Desert Secrets Page 11

  And that wasn’t the only issue they faced. He’d caught the worry in Lexi’s voice when they’d discussed the border crossing. He hoped he sounded more convincing than he felt. Walking across the border without a passport wasn’t an option. If discovered, they’d arrest her, unless they offered the authorities a bribe. He had a little cash that might buy her way across, but was it going to be enough? It was going to depend on who was there, and what kind of day they were having.

  He blew out a sharp huff of air. There was nothing they could do about it at this point. With Morocco their quickest way out of Africa, they were going to need to take their chances.

  “They’re behind us, aren’t they?” Lexi asked, breaking the long silence.

  “Someone’s back there,” Colton said.

  He’d caught Issa looking out the rearview mirror every few minutes, but hadn’t said anything. So far, it didn’t seem like their pursuers were gaining on them, but how long could Issa maintain his distance from vehicle. And what was going to happen once they got to the border?

  Lexi glanced out the back window. “I don’t understand how they keep finding us.”

  “It’s not necessarily Salif’s men,” Bret said.

  “True, but neither can we assume it’s simply a group of tourists,” Issa said, his hands tightly gripping the steering wheel as they flew across the desert. “Salif has proven to have far more resources than I expected.”

  “And you’re sure we’re going in the right direction?” Lexi asked. “It just feels as if we’re going in circles.”

  He’d felt the same thing. The terrain had become an endless monotony of sand and scrub bushes. The hot sun simmered above them in a cloudless sky. There were no visible landmarks. Nothing distinguishing their route beyond the faint tracks they followed.

  “My father taught me to read the desert like you read a map. At night we followed the stars. In the daylight, I learned every tree, every ruin and every shadow. This after years of driving across this desert from Timbuktu to Nouadhibou.”

  “What did your father do?”

  Issa chuckled. “That is a question better left unasked.”

  “How close are they?” Bret asked.

  “It’s hard to tell.” Colton glanced behind him again at the flat expanse. “At least a kilometer. Maybe a bit more.”

  “We’re going to need to stop,” Issa said. “The fuel tank’s almost on empty, and I need to check the water. The terrain is brutal on the vehicles and this one tends to overheat, which we can’t allow to happen. Thankfully the men missed one of the jerry cans of fuel under the backseat.”

  Issa glanced at Colton. “I’m going to need you to stand guard.”

  Colton glanced behind him.

  “What can I do?” Bret asked.

  “I’ve got a second weapon,” Issa said. “A small handgun.”

  “Then let me have it. If nothing else, I can fire a gun. You might not remember, Colton, but my aim’s pretty good.”

  He knew Bret had military training, but still… “You’re in no condition to—”

  “We’re going to need all the help we can get,” Issa said, interrupting Colton. He nodded, hating the fact that Issa was right. But if they ended up having to face off with Salif’s men, they were going to need Bret.

  “And I can check the fluid levels,” Lexi offered.

  “Okay,” Colton said. “Then I’m guessing we’ve got about one minute. A minute and a half at the most.”

  “Agreed,” Issa said. “And we won’t be able to stop again until we get to the border.”

  Colton grabbed the weapon sitting beside Issa, his body pumping with adrenaline. They had to do this, but every second they were parked, meant a second gained on them by the car following them.

  He turned to Lexi. “You okay?”

  She glanced at the weapon he was holding. “Not really.”

  He reached out and squeezed her hand. “Just keep praying. We can do this.”

  He could see the fear in her eyes as she nodded, but he also didn’t miss the determination.

  I don’t know how this is going to end, God, but protect her, please. Protect all of us.

  “Everyone ready?” Issa asked.

  The vehicle ground to a stop, and the four of them jumped out. Lexi popped the hood while Issa grabbed the jerry can and started filling the tank. Colton and Bret flanked the back of the car, ready to stop whoever was coming toward them.

  Fifteen seconds passed.

  The dust cloud along the horizon grew larger as the other vehicle rushed toward them.

  Thirty seconds.

  Adrenaline soared. He glanced at Bret. His skin was pale, but there was a resolute set to his jaw. They could do this. They had to do this.

  Forty-five seconds.

  He called back at Issa. “How much longer with the fuel?”

  “Thirty…forty seconds.”

  Colton glanced back as the oncoming car came into view and felt his stomach knot. They didn’t have thirty seconds.

  “Water level’s fine,” Lexi said, slamming down the hood. “But I found something else. They strapped a cell phone to the inside of the engine.”

  “Why would they do that?” Bret asked, keeping his weapon steady on the oncoming car.

  “They wanted to find you and knew you’d come back to the car,” Colton said. “If they can trace the phone, they can trace us.”

  “They can do that?” Issa asked.

  “They already did,” Colton said. “They might be a band of opportunists, but they’re also smart.”

  One minute. Colton kept his aim on the vehicle. They were running out of time.

  A bullet pinged off the front bumper of their Jeep. Colton jumped back. There was no question any longer who had been following them.

  “Everyone get back in the car,” Colton shouted. “Issa? How much longer?”

  “Almost done.”

