In Her Sights (The Thousand Words Series Book 2) (22 page)

“Your stance. I’ve figured out everyone else’s by now.”

Macy smiled. “Promise.”

“Then what do you want?”

“Honestly?”

“Please.”

“I want to study. Paige and Imogen are taking the summer off but I have classes and I have a physics test coming up.”

“I don’t suppose you brought your book?” Dev grinned and motioned for her to have a seat.

Macy smiled sheepishly. “It’s electronic. It’s on my tablet.”

“You brought homework to a concert?” Dev shook his head and laughed softly. He didn’t know if Lindsay would do that or not. He didn’t think so, but he wasn’t completely sure. She didn’t really throw herself into her classes the way he did.

Dev watched Macy as she sat and pulled a tablet out of her little backpack-style purse. She met his eye and nodded to indicate his laptop with a questioning look. It was Dev’s turn for a sheepish look.

“Yeah, me too.”

Macy grinned back. She had a nice smile.

○ ○ ○

Paige continued traveling with them, but her roommates stayed in Chicago. Dev was relieved, but he suspected Jess could have stood Imogen’s company a little longer. When the tour was over, Jess could do what he wanted. Dev couldn’t care less.

“Come in here a sec, I want a word.” Jess was waiting in the hall and motioned Dev to his hotel room after the show several days after they left Chicago.

“Is this about Lin? I’m tired of everyone giving me the other-fish-in-the-sea talk.” Dev’s shoulders sagged and his head fell to the side in frustration. Jess pulled him into his room anyway and Dev offered no resistance.

“I’m an expert on fishing and that wasn’t what I was going to say.” Jess closed the door and gestured to the chairs by the small table in the corner.

“So it is about Lin.” Dev looked at the chairs and opted to sit on the end of the bed instead. Jess sat beside him.

“It’s about feeling like there’s only one woman you’ll ever be happy with.”

“It’s different Jess. Lin and I actually
had
a relationship.”

“I know, I also know that you’re – I don’t want to say sensitive, you’ll kick my ass, but you feel some things deeply. We all know it, it’s part of what makes you a good guy. Part of why you hate Flynn, why you write some great songs, and why this is hard for you.”

Dev scoffed and stood up to leave.

“Hold up.” Jess reached into the suitcase lying open on the other bed. He pulled a book from under a stack of shirts and handed it to Dev.

He took it, at first amazed Jess read, then noting it was a hardcover and fairly thick. He turned it over to read the title: it was Cassie’s latest book.

“Yes, I read the first one and, yes, I understand them.”

Dev sat back down, deciding he probably didn’t want to know but burning with curiosity nonetheless. “I can’t imagine you’ve got a burning love of Ancient India.”

Jess sighed and took the book back. His bookmark was halfway through and he opened the book to show Dev. He used a sheet of paper for a bookmark, on it were brief notes including titles of other books.

“What’s this?” Dev took the list and looked it over.

“The next couple things I’ll read, places to visit, things to look up.” He hesitated and Dev waited. “Remember when Cassie went off to college?”

“Yeah.”

“Flynn had been giving me advice for a while at that point. One thing he said was that Cassie and I didn’t have anything to talk about. So I watched her favorite movies. Then movies related to her interests. Then documentaries. When she enrolled, I got a list of the classes she needed to take as an anthropology major and got a peek at her schedule for that first semester. I ordered the text books for her classes and read them.”

Dev stared at him in surprise.

“It started off basic, which I needed. Even after I found her with –” Jess took a breath. “I never told you about that.”

“Found her with who?” Dev demanded.

“Don’t even know his name. It was when Mindy tried to have Flynn killed. I was worried about Cassie and flew to New York. It was stupid dropping in on her unannounced. I wasn’t thinking, I was just concerned. She had a guy over, he wasn’t wearing much. She said it was nothing, but I left. That’s when it really sunk in that no matter how much I loved her, she didn’t feel the same way.”

“So now’s your ‘get over it’ speech?”

