“Is she gone?” Beck asked, pretending he hadn’t heard anything over his ear transmitter in order to keep up appearances for Sam’s sake. She couldn’t know they were communicating through secured ear transmitters.
“I don’t understand what’s going on,” Sam announced while eyeing both men. “Am I a little pissed that she attacked me? Of course, but there’s no reason to go after her for that. I’m not interested in pressing charges. The woman obviously has mental issues. Getting the law involved isn’t going to resolve any of them.”
“I’m afraid it’s a little more complicated than that,” Ross informed her with a defeated sigh. “The man you described seeing with her has stolen all our digital files from our work here. Once they get to the open highway, all our work will be gone forever.”
“Well, if you want to find them,” Sam insisted, “you should probably start by heading south. That’s the direction she was heading when I saw her meeting with that man. If you continue south through the woods, you’ll eventually run into town. Through the woods is the more direct route.”
“What’s between the sanctuary and town?” Beck asked the ranger.
“Once you reach the end of the woods,” she informed him, “there’s a large farm. The town is on the other side of that farm.”
Ross tossed Beck the jeep keys. “Take the jeep,” he announced. “Drive out to that farm. See if you can cut them off there. Explain the situation to the farmer. I don’t want to frighten anyone.” Ross then frowned. “If Nevada hasn’t already given them a scare--”
Beck jumped into the loaner jeep, started it, and then raced away from the sanctuary. Ross then turned to Sam and managed a tiny smile.
“We should get you back to the visitor’s center and put more ice on your cheek,” Ross announced.
“You don’t need to worry about me,” Sam insisted, then smiled warmly. “I’ll be fine. You should help your friends find Nevada. I’d hate to see you lose everything you’ve worked to achieve. I can take care of myself. I’ll just wait in the visitor’s center.”
Ross smiled and nodded. “Again, I’m sorry for what happened,” he insisted and attempted a tiny, reassuring smile. “Nevada had us fooled too.”
“I’ve come to understand the cruel realities of the human condition,” Sam replied and shrugged. “It’s why I chose such a remote position in the first place. Smokey’s never betrayed me.”
§
Kirk and Bogart hiked across the sanctuary in the direction of the reptile house. It would make a great hiding place, although it seemed more likely that Nevada would be attempting to find a town or someplace that had a car she could boost. Once they’d check the reptile house, they’d continue onward for the woods in the direction of the ranger’s station. It would be a bit of a hike, but Sam had a jeep at the ranger’s station. It was possible Nevada would be heading there. The two men approached the children’s play area, which was on the way to the reptile house. The children’s adventure land had a nice sized play area with typical attractions found in most playgrounds. There was a swing set, jungle gym, and sawhorses. The tall weeds had taken over most of the play items, giving the play area a somewhat creepy appeal
Kirk appeared disgusted and shook his head. “We should never have brought her with us,” he snarled in anger. “The fact that she’s in Zack’s relocation program should have been enough of a red flag.”
“He seems to trust her,” Bogart insisted. “When has Zack ever been wrong about people?”
Kirk paused alongside the smaller version of a working train now overgrown with vegetation. Back when the sanctuary was in operation, the half-sized train would take visitors around the sanctuary and past the back end of the habitats for greater viewing.
“When has Zack ever been wrong about people?” Kirk demanded in disbelief. “Just about every woman he’s ever slept with has tried to kill him. That should tell you everything you need to know. When he doesn’t trust someone, his instincts are spot-on. Since he rarely trusts people, that’s something you can count on. When it comes to his hard-luck cases, Zack is a little too confident that there’s good in every soldier.”
“I don’t know,” Bogart remarked and seemed preoccupied. “Nevada doesn’t come across as a bad person. I think she’s just a little broken.”
“She’s a lot broken,” Kirk insisted. “And she has one point two-five million reasons to betray us.”
