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Just one of many things they’d have to watch for. In the meantime, a helicopter could drop more gear now that the SAR team had made it down. After assessing the climber’s injuries, they’d relay their needs to the command center.
Only, Heidi noticed, they weren’t dressed like climbers. Coats, sure, but jeans and regular shoes. How could they have hiked all this way this time of year without crampons or snowshoes? Heidi told Cade to request the extra gear and whatever winter hiking wear was available. He arched a brow, the question in his eyes confirming hers, and relayed the information.
What was going on?
* * *
Isaiah caught up with Heidi. She was too stressed for her own good. That could be dangerous. But he knew he was partially to blame for that. Or was he giving himself too much credit?
She’d had a rough time of things the past few months, and Isaiah had pulled away when he’d realized they were growing too close. He couldn’t let himself get involved with anyone because of his own mistakes. He wanted to keep the past he ran from hidden. Heidi deserved better than him, and when he’d seen that look in her eyes—one of longing and admiration—a look that he returned too eagerly, he knew he had to withdraw.
And he’d hurt her.
Then came the accident. Heidi had been out for a hike with friends when someone had fallen to their death. Pain zinged through Isaiah. She’d blamed herself, and Isaiah could relate all too well to that feeling. How he wanted to be there for her. To encourage her and get her through it, but he’d already backed away. Let her family be there for her.
And they had been.
Except for when it came to informing Heidi that the man she was seeing, months after Isaiah had made his retreat, was married. Isaiah ended up with that grueling, dirty task. Why him, of all people?
But all that was behind them, and Heidi needed to focus on this rescue. Cade insisted that the only way for her to dig out of the dark place she’d crawled into was to get back into the thick of search and rescue. While that made perfect sense, Isaiah had been worried it was too soon.
He swallowed the sudden knot that arose again as he recalled seeing her dangling on the rope through his night vision goggles moments ago. It was Heidi’s decision to be here, and her brother’s business to watch out for her. Not Isaiah’s, other than as her SAR team member. No. He wasn’t in the Warrens’ inner circle. Not since he’d severed his emotional connection to Heidi.
And not since Cade had started acting as if something was eating at him. It was unusual for Cade to keep anything from Isaiah. He didn’t know what was going on, but he feared his secret was out. Cade was brooding over something and he didn’t appear to know how to share it with Isaiah. Now that Isaiah thought about it, Cade had tried to talk to him a few times about whatever was bothering him, but then he’d shut down. What else could it be except that Cade had found out the truth about Isaiah? That was too much to think about on an easy day, so he shook away the thought and concentrated on the rescue.
The moonlight had crept across the sky and into the gap between the two peaks so he tugged his goggles over his helmet and pushed past Heidi, leading the way to the group. They needed to establish that the SAR team was in charge from the very beginning.
As he approached the climbers, two of the men left the circle around the fire and hiked toward him, bundled up in their winter coats, though it was spring. But mountain summits didn’t often care. Isaiah squared his shoulders and stood tall as he closed the distance to meet them.
When he reached them, one of the two stepped forward. The leader of this climbing party?
Isaiah thrust his gloved hand out. “Isaiah Callahan, and behind me, Heidi and Cade Warren. We’re part of the North Face Mountain Search and Rescue.”
“I’m Zach, and this is Jason. Rhea and Liam are by the fire.”
Zach was trim enough, though he looked bulky with his coat, but he was about Isaiah’s height at five feet eleven inches. Jason was both stockier and taller.
“Good you were able to make a fire.” Isaiah noticed a bruise on Jason’s forehead, a cut and smudges across Zach’s temple and face. “How are you holding up?”
Jason huffed, and Zach sent him a glare over his shoulder. What was that about?
“Where’s the injured party?” Cade asked, coming up behind Isaiah, carrying his pack and ropes.
“We were informed someone had taken a fall.” A little breathless, Heidi finally joined them. She handed off the pack holding the medical gear to Isaiah. Though they were each trained to assist in all situations, Isaiah had the most medical experience.
“That was Robbie.” Zach gestured to the shadows beyond the fire. “Over there. But he’s already gone. No point in worrying about him now.”
Was the guy in so much shock he couldn’t render any emotion over a fallen friend? The cold words struck Isaiah. He glanced to Cade and Heidi. Did they sense that something was off here, too? He couldn’t read them.
Zach led them over to the fire.
The radio squawked and Cade answered, discussing the coordinates and the extra gear the helicopter would drop. He left the group to position himself to receive the goods. Heidi began unpacking, preparing for an overnight stay that would include a winter storm.
