Blood Money Page 5

  They came up a second later. The transition from the relative silence of underwater to the thunderous roar of the helicopter was a shock, but Kelton was expecting it, and had covered his ears before breaking the surface, dulling the sound.

  Jessica quickly followed suit, covering her own ears immediately after surfacing.

  Kelton caught her eyes and motioned at her to calm down. “Keep your head down,” he mouthed. “And stay still.”

  She nodded and did as she was told.

  The sound of the chopper grew impossibly loud before finally moving on without so much as a pause. A spotlight fixed to the belly of the craft shone on the water a couple hundred feet downstream for a moment, then disappeared. The sounds of the rotors grew more and more distant, and after a full minute that seemed to stretch on for an hour, the helicopter could no longer be heard.

  “A hot springs, huh?” Jessica said.

  “Yeah, this valley is littered with them. This is the main one, though. Called Hot Creek.”

  “You’re a pretty clever guy, I must admit.”

  “Not really,” Kelton said. “Just well-prepared.”

  Jessica cast her gaze towards the sky. “Well, that was easy.”

  “Relatively, yes.”

  “I mean, if you would have told me what you were doing, it would have been even easier, but still . . .”

  “If I would have told you we were going to jump into a hot springs to hide from an infrared sensor, you would’ve thought I was crazy.”

  “Probably,” Jessica said, “But I still would have given it a shot. It’s not like we had any other options.”

  “Point taken,” Kelton said. “Next time I’ll let you know what’s going on.”

  Jessica held his gaze for a moment. “Why don’t I think you’re telling the truth?”

  Kelton answered with a wry smile but no words.

  She laughed under her breath. “All right, so now that the chopper is out of the way, what’s next?”

  “We’re basically home free,” Kelton said. “We’ll just climb out and continue along the other side of the bank, staying close to the water. If we hear another helicopter, we’ll hop back in.”

  He waded across the water and started to climb out the other side of Hot Creek. Jessica was right behind him.

  “How much farther to this Piper?”

  “Two minutes. Tops.”

  “How’d you get a plane out here anyway?”

  “I flew it.”

  Jessica shot him a glance. “You’re a real smartass, you know that.”

  “Just wait,” Kelton said. “I haven’t even gotten started yet.”

  “Great,” Jessica said, drawing the word out in apparent consternation. But her face told a different story.

  Fighting a smile, Kelton said, “I rented the Piper from the Bishop Airport on the way up here. There’s a tiny landing strip a little further west. This valley is littered with them.”

  “And where do we go from here?”

  “We’ll take the Piper back to Bishop—which should be outside of whatever perimeter is set up—then drive south towards San Diego.”

  “But what about the people looking for us?” Jessica said. “They have to be expecting something like this. Won’t they have radar trained on the area or something?”

  “Probably,” Kelton said. “But the Piper is a tiny single-engine propeller airplane. With the lights off and flying low to the ground, it’s virtually invisible. Both to radar and the naked eye.”

  “Isn’t it dangerous to fly it like that? Especially when it’s still dark?”

  Kelton shrugged. “A little. But we won’t be flying for long. Thirty minutes, tops. I’ll just follow Highway 395 south to Bishop. By the time they figure out we left by plane, we’ll already be on the ground. And by the time they figure out where we landed, we’ll be long gone.”

  “Sounds like quite a plan,” Jessica said. “You think it’ll actually work?”

  “Of course,” Kelton said. “I don’t make plans to fail.”

  They arrived at the plane a few minutes later. Kelton opened the cockpit, pulled out a small canvas bag and tossed it at Jessica’s feet.

  “What’s in here?” she said.

  “A sweatshirt, sweatpants, and a pair of socks,” Kelton said. He started pulling loose branches off the Piper that had provided camouflage for the small plane. “They’re probably a bit big, but at least they’re dry.”

  “You sure are prepared for everything, aren’t you?”

  “Not quite everything,” Kelton said. “I didn’t know the size of your feet, so I didn’t bring you new shoes.”

  Jessica started laughing. “I guess I can forgive you, all things considered.”

  She began changing her clothes in full view of Kelton, just as she had done back in the room at the safe house. And, just as before, Kelton was having trouble taking his eyes off her. It was obvious she knew exactly what she was doing, the real question was; what was she trying to accomplish?

  Kelton found himself lamenting the fact that he probably wouldn’t be around her long enough to find out.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  The short flight went as smoothly as Kelton had anticipated. They followed Interstate 395 straight out of the valley, passing over the top of at least one roadblock on their way out, and landed in Bishop less than 30 minutes after they had taken to the air.

  Now they were in Kelton’s car, heading south on a different stretch of the same road they’d flown over less than an hour before. The sun was just starting to come up, providing a golden view of the rolling countryside worthy of an oil painting.

  Jessica was sitting with her feet on the seat and her hands folded in her lap. She was staring straight at Kelton, and had been doing so for as long as they’d been driving, a little more than ten minutes.

  So far, Kelton had avoided her Medusa-like gaze, choosing to keep his eyes on the road ahead.

