Raul slowed as he reached the outer fringes of the woods. He peered between the trees, pushed aside some branches and stepped into the cool shadows. Being careful to stay hidden from the van and whoever else might be in it, Tarik approached his friend.
“Tarik,” Raul said on a sigh. He looked and sounded relieved. “I wasn’t sure what to expect when I found you. I’m glad to see you’re okay still.”
“Still?” Tarik asked, not ready to say much yet. Raul had been a true friend for several years now, but it was hard knowing what he knew, what he thought he knew, and what he intended to do about both.
If there was one thing Tarik was sure of, it was that Raul was one very strong and very determined individual. If he was on your team, you had a guy who would move Mt. Everest to make things happen. If he was on the other guy’s team, well, then you’d be damn lucky to finish the game at all, let alone win.
Whose team was Raul on?
“Yeah,” Raul said, giving Tarik a thorough once-over. “Torborg told me you’ve been exposed to some kind of contaminant that’s making you sick. If what he said is true, you need medical care. Now. Not two days from now. Or even two hours. He even sent the helo.”
“Is that right? What kind of contaminant did he say I’ve been exposed to?” Tarik asked.
“He didn’t go into any details but with the kind of stuff you guys work with in the labs, it’s not hard to figure it’s possible.”
“That’s interesting.” He eyed his friend. “Now that you see me, do you believe him?”
“Honestly? I don’t know what to believe. You yourself said you looked at him as a mentor, a friend. The man claims you’re like the son he never had. And you have to admit he’s always treated you like you’re special. So why would he lie? Why would he go to all this trouble and expense if it wasn’t true?”
“Yes, why do you suppose he’d do that?” Tarik asked.
Raul didn’t speak for a long time. Looking like he was contemplating the future of all mankind, he regarded Tarik with narrowed eyes. “Do you know for a fact you haven’t been exposed to anything dangerous?”
“Yes. I’m positive.”
“Because if you are sick and I don’t haul your ass into the hospital, I won’t be able to forgive myself.”
“Believe me, I’m not dying from some kind of poisoning or exposure to a virus.”
Raul crossed his arms over his chest. “Then tell me what this is all about, Tarik.”
“I can’t. Not yet. Not until I know more. I need to get to a computer. I need a few hours at least. Will you help me?”
He heard the hum of an engine. It had to either be the van Raul had been driving or Abby’s friend. He glanced in the direction of the sound but his view of the parking lot was cut off by the scrub at the front of the forest.
Raul glanced in the same direction.
“Who’s with you?” Tarik asked.
“No one. At least not in the van. I left Torborg and Verga off at the front door to check in.”
Tarik glanced back toward Abby’s hiding spot. Had she walked around them? If she had, she’d been quieter than he’d given her credit for. “Then that must be my ride. I have my friend’s cell. I’ll give you the number. Abby’s friend probably has a pen in her car. We can keep in touch. I won’t call you. You call me. Okay?”
Raul slanted a glance at the motel. “Wellllll…”
“Torborg’s feeding you lies. I’m not sure exactly what he’s up to, but I know this must be important or he wouldn’t be going to such trouble and expense to find me. I will face him. Soon. But not yet. Not until I get some answers.”
Raul sighed. “Okay. But don’t wait too long. If there’s any chance he’s telling the truth, I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
Tarik nodded and pushed through the bushes, heading toward the parking lot. “What’re you going to tell him if he asks what kept you so long?” he asked.
Following, Raul answered, “I don’t know. I guess I’ll say I saw something in the woods.”
Tarik fought his way through the thick brush but halted midway between two lines of thorny bushes. “Fuck.”
Standing about twenty feet away, facing Tarik, was Torborg. And worse, the man was holding Abby, hostage-style, her back snug against his front, his arm across her chest, and a pistol in his hand. The barrel was pressed to her temple and Torborg’s finger was positioned on the trigger.
The blood pumping through Tarik’s veins turned to acid. “Let. Her. Go.” Even to his own ears, his voice had taken the pitch of a growl. He glared at Torborg while considering his options. He sensed an uncertain desperation about the man, like he felt as trapped as a rat in a jar.