Part 66 (2/2)

”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.”

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