  Eventually, she said, “So, are you going to let me know what the hell is going on here?”

  “Sure,” Kelton replied. “But first we need to set some ground rules.”

  “Let me guess. No chewing gum or passing notes in class. Oh, and no smoking in the bathroom.”

  “Very funny.”

  “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m not going to do anything stupid. I know I’m better off with you than on my own right now, okay? I’m not going to run off or anything.”

  “I’m inclined to believe you,” Kelton said. “But still, we need to be perfectly clear on where we stand.”

  “Well then, say what you gotta say.”

  “We’ll keep it simple,” Kelton said. “If you do anything to draw attention to yourself in any way while we’re together, I’ll give you a shot of Valium to help you sleep off the rest of the drive. Then when we get back to my place I’ll gag you and tie you to the bed.”

  Jessica raised an eyebrow and flashed him a wicked smile. “Drugged up, gagged and tied to the bed, huh? That sounds like a reward, not a punishment.”

  Kelton could feel his face starting to flush.

  Jessica started laughing. “Ooh, the tough guy has a weakness after all.”

  “Screw you,” Kelton said.

  “Sounds like you want to,” she said. “But you can just ask for it. No need to drug me and tie me up. You are pretty cute, in a Neanderthal sort of way. I might just give it up to you if you asked nicely.”

  Kelton opened his mouth but closed it before he uttered another stupid comment.

  “Don’t try and deny it,” Jessica said. “I saw the way you were looking at me earlier, when I was changing my clothes.”

  “It’s not like I had any choice,” Kelton said, “What with you being so modest both times, changing right in front of me.”

  “So you’re telling me you couldn’t have looked the other direction?”

  “I would have if you asked me to.”

  “A gentleman would have looked away without being asked.”

&nbs
p; “Yeah, well nobody’s ever accused me of being a gentleman,” Kelton said.

  “Why am I not surprised?”

  Kelton’s anger flashed. “Are you always this ungrateful? I mean, did I, or did I not just pull you out of a federal safe house?”

  Jessica dropped her eyes for a moment. “I guess I have been pretty rude,” she said. She looked back up at Kelton. “But you have to understand, I’m someone who’s used to being in control of every situation; total, complete control. And the last 24 hours, I’ve had my car run off the road, been accosted by men with guns, treated like a common criminal and asked rapid-fire questions by cocky assholes who don’t even know what the hell they’re talking about, all while locked up in a house in the middle of nowhere.”

  She took a deep breath and exhaled audibly. “I guess I just needed to pretend like I have at least some semblance of control over the situation.”

  “I hear you,” Kelton said. “I really do. My only goal was to lay things out, right up front, so we don’t have any misunderstandings down the line. I want this to go as smoothly as possible. You do understand that right?”

  “I know,” Jessica said. “I just don’t like the spot I’m in. It’s not that I’m ungrateful for what you’ve done, it’s just that I don’t really know if my situation has gotten any better. I’m captive in a car with someone I don’t know, on the run from the federal government, heading toward God knows who for God knows why. I just wish I knew what the hell was going on.”

  “Then why don’t you just ask?”

  “Very funny.”

  “It wasn’t meant to be a joke.”

  “You’ll really answer my questions?”

  “Why wouldn’t I?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. I figured you’d just tell me to keep my mouth shut and don’t worry about it. You know, all that macho bullshit.”

  “Look, when I told you that I want this to be as easy as possible, I meant it. You can ask me whatever you want, and I’ll answer it as best I can. After all, the more comfortable you are with what’s going on, the easier this will be for both of us.”

  “But how will I even know if you’re telling the truth?”

  “You won’t,” Kelton said. “You’ll just have to trust me.”

  Jessica sized him up for a few seconds, then said, “All right, I’ll play along. Why don’t we start with who you are, who you’re working for, and where we’re going.”

  “My name is Kelton. I’m working for the man that hired me to rescue you. And we’re going to San Diego to meet up with him.”

  “Ha-ha,” Jessica said. “Very funny.”

  The corner of Kelton’s mouth turned up slightly. “Hey, you asked.”

  “You’re right, I did. Let’s try this again. Now, who are you? And not just your name. I want details.”

  Kelton opened his mouth to answer.

  “And not just any details,” Jessica said before he had a chance to speak. “Pertinent details.”

  “How about if you ask me more specific questions. That might make things a little easier.”

  “Okay. Let’s start with your name, then. You said it was Kelton?”

  “That’s right.”

  “First or last?”

  “Last,” Kelton said. “But nobody ever calls me by my first name.”

  “And I assume it’s not your real name?”

  “It’s as real as any other.”

  “But not your given name.”

  Kelton shook his head. “In my line of work, real names are like kryptonite.”

  “So what are you saying? That you’re Superman?”

  “Not quite,” Kelton said. “More like Wolverine, if I was forced to compare myself to someone.”

  “Ahh, so that’s where the name comes from.”

  Kelton nodded, impressed. He hadn’t pegged her for a comic book fan.

  “So what are you?” Jessica said. “Some kind of mercenary?”

  “That’s one way you could describe it.”

  “How do you describe it?”

