"Bet you're wishing you'd never heard of Detective James Ellison," he mocked. "When I was in prison, I read everything I could about Ellison and one thing kept showing up over and over again." He glanced back over his shoulder, his eyes narrowed slightly. "You," he whispered. "You were in every article I read, assisting Ellison, talking to the victims, involved in the case. That's how I found out so much about you.

  "But I didn't put it all together until I saw the two of you on television..." Quinn's voice trailed off. He stopped walking. "It was a news broadcast. I don't even think either one of you knew you were being filmed. You were both in the background, part of the crowd. I could see you standing beside Ellison. I don't even remember what the story was about. I just remember the two of you." His gaze turned inward as he relayed the events of that day. "You looked pale, shaken up. And as I stared at that screen, I saw Ellison put his hand on your shoulder then lean down and say something in your ear. I knew then. You weren't with Ellison because you were writing some paper for school. It wasn't about that at all." His gaze locked on Blair again, a sly, predatory look in his eyes. "It was about friendship."

  Blair's breath caught in his throat

  This sentinel thing... it's about friendship. I just didn't get it before.

  His own words, so similar to Quinn's, came back to him. It had been three years since he'd spoken those words to Jim. In that time, things had changed between them. What had started out as simple friendship had become so much more.

  Quinn starting walking again. The rope pulled tight around Blair's waist, forcing him forward. "That day," he said, his voice taking on a casual tone, "I decided that the best way to make Ellison suffer was to make you suffer."

  They broke through the trees and came into the clearing outside the mineshaft. Blair stared at the dark opening of the cave, dread tightening his chest.

  "Home sweet home." Quinn looked at Blair, a maniacal glare in his eyes. "Does it give you the same thrill it gives me?"

  Blair's breath came in short gasps. His heart hammered in his chest. If I go in there, I'm dead. The words skidded through his mind, clutched at his gut.

  "Don't look so scared, Sandburg. I don't plan to kill you right away. How fun would it be for Ellison to just find your corpse?" Crossing to him, he cut the rope from around Blair's waist before throwing an arm around his shoulder and pulling him close. "This is about suffering, remember?" He began leading him toward the dark mouth of the shaft. "I've thought long and hard about how to make Ellison suffer. You dying right before his eyes is a good start."

  Blair walked stiffly beside Quinn, keeping his gaze locked forward. A good start. The words repeated in his mind. What does he mean by that? But as Blair passed through the mouth of the mineshaft, he knew. He could see explosive charges set up on either side of the entrance. He jerked to a stop as cold realization stole over him. "You're going to bury us alive."

  Quinn stared down at his own handy-work. "Brilliant, don't you think?"

  Blair shook his head. No. This wouldn't work. He couldn't do this! "Jim will see those," he said, nodding toward the C4 attached to the dirt wall. "He won't come in."

  "Oh, he'll come in. He'll come in because you'll be inside and he won't want to leave you in there to die alone." The arm around his shoulders tightened. "You see, that's the best part of this plan. You'll both die. You first, of course. Ellison will do his best to keep you alive but he'll only have so many supplies and with your injuries... I doubt you'll last too long. Then Ellison will die. But he'll go more slowly, with your corpse right by his side, staring at him the entire time."

  Blair shuddered at the images Quinn's words brought to mind.

  Quinn started forward again, pulling Blair along with him. "It's been fun, hasn't it? I've had fun."

  Blair stumbled along beside him, his mind racing, trying to come up with some way to get away from this man. To warn Jim. They moved further into the cave. Darkness closed over them, and the air became thick, stale.

  Dammit, Sandburg! Think of something! Do... something!

  His gaze darted around the darkened cavern, looking for something, anything that could help him. After walking only a few feet inside, Quinn stopped.

  "End of the line." He released his hold on Blair's shoulders and shoved him to his knees. Then, crouching down behind Blair, he touched the raw skin around his wrists.

  Blair stiffened, his hands fisting behind his back. "What now, Quinn?"

  "Now it's time for a confession," Quinn whispered close to Blair's ear, his hot breath sending shivers down his back. "I lied about the key." Seconds later, Blair felt the metal ring around his left wrist fall away.

