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“About one klick, you should see some way to exit this highway—”
Jase laughed. “You’re calling this a highway?”
“As I was saying,” Gideon continued. “After about five hundred meters, you should see a right-hand exit. Take it. We’re going to continue on for five klicks, then you two will go on foot the last five. His mansion slash compound is ten klicks, but he’ll be heavily guarded. What the guys are feeding me is that he always goes around with an entourage, and he also avails himself to the local guns for hire.”
“Sounds good,” Linc said. “Why are you staying back with the Buick?” he asked Gideon.
“Want to see if Evers calls in with any more details.”
“Got it.” Linc turned to Jase. “You might win on the track on the base, but on ice, I’ll beat you seven ways to Sunday.”
“What are you talking about? This isn’t ice. It’s just a little cold,” Jase bantered before he took off running.
“Need any help getting the car hidden?” Linc asked Gideon.
“Nah, I’m good. Better go catch him.”
Linc bit his bottom lip, then gave a feral smile. “Guess so.”
* * *
“Nope, not working,” Leila said for the third time. “I can’t get a signal. The rock walls of this fucking hole are making it impossible.”
I want to throw the goddamned piece of shit against the wall!
“Satellites take a long time to move now that they’re taking so many pictures.” Katherine said. “Leila, do you know who this guy is?”
“Nope, but he doesn’t seem the type who needs five million in diamonds. I get the feeling he has a much bigger reason than the diamonds. Five million would just be chump change to him.”
“Yes, I got that same feeling,” Katherine agreed.
“He knew a hell of a lot about me. It was like he was reading off my C.V.”
“What’s a C.V.?” Katherine asked.
“A resume. C.V. stands for Curriculum Vitae. I use that because I was trying to get a year of study in the E.U. But so far, no bites.”
A giggle bubbled up. Then a chuckle. Then full-fledged laughter.
“Care to share with the class?” Katherine’s executive voice made her laugh more. Leila reached out with one hand until she found a wall, then she leaned against.
“Stop that nonsense.”
Leila tried her best not to burst out laughing at Katherine’s last remark. She really did, but it burst out and she had to wipe the tears off with her sleeve. When she got herself under control, she reached out to Katherine.
“Grab my hand. You’ll run into it if you’re facing the wall and you head toward my voice. I’m to the right of you.” She felt Katherine’s fingers touch hers. Leila stepped over and wrapped her arms around the older woman.
“I was laughing because it is wonderful that we were having a nice and normal conversation. Here we are, locked in this hole, with no actual idea if anybody knows where we are, and we will probably have to listen to Vulgar Vugar drone on.”
“You’re right, he seems like one of those Bond villains. Leila, do whatever you can to get him talking about himself and his evil master plan. Then we’ll be rescued. Happens every time in the James Bond films.”
Now Katherine was laughing.
Laughter.
Laughter equals joy.
Joy equals hope.
