He asked, “You ever see African Queen? Bogie and Hepburn?”
She forced a smile. “They had a bigger boat.” She added, “And you’re not Bogart.”
He smiled. “You’re cruel, Maggie.” He asked, “You okay?”
“Happy to be here.”
“Can I make a suggestion?”
“You’ve made a few too many.”
“Soak your T-shirt in the river.”
She thought about that, then peeled off her T-shirt and dangled it over the side.
“Watch out for the crocs.”
She pulled her T-shirt from the river and squeezed the muddy water over her head, then draped the wet shirt over her head and shoulders.
Other than the heat, humidity, bugs, piranha, crocs, and a psychotic renegade in the vicinity, this was a pleasant river cruise.
Taylor repeated her shirt dunking, but this time she pulled it back on.
She could easily win a wet T-shirt contest. Should he say that? Probably not.
“You should get yourself wet, Scott.”
“I was thinking of going in for a quick dunk.”
“Don’t let the piranha get your worm.”
“It’s actually an anaconda.”
She smiled. “Favorite croc food.” She glanced at the water. “Do you think there are poisonous snakes in there?”
“Probably. And snakes in the jungle.”
She nodded. “How can he live here?”
“We’ll never know. Because he’s going to die here. One way or the other.”
She thought about that, then said, “That would not be a satisfying end to this case.”
“No. But it would be the kind of rough justice he deserves.”
“We don’t really know that.” She reminded him, “You were looking forward to talking to him.”
“I’d like nothing better. He knows what we don’t know, and what other people don’t want us to know. And I’d also like to see what makes him tick. But we’ll have to settle for reporting map coordinates for a drone recon, followed by… whatever someone else decides.” He added, “Worley and his colleagues want Mercer dead.”
She nodded, then looked at her watch. “Almost an hour.”
“I still haven’t seen a place that matches the description of where Carmen said she and Mercer got off the boat.”
“For all we know, we’ve passed it. Sorry, Scott, but I’m not putting that much faith in the jungle descriptions of a Caracas call girl who’s probably seen more dicks than trees in her life.”
“Well, if you put it that way…”
“I’m thinking it’s time to turn around.”
