Another Scorching Day
The Panama City morning arrived with a blanket of humidity that promised another scorching day. Ray and I stood with the remaining teams at the starting mat, waiting for Julie to begin the next leg of the race.
"Ray and Jeffrey," Julie announced when it was our turn, "you were team number three to arrive at the Stop'n'Go at 5:15 PM. You'll depart at 5:15 AM."
She handed us our first clue envelope. As soon as Julie said "go," Ray tore it open.
"Fly to Caracas, Venezuela," he read. "Once there, pick up a rental car and drive to Henri Pittier National Park. Find the ranger station for your next clue."
"Venezuela," I repeated, already running through what I knew about the country. "It's been in economic crisis for years, but has some of the most diverse ecosystems in South America."
Ray was already flagging down a taxi. "Airport first, geography lesson later."
I bit back a retort about his dismissiveness. We'd agreed to try harder today.
At the airport, we discovered all teams would be on the same flight to Caracas, a frustrating reset after our advantage in theprevious leg. The flight was scheduled to depart at noon, giving us time to strategize.
"We should keep our alliance with George and Ernie," Ray suggested as we waited at the gate. "They seem like decent guys, and they've been solid competitors so far."
"Jeffrey! Ray!" Gemini's distinctive drawl cut through the gate area chatter. She and Blaine approached us with warm smiles, looking impeccable despite the early morning flight. "Y'all mind if we sit with you? These airport chairs are just dreadful for your back."
"Of course," I said, gesturing to the empty seats beside us.
Blaine settled in gracefully, somehow managing to look polished even in team-issued athletic wear. "So how are y'all feeling about Venezuela? I have to admit, I'm a little nervous about the altitude in some of those mountain regions."
"You've researched the geography?" Ray asked, sounding impressed.
"Oh, honey, research is half the battle," Gemini said with a laugh. "Though I bet Jeffrey already has the whole country mapped out in his head, don't you, sugar?"
There was something calculating in her tone that made me pause. "I did some reading," I said carefully.
"I knew it!" Blaine clapped her hands together. "That's exactly what we told each other—Jeffrey's the type who does his homework. Very thorough. Very... strategic."
"What about you two?" Ray asked. "Any secret weapons we should know about?"
Gemini's smile was sweet as honey. "Just good old-fashioned Southern charm and a willingness to learn from the best." She looked directly at me. “Blaine and I were just saying how impressed we were with your navigation yesterday. You two work so well together."
Ray shifted beside me. "Thanks. You guys seem pretty coordinated yourselves."
"Oh, we've had lots of practice," Gemini said airily. "Planning events, managing people, you know how it is. But nothing like what y'all have—twenty-five years together? That's incredible."
"It has its advantages," I said, not sure why I felt like I was being interviewed.
"I bet," Blaine said with wide-eyed admiration. "Though I imagine it must be challenging sometimes too, being together so much. Especially with all the stress of the race."
The question hung in the air with deceptive casualness. Ray's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
"We're managing fine," he said evenly.
"Of course you are," Gemini said quickly. "I didn't mean to suggest otherwise. It's just that Blaine and I have been friends since freshman year, and even we get snippy with each other when we're tired."
"Everyone handles pressure differently," I said diplomatically.
Blaine nodded sagely. "So true. Some people get quieter, some get more aggressive. Some start making little mistakes they wouldn't normally make." She paused delicately. "But experience usually wins out, don't you think?"
The conversation continued in this vein for another ten minutes—probing questions disguised as friendly chat, compliments that felt like intelligence gathering, observations that seemed designed to gauge our reactions.
When boarding was finally called, the sisters excused themselves with effusive thanks for the "lovely conversation."
