Free Untraceable by Elizabeth Goddard Page A

Cade should do it, to make sure they didn’t destroy their only protection against this environment, but he needed a moment to steady his nerves, rein in his anger.
    Cade grabbed a snow-covered bag near Isaiah, leaning in. “I’m surprised you held it together.”
    How well Cade knew him. “Thanks for jumping in when you did.”
    “The radio wasn’t the issue. I jumped in to protect all of us, but especially my sister. It’s obvious that Zach has picked up on your affinity for Heidi.”
    Isaiah shrugged, digging another bag out. “I haven’t done anything to encourage him, Cade. You have to know that. I haven’t responded to any of his taunts. I wouldn’t do that to Heidi. He just doesn’t like me. That’s all.”
    Cade’s eyes were colder than the air. “You’re going to get her killed.”
    “What do you want me to do? Walk off the next cliff?” Isaiah wished he could take the words back.
    Breathing hard, Cade straightened to his full height. “Just keep your head down and stay out of trouble. Don’t leave the camp again. Don’t try anything again.”
    “Have you got a plan then? Because I’d sure love to hear it.”
    “Sure I do. I plan to get the group to safety. We’re taking them to the ice field. We have to believe a search and rescue team will find us by then. David will figure out something has gone wrong soon, if he hasn’t already.”
    Isaiah wanted to believe in Cade’s plan. He really did. “This guy isn’t going to let them find us, and besides, we have to warn them, Cade. We can’t allow more people to be put in danger.”
    Since Cade was clearly delusional, finding a way out of this mess was up to Isaiah.

EIGHT
    T hey hiked in snowshoes throughout the morning, but at least the sun broke through the clouds and warmed them, though Heidi knew that another snowstorm was on the way. And when it came, the inclement weather would be like a recurring nightmare. Torturing them during the day, too.
    Facing the harsh Alaska environment was one thing, but she’d never imagined herself in this predicament. Not in her worst nightmares, recurring or not. This journey couldn’t end soon enough. And yet she almost dreaded the end, especially after Isaiah’s words.
    They can’t let us go.
    Would she face her death, then? Watch Cade and Isaiah be executed?
    Heidi shoved aside the foreboding thoughts, though they stayed at the edge of her mind. She wished she were hiking closer to Cade and Isaiah. Instead, Zach kept her near him at the back of the line so he could use her to control them. Cade led the way as they hiked out and down toward the base of the mountain, followed by Jason, Isaiah, Rhea and then Zach with Heidi.
    Rhea tried to hang back so she could be near Zach, the man she claimed to love, but he kept urging her forward. If only he would pay attention to Rhea and reassure her of his affections. After her talk with Rhea, Heidi hoped she’d convinced the woman she had no plans to steal Zach away. The very idea made her shudder.
    “What’s going through that pretty head of yours?” he asked.
    His question repulsed her. Rhea glanced back and glared at Heidi.
    “I’m thinking about what’s up ahead. We got a short reprieve from stormy weather and from any serious climbing. But there’s more to come. And we’re all exhausted.” How would they survive this?
    “Those energy bars don’t stay with you long, do they? I’m hungry again. Aren’t you?” Zach’s attempt at a normal conversation fell flat. What did he think? That he could change the way Heidi thought of him?
    “Yeah, I’m hungry, too,” she admitted. They were burning up their energy reserves quickly, and running out of supplies.
    Rhea slowed and hiked next to them, and this time, Zach said nothing about it. “Do you think we’ll need to use your climbing ropes again?” she asked. “That was the worst experience of my life.”
    Heidi nodded, pleased that Rhea’s thoughts were now turned to the dangers ahead, and