compound in the middle of the North Cascades woods.
“I can disable it,” Jeff insisted in a hushed tone. “That would warrant NSA to send agents to check it out.”
“It would also send a message to Sherman and let him know which direction we’ve taken.”
“Where are we going?” Jeff debated the wisdom of trusting him. “We should head back to the lake.” They would undoubtedly come across the search party that Jeff was positive was out looking for them right now.
“No way. We’d be caught for sure. We’re going north. There’s a town about fifteen miles away. And a campground even closer.”
Jeff sucked in a sharp breath. “We’ll be crossing the international border.”
“Yes. The Canadians will help. But we have to keep moving. When Sherman discovers you’ve escaped, he’ll tear these woods apart looking for you. He goes crazy when anyone tries to leave.”
“How does he get all those men to come to the compound?” Tessa asked.
“Some answer ads from the classifieds.” The guy shrugged. “Others are from the streets. Sherman lures them in with the promise of a job, a warm meal and a clean place to live. But once they are here, they’re enslaved. Trapped. Held prisoner. He supplies them with all the weed they want. Most don’t try to leave, but occasionally one tries and they are always caught.”
Tessa rubbed her arms. “What happens to the ones that try to escape?”
“The shed. No food or water. Eventually, they comply and go back to work.”
Sherman starved them into submission. Jeff couldn’t wait to bring the man to justice. “Has anyone gotten away?”
“Not that I know of.” He glanced around as if expecting the armed guards from the compound to materialize from behind the trees. “We need to keep moving.”
The man faded into the inky darkness.
“Come on, we don’t want to lose him,” Tessa said, tugging on his hand.
“Who is he?” Jeff asked.
“Ranger Randy,” she said. “He picked me up from the airport and brought me to the ranger station.”
“And he’s working for Sherman?”
“He’s his nephew.”
Surprised, Jeff shook his head. More questions rose, but he pushed them back. He increased his speed, urging Tessa along.
Though the air was cold, sweat gathered on Jeff’s back, soaking into his shirt.
He became aware of a noise that grew steadily louder the longer and deeper they trekked through the dark forest. The sound triggered recognition. A waterfall.
Aaron had said there was a stream not far from the compound. There were many streams and rivers made by runoff from the glaciers at the peaks of the Cascades, which flowed down through the forest and emptied into the many lakes of the national park.
Including Glen Lake, where Aaron’s toxic carelessness had contaminated the water.
Tessa drew to an abrupt halt, forcing Jeff to stop.
“Do you hear that?” she asked in a panicked whisper.
“The waterfall? Yes. It’s pretty close.”
“No, not that. Listen.”
The urgency in her tone prickled his skin. He strained to hear what she had. Filtering out the sound of the waterfall, Jeff heard another noise that sent his heart pounding.
“What are you two doing?” Ranger Randy hustled to their side. “We’ve got to keep going.”
Dread filled Jeff. “Dogs. They have tracking dogs.”
Randy cursed. “We have to reach the waterfall, or we’re done for.” He turned and ran, disappearing into the night.
Gripping Tessa’s hand, Jeff urged her to race after Ranger Randy and sent up a desperate prayer for safety.
* * *
Tessa struggled to catch her breath. The altitude had increased considerably as they raced through the forest, but it was fear constricting her lungs and throat, making the intake of oxygen difficult. Not even the memory of Jeff’s kiss could contain the panic nipping at her heels. She doubted the dogs Sherman used to find them would only nip.
“I didn’t see dogs in the compound,” Jeff said, sounding
“I can disable it,” Jeff insisted in a hushed tone. “That would warrant NSA to send agents to check it out.”
“It would also send a message to Sherman and let him know which direction we’ve taken.”
“Where are we going?” Jeff debated the wisdom of trusting him. “We should head back to the lake.” They would undoubtedly come across the search party that Jeff was positive was out looking for them right now.
“No way. We’d be caught for sure. We’re going north. There’s a town about fifteen miles away. And a campground even closer.”
Jeff sucked in a sharp breath. “We’ll be crossing the international border.”
“Yes. The Canadians will help. But we have to keep moving. When Sherman discovers you’ve escaped, he’ll tear these woods apart looking for you. He goes crazy when anyone tries to leave.”
“How does he get all those men to come to the compound?” Tessa asked.
“Some answer ads from the classifieds.” The guy shrugged. “Others are from the streets. Sherman lures them in with the promise of a job, a warm meal and a clean place to live. But once they are here, they’re enslaved. Trapped. Held prisoner. He supplies them with all the weed they want. Most don’t try to leave, but occasionally one tries and they are always caught.”
Tessa rubbed her arms. “What happens to the ones that try to escape?”
“The shed. No food or water. Eventually, they comply and go back to work.”
Sherman starved them into submission. Jeff couldn’t wait to bring the man to justice. “Has anyone gotten away?”
“Not that I know of.” He glanced around as if expecting the armed guards from the compound to materialize from behind the trees. “We need to keep moving.”
The man faded into the inky darkness.
“Come on, we don’t want to lose him,” Tessa said, tugging on his hand.
“Who is he?” Jeff asked.
“Ranger Randy,” she said. “He picked me up from the airport and brought me to the ranger station.”
“And he’s working for Sherman?”
“He’s his nephew.”
Surprised, Jeff shook his head. More questions rose, but he pushed them back. He increased his speed, urging Tessa along.
Though the air was cold, sweat gathered on Jeff’s back, soaking into his shirt.
He became aware of a noise that grew steadily louder the longer and deeper they trekked through the dark forest. The sound triggered recognition. A waterfall.
Aaron had said there was a stream not far from the compound. There were many streams and rivers made by runoff from the glaciers at the peaks of the Cascades, which flowed down through the forest and emptied into the many lakes of the national park.
Including Glen Lake, where Aaron’s toxic carelessness had contaminated the water.
Tessa drew to an abrupt halt, forcing Jeff to stop.
“Do you hear that?” she asked in a panicked whisper.
“The waterfall? Yes. It’s pretty close.”
“No, not that. Listen.”
The urgency in her tone prickled his skin. He strained to hear what she had. Filtering out the sound of the waterfall, Jeff heard another noise that sent his heart pounding.
“What are you two doing?” Ranger Randy hustled to their side. “We’ve got to keep going.”
Dread filled Jeff. “Dogs. They have tracking dogs.”
Randy cursed. “We have to reach the waterfall, or we’re done for.” He turned and ran, disappearing into the night.
Gripping Tessa’s hand, Jeff urged her to race after Ranger Randy and sent up a desperate prayer for safety.
* * *
Tessa struggled to catch her breath. The altitude had increased considerably as they raced through the forest, but it was fear constricting her lungs and throat, making the intake of oxygen difficult. Not even the memory of Jeff’s kiss could contain the panic nipping at her heels. She doubted the dogs Sherman used to find them would only nip.
“I didn’t see dogs in the compound,” Jeff said, sounding
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