Too late, the beat-up SUV slammed into the passenger side. Seong-min felt his body forced forward, his internal organs forced up against his ribcage. The airbag deployed, sending a cloud of white powder into his face. He couldn’t see, only the sensation of tumbling through the air. A sickening, gut-wrenching feeling, as though someone had reached down through his throat and turned him inside out.
A split second later Seong-min felt a crushing blow reverberate through the van and then only darkness.
Chapter 42
MARIEL SUCKED DOWN on her third cigarette, filling the tiny room with smoke. Jonny stood in the corner. The basement storage room wasn’t fitted with smoke detectors, but someone was bound to notice the stink eventually. He waved his hand in front of his face.
“Is this really the time?” he said. The smell of tobacco had already sunk into his clothes. “We need to start thinking about getting the hell out of here.”
“Are you freakin’ insane?” Mariel said. “If I leave early, the police are going to start asking questions.” She took another drag. “I need to stay here and come up with a good story.”
“Those aren’t going to help.” He pointed at the packet of cigarettes on the shelf.
“They help me relax.”
“Sure, you look real relaxed right now.”
“Shut up. You’re not the one who’s got to face the police. They’re going to ask about the pillows.”
“So, tell them you don’t know what happened.”
Mariel crushed out her cigarette. She lit another. “I need to come up with a good story, or they’re going to start digging. We don’t want that.”
“Fine. Just say you were on a break or something. There’s enough confusion that someone could have sneaked into the rooms. They can’t charge you with anything unless they’ve got proof, so just don’t give them any.”
“Yeah, great. Thanks a lot,” she said. “But what about you? You don’t need to be here.”
Jonny rubbed his jaw absent-mindedly. It still ached. “I have to see this through,” he said. “People are watching.”
“You mean you need to make sure I don’t screw up.”
“Take it however you want.” He held up his cell phone. “But I can’t be too far away, or the receivers won’t pick up the detonation signal. And I’m not leaving you in charge.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“I need you to be my eyes. There’s no point setting off the detcord if Kato’s not lying on the bed.”
“How am I supposed to know that?”
“They’re confined to their room, right?”
“Yeah?”
“So, sooner or later, they’re going to get bored. Maybe take a nap. I dunno, maybe even fool around some. I need you to figure out when that happens, then let me know.”
Mariel shrugged. “I can drop by, see how they look. Maybe they’re already at it like rabbits.”
“Good. Just be careful not to look like you’re spying on them. Don’t screw this up.”
“I know what I’m doing,” said Mariel. “And remember, you need me more than I need you.”
Jonny folded his arms. “Don’t misunderstand me,” he said. “This goes wrong, even a little, and you’ll be thrown in a dark hole for the rest of your natural life. If you’re lucky. They might even decide to send you back to the Philippines, let them deal with you. You want that?”
Mariel’s face flushed red. “You asshole. You wouldn’t.”
“Either of us get caught, I’m going to need some leverage. And I’m not the one with an international warrant in my name. They won’t look twice at me, some college kid who overstayed his visa. Worst they can do is send me back to Japan, which is where I’m headed anyway. What do you think they’ll do to you after they run a little background check? I’ll look like Mother freakin’ Theresa compared to you.”
“You son of a bitch.”
Jonny laughed. “Now, now. Just do your job and we’ll get through this. Screw anything up, and I’ll send you back to that shit heap you came from. Back to your messed-up family.” He smiled. “What’s left of them, anyway.”
“I’ll kill you.”
“Must be second nature to you by now.”
“You know that’s not true.”
“Doesn’t matter what I know,” Jonny said, taking a few steps forward. “Only matters what the police can prove. And, right now, they can prove a hell of a lot where you’re concerned. So I’d act with a little more respect, if I were you.”