If she mentioned the Zodiac would he get his men to search for it?“Their evacuation was supposed to be on the beach.With the tsunami waves it was too dangerous so they had to wait for the all-clear.”
“Why did you go to Desa Agung?”
“With their injured soldier, they needed the helicopter to land and the only place was your cliff.”
Agus scowled.“So you were the distraction?”
She nodded.Here she had to be careful with what she said.He hadn’t mentioned her mother yet.“They thought you would be interested in me for some reason.”She shrugged.“I told them you only wanted me to help Vance and if Vance was gone, you wouldn’t be interested any longer.They didn’t agree.”She laughed as if it was ridiculous.
“What about the soldier with you?”
She frowned.“He said he was there to protect me and would take me to the extraction point.”She ate another rambutan.“I figured they were paid to see threats everywhere, but then Patar was acting weird and I was scared maybe they were right, so I went with the soldier.”
“So how are you still here?”
Mila pouted.“Your men chased us and he forced me through the jungle.When the helicopter arrived, the soldier climbed up the rope saying he’d send down a ladder, but then they flew away.”
“So they left you here?”Agus said.
She nodded.
“Why were you hiding in the jungle?”
“I wasn’t.I was trying to make my way to the village but I got lost.”
“Why did you run?”
“Because Ali had a gun and was talking about me.It scared me.”She hugged herself and rocked a little.“It’s been a hell of a day.”
Agus studied her.“Will the soldiers be back for you?”
She shook her head.“I wasn’t their mission.They used me just like Vance had.”She paused, taking a breath, not finding it difficult to bring tears to her eyes.Fatigue had her emotions close to the surface.“It seems I can’t trust anyone’s word these days.”She exhaled and forced a smile.“Besides, there’s far too much work here for me to leave.People need my help.”She glanced out the window.“I can’t believe how much stuff is floating in the water.”
“You need rest and to have your ankle examined by a doctor.You will come to my house.”The engines went into neutral and the boat stopped.“Ali will help you back to the tender.”
This benevolent Agus gave her goosebumps but she played along.“Thank you.”
He still hadn’t mentioned her mother.Maybe he hoped she’d forgotten he knew her and wanted her nice and compliant until they got to his house.
Could she come up with an excuse to stay in Batara?She couldn’t help much with a twisted ankle, and if she truly trusted him, she wouldn’t make up an excuse.
Hopefully Damien would get to her on the transfer between the boat and house.
And if he didn’t, he’d already proven he could rescue someone from the house.
Though he didn’t have his full team, and Agus might be more vigilant if he didn’t believe her.
Maybe Mila would have to rescue herself.
***
Damien found a place on the rocky point where he could watch Batara.In the bright light of day the destruction looked even worse.People were hard at work clearing rubble and several boats were searching the water for things to salvage.About five hundred metres from the shore was the small islet they’d rowed past last night.This side had a cliff face, but the other side might have a beach.That would at least get them off the island.
Across the other side of the bay stood Agus’s house in all its glory.From here it appeared as if the tsunami hadn’t damaged it.
The luxury cruiser anchored offshore where the rubbish wasn’t so thick and Mila and four men boarded the tender and headed into town.
Mila wore a clean, blue dress and her arms and legs were free of dirt.They must have let her shower.She didn’t look scared, but she scanned the shore.He didn’t dare signal her in case someone else saw the flash of light.
