Page 50 of No Hope of Rescue

“I’m supposed to deliver them the helicopter so they can get their stuff out of there. And there’s something really big that needs to be moved.”

“How are you supposed to”—I use air quotes—“‘get them a helicopter’?”

“They just said they know where we live, and I have to wait for them to call me.”

I nod. “You mean for instructions?”

Her nod is almost imperceptible. “They need to fly to Denver Airport.”

“Denver.”

“They have a private airplane or something, and that man will meet them there and fly them out.”

“So, they need to get off the mountain.”

“And if I don’t help them, or if I tell anyone and they find out . . .” She starts to cry.

“What, sweetie? What?” I wrap my arms around her, and her body trembles.

She hiccups. “They say they’ll shoot Mom. Or Carter or Ryan or Jace. They looked them up on their phones. Our family.”

“Phones are one thing. But guns?” I stoke her forehead. “How are they going to do that from the mountains?”

“There’s another guy,” she says and then clenches her fists. “He’s here somewhere. I don’t know what to do.”

I slip the phone back into my vest pocket. “I’m going to keep this for a while longer. If you don’t pick up, they’ll just assume you’re still recovering or busy. We can buy some time.”

“They’ll need a pilot. If you say anything and my mom dies—” She starts rocking and hugging her knees. I reposition myself on the bed and hold her.

“Nothing will happen to your mom. My guess is they have no one here.”

“Really?” She sniffs.

“Really. This is a bluff to freak you out and get you to cooperate. Brock and Ross are sending coordinates to the police right after breakfast.”

Codie’s jaw quivers, and I pull her in for a hug. “Nothing is happening right this second. Take a deep breath.”

For a minute, we sit together, inhaling deeply and exhaling, arms around each other. Finally, she pulls away.

“I’m sorry,” she says. “I’m sorry. I know I should tell Brock, but I just don’t know what to do.”

“Do you trust me?”

She nods.

“Okay. Then trust that I’ll do the right thing, and it’s not your responsibility anymore.” She relaxes slightly, her body sagging in my arms. “Why don’t you try to get some sleep.”

When she slides under the covers and yawns, I know it’s my cue to leave.

The phone burns in my pocket as I shut the door. Standing in the hall, I send a quick text to Brock letting him know I’ll be over in ten minutes. I need to think.

Speaking with Kelly isn’t an option. She’s nearly asleep on the sofa, which I know from experience is a horrible torture device. She needs to get comfortable. I tap her on the shoulder, remind her where she is, what time it is, and help her move to her bedroom one room down from Codie’s. She looks exhausted but relieved, happy. After running a tongue over her teeth, she stops to brush them, and I wait outside the bathroom door. All of her children are safe for now. I’m not discussing what Codie just told me in the bedroom.

There’s an adult answer to this, and I know what it is. I’ve got to go tell Brock immediately and go to the authorities if he won’t. The only lie I told Codie is that her mother isn’t in danger. If they have a man to fly them out, there might be a man here on the ground who could put a bullet in her head.

Kelly emerges from the bathroom, amused I’m still in the hallway. She leans in for a quick hug and a kiss of thanks on the cheek and disappears behind her bedroom door.

The best thing would be to keep her locked behind that door at all times. She’s not gonna like that, I think, closing the front door behind me. I scan the trees for a moment beyond the cabins. It has to be a bluff.