The Unseen (16 page)

Bunny’s posture sagged and she gazed up at him, her eyes welling up with tears. “Oh, Winston, I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have been so impulsive. The truck was actually in pretty good shape until I swerved to get that guy off—that’s when I took out a utility box.”

Winston brought his hand to his forehead. “Brilliant.”

Bunny thrust her chest out proudly. “But I did shake the man off.”

Winston couldn’t help smiling. “Which one?”

Her pout returned. “What do you mean which one? The only one who was on top of the car, of course.”

“Oh, the man on the car. I wasn’t sure if you were talking about him or about me.”

“Oh, yes, I can imagine.” Bunny hung her head again. “You must hate me now.”

“I’m quite distressed, but I certainly don’t hate you. Don’t be so hard on yourself.” Winston reached for her hand and she allowed him to loosely thread his fingers through hers. Sparks jumped up his arm.

Whether she made sense or not, he wanted her close where he could protect her. “So are you planning to drive somewhere else in my truck without my knowledge?”

“No, I promise I won’t do that again. But what about that man? Do you think we should go after him?”

He scratched his chin. He wanted to chase the idiot down, but he didn’t want to leave Bunny alone in the house. The woman had a way of getting herself in trouble every minute of the day. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I don’t relish the idea of going out in that field and being target practice.”

“Okay, well that’s good. I’ve had enough terror for one day.”

After triple locking the door, Winston ushered Bunny back into the den. He wasn’t sure whom he could trust, especially now that he’d found out his business associates were corrupt. But he couldn’t see any harm in calling the police. “How about if I pour you a glass of wine while I call the local authorities and insurance company?”

Bunny shrugged. “Sure. A glass of wine would be nice.”

Larry lay in a mud puddle gasping for breath. The damn bitch had ditched him. It wasn’t supposed to go like that at all.

His body bruised and battered, he grunted and strained to get up. He stretched his arms overhead and circled his hips to work the kinks out of his back. Nothing felt broken, at least. He wished he could run straight to Winston’s house and pump every round of lead he had in his machine gun into their bodies. But he knew he had to get his anger in check and plan his attack carefully.

With any luck, Winston would call to the police. His insider friend Nguyen was on stand-by to help him. He’d drop by the house to write up a report and Winston, thinking he could trust him, would invite him inside.

In a matter of minutes, a murder-suicide could be set up.

Adrenaline raced through his veins as he imagined the two lovebirds begging for their lives.

He wanted to have a backup plan in case Winston didn’t make the call.

The pair didn’t know about the invisibility powder yet, so using it would be a great way to catch them off guard. He’d have to go back into town to get it, but that wouldn’t take long.
Then taking them out will be cake.

He laughed as he imagined their large-eyed expressions when what they’d thought was a sea breeze ruffling the curtains turned out to be an armed man about to shoot them dead.

* * * *

While Winston spoke on the phone, Bunny sat on the deck, drinking her glass of Chardonnay way too fast. Her head soared with lightheadedness and her view of the turquoise ocean bobbed up and down in front of her eyes. The wine numbed the edges of her guilt, which still faintly wrenched her insides.

She’d been nothing but trouble for Winston, when she’d just wanted to avoid causing upheaval in his life.
But maybe my expectations are unrealistic.
Relationships, even good ones, tended toward tumultuous, at least in the beginning.

Kent and Rebecca were a perfect example. Even though the two adored each other, it was like a bomb went off when they first met. When they weren’t disappearing into the woods together, the two were at each other’s throats. It had only been recently that the two had acted anywhere near normal around each other.

Bunny realized if she and Winston were going to explore their feelings for each other, they’d probably be in for a rollercoaster ride.

She watched Winston pace back and forth inside the house, the phone clutched to one ear. Worry lines creased his normally boyish features, making him look ten years older as he explained why a woman not registered to drive his truck not only took off in his truck, but also ended up being attacked in the process.

When he concluded the call, he strode outside and sat in a chair across from her, fixing his eyes on the ocean, leaving the glass of wine he’d poured for himself untouched.

