Travis didn’t turn around, but the menace in his voice was like the quiet rustle of a cobra lifting its head to strike. “Mrs. Lloyd, for your sake and that of your children, don’t move. A dozen rifles are trained on your backs at this moment.” His eyes narrowed as he glanced at the knife. “You’re a fool, Eric. We know you won’t hurt Nicole. Now that you’ve brought her back to us, she’s home free. You know that and so do we. You can’t get away from here.”

In an instant, the point of the knife was touching Nicole’s throat, and she gave a sharp cry of fear. “I think,” Eric said, so softly that his voice was almost lost in the gentle breeze blowing across the top of the dam, “I think you’re about ninety-five percent sure of that. But what if you are five percent wrong?”

Travis hesitated a moment then said patiently, as though to an errant child, “Oh, Eric, Eric, what will you do? Cut her throat? Come on.”

“Let my family come over here, Travis, or you’ll see exactly what I’m willing to do.”

Again for one split second, Eric saw the hesitation in Travis’s eyes; then it was gone. “Give it up, Eric. You’ve lost the game.”

In an instant, it was clear why Travis hadn’t given up. Behind him, a low, throbbing noise was rising rapidly, and then suddenly it exploded into a deafening roar as a helicopter swept over the ridge behind Eric and swooped down toward them. As Eric’s head swung around to look up, Travis quickly stepped behind the corner of the elevator tower. His hand darted out, and when he straightened up, he held a deer rifle pointed at Eric and Nicole. “You’re playing against the Major now, Eric. Amateur night is over. Give it up. Let her go.”

“Mother!” Eric shouted. “Come now. Quick!”

Travis spun around, pointing the rifle directly at Madeline Lloyd’s stomach. “You’ll start back for the Visitors Center, Mrs. Lloyd,” he hissed. When she hesitated, his voice exploded. “Now! Move it!”

She reached out for Becky and Lori, who had both started to cry, and the little group started back in a dazed, stumbling run. For a moment Eric nearly threw himself at Travis, the rage in him boiling like molten lava, but the helicopter was coming fast now, skimming across the top of the water toward them. As quickly as it had come, the rage was gone, and his mind raced over his alternatives. He yanked Nicole hard against him and backed up. “So much for your loving fiancé,” he hissed into her ear. “Stay with me, Nicole. If I have to fight you, you’ll get hurt.”

“Let her go, Eric. I’m warning you.”

“Please, Eric,” Nicole gasped. “Let me go. Don’t hurt me.”