The two men continued onward toward the nearby reptile building. The reptile house was a large building with tinted, double glass doors and was in decent shape despite years of neglect. There was a large wooden sign out front depicting the reptile house as being home to many species of snakes, alligators, and various other creatures.
“Zack has made mistakes regarding former soldiers on many occasions,” Kirk continued. “His biggest one to date is that mess of a man, Hayden Vandyke.” Kirk shook his head. “I can’t believe he left that man at the hotel in Maine with his kids.”
“Is he that bad?” Bogart asked.
Kirk snorted a laugh and shook his head, then sneered. “He should have put that piece of shit down when he had the chance,” he remarked. “You don’t rehabilitate men like that. You shoot them in the head like a rabid dog. Hayden has a corrupt and indecent soul. If he ever stops feeling sorry for himself, he’ll revert back to his old ways.” Kirk shook his head. “The idea of that man anywhere near Zack’s kids is concerning. I doubt Zack even told them what sort of monster he left with them. The man’s a cold-blooded killer, and that’s putting it politely. I had an opportunity to take him out, but Zack stopped me.”
“What about Nevada?” Bogart asked and fidgeted slightly. “How bad is she?”
“I don’t think she’s the cold-blooded killer type,” Kirk replied, then seemed to consider the question. “But I think she could easily turn down that dark path, given the proper motivation.”
Chapter 42
Jackie wandered around outside the rhino habitat where Sam said Nevada had attacked her. The rhino habitat was a large area with a natural-looking containment meant to keep the animals secure without looking like a cage. The large, open field was now tall with weeds. Jackie studied the area and noticed the ground and grass had been disturbed. It seemed almost certain that a scuffle had taken place in that area. There was no sign of Nevada or Marco. Although there was no evidence to support it had actually been Marco Sam had seen, it seemed a fair assumption based on the facts. Jackie wanted to believe Nevada wouldn’t betray them, but it wasn’t looking good. Still, she wanted to hold out further judgment until she spoke with Zack. The area had been so trampled; it was difficult to tell which way they had gone. Jackie turned and collided with Zack.
She gasped with some surprise, allowing him to support her elbows with his hands to keep her from stumbling. Jackie wasn’t sure where her head had been. Zack was great with his stealth mode, but his ability to sneak up on her had decreased considerably considering all the time they’d spent working together. She had a good handle on his routines, habits, and stealthy comings and goings. Jackie was a little mad at herself for not being nearly as alert as she should have been. If Nevada had betrayed them, Jackie would need to watch her back. It was possible Nevada didn’t intend to escape with Marco but possibly bring others to them to help her remove him. She couldn’t deny the thought of Nevada joining forces with other bounty hunters had crossed her mind. Nevada probably knew a lot of the bounty hunters looking for Marco.
Zack released Jackie’s elbows and gave her a slightly bewildered look. “What’s with you?” he asked. “I thought you heard me a mile away.”
“I guess I was lost in my own thoughts,” she informed him and attempted to hide her insecurities.
“About what?” Zack asked, then looked around the area surrounding the rhino habitat, noticing signs of a struggle as well. He frowned his disgust and shook his head. “Well, this isn’t good.”
“You shouldn’t have to ask where my head is,” Jackie replied
and looked around as well. “Can you tell which way they went?”
Zack again looked at Jackie and raised a curious brow, seeming somewhat surprised by her question. He pointed north from the habitat. “How can you not see which way they went?” he asked and again tilted his head. “It’s obvious which way they went. What’s wrong with you?”
Jackie frowned with defeat and headed north of the habitat. Zack walked with her and observed the ground and the nearby plant life that showed subtle signs of someone recently passing through.
“At least two people went this way,” he informed her while scanning the area. “Definitely a man around Marco’s size.” Zack indicated the partial footprint then frowned as well. “I’m guessing those are Marco’s footprints. Anyone out this far would be wearing decent hiking shoes or combat boots. Not expensive loafers.”
“I won’t even ask,” Jackie muttered.
