Unwitting Alliances - Hunter Blake Series by Peggy Lea Baker
Chapter Fourteen
Soft snoring woke Samantha out of a troubling dream. Hamilton was asleep beside her. The sun had moved much closer to the western horizon and the air temperature was slightly cooler, though not by much. She lay awake for a while, trying to piece together the dream, as well as figure out how Brad fit into all of it.
“Who are you?” she whispered. “Why did you rescue me and what are you planning to do with me?” Closing her eyes again, she drifted off into more unsettled sleep.
Hours later, Samantha opened her eyes with a start. She was now alone on the bed and it was dark inside the trailer. Propping herself up on her elbows, she called out, “Brad?” No answer. In a panic, she fought with the zipper of her sleeping bag then rushed to the door and peered out.
With great relief, she saw him sitting in a folding camp chair studying a map in the glow of a tiny light. She opened the door and let it swing wide.
He glanced up. “Good evening, sleepyhead. Feeling better?”
“A little… I guess.” She sneezed. “Excuse me.”
“It’s the dry air and dust,” he said.
She waited a moment. “What. No ‘bless you’ or at least a ‘gesundheit’?” she asked, relieved he hadn’t run off into the darkness without her.
“Gesundheit,” he said without looking up.
“Thank you. What time is it?”
“Oh, I don’t know. After seven, I think. I let you sleep.”
Samantha watched him looking at the map. “Planning a trip?”
“Just trying to figure out what to do next.” He finally looked up. “Hungry?”
“Yes.”
He stood up, tossed the map on his chair, and picked up the tiny light. “Let’s see what we can scrounge up.” Samantha stepped back as he climbed into the trailer and turned on a small lamp over the galley. He lit a burner on the stove and in minutes whipped up dehydrated scrambled eggs, accompanied by more crackers and something resembling orange juice.
“Another gourmet meal, I take it,” she said with a half-smile.
“Only the best for my gal.”
They sat at the tiny dinette table at the front end of the trailer and ate in silence. Samantha stared out the front windows into the darkness.
“I can’t get over how quiet it is and dark,” she said. “I can’t see anything. I wish the moon were up.”
“It will be later.”
“It seems kind of creepy, actually.”
“Creepy?” Hamilton chuckled. “I suppose, but I kinda like it.”
She looked at him. “You come here often?”
“Often enough.”
“Have you ever been married?” she asked impulsively.
Caught off guard, he looked pained suddenly but replied, “Once. It’s hard to maintain a relationship with someone, doing the kind of work I do.”
“What kind of work do you do?”
“I rescue beautiful women, lure them to my private little outpost in the middle of nowhere, feed them ‘emories’ and…”
“And?”
“And figure out how to get them safely back home again.” He didn’t smile. In the very dim light, his face betrayed something sad as he ate. “I’m not sure how long we may have to stay here. We’ll see.” He looked at his watch. “Go ahead and finish up. There’s a couple of things I still need to do. I’ll be outside.” He slid out of the bench seat and took his paper goods with him.
Samantha sat looking at the remains of her meager meal then took one last bite. She picked up her own paper plate and looked around then opened the door.
“What should I do with this?” she asked.
“I’ll take it.” He placed it in a metal container with a snug-fitting lid and sat back down.
Samantha closed the door and sat on the edge of the bed then pulled on the two pairs of socks and the booties. “Now what?” she whispered to herself sitting in the dark.
The door opened and Hamilton poked his head in. “You want to come outside and sit? I have another chair.”
“I guess.” She climbed out of the trailer while he rummaged in an outside compartment and pulled out a second camp chair. He set it up and slapped it with a piece of cloth to knock off the dust and cobwebs. “His and hers.” He gestured with a flourish. “Have a seat.”
Samantha sat quietly staring out at the darkness. “Miles and miles of nothing.”
“Look up,” he said.
Samantha did and gasped at the sight through the camouflage netting. “Oh! I didn’t notice with the netting.” She stood up and walked out from under it. “So many stars!” she said with near reverence. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many stars.”
“That’s the beauty of being out here and away from all the city lights.” He stopped what he was doing. “How are you feeling?”
“Okay, I guess.”
“Remember anything yet?”
Samantha returned to her chair. “I don’t know. Earlier I woke from this dream. It was upsetting and I had a hard time getting back to sleep.” She looked at him. “You were asleep. I didn’t even know when you came in. Anyway, it was a jumble of things but scary... a little.”
“Can you piece any of it together?”
“Not really.”
He nodded. “Just some bits, then. What do you remember?”
She closed her eyes. “It was like I was up in the sky... or something like that, and there were voices but I couldn’t see anyone.”
“Do you remember what any of the voices said?”
“It was like people were talking about me... almost like I wasn’t really there, but I was there... I don’t know.” She turned her gaze to the tiny light then closed her eyes again. “There was a man and I think a woman’s voice but I can’t make out what they were saying. But... yes... they were talking about me.” She opened her eyes and looked at Hamilton.
