if you have one, a weapon.” She struggled to ignore the pain in her shoulder as she explained. “And I need someone to undo my arms. The rest of you need to get inside the shelter, quickly. There's a man after me. He's got weapons, and he's dangerous. I can show you my badge once my arms are free.”

A redheaded man in his late forties slowly started toward her after motioning the others inside the shelter. “Are you hurt?”

“Just banged up,” Nikki said. “Please. Hurry.”

But it was too late. Cooper crashed into the campsite. Another man had grabbed a handgun from a backpack, but Cooper already had his drawn. She turned around slowly, realizing she never should have come here and put these people at risk.