Mountain, page 13
“I would happily have spent my lifetime with my son, but I didn’t get that option,” he added, his voice harsh.
“I’m surprised you stayed in the military after that.”
“I didn’t have anywhere else to go,” Chef admitted. “My wife passed away. My son was gone. So what was I to do? At least here … I had a home. I had a family of sorts. Even though some of their orders seemed like death wishes sometimes,” he shared, with an eye roll, “I didn’t particularly care. I was doing what I could to make people happy on a regular basis, and that’s all that mattered. Now, if you don’t mind, I want a nap.” And, with that, he gave Mountain a bland smile and waved at the door, “Go on. Get lost. You’ve got better things to do than torment me.”
“And what if I do have better things to do? Very productive things.”
“If you had them, you wouldn’t be here fishing,” Chef stated calmly. “And the minute you do have them, I suspect everything will change.” He smiled. “In the meantime, nothing’s changing. It’s all exactly as it always has been, and, at this point, I think it’s all it’ll ever be.”
“And what happens when you’re not there?” Mountain asked. “Have you considered that?”
“I have, and I don’t have any solution.” And, on that cryptic note, he stretched out and closed his eyes.
Mountain, knowing there was no point in talking to Chef’s stubborn ass anymore, got up and headed out.
“Say hi to Amelia for me,” Elijah told Mountain, as he walked out.
“I will. We’re trying to keep her alive too.” When no further reaction came from Elijah, Mountain added, “You can do your bit and help on that project too. I don’t know why she has to die in this deal.”
“She doesn’t have to die,” he declared, opening his eyes and frowning at Mountain. “Why does she have to die?”
“We would like to think that she doesn’t, but, after two attempts on her life, we’re not so sure that somebody’s prepared to let her walk free,” Mountain shared, feeling a fatigue that had been there since he’d arrived. The hope of finding Teegan alive was now a reality. However, with so many other elements at play, Mountain could still feel that same tiredness everywhere.
“You need to keep her safe then.”
“It’s hard, not knowing where the attack will come from. It’s also hard knowing that somebody could help but won’t.”
And, with that parting shot delivered, Mountain turned and left Elijah to consider it all alone.
Day 6 Morning
Amelia woke up and yawned, feeling a more normal lassitude in her body that she hadn’t felt in a while. Every time she had come here to the military base over the last three months or so, it had been a physical endurance test, mostly because she did it to herself, overdoing it out in the Arctic tundra, knowing that her time was running out and that she wouldn’t get all the data that she wanted this time. It was all about making hay, while there was hay to make.
Now, however, winding up in the medical clinic at the military base was not how she’d expected this last trip of hers to end up. Yet she was grateful for the peace and the sense of recovery she felt. Anything that could make her life a little easier right now was a godsend, and she would take it quite happily.
She shifted gently and reached for the water at her side. Sydney sat at her desk as always, a reliable guardian angel, someone Amelia would have to thank in some special way when this was all over.
As if hearing her muted thoughts, Sydney looked up at her patient and smiled. “Hey. How are you feeling?”
“I feel decent,” Amelia said, with half a smile, “although I’m not sure decent is quite the right word.”
“No, but as long as you’re on the mend, starting to improve, we’ll take it,” the doc replied, as she came over and picked up the blood pressure cuff. Quickly she did a quick round, checking Amelia’s vitals and her wounds.
“Surely I’m getting better, and I don’t need all that anymore.”
“You’ll always need that because it’s one of tools that we have to confirm that your improvement is steadfast and solid,” Sydney explained. “Honest to God, I don’t ever want to see somebody else as close to death as you were and not have any blood to give them.”
“Was it that bad?”
