• He waited atop the cliff, overlooking Lake Titicaca. The water lay below him, serene and blue. The air was cold at this elevation. The lake was nestled within the Andes Mountains in southern Peru.
    He looked west, peering at the peaks of the mountains that surrounded him, almost hoping to spot her red minivan coming through the pass.
    She drove east across the desert that lined the coast, leaving behind the lowlands that had seemed so peaceful. The desert stretched forever on either side of the road. In the distance, she saw the highlands that lay at the foot of the mountains.
    For the millionth time she glanced at the map next to her. He’d faxed it, along with several other instructions, such as the black bag in the passenger seat. It contained the ransom money.
    Realizing that she wouldn’t be early, he turned to look at his escape route one last time. He saw the thin, winding road that led downward from the lake. It exited the Andes, crossing the plains into Bolivia.
    He’d leave the kid behind, of course. But Mommy didn’t need to know that. For all she knew, her son would still be in the van, rather than freezing atop this cliff. He couldn’t bear to kill the kid. At least he could give him a chance.
    She drove through the highlands and into the pass as the sun passed its zenith. There wasn’t much time. She stomped on the gas, speeding dangerously along the winding mountain road.
    The gas needle was dangerously close to the E. She knew she wouldn’t make it. But she was prepared. As the car slowly rolled to a stop, She leaped from the car, grabbing the bag and running.
    Two miles later, She was grateful not only for her decision to wear running shoes, but also to keep a few bottles of water in the bag with the ransom money. But there were still three miles to go. And the sun was low. Too low.
    He paced back and forth along the edge of the cliff. She was late. But he couldn’t let this go. Two million dollars in cash was too much to pass up. He could wait.
    Her legs burned. Her breath was heavy and forced. The water was running low. But the lake was in sight. If she could only keep going just a little longer…
    Then he saw her. She was running. Her car must have broken down. But it was definitely the right woman. He saw the black bag.
    Even from this height, he could tell she wouldn’t make it. Grabbing his walkie-talkie, he radioed his men to take the bag now. They were eager to respond.
    But before they reached her, she collapsed. He told them not to shoot her. Just take the money.
    He jumped in the car, waving good-bye to the kid, who cried, wailing for his mother who had not come to save him.
    The white van drove down the road to the lake. The other men hopped in, and Jason drove across the plains, leaving Anna lying in the dirt, and Sam shivering in the cold.