1 MONTH, 3 DAYS
Desi and Bozer moved slowly along the fire road. The sun was already touching the distant mountains and would be gone in another hour. Across the meadow ahead of them, they could see the roof of a house through the trees. The last house.
"I told you this was useless," Desi grumbled.
"I told you we had to try."
"It's almost dark, and we still have to walk all the way back to the car."
"There are more houses on the satellite, on other roads near the trails, and—"
"NO!" Desi stopped, shoving her hand into his chest. "No. No more, Bozer."
"Why don't you want to find him?"
"Why don't I… Are you fucking kidding me right now?"
He was surprised to hear her cuss. She shoved him back with both hands.
"I love him. I want to find him. But when a plan isn't working, then we need to move on to a new one. We do not have the time to keep trying senseless searches across the mountains looking for him. And why the fuck would anyone even kidnap him and stay here?"
"Why would they kidnap him at all?"
"Because someone was out to get him."
"That's just your paranoia." Bozer started walking.
She rushed up behind him and shoved him hard. Bozer spun around, fending off the next shove.
"What is wrong with you?" he asked her.
She started crying and fought when he tried to pull her into his arms. But the fight was short-lived, and he held her while she sobbed. Bozer closed his eyes. He was exhausted. They had been walking for two and a half weeks and both were functioning on frayed, exhausted nerves.
"Okay. We'll stop after this last house. Just one more. Okay?"
She nodded against his shoulder.
Bozer kept quiet until she pulled away with her composure installed again. She rubbed her eyes and face with her hands and then inhaled slowly.
"Let's do this." She walked around him.
Bozer followed.
Their path led them back into the trees and a barbed-wire fence. The two dropped their packs on the other side and carefully climbed through. In the silence, they could hear the buzz of a chainsaw coming from the house below. As they came near the sound stopped. They both saw a man come around a shed, shaking off gloves. The man was blonde with a blonde beard and dressed like a lumberjack. He disappeared into the house.
The two came out of the trees into a carefully cleared. Whoever lived here took fire mitigation seriously; there wasn't any grass, bushes, or trees within thirty feet of the house. They were ten feet from the front door when it swung open and a woman came out onto the porch with a shotgun aimed at them. The woman was a very plain, ordinary, sandy brunette. The only unusual thing about her was a beauty mark on her left cheek, just below her cheekbone.
The two stopped, eyeing her.
"Hi. We're looking for someone," Desi told her.
"You're trespassing."
"I'm sorry. We're just trying to find our friend."
"You're the only people I've seen in weeks. Get off our property."
"Please," Bozer said, "we're just trying to find our friend. We got separated earlier today and are starting to worry."
"I told you we haven't seen anyone in weeks. Now get off our property before I shoot you!"
From inside the house, they heard, "Isabelle, calm down, and we saw those two hikers last week. Don't you remember?"
Desi and Bozer looked at each other. They knew that voice.
The door opened wider and the blond-haired, blond bearded man dressed like a lumberjack was MacGyver. He smiled at the two, laying his hand on the woman's shoulder.
"You sure do like shoot first and ask questions later, honey," he laughed, kissing her temple.
That seemed to calm her down some and she lowered the rifle.
"I just don't like our privacy invaded."
He smiled at them. "There were two hikers that came through here about…" He thought for a moment. "Six days ago. Two women. They were lost and we pointed them back to the trail. Was it either of them?" MacGyver asked.
Desi and Bozer didn't answer. They were both stunned by what was happening. Why was MacGyver acting like he didn't know who they were? Why did he just kiss this woman and call her honey? Why did he dye his hair and beard blonde? Or, more to the point, grow a beard? He hated having facial hair –Desi and Bozer both knew that.
"Was it either of them?" MacGyver asked again.
"No… It was…" Bozer started
Desi quickly jumped in. She pulled her phone from her back pocket and pulled up a picture of Riley. She flashed the photo in front of Bozer, made eye contact with him, and then held it up for the two to see. MacGyver walked down and took the phone, looking at the photo. There wasn't even a glimmer of recognition – he didn't know Riley, either.
He shook his head. "No, sorry. She wasn't either of them."
"Yeah. Uhm… Sure." Desi gave an uncertain smile.
"How long have you two and her been separated?"
"Most of the day. She said she was going to take a photo and didn't show up where we were supposed to meet her."
"Maybe I could help you look for her."
"Honey, it's getting late," Isabelle told him. "You couldn't help them in the dark."
