He shook his head.“I don’t think they even saw me.I slipped and made some noise.It stirred up a bunch of sleeping birds and one of the guys let loose with the crossbow at them.Lucky shot.For them, that is.Not so much for me.They didn’t come looking to see if they’d hit anything.”
I tilted my head.“Assuming I’m buying that story, what would a group of criminals from the exotic continent of South Asia find to interest them on a deserted island off the coast of British Columbia?”
“That’s the million-dollar question.These guys trade in rare commodities, and they aren’t picky about how they acquire them.Right now, there’s a huge market for the body parts of some species of wild animals.They could be hunting the animals themselves, or maybe they scheduled a meet with some local poachers on what they would have assumed was a deserted island.One where they wouldn’t have to worry about anyone seeing them.”
“They wouldn’t hurt…” I bit off the rest of the sentence, turning my body so he couldn’t see my face.
He grimaced.“Hurt who?Or what?They shot at me, and from what you said they took a few shots at you too, so I don’t think there’s much they’d hesitate to hurt.Certainly not a wild animal that they could piece out and sell to the stores back in Asia.”
I frowned.“I know that’s an issue farther up north, but we haven’t had any reports of poaching in this area.”
He shrugged.“Doesn’t mean it’s not happening.Just means they haven’t been caught.These guys aren’t amateurs.They’re in it for serious money, and bear gallbladders sell for a huge amount of money in Asia.”
I shuddered.Even after all these years, I found it hard to realize how nasty some people could be.“That’s awful.”
“It is, which is why I’m here.Me and my buddies have been chasing this group for a long time now, and we hope they’ll lead us to the ringleader, the big guy.That’s the one we want.We get him, the whole thing falls apart.If we move too soon, all we get are a bunch of hired muscle that don’t know squat about the operation on a larger scale.”
“Are you sure?If you take out the top guy, wouldn’t one of the others just take over and keep the operation going?”
He shook his head.“Not likely.It takes connections, power, the ability to have the right people look the other way at the right time.That has to be someone high up in politics and most likely social circles as well.So far, the guys we’ve identified are only run of the mill mules -- good enough to do the grunt work or transport the merchandise but not good enough to organize the whole thing.”
“Oh.”I know I looked baffled.
Diego crossed to my side, bumping lightly against me.He always knew when I needed him.
“It’s like he can read your mind.”Ryland stared at Diego plastered against my side.“I don’t have much experience with pets.Growing up, my family moved around too much and I still do, what with chasing poachers and all.Maybe someday when I’m more settled I’ll get myself a dog.It wouldn’t be fair to get an animal and then have to leave it all the time.”
I gave the belt an extra tug to make sure it was secure.I was starting to like this guy, and I didn’t want to.I let go of his arm.“That should hold it for now.”
“Thanks.”He crouched down to put himself at the level of the dog and held out his hand.“What’s his name?”
I smiled then.I couldn’t help it.Diego’s tail was wagging so hard his whole butt shook.“His name is Diego.My ex didn’t bother to take him when he left, and he’s been with me ever since.”
Diego sniffed the offered hand thoroughly before flicking his tongue out to give it a quick lick.Apparently satisfied with his inspection, he sat and pushed his head against Ryland.
“He likes you.”I watched as Diego sat quietly while the stranger petted him.“Strange.He’s usually such a great judge of character.Or maybe he’s just easily swayed by a gentle touch.He is male, after all.”
Chapter Five
Ryland
She said it with humor lacing her voice, and it was my turn to raise a brow.“You think the touch of a gentle hand could sway me?You are certainly welcome to try.”
Her laughter danced through the air, light and carefree.It appeared out of place given the current circumstances.
Right.The poachers.
I needed to focus.How on earth had this slip of a woman managed to distract me from the mission I’d devoted the last year of my life to?Maybe she really was working with the poachers, some kind of distraction to throw me off their trail.
I gave my head a mental shake.That was the dumbest thought I’d ever had, and I’d had some incredibly dumb thoughts in my lifetime.“I think we need to get off this island.The poachers already have a major head start.I need to get my arm dealt with and get back on their trail.”
She nodded, all trace of laughter gone.“Right.I left my kayak on the beach below the trail.How did you get here?”
“A speedboat.I tied it up just out of sight of the beach.With any luck it should still be there.”
Her brows drew together in a frown.“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Because if I was wrong about the poachers seeing me when they fired that shot, then they would know I had to have transportation to get here.They may have gone looking for it, to make sure I’d be trapped here.”