Spring didn’t mean anything up in the mountains in Alaska’s Coast Range.
Letting his gaze skim the fire and the climbers’ sorely lacking gear, except for one conspicuous green bag near the fire, he finally spotted the bundle, likely the body, about fifteen or more yards away in the shadows. Isaiah hated hearing they hadn’t made it in time to save someone but it happened all too often.
Zach was suddenly at his side again.
“What happened to him?” Isaiah pointed to what he assumed was the body of the injured climber.
“He fell.”
“But he was still alive when you called us.” They’d gotten here as quickly as they could.
“I don’t know, man, you know how these things happen. He fell and his injuries killed him.”
Yeah, Isaiah knew. He trudged in the direction of the body, the thrum of a helicopter drawing closer. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Cade’s silhouette in the distance as he made his way to gather the gear being dropped.
Something didn’t add up. None of the climbers were equipped to climb the summit or traverse the cliff side. How did they get here? Confusion along with an unwelcome sick feeling that something was definitely wrong crawled over him like a sudden, drastic drop in temperature.
“Where are you going?” Zach followed. “I said he was dead. There’s nothing more you can do for him. We need to get out of here tonight. You’re wasting time.”
Isaiah kept walking. “None of us are getting out tonight.”
“What?” The guy jerked Isaiah around.
“A storm’s coming. Life Flight is planning to hoist the injured man out of here in the morning, that is, after the storm clears out.”
“We don’t need to wait.”
“The logistics of getting everyone out tonight are a nightmare. In the morning when the storm clears is better. It’s safer. And it’s the only option.”
Isaiah proceeded to the body. He knelt down to examine the man, pulling out his flashlight. Had he died of hypothermia?
Then he found the blood and...a gunshot entry wound. When he was up top, he thought he’d heard a gunshot ring out in the distance behind him, too far to be related to the group in the valley. Had he been wrong about that?
Stiffening, Isaiah slowly pressed his hand inside his parka, covering the weapon in his shoulder holster. He was here to rescue people, not hurt them.
“Don’t even think about it.” Zach pressed the cold muzzle of a gun against the back of Isaiah’s exposed neck.
Closing his eyes, Isaiah sent up a prayer and calculated his next move.
The gun pressed harder, digging into his flesh. “Put your hands up where I can see them and slowly stand up.”
Zach backed away from Isaiah as he turned to face the guy, his hands up. Too bad. He could have wrestled the weapon from him.
“He’s dead because he’d only slow us down,” Zach said. “Are you going to be next?”
TWO (#uc1bc5537-0812-5c76-96e5-e93981312a44)
Heidi unpacked the tents and synthetic insulated blankets, tossing them to the wary climbers by the fire. Jason, Liam and then Rhea. The woman, face pale, lips a little blue, wore a dazed expression and shivered. It appeared she might be getting hypothermic. None of that came as a surprise considering the climbers had been waiting for hours for the SAR team to arrive.
Heidi must have let her gaze linger on Rhea too long because the woman blinked and looked up from the fire, regarding Heidi with an odd expression. Heidi hated that Rhea gave her the creeps. She was here to assist Rhea and her climbing buddies, so Heidi didn’t like thinking that way about anyone. Yet she almost wished the moon wasn’t shining on the woman’s face. Soon enough, she’d have her wish as the light in the sky shifted behind the mountains or the storm clouds hid it from view. Unfortunately, she didn’t relish working in the dark, either.
Heidi focused her attention back on removing the needed equipment from the various packs. The snow flukes to help secure the tents against the heavy and wet snow, along with the high winds that would come with the expected storm. The small camping stove and fuel they’d mostly use to melt snow for water. Sleeping bags. Now all she needed was some help to get the tents set up.
A blast of icy wind swept over her. It was definitely picking up. She shivered at the thought. Heidi hated to weather a storm like this, but the good thing was they’d gotten here beforehand and these people would have ample protection now. Cade had been right to insist she help. The swell of satisfaction she received when helping others was returning.
“You should wait,” Rhea said.
Heidi looked up from the pack—stuff now strewn around. “Wait? Why would I do that? The faster I can get you warmed up the better.”
“Because we’re hiking out tonight.”
The woman wasn’t making any sense, didn’t know what she was talking about. Yep, her core body temperature was too low. The quicker Heidi got Rhea inside a tent, the better. Heidi glanced at the two men who only stared into the fire. Obviously, they had experience in dealing with Rhea. Heidi would follow their example. She kept her thoughts to herself and focused on setting up camp. No need to further antagonize Rhea.