He nodded, looking to the west. "We can go look in the morning. You two look like you've been out there for a while."
"They can find their friend," Isabelle said. She stormed up to MacGyver, taking his hand. "We shouldn't get involved. They need to tell the authorities and get help."
"We know these woods. We can help," he said.
"No. We can't," Isabelle said, more sternly.
MacGyver looked surprised. "What is wrong with helping them? It's the right thing to do."
Isabelle tried to answer but, in the end, she turned a hateful glare on Desi. "I guess it is."
"Do you two want to join us for supper? Then you can put your tents up over there by the shed. We can set out at daylight."
"I'm sure they have their own food."
"I'd love a homecooked meal," Bozer piped up. "We've been eating dehydrated everything for two weeks! It does not taste the same as cooked food – I don't care what the package says."
MacGyver laughed. Hearing his laugh made his friends smile. He may not know them, but hearing his laughter put them at ease. Their friend was still somewhere inside his confused mind.
"Come on. Hope you like venison." Mac waved them to follow.
Before Desi and Bozer reached the front door, Isabelle grabbed Desi and shoved her against a post. In a flash she had a switchblade out of her pocket and against Desi's throat, cutting a thin line in Desi's skin.
In a whisper, Isabelle told her, "You will eat. You will tell my husband you're camping out by the shed. And then you will get the hell off our property. Tonight. Understand me?"
Desi faked her fear. "Yes."
With a quick flick of her wrist, the knife was back in Isabelle's pocket. The woman used her sleeve to wipe the blood from Desi's neck.
Still whispering Isabelle told her, "Now get in there, eat what he puts in front of you, and if you upset my husband in any way, I will hunt you both down and kill you."
Isabelle stepped back and pointed at the open door. Desi continued her act of fear, exchanging a look with Bozer. His fear was real, however.
/_\
Desi sat back in her chair, staring at her unfinished meal. She had been surprised at how good MacGyver's cooking was. He wasn't the world's worst cook if it wasn't too complicated. But Isabelle proudly bragged about MacGyver's cooking skills. She proudly bragged about all his skills – as if she'd had something to do with him having them.
"Boy, you can cook, M… Gus," Bozer said. "Sorry. I am stuck on this Matt kick tonight."
"Who is he?" MacGyver asked.
"Yes," Isabelle looked at Bozer. There was that threatening glare again. She had been using it a lot tonight. She was not about to trust them, despite MacGyver's open trust.
"He's… Well…" Bozer smiled.
"Boyfriend," Desi said. "Just tell them the truth, Bozer. He's your boyfriend."
"Well. Not yet. Maybe someday." Bozer pretended to be embarrassed. "He's a barista and I just haven't gotten the nerve to ask him out."
"You should," MacGyver told him. "We met in a coffee shop." He picked up Isabelle's hand.
"You two met in a coffee shop?" Desi asked.
"Yes," Isabelle answered. Now Desi was getting the death glare.
Desi nodded, deciding not to pry. It had only taken minutes into the meal for her to realize that MacGyver had amnesia, and this woman had convinced him she was his wife. She really didn't want to know what other lies this woman had filled his head with.
"You should tell the story, honey. You remember it, I don't."
"You don't remember how you two met?" Bozer asked – at the risk of a death glare.
"A month ago, I was Jack in the Jack and Jill rhyme and I can't remember anything before my fall happened. I just remember waking up to find this angel nursing me back to health," MacGyver kissed her fingers.
Isabelle smiled at him, blushing a little. She was devouring every ounce of affection he showered her with, making Desi feel nauseous.
Desi focused on the losing memories part of that comment. "That really sucks. Has your family been able to help you with your memories?" Desi asked.
"He's an orphan," Isabelle said at the same time MacGyver answered, "I'm an orphan."
Desi smiled, pretending to be amused. "Well, that does cause a problem. And your parents Isabelle?"
"I don't speak to my parents. I haven't since I was twelve."
"Did you go into foster care then?" Desi asked.
"Why do you care?" Isabelle snapped.
Desi let her face show real offense. "Sorry."
A clock on the fireplace mantel chimed. MacGyver glanced at it and started to get up.
"Where are you going?" Isabelle asked.
"Pill time."
She smiled when he kissed her forehead and walked off to the bathroom. The table was uncomfortably silent while he was away. He came back and sat down.
"I have to take my blood thinners at the same time every day," Desi said. "Otherwise it screws up everything the next day."
