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“Well, he didn’t have any luck where they started,” Rusty said. “The dog sniffed around for a while then just stopped. Sat down.”
“That’s the first cave we used, right?” Stryker asked.
“Yes.” Vern nodded. “’Til we found the bigger one. This is not good. Not good at all.”
“Vern, we have to get rid of them,” one of the men said.
Vern shook his head. “Fuck. This is just fucked. These people aren’t out here by themselves. If we get rid of them, we’ll have everyone else in that group scouring the mountain for us.”
“Well, we have to do something,” Stryker told him.
“Let me think a minute. Rusty, you go back up there and watch what they do. And use the fucking sat phone to tell us. It’s faster.”
“What now?” Stryker asked when Rusty had climbed back up through the tunnel again.
“Now, we figure out a new plan. If we have to kill everyone out there, we will. They’re just a bunch of losers anyway, losers who don’t believe the same things we do. And after this weekend, it won’t matter. We’ll be in charge. But keep in mind, it would make a big splash, and we’d never be able to use this mountain again.”
“It probably won’t matter after our big event,” Stryker told him. “We won’t need to hide anymore.” He glanced over at Leslie. “Besides, we have an ace in the hole I’m happy to make use of.”
Fear skidded over Leslie’s skin, and she had to clench her jaw to stop herself from making any noise. She had to figure a way out of here. Surely Hank Patterson’s people were looking for her now, probably cursing the stupid woman who rode off without giving anyone a hint as to where she was going or even asking if it was safe. She just hoped her stupidity didn’t get her killed before they came looking for her.
Because she knew Beck would push them to mount a search. It was something she was counting on.
“Okay.” Vern clapped his hands together once. “We’d better rearrange the loads now so the trucks will be ready. We’ve got fifteen vehicles, and I think it’s best if we dispatch them in groups of three. No headlights, so I hope you all have memorized this road.”
“We’re good,” Stryker told him. The others all murmured their agreement.
“Fine. We’ll dispatch the first ones close to midnight, or at full dark, whichever comes first. Then we’ll move the others out at half-hour intervals. Everyone good? Okay, then. Let’s start rearranging the loads.”
Leslie watched as the men paired up and began shifting guns and explosives so each truck had equal amounts. She noticed how careful they were to check every crate and make sure whatever was in it had plenty of straw protecting it. You never knew what could set off a highly dangerous item, and, from what she could gather, they had a long way to travel.
Vern spent a moment checking each group, making sure they were packing appropriately before he wandered over to Leslie.
“So, tell me about that group you’re out here with. You’re not out here alone, right?”
She was tempted to tell him she was, but that would only put her in more danger. If he thought she was of no use to him, he could just kill her here and stuff her body in one of the tunnels. It was better if he thought she had a lot of people looking for her.
“They’re very smart and powerful,” she said. “They’re all former military, and rescuing me will be a piece of cake for them.”
Vern’s eyebrow quirked. “Former military? Well, well, well. That’s right up my alley. I know all about the military. Disposing of them will be a breeze.”
Leslie shook her head. “No, it won’t. They’re better than any military you’ve ever seen. You won’t know what hit you.”
Vern threw his head back and laughed.
“Is that right? Well, good. I like a little fight with a worthy opponent. Get up.” He held out a hand to her. When she didn’t move, he snapped, “Now.”
She pushed herself to her feet but refused to take his hand. The less she allowed him to touch her, the better.
“Good. Now, come sit over here on this chair where I can watch you while the men finish working. I think you can be very useful to us.” He thought for a moment. “Give me your cell phone.”
She stared at him. “Cell phone?”
“Yes.” Impatience edged his voice. “Everyone including toddlers has one now, so don’t pretend you don’t. Besides, you don’t look like someone who’d be stupid enough to ride these roads without one.”
Right. Just stupid enough to come over here by myself in the first place.
She slipped her cell from her pocket and dropped it into his hand. How stupid she’d been not to record a message for Beck in case her phone dropped and someone from the group found it. She wanted to smack herself.
“Good. I’ll just hold onto it for now.”
She didn’t say a word, but she didn’t know what he planned to do with it. She’d tried speed-dialing Beck while she was crowded in by the truck, but the cell reception up here was for the birds. So, good luck with that.
He tugged her over to the chair he’d indicated and nudged her into it.
“Be smart. Keep your mouth shut, do what I tell you, and you might get out of this in one piece.”
Right. If only.
Come on, Beck. Get that hunk that eats you up with his eyes and come find me. Please.
