"Go on, and get ready to go. I need to explain things to Rachel. I'll get some things and meet you at your apartment."

"We're going to find them," Cameron told her, as if saying the words aloud would make them true.

"We won't rest until they are home. I promise."

Layne hugged Cameron tightly, then watched him run around the side of the house. She slipped her shoes back on and entered the Cory living room. She saw Rachel talking with Felicia and knew what she had to do.

"I'm sorry to interrupt the two of you, but I really need to talk to you, Rachel."

"Of course, Layne."

"Privately," she implored in a low voice.

Rachel excused herself, then followed Layne to the study. Layne hoped to find the inspirational words to tell Rachel what she and Cameron were doing. Rachel looked at her expectantly as she closed the door behind them.

"What is it, Layne? You look like you did when you were a child, and you didn't want to tell me something."

Layne laughed. "I'm glad that I'm still so easily read after all these years. But there is some truth to it. I've decided to go to Boca Lynda with Cameron to find Amanda and Gary."

"Layne. . ."

Layne paced. She ran her fingers through her hair. "Something has happened that I cannot explain. I have this overwhelming feeling that Amanda is alive. I cannot rest until we find her."

"It's difficult to accept someone is gone, especially when there is no body. But it's a harsh reality that we all have to face."

"It's not like that, Rachel. You have always told us to follow our instincts and our feelings. You have always known when Amanda needed you even before she spoke the words. Can't you feel her, Rachel?"

Rachel turned away from Layne and walked behind the desk. She sat in the chair, then looked at Layne.

"Has Cameron convinced you that she is alive?"

"He didn't have to. I feel it myself. Don't you?" Layne asked again, knowing the woman, who was a second mother to her, very well.

Rachel's expression remained unreadable as she asked, "What do you need?"

********************

Cameron opened the door to admit Layne. She was dressed casually, sensibly right down to her shoes. She wore blue jeans, a khaki shirt, and hiking boots.

"Come on. Let's go." Layne said.

"Are you going to tell me what you have planned?" Cameron asked as he gathered his things.

"We'll put our heads together on the way to Boca Lynda. I talked to Rachel and, amazingly, she understands. There's a limo downstairs waiting to take us to the airport. The Cory jet is fueled and ready. A boat will be waiting on us at our destination to take us to Boca Lynda."

Cameron was impressed. She worked fast. Maybe there was more to her than met the eye. They did not have time to stand around talking. Every minute that passed was another minute off the time they had to find Gary and Amanda. This was a critical time, and now, there was only the two of them to do the searching. Cameron picked up his bags and walked to the door. He turned to Layne.

"What are we waiting on? Let's go."

********************

"It's a maze. Each tunnel is like a maze. The two we have gone through so far are blocked from that stupid explosion," Gary ranted.

"Calm down, Gary. It's getting dark anyway," Amanda said in a soothing tone.

Gary was sweating profusely. Amanda touched his forehead, and he jumped.

"You are burning up, Gary. I knew you had an infection."

"We've got to get out of here."

"We can try again tomorrow."

"How many tomorrows are we going to have?"

Amanda looked at Gary. She did not want to think about it. She did not want to face the fact that Cameron might not come for them. . . . .for her. Thoughts and dreams of Cameron rescuing her were the only things that kept her going. . . .that gave her the strength to fight. To her giving up on Cameron meant giving up on herself. As long as she drew on his strength, albeit thousands of miles away, she would not give up hope. Just thinking about being with Cameron and being able to express her love for him, invigorated her.

"Let's talk about something else," Amanda said, trying to change the subject.

"Yeah, why don't you tell me what we're fighting for."

Amanda walked to the fountain in the wall and dipped a piece of cloth in the water, then walked back to Gary. She wiped his face with the coolness. All the while she was carefully choosing her words.

"We're fighting to get back to the people we love."

"Are you in love with Cameron?"

"You have to ask?" she teased with sparkling eyes and a raised eyebrow.

"No, I guess not. When did you know?"

Amanda sighed and thought back to that moment. She could picture it in her head. It was a moment she would cherish for the rest of her life. "I knew it the moment we met. He was kind, sweet, and gentle. I felt so alone in the world, and he took all that away with a smile."

"My brother? This I have to see."

Amanda looked at him, piqued by his sarcasm. "I know you and Cameron have a lot of problems to work out. I know Cameron. I know his heart. He won't give up until he finds us."

"You have more faith in him than I do. I do know he loves you. I've seen it myself. He fought like hell to get you away from Scott. I've never seen him fight for anything like he fought for you."

Amanda smiled wistfully and, again, leaned on Cameron's strength and determination as she said, "I know he'll come, Gary. I can feel it."

********************

Layne stared out the window of the airplane. She said a silent prayer that Amanda and Gary would be all right. She was not prepared to deal with anything less. Layne glanced at Cameron. She believed in this stranger. She was not sure why. Maybe it was instinct or maybe there was something about him that drew her to him. . . .something inexplicable. . . .mysterious. Whatever it was, she knew that she had faith in Cameron Sinclair.

Cameron closed his eyes, trying to remember the layout of the estate in Boca Lynda. He wanted to draw a map so Layne would be familiar with it. He knew the exact spot where he wanted to start looking. Whatever it took. He would not rest until Amanda was in his arms again. He saw the engagement ring on Layne's finger sparkle in the light and beside it was a plain, gold wedding band. He leaned his head back against the seat and pictured Amanda sitting beside him on the airplane. Gold wedding bands adorned their fingers. Cameron's eyes popped open. Why had he thought about that?