“I’m not qualified to give you that speech, Dev. I still love Cassie. I’ve accepted that I can’t have her, but that doesn’t change much. I read every text book for anthropology she did. I read the suggested reading, other books in her field. When she wrote her first book, I read it three times.”

“This isn’t so much a pep talk as an admission to your problem, Jess.”

“It’s not meant to be a pep talk, twerp. I’ve seen how much you believe you and Lindsay are meant to be together. I wish I could talk you out of it, she irritates me. I’m trying to tell you I understand. Since I can’t talk you out of it, I’ll wish you luck. It’s hell to put something behind you that you know in every fiber of your being is perfect and meant to be. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

“That being said, if you can’t have Lindsay, be open to other options.”

“I haven’t seen you making any commitments elsewhere.”

“You see me as a role model?” Jess laughed. “I’m not you. You
want
commitment. Maybe Lindsay was a good match, but even before her you wanted someone you could relate to, someone who understood you. Bryan told me that and I believe him, it makes sense. You can find someone else to fit that niche. Maybe not the same way Lindsay did, but someone else can fill the space.”

“What’s your excuse?”

Jess shrugged. “I put Cassie on a pedestal, declared her to be perfect, and no one else measured up. I can replace Cassie, it’s the idea of her I can’t shake.”

“The one that got away.”

Jess shook his head. “No, others got away. I can’t really define what it is I’m looking for. I wish I could figure it out, or find someone else I feel I could commit to. I’m like you in a lot of ways in that I’m young, rich, and girls want me. I could have it all, except I can’t have what I want. I’m tired of a different woman every week or month.”

Dev didn’t understand the feeling so he didn’t comment. Jess’s talk, while by far the most original and interesting, also proved to be the most disturbing.

“Why are you telling me all this now?” Dev finally asked when Jess was quiet for a moment.

“Because Macy seems nice, smart, and uninterested.”

Dev laughed. “Your solution to solving my problem of my girlfriend losing interest is to point out the disinterest of the latest girl you threw at me?”

“Yes.” Jess grinned. “Dev, this girl brought physics homework to a concert. She’s as close to your type as I’ve ever seen.”

“She also just broke up with a long term boyfriend and isn’t interested in a rebound relationship.”

“How did
that
come up?”

“You guys aren’t subtle.”

“Fair enough. You don’t have to date her, Dev, just hang out a bit and see what happens.”

“You mean see if she replaces Lindsay.”

“See if she gives you a different perspective on the Lindsay thing. Or ideas for that matter.” Jess threw his hands up to stop Dev from responding. “That’s beside the point. What I wanted to tell you was that I get it that you felt strongly about Lindsay. I didn’t, or maybe I just didn’t want to admit it because I don’t really want to see her back, but I understand now. I’ll still promote alternatives, don’t get me wrong.”

“And if I ask you again to just drop it?”

Jess paused. “You know Kenny wants to take Paige on vacation after the tour wraps up, right?”

“I figured. He and Bryan were talking about hiking Kilimanjaro. Apparently Bren’s on board with it.”

“Yeah, so are Paige and Imogen. Kenny and Paige are trying to figure out how to drag you and Macy along. You know, one roommate for me, one for you.”

“Forced blind dating is a new low.”

Jess pointed an accusing finger at him. “Not a blind date by definition, you’ve met. Anyway, you don’t have to go as a couple. I’ll make you a deal, if you go, I’ll stop with the Lindsay thing.”

“Stop the cheap shots?”

Jess shook his head. “Stop trying to get you to replace her. If she comes back, the cheap shots will be a necessary coping mechanism. Sorry, you’ll have to deal with it.”

Dev smiled, at least he could count on Jess to be honest. “Fine. I’ll go hiking with you guys and Macy can come. I’m not dating her.”

“Whatever. I would say just sleep with her, but you might hit me.”

“A given.” Dev stood.

“Dev?”

He looked back at Jess, sitting at the end of the bed, turning Cassie’s book over in his hands. Jess’s blond hair obscured most of his face as he stared at the author’s small picture and biography inside the back cover instead of at Dev. He couldn’t help wondering if his sister even suspected.

