Page 75 of Mountain Trial

“A video? Was that the plan?”

“Why so curious suddenly, Cripple?”

“I’m just wondering, is all,” Luc said lightly.

“I’ll humor you, since I don’t have anything better to do while we wait, and since you’re going to die anyway, but knowing won’t help you,” Bull said, chuckling darkly.

“So, a video …” Luc repeated.

“All she had to make was a two-minute video, apologizing for her and her husband’s ecological crimes―ah, they’re back,” Bull said.

Dogfish still had his fingers around Kat’s upper arm. As they walked, he leaned down to whisper something in her ear. Whatever it was made Kat recoil so violently she stumbled, but Dogfish grabbed her by the elbow and propelled her forward.

“We have the keys,” Dogfish confirmed.

“Great. Now how do we get this thing out of here?”

Kat sighed. “That blue button on the left will open the door. We can pull the helicopter out using the towcart,” Kat explained, pointing at the heavy-duty wheels sitting under the skids. “A strong person should be able to do it.”

Dogfish clapped his hands and flexed his enormous arm muscles. “That’d be me.”

“Show Dogfish exactly how to do it. We will wait here―”

“Don’t do it, Kat,” Luc begged. “Don’t―”

Bull kicked him in the ribs once―hard enough to take Luc’s breath away.

“Shut up or I’ll gag you again,” Bull said. His attention “Now, get to it, sweet thing.”

“Don’t hurt him. Please. We’ll just be a minute.”

Luc clenched his jaw tight. In a matter of minutes, the helicopter would be ready to fly. And if that happened, Kat would be lost to him forever.

Kat

The door to the hangar opened with a soft hum―Jean kept it well-oiled.

Kat stood by while Dogfish started pulling the helicopter towards the exit. She wished Jean hadn’t insisted on those expensive, heavy duty towcarts that made their machines as maneuverable as toys. In a matter of minutes, the helicopter was sitting outside on the tarmac.

Kat removed the towcart, pushing it out of the way, then moved to unlock the helicopter. As soon as she’d done so, Dogfish pushed through and slid the door wide open in a practiced move. Moments later, he’d pulled himself inside.

They know their way around a helicopter.

The only thing they don’t know how to do is fly it.

I need to buy us some time.

Kat knew desperate, and Bull and Dogfish smelled desperate. They hadn’t hurt her yet, because they saw her as their ticket out of Chamonix―but as soon as she’d served her purpose, she knew they’d get rid of both her and Luc.

Bull strolled towards them, Luc’s body draped over his shoulder. Luc struggled, swearing a blue stream and headbutting Bull in the thighs, but with his hands cuffed behind his back his blows held no real power.

Bull dropped Luc’s body on the tarmac in front of her. He landed with a thump, unable to even break the fall with his hands.

“Okay, we’re all here. Get on, sweet thing. Show us how good you are at flying.”

“I’ll take you wherever you want, but Luc stays here,” Kat said in what she hoped was a steady voice. Whatever happened, she wasn’t going to be responsible for Luc’s death.

“No, Kat!” Luc shouted. His voice broke. “Please. Please don’t do this.”