He nodded. “There was a man and a woman at the place where I found you. They were dressed in scrubs... you know, like a doctor and a nurse might be dressed.”
Samantha focused on the light again. “Yes. I remember now. The woman... touched my arm and said something.”
“Like what?”
Samantha tried to remember. “It was like she was saying my name.”
“Samantha,” he said.
She shook her head. “No. No, she didn’t say Samantha. It was a different name. Oh, I don’t know. That’s all I can remember right now.”
“Okay. You’re doing fine. Just relax now and enjoy the evening, the stars, and the peace and quiet.”
Samantha managed to smile. “Okay.” She looked around in the dim light and noticed that the trailer sat on a solid foundation of tightly stacked cement blocks. Then staring out further she could barely make out the wire fence that encircled their habitat.
“So why the fence? It isn’t very high and it doesn’t look very strong so it’s not going to keep anyone out.”
“Keeps the slithery kind out.”
Samantha shuddered involuntarily and pulled her legs up. “Creepy-crawly things,” she said. “And what about the cement blocks holding up the trailer?”
“They support our little home-away-from-home and also keep unwanted visitors from crawling underneath and hiding.”
“But if the fence keeps them out…”
“It isn’t fool proof. If I don’t remember to close that one little section we came through, they can still get in. I had to clobber one a few hours ago, as a matter of fact.”
Samantha picked up her feet again. “Where!”
“He’s dead. I whacked him then flung him way out there somewhere.” Hamilton gestured into the darkness. He grinned, and for the first time, Samantha noticed the faint traces of dimples in the glow of the light.
“But how did he get in if you’ve been in here with the gate closed?”
He didn’t respond.
“You have dimples… sorta,” she
said. “I like dimples.”
He ignored her remark.
“My little brother had dimples.”
He looked up. “Had?”
“Bobby. He died when he was two. I barely remember him. It’s been nearly fifty years ago, I think. I just remember how heartbroken my mom and dad were at the time. It was hard on everyone. I stayed with my grandparents for several months afterward. My mother was never the same.”
“I’m very sorry to hear about that,” he said. “I’m sure it was very hard on you too.”
She nodded. “I was about three at the time.”
He watched her for a moment then changed the subject. “I’ve been examining our options.”
“We have options?”
“We do,” he said. “We can hike back out of here and fly away… or… considering how cozy and lovely this charming cottage is, we can stay right here for the rest of our lives, cuddled up every night in our cozy little bed, raising a family of jack rabbits, and living happily ever after eating ‘emories’.”
Samantha stared at him. “You’ve been out in the sun too long.”
He laughed. “You’re probably right.”
She looked around again. “How did you get all of this stuff out here?”
“All of what stuff?”
She exhaled loudly with a disgusted look. “The trailer. The cement blocks. The stuff for the fence. All this.” She gestured at his table and chairs and a few other miscellaneous things.
“One piece at a time,” he said showing off those faint dimples again.
Samantha watched him without saying a word as he continued to study his map then she closed her eyes and suddenly thought of Hunter Blake. How much happier she would be running into him again at the Home Center instead of being held captive somewhere in the desert. She suddenly teared up and quickly wiped her face hoping Brad didn’t notice.
Standing up, she walked to the front of the trailer and stared up at the stars once again. “Don’t you worry about someone sneaking up on us?” she asked.
“Who’s going to do that?”
“Well... anyone wandering around out here.”
He chuckled. “How many people do you know who have nothing better to do with their time than wander around in a remote area of the desert in the middle of the night?”
“Oh, I don’t know… dirt bikers, four-wheelers, hikers looking for long lost treasures. The people who kidnapped me. Those kind of people.”
“In the middle of the night.” He shook his head slightly. “Well in the first place, the people who kidnapped you don’t know about this place. As for anyone else, it’s just as unlikely, especially in the middle of the night. And even if someone did come wandering around, they’d have to get past the security system.”
“What security system?”
“I can’t tell you that. It’s a secret.” He grinned.
“Probably a bunch of guard snakes,” she muttered uneasily. “We didn’t see or hear any snakes when we hiked into this place.”
“Just lucky, I guess,” he said. “They must have been napping.”
“Don’t you think someone is going to spot that helicopter you left parked out there?” she gestured aimlessly into the night.
“Someone might,” he agreed. “When the sun comes up.”
“And you’re not worried about that?”
“Not at the moment.”
“Seriously? I’d be worried. I am worried.”
“You needn’t be.”
“What day is it?” she asked.
“What?”
“What day is it?”
Hamilton leaned back. “You know what you should do?’
“What?”
“Make a list of all your questions. I’ll look them over as soon as I have a chance and give you some answers later.”
“The only reason I’m asking is because I’m sure people are wondering where I am. Especially my boss, Mrs. Tillery.” She lied. “It isn’t like me to not show up for work.”