“It’s one thing to be in a full medical facility, but, when I’m out here in the frozen tundra, it’s not possible,” she shared. “The triage decisions out here are the worst of the worst. It’s like trying to make a decision whether you’ll give CPR to somebody—when you’re alone with your patient out in the middle of nowhere, and nobody can reach you or even knows to reach you within an hour or less. As medical professionals, we can’t do CPR forever, and we must decide whether we’ll even try.” Sydney gave a sad smile. “Once you make those kinds of life-and-death decisions”—she shook her head—“everything else in the world becomes something you don’t know any longer.”
“That sounds terrible,” Amelia muttered in agreement.
“It is, and it can be … hard. Life is precious and fills us with joy, and it’s one of those things you should enjoy fully, if you get the opportunity to do so,” Sydney noted. “However, it can also cause all kinds of headaches and pain. So how to go about living it and making the decisions we all must make isn’t always easy, no matter how you look at it.”
By the time she was done with Amelia’s checkup, Sydney nodded happily. “You are definitely building up some strength, so hopefully that will make everybody happy.”
“I would like to think so, but we all know that somebody won’t be happy.”
“Nope, I understand that,” Sydney admitted, “and that’s one of the reasons that, the stronger you get, the more we need to be ready for anybody who may react badly to hearing that news.”
“Doesn’t everybody out there already know I’m improving?” she asked. “How can that news not be all over this area?”
“We’ve intentionally limited that information,” Syndey stated, “because of those earlier attempts on your life.”
Meaning, that they believed not everybody would be happy to see her survive, especially the killer. Amelia nodded. “So, as far as everybody else is concerned, my recovery isn’t guaranteed.”
“Exactly, and it’s just a tactic we’re using to buy us some time. It’s not that we’re trying to be dishonest, though some will take it that way and will get angry. Still, others probably won’t give a crap either way,” Sydney added, with a chuckle.
“I’ll go with the don’t-give-a-crap route myself,” Amelia quipped. “I want to ensure that, when I finally leave this place, I’m in one piece and have a life ahead of me.”
“You and me both,” Sydney agreed, smiling brightly, “you and me both.”
Amelia realized that, for everybody here, a sense of imminent danger remained and was always a possibility where they would be the next victim. Even as victims themselves made no sense of it, sometimes killers didn’t make sense either.
When Sydney got a text, she told Amelia that she had to step out into the hallway but that Mountain was on his way. Even with that warning, when a rap came immediately on the clinic door, Amelia stiffened automatically and knew that Sydney sensed it immediately. “It’s all right,” she told her, as she called out, “Come in.”
Instantly Mountain pushed open the door and held it for his brother to enter with a tray.
“So, is that for you or for me?” Amelia asked Mountain and Teegan, with a huge smile.
“It’s for both of us,” Mountain replied, “if I’m okay to visit and if Sydney approves my dietary choices for you.” He looked at Sydney, and she nodded slightly.
“You’re okay to visit too, Teegan,” Amelia declared, “as long as you had a nap yourself.”
He rolled his eyes. “And if I didn’t?”
“Then I’ll eat alone,” Amelia replied immediately, then laughed at the look on Mountain’s face.
“Still, I won’t be alone,” Teegan replied with a smirk, and Amelia laughed at his innuendo.
“And how come I haven’t met this lady in your life?” Amelia asked Teegan.
“Because my brother won’t let her in here,” he stated, with a dirty look aimed at Mountain.
“And yet she belongs here, as I understand,” Amelia noted.
“Yes, but security clearance has become an issue.”
Then someone else arrived at the door. “I’ve received my clearance,” the woman announced cheerfully, as she walked in. “I’m Sandrine,” she introduced herself to the patient, walking over with a smile. “You must be the famous Amelia I’ve heard so much about. Thank you so very much for keeping Teegan alive.”
“You’re most welcome,” Amelia replied, smiling at the newcomer. She watched as the other woman came over to Teegan and slipped her arm around his back.
Teegan immediately hugged her gently and looked over at Amelia. “Mountain was pretty specific that we’re only allowed a quick visit.”
Amelia gave him a small smile. “Not sure whether he’s protecting me or trying to keep track of every word that comes out of my mouth,” she murmured.