“Your interest in Ancient India is off the record,” Dev assured him before he left.

The arrangements were made for the hike up Mount Kilimanjaro with what Dev felt was almost unnatural speed. He was torn about the trip. On one hand, he was never overly fond of hiking and didn’t look forward to the potentially freezing temperatures on the mountain possibly setting his asthma on edge. On the other hand, it seemed like an adventure, he could manage his asthma if he was careful, and with Macy along it’d get Jess off his back.

They took an easier route that would take longer, but wouldn’t wear them out. In theory it was to make it easier on the girls, but the band was tired from touring and the demanding activity of the concerts they played. The touring mentality hadn’t quite left their systems yet, and they frequently broke out in spontaneous song, much to the amusement and annoyance of their guide and porters.

Raul, their guide, kept yelling “Pole, pole” at them to remind them that increased exertion would increase their risk of altitude sickness. Dev suspected they wouldn’t be able to sing much longer as the air on the mountain thinned and said as much to Raul.

Macy joked to Dev that it was like living in a musical, at which point he goaded the others into dance steps choreographed from music videos as well. She was suspicious of Dev’s invitation, then outright begging for her to come. He finally admitted the deal he made with Jess and she agreed to come – as a friend – to get him off the hook with one of his nagging friends. As they hiked up the trail, Macy admitted it would temporarily get Paige off her back as well. Dev high-fived her for multi-tasking.

They made it to the first night’s camp site not much later than expected, but they stayed up so late talking that they were late to leave it the next morning. The second night everyone was tired and to Dev it seemed obvious their guides were relieved to get them in their tents before midnight.

Dev woke with a start the next morning. It felt early but he heard people moving around outside and thought with embarrassment that he must have overslept. He didn’t see how Jess would let him. Slipping out of his sleeping bag, he saw Bryan and Brenda were still sound asleep in the sleeping bags beside him.

Jess and Kenny were in another tent. Supposedly it just the two of them in a tent designed to sleep four. Dev was fairly certain Imogen and Paige were with them, leaving Macy with her tent to herself. That or she had either Jess or Kenny sleeping over with one of her roommates and was trying to ignore them all night. At least Bryan and Bren had been together long enough not to subject Dev to the embarrassment of listening to them getting it on.

Shuffling footsteps outside his tent as he quietly dressed drew his attention. The footsteps seemed to end at the door frame to the permanent canvas tent, but didn’t knock on the wooden door. Confused, Dev hurried to finish dressing and slipped his boots on. He quietly opened the door and stepped out.

The cold barrel of a rifle immediately touched his cheek.

“Stand up slowly, keep your hands where I can see them.” The deep voice sounded almost German to Dev as he complied. A Dutch accent he decided after a moment, not uncommon in parts of Africa. He silently examined the man in front of him. Dark skin blended with his worn attire, a combination of pieces from a couple of different military uniforms. He had a rank on his collar that Dev didn’t recognize, but it didn’t matter; the gun in his hands was more important.

Dev started to open his mouth to ask what he wanted, but the man shook his head in warning.

“No talking. Walk.” He motioned Dev past the tents to where the trail led up the mountain. Kenny already knelt on the ground, with his hands folded behind his head, looking miserable. The soldier prodded Dev to kneel beside Kenny.

Standing where he was told, Dev looked around briefly before kneeling quietly with his hands behind his head like Kenny. There were six soldiers he could see. Four hovering in front of the tents, another behind Dev and Kenny, and one more walking around with an arrogant gait. He guessed the latter was in charge.

They didn’t kill them outright, so surely they just wanted money. They’d go through their bags; take the cash, traveler’s checks, credit cards, anything of value; then leave them. Each had a rifle and a sidearm. A couple had shotguns as well. There was more than enough firepower to wipe out the camp first and search for valuables later, but they didn’t. The thought calmed Dev, and he exhaled deeply.

