The survivors back away, pile into a vehicle, and depart in the opposite direction by driving over the meridian. As their red taillights fade away, I run up the hill, and at the top, wait for her to follow.
Distant sirens tell me the state police are on the way. As much as I want to interrogate her, it will have to wait. When she stumbles, I catch her, then use hand signals to show her we can’t rest here.
My anger, which I tamped down during the mission, resurfaces. Was I her patsy from the get-go? No doubt, she was tired of being a hairdresser and when the cat entered the dark web, saw an opportunity and took it.
While I ponder her treachery, Hands texts me the closest town’s GPS coordinates.
“How far?” Rose reaches for my phone, but I hold it high in the air.
“So now you can hear?” I wonder if she was faking that, too.
“Mostly.” She wears the same outfit I removed from her body in Vermont. It seems like a lifetime ago.
“Mind telling me how you ended up inside the cartel’s container truck?” A part of me wants her to confess so I can forgive her and move on. The ex-SEAL craves justice.
“It’s a long story.” Out of breath, she trips, landing on her hands and knees.
Follow the money. Isn’t that what they say?I squat beside her. “How much did Vincent pay you?”
“What’re you talking about?” Brushing herself off, she stands, and shoots me a hurt look. Her acting, I have to say, is superb. She could win an Oscar.
“Come off it. Paolo and your uncle knew exactly where to find us.” My patience for her nonsense has run out.
“I didn’t tell anyone anything.” She stomps a sneaker into the frozen ground and juts out her chin,
“Riiiight.” At my unbelieving tone, she grabs my arm.
“Hey. Wait just a goddamn minute. After you left the B &B, I got worried. Nothing made sense. Why would my uncle sell his shit to the cartel? So, I called Joey and confirmed. His father only wanted payback. He was going to double-cross them and steal it back. I tried to warn you, but you didn’t pick up. Then Paolo showed up.”
“You expect me to believe hemagically appeared?” Air quotes emphasize my sarcasm.
“Yes.” She crosses her arms.
“And despite my warning, and how you claim you feel about him, you opened the door for he-who-should-not-be-named?”
“Oh my fucking God. I thought he was the guy you sent to guard me.”
Honing in on her face, I search for a twitch or any sign she’s lying but find none. “Okay, let’s say I buy your story. Why did you leave with him?”
“I didn’t really have a choice.”
Her kissing him comes to mind. Done talking, I reach into my pocket, pull out my mobile, press play, and shove the video under her nose.
Her mouth drops open, and her face heats. “Wait, I can explain…”
“Know what sweet cakes? How about you shut the fuck up.” Swiveling, I check the GPS, and as I head us in the right direction, she trails after me.
“Why are you being such an ass? I tried to warn you, but Paolo took my phone.”
“How convenient.”
“Oh my God. You’re so unreasonable. You make it sound like I planned this whole thing.
“Didn’t you?”
“Fuck you.” She mutters something about stupid assholes in her life then radio silence which is fine with me.
I warned her. I don’t share.
