Max exhaled in pain again, and tried to favor his side for a moment before he began to struggle at his restraints. Cursing at his failure to protect Ess just now, he pulled at the clothesline harder and harder. It cut into his skin, but didn't get him anywhere in his escape. After a few minutes, he stopped struggling and began to think logically about the best way to rid himself of his bindings. He knew he couldn't waste any time in getting Ess back.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

After walking for an hour, Roden turned around and made his way back to the car. He would have liked to search further, but he was sure that Manda would panic if he didn't show up at the appointed time. Although it was mid-afternoon, the cool air of the deeply shaded forest crept through his skin and gave him goose bumps. It had been so warm in the city the previous day that his choice of clothing left him unprepared for his current surroundings. His concern for Manda rose with the recollection of her rather unsuitable short skirt and high heels.

Then again, he recalled the last time, back at the gas station, when he tried to extend her some help before they got back in the car. As the temperature had turned uncomfortably cold last night, Roden offered his jacket to her to wear over her light silk top. She just turned to Martin with pursed lips and an eyebrow raised in expectation. It took him a moment, but the young man finally understood what was anticipated of him, and relinquished his own jacket to her instead. Roden just shrugged and ignored her snub towards his proffered aid. That woman was a real antagonizer.

The return took less time than the hike out. As he backtracked, Roden continued to comb the woods, but he didn't manage to turn up any evidence of Max's passing. When he reached the rendezvous point, he was five minutes early. He paced around the car, still searching for clues, and hoping that Martin or Manda had better luck.

When the end of the second hour came and went, Roden began to worry. He had enough problems trying to find his obsessed friend, and now both of his companions were lost? He scanned the horizon in the directions the others had taken.

Another two minutes went by before he saw movement in the distance. At least Martin must have found his way back. Now they both would likely have to search for Manda before making their next move. He had promised her as much, and he would honor that trust.

It only took him a moment before Roden noticed that something was strange about the approaching movement. Martin or whoever it was, was not heading directly towards the Jetta, but moving almost parallel to it. Roden squinted in an attempt to sharpen his vision through the trees. There was more than one body. Did Martin and Manda manage to run into each other? There was a bend in the road that Manda had taken, so maybe they ended up encountering one another further down the way.

"Hey, over here," Roden yelled and waved his hands, trying to get their attention. Perhaps they didn't see the Jetta. In response, however, a loud boom emanated from a distance. "What the – "

A sharp object impaled a tree nearby. Gunfire? Shit, someone was firing a gun at him. He dunked around the car, away from the line of fire.

This was a preserve. No hunting was allowed here. He quickly deduced that the persons out there must be poachers. They might just be crazy enough to kill a stranger to keep from getting caught. He knew he had to find Manda quickly. She could be in danger, too.

Roden poked his head out from behind the car, wondering if he could make a run for it in the direction that Manda had gone. The bodies were closer into view now, and what he saw shocked him more than anything thus far.

The people were now distinguishable, and moving at a much more rapid pace than they had the moment before the gunfire. Martin was in the lead, gun waving around in one hand as he tried to run, while dragging a petite young woman behind him.

The young woman was slightly familiar. It took Roden several seconds to perceive that it was Esther. None of this seemed to fit his comprehension of the proceedings of the last twenty-four hours. He didn't know how Martin had a gun, and he was in wonder over how he had found the woman and managed to get her away from Max. A thought flashed before him, and Roden hoped to God that Martin hadn't shot Max to do it.

But why did Martin shoot at him just a moment ago? Was he afraid? He must have been anxious from his ordeal. Roden decided that he would attempt to make himself known again to the man. He prayed that Martin would realize it was him.

Roden poked his head further out from behind the car and cried out, "Martin!" Martin turned his head in Roden's direction, but kept up his pace and direction. "Martin. It's Mike Roden." Roden slowly stood up. "Don't shoot."

If Roden found Martin to be a contradictive nuisance before, now he found him down right objectionable. Martin stopped short, pulling Ess to him. She groaned her displeasure as he wrapped his free arm around her. Then, he pointed the gun towards Roden, and snarled. "Damn it, Roden. I got what I came for. I don't need you anymore. Now, you either turn and walk away, or I'll shoot."

Roden was dumbfounded. What the hell was this man saying? He'd gone crazy - and that was a clinical diagnosis. "Martin, come on now. Listen to me . . ."

Martin jerked the gun forward. "No. I don't want any of your psychoanalytical bullshit. You thought I was just along for the ride? This is what I came for." He shook Ess with his arm. She made a bitterly angry face as she attempted to wiggle free, but Martin squeezed her closer. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I'm going to collect my reward."

With that, he cocked the gun, and pulled the trigger. Ess jumped in surprise, which knocked his aim a little to the right. The bullet hit the Jetta instead of its intended target. While Roden dunked behind the car again, Martin resumed his steady progress with Ess.

How did the man really expect to get out of the preserve anyway, Roden wondered as he crouched by the driver's side door. On foot? A second later, he realized the answer. He had left the key in the BMW when he got out to check it for damage. Martin probably noticed that when he crawled out of the backseat.

Roden dared to peak over the Jetta, again. Sure enough, Martin was heading towards the BMW. His anger escalated. Not only was the crazy bastard making off with the girl, but he was also stealing Roden's pride and joy to do it.

Roden was about to make an ill-considered suicidal rush towards his car when he heard a shout in the opposite direction. It was Manda. "Hey." She was flailing her arms and running down the dirt road as fast as her high heals would let her. "Hey, hey, hey." It appeared that she thought her companions were leaving without her.

Roden made a resigned dash towards her to keep her out of harm's way. As he reached her, another shot was fired. It sliced through the branches far above them, clearly a warning shot. Manda screamed, and Roden wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to the ground. She let out an indignant huff, but went down without a struggle.

From a distance, Roden looked on as Martin forced Ess into the driver's side of the car and pushed her towards the passenger seat. The car roared to a start, and Martin put it into reverse to reposition it back on the road. He sped off entirely too quickly down the dirt path, and Roden could only watch in disbelief, willing the events of the last few minutes sink in.

* * *

A half an hour later Roden was still trying to understand what had happened. The complete turn of events puzzled and vexed him. Martin was a turncoat; or more accurately, he used them to get to Esther. But why? The reasons for the seriously obsessed Max to kidnap the young woman were obvious, but Roden just couldn't understand what would make Martin do the same. It was clear by Martin's actions that he wasn't intending to rescue her. He mentioned a reward, though. There wasn't a reward. No one even knew Esther was gone. Yet.