Dev waited with more patience than his captors. After several minutes passed, a pair of the soldiers entered the tent that Jess was in, still asleep with Imogen and Paige. A couple of shrieks of surprise and some barked orders preceded the appearance of Jess and the girls. Bryan, Brenda, and Macy followed almost immediately.

Jess knelt on Dev’s other side, then Bryan beside him. The girls knelt across the trail from them, and Dev had the uncomfortable experience of facing Brenda’s terrified face. Macy knelt to her left, opposite Jess. She looked pale and wide-eyed as well.

Dev tried to follow the movement of the soldiers. One was still behind him, maybe two. The leader stood between his two lines of captives near Bryan, and the others were rifling through the tents.

Be patient and stay calm, Dev told himself repeatedly. The air had an early-morning chill to it, and his lungs ached with every breath. He closed his eyes and tried some relaxation exercises Flynn taught him once. It might have worked, but remembering the source flared a familiar hatred in him. He opened his eyes again.

One of the guards walked back toward them, their passports in his hand and a smile on his face. Beside him, Kenny groaned and hung his head. Dev tore his attention from the passports and what it meant to Kenny, but couldn’t get his attention.

The leader took the passports and leafed through them, speaking quietly with the soldier who found them. Walking between Dev and the girls, he looked at the passport photos then each of them in turn, putting names with their faces.

“You will confirm your identity for the camera when I call your name,” the leader said in a crisp voice laced with a French accent. It startled Dev, he expected Swahili or Zulu undertones, or Dutch like the other soldier. Until that moment, he didn’t appreciate how quietly and smoothly the taking of their camp had gone. These men were efficient, and moved with a purpose. Dev had a sinking feeling they weren’t going to take their cash and leave.

“Kenneth Wright?” He stood in front of Kenny, a soldier with a camcorder beside him focused on Kenny’s face.

Kenny nodded.

“Answer me!”

“Yes, I’m Kenny Wright,” he answered clearly, his voice breaking.

The leader nodded and stepped in front of Dev. He looked up to meet the man’s gaze, ignoring the camera.

“Devin Giles?”

“Yes,” Dev answered softly.

“Louder.”

He glared at the man behind the rifle. Another soldier was by the leader in an instant, hand raised to strike Dev, but their leader raised a hand and the blow never fell.

“No marks. We are not animals and they will be kept in good condition. I want their faces recognizable. Repeat your name louder.”

“I’m Dev Giles,” Dev said louder.

Dev understood then, they were to be ransomed. He nodded to himself in recognition of the fact, and let his eyes fall to the ground in front of him as the leader moved on.

“Jessan Baxter?”

“I’m Jess Baxter.”

Dev heard Jess’s voice beside him, dull and dead. Dev looked up at him quickly. Jess stared at the dusty black pants and boots in front of him, not blinking when the man in charge moved to stand in front of Bryan.

“Bryan Trino?”

“Yes, I’m Bryan Trino.”

Jess let his eyes fall closed at the sound of Bryan’s soft voice. He looked pale and defeated. It worried Dev.

“Gentlemen,” the leader turned to face the four of them, “I am General Marza. You are in my custody until donations to our liberation cause arrive. If you behave, no harm will come to you.”

“And the girls? The guides?” Jess asked, still looking at the ground in front of him. The soldier behind him put his foot between Jess’s shoulders and pushed him to the ground, holding him there.

“You do not speak unless spoken to,” the soldier ordered.

“He
was
speaking to us,” Jess protested.

“Quiet, Jess,” Dev told him. He didn’t want the general to think Jess was a smart ass. He wondered about the girls not being carefully identified as well. Dev looked up and met the man’s eyes, willing him to answer the question.

“They’re not your concern,” General Marza answered.

Dev’s eyes darted to Macy.

“Brenda’s my wife,” Bryan responded as calmly as he might have to Jess or Dev when mediating their squabbles. “I’m concerned.”

The General turned to survey the girls. “Which one?”

Brenda slowly raised her hand, not meeting his gaze. He studied her for a moment.