“Both,” said Mountain, glaring at her. “And they shouldn’t be tiring you out,” he added briskly, looking at Amelia.
She gave a half laugh. “How do you know they’re tiring me out?”
“Everything does. You say it doesn’t, and then, next thing I know, you’re sound asleep again.” When she glared at him, he nodded. “You think I don’t know? I’m watching you,” he stated, crossing his arms. “And believe me, I can see how tired you are.”
“Maybe,” she acknowledged, with a shrug, “but that’s just life. I’m healing, and you’ve got to remember that too,” she pointed out.
“You are healing, but it’ll take a while. You’re not at full strength, and, as long as you’re not, you’re vulnerable.”
“I’m a woman. I’m vulnerable anytime.”
He gave her a ghost of a smile. “Actually,” Mountain clarified, with an odd expression on his face, “I would pit your chances against half this base. You’ve got a wariness that I hadn’t expected, and your will to live is pretty damn strong. You also have skills that most of the people here don’t know how to use, and they don’t have the same instincts that go along with Arctic survival rules,” he explained, with a shrug. “So, I’m not sure that you’re right on that element.” She looked at him, surprised at the unexpected compliment, and he nodded. “Regardless, you are to stay here, keep calm, and heal for now.”
“So, that’s your orders, huh?” she asked, with a mocking tone.
He gave her a ghost of a smile again and nodded. Then he looked at the other two and snarled, “Out with the two of you.”
Teegan laughed and, with a cheerful look at Amelia, said, “If I didn’t know better, the two of you are acting like an old married couple.”
Amelia snorted at that, and Mountain glared at him. Teegan said in a loud whisper, as he walked past his brother, “Be nice to her. She’s definitely your kind.” With that, he was gone, dragging Sandrine out, with her hand in his.
At that, Amelia looked over at Mountain and asked, “You don’t have a kind, do you?”
“I try not to. That makes me weak.”
“Doesn’t make you weak,” she scoffed. “It makes you predictable.”
Laughing, he nodded. “Yeah, and that would never do either,” he declared, with a watchful gaze.
“I guess you raised him on your own, didn’t you?”
“He’s not that young, but yes. Our parents were not exactly stable, … even at the best of times.”
“I can understand that.”
He nodded. “You need to get better.”
“And you need to find out who did this.”
“I’m pretty sure I know,” he admitted. “We’re just waiting for confirmation.”
“Good,” she replied, “because it would be nice to not be on constant alert, to at least know which one I should be watching for.”
“You will remain on alert for a while because, even if we know, … we still have to find a way to make it an ironclad case,” he explained, “and that won’t be easy.”
She nodded. “In that case, can you get me a cup of coffee?”
“No, I can’t,” he declined cheerfully, “but I’ll text somebody who can.”
“Seriously, you can’t leave me alone for even that long?”
“No, I sure can’t. We’ve had at least three people killed in this very clinic.” He looked over at her with a grim smile. “I’m serious. You won’t be alone until this is settled.”
She frowned and shifted back on her bed.
Then his phone went off, and he looked down at his screen and swore and immediately stood. “I’ll lock the door behind me,” he muttered. “Do not leave, and nobody comes in.” And, with that, he was gone.
She stared at the door in shock, wondering what the hell was going on that would reverse his position so quickly. It’s not as if she could do anything about somebody coming inside in any way. And just as she relaxed and decided to wait for whatever news was breaking, she heard somebody at the door and watched as the handle turned. But it was locked, so nobody could get in, but then to her surprise and ensuing horror, it started to open …
*
Mountain raced to Elijah’s holding place, a small storage room off the kitchen area, and he found Samson there ahead of him. Sydney was working on the prone man at the same time. Mountain swore, as he bent down beside her.
“Don’t even ask me questions. I don’t know anything yet. I’m hoping to stabilize him and to keep him alive.” And, with that, she shoved her fingers down Chef’s throat and made the big man throw up all over the floor, and with it came several pills. She nodded. “I wondered if he would try.”