  But there was no more time. He could see the passengers in the Land Rover. In another few seconds he’d be able to read the license plate.

  Colton waited until the last second, when he knew he could make an accurate shot, and fired off a bullet, hitting the other vehicle’s front tire.

  The car spun out in a swirl of dust.

  They’d just bought themselves some more time.

  “Go…go…go…” Issa shouted at the two of them to get into the car as he tossed the now-empty jerry can into the back of the vehicle, then jumped into the driver’s seat.

  “Everyone okay?” Colton asked, as Issa started the engine, then slammed on the accelerator.

  Bret and Lexi nodded. But while they all might be fine for now, this still wasn’t over.

  “Are they coming after us?” Issa asked, his gaze straight ahead.

  “They’re not moving,” Colton said. “For now.”

  He pulled the battery out of the back of the phone Lexi had found and threw it out the window. “This is definitely how they found us.”

  Irritation burned through him. He was tired of the cat and mouse games. They needed to find a way to end this once and for all.

  “They have to know we’re headed for Morocco,” Lexi said. “If they get that tire fixed they’ll be after us again.”

  “Agreed,” Issa said. “But I don’t see any other options at this point. And there will be dozens of armed guards at the border. I can’t see them trying anything there.”

  Colton wanted to agree, but these men were ruthless and didn’t play by any rules. Plus they had no way to know whose pockets they had lined with bribes, or how far their influence reached. Issa believed they’d be safe crossing into Morocco, but what if he was wrong?

  “What’s this border like?” Lexi asked.

  “It’s typical for Africa. Passport checks, customs checks and vehicle searches,” Issa said. “There will be armed patrol guards, along with a barrage of people bombarding you for money or trying to sell you something.”

  “But you still believe we’ll be safe once we c
ross into Morocco?” she asked.

  Issa hesitated a second too long, confirming his own uncertainty. “I believe so. But we’ve already discovered that these men have spread across the desert like a virus.”

  TWELVE

  It felt as if they’d driven to the end of the earth. And they were still driving. Lexi glanced out the window of the 4x4 to where the terrain had changed little over the past couple hours. Mile after mile of sand dunes and desolate desert scenery surrounded them. The desert held its own kind of beauty that even she could appreciate. But after the last couple days trapped in its isolation, she was ready to leave.

  Issa had told them that they were finally getting close to the border. Another fifteen, maybe twenty minutes, and they’d be there.

  She glanced out the back window. There had been no signs of the car that had been following them, which brought a measure of relief, but she still wasn’t convinced it was over. All she could do was pray that Colton’s shot had damaged the other vehicle to the point where they hadn’t been able to continue. But even if they weren’t following them, there was still another huge hurdle to cross. Getting into Morocco.

  “How long do you think the border crossing is going to take?” she asked, trying to settle her nerves.

  “It’s hard to predict,” Issa said. “An hour…two…maybe three. It depends on a number of factors. How many cars are already lined up, along with the mood of the border authorities.”

  “And the exact process?”

  He’d gone over it briefly, but she needed to feel prepared. Or at least as prepared as she could.

  “First we’ll pass through the Mauritania side. Uniformed officers will ask to see your documentation. There are customs forms that have to be stamped, as well as the actual passports, and a fingerprint machine and photos for foreigners. Beyond that, there’s a good chance they’ll inspect our vehicle, and like with most border crossings, there will be plenty of determined people offering to help us in exchange for a fee.”

  “And me?” she asked. “What am I supposed to do? Simply walk across to the Moroccan side and hope they don’t notice me?”

  Issa glanced in the rearview mirror and caught her gaze. “That’s always an option, but I think it’s better if we tell them the truth up front. We can explain how you were the victim of a serious crime. You lost your passport, and are now headed to the American Embassy.”

  Lexi pressed her nails into the palms of her hands, still not convinced this plan was going to work. Not only did she need to make sure Mauritania allowed her to leave, she needed the Moroccan government to let her enter. Without any documents.

  “And you think they’ll believe me and just let me walk through without a passport?” she asked.

  The last time she’d crossed one of the North African borders, she’d had to deal with two armed and hostile policemen, who’d pumped her with questions for the good part of an hour before finally letting her through. And that time, she’d had all her documents with her.

  “There’s no way to know, but I think Issa is right. I don’t think we have a choice,” Colton said. “Though I do have some cash in case we need to…persuade them.”

  Colton’s words only stoked her fear. In case they needed to persuade them? Like if they threatened to arrest her for trying to cross illegally? Bribes were common, but technically illegal. What if they were able to pay off the authorities on one side but the armed guards on the other side couldn’t be bought? Or Colton didn’t have enough money to pay both groups?

  “Once we get through the first border control and passport checks, we have to go through no-man’s-land,” Issa said, continuing his explanation.

  “Isn’t that where we are now?” she asked, with a chuckle.

  “It might seem like it, but no-man’s-land is a four-kilometer stretch of unclaimed desert between the two countries that is surrounded by land mines.”