“I don’t have an answer for that question, sorry.”
Frustrated and angry, she stomped back inside the trailer, slamming the door and locking it. “What are you going to do to me!”
The door rattled. “I have a key, you know.” Hamilton opened the door and stepped inside.
Tears cascaded down her cheeks as she backed up. “You’re going to kill me, aren’t you?”
“I have no intention of killing you.”
“Yes you are! You’ve been taunting me and breaking me down so you can...”
“Samantha!” He reached for her.
“Don’t touch me! Please... don’t hurt me.”
“I’m not going to hurt you! I told you... I am protecting you. Your life is in danger.”
She stared at him. “Danger! But why?” She tried to catch her breath between sobs. “How? What have I done that was so bad that someone would want to hurt me? I’m nobody. I’m just an old, divorced, administrative assistant.”
“I don’t know why,” he said then pulled out his phone. “If I showed you some photos of people who might be involved in this, you think you might be able to identify someone? Did you actually see anyone that you can remember?”
“I don’t know. I don’t remember!”
“Let’s try. Just take a look and let me know if anyone looks even a little bit familiar. It might help me know what to do next. It might even help me answer some of your questions.”
Holding up his phone he showed her several photos of men and one woman. She shook her head at each one then stopped him. “Go back,” she said. “Him. He looks familiar. He...” she started to say something then shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“What? What was it about him?”
She let out a sigh, “I... I’m trying to remember something.” She closed her eyes. “Wait. Wait! I was with my friend... Betty! Yes, Betty! She’s my friend! We... just had dinner!” she struggled to remember. “Yes. Dinner at... but then we...” She shook her head again. “This is so frustrating!”
“That’s okay. You’re beginning to remember. Just relax. Don’t try to force anything.” Hamilton gently took her hand. “Come sit down and close your eyes. Just let your thoughts wander.”
Samantha sat on the edge of the bed and did what he said. He sat next to her and put his arm around her.
“Lean against me and relax.”
Samantha began to cry again. “I just want to go home and forget about all of this.”
“I know. And I will do my best to get you home somehow as soon as I know who you are and where you live.” He gave her a gentle squeeze. “Are you sure your name is Samantha?”
“Well, yes...” she began. “Because you keep calling me Samantha. I thought you knew my name.”
“Only that someone else said your name was Samantha, but you’ve not really confirmed that. So are you sure?”
She closed her eyes. “Yes. It feels right.”
“Okay. Good. And you mentioned your friend.”
“Betty. Yes.” Samantha’s eyes got big. “My best friend. She’s my best friend!”
“Now we’re getting somewhere,” Hamilton said.
“I live...” she began. “I live... in a hotel? Or... maybe I was visiting someplace and staying in a hotel... with my friend Betty!” She stood up. “We were...”
“What’s Betty’s last name?” Hamilton asked quickly.
“Johnson,” she said then stared at him. “Wait. Why would I remember her first and last name and not my own?”
“You never know which memories will be triggered first.”
“Betty Johnson.” She sighed again. “I’m tired. I just want to lie down.”
“Okay.” Hamilton helped her back into her sleeping bag. “Try to sleep. I’ll finish up and be in soon.” Stepping outside, he paused to look at the photo Samantha seemed most interested in. “Dirk,” he s
aid.
Hamilton sat down to finished some calculations and a flight plan. He started to put things away when he heard Samantha scream. Dashing inside the trailer he found her sitting up in a panic.
“What happened?” he asked.
“I was dreaming again and then all of a sudden I saw this man and he put a cloth over my mouth and nose and I thought I was going to suffocate and I struggled and wanted to scream but...” She wiped tears from her face.
“Okay. You’re safe. It was a dream, but what else can you remember?”
“I... was in an elevator with Betty.” Samantha said. “Yes. In an elevator and we stopped at our floor... and Betty got off.” She stared at the floor. “Okay... okay... and there was another couple! They got off and I was getting ready to when this other man grabbed my arm and shoved a cloth over my face! I remember! Where is that photo?” she asked excitedly.
Hamilton pulled out his phone and found the photo of Dirk.
“Yes! That’s the man! I remember he hurried to get on the elevator just as the doors were closing. He wanted to go to the floor above ours.” She looked at Hamilton, “Brad? Do you know him?”
“I know who he is,” he nodded.
She shook her head. “But I’ve never seen him before so why would he want to kidnap me?”
“He was acting on orders from someone else and that’s the person we need to find.”
“We do?”
“Well, I do.”
“So who are the other people you showed me?”
Hamilton named each one, including Carolyn and Gerald Allensby.”
Samantha stiffened. “Who did you say he was?” she asked pointing.
“Gerald Allensby.”
“He’s a movie person, isn’t he?”
Hamilton nodded. “Yes. A producer.”
She stared at the photo. “Didn’t he produce Hunter Blake’s last movie?”