“I didn’t think he had anything he could try with,” Mountain said, staring down at the pills in anger.
“He shouldn’t have had access.”
“No, but somebody else is playing a game here. You know that. We all know that.”
“So do I,” she muttered. “We’re just not getting to the bottom of it fast enough.” She glared at Mountain, but then her gaze softened, as if to say it wasn’t his fault.
Mountain nodded. “Is Elijah alive?”
“He is,” she confirmed, as she sat back and checked his vitals. “I think we got to him in time.” She looked back over at Samson. “Good timing on your part.”
He glared down at the prone man. “Not so sure about that. I came down to talk to him. I thought somebody was supposed to be here all the time.”
“There is,” Mountain declared, as he hopped to his feet and looked around. “Where the hell is Kaylan? He’s supposed to be here on guard.” He pulled out his phone and made a few calls, but nobody had seen him. Swearing, he muttered, “I’ll be right back.” He took a quick look around the pantry and kitchen area, then raced outside, without the proper outerwear on, but just to check the generator shed. As he circled around to the kitchen’s back door, shivering with the cold, he saw a snow lump around a corner.
He bent down and heaved him up and carried him inside. Samson and Sydney were still focused on Elijah. Then Samson took one look at Mountain, swore and raced over to help him. As they slowly lowered the frozen man to the floor, he looked back at Sydney, and her gaze was shocked and sorrowful as she studied the man in front of him.
“It seems to have been quite a while, but give me a chance.” She checked the poor man, as they tried to warm him up. Even after just a handful of minutes, his head trauma was deemed the cause of Kaylan’s instant death. While Kaylan was dead, the good news was that Elijah was alive, and, by the looks of it, the chef would survive. He would live to answer questions another day.
As Mountain sat back, he realized how much all of this had gone to shit. He looked over at Samson. “We need to fix this now.”
“I know. I’m not arguing with you. I’d hoped for more information though.”
Mountain shook his head. “I don’t care about information anymore. We’ll call his bluff and stop this, and we need to do it before anybody else dies.” He stared at Kaylan. “He didn’t need to die.”
“We weren’t really expecting an attack on the guards,” Magnus stated from the doorway, as he eyed the dead body. “Did he freeze to death?”
“Looks as if he sustained a severe head injury, which probably would have killed him in the first place,” Sydney shared, as she shifted back from the dead man on the floor. “I’ll need him moved to the generator shed,” she noted, looking back at Mountain.
He nodded, grabbed a blanket from Chef’s bed, wrapped up the dead man, and, without a word, straightened up and headed outside again.
Samson looked at him and swore. “Does he ever put on outerwear?”
“Not very often,” Magnus replied. “He’s got a hell of a lot more body weight than the rest of us.”
“He’ll still freeze,” Samson snapped, as he shook his head. “Christ, the man really is well named, isn’t he?”
“He is, but more than that, … he’s got the temperament that goes the distance,” Sydney shared.
Samson stared at Magnus suddenly. “Sydney, … if you’re here, and Mountain is here, … where the hell is Amelia?”
Mountain called out from the doorway, “I called Teegan to stay with her, but I’m heading back there now.” And, with that, he cast one glance around and bolted back to Amelia. As soon as he entered the medical clinic, Teegan was still searching this room, while pulling out his phone.
“I’ve looked everywhere,” he stated. “She’s not here.”
Immediately Mountain initiated a full alert, looking for Amelia. As the whole base bolted into action, Mountain turned in the hallway, wide-eyed, and looked at Samson, who ran to join him.
“She can’t be far,” Samson noted. “She can’t walk very easily herself, not for much distance.”
“Let’s check the bathrooms first,” Mountain suggested, coming up behind him, “and then fan out. Somebody could have stashed her in a bathroom or any bedroom, if she didn’t leave on her own, particularly if Teegan came very quickly.”
