“If you were a good foster parent, why was she taken away?”
Reel answered, “There is no logic in foster care. What happens happens.”
“Okay, but that doesn’t explain why she’s here.”
Reel said, “I bought this place four years ago. Under an alias, of course. I brought Gwen up to run it.”
“You own the motor court?” said Robie in surprise.
“I had to put my money somewhere. And while I wasn’t that concerned about turning a profit, I did want a place where I could get away.”
“Literally get away?” said Robie.
She glanced past him to the photos on the table. “Aren’t you going to ask me about them?”
“I thought I already did. I don’t remember hearing an answer other than they were traitors but you had no proof.”
“I walked in here with no weapon. What does that tell you?”
“That you want to talk, so talk. I especially want to hear about the apocalypse.”
“It’s a very long story.”
“My calendar is clear for the rest of the year.”
“Can you lower your weapon?”
“I don’t think so.”
She held out her hands. “You can cuff me if it’ll make you feel better.”
“Tell me what you need to tell me. Explain to me why you put a bullet in Doug Jacobs when you were supposed to be planting a round between the eyes of a man who has sworn to destroy our country. Tell me why Jim Gelder had to die. And tell me why you killed an analyst turned militia freak. I’m really looking forward to the answers. It might save your life. Might,” he added.
“I told you, I didn’t kill Roy West. He tried to kill me and I defended myself. He died from shrapnel wounds when his house blew up.”
“Why go out there at all?”
“He had something I needed.”
“Yeah, you told me that in Arkansas. But what? You told me you’d already read the paper he’d written.”
“Confirmation.”
“Of what?”
“Of which people had seen the paper.” Reel watched him expectantly. “You had figured that out. I can tell by your expression.”
“You killed those people over think-tank bullshit?”
“It wasn’t a think tank. And it wasn’t bullshit. At least to certain people it wasn’t. The paper was not widely circulated. But a few key people read it. People in a position to make the plan contained in the paper a reality. And if that happens, Robie . . .” Her voice trailed off.
He was just about to ask what specifically the paper said when they both heard it.
People were coming.
Not deer. Not squirrels. Not bears.
People. For it was only people who moved with stealth like that. And both Reel and Robie recognized the movements.
Reel snapped her head around at Robie. The accusation in her face was clear. “I didn’t expect this of you, Robie. You led them right here.”
In answer Robie reached behind his back, slid his spare gun out of its holster, and tossed it to her. She caught it, racked the slide, and held it loosely in her hand.
Now it was Reel’s turn to look surprised.
“They’re not with me,” said Robie.
“Then you were followed.”
He turned off the lantern, plunging the cabin into darkness. “Looks that way. I just don’t know how. Is there another way out of here?”
Reel said, “Yes, there is.”
CHAPTER
58
REEL WENT TO THE CORNER of the room, shoved the table aside, knelt down, and lifted up a section of the floor, revealing a three-foot-square opening.
“Where does that go?” asked Robie, who sounded chagrined that he hadn’t noticed it before.
“Away from here.”
She sat on her butt and dropped down into the hole. “Let’s go. They won’t be waiting out there long.”
“Then let me persuade them they should exercise some caution,” said Robie.
He moved to the window and fired five shots through it. He placed his rounds in a wide enough array that anyone approaching would be forced to take cover. Then he moved to the hole and dropped through. He stood up and motioned to Gwen. “Come on.”
Gwen shook her head. “I’ll just slow you down.”
Reel stood next to Robie. “Gwen, you’re not staying behind.”
“I’m old and just worn out, Jess.”
“This is not open for discussion. Come on.”
Gwen slipped a revolver from the front pocket of her dress and pointed it at Reel. “You’re right. This is not open for discussion, Jess. Go.”
Reel looked at her in disbelief.
Robie pulled on her arm. “Not much time.”
They heard footsteps approaching from all sides.
“Go!” snapped Gwen. “I didn’t raise you to die like this. You’re going to go and finish this, Jess. Now.”