Don't Order Dog_ 1(185)

“It’s nice, isn’t it?” Chilly asked without turning around.

Jeri stepped back in surprise. A loud snap immediately punctured the silence as her foot landed on a dry branch. Goddamn it! she inwardly screamed at herself, chastising her own stupidity. She then took a deep breath and forced herself to look around at the view.

“Yes,” she said quietly. “It’s beautiful.”

“Warmer than usual for this time of year,” Chilly mumbled. “Feels almost like summer.”

“You’ve been here before?” Jeri asked.

“Many times,” he replied, waving her forward. “Come up here. I want to show you something.”

Jeri glanced around warily before stepping forward. The ground rose gently towards the edge of the plateau before terminating in a nearly vertical drop to the deserted beach below. She approached the edge, careful to stay well out of arms reach, and looked down.

It was clear that a fall from the bluff would be fatal.

“See that?” Chilly said, pointing towards a small, dome-shaped island that stood stark white in the center of the bay. “That’s Isla Raza. Believe it or not, that little lifeless-looking piece of rock is home to over three-hundred thousand nesting birds. That’s why it’s so white… all those countless birds shitting on it for god knows how many years.” He shrugged dismissively. “Ironic, isn’t it?”

Jeri shook her head. “In what way?”

“That something so pure from a distance is really just covered in shit.” He suddenly turned and looked at her. “Anyway, welcome to Mexico, Jeri.”

Jeri didn’t respond as she studied his face in the full light of day. For the first time she was clearly able to see her Mysterious Joe’s Last Stand Guy from the letters and photos. He stared back at her calmly, his thin, chiseled face and large, intelligent brown eyes smiling with humor. Looking at him now, Jeri suddenly realized he was even more handsome than she had remembered from the bar.

She broke her stare and pointed at his chest.

“You’re not wearing your usual outfit.”

Chilly glanced down and nodded. “I know… I apologize. I thought my Joe’s t-shirt could use a little time off. To be honest, it was in desperate need of a wash.” He turned and again looked out at the view. “Did you like my letters?”

“Of course I did,” Jeri replied. “How could I not? Your descriptions of the places, your stories about the people around you, your completely warped sense of humor… I loved all of it.” She reached into her pocket and wrapped her fingers around the handle of the utility knife. “But what I loved most of all were your cleverly hidden messages to Chip regarding the status of your latest victims.”

Chilly smiled as he stared down at the turquoise-colored water beneath them. “Me too,” he said quietly.

Jeri watched him expectantly. “So?” she finally asked, taking a step closer.

Chilly glanced over at her. “So what?”

“Chip said you were going to explain everything to me.”

“He did? Wait, let me guess – did he tell you he was retiring?”

Jeri glanced behind her. In the distance the older man was leaning against the van watching them. He raised his arm and waved.

“Well, yeah… he did,” she replied as she turned and gave Chilly a quizzical look. “What difference does it make?”

“I should have known,” Chilly said, shaking his head. “Do you have any idea how many times Chip has pulled this stunt? He’s retired more times than Sugar Ray Leonard.” He turned and once again focused his attention on the view.

Jeri glared at him as a sudden wave of anger erased her timidness. Without thinking she walked over and grabbed him roughly by the arm. “Listen,” she said, twisting him towards her, “I don’t give a damn about Chip’s retirement status. I just spent twelve hours stuffed inside an oversized toolbox wondering if someone was going to put a bullet in my head. And now I’m stuck in the middle of Mexico with a murdering pen pal and an old man who wants me to be a part of his agency– whatever the hell that means. My entire world has been turned upside down because of you two, and I’m done. I want some fucking answers. So tell me,” she said, quickly pulling the utility knife from her pocket and pressing the blade to his throat. “What am I doing here, and why should I believe you’re anything more than a terrorist?”

Chilly glanced down at the knife before looking admiringly into Jeri’s eyes.

“Nicely done.”

“Thank you. Now start talking.”

He stared at her intently with a tight, serious expression. “Do you know how many people under the same circumstances have attempted what you just did?”