Footprints (18 page)
The wind whistled as it blew through the thick evergreen boughs. Annja took a deep breath and found that Sheila's suggestion had been a good one. The air smelled sweet with the scent of pine. Overhead, dark storm clouds drifted in, and every now and again Annja could feel a few drops of rain sting down from the heavens.
Tom never strayed far with his shotgun, however, and even as Jenny clambered out of the back of the vehicle, he nudged them along. "Trail's over this way. Let's not waste any time."
Annja glared at him. "Got a schedule to keep, have we?"
"You know we do," Tom said. "The path is through those trees."
"And you won't shoot us in the back?" Annja asked.
Tom grinned. "Trust me when I say that I will at least give you the respect of telling you when I'm going to do it. But that time isn't now. We need you to carry out the parcels first and put them in the truck."
Annja could see through the trees that there was a small trail ahead of her. She and Jenny poked through the branches and started walking. Another stiff breeze blew
in,
carrying with it the scent of pine, but Annja could also smell the nearby river and heard the rushing roar of the water flowing over the dangerous rapids.
"It's a little different being here at night," she said quietly to Jenny.
"I'm sure we were here last night but we don't remember it, thanks to David drugging us."
Annja nodded. "Good point."
Sheila led the way and Annja spotted a large outcropping of boulders that sat right near the bank of the river. Sheila turned. "It's over here." She shined a flashlight over the rocks and high up off the
trail,
Annja could see a cleft in the rock.
"Through there," Sheila said as she scampered up as if she'd done it numerous times before.
Annja climbed first and then reached back to help Jenny scramble up the rock face. Once there, Sheila pointed the way inside. "I'll get some lights on."
Tom stayed down below, his shotgun still trained on the opening. "Sheila will tell you which packages to get and then you'll bring them out here. Don't try anything stupid.
At least, not yet."
Annja ducked into the opening and found Sheila holding the pistol. "The packages are over there beyond the bend in the tunnel."
Annja walked over and saw that the cavern opened up much more once you got around the bend. In fact, looking back, she could see why this was such a great hiding spot. At first glance, the cave looked as if it ended where Sheila stood.
Jenny came down and stood next to her. "What is this stuff?"
Annja knelt down and opened one of the boxes. Small bags of white powder filled the container. "Looks like cocaine."
"I thought that all came up from
Annja shrugged. "I don't really know. Maybe with the 9/11 crackdowns,
it's
easier transporting it into
Probably worth a couple of million on the street, easy."
Jenny frowned. "I can't stand drugs."
"Not my game of choice, either," Annja said.
Sheila appeared around the corner. "Just get the cases and carry them back. You two don't have time for a sample of the product."
Annja frowned. "You really think he's not going to turn on you just like he did David?"
"He won't," Sheila said. "He's my brother, after all."
Annja smirked. "Sheila, family doesn't mean anything. People have been killing one another for far less and for much longer than you and your brother have been around. You thinking he won't
doesn't
mean it can't happen. That's just being naive."
"That's me being loyal," Sheila said. "Maybe you don't understand that, but it's got to count for something. Now, let's go. Get those packages and start hauling them out to the truck."
Annja grabbed a bag and slung it over her shoulder. It must have weighed about twenty pounds, loaded down with the cocaine. Jenny slung one over her back and promptly fell down.
Annja helped her to her feet. "Take it easy, okay? I don't need you getting hurt right now."
She walked outside and saw Tom standing there with a frown on his face. "What's taking so long up there?"
"Just helping Jenny
make
sure she doesn't break an ankle before you have a chance to kill us."
"That's kind of you. Now stop horsing around." Tom stood back, allowing Annja to get down the rock slope with the bag over her shoulder.
Annja frowned. Tom knew the importance of distance. By not being too close to Annja, he could make sure that he saw any move she tried and cut her down before she succeeded in getting to him. Of course, he didn't know all of her tricks, and Annja suspected that the sudden appearance of the sword might give her just the edge she needed to turn the tables.
But that would only take care of Tom. Sheila remained a viable threat, as well. And her reluctance to go against her brother meant that Annja would need to take her out, too.
Tom guided her to the truck and Annja laid the first bag down in the back. "How are you going to deliver this to your friends? You'd better not get a speeding ticket."
Tom shook his head. "I don't think we'll be stopped with that blue-light bar on top of the truck. Remember, we've got Dave's ride."
"And they won't stop a police car, is that it?"
"
Exactly."
Annja looked at him. "You've thought of everything, haven't you?"
Tom smiled. "I've had a lot of time to think things through." He gestured with the shotgun. "Now, let's go. There are plenty more bags to haul out here."
Jenny and Sheila appeared on the trail. Jenny was struggling with her bag and Annja grabbed it from her.