"Mine is for anxiety," he said.
"They don't need to know that. Look, if you three are going to get started early in the morning, then you two should really get your tents set up now."
MacGyver closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead.
"You okay?" Desi asked him.
He smiled. "Yeah. They knock me out awfully quick, but on the plus side, I do sleep well. A freight train could come through here and I wouldn't know."
"That's the good stuff right there," Desi laughed. "Want to share?"
He chuckled. "I'll take your word it's the good stuff, and naw. Isabelle can't get to town often for a couple of weeks for a refill."
"You both don't go to town?"
Death glaring, Isabelle answered, "He gets very anxious around people. That's why we live out here. Away from people."
"I have that same problem," Desi said. "A lot of people make me feel anxious and claustrophobic. PTSD from being in too many war zones. What causes your anxiety?" she asked him.
MacGyver's brow furrowed. "I don't… I'm not sure. Why is that, Isabelle?"
"You two should go set your tents," Isabelle said.
"Can I use the restroom before I head outside?" Desi asked.
Isabelle glared harder at her.
"I mean, I guess…" Desi stood.
"Sure, you can," MacGyver said. He was struggling to stay awake.
"Let's get you to bed," Isabelle said, standing and taking his arm. She looked at Desi. "Go. Use it. Then you and he get outside." She motioned at Bozer with her head.
Desi went into the bathroom and turned the faucet on at a steady stream. She searched the room until she found a prescription bottle for August McGregor – Isabelle's new name for MacGyver. It said to take two pills. She dug out two and put them in her pocket, then put the pills back. She turned off the water and flushed, then turned the water on full and washed her hands. Desi left the room, finding Bozer waiting impatiently by the door.
Desi got close to him as she pulled her pack on. "Not one word until I tell you otherwise."
He nodded. The two put on their packs and left the house. Desi led Bozer down the drive until they came to another road.
"We need to get off the road and into the trees," Desi said.
"Why?" Bozer asked.
"Something tells me Isabelle isn't done with us."
Using their phones as flashlights the two crossed the road and started down through the trees. When they were far enough from the road not to be seen, Desi stopped walking and put her phone back in her pocket. She crouched down, letting herself process everything that had happened in the last three hours.
Meanwhile, Bozer paced back and forth.
"What was that?" Bozer suddenly asked, stopping. Desi couldn't see he had thrust his arm back toward the house. "He didn't recognize us. He was telling us things that we both know are not true about him. And saying his name is August? August?"
"That is called brainwashing."
"So complete? He didn't even recognize us, Desi!"
"Yeah. That complete. She's had training."
"Training? From who?"
"That's an extensive list, Bozer. We have to get those pills back to a lab and find out what she's got him on."
Bozer started stomping the ground.
"What are you doing?" Desi asked.
"Pretending this is her head and I'm stomping that bitch into a bloody pulp."
Desi's eyebrows lifted. "Whoa. That… That just came out of your mouth?"
Bozer stopped and leaned over, his face in her face. "She has brainwashed my best friend, made him cheat on you, is drugging him, and dyed his hair actual blond." Bozer started pacing again. "And made him grow a beard. He looks like some… Car!" Bozer crouched next to Desi.
The two watched the vehicle approaching from Isabelle's property. It was a large pickup and the person inside was using a searchlight to pierce the darkness of the forest.
When it got to the end of the drive, the two reactively dropped to the ground and moved behind bushes to hide from the beam of light. The pickup turned and the searchlight swept over them. They waited until the taillights disappear out of view to sit up.
"She'll be back. She won't leave him alone for long," Desi whispered.
"How do you know that?"
"He's her prize."
"Do you think she's been stalking him for a long time?"
Desi hesitated. "I don't know. If she had been, she did a good job keeping out of his sight. When she goes back to the house we'll head back to the car." Desi shrugged her pack off. She rolled over and laid her head on it. "We gotta find out what those pills are."
"How? We don't have any of them." Bozer mirrored her pack action.
"I stole two. You know what? Your right. August McGregor? Really? She couldn't have come with something more… Sexy?"
Bozer smiled. "You think Angus MacGyver is sexy?"
"Not Angus. MacGyver, sort of. But Mac. Oh yeah." Desi smiled, not that Bozer could see her in the dark.
Bozer quietly chuckled. Things were grim, but at least the Desi he knew and needed was back. Now they just had to come up with a plan to get the man she loved back.