Chapter 18 – The Mountain Trap

The rescue helicopters lifted into the gray Swiss sky just after dawn.

Snow-covered peaks stretched endlessly beneath them.

Inside the lead helicopter, no one spoke.

Mariana studied the digital map glowing on the screen.

The GPS signal had come from an abandoned monastery nearly eight thousand feet above sea level.

Remote.

Isolated.

Perfect for an ambush.

Rebecca Collins finally broke the silence.

"I don't like this."

Mariana looked up.

"You think it's a trap."

Rebecca nodded.

"Blackwood spent thirty years planning revenge."

"He doesn't make careless mistakes."

"If Gabriel sent the signal..."

"Blackwood probably wanted us to receive it."

At the same time...

Inside the monastery...

Gabriel continued rubbing the sharp metal screw against the plastic restraints around his wrists.

Slowly.

Patiently.

One careless movement would alert the guards.

Blackwood stood near the ancient stone fireplace, studying an old map.

Without turning around, he spoke.

"You've almost cut through the restraint."

Gabriel froze.

Blackwood smiled.

"You hide your emotions well."

"But not your shoulders."

Gabriel laughed softly.

"So you noticed."

"I noticed the moment you picked up the screw."

"Then why didn't you stop me?"

Blackwood turned to face him.

"Because hope is useful."

Gabriel frowned.

"What does that mean?"

"It keeps prisoners predictable."

Back in the helicopter...

A Swiss special operations commander reviewed satellite images.

"There."

He pointed toward the mountain ridge.

"Thermal scans confirm multiple heat signatures."

Rebecca nodded.

"How many?"

"At least twelve."

Mariana looked at the screen.

"Twelve guards?"

The commander hesitated.

"Or twelve decoys."

Andrew sat quietly in the rear of the helicopter.

He still couldn't believe he was part of this mission.

Weeks earlier...

He had been fighting Mariana in court.

Now he was risking his life beside her.

He leaned forward.

"If I were Blackwood..."

Everyone looked toward him.

"I wouldn't defend the monastery."

Rebecca frowned.

"What would you do?"

"I'd make us believe Gabriel is inside..."

"...while moving him somewhere else."

Silence followed.

Mariana slowly nodded.

"That's exactly how Mercer operated."

Rebecca immediately contacted the second helicopter.

"Split the team."

"Half secure the monastery."

"The other half search the surrounding valleys."

Inside the monastery...

One of Blackwood's men entered hurriedly.

"They're coming."

Blackwood calmly closed the map.

"On schedule."

"Should we evacuate?"

"No."

He looked toward Gabriel.

"Bring our guest."

Two guards pulled Gabriel to his feet.

As they led him down a narrow stone corridor, Gabriel discreetly let the tiny metal screw fall onto the floor.

He couldn't escape.

But he could leave clues.

Minutes later...

The helicopters landed.

Swiss commandos spread across the snowy mountainside.

Rebecca gave the order.

"Move."

The heavy wooden monastery doors exploded inward.

Flashbang grenades echoed through the halls.

"Clear!"

"Second floor clear!"

"Basement clear!"

Room after room...

Nothing.

No prisoners.

No Blackwood.

Only empty stone chambers.

Rebecca frowned.

"This is impossible."

Mariana entered the old chapel.

Dust floated through beams of sunlight.

Everything was silent.

Then she noticed something.

A tiny metallic object lying near a cracked stone step.

She knelt.

Picked it up.

The metal screw.

Fresh scratches marked its surface.

Gabriel had left it.

"He was here."

Andrew looked around.

"And he wanted us to know."

Meanwhile...

Nearly two miles away...

A black convoy wound through a hidden mountain tunnel.

Inside the lead armored vehicle, Gabriel sat handcuffed.

Blackwood looked surprisingly relaxed.

"You've bought them about fifteen minutes."

Gabriel smiled.

"Enough."

Blackwood raised an eyebrow.

"For what?"

"My sister."

Blackwood laughed.

"You still believe she'll save you."

Gabriel answered without hesitation.

"No."

"I believe she'll stop you."

Back inside the monastery...

One of the Swiss officers shouted.

"Agent Collins!"

Rebecca hurried downstairs.

The officer pointed toward a stone wall.

"It sounds hollow."

Commandos pulled away centuries-old shelving.

Behind it...

A concealed tunnel stretched deep beneath the mountain.

Rebecca immediately drew her weapon.

"They escaped this way."

The pursuit began.

The tunnel emerged into an abandoned railway station hidden inside the mountain.

Old tracks disappeared into darkness.

Fresh tire marks covered the dusty concrete.

Mariana knelt beside them.

"They switched vehicles."

Andrew studied the ground.

Then something caught his attention.

A folded piece of paper lay wedged beneath a rusted rail.

He picked it up.

It was another message.

Only four words.

Too slow. Try harder.

Rebecca crushed the paper in her fist.

"He's mocking us."

Suddenly...

One of the surveillance technicians ran toward them.

"We intercepted a satellite phone call."

Rebecca turned sharply.

"Trace it."

The technician shook his head.

"It lasted only six seconds."

"What did it say?"

He replayed the recording.

Blackwood's calm voice echoed through the speakers.

"Prepare the yacht."

Rebecca frowned.

"Yacht?"

The Swiss commander's eyes widened.

"There are only three private marinas within helicopter range."

Mariana stood immediately.

"Split the teams."

An hour later...

Federal agents raided the first marina.

Nothing.

The second...

Abandoned.

At the third...

A luxury yacht had departed just minutes earlier.

Rebecca watched through binoculars as the vessel disappeared into the icy waters of Lake Geneva.

"Damn it."

Mariana remained surprisingly calm.

"No."

She pointed toward the dock.

"He left something."

A waterproof envelope had been tied to one of the mooring posts.

Inside was a handwritten letter.

Rebecca carefully unfolded it.

It was addressed to Mariana.

She began reading aloud.

Mrs. Escalante,
You still believe this story is about revenge.
It isn't.
It is about inheritance.
Your father stole my future.
I intend to let you experience the same loss.
If you wish to see your brother alive again...
Come alone.
Bring the one document your father has hidden for thirty-two years.
You already know its name.
New World Development.

Alejandro slowly lowered his head.

Mariana turned toward him.

"What is in that file?"

For several long seconds...

He couldn't answer.

Finally, he whispered,

"It isn't just a company."

"It's proof."

"Proof of what?"

Alejandro looked directly into his daughter's eyes.

"Proof that Jonathan Blackwood was once my business partner."

The wind howled across the frozen lake.