Tom frowned. "She's supposed to carry her own load."
Annja shrugged. "I'm more physically fit than she is. She's a desk jockey. Pushes paper all day long."
"If that's so, then why is she out in the field?"
"Change of pace," Annja said. "You want these things hauled properly or what?"
"Of course I do."
"Then let me get her load. She can hand them down to me from the cave entrance and I'll carry them the rest of the way."
Tom eyed Jenny. "You okay with that?"
"Sure."
"
All right."
He looked at Annja. "Just don't forget that the gun is trained on you all the time. There's something about you that I don't trust. And if you give me the slightest reason to do it, I'll gun you down. And then your physically inept friend there won't have any choice but to carry the bags.
Understand?"
"
We've been through this already," Annja said. "I'm not trying anything. I just want to get this over with. Maybe you'll find some compassion in your heart and let us live. Tie us up for all I care and get your head start. There's no real reason to shoot us, though."
Tom smiled but Annja knew he wasn't really going to consider it. "I'll think about it. If you keep your end of the deal, who knows? You might just get out of this alive."
Yeah, right. But if Annja could keep him thinking she wasn't going to try anything funny, it might give her the chance she needed.
As she and Jenny walked back down the trail, Annja kept bumping into her friend. As she did so, she whispered. "You'll have to take out Sheila."
"What?"
"I can't handle them both at the same time. And Tom's the more dangerous one. That shotgun can kill us both with one shot."
"I can't do it. Sheila's bigger than I am," Jenny said.
"Just get close enough and kick her hard in the knee. When she goes down, stomp her hand and get the gun away. I'll come to you as soon as I can but I'll have my hands full dealing with Tom."
"You two keep quiet," Tom said from behind. "Don't make me start feeling all nervous inside."
"I was asking her how her ankle was," Annja said.
"Stop being paranoid."
They marched back to the cave and Jenny climbed back up. Sheila followed. After a minute, Jenny reappeared, grunting under the strain of another heavy bag. She tossed it down, which made Tom hop around, waving the gun.
"Don't throw the damn bags! If the contents spill, it'll make a huge mess and we won't get our money. Hand them down carefully!"
Jenny looked meek. "Sorry. It slipped."
"I'll bet it did." Tom shook his head and then looked at Annja. "You'd better tell your friend not to screw this thing up or else she'll be the first one who gets shot. You understand me?"
"
Perfectly."
Annja picked up the bag and started walking back to the car. She would have to make her move soon. Tom was already growing impatient with the handling of the drugs. He could snap at any moment.
Annja took a deep breath and walked up the trail. She wondered where Joey was. Had Tom killed him? Had he stowed the body so Annja and Jenny wouldn't see that he'd killed a child? Or was Joey still alive and rounding up some sort of rescue party?
It was probably too much to hope for given everything that they'd been through. And yet Annja felt something deep inside that told her Joey was okay.
But where was he?
For that matter, what were the odds that Simpson and Baker were somewhere close by, hunting their elusive Sasquatch? If she could run into them right now, armed as they were, it would help things tremendously. Even their sudden appearance would be enough to give Annja the opening she needed to take down Tom.
She could always explain things to Simpson and Baker later after it was all over.
But for now, she needed an opening.
I'll have to take him on the trail, before we get back to the cave entrance. When we're away, Jenny can take Sheila out.
Annja approached the Tahoe and laid the next bag in the back. She looked over her shoulder at Tom. "How many more of these things are there?"
"
About two dozen."
"
That's a big shipment of stuff. How did you get it into
Tom shook his head. "I don't smuggle it into
"So who's going to replace you when you and Sheila take off for parts unknown?"
Tom shrugged. "I don't know. It's not really my problem."
"Isn't it, though?" Annja frowned. "If I was a drug supplier and I had a good thing going, I wouldn't want my supply lines being disrupted because one of my mules decided that things were getting too hot and they wanted to bail. I'd make them stay."
"I've already discussed it with the bosses. They don't have a problem letting us go. They're even loaning us their jet."
"
Really?
Is there a bomb on the plane?" Annja asked.
"Why would you say that?"
"You think drug kingpins are just going to let you walk away? They can't afford to have anyone who knows their program out there in the world. You could get busted for a speeding ticket and flip like that. Their best option is to kill you. I can't believe you seem so shocked by that idea. Maybe you really are stupid."
"Maybe you underestimate the relationship we have with our network of people."
"Or maybe I underestimate how naive you and your sister are.
Although, to be honest, she strikes me as a shade more intelligent than you.
At least where matters of the heart aren't concerned."
"
All right, that's enough out of you. Get back to the cave."