“He did. Why?”
She shrugged. “I guess because I got to meet Hunter Blake not long ago, believe it or not, and I remember now, that during the CAMEO awards Hunter Blake mentioned him.”
“Where did you meet Hunter Blake?” Hamilton asked.
“At a friend’s home... for dinner. Well actually,” she giggled. “I can’t believe I’m remembering all of this now but, I ran into him at the Home Center in Coeur d’Alene first. She giggled again. “I remember. It was an accident. I didn’t even notice him at first. ‘Hit and run, aisle nine.” She giggled again then noticed Hamilton’s expression. “Never mind.”
“Who are the friends?”
“Why does that matter?” she asked.
“It might help me find out where you belong.”
“Coeur d’Alene,” she said, still staring at Gerald Allensby’s photo. Then she gasped and her eyes lit up. “I live in Coeur d’Alene!”
“Okay. Now we’re getting somewhere. Look at this photo again,” he said showing her the one of the man she thought she recognized in the elevator. “Still unsure?”
Samantha involuntarily shuddered. “It was him. I remember feeling creepy when he ran into the elevator at the last minute. He didn’t say anything to anyone, not even ‘excuse me.’ Just pushed the button for the floor above ours and stood in back behind us.” She shuddered again. “Once I looked around at him but he just glared at me. I could hardly wait to get off the elevator and was annoyed that the couple pushed ahead of me.”
“They did?”
“Yes. They were rude.”
“Or...” he began, “they were supposed to distract your friend long enough for Dirk to take care of you.”
“That’s his name? Is he on a most wanted list or something? How do you know him? In fact, why do you have pictures of all those people on your phone?”
“It’s part of my job and as for Dirk... I’ve worked with him before.” Hamilton put his phone away. “What else can you remember?”
Samantha stared at him. “Nothing.” She lied again. “That’s about it. I’m still really tired. I think I want to lie down again.”
“Okay.” Hamilton eyed her curiously. “Are you okay? You sure you can’t remember anything else?”
“I’m fine and no, I can’t remember anything else right now. Maybe in the morning I will.” She scooted back into her sleeping bag and Hamilton helped zip it up part way.
“I was just going to have some of that orange drink stuff we had earlier,” he said. “You want some? The air is pretty dry out here. A sip of something might feel good going down.”
“I guess so,” she said.
Hamilton mixed up the powered drink. “I know you’re not happy here. I know you’re having a hard time trusting me, but you don’t have anyone else at the moment.”
“I feel like a prisoner.”
“Think of it more as protective custody.”
Samantha stared at the ceiling of their tiny shelter. “He said he was going to kill me.”
“He what?” Hamilton asked turning around.
“Said he would kill me if I tried to scream. That was just before I passed out.”
“He won’t kill you.”
“How do you know? He could be tracking us right now.”
“He isn’t.”
Samantha frowned. “How do you know that?”
“Because he’s dead.”
“Dead?” She was startled.
“Yes. I killed him.”
She struggled to sit up and pressed herself against the wall. “And you expect me to trust you?”
“He shot at me first. I was defending myself,” Hamilton said.
“Did he tell you where to find me?”
“No. But someone else did... someone else he shot, who is also dead now, but who wanted me to help you. His name was Randy and that was the last thing he said before he died. He told me where I could find you and told me your name.”
Hamilton reached for her hand. “I will do everything I can to protect and help you. I know you’re upset and confused. I can’t help that. And I know that trusting me is asking a lot because you’re right, you don’t know me, and yes, I killed someone, and to be honest, he isn’t the first, but I am trying to help. I suspect the people who took you intended to use you as bait and afterward, I seriously doubt they would have let you go, especially if you could identify Dirk.”
“Bait?” She looked at him. “Bait for what?”
“To catch someone else.”
“Who!”
“You let me worry about that.” He gently pulled a stray hair away from her face. “Here. Drink your juice and try to get more sleep. You’ll feel better tomorrow.”
Samantha let out a tired sigh, and wiped her face. “I suppose.” She stared out the side window next to the bed into the darkness as she took a sip. “Why not put some poison in it while you’re at it? Might improve the taste.”
Hamilton chuckled and waited for her to finish then helped her get tucked in again. He watched her for a moment then straightened up the galley.
“Did you really kill a snake today?” she asked, “Or did you say that to make me believe you did just so I wouldn’t wander off or run away?”
“Why would you run away? You love it here.”
She yawned. “Yeah. Love it. I’m just your prisoner now, like I was at that other place. And if anyone thinks they can negotiate some kind of a deal using me, they can forget it. I’m not worth anything. Not much bargaining value in someone who asks too many questions.” She yawned again and her eyelids drooped. “Are you going to sleep too?”
“I’ll join you in a few minutes.” He sat down at the small dinette and waited until he could hear the sound of soft breathing. Getting up, he stepped over to the bed and watched her, waiting, gently stroking her forehead. “Just sleep, sweet Samantha. Just sleep.”
