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“I want to say that’s the direction I heard the ATV go. Of course, that’s hard to know with how sound can bounce around off of these rock faces.”
They started the trek toward her scarf, grabbed it, then continued to the stream where they filled up the water bottle. Per their usual, they spent much of the time in silence, but Josh’s mind was anything but silent. He wanted to solve the puzzle of how they’d gotten out here, why, and most importantly, how did they get out?
As they continued, the terrain became rockier and more inclined. Up ahead, a rock wall rose in front of them.
“Josh.” Chloe gripped his arm.
He saw it too. The creek disappeared between the rocks.
“Now what?”
Josh considered the possibilities. But he didn’t know. Without a compass, a map, and a clue as to where they were, he was lost. But he didn’t want Chloe to see how hopeless he felt at the moment. He needed to be strong for her. “Let’s walk along the base of this wall. Surely it’ll give way to a place we can at least climb out.”
Chloe’s insides shook. Climb out? That might be his worst idea yet. “Or a ramp. Or stairs.”
Josh chuckled. “Sorry, but I don’t think we’ll find an elevator either.”
She shoved him playfully and walked along the base of the rock face. Even if she weren’t afraid of heights, this would be a nearly impossible face to climb.
Josh caught up with her and bumped her arm with his elbow. “We’ll figure this out.”
She met his gaze and saw fear in his eyes that he didn’t portray in his words. Tempting as it was, she didn’t call him out. Instead she tried to stay strong for him. Maybe, between the two of them, they could find enough faith to move this mountain. Maybe.
She slipped slightly on a boulder.
Josh thrust his hand toward her. She grabbed it and held on tight until she found her footing again.
“Thank you.” But she didn’t let go.
Neither did he.
They hiked along, hand-in-hand, looking for a way beyond the valley they seemed to be trapped in.
“This has to be the most unusual terrain.”
“It’s almost as if the boulders at that creek had been put on top. You don’t suppose . . .”
“Suppose what?”
“That it was on purpose? Was this place designed for this?”
“For trapping people?”
She shook her head. “I hope not.”
They went on. Chloe darted her gaze around. Something felt off, but she couldn’t figure out what. Well, besides the fact that they’d been threatened, kidnapped, and dropped in the woods. That was off enough, but something more . . .
“Josh.” She pulled him to a stop.
“What is it?”
She looked past the trees but didn’t see anything more than more trees. She kept her voice soft. “It just feels like someone is watching us.”
Chapter Thirteen
GabehungupwithJosh’s sister Amelia, a detective in North Carolina, and leaned on Buck’s desk and stared at the computer screen. They had acquired all the video surveillance from the medical building where Josh had been taken and were now combing through it.
Aliza and a couple of her teammates sat at a table a few feet away, watching two different angles. Martinez and Dylan were watching another, and he and Buck the final video—the one that covered the door, where Josh would have exited.