Annja nodded. The next time through she'd do something. She'd signal Jenny at the handoff that the time had come for them to make their move.
Annja walked back to the cave, aware of how much more the sky had been blotted out by the arrival of the dense black clouds overhead. Drizzle was falling and she shook her head to ward off some of the spray. I'm spending more time on this venture being wet than any of the other ones I've been on thus far, she thought.
Behind her, she heard Tom sniff. "Sorry, we didn't bring any umbrellas with us tonight."
"Like you'd hold one over me while I did my work, anyway," Annja said. "I don't think you would."
"You're right, but only because I think you're far too dangerous to let out of my sight."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Annja asked. She had to keep him talking. It might just take his mind off her a little bit and give her the opening she'd need when the time came.
"I saw how you were with Dave back at the hotel. He wasn't a timid guy and yet you handled him like he was easy prey.
Broke his wrist even."
"
He had that coming, believe me. The way he acted last night at his place, I was lucky he didn't try to rape me while we were waiting for you to show up and shoot us with your dart gun."
"Yeah, I always wondered about that. I never could figure out what he saw in my sister, aside from a convenient lay, I suppose."
"Is that why you killed him?
Because he disrespected her?"
"
You were closer to the mark before.
More money for us.
I don't want my sister wanting for anything in life. But she does make some stupid decisions. That's why I've got to call the shots."
"
Even if she doesn't happen to agree with them?"
"
Even if," Tom said. "You know that old saying that some people don't know what's best for them? My sister fits that bill perfectly."
Annja shook her head. The rain was increasing. She could hear the drops smacking into the ground as they passed through the pine trees again, heading back toward the cave opening.
Jenny was already waiting for Annja. "Where have you been?"
"These bags are heavy," Annja said. "It's not exactly the easiest thing in the world to pull your share of the work."
"
My share?
You volunteered!"
"You didn't put up a fight," Annja said. She winked at Jenny and nodded once. Jenny nodded back. Message received.
"Get the bag and stop your yapping, you two," Tom said. He looked at Sheila. "You okay?"
Sheila frowned. "Why on earth wouldn't I be?"
"I was just checking," Tom said. "Relax, okay?"
Sheila shook her head. "I'm fine and you don't need to keep checking on me. I can handle my end of this without your constant supervision."
"
Fine, fine."
Tom glared at Annja. "You got that bag yet?"
Annja heaved the sack over her shoulder. "Yeah, let's go."
They turned toward the truck and walked down the trail. Annja cleared her throat. She could feel the adrenaline starting to course through her. She'd have to time this just right, hopefully catching Tom before he could fire off a round from the gun and alert Sheila to the possibility of the attack. Annja just hoped that Jenny could do her part; otherwise, Annja would be walking back into a potential ambush.
"Your sister sounds pretty mad at you," she said.
"She always gets that way when I have to decide on something."
"
Really?"
"Like we were talking about before.
She resents the fact that I make all the decisions in the family."
"No other siblings?"
"
Nah.
Our parents died when we were young and from then on it's always been just the two of us. I took care of her. Sheltered her and looked after her. Even when I was in the service, I made sure she was always fine. Friends of mine would watch over her."
"So, in other words, she's never had the chance to make her own decisions about anything," Annja said.
"You see it one way. I see it another."
"I see her feeling incredibly suffocated," Annja said. "No wonder she's so pissed off at you."
"She'll get over it," Tom said. "She always does."
"What if you're wrong?"
"
Wrong about her getting over it?
Not likely. You don't know my sister very well."
Annja shifted the bag on her shoulder. "Well, maybe I don't know Sheila all that well, but I know how women think. And here's the thing, Tom. You just killed the only man she might have ever loved."
"Like I told her, there are other fish in the sea."
"Yeah, yeah, I know that line. But what you're missing here is the fact that David was probably the first guy she's ever made up her own mind about. All through her life she's had you watching over her."
Tom was quiet and Annja kept going. "How many boyfriends has she had?"
"I don't know."
"Probably not many," Annja said. "And probably because you scared them all away, didn't you?"
"Not necessarily. A lot of the ones who
came
nosing around were losers who didn't mean to do anything, except get in her pants."
"So what business is it of yours what she chooses to do and with whom? We all need to make our own mistakes," Annja said.
"Not my sister. She doesn't need to make mistakes. I've made enough of them for both of us."
Annja smirked. "I'm sure you have. But that doesn't mean there hasn't been an incredible reservoir of resentment building up within Sheila's heart. She probably hasn't voiced it to you yet, but then there's what happened tonight. And your actions back at the hotel might just cause the dam to break, releasing all of that pent-up emotion.
Anger.
Hatred, even."
"
My sister doesn't hate me."