Soft snoring woke Samantha out of a troubling dream. Hamilton was asleep beside her. The sun had moved much closer to the western horizon and the air temperature was slightly cooler, though not by much. She lay awake for a while, trying to piece together the dream, as well as figure out how Brad fit into all of it.
“Who are you?” she whispered. “Why did you rescue me and what are you planning to do with me?” Closing her eyes again, she drifted off into more unsettled sleep.
Hours later, Samantha opened her eyes with a start. She was now alone on the bed and it was dark inside the trailer. Propping herself up on her elbows, she called out, “Brad?” No answer. In a panic, she fought with the zipper of her sleeping bag then rushed to the door and peered out.
With great relief, she saw him sitting in a folding camp chair studying a map in the glow of a tiny light. She opened the door and let it swing wide.
He glanced up. “Good evening, sleepyhead. Feeling better?”
“A little… I guess.” She sneezed. “Excuse me.”
“It’s the dry air and dust,” he said.
She waited a moment. “What. No ‘bless you’ or at least a ‘gesundheit’?” she asked, relieved he hadn’t run off into the darkness without her.
“Gesundheit,” he said without looking up.
“Thank you. What time is it?”
“Oh, I don’t know. After seven, I think. I let you sleep.”
Samantha watched him looking at the map. “Planning a trip?”
“Just trying to figure out what to do next.” He finally looked up. “Hungry?”
“Yes.”
He stood up, tossed the map on his chair, and picked up the tiny light. “Let’s see what we can scrounge up.” Samantha stepped back as he climbed into the trailer and turned on a small lamp over the galley. He lit a burner on the stove and in minutes whipped up dehydrated scrambled eggs, accompanied by more crackers and something resembling orange juice.
“Another gourmet meal, I take it,” she said with a half-smile.
“Only the best for my gal.”
They sat at the tiny dinette table at the front end of the trailer and ate in silence. Samantha stared out the front windows into the darkness.
“I can’t get over how quiet it is and dark,” she said. “I can’t see anything. I wish the moon were up.”
“It will be later.”
“It seems kind of creepy, actually.”
“Creepy?” Hamilton chuckled. “I suppose, but I kinda like it.”
She looked at him. “You come here often?”
“Often enough.”
“Have you ever been married?” she asked impulsively.
Caught off guard, he looked pained suddenly but replied, “Once. It’s hard to maintain a relationship with someone, doing the kind of work I do.”
“What kind of work do you do?”
“I rescue beautiful women, lure them to my private little outpost in the middle of nowhere, feed them ‘emories’ and…”
“And?”
“And figure out how to get them safely back home again.” He didn’t smile. In the very dim light, his face betrayed something sad as he ate. “I’m not sure how long we may have to stay here. We’ll see.” He looked at his watch. “Go ahead and finish up. There’s a couple of things I still need to do. I’ll be outside.” He slid out of the bench seat and took his paper goods with him.
Samantha sat looking at the remains of her meager meal then took one last bite. She picked up her own paper plate and looked around then opened the door.
“What should I do with this?” she asked.
“I’ll take it.” He placed it in a metal container with a snug-fitting lid and sat back down.
Samantha closed the door and sat on the edge of the bed then pulled on the two pairs of socks and the booties. “Now what?” she whispered to herself sitting in the dark.
The door opened and Hamilton poked his head in. “You want to come outside and sit? I have another chair.”
“I guess.” She climbed out of the trailer while he rummaged in an outside compartment and pulled out a second camp chair. He set it up and slapped it with a piece of cloth to knock off the dust and cobwebs. “His and hers.” He gestured with a flourish. “Have a seat.”
Samantha sat quietly staring out at the darkness. “Miles and miles of nothing.”
“Look up,” he said.
Samantha did and gasped at the sight through the camouflage netting. “Oh! I didn’t notice with the netting.” She stood up and walked out from under it. “So many stars!” she said with near reverence. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many stars.”
“That’s the beauty of being out here and away from all the city lights.” He stopped what he was doing. “How are you feeling?”
“Okay, I guess.”
“Remember anything yet?”
Samantha returned to her chair. “I don’t know. Earlier I woke from this dream. It was upsetting and I had a hard time getting back to sleep.” She looked at him. “You were asleep. I didn’t even know when you came in. Anyway, it was a jumble of things but scary... a little.”
“Can you piece any of it together?”
“Not really.”
He nodded. “Just some bits, then. What do you remember?”
She closed her eyes. “It was like I was up in the sky... or something like that, and there were voices but I couldn’t see anyone.”
“Do you remember what any of the voices said?”
“It was like people were talking about me... almost like I wasn’t really there, but I was there... I don’t know.” She turned her gaze to the tiny light then closed her eyes again. “There was a man and I think a woman’s voice but I can’t make out what they were saying. But... yes... they were talking about me.” She opened her eyes and looked at Hamilton.
