She didn’t say anything for a while, thinking it over, Goliad guessed.
He said, “The plane going down was a setback, but the box survived it, and the doctor has it. Only a little time has been lost. We’ll catch up with her at the airport.”
Timmy opened his mouth, but Goliad gave a forbidding shake of his head, silencing him before he spoke.
She was saying, “Need I remind you that every minute counts?”
“We know, ma’am.”
“The next time you call, I want to hear that you have the doctor in tow, with the box, and that you’re on your way back to Atlanta. Is that understood?”
“Loud and clear.”
“Good. I’m hanging up now. I suggest that you start immediately making up for lost time. I must go explain to my husband that you’ve been delayed. He won’t be happy. I’m certainly not. I advise you both not to fail us.” With that, she ended the call.
Timmy whistled. “She burns hot, don’t she? Bet she fucks like—”
Goliad’s arm sliced across the console of the car and clotheslined Timmy’s neck. “Remember who you’re talking about.” He pressed his arm against Timmy’s windpipe hard enough to make him wheeze. “Playing with your new laser,” he sneered. “This isn’t a game, you idiot.”
Slowly he released the pressure on Timmy’s throat and resettled himself behind the steering wheel. Out of the corner of his eye, he stayed aware of where Timmy put his hands. His right was rubbing his throat. Goliad half expected him to produce one of his blades with his left.
But he was gulping air and swallowing noisily. When he had his wind back, he croaked, “I was only joking.”
“Wasn’t funny. You work for them. Show respect for both, or this is your last detail.”
“Okay, okay,” Timmy mumbled. “So what now?”
Goliad started the car. “We go to the airstrip, be waiting for them when they get there.”
“That’s plan B?”
“That’s plan B.”
“You think the lady doctor will go along with us shouldering in on her?”
“She will once we tell her that we’ve been dispatched by Mrs. Hunt, personally. We’ll tell her that Mrs. Hunt was concerned for her, driving up here alone in the fog. Mrs. Hunt sent us to make sure she has a safe trip back.”
“She’ll buy that?”
“She’ll probably call and confirm.”
“What if she still doesn’t like it?”
“Let’s wait and see what happens.”
“What about the pilot?”
“Wait and see.” He looked over at the younger man. “We’re up shit creek. What are you grinning for?”
Timmy giggled. “‘Wait and see’ means I might get to kill somebody after all.”
Chapter 4
2:32 a.m.
A freight dog. That’s what they call you.”
“That’s one of the nice things,” Rye said.