They'd reached the truck and Annja set the package down on top of the others. She looked at Tom. "Look, you don't have to listen to me. That's cool. But if I were you, I'd watch my back really carefully these next few days. Sheila's a volcano about to explode, and if you're in the path of her destruction you're toast, pal."
Tom frowned. "Are you finished analyzing my life?"
Annja shrugged. "Like I said, take it or leave it.
Makes no difference to me.
I'll be dead."
Tom smiled.
"That you will."
Annja eyed him. "Not even going to attempt to lie to me about the possibility of getting out of this with my life, are you?"
"Nope. Call it a sign of respect. You don't buy my bullshit, anyway. No sense in pretending about tonight's outcome."
Annja nodded. "I suppose I should thank you for that."
"Yeah, why's that?"
Annja smiled. "It just makes everything that much clearer. That's all."
Tom nodded toward the pine trees. "You've still got a lot of carrying to do. Let's get back."
"How will you know where to meet these people that you do business with?"
Tom patted his shirt pocket. "Got the map and directions right here. It's just a short skip down the old interstate. It's always nice driving into the city, anyway. We do the drop and then Sheila and I continue on to our new home."
"So you say." Annja started walking away from the truck. She stumbled once on some loose rock.
She heard Tom snicker behind her.
"Careful there.
Wouldn't want you to get hurt and have to struggle through the pain."
Annja closed her eyes and saw the sword hanging there, ready to draw out at a moment's notice. She wanted to wrap her hands around it right now, but the time wasn't right.
Not yet.
She continued walking down the trail. The rain had increased and now the steady shower coated everything. The ground grew muddy underfoot. Annja would have to remember to watch her footing or she'd risk a fall in the mud.
"I'm going to miss this place," Tom said suddenly from behind her.
"So why don't you stay and turn yourself in?"
He laughed. "Prison's not an option for me."
Annja nodded. "Yeah, I think that way about death, too."
"Death's inevitable," Tom said. "The only question is when we're all going to go."
"Don't tell me you're philosophical about the murders you commit."
"Whatever helps keep the demons at bay," Tom said.
"I suppose you're right," Annja said. "It is all just a big question of when, isn't it?"
"
Yep."
She glanced back at him. "And if we knew the when of it all, I wonder if we'd live our lives any differently than we have to this point?"
Tom shook his head. "I wouldn't. I'm pretty happy with how things have turned out so far."
"You should see it from my perspective," Annja said.
"No, thanks.
I prefer my viewpoint. You know, it's the one with the big nasty shotgun and all. The view's much nicer back here."
Annja shrugged. "Oh, I don't know about that."
"Why?"
Annja dropped suddenly to one knee and pivoted, sweeping one of her legs out and back at Tom's legs.
She caught him at just the right moment as his full body weight was coming down onto his right leg. She swept the leg and he toppled backward, falling into the mud.
Annja was up instantly. She summoned the sword and charged.
Tom saw the sword coming for him and swept the shotgun up, trying to get a shot at Annja.
He was too slow and Annja cut across the barrel and heard the sharp clang as the sword blade bit through the barrel and the stock. The force of the impact knocked the shotgun out of Tom's hands and sent it skittering across the rocks and gravel until it came to rest under a tree.
But Tom didn't stop moving and Annja marveled at his speed as he rolled off the ground and came up, kicking out at her face.
Annja ducked under the kick and tried to cut at Tom's leg but he retracted it quickly and retreated some distance away.
Annja charged again, leaping into the air. She brought the sword high overhead, trying to cleave Tom in two as she came down.
But Tom threw a handful of gravel into her face and she swore as the tiny stones and dirt clouded her vision and stung her eyes.
She swung the sword wildly but missed. Then she felt a thundering side kick explode into her rib cage. She heard a snap and then her lung heaved as she fought to grab a breath. Tom's kick must have broken several ribs.
Annja swung the sword back, trying to catch Tom's leg. She felt the blade bite into something but then the sensation was gone.
Annja wiped her free hand across her face, desperate to get the gravel out of her eyes. Tears streamed down her face, clouding her vision. If she didn't clear her eyesight, Tom would go for his gun and shoot her before she could finish the job.
Another kick thundered into her opposite side and this time it was all Annja could do to keep from dropping the sword and collapsing in pain.
I hope Jenny's having better luck with Sheila, she thought.
Annja cut back again, trying to find a target. She heard Tom laugh. "Can't hit what you can't see."
Annja held the blade in front of her. The blindness worked against her and she couldn't find Tom in the rain and darkness.
A sound reached her ears.
He's going to the gun.
She had one chance.
She flipped the sword over and heaved it like a javelin. She heard the blade hiss through the air.
At the same time, a single gunshot tore through the night.