He nodded. “There was a man and a woman at the place where I found you. They were dressed in scrubs... you know, like a doctor and a nurse might be dressed.”
Samantha focused on the light again. “Yes. I remember now. The woman... touched my arm and said something.”
“Like what?”
Samantha tried to remember. “It was like she was saying my name.”
“Samantha,” he said.
She shook her head. “No. No, she didn’t say Samantha. It was a different name. Oh, I don’t know. That’s all I can remember right now.”
“Okay. You’re doing fine. Just relax now and enjoy the evening, the stars, and the peace and quiet.”
Samantha managed to smile. “Okay.” She looked around in the dim light and noticed that the trailer sat on a solid foundation of tightly stacked cement blocks. Then staring out further she could barely make out the wire fence that encircled their habitat.
“So why the fence? It isn’t very high and it doesn’t look very strong so it’s not going to keep anyone out.”
“Keeps the slithery kind out.”
Samantha shuddered involuntarily and pulled her legs up. “Creepy-crawly things,” she said. “And what about the cement blocks holding up the trailer?”
“They support our little home-away-from-home and also keep unwanted visitors from crawling underneath and hiding.”
“But if the fence keeps them out…”
“It isn’t fool proof. If I don’t remember to close that one little section we came through, they can still get in. I had to clobber one a few hours ago, as a matter of fact.”
Samantha picked up her feet again. “Where!”
“He’s dead. I whacked him then flung him way out there somewhere.” Hamilton gestured into the darkness. He grinned, and for the first time, Samantha noticed the faint traces of dimples in the glow of the light.
“But how did he get in if you’ve been in here with the gate closed?”
He didn’t respond.
“You have dimples… sorta,” she
He ignored her remark.
“My little brother had dimples.”
He looked up. “Had?”
“Bobby. He died when he was two. I barely remember him. It’s been nearly fifty years ago, I think. I just remember how heartbroken my mom and dad were at the time. It was hard on everyone. I stayed with my grandparents for several months afterward. My mother was never the same.”
“I’m very sorry to hear about that,” he said. “I’m sure it was very hard on you too.”
She nodded. “I was about three at the time.”
He watched her for a moment then changed the subject. “I’ve been examining our options.”
“We have options?”
“We do,” he said. “We can hike back out of here and fly away… or… considering how cozy and lovely this charming cottage is, we can stay right here for the rest of our lives, cuddled up every night in our cozy little bed, raising a family of jack rabbits, and living happily ever after eating ‘emories’.”
Samantha stared at him. “You’ve been out in the sun too long.”
He laughed. “You’re probably right.”
She looked around again. “How did you get all of this stuff out here?”
“All of what stuff?”
She exhaled loudly with a disgusted look. “The trailer. The cement blocks. The stuff for the fence. All this.” She gestured at his table and chairs and a few other miscellaneous things.
“One piece at a time,” he said showing off those faint dimples again.
Samantha watched him without saying a word as he continued to study his map then she closed her eyes and suddenly thought of Hunter Blake. How much happier she would be running into him again at the Home Center instead of being held captive somewhere in the desert. She suddenly teared up and quickly wiped her face hoping Brad didn’t notice.
Standing up, she walked to the front of the trailer and stared up at the stars once again. “Don’t you worry about someone sneaking up on us?” she asked.
“Who’s going to do that?”
“Well... anyone wandering around out here.”
He chuckled. “How many people do you know who have nothing better to do with their time than wander around in a remote area of the desert in the middle of the night?”
“Oh, I don’t know… dirt bikers, four-wheelers, hikers looking for long lost treasures. The people who kidnapped me. Those kind of people.”
“In the middle of the night.” He shook his head slightly. “Well in the first place, the people who kidnapped you don’t know about this place. As for anyone else, it’s just as unlikely, especially in the middle of the night. And even if someone did come wandering around, they’d have to get past the security system.”
“What security system?”
“I can’t tell you that. It’s a secret.” He grinned.
“Probably a bunch of guard snakes,” she muttered uneasily. “We didn’t see or hear any snakes when we hiked into this place.”
“Just lucky, I guess,” he said. “They must have been napping.”
“Don’t you think someone is going to spot that helicopter you left parked out there?” she gestured aimlessly into the night.
“Someone might,” he agreed. “When the sun comes up.”
“And you’re not worried about that?”
“Not at the moment.”
“Seriously? I’d be worried. I am worried.”
“You needn’t be.”
“What day is it?” she asked.
“What?”
“What day is it?”
Hamilton leaned back. “You know what you should do?’
“What?”
“Make a list of all your questions. I’ll look them over as soon as I have a chance and give you some answers later.”
“The only reason I’m asking is because I’m sure people are wondering where I am. Especially my boss, Mrs. Tillery.” She lied. “It isn’t like me to not show up for work.”