“How did it go?”

He glanced in her direction and some of the tension lines released from his face. “All right, I suppose. They’re a tad confused by my story, but they said if I submit photos and got a police report, they’ll process the claim.”

“You haven’t called the police yet, have you?”

Winston sighed and scratched his chin before picking up the wine bottle to refill Bunny’s glass. “Not yet. What if there’s something dodgy there, too? I’m inclined to wait until morning so I can stop by the British Embassy first and let them know what’s happening.”

“That sounds like a good plan to me.”

Winston pressed his lips together, apparently considering what she had said. “Well, perhaps I will wait then,” he said after a long pause.

“I think we should assume everyone’s suspicious unless they give us good reason to trust them. I could call Rich—the expedition leader’s father saved his life during the war so I’m sure he’s loyal—maybe they could send someone here to help.”

“That’s brilliant. Why don’t you try to get him on the line?” Winston handed her a wireless phone that lay on the table.

“Okay.” Bunny punched in the number, but the phone rang a few times and then the call got disconnected. “No one’s answering—they must be out of range at the moment. I’ll try a little later. And as for whom to trust, I promise from now on, you can count on me. I just got confused over my feelings, that’s all.”

Tas scratched on the screen door and Winston slid the door open to let her out. The dog took a few lilting steps and collapsed in a fluffy heap beside his chair.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Winston crossed one leg over the other and gazed out toward the ocean.

Bunny wasn’t sure where to start.
How about with the truth?
If she’d been honest in the first place, Winston’s car wouldn’t be wrecked. “Actually, I do. But this isn’t going to be easy.” She paused. “I only left because I worried I’d end up a burden to you later.”

“Why on earth would you think you’d be a burden?”

Bunny shifted uneasily in her chair. “The first time we met, I felt instantly attracted to you. That rush of energy snapped me right out of that funk I’d been in for too long. And as much as I wanted to just run with the emotions that made me feel so happy I felt like I could fly, you’re not a man I could have a one-night stand with. I know that sounds ridiculous. After all, I barely know you. But so many little things about you have grown on me and I worried if we slept together, I’d end up all weepy and emotional. You don’t seem like someone who would want to deal with romantic hassles, if you know what I mean.”

Bunny paused, thinking again about Kent and Rebecca. “But I haven’t really seen any meaningful relationships develop that didn’t involve turmoil, so I guess I was being really unrealistic about all this anyway.”

Winston scratched his chin and leaned toward her, resting his hand over hers. His brilliant green irises shimmered like sunlight on a shallow sea. “I’m thrilled you were able to share that with me, Bunny. I’m sure it wasn’t easy, but I understand much better now what’s going on in that beautiful head of yours. And you’re right, I am a bit of a live day-by-day kind of bloke, so I can’t make any promises. I won’t deny I wanted to peel that swimsuit off the instant I saw you wearing it, but there’s more than that. I respect you and care about your feelings. If you don’t want this to escalate, it doesn’t have to. We can enjoy each other’s company without any slap and tickle if you want, and I’ll just let you know when I need to step out for a cold shower.”

Bunny laughed, feeling like a heavy load had been lifted off her shoulders. “I appreciate that you listened to what I had to say and that you’re so understanding. And I do want to explore my feelings for you. I don’t know why I panicked. I guess I’m kind of a relationship train wreck.”

Winston picked up her hand from the table and raised it to his lips, kissing one finger at a time. “It’s going to be hard for you to start over again after someone mistreated you for so long. I’ve had a couple of bad experiences myself that I’d rather forget.”

“Any you can tell me about?”

Winston frowned and shook his head, laying her hand gently back down on the table. “I dated a woman named Cheryl once who never trusted me. She hired two detectives and had me followed to and from the University, grocery store and every other place I went over the course of a day. I kept seeing these same two blokes everywhere and one morning, I confronted them in a coffee shop. After I told them to mind their own business, I told Cheryl I couldn’t carry on a relationship with someone who couldn’t trust me. She threatened to kill herself if I left. I felt like such a cad for leaving, but I couldn’t stay on with a woman like that.” Winston clenched his fists and his face reddened. “I called her mother and suggested she watch out for her for a while. It was such a bloody mess.”