  He inhaled sharply as he drew his arms in front of him for the first time in almost two days. Pain rode down his shoulders and into his back. He held his wrists in front of himself, staring down at the extensive damage. The right wrist, swollen against the cuff still locked around it, throbbed dully. The left, cut and bruised, showed a clear outline of the metal ring that had held it captive for so long.

  Quinn walked from behind Blair to stand in front of him. "You see that up there?"

  Blair looked up, his gaze following Quinn's. A wooden beam stuck out near the ceiling.

  "I want you to stand up and put your hands over that beam. Then we'll just wait for Ellison to arrive."

  Blair stared up at the beam. It was too high. His feet would barely touch the ground if he let Quinn cuff his hands over that thing. He looked back down at his hands. Free. He was free. This might be his only opportunity. His only chance.

  Quinn grabbed Blair by the arm and hauled him to his feet. "Come on, Sandburg. I don't have all day."

  Blair's heart hammered in his chest as his right hand fisted around the metal cuff that hung loosely from his wrist. Quinn wasn't looking at him. He was looking up at the beam. It's now or never. Summoning all his remaining strength, Blair lashed out. His fist, still clutching the metal ring, connected with Quinn's jaw, snapping his head to the side. Blair drew back and hit him again, this time in the stomach. Quinn doubled over, his breath leaving him all at once.

  Turning, Blair sprinted toward the mouth of the cave.

  "Sandburg!"

  Quinn's voice rippled over him, sending a shiver of fear down his back. Blair pushed his emotions aside and concentrated on running. He knew he couldn't make it far. He just didn't have the strength. But if he could get to the cover of the trees, he would be safe. He'd find a place to hole up and wait. Because Jim would find him. He'd hear his heart beating. Or his breathing. Something.

  I just have to get out of this mine.

  Ahead, he could see light. Relief pulsed through him. He was going to make it! A small sound of triumph escaped his lips. But just as daylight touched him, he felt a hand fist into his hair and pull.

  Quinn flung him backward. Blair slammed into the hard dirt wall, letting out a low grunt of pain. Before he could move, Quinn was on him, his arm pressed against his throat. "You little prick!" he bellowed into his face. "You think you're smarter than me, don't you? Don't you!"

  "Quinn--" His head snapped to the side as Quinn backhanded him across the face.

  "Shut up!" The long blade of the hunting knife pressed against Blair's cheek. "Another word and I'll cut out your tongue!" Rage burned behind Quinn's eyes. Shook through his body. "Did you really think you would get away? That I would let you get away?"

  Blair didn't move. Barely breathed.

  Quinn leaned in close, his lips right against Blair's ear. "This was a mistake," he whispered.

  Cold fear seized him as Quinn grabbed him by the arm and dragged him back into the mine.

  /

  /

  Jim crouched in the brush, staring through the leaves at the mineshaft in the distance. He couldn't see Blair or Quinn. But he could hear his guide's heart beating, the sound coming from somewhere inside the cave.

  Too slow.

  His jaw clenched as the realization washed over him--Blair was unconscious. But at least he's alive. He cocked his head to the side, searching for Quinn, knowing he wouldn't leave Blair in that mine shaft and just walk away.

  He closed his eyes, concentrating, pushing past the sounds all around him until.... there it was.... another heartbeat. Opening his eyes, he looked left. Quinn was somewhere in that direction. Jim could find him. Easily. His gaze shifted back to the mine.

  Getting to Blair was more important right now than capturing Quinn.

  He pushed up and headed toward the opening of the mine. He kept low to the ground, his weapon sweeping the area. He kept his hearing tuned in to Quinn's heartbeat. The man never moved.

  As Jim approached the mouth of the cave, something tingled at his nose. An odor that was familiar but he couldn't quite place it. He hesitated, taking one last look at the clearing outside the entrance before slipping inside. Darkness stretched out ahead of him. His eyesight compensated instantly and he could see clearly down the black tunnel. Blair was nowhere in sight.

  He moved forward, keeping his hearing turned up, listening for any sound of Quinn's approach. The coppery smell of blood reached him. Blair was near, just a few feet ahead. His pace increased. His breath came in short gasps. He turned a corner and stopped cold.