“Fine. Go kneel by your husband.”

Brenda hesitated, looking to Bryan, General Marza, and the armed guard standing over Jess.

“Go now.”

Brenda stood, walked unsteadily to Bryan and knelt beside him. She leaned against him and he let a hand fall to wrap around her, leaving the other on his head like the others.

General Marza nodded to the guards behind the girls. One pulled Paige roughly to her feet.

“Wait!” Dev looked up to General Marza, flinching as a guard started toward him.

“Where are you taking them? They’re with us.”

“They’re not your concern.”

“I’ll pay their ransom,” Dev’s eyes darted to Macy then back to the general. “Donations,” Dev corrected himself.

Marza seemed to consider Dev’s offer. He surveyed the girls thoughtfully, then his men. “As welcome as the additional contributions would be, I have a more important use for them.”

The soldier holding Paige’s upper arm gave a light grunt of approval. Dev looked up at the guard that approached him. He was waiting to take a cue from the general and paid Dev only the barest attention. Kenny knelt between them. Three guards struggled with the girls, all now crying and trying to collapse to the ground. The one hovering over Jess was off balance, one foot resting loosely on Jess’s back, and facing the General. His sidearm was almost within Dev’s reach.

Dev’s body seemed to move of its own accord, he didn’t recall making a decision. Dev nudged Kenny toward the guard now almost to him, and lunged for the guard over Jess. Pulling a handgun from the holster as he pushed the guard into the general, Dev rose to his feet. He aimed at the head of the guard Kenny was now throwing himself against and fired. It wasn’t until later Dev realized he’d assumed the man had a Kevlar vest on. Spinning to face the general, Dev shot him twice in the head before he could react, then the soldier wrestling with Jess beside him as Bryan pulled Brenda out of the way.

A bullet grazed Dev’s shoulder as he brought the gun to bear on the guards across from him. Each held one of the girls in front of him, and had handguns raised and trained on Dev. A shot sounded on his right, and the middle guard dropped. Macy, to the left, struggled, keeping the man holding her from being able to aim. Another shot fired from Dev’s left, and Imogen screamed and fell to the ground as she was suddenly released. Another shot from Dev’s right dropped the man holding Macy.

Lowering his gun, Dev turned to look to Kenny, stunned that he’d helped. It wasn’t Kenny to his right though, it was an AK-47. His eyes followed the arms holding it to a soldier in camouflage fatigues and a red beret.

Dev hit the ground as someone tackled him from behind, and he noticed Kenny lying beside him staring back with wide blue-green eyes.

“I think the army’s here,” Kenny said as another shot rang out.

“That’s special. Which one?”

Dev flinched as one of the new soldiers fired a round into the body lying beside Kenny. An anchoring shot he thought it was called, to make sure the enemy wasn’t playing dead. The cliché ‘the enemy of your enemy is your friend’ flitted through his mind, but Dev never believed that. They could be a rival faction, there was no guarantee their situation had improved.

The body kneeling over Dev stood and he heard the hard constants of the native language. “Kupata na.”

In theory he was speaking Swahili, but Dev wasn’t completely sure. From what he understood, it was partially Arabic in origin, but it didn’t sound like it to him. Kenny told Dev once that he had an ear for language. Clearly not this one.

“Siwezi kusema Kiswahili,” Dev answered.
I can’t speak Swahili.
Dev didn’t even worry about his pronunciation of the words. If he got it wrong, it just emphasized the point.

“What?” Kenny looked at the soldier, rising to his knees and offering Dev a hand.

“Mumba, kuja kuzungumza na Wamarekani kwa,” the soldier behind Dev beckoned to another.

Dev stood and looked around. Macy was sitting on the ground crying. A soldier squatted beside her, trying to offer her a canteen.

“Dev?” He heard Kenny call as he got up and walked over to Macy. He waved Kenny off.

The soldier stood and Dev stepped into his place. He extended a hand to Macy, intent on helping her up, but she just looked up at him. She was shaking. Dev squatted in front of her.