Chasing Gold

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

Both helicopters raced across the flatlands beyond St Louis, matched for pace, averaging round 140mph. The scenery whipped by unnoticed; the clouds cleared and then brought rain. Alicia struggled to see out of the cockpit windows.

“Our problem now,” Caitlyn said, “is that we don’t know where they’re going.”

“I know,” Alicia said. “Crouch wasn’t able to pass on the clue. It’s imperative we don’t lose them this time.”

“Shame,” Russo said. “I was just getting into the groove of chasing clues.”

“I’m not sure what comes next.” Austin had managed to settle his stomach as the flight stabilized. “This chasing about can’t continue. Something has to give.”

“I agree.” Alicia was unsuccessfully trying to stick tape over the hole in her window. “We have to assume they have sufficient fuel to reach their destination. Why wouldn’t they? That means there will be a standoff. And I’ll never give up trying to save my friend.”

“They could call for reinforcements again,” Russo put in. “Like we should consider doing.”

“We can’t.” Caitlyn had already informed Agent Merriweather of their progress, or lack of it. To Merriweather it was a case of going nowhere fast, or rushing forward to stand absolutely still. “Same old problem with the banner and the terrorists that are holding it. It must be protected and we’re on a need-to-know basis. They’re trying to scramble a team to shadow us.”

“I don’t like the sound of that,” Russo said.

“Me neither,” Alicia said. “How long have we been flying now?”

The pilot spoke up. “Four hours,” he said. “A tad more.”

“What’s the fuel situation?”

“I have a little over two hours remaining.”

Alicia found herself focusing her attentions on Crouch and the two thieves, and on how her feelings had changed, especially for the former.

It was a mixed bag where Crouch was concerned. He had been her boss for so long, one of the stalwart, trusted figures in her life that she could always count on. Then she had learned something about him, something that didn’t jive with what she wanted to believe. Her views shifted; a large part of her felt let down and quite broken. But it was a personal thing for Crouch, and nothing to do with her.

Now, Alicia struggled to hold on to the suspicions, finding herself barely able to remember any of the reasons she’d used for their foundations. Everyone made mistakes. Shit, I made a million. You just had to give someone another chance to step up and prove themselves.

Already, his abduction had changed her. Life had proven quite chaotic of late, giving her no chance of revisiting earlier feelings — but now that her old friend was in mortal danger she saw that she’d been unfair. Moving ahead wasn’t always moving on, and she berated herself for that.

Crouch would give her a dozen second chances.

She snapped back to the present as Russo growled, wondering what had caught the recalcitrant monster’s attention.

“What is it, Robster?”

“Mountains.”

“Eh?”

He pointed through the haze of cracks that made patterns across his window. “See there? That smudge is mountains.”

“Do friends of yours live there?”

Russo gave her the finger.

“Where the hell are we?” Alicia nudged the pilot.

“Soon to be approaching Colorado,” he said. “Y’know it? Ski resorts, snow. Aspen. Nice place, but friggin’ cold and pointy.”

Alicia let out a long breath. “You should become a tour guide. Does anyone think we should force the issue before we get to Colorado?”

The general reply was negative. Alicia fretted that she hadn’t brought along her skis. Austin mentioned the designer shopping. Caitlyn informed their FBI liaison of their probable direction.

The smudge grew larger, transmogrifying into peaks, valleys and deadly ridges, all either tippled or covered in snow.

“They’re headed here for a reason,” Alicia reminded them as the choppers skimmed clouds and shot through blue skies in their endless pursuit. “Get ready.”