John Gilstrap - Hostage Zero

Brandy felt somehow heavier as she sat there. Would this never end? She found herself nodding in agreement before she’d even thought it all the way through.

“Good,” he said. “And on the other thing, I want you to be my messenger. Go home and pack for a warm climate.”

“Sir?”

“Someone will contact you with the details in a couple of hours.”

It felt as if she’d slept through a part of the movie of her own life. “I don’t understand.”

Leger gave her a little wave. Of course she didn’t understand. “We’re going to get you down to Colombia,” he said.

Evan Guinn had fallen asleep in the back of the SUV, lulled by the never-ending bouncing and rolling along the trails that doubled for jungle roads. When the jostling stopped, he awoke, confused about where he was. The nap had allowed him to forget. Now reality returned.

They’d reached a small clearing, about a quarter of the size of a football field, where the trees had somehow been removed, leaving only a green ocean of low-growing ferns and bushes. A few bore flowers, but most did not. On a different day, it would have been beautiful. As it was, Evan was overrun with the sense that he was going to die out here and no one would ever find his body.

As a lump grew in his throat, he refused to let himself cry again. He’d already been a pussy for running after the car. And what had that gotten him? If this was where they were going to drop him off, it had bought him nothing. Maybe less than nothing.

“Stay here,” Mitch commanded. Without waiting for an answer, he pulled open his door and stepped out. He crossed in front of the vehicle and strode to the center of the clearing, where he stopped. With his arms outstretched and his legs spread to shoulder width, he slowly pivoted 360 degrees, and then stopped.

“What’s he doing?” Evan asked the driver. He craved someone talking to him, but he wasn’t surprised when the driver remained silent. He probably didn’t even understand.

After maybe thirty seconds had passed, the surrounding jungle squeezed out four dark-skinned men armed with rifles-Evan thought they were M16s based on what he’d seen on the History Channel. The men were dressed like soldiers: camouflaged uniforms that hadn’t been washed in a very long time, which, he thought, matched the appearance of the men wearing them. For a second, he thought they were going to shoot Mitch on the spot, but then they approached him.

As they got closer, three of the four men held back, while the fourth approached Mitch like an old friend.

Mitch and the other man chatted for a couple of minutes. They shared a laugh, and they shook hands again before walking together toward the SUV. Evan’s heart jumped as his stomach cramped. They were coming for him. He crab walked to the far side of the backseat, adding space between him and the approaching kidnappers.

This was his last chance to get away. He turned to the left-side passenger door to pull the latch and yelled at the sight of another soldier standing on the other side. He had no idea where he’d come from.

Mitch and the other man were here now, and both back doors opened simultaneously, a stern-faced soldier on his left, and coldly smiling Mitch on his right.

“Don’t even think about it, kid,” Mitch said. “You’ve got a long hike ahead of you, and it’ll be a lot harder with your hands tied. Make us do it, and we will. It’s your call.”

He had no choice. This was why it was better to fight to the death before being taken. After that first moment, all the options were shitty ones.

“Allow me to introduce myself,” said the soldier that Mitch had been talking to. “My name is Oscar.” He reached a hand into the car, and Evan recoiled, almost falling out the other door on the far side.

The soldier closest to him reached out to catch him, but it wasn’t necessary.

“Why are you doing this?” Evan asked. He heard the whiny tone in his voice, but he couldn’t help it.

Oscar’s features softened. He didn’t smile, but it was close. “I realize that this must be frightening for you,” he said. “How could it not be? You go to bed one night, and then in so short a time, you’re in so strange a place. I’m sorry that it had to happen this way.”

“What is happening?”

“You’re embarking on a new adventure,” Oscar said. His eyes didn’t frighten Evan as much as Mitch’s did.

“I don’t need a new adventure. I don’t want a new adventure.”

Oscar smiled gently. “I understand. Unfortunately, we don’t always get to choose the events in our lives. You need to come with us, Evan. No one means to harm you. In fact, these guns are intended to protect you.”

Evan looked to the soldier who’d tried to catch him. The soldier gave him that quick smile that adults always give to kids when they make eye contact. The one that was meant to say that they were not a threat. It was also the smile of every child molester. Can you help me find my lost puppy?

“We have a long way to go before dark, Evan,” Oscar said. “We need to get moving.”

His mind raced for a way to stall. “Where are we going?”

Oscar cocked his head. “Does it matter? One way or another, I have to deliver you. As my friend Mitchell here said, it will be so much easier if you come along easily.” He let that sink in, then motioned with a flick of his fingers for Evan to join him. “Let’s get started, shall we?” He stood to his full height, and pivoted to the side of the door, opening a corridor for Evan to step outside.

In the end, he had no choice. He scooted on his butt across the bench seat and out into the weeds. They stabbed at the soles of his feet and tickled his legs-not in a way that made you want to laugh, but in the way that made you want to take a shower.

“Good for you,” Oscar said. “You chose well.” He extended his hand again. “Let’s make it official. I’m Oscar, and it’s nice to meet you.”

Evan stared at the hand for a few seconds, and then he took it. “Evan Guinn,” he said. Oscar’s palms were as rough and hard as granite. He stopped short of saying that it was nice to meet him.

Releasing Evan’s hand, Oscar turned to Mitch. “We’ll take good care of the boy,” he said. “Rest assured.”

Mitch clearly didn’t care one way or the other. He climbed back into the truck. The last thing Evan heard before the door closed was, “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

As the truck’s engine revved, Oscar gently pulled Evan out of the way. The SUV drove in a wide circle through the clearing to turn around, and then it was gone.

He was alone now with his new captors. Evan became aware of Oscar’s rough hand on his bare shoulder.

“Try not to be afraid,” the man said.

Evan fought to control his breathing, which had started to chug like a train as he fought back the tears.

“I promise that no one wants to hurt you. I know that there’s been some of that in your past, but you’ll find none of that here.”

Evan scowled and looked up at the man. What did he know about his past?

“We know a lot about you, Evan. I am not in a position to explain these things to you, but it’s very important to us that you remain safe. That can be difficult in this country, and that truly is why I am accompanied by these gentlemen with the guns.”

Evan’s vision blurred with tears, and he swiped them away. People who didn’t mean harm didn’t kidnap people.

“The man who just left,” Oscar went on. “That was Mitchell Ponder. He is a very, very dangerous man. Now that he has left, I promise you that you are safe.”

“But why am I here?” If he could just know that one thing, then maybe something would start to make sense. Just that one bit of information might make him relax. Just a little.