Chapter 29
Eddy’s gear was already damp from her dash through the rain by the time she shoved her pack into the backseat of Durrand’s newly purchased vehicle.
It was putrid green, rusted through at both bumpers and missing one headlight.
The passenger door moaned like a ghost as she closed it behind her. Water sloshed from the hood of her jacket. When Durrand swung in beside her and shifted into first, they jolted away from the hostel like a buckboard pulling out of Dodge.
“Nice ride,” she said. She felt pretty good considering the circumstances. She’d always been a power sleeper and hadn’t needed the recommended nine hours. On the other hand, one and a half seemed a little short. “You get a good deal?”
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “I didn’t want to look conspicuous.”
“So you actually prefer the post-apocalyptic look?”
He breathed a snort. “If I had known you were so fussy, I would have had you give your new boyfriend a call.”
She chuckled a little and pulled out her GPS. “I figure it’ll take six to eight hours to reach the west end of the gulch.”
“How far from there to Herrera’s plantation?”
She jerked her gaze to him. “We don’t know that he’s got Shepherd.”
“And we won’t until we take a look around.”
“So we’re just going to waltz in and ask.”
“I–” he began, but she stopped him before he could leave her out of the equation again.
“Don’t speak the language worth crap.”
He gritted his teeth and returned his gaze to the road ahead.
“And every day Shepherd is missing decreases his chances of survival,” she added. “So, are we just going to waltz in and ask about him?”
Something sparked in his eyes but he didn’t argue. “We’ll have to ditch the car.”
“Really? This little gem?”
“And go in on foot.”
“Pretending to be lost?”
He nodded. “If we have to. I’m hoping to find Shep and get him the hell out of there without ever being noticed. But if we are spotted, we’re back to our original plan.”
“Where we’re Sarah and Luke Lansky?”
“Just two Americans on an eco-adventure.”
“I’ve always wanted to see the cloud forests,” she said and did her best to keep her tone light. But her stomach had done a hard roll. She had a feeling drug dealers might not appreciate unexpected visitors.
“We’ll be on the road for a while,” he said. “You might as well get some more sleep.”
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
“You were shot, remember? Maybe that means you should rest.”
“The bullet went straight through.”
“Oh, right. So you’re fine?”
“Yeah.”
“Great,” she said and, shrugging out of her rain jacket, stuck it against the window for a pillow. If macho man wanted to play superhero, that was fine with her. She probably wouldn’t be able to sleep. But I am more than willing to ignore him, Eddy thought. Unfortunately, memories of the previous day nagged her, forcing her to speak. “Listen…I…” She drew a hard breath, expanding her ribs. “Thanks.”
“For what?” His tone was bland, but his expression showed surprise and more than a little worry, as if she’d lost her last functioning brain cell.
She didn’t glance his way. “Military men aren’t really known for their affirmations.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“And my father…”
“The colonel.”
“Yeah. He wasn’t the easiest man to please.” She wished now that she hadn’t started down this road, but it was too late to turn back. She cleared her throat. “I appreciate your praise.”
His brows were low over storm warning eyes. “I didn’t praise you.”
She watched him. He was all but wiggling with discomfort. “You said I did a hell of a job.”
His scowl darkened, and for a moment she thought he’d argue but finally he said, “I’d been shot, Edwards. My mental capacity had been compromised. Don’t make too much of it.”
She stared at him. Maybe she should be insulted that he couldn’t even admit he had complimented her. But somehow the idea that he had praised her against his will was doubly flattering. And the sight of him squirming with discomfort made her want to laugh out loud. But she wasn’t sleep deprived enough to think that was a good idea.
Turning her face toward the window, she smiled into her raincoat.
She woke to the soft snick of a door. It took her a moment to remember where she was, longer still to realize the putrid little car had stopped and Durrand had stepped outside. Scooting up in her seat, she gazed ahead. But her vision was blurry with sleep. Or... No, she realized belatedly. It was rain that made it difficult to see. Still, she could make out the river. The river that washed across the entire road. She straightened abruptly.
Outside, in the deluge, Durrand bent, lifted a rock from the middle of the rushing stream and tossed it aside. Water sprayed up like a geyser. He made a slow circuit through the river before striding back to the car and scowled at her through the windshield. His hair was plastered to his head. A rivulet made a winding course down the broad width of his neck. “Get your raingear on,” he ordered.
She rolled down the window, but it got stuck half way. “What?”