  Blair hung suspended, his feet just barely touching the ground, his hands cuffed above him to an outcropping in the wall. His head hung limply forward, his face hidden from view by his hair. Blood trailed slowly down his arms from the deep cuts the handcuffs had made in his wrists.

  "Oh God, Blair." Jim stuffed his gun back into its holster, dropped Blair's backpack to the ground and rushed to his partner's side. Reaching out, he gently moved his guide's hair, tucking it behind his ears. His hands shook as Blair's face came into view. I'm sorry, Chief. I'm so sorry. He lay his palm gently against Blair's left cheek, momentarily covering the bruises that marred that part of his face. The skin felt hot beneath Jim's fingers. He swallowed hard as his gaze traveled over the other injuries--the blackened left eye, the split in his lower lip, the deep cut in his chin, the maze of bruises that criss-crossed the rest of his face.

  Quinn hadn't just left Blair here for him to find. He had beaten him first. Severely.

  "It's okay, Chief," Jim said, his voice barely audible in the stillness of the cave. "You're going to be fine now." Removing his hand from his face, he ran it down Blair's torso, trying to evaluate the extent of the damage he couldn't see. Two broken ribs. One that he thought might be fractured. Heat from bruises hidden beneath his clothes. He looked up at Blair's wrists. The cuffs cut deeply into each one, the flesh swollen taut against the metal rings.

  His jaw tightened. "Quinn, you bastard." There had been no reason to leave Blair like this. In his current condition, he wasn't going anywhere. Quinn had done it for one reason and one reason only--to inflict more pain on Blair's already battered body.

  "I promise, Blair. Quinn will not touch you."

  His own words echoed through his mind, leaving an empty, hollow feeling in their wake.

  "Never again," he whispered. "Never again."

  Reaching over Blair's head, his height giving him some advantage, Jim uncuffed his partner's right wrist. Blair dropped into his arms, a dead weight. Jim eased him to the ground, laying him flat on his back, doing his best to not further aggravate his injuries. Shrugging out of his jacket, he bunched it up before slipping it under Blair's head.

  He stared down at his guide, at the black and blue marks that distorted his face. Blair had never hurt anyone in his life. To see him like this...

  His stomach recoiled. Shaking fingers brushed lose strands of hair back from his forehead. Quinn had done this, all of this, just to hurt him. Rage burned through Jim, stealing his breath, tightening the muscles of his back. His gaze shifted to his guide's wrists. Blood pooled beneath them where they lay on the ground.

  "Damn." He needed to stop the bleeding. Needed to get his partner out of this dank cave and back to Cascade.

  "It looks bad."

  Jim spun toward the voice behind him, his hand automatically reaching for his weapon.

  "Don't!" Quinn snapped. "Or your little partner there will have a bullet hole to add to his other injuries."

  Quinn stood less than two feet away, his gun trained on Blair. Jim had been so focused on his guide that he hadn't even heard him approach. Jaw tight, Jim did the only thing he could--he dropped his hand to his side.

  An easy smile pulled up the corners of Quinn's mouth. "Good. You take orders well. Let's see how well." He gestured with his weapon. "Stand up."

  Slowly, Jim got to his feet, keeping himself between Blair and Quinn.

  "Now, using two fingers, pull out your weapon and toss it to me."

  Jim did as he was told, tossing his service revolver away. Quinn picked it up and stuffed it into the waistband of his pants. "You're doing so well." His gaze dropped to Blair. "Wish I could say the same about your friend."

  "It was a mistake to involve Sandburg in this."

  Quinn looked up, raising an eyebrow at the unspoken threat. "I don't think you're in a position to try and intimidate me. Do you?"

  Blair's labored breathing filled Jim's mind. He had to get his partner help. Soon. That was all that mattered. "Quinn, I'm here, just like you wanted. Let me get help for Sandburg and you and I can end this."

  "Get help?" He shook his head in obvious disgust. "You don't understand this little game at all. He suffers so that you suffer. It's an easy concept. Try to remember it."

  "He's suffered enough!" Jim snapped.

  "Neither one of you has suffered enough!" Quinn shot back. "Not three years worth of prison you haven't. That's what I want you to experience. Prison. The feeling of being trapped in a place you can't ever escape." His gaze took in the tunnel all around him. "This is your prison, Ellison. Your tomb."