“I don’t have an answer for that question, sorry.”
Frustrated and angry, she stomped back inside the trailer, slamming the door and locking it. “What are you going to do to me!”
The door rattled. “I have a key, you know.” Hamilton opened the door and stepped inside.
Tears cascaded down her cheeks as she backed up. “You’re going to kill me, aren’t you?”
“I have no intention of killing you.”
“Yes you are! You’ve been taunting me and breaking me down so you can...”
“Samantha!” He reached for her.
“Don’t touch me! Please... don’t hurt me.”
“I’m not going to hurt you! I told you... I am protecting you. Your life is in danger.”
She stared at him. “Danger! But why?” She tried to catch her breath between sobs. “How? What have I done that was so bad that someone would want to hurt me? I’m nobody. I’m just an old, divorced, administrative assistant.”
“I don’t know why,” he said then pulled out his phone. “If I showed you some photos of people who might be involved in this, you think you might be able to identify someone? Did you actually see anyone that you can remember?”
“I don’t know. I don’t remember!”
“Let’s try. Just take a look and let me know if anyone looks even a little bit familiar. It might help me know what to do next. It might even help me answer some of your questions.”
Holding up his phone he showed her several photos of men and one woman. She shook her head at each one then stopped him. “Go back,” she said. “Him. He looks familiar. He...” she started to say something then shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“What? What was it about him?”
She let out a sigh, “I... I’m trying to remember something.” She closed her eyes. “Wait. Wait! I was with my friend... Betty! Yes, Betty! She’s my friend! We... just had dinner!” she struggled to remember. “Yes. Dinner at... but then we...” She shook her head again. “This is so frustrating!”
“That’s okay. You’re beginning to remember. Just relax. Don’t try to force anything.” Hamilton gently took her hand. “Come sit down and close your eyes. Just let your thoughts wander.”
Samantha sat on the edge of the bed and did what he said. He sat next to her and put his arm around her.
“Lean against me and relax.”
Samantha began to cry again. “I just want to go home and forget about all of this.”
“I know. And I will do my best to get you home somehow as soon as I know who you are and where you live.” He gave her a gentle squeeze. “Are you sure your name is Samantha?”
“Well, yes...” she began. “Because you keep calling me Samantha. I thought you knew my name.”
“Only that someone else said your name was Samantha, but you’ve not really confirmed that. So are you sure?”
She closed her eyes. “Yes. It feels right.”
“Okay. Good. And you mentioned your friend.”
“Betty. Yes.” Samantha’s eyes got big. “My best friend. She’s my best friend!”
“Now we’re getting somewhere,” Hamilton said.
“I live...” she began. “I live... in a hotel? Or... maybe I was visiting someplace and staying in a hotel... with my friend Betty!” She stood up. “We were...”
“What’s Betty’s last name?” Hamilton asked quickly.
“Johnson,” she said then stared at him. “Wait. Why would I remember her first and last name and not my own?”
“You never know which memories will be triggered first.”
“Betty Johnson.” She sighed again. “I’m tired. I just want to lie down.”
“Okay.” Hamilton helped her back into her sleeping bag. “Try to sleep. I’ll finish up and be in soon.” Stepping outside, he paused to look at the photo Samantha seemed most interested in. “Dirk,” he s
Hamilton sat down to finished some calculations and a flight plan. He started to put things away when he heard Samantha scream. Dashing inside the trailer he found her sitting up in a panic.
“What happened?” he asked.
“I was dreaming again and then all of a sudden I saw this man and he put a cloth over my mouth and nose and I thought I was going to suffocate and I struggled and wanted to scream but...” She wiped tears from her face.
“Okay. You’re safe. It was a dream, but what else can you remember?”
“I... was in an elevator with Betty.” Samantha said. “Yes. In an elevator and we stopped at our floor... and Betty got off.” She stared at the floor. “Okay... okay... and there was another couple! They got off and I was getting ready to when this other man grabbed my arm and shoved a cloth over my face! I remember! Where is that photo?” she asked excitedly.
Hamilton pulled out his phone and found the photo of Dirk.
“Yes! That’s the man! I remember he hurried to get on the elevator just as the doors were closing. He wanted to go to the floor above ours.” She looked at Hamilton, “Brad? Do you know him?”
“I know who he is,” he nodded.
She shook her head. “But I’ve never seen him before so why would he want to kidnap me?”
“He was acting on orders from someone else and that’s the person we need to find.”
“We do?”
“Well, I do.”
“So who are the other people you showed me?”
Hamilton named each one, including Carolyn and Gerald Allensby.”
Samantha stiffened. “Who did you say he was?” she asked pointing.
“Gerald Allensby.”
“He’s a movie person, isn’t he?”
Hamilton nodded. “Yes. A producer.”
She stared at the photo. “Didn’t he produce Hunter Blake’s last movie?”
“He did. Why?”