“It’ll be safer if you stay on this side while I drive across.”
She frowned, feminist instincts unfurling rapidly. “I learned to swim as an infant.”
“Yeah?” They were virtually shouting at each other through the rain.
“Became a certified lifeguard at age fifteen.”
He shrugged, a single lift of heavy shoulders. “Then you drive,” he said.
“All right.”
She didn’t notice until that moment that he had a coil of nylon rope in his hand.
“I’m going to tie this to the bumper and run it around that tree,” he said.
She nodded, wondering muzzily if she had been outmaneuvered.
“The ground’s giving way near the edges, so stay to the left of midline. But not too far. And goose it a little.”
She nodded again and scrambled over the console.
He attached the rope to the bumper then strode through the river to the opposite side. Choosing a substantial deciduous, he wrapped the rope around the trunk twice and gave her nod.
Eddy took a deep breath, shifted into first and stepped on the gas. Water sprayed up as she hit the edge of the river. She struck a bump. Something scraped the bottom of the car. Spray peppered the windshield. The backend fishtailed, but she accelerated, heart pumping. Nearly there, nearly… And then the hind wheels sank. There was a clank. The engine stalled.
Eddy cursed fervently, but Durrand was already striding toward her.
“Start it up again,” he ordered. “I’ll push.”
She touched the key, but before she turned it, a battered pickup truck rounded the curve behind them. A man wearing a bright blue raincoat and a slouch hat stepped out, leaving what appeared to be his family behind the foggy windshield. His expression was solemn.
“¿Tiene problemas”
Eddy exchanged a glance with Durrand then stepped quickly out of the Pinto. “Sí. Parece que estamos estancados,” she said and motioned toward the vehicle.
He nodded at her obvious statement and made one of his own, his Spanish lightning fast. “You should not try to cross in such a small car.”
Durrand stood beside her now. “What did he say?”
She repeated his words.
“I think they can get around us.”
“Or they could help us,” Eddy said and glanced up at his impassive face, but he was already shaking his head. “That’s not a good idea.”
“Don’t you trust anyone?”
“No.”
“We can help you,” the Colombian said.
Eddy repeated the words in English, but Durrand responded before she finished speaking. “No.”
“I am Claudio. These are my daughters…” The little Colombian waved toward the battered vehicle behind them. Two girls stepped out. “Bianca and Noa.”
Both looked as shy as fawns, black hair loose around their faces, eyes as bright as agates.
Eddy gave Durrand a look. He scowled, looking a little sheepish.
“All right,” he said.
“If it’s okay with you, Bianca will drive,” Claudio said. “The rest of us will push.”
Eddy nodded, but Durrand spoke again, keeping his voice low. “Tell him you have to drive.”
“What? I’m not—”
“We don’t know these people from Satan.”
“What are you talking about? They’re little girls.”
“Bonnie Parker was a teenager when her crime spree began.”
“Who—” Eddy began, then recognizing the reference to Bonnie and Clyde, barely resisted rolling her eyes.
“Tell them,” he repeated.
She brightened her smile a notch and switched back to Spanish. “I’m sorry. I injured my shoulder while hiking. Do you mind if I drive?”
Claudio shrugged. “No. Of course, not. I have raised my daughters to be strong.”
“Thank you,” she said and headed for the driver’s seat.
The others lined up behind the vehicle. Eddy sank into the Pinto and started the engine.
“When I count to three,” the Colombian said, “you drive forward.”
She did so. The car squiggled on the uncertain surface but in less than a full minute, the little vehicle was idling irregularly on the far side of the river.
Eddy stepped onto the road just a few yards from the others. “We’d like to pay you for your trouble,” she said and managed to refrain from throwing Durrand an I-told-you-so smirk.
“Pay?” The little man shook his head. “It hurts me that you Americans think my people are only after the pesos.”
Guilt flooded her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insult you,” she said and glanced meaningfully at Durrand. It wasn’t until that moment that she realized little Noa had a 9 mm Walther tipped beneath the Ranger’s right ear.
“Your hands,” the girl said, eyes hard as granite. “Put them up.”
Durrand raised them slowly. “Paranoia,” he said. “You should get some.”
“What’s going on?” Eddy jerked her gaze from him to Claudio. Her voice sounded hollow to her own ears.
The Colombian shrugged. “My darling Noa…” he said and shrugged. “As deadly as she is lovely, yes?”