Part 67 (2/2)

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 South America. How's it coming in through Canada?” Jenny asked.

Annja shrugged. ”I don't really know. Maybe with the 9/11 crackdowns, it's easier transporting it into Canada and then smuggling it across the border. Whatever the case, they've got a lot of it here. 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.”

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