She shrugged. “I guess because I got to meet Hunter Blake not long ago, believe it or not, and I remember now, that during the CAMEO awards Hunter Blake mentioned him.”
“Where did you meet Hunter Blake?” Hamilton asked.
“At a friend’s home... for dinner. Well actually,” she giggled. “I can’t believe I’m remembering all of this now but, I ran into him at the Home Center in Coeur d’Alene first. She giggled again. “I remember. It was an accident. I didn’t even notice him at first. ‘Hit and run, aisle nine.” She giggled again then noticed Hamilton’s expression. “Never mind.”
“Who are the friends?”
“Why does that matter?” she asked.
“It might help me find out where you belong.”
“Coeur d’Alene,” she said, still staring at Gerald Allensby’s photo. Then she gasped and her eyes lit up. “I live in Coeur d’Alene!”
“Okay. Now we’re getting somewhere. Look at this photo again,” he said showing her the one of the man she thought she recognized in the elevator. “Still unsure?”
Samantha involuntarily shuddered. “It was him. I remember feeling creepy when he ran into the elevator at the last minute. He didn’t say anything to anyone, not even ‘excuse me.’ Just pushed the button for the floor above ours and stood in back behind us.” She shuddered again. “Once I looked around at him but he just glared at me. I could hardly wait to get off the elevator and was annoyed that the couple pushed ahead of me.”
“They did?”
“Yes. They were rude.”
“Or...” he began, “they were supposed to distract your friend long enough for Dirk to take care of you.”
“That’s his name? Is he on a most wanted list or something? How do you know him? In fact, why do you have pictures of all those people on your phone?”
“It’s part of my job and as for Dirk... I’ve worked with him before.” Hamilton put his phone away. “What else can you remember?”
Samantha stared at him. “Nothing.” She lied again. “That’s about it. I’m still really tired. I think I want to lie down again.”
“Okay.” Hamilton eyed her curiously. “Are you okay? You sure you can’t remember anything else?”
“I’m fine and no, I can’t remember anything else right now. Maybe in the morning I will.” She scooted back into her sleeping bag and Hamilton helped zip it up part way.
“I was just going to have some of that orange drink stuff we had earlier,” he said. “You want some? The air is pretty dry out here. A sip of something might feel good going down.”
“I guess so,” she said.
Hamilton mixed up the powered drink. “I know you’re not happy here. I know you’re having a hard time trusting me, but you don’t have anyone else at the moment.”
“I feel like a prisoner.”
“Think of it more as protective custody.”
Samantha stared at the ceiling of their tiny shelter. “He said he was going to kill me.”
“He what?” Hamilton asked turning around.
“Said he would kill me if I tried to scream. That was just before I passed out.”
“He won’t kill you.”
“How do you know? He could be tracking us right now.”
“He isn’t.”
Samantha frowned. “How do you know that?”
“Because he’s dead.”
“Dead?” She was startled.
“Yes. I killed him.”
She struggled to sit up and pressed herself against the wall. “And you expect me to trust you?”
“He shot at me first. I was defending myself,” Hamilton said.
“Did he tell you where to find me?”
“No. But someone else did... someone else he shot, who is also dead now, but who wanted me to help you. His name was Randy and that was the last thing he said before he died. He told me where I could find you and told me your name.”
Hamilton reached for her hand. “I will do everything I can to protect and help you. I know you’re upset and confused. I can’t help that. And I know that trusting me is asking a lot because you’re right, you don’t know me, and yes, I killed someone, and to be honest, he isn’t the first, but I am trying to help. I suspect the people who took you intended to use you as bait and afterward, I seriously doubt they would have let you go, especially if you could identify Dirk.”
“Bait?” She looked at him. “Bait for what?”
“To catch someone else.”
“Who!”
“You let me worry about that.” He gently pulled a stray hair away from her face. “Here. Drink your juice and try to get more sleep. You’ll feel better tomorrow.”
Samantha let out a tired sigh, and wiped her face. “I suppose.” She stared out the side window next to the bed into the darkness as she took a sip. “Why not put some poison in it while you’re at it? Might improve the taste.”
Hamilton chuckled and waited for her to finish then helped her get tucked in again. He watched her for a moment then straightened up the galley.
“Did you really kill a snake today?” she asked, “Or did you say that to make me believe you did just so I wouldn’t wander off or run away?”
“Why would you run away? You love it here.”
She yawned. “Yeah. Love it. I’m just your prisoner now, like I was at that other place. And if anyone thinks they can negotiate some kind of a deal using me, they can forget it. I’m not worth anything. Not much bargaining value in someone who asks too many questions.” She yawned again and her eyelids drooped. “Are you going to sleep too?”
“I’ll join you in a few minutes.” He sat down at the small dinette and waited until he could hear the sound of soft breathing. Getting up, he stepped over to the bed and watched her, waiting, gently stroking her forehead. “Just sleep, sweet Samantha. Just sleep.”