  “I don’t, usually,” Kelton said. “I just do what I do. I let other people figure out a way to put words to it.”

  “But if you were forced to . . .”

  Kelton gave her a sideways look. “You don’t give up easily, do you?”

  “What can I say? I’m a curious girl.”

  He turned his eyes back to the road in an attempt to hide his growing smile. Normally he would have stood his ground on this subject, but something about Jessica was disarming. Perhaps it was the straight-forward manner in which she asked the questions, or perhaps it was something else, something he didn’t want to explore right now. Either way, he knew he was going to play along.

  “If forced to describe it, I guess I would say that I do things that other people are unwilling or unable to do.”

  “For a fee,” Jessica said.

  “Usually.”

  “Regardless of the law.”

  Kelton laughed. “You say ‘the law’ like its some immutable force of the universe, when its really nothing more than a set of agreed-upon rules and regulations used to control the masses.”

  “So I take it you don’t put much stake in it,” Jessica said.

  “Let’s just say that I don’t take it into consideration when deciding if I’m going to do a job.”

  “So let me get this straight,” Jessica said. “You do things for money, regardless of whether or not they are considered illegal.”

  “Pretty much.”

  “Yet you don’t consider yourself a mercenary?”

  “No,” Kelton said. “Because a mercenary does things solely for the money.”

  “And you don’t?”

  “That’s right. For me, the money is just a small part of the equation; the least important factor, actually. ”

  Jessica brought her legs up, shifted her body so she was able to face him without turning her head. “What else do you take into consideration?”

  “A whole host of things,” Kelton said, “But basically it comes down to one simple question: Is it the right thing to do?”

  “So you have your own set of morals. Your own code.”

  He nodded. “I only take on jobs that I feel comfortable doing. Things I believe in.”

  “How quaint.”

  Kelton snorted, shook his head. “You know, on second thought, maybe I will stop answering your questions—”

  Jessica held up her hand. “I’m sorry. That was rude. It won’t happen again. I promise.”

  Kelton accepted her apology with a nod.

  “Actually, I think it’s fascinating that someone like you still has a place in this world,” Jessica said. “I would have thought your kind long gone.”

  “Yeah, I guess I am a bit of an anachronism.”

  Jessica gave him a funny look.

  “What?” Kelton said.

  She shrugged. “I’m just . . . surprised, I guess.”

  “At my word usage?”

  Jessica nodded.

  “What, you didn’t think someone like me would know any five syllable words?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “But you were thinking it.”

  “Maybe,” Jessica said. “But can you blame me? I mean, come on, how many mercenaries do you know that aren’t retired marine grunts?”

  “About the same number of biochemists that also look like Victoria’s Secret models.”

  This time, it was Jessica that started to blush. “Touché,” she said. “I’ll try not to jump to any more conclusions.”

  “Don’t sweat it,” Kelton said. “I’m just messing with you anyway. Trying to keep the playing field level, that’s all. I wouldn’t expect you to think of me as a well-read, civilized person.”

  “Well-read, huh?”

  “I like to think so.”

  “What, like comic books?”

  “Actually, I have read my share of graphic novels,” Kelton said. “But that’s not really what I was re
ferring to.”

  “So you read real books too?”

  “Surprise, surprise.”

  “Fiction or non-fiction?”

  “Some of both. Why?”

  “Just wondering,” Jessica said. “I’m a bit of a reader myself, which means I automatically quiz other book lovers on their preferences.”

  “What do you read?” Kelton said.

  “Non-fiction, mostly. But pretty much whatever I can get my hands on.”

  “I hear you there,” Kelton said. “I’m the same way.”

  They fell into a comfortable silence. Kelton stifled a yawn; he’d only had four hours sleep in the last day and a half, and it was starting to catch up with him. The lanes were starting to become blurred, fuzzy. It was a good thing there wasn’t any serious traffic.

  “Are you going to be all right?” Jessica said.

  “I’ll be fine. Just a few more hours until I pass you off, then I can get all the sleep I need.”

  “Speaking of which, who do I have to thank for hiring you in the first place?”

  “The man you’ve been conversing with through email for the last few days. The man you were on your way to meet when you got picked up.”

  “I was hoping that’s what you were going to tell me,” Jessica said. “Based on my earlier correspondence with him, I knew he had connections, but I didn’t know they ran that deep.”

  “Yeah, he’s got quite a network,” Kelton said.

  “What his name, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  “I know him as Walter, but I’m sure that’s no more his real name than Kelton is mine.”

  “Are you guys part of the same group, or something?”

  “No, nothing like that,” Kelton said. “I’m more like an independent contractor. Our things are totally separate. Walter’s got his gig, I’ve got mine.”

  “But you have worked for him before?”

  Kelton nodded. “A few times.”

  “Can he really deliver on his claims?”

  “I can’t guarantee anything, but he’s never let me down.”

  A hopeful smile skittered across Jessica’s face. “God, I sure hope he can,” she said softly, mostly to herself. “I assume he told you about my discovery?”

  “You created an AIDS vaccine, right?”

  Jessica nodded.