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“Sorry, I had to try,” I said. “Now that business is over, how about we start the first season of True Detective?” I glanced at my watch. “We can probably binge half the season if we start now.”
Pierce winced. “Actually, I’ve got plans.”
“What? You said you were done with your meetings!”
“I am. But I’m heading into San Jose tonight.”
“To do what?” I demanded.
“Secret billionaire stuff.”
I waited for him to elaborate. He didn’t.
“I want to come.”
“You can visit San Jose another time,” he replied while downing the rest of his champagne.
“I’ve been cooped up on your boat, and now this island, for almost two weeks. I’m ready to do something. Take me with you.”
Pierce twisted the champagne flute between two fingers while considering me. He had such an intense gaze that I wanted to look away, but I forced myself to stare right back at him.
“Yeah, all right,” he finally said. “You can catch a ride to San Jose with me. But you’re on your own once you get there. Do whatever you want, but I’ve got my own plans.”
“Deal,” I said, seizing on the offer. I was ready to do anything, even if it was by myself.
Andrew had warned me that the capital of Costa Rica was up in the mountains, and therefore chillier than Bennington, so I changed into jeans and a comfortable shirt. We were the only two passengers as the helicopter climbed into the air and headed west, toward the setting sun.
Pierce was busy tapping on his laptop, so I stared out the window at the scenery during the journey. Costa Rica was a nation of rolling hills and jutting mountains, all of which was covered in thick jungle. Occasionally, I spotted signs of civilization through the trees: metal roofs, winding roads, and the headlights from cars. But mostly it was pristine wilderness, or at least what looked like it from the sky.
The pilot came on the intercom and told us we were five minutes from landing in San Jose. When I glanced over, I gave a start; Pierce Benning was removing his shoes.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Changing clothes.” He gave me a pointed look. “Are you going to stare at me, or give me some privacy?”
I quickly turned toward the window. But it was night outside, and the dim light within the helicopter cabin caused the interior to be reflected against the glass. Pierce removed his linen pants, replacing them with a pair of baggy cargo pants. Then he was shirtless, and pulled on a grungy-looking gray tank top. Finally, he replaced his leather loafers with a pair of tattered sneakers that might have been blue when they were new, but were now faded and streaked with mud.
“What’s all this about?” I asked.
He ignored me and pressed the intercom button on the wall. “You’re putting us down at the stadium, correct?”
“Affirmative,” the pilot responded. “Unless your plans have changed?”
“Nope, stadium is perfect.”
“What stadium?” I asked. “Are we watching a soccer match?”
Pierce chuckled. “No.”
A saw why a few minutes later. The helicopter neared a public stadium, which had ten rows of brick bleachers on all sides. Larger than the stadium for a school, but a far cry from the larger stadiums in America. It was currently empty, with only a scattering of lights on around the perimeter to make it stand out in the darkness. The pilot brought the helicopter down in the middle of the field.
“There’s plenty of shops and restaurants to the north, and east,” Pierce told me while sliding open the door. He had to raise his voice now that the drone of the engine was no longer muted. “Be back here in three hours, or we’ll leave without you.”
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“Nowhere,” he replied as he hopped down to the ground. He paused and extended a hand to help me off, but I ignored him and climbed down myself. Pierce shrugged, pulled out a tattered red baseball cap from his pocket, and put it on.
“Don’t follow me,” he warned, before turning and walking away.
