Chapter 69
A cool, prickling sensation traveled across Liz’s skin. As she stared at Leif’s masked expression, it was like looking at a stranger.
“What’s going on, Leif? Who was on the radio?”
He looked agitated, gaze jumping about. He ignored her question and asked his own. “When you were on the beach sheltering from the storm, where did you go?”
“The caves,” she answered.
There was a tightening in Leif’s jaw, a flicker of something traveling across his face.
A dawning, cold and stark, spread like a shiver across Liz’s body: Leif was here for the cocaine.
She swallowed. Her expression must have given her away, as Leif’s eyes narrowed. “Where’s the cocaine?” he demanded.
She thought of his kind, helpful manner at the lodge, how he’d sat with them and talked about their route. “You?” she said, appalled.
He glanced over his shoulder. “You weren’t meant to get involved. No one was.”
“But you run the lodge. We trusted you—”
“Where is it?”
“If you didn’t want us out on the trail, you could have told us to change routes!”
“The drop wasn’t meant to happen when you were out here. No one should’ve been on the trail.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Where is the cocaine you stole?”
She shook her head. “It’s gone.”
He stepped closer. He was broad chested, a head taller than her. His eyes were bright and dancing. She could see the similarity between Leif and Erik.
“Is Erik in on this? The two of you?”
Leif didn’t answer. “A kilo is missing. I need it back.”
Her thoughts felt scrambled and disoriented. If she tried to run, which direction would she go? Leif was fit, strong, fast. He knew these mountains. He’d be on her in a flash.
“We got rid of it,” she admitted.
His hands clenched into fists. “Where?”
She thought of Joni throwing the cocaine from the pinnacle—the bag catching on a ledge. If she led Leif to it, would he let her go?
“Where?” he demanded, voice louder.
“There’s a pinnacle near here. A few minutes’ walk. A platform of rock sticks out. Joni threw the cocaine off there—but . . . but it snagged on a ledge below. You could climb down.”
He looked at her, fingers flexing at his sides as he came to a decision. “Let’s go.”
—
Leif moved silently at Liz’s side. He was light-footed on the mountain terrain, only speaking to give a command as to the right direction.
The air felt heavy with moisture, her coat beaded silver, a fine mist caught in her loose hair.
He knew the pinnacle she was talking about—but once they found it, then what?
Would he try to climb down and retrieve the cocaine?
He had a rope lashed to his pack and she guessed he was capable.
Would that be her chance to run? The cabin wasn’t far from there—but then what? Would he come after them?
Her head swam with uncertainties. And beneath all the clamor and fear, there was Patrick. Their children. Everything they’d grown over the years—a marriage, children, a life as a family; she could lose it all.
She swallowed, throat tight with emotion.
“There?” Leif barked. He was pointing to a jutting rock. Beneath it, the fog had swallowed the drop that fell away hundreds of meters into a river. “This the place?”
She nodded. It was the same spot where she and Joni had been standing earlier.
“Show me,” he demanded.
Liz moved gingerly toward the rocky platform.
“It’s down there,” she said, pointing. “The fog! I can’t see it now! But it’s there. A ledge juts out . . . and it got caught.”
She felt the steely grip of Leif’s fingers on her upper arm. “Don’t mess me around. People will get hurt unless I get that cocaine.”
“It’s there, I promise you.”
He glared at her. His face was so unlike that of the man she’d met at the lodge, hard lines between his brows.
“Then,” he said, taking the ropes from his bag, “you can climb down and fetch it.”
—
Leif pulled the rope tight around her waist, knotting it securely. “There.”
Liz’s legs were trembling. She shook her head. “I can’t do it! I’ve never climbed before!”
Leif ignored her.
“Crossing the ridge, I got vertigo. I can’t do this! You . . . you could climb. I’ll hold the rope.”
He shook his head. “You’ll run.”
He was right. She would. And they both knew it. The moment he went over that ledge, she’d be out of here.
“The rope will keep you secure. You just need to climb down. Start on this section here. It is not as steep.”
“What if I fall?”
“I’ll have hold of the rope.” Leif was wearing a harness and he’d made a belay, attaching himself to the rock with a sling. “You’re secure. Now move.”
Blood crashed in her ears, thoughts splintering. She didn’t want to go over that edge. “If I get the cocaine,” she said, looking him directly in the eye, “then what?”
Leif held her gaze. “You walk out of here.”
She had no idea if he’d keep his word—but what choice did she have? Slowly, Liz moved to the edge of the rocky platform. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“Turn around. Put your foot over the edge and find a hold. Then you start climbing down.”
She was shaking all over, pulse rocketing. She didn’t want to take her feet off firm ground. He could untie the rope. He could leave her dangling there. She could get vertigo. Freeze.
“Now!” he instructed.
She moved to the edge, lowering onto her hands and knees. The rock was cold beneath her palms. She felt her stomach lift into her mouth as she eased her foot over the lip of the mountain.