He looked at Layne through hooded eyes. He wondered. . . . ."Does your husband know what you're doing?" Cameron asked.

She smiled. "Are you kidding? He would kill me."

"But you're going to do it anyway. I guess you and Amanda are alike."

"Since you obviously love her so much, I'll take that as a compliment," she told him.

"Yeah. Stubbornness is not one of her more lovable qualities."

Layne's smile widened. "You should have been around us when we were growing up. She was always getting into one thing after the other."

"Some things never change."

"Don't you think we need to plan strategy for when we actually get there?"

"I was just thinking the same thing. Let's get to work."

********************

Amanda was talking, but she soon noticed that Gary was very quiet. She peered at his face through the fading light. His eyes were closed. She panicked for a moment, then realized he had fallen asleep. She checked for a pulse, just in case. She sighed in relief when she found one. She decided sleep was exactly what she needed, too. Amanda laid down beside Gary and was soon asleep. A slight smile curved her lips as she dreamed.

Amanda awoke from her dream with the smile still on her face.

"Hurry, Cameron. . ."

********************

As the sun began to rise, Cameron and Layne walked up to the Hutchins estate in Boca Lynda. Cameron pulled Layne behind some foliage as he spotted the armed guards outside the gates.

"What are they doing there?" Cameron asked not expecting an answer. He had not counted on having to deal with these people again.

"Maybe they're here to protect the property from looters."

"Maybe. But why do they need semi-automatic rifles?"

Layne watched the two guards walk back and forth in front of the closed gates. She had an idea. She stood up and started walking toward the guards. Cameron grabbed for her, but she was already out of his reach. Damn! He knew he should have come alone. Cameron followed her hoping that the guards would not shoot first and ask questions later.

The guards were instantly on alert as Layne walked up to them. They drew their guns when they saw Cameron.

"What is the meaning of this?" Layne demanded in a haughty, angry tone.

"State your business," one of the guards demanded.

Layne grabbed the barrel of his gun and pushed it away from her. Cameron's heart raced as he watched the scene in disbelief.

"Get that out of my face. I have been sent here by Rachel Hutchins to retrieve any family heirlooms that might be salvageable."

"What is he doing with you? He's the one who caused all the trouble before."

Layne smiled. Cameron scowled.

"He is my security guard."

"How do we know you are who you say you are? We work for Carl Hutchins, not Rachel Hutchins."

Layne pulled two things out of her pocket. She handed both to the guard. Cameron looked on in curiosity wondering what she was up to. The guard looked at her business card, then removed the contents of the envelope. He read the letter enclosed then looked at the thick, stapled papers behind it. The first guard took the papers to the other, and they talked.

Cameron pulled Layne aside. "What are you doing?"

"I'm getting us past these guards."

Cameron narrowed his eyes at her. "You're scaring the hell out of me."

"Chill out," she spat, jerked her arm away from him and walked away.

Cameron followed, clenching his jaw in irritation.

The guards approached Layne. "These papers appear to be legitimate."

"That's because they are binding, legal documents. I think you can see that Rachel Hutchins, being the widow of Carl Hutchins, is the legal owner of this estate. I'm sure that you will also agree that I am a legitimate representative of Mrs. Hutchins, as indicated by the enclosed letter."

The guard nodded in agreement. "The ground is unstable. I cannot guarantee your safety by allowing you inside. There were numerous tunnels underneath the estate, and they could collapse at the slightest movement. You have been warned."

"We'll take our chances," Cameron told them with irritation. He wanted to stop talking and get to work. They had wasted enough time and time was running out.

The guards stepped aside and allowed the two of them to walk through the gates. Layne and Cameron said nothing until they were far out of earshot of the two guards. Cameron grabbed her arm to make her stop.

"Don't ever do anything like that again," he told her.

"You're welcome," she said sarcastically.

"Yeah. Where did you get the papers?"

Layne shrugged, "I thought we might need some help getting in here. And they worked. Where do you want to look first?"

Cameron pulled the hastily drawn map of the estate from his back pocket. He pointed to a spot near the tunnel Gary and Amanda had been crawling through.

"We start here," he said as he looked at Layne. "You can go back, you know. I'm in now."

Layne shook her head, "We're in this together. I'm staying."

Cameron nodded slightly. "Let's go."

********************

Amanda stirred from her sleep. She had not had any nightmares last night, only dreams of happiness. She looked at Gary. He was still asleep. She stood, stretched, and looked around the small chamber. She walked to the fountain and splashed water on her face. She could not believe Gary was still sleeping. The fever must be exhausting him. They had to get help soon. She tried to push the feelings of hunger from her brain, but her stomach always protested, reminding her. She was weak, but Gary was even weaker from their ordeal.

Amanda walked back to Gary and laid the back of her hand on his forehead. His skin was hot. Amanda gasped. She began pushing at Gary trying to wake him up.

"Come on, Gary. It's morning. Gary. . ." With each word, she became more frantic to wake him up. She began slapping his cheeks hoping to rouse him, but nothing worked. She felt for a pulse at the base of his throat and was relieved to find one. He was unconscious.

"This can't be good."

Amanda looked around. She had to find a way out. Gary needed medical attention. She eyed the opening at the top of the chamber. She assessed the rock wall and could see few places for a foot hold. She had to do it. They had to get out of this place. Amanda had gotten rid of her shoes long ago. She padded barefoot to the base of the wall. She began climbing, even though it hurt her feet, and her fingers were bleeding. She swallowed hard, trying to will the pain away. She was part way up when her fingers slipped. She lost her footing and plummeted to the ground.

Amanda lay unmoving.