  “Land mines?” Lexi glanced at Colton, unsure if she should laugh or cry. “This just keeps getting better and better. All I have to do is walk through the border without a passport while trying not to get blown up by a land mine, or get caught by Salif’s men, who for all we know are still on our tail.”

  “The land mines exist all over the Sahara,” Issa explained. “Many of the countries are too hostile toward each other to have their borders touch. So the no-man’s-land is their solution. But there is no need to worry. As long as we stay on track, the road is easy to follow.”

  “And Salif’s men…” she said. “Do you think they’ll follow us across?”

  “If Salif is smart, he’ll realize it’s time to give up.” Colton said.

  “Except the man’s hardheaded,” Issa said. “He might give up on the ransom attempt he organized himself, but Lexi’s kidnapping is different. He was hired to find the money, and I have a feeling his reach might be farther than any of us realizes.”

  Lexi leaned her head back against the seat, closed her eyes and started praying. Letting her emotions swing out of control wasn’t going to help anyone. She needed to draw from God’s strength and focus on the fact that they were safe. That they’d managed to once again evade Salif’s men. And while she might be a day or two later than she’d originally planned, she still might be able to make Micah’s wedding.

  She felt Colton’s fingers wrap around her hand and opened her eyes.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  She looked at him, thankful once again for his presence and unwavering strength. If she had to deal with this on her own…

  “For the most part. I just realized that my flight to Ireland was scheduled for today. My stepfather was going to get a hold of Micah and tell her what was going on, but when I spoke to him, I was supposed to be on my way out of here.”

  “We are on our way,” he said.

  “I know, but things have gotten a bit more…complicated.” She bit back the tears. “I guess I’m not used to being kidnapped, chased and shot at.”

  She shook her head. Saying it out loud made it sound crazy. Like a lame line from some action movie script.

  “You said Micah’s fiancé’s from Ireland?” he asked.

  She nodded. “They’re a very well-off family, and while I’ve only seen photos of the venue they chose, it’s absolutely incredible. Three hundred acres of woods and lakes, along with a castle dating back to the thirteenth century. Talk about a fairy-tale wedding.”

  “We’re going to get you there.”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “Somehow, dreaming of castles, rich food and a spa treatment seems completely frivolous right now. All I really want is a hot shower and some clean clothes.”

  “It’s not frivolous—it’s normal. Trust me, I have three sisters and each one of them spent what seemed like hundreds of hours planning their weddings. Of course none of them were married in a European castle, but I’m sure given the opportunity they would have jumped at it.”

  She smiled, but even his attempt to lighten the mood wasn’t working. Not completely anyway. “I’m scared, Colton. I still don’t know how this is going to end. If Salif’s men show up behind us, or if they’re waiting for us at the border…”

  He squeezed her hand. “Isn’t this how life always is? The unexpected hits us—job loss, sickness, financial issues—and we never know how it’s going to end. Granted, this situation is way out of the ordinary, but in reality the only thing we ever know for certain is that God’s still right here and none of what has happened over the last few days has surprised Him.”

  “I know.” It was the one thing she’d continued to hang on to. Knowing that God was here even in the midst of tragedy, fear and pain. A passage from the Psalms played through her mind.

  We will not be afraid, even if the earth is shaken and the mountains fall into the center of the sea…

  “I’ve been impressed at how flexible you’ve been,” Colton said, breaking into her thoughts. “I’ve seen how you’re able to roll with the punches.”

  “It’s not like I
’ve had a choice.” She laughed, wishing she didn’t like him so much. But she did. His strength. His genuineness. His love for his family. His ability to make her smile even in the most difficult of situations.

  The other thing that surprised her about the situation was that despite everything that had happened, she still had no regrets at coming here. She’d specifically sought out a place that would stretch her both physically and emotionally. In the end what she’d gained had far outweighed what she’d given. And even though it had been a long time since she’d felt that sense of normal—and she’d have preferred to skip these past few days—she’d still volunteer again in a heartbeat.

  Maybe normal—maybe comfortable—was overrated.

  *

  Colton studied Lexi’s expression as they made their way to the border. He’d felt an attraction to her the first time they’d met in Timbuktu, but he’d never expected to have a chance to explore those feelings any further. In fact, he’d had no plans to fall for another woman. At least not for a long time. It was why he was here in Africa. To forget Maggie. Which was exactly what had happened. Maggie was—he could safely say—a thing of the past. But that didn’t mean he was ready to jump into another relationship again. How was it then that he couldn’t stop thinking about Lexi? Or that he wanted to figure out a way to get to know her better once this was all over? And yet that’s exactly what he wanted.

  “You mentioned that one of the reasons you came to Africa was to find closure from your mother’s death?”

  “I needed time and space to heal.”

  “Sounds like the two of you were close.”

  “Very. I miss her every day, but she’s the one who taught me to always live life to the fullest and take chances. When she was diagnosed with cancer, she booked a month-long European cruise for her and my stepfather. She told me she wasn’t done living and that there were still so many things she wanted to see and do.” Lexi’s gaze dropped, but there was a slight smile on her lips. “She rarely complained, always thought about others and never just talked about what she wanted to do one day. She did it. That’s how I want to live.”