Rogue Angel - Footprints Part 66

"You've got it all worked out," Annja said. "Congratulations."

Tom shrugged. "Sorry you and your friend here will have to be a rather b.l.o.o.d.y part of our legacy."

"That's how it goes," Sheila said. "You guys were just a casualty of this whole thing."

"Like your Dave," Annja said. "Such a shame he won't be with you. But at least this way you get to split the money only two ways instead of three." She looked at Tom. "That's the real reason you shot him back there, wasn't it?"

"No, it was not," Tom said. "Now keep your mouth shut."

Annja smiled. "Just checking. Sure seemed like an opportune time to get rid of that extra baggage and ensure a few extra million for you and Sheila. At least until she becomes a liability, as well. Who knows, maybe that will be tonight."

Tom aimed the shotgun at Annja. "Say anything else and I'll blow your head off. Sheila and I are in this together."

Annja nodded. "Is that what you told Dave?"

Sheila looked at Tom. "Is it?"

Tom frowned. "Would you stop focusing on Dave? He's gone, okay? I did what we had to do to make sure you and I are safe. That's the point, isn't it? That we get out of this thing alive. Who cares about Dave, anyway?"

"I did," Sheila said. "A lot. He was the first guy to be kind to me."

Tom shook his head. "You're a d.a.m.n fool sometimes, sis. He was playing you like he played every other chick he came into contact with. Ask this one what that was like."

Sheila glanced in the rearview mirror at Jenny. "Did he really convince you that you were special?"

Jenny looked at Tom and then frowned. "Yes. He did. And he never mentioned you at all. I don't know if that counts for anything, but to me he was a big liar. Who knows how many other women he hurt?"

"You see?" Tom glanced at Sheila. "I told you. He was no good for you. You can do much better and you will once we get to where we're going."

The truck jumped over a big pothole in the road and Annja winced as the barrel of the shotgun jerked in Tom's hands. "Better be careful or that thing's going to go off in your hands," she said.

"That'd be shame, wouldn't it?" Tom asked with a grin.

"It would make a big mess," Annja said.

"Then you should do what I told you and stop trying to infuriate my sister. She doesn't know what's best for her, anyway. I do."

Sheila frowned. "You pulling that one out now? You know what's best for me? Just like always, huh? You've always got to take care of me. Like I'm some invalid who can't look after herself."

"That's not what I meant and you know it."

"I don't know what you meant," Sheila said. "But that sure as h.e.l.l didn't come out sounding right."

"Sorry." Tom sighed. "Look, can we just get to the cave and find our drugs and kill these two and leave before anyone else knows what's going on?"

Sheila nodded. "We're almost there. A few miles more."

The truck bounced along the rough track of the road. Annja and Jenny were jostled in the backseat but Tom fortunately didn't blow them away as the truck careened around the curves.

He frowned at Sheila. "Slow down, would you?"

"You told me to hurry."

"Yeah, but keep my spine in one piece, too, okay?"

Sheila frowned again. "You're too picky."

"I want to get to Belize in one piece," Tom said. "Being bounced around while sitting backward isn't the best way to do that."

Annja smiled. "Belize is nice. Good diving. Are you guys much into diving? Snorkeling? That kind of thing?"

"He is," Sheila said. "That's why we're going there."

"Was that another decision he made for you guys? In the best interests of the two of you? Or just in the best interests of Tom?"

"He made the decision," Sheila admitted.

Tom glared at Annja. "I'm not going to say it again. You speak up once more and I won't wait until we're underground. I will shoot you and your friend dead right here, right now."

Jenny put a hand on Annja's arm. "Maybe you should be quiet."

"Prolonging the inevitable," Annja said. But she nodded at Tom. "I'll keep to myself."

"What a refres.h.i.+ng change," Tom said. He glanced at Sheila. "We agreed that Belize was the best place to go."

"I wanted Panama. The shopping's better."

"We settle in Belize, you can drive down to Panama, or even charter a plane, for all I care. Then you can shop to your heart's content, okay? Will you just trust me on this? G.o.d."

Sheila pointed through the winds.h.i.+eld. "We're almost there."

Annja looked ahead of the truck. The road had turned into hard track, packed gravel that crunched underneath the truck tires. She could see that it ended some distance ahead. But it wasn't that far away, maybe only a few hundred yards.

Thick stands of pine trees barred the road, but a small pathway cut through them. That was probably the route they'd take into the caves.

"Is that the entrance?" she asked.

Tom nodded. "Through there, just a short walk away. I wouldn't dream of tiring you guys out before I shoot you. I'm considerate like that."

"Wonderful."

The sun bled a deep red across the sky. Night would descend soon all over the surrounding landscape. Annja would have to time things just right if she had any hope of subduing the brother-and-sister team before they got a chance to fulfill their dreams.

She glanced at Jenny. "You okay?"

Jenny nodded. "Be better if we weren't in this truck right now."

"Yeah, I know what you mean."