Cade had gone off to grab the rest of the supplies the helicopter dropped a few hundred yards from them to keep it safe, and Isaiah went to check on the deceased climber. Not so far away, but they couldn’t get back fast enough for her.
“Did you hear me?” Rhea’s tone grew belligerent.
What was this all about?
“That was never the plan.” Heidi stood tall, facing her. “The plan was that a helicopter would hoist anyone who was injured out in the morning. It’s too dangerous tonight.”
Cade came from the shadows and tossed more packs and sleeping bags toward Heidi, where they plopped in the snow. Heidi shot him a look.
“What’s the problem?” Cade caught his breath, then focused on Rhea. Jason and Liam stood up as if they were answering a challenge.
“No problem,” Rhea said. “I told her not to unpack. We’re hiking out.”
Cade frowned.
Isaiah came into the circle of light, Zach right behind him. Zach shoved Isaiah forward.
What was going on?
Zach held two guns and pointed one at Isaiah and one at Cade. “I’ll need your weapons and all communication devices.” He glanced over at Heidi. “You, too, sweetheart.”
Heidi gulped for air. This couldn’t be happening. What would Cade do? She watched him, willing him to hear her pleading.
Don’t try to be a hero now, Cade. Please don’t.
“I don’t have anything on me,” Heidi said.
“You’re going to have to prove it.” Zach waved the gun. “Take off your coats.”
“What?” Cade said. “It’s too cold out here! We have to stay the night on this mountain.”
Zach pressed the gun into Isaiah’s temple. “I don’t need all three of you.”
“Yes, you need us all.” Heidi didn’t hide the desperation in her plea. “Whatever you’re planning, to hike out tonight like Rhea said, you definitely need all three of us. You’ll never make it without our help. We are the bare minimum required.”
Angling his head, Zach studied her, considering her words.
The way Isaiah slightly shook his head, as though he was ready to die for them right here and now was too much for Heidi. She couldn’t allow that. Cade could not get his weapon out in time to do anything for them. Isaiah had to know that.
“Do as he says, Cade.” Heidi took off her own coat and arctic cold swirled around her. She shivered.
Wind rippled over the small fire and almost snuffed it out, but Heidi knew the darkness wouldn’t help them.
“You should listen to her,” Zach said.
Cade quickly stripped from his jacket, revealing his shoulder holster and the weapon inside. He handed it over to Jason.
“Radios and SAT phones, cell phones, everything.”
Cade’s expression turned dark and menacing as he handed over everything that would connect him to their brother David, who was monitoring this rescue mission from the command center at the base of the mountain. Adam, Cade and Heidi’s other brother, had been called out on a separate search and rescue. The Warren siblings were spread out tonight.
“Is that everything?”
“We came here to help you,” Isaiah said. “A storm is approaching, so we don’t have time for this. Why are you threatening us, pointing those guns at us?”
“If you don’t want our help, we’ll just be on our way,” Cade said.
“I like to hear that, because that’s exactly what’s going to happen. We’re going to be on our way. All of us. You’re going to lead, and we’re going to follow you out.”
Isaiah looked at the cliff face they’d just scaled. “We’re not equipped to help you back up that cliff, not in the dark. Not with a storm closing in. There’s a reason we brought supplies to make it through the night and longer, depending on the weather.”
“Why did you call us? Why do you need us?” Heidi asked the question, but she thought she already knew the answer.
“The supplies you brought, and we need you to guide us out,” Jason said.
Finally, someone besides Zach spoke up. Maybe if they could somehow take him out, the rest of them could be overcome.
“Our small plane crash-landed up there.” Jason pointed behind them. “Two people didn’t survive, the pilot died. Another guy, too. The rest of us...we made it this far, but knew we needed to call for help or die in the mountains.”
But why the guns? Obviously, there was much more to this than they were being told. They were desperate to get out tonight, which was also a risk. So desperate that they would hold a search and rescue team at gunpoint. Why were they in such a hurry? What were they running from?
Fear gripped Heidi at her next thought.
Were they fugitives?
She didn’t watch the news enough to know anything.
Heidi wanted to ask, but her brother gave a slight shake of his head. Knowing too much about this group in need of help could be deadly. But sooner or later the SAR team would learn the truth, and Heidi feared that truth, when it came, would cost their lives.
* * *
