Part 65 (1/2)

Otherwise, Annja would have to handle two gun-wielding drug runners by herself.

And that didn't sound like a good plan at all.

Chapter 33.

With the mess at the hotel cleaned up, Tom and Sheila ushered Annja and Jenny to the back of the hotel. The sun was starting to set, and as it dipped toward the horizon it painted the area in reds and oranges.

Annja looked at Tom. ”So is this where you're going to do it? Right out here in the open?”

Tom smirked. ”You must really think we're stupid.”

”It's crossed my mind a few times. Hooking up with someone like David. All of this for the sake of peddling narcotics. Yeah, I guess it's reasonable to suggest I think you're both dumb as rocks.”

Sheila put her pistol up to Jenny's head. ”Shut your mouth, or I'll put a slug through your pal's head.”

”That's original.”

Tom pointed to the Chevy Tahoe. ”Get in the truck.”

”You're taking David's ride?” Annja said.

”He doesn't need it anymore.”

Annja nodded. ”Good point.”

Tom glanced at Sheila. ”You drive while I keep a gun on these two.”

Sheila frowned. ”With that thing? Make sure you put them both in the backseat. If that cannon goes off, better to blast the back than me.”

”Don't worry about it. I got it under control.”

”Sure you do.”

Tom frowned but didn't retort as he gestured for Annja and Jenny to get in. Then he shut their door and hopped into the front seat, training the shotgun on them from there. Without taking his eyes off them, he said to Sheila, ”Go slow getting us out of town and watch the b.u.mps. I don't want my trigger finger accidentally squeezing too much.” He grinned at Annja. ”That'd be a shame, huh?”

”I'm sure you'd lose sleep over it,” she said.

Sheila started the engine and slipped the truck into Drive before pulling out onto the main road. Annja glanced around but, as usual, the place seemed pretty deserted. ”How long have you two been here intimidating people and stuff?”

”Few years. But Dave was the guy who intimidated folks. Give people an authority figure they think they can't fight and folks either accept it or else they just up and move away. If we tried to do it, they'd just go to the cops in another town. In that case, our plans would have been screwed.”

”Smart,” Annja said. ”Smarter than I would have given you all credit for.”

Jenny looked out of the window. Her face looked gloomy. Tom nodded at her. ”What's her problem?”

”Man trouble,” Annja said.

Jenny glared at her. ”Annja, how could you?”

Annja shrugged. ”No sense lying to the guy.”