Jackie understood the basic concept of tracking people, but she wasn’t nearly as good as Zack. He could probably give Darth a pretty good run for his money.
“What has you so preoccupied?” Zack again asked without looking at her.
For a man who seemed clueless on emotions, he certainly knew Jackie’s moods inside and out.
“I suppose I don’t want to believe Nevada would betray us,” Jackie remarked and now lagged a step behind Zack, allowing him an unobstructed view of the ground.
“She’s not a saint,” he reminded her. “Nevada is a huntress. She enjoys what she does. And when there’s a lot of money at stake, it only fuels her instincts.”
“So you actually think she took off with Marco?” Jackie asked.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if she did,” Zack replied without looking back at her. “She has no loyalties. No real family. Her only family was her Marine buddies, and most of them continue to serve. She was left behind all alone to fend for herself.”
“Why didn’t she stay in the Marines?” Jackie felt compelled to ask.
“She said she needed a change of scenery,” Zack informed her. “My personal opinion? Something happened. Possibly involving one of her teammates, but she won’t talk about it. She’s not really good with emotions.”
“Seems to me the two of you would speak the same language,” Jackie remarked.
Zack cast a sly look back at her and appeared almost offended. “Are you implying I have no emotions?” He rolled his eyes then resumed following the tracks before him. “You, of all people, should know that’s not the case.”
“You have emotions,” Jackie replied, then considered the comment. “They’re just complicated.”
Zack chuckled without looking back at her. “See? You get me,” he remarked and again turned serious. “I think Nevada fears becoming too attached to people. That’s why she’s having such a difficult time at Scorpio’s hotel. The comradery is strong with them, and she doesn’t know where she fits in.”
Jackie frowned and continued to scan the area while momentarily lost in her own thoughts. She couldn’t imagine her life without her father’s team, without the dozens of military men parading in and out of her life while growing up and even now. It shaped her life and defined who she was as a person. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like if she suddenly lost that. Was that the world Nevada found herself in outside of the military? Jackie could understand how the woman might feel ‘lost’. Something then dawned on her, and she eyed Zack in front of her.
“You were going to see what Nevada was doing yesterday afternoon after she left the clinic,” Jackie remarked. “Were you able to find her?”
“Yeah, I found her,” Zack casually replied while following the trail.
“Was she doing anything, well, suspicious?” Jackie pressed.
“Suspicious?” he asked. He considered the question then shook his head. “No, she wasn’t doing anything suspicious. Just, you know, lady things.”
“Lady things?” Jackie asked with some surprise, wanting to laugh at the way Zack’s mind worked. “What exactly does that mean?”
“You know,” he pressed without looking back as they continued along the path. “Lady things.”
“No, I don’t know,” she demanded, now feeling her frustration increasing with his non-answer. “You’re going to have to elaborate. Stop talking in code.”
Zack considered the comment only a moment, although he still didn’t look back at her. “You know,” he announced. “That thing you do when Holden’s not around to do it for you.”
Jackie suddenly stopped on the path and stared at Zack’s back as he pressed onward. She was mildly surprised by his comment. She wanted to know if he meant what she thought he meant, but she certainly didn’t want to hear any further explanation. Zack must have realized she’d stopped, causing him to turn and look back at her.
“What?” he asked almost demandingly. “Guys joke all the time about jerking off. Do you think your solo act is off-limits just because you’re a woman?”
Jackie could feel her cheeks turning red, but she wasn’t about to let Zack know he had successfully embarrassed her. “I don’t know what makes you think that I--”
“Are you really going to pretend you don’t self-pleasure?” he boldly announced, then rolled his eyes before turning and continuing along the path. “Please, Jackie! The buzz from your vibrator can be heard through the bedroom walls at the lodge. We were actually discussing chipping in and buying you a quieter model.”
Jackie groaned, rubbed her eyes while enduring the embarrassment, and then hurried after Zack. “You’re not funny,” she snapped.