  Realization slammed into Jim. That smell... when he first reached the mine... he hadn't been able to place it then but now.... it had been C4.

  "You've got it now," Quinn said, his voice low, taunting. "You finally realize what I've planned for you and your friend, don't you? I can see it on your face."

  Jim licked his lips. A way out. He needed to find a way out and fast. "Quinn, you set those explosives off and this whole place will come down. You'll kill us both. The suffering will end then. And you don't want that."

  "Didn't I tell you? Carlo was an explosives expert. A very good one. The only thing coming down is the front and back entrance to this place. But you know, I appreciate your concern." He placed a hand over his heart. "It touches me deeply."

  Desperation gnawed at Jim's stomach. "Quinn, listen--"

  "I will do one thing for you," Quinn cut in, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "To prove that I'm not totally without heart, I'll offer to do you one favor before I leave you." His gaze dropped to Blair. "I'll kill him for you. One bullet right between the eyes. I know you couldn't do it yourself but you know as well as I do that all he's going to do is use up your supplies and then die anyway. And you gotta conserve your supplies as long as you can."

  Jim's hands fisted at his sides. He stared at Quinn, shaking with barely controlled rage.

  Quinn raised one eyebrow. "No? Don't want to take me up on it?" He shrugged one shoulder. "Don't say I never offered." His gaze dropped to Blair again. "I really do hope he comes to at least once before he dies." He returned his attention to Jim. "His pain is so much more.... enjoyable when he's conscious."

  "We're going to get out of here," Jim growled, his gaze locked with Quinn's. "Both of us, and then I'm going to come after you."

  "You keep telling yourself that, Ellison." He smiled widely and pulled Jim's gun from his waistband. "You know what? On second thought, I think I'll leave you this." He dropped the weapon at his feet. "You may decide it's the most... humane thing you can do for him." Quinn backed out the tunnel, moving toward the exit, his cackling laughter echoing off the dirt walls

  Jim's gaze shifted from his weapon to Blair and back again. Could he get to his gun and stop Quinn before he collapsed the mine? Or should he forget about going after Quinn and just try to get his partner to safety? Before he could decide, he heard a low rumbling coming from in front and behind.

  He threw himself over Blair, doing his best to shield his guide. Moments later, the world came tumbling down.

  Part Four

  Pain. Why was he in such pain? And why the hell did his bed feel so hard, so cold? He shifted slightly and a low moan escaped his lips.

  "That's right, Chief. You can do it. Wake up."

  Of course he could wake up. What was Jim thinking? But as he struggled to open his eyes, he realized he couldn't do it. Panic laced through him. What's wrong with me? His heart hammered in his chest. Breathing was difficult.

  "It's okay, Chief. You're okay. Relax." A warm hand touched his cheek, his hair. "Can you take a drink for me?" Seconds later, cool water touched his lips, slid down his throat. Another moan escaped him.

  Blair searched back through his mind and tried to figure out what was going on. Why did Jim seem so upset? "Jim," he managed. "What happened?"

  "Don't worry about that now, Chief," Ellison whispered.

  But Blair was worried because he could hear fear in Jim's voice. Something so rare for his sentinel. Why is Jim afraid?

  "Can you open your eyes, Chief? Can you do that for me?"

  Open his eyes. It seemed like such an easy request. Yet Blair struggled to do it. "Jim," he said again, unable to hide the desperation in his voice. "Something's.... wrong."

  "You're hurt, Blair," Jim said softly. "But you're going to be okay."

  Hurt? How had he gotten hurt? Images flashed through his mind. A roof. The woods. A dark place that brought him pain. Quinn! The name flooded through him. With it came the last twenty fours hours, all of it, in painful clarity. And something else. The one thing he should have remembered. The one thing that could get his partner killed. "No!" The word burst from him but he could force nothing more past his lips. You can't be here! There are explosives. You have to get out! Now! He jerked up off the floor, crying out as pain rocketed through him.

  Strong hands pressed on his shoulders, forcing him back to the ground. "Blair, stop moving. You're going to hurt yourself. Stop!"