Rogue Angel - Footprints Part 67

The truck came to a sudden stop and Sheila wrenched the gear stick into Park. "Well, now we've stopped so you two can stop your complaining and hop on out. Make sure you take some nice deep breaths of the pines here. They smell sweet and lovely."

Tom smirked. "Don't get all sentimental on me now. We've got work to do before we send these two off to meet their ancestors."

"Work?" Annja frowned. "I thought we did all that back at the hotel."

"Well, there's more here," Tom said. "I'm not much into carrying large amounts of narcotics by myself. And with you two here, there's no reason for either Sheila or me to do it. You guys will make fine pack mules for a few trips."

"Nice," Annja said.

"Don't be down. If you're good, I'll even let you two snort a few lines before I shoot you."

"What the h.e.l.l will that do?" Jenny asked.

Tom shrugged. "I don't know, maybe numb your brains long enough for me to kill you. Least that way you won't feel anything when you die."

Chapter 34.

The wind whistled as it blew through the thick evergreen boughs. Annja took a deep breath and found that Sheila's suggestion had been a good one. The air smelled sweet with the scent of pine. Overhead, dark storm clouds drifted in, and every now and again Annja could feel a few drops of rain sting down from the heavens.

Tom never strayed far with his shotgun, however, and even as Jenny clambered out of the back of the vehicle, he nudged them along. "Trail's over this way. Let's not waste any time."

Annja glared at him. "Got a schedule to keep, have we?"

"You know we do," Tom said. "The path is through those trees."

"And you won't shoot us in the back?" Annja asked.

Tom grinned. "Trust me when I say that I will at least give you the respect of telling you when I'm going to do it. But that time isn't now. We need you to carry out the parcels first and put them in the truck."

Annja could see through the trees that there was a small trail ahead of her. She and Jenny poked through the branches and started walking. Another stiff breeze blew in, carrying with it the scent of pine, but Annja could also smell the nearby river and heard the rushing roar of the water flowing over the dangerous rapids.

"It's a little different being here at night," she said quietly to Jenny.

"I'm sure we were here last night but we don't remember it, thanks to David drugging us."

Annja nodded. "Good point."

Sheila led the way and Annja spotted a large outcropping of boulders that sat right near the bank of the river. Sheila turned. "It's over here." She shined a flashlight over the rocks and high up off the trail, Annja could see a cleft in the rock.

"Through there," Sheila said as she scampered up as if she'd done it numerous times before.

Annja climbed first and then reached back to help Jenny scramble up the rock face. Once there, Sheila pointed the way inside. "I'll get some lights on."

Tom stayed down below, his shotgun still trained on the opening. "Sheila will tell you which packages to get and then you'll bring them out here. Don't try anything stupid. At least, not yet."

Annja ducked into the opening and found Sheila holding the pistol. "The packages are over there beyond the bend in the tunnel."

Annja walked over and saw that the cavern opened up much more once you got around the bend. In fact, looking back, she could see why this was such a great hiding spot. At first glance, the cave looked as if it ended where Sheila stood.

Jenny came down and stood next to her. "What is this stuff?"

Annja knelt down and opened one of the boxes. Small bags of white powder filled the container. "Looks like cocaine."

"I thought that all came up from South America. How's it coming in through Canada?" Jenny asked.

Annja shrugged. "I don't really know. Maybe with the 9/11 crackdowns, it's easier transporting it into Canada and then smuggling it across the border. Whatever the case, they've got a lot of it here. Probably worth a couple of million on the street, easy."

Jenny frowned. "I can't stand drugs."

"Not my game of choice, either," Annja said.

Sheila appeared around the corner. "Just get the cases and carry them back. You two don't have time for a sample of the product."

Annja frowned. "You really think he's not going to turn on you just like he did David?"

"He won't," Sheila said. "He's my brother, after all."

Annja smirked. "Sheila, family doesn't mean anything. People have been killing one another for far less and for much longer than you and your brother have been around. You thinking he won't doesn't mean it can't happen. That's just being naive."

"That's me being loyal," Sheila said. "Maybe you don't understand that, but it's got to count for something. Now, let's go. Get those packages and start hauling them out to the truck."

Annja grabbed a bag and slung it over her shoulder. It must have weighed about twenty pounds, loaded down with the cocaine. Jenny slung one over her back and promptly fell down.

Annja helped her to her feet. "Take it easy, okay? I don't need you getting hurt right now."

She walked outside and saw Tom standing there with a frown on his face. "What's taking so long up there?"

"Just helping Jenny make sure she doesn't break an ankle before you have a chance to kill us."

"That's kind of you. Now stop horsing around." Tom stood back, allowing Annja to get down the rock slope with the bag over her shoulder.

Annja frowned. Tom knew the importance of distance. By not being too close to Annja, he could make sure that he saw any move she tried and cut her down before she succeeded in getting to him. Of course, he didn't know all of her tricks, and Annja suspected that the sudden appearance of the sword might give her just the edge she needed to turn the tables.

But that would only take care of Tom. Sheila remained a viable threat, as well. And her reluctance to go against her brother meant that Annja would need to take her out, too.

Tom guided her to the truck and Annja laid the first bag down in the back. "How are you going to deliver this to your friends? You'd better not get a speeding ticket."

Tom shook his head. "I don't think we'll be stopped with that blue-light bar on top of the truck. Remember, we've got Dave's ride."

"And they won't stop a police car, is that it?"

"Exactly."

Annja looked at him. "You've thought of everything, haven't you?"

Tom smiled. "I've had a lot of time to think things through." He gestured with the shotgun. "Now, let's go. There are plenty more bags to haul out here."