Bunny reached for one of his hands, massaging it with her fingers until he finally let it loosen. “That’s just awful. It must have been terrible for you. I’m so sorry you had to go through all that.”

“Yeah, well at least it’s all over now. I’d much rather spend the moment enjoying your company.” A boyish smile spread across his face. He pulled his chair closer.

Bunny raised her wine glass and waited for Winston to pick up his. “Here’s to better luck finding romantic partners.”

Winston clinked glasses with her as his gaze locked on hers. “I’ll toast to that.”

Late the next afternoon, the group approached the yawning cave mouth, which looked like an enormous black hole in the middle of the jungle. Duc An and his men had already set up camp and strode over to welcome them. Kent studied the others—the women in particular looked totally exhausted. Rebecca and Amanda had dropped their backpacks on the ground and sagged against a tree. Kent wanted everyone to stay alert and watchful. “Be careful where you step around here. And where you set down your stuff. The Asian Lance-head and his relatives hang around these cave entrances.” Kent hacked at the ground with his machete and then picked up two ends of a brilliant yellow snake.

Rebecca gasped and Amanda jumped back.

“So you’re saying there are more snakes around the caves than everywhere else we’ve been?” Rich brushed a calloused finger over the dead snake, which continued twitching. He pursed his lips, studying it curiously.

Kent passed half of the snake to Rich so he could examine it more closely. He understood why his father respected the man so much. He was always curious to know more and never seemed to let his guard down for even a second. Kent sometimes doubted he even slept. “That’s right. Vipers love caves because they’re full of bats—and bats are snakes’ idea of fine dining. The snakes around caves tend to be the most venomous, because that bat has to die quick so it doesn’t fly away.”

Rich pried the mouth open with his pinky to study the razor-sharp fangs. “Seven steps and you’re dead?”

“Not always, but bites can kill if the person’s physically weak or not treated immediately.”

Rich scratched his chin and turned his gaze toward the cave mouth. “Let’s not take any chances. I’ll have my men clear all the vegetation from the perimeter of the cave mouth so no one gets bitten during the climbs.”

“That’s an excellent idea, Rich. While you work on that, I’ll radio my men. They’re hunkered down below at Camp One.”

He depressed the button on his radio. “David, are you there? This is Kent here. We finally made it back—we’re up above you now. Is everything okay down there?”

“Everything’s good down here,” said David. “As far as we know, other than Duc An, who communicated with us several hours ago, no one’s been in the area.”

Rich wasted no time organizing the men. Within seconds, they were hacking down small trees and plants and slicing up snakes whenever they found them.

The tension from Kent’s shoulders slackened. He was relieved that David and the others were safe. “That’s great to hear, David. I’m glad to hear your voice. Hey, I’ve got a few surprises to tell you about.” He explained that the ladies hadn’t left the country and what they’d learned about the mysterious powder.

“Are you coming down?”

Kent didn’t want to make any decisions without consulting Rich. They were working as a team now. “I’d like to, but let me confirm that first.”

Kent released the talk button on the radio and turned toward Rich. “I’d like to take the women to the camp down below for the night if you don’t mind. They’ll be safer there, and I’d like to bring David up to speed on everything that’s happening.”

Rich looked up from his weed hacking work to give him a quick nod. “I’m good with that.”

“We’ll surface once the archaeologist arrives so we can make the march to the cave where we found the gemstones. Would you mind calling our helicopter pilot, Ray, to confirm the plan and ask when we should expect them to arrive?”

“Sure. I’ll do it right away.” He slid his machete into his belt and pulled a satellite phone out of a side pocket of his cargo pants. Kent was astounded at the size of the man’s muscles. Veins bulged from his flexing biceps as he held the phone to his ear.

Kent walked a few steps away and pressed the button on his radio. “David, I just talked to Rich. He’s okay with us coming down. We’ll start our descent in a few minutes. I’ll radio again once we’re underway.”