“Wasn’t trying to be,” he replied.
“How the hell did we get on this subject?” Jackie muttered while shaking her head.
“You asked what Nevada was doing in the woods when I found her.”
“Of course, you’d remember that,” she remarked under her breath. “Please tell me you didn’t spy on the woman while she did that.”
“Why would I?” he asked without looking back at her. “I have no interest in having a sexual relationship with Nevada. Therefore, her solo act doesn’t interest me.”
For some men, that may have sounded difficult to believe, but Jackie knew Zack was a different breed altogether. Bogart wasn’t wrong. Someone should do a study on Zack’s mating rituals. Although he’d readily jump into bed with just about any sexually aggressive woman, he wasn’t the kind of guy you’d catch watching porn. Jackie couldn’t even remember the last time she’d caught Zack lusting after a woman. He could go months without sex, and it wouldn’t even faze him. Yet he was ready and willing at a moment’s notice, almost as if there was some secret ‘on’ switch.
“Well, I’m glad to hear you have some morals when it comes to things like that,” Jackie reported, actually feeling better on account of her own situation. “I’d hate to think you’re listening through the walls back at the lodge. At least I don’t have to worry about that.”
Zack cast a glance back at her, giving her an odd look. He then smirked and snorted a laugh while continuing along the path. “You obviously weren’t paying attention to the first part of that statement,” he remarked, then shrugged, “but whatever makes you comfortable.”
Jackie hesitated, stopped in her tracks, and again stared at Zack’s back. “Wait,” she announced, then felt a strange rush of panic and hurried after him. “What?”
§
Gil and Monroe followed Darth through the woods to the makeshift helicopter landing pads in the small clearing. The car Zack and Kirk had borrowed from Gunny was parked alongside the black SUV Bogart had ‘borrowed’ from one of the hitmen. Nothing appeared to have been disturbed. Darth excitedly ran to Gil’s helicopter and jumped at the door, then sat while patiently waiting. Like all good dogs, he thought they were going for a ride.
Monroe touched his ear transmitter. “Ross, we’re at the landing pad,” he announced. “No sign that any of the cars have been tampered with. It doesn’t look as if Nevada has been here.”
Gil approa
ched Darth and stared down at him. “No, we’re not going for a ride.”
Darth turned and ran for Jackie’s helicopter and sat by the side door. He let out a loud, demanding bark while keeping his eyes locked on the side door.
“The answer is still no,” Gil informed the dog with a little more insistence.
Darth whined while staring at the door as his tail happily wagged.
“That dog is so spoiled,” Monroe muttered.
“He’s spending too much time with Aunt Jackie and Uncle Zack,” Gil remarked. “I don’t know who to blame, but one of them has been wrestling with him. Found that out when my wife and I were having a romantic evening. We were sitting on the floor, and he tackled me to the ground.”
“Yeah, I’m sure that’s Zack,” Monroe muttered. He again touched his ear transmitter. “Do you copy, Ross?” He then eyed Gil. “Reception is bad this far out from the visitor’s center.”
“There’s a lot of interference between here and there,” Gil informed him. “I got better reception when I was closer to the woods.”
Darth stood on his hind legs and began pawing at Jackie’s helicopter.
Gil groaned and shook his head. “No, we’re not going for a ride,” he insisted to the dog. “And stop scratching Aunt Jackie’s helicopter. You know how she feels about her toys. You’re going to get me in trouble.”
Darth whined loudly. Gil sighed with defeat and approached the side door.
“Fine,” he muttered and pulled open the door. “You can sit inside--”
Darth suddenly snarled and leaped into the helicopter. Rowen was seen just beyond the doorway. He bolted against the opposite side door and stared at the dog with concern. Gil swiftly drew his weapon and aimed it at Rowen.
“Call off the dog,” Rowen cried out. “I was just looking for a place to sleep!”
Witness Protection 9: S.N.A.F.U. Page 32