Emerald Buddha

Chapter 49

Drake and Allie sipped tea after their meal in a local restaurant while Spencer drank what passed for coffee. Ten hours of solid rest had more or less revived them after their jungle ordeal. Allie was studying the photographs of the temple cave on the little digital camera as Drake and Spencer chatted about the CIA thug who’d kicked in the door.

“What do you think happened to Christine?” Spencer asked.

“She probably bolted once we’d gone to sleep,” Drake said. “If she’s even halfway correct about the Chinese and the DOD, can’t say as I blame her. I mean, they blew up her frigging plane, for starters. Would you stick around to see what their next trick is?”

“With no money or passport, it’s going to be tough to hide for long,” Spencer observed.

“Thailand’s a big place, and she might have access to resources we don’t know about.”

Allie smiled knowingly at Drake and returned to her perusal of the images. Spencer caught the look.

“Did you give her money?” he asked quietly.

“Do I have to explain what I do with my cash?” Allie fired back, continuing to eye the camera.

“I’d have thought you didn’t have any, after being taken captive.”

“How do you think we’re paying for the hotel? I called my attorney when we were with Joe to transfer the fee to him, and had him send a few extra bucks here,” Allie said. “Western Union to the rescue. They were open while you boys were out on the town.”

“So you did give her money?”

Allie smiled sweetly at Spencer. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I guess a lady always has her secrets,” Drake agreed.

“It does make you wonder what the incriminating evidence was, though,” Spencer said.

“Not my problem,” Drake said, pointing to his cup for more tea. The server nodded and hurried to refill it.

“Speaking of problems, with nothing in the temple, I’m still kind of hosed,” Spencer grumbled.

“Funny you should mention that. Drake, look at this picture. Specifically, check out the angle of the back wall.” Allie handed Drake the camera. He studied the photo and shrugged.

“It’s a cave. Carvings. What am I missing?”

“We rushed out of there, or I’m sure I would have spotted it in person.”

“Spotted what?” Spencer asked.

“Look at the geometry of the back wall. Specifically where it meets the ceiling,” Allie said.

Drake offered the camera to Spencer and they both peered at it. Spencer saw it first. “It’s a right angle. Ninety degrees.”

“And how often does that happen in nature? Specifically, in the tops of caves?”

Drake nodded slowly. “Would the correct answer be ‘never’?”

Allie smiled. “Right. That’s a man-made wall that was crafted to look like a natural surface.”

“A false wall,” Spencer said.

“That would be my hunch.”

“Then there might be a treasure after all…” Spencer murmured.

“Only one way to know for sure,” Drake said.

Spencer’s hand moved to his shoulder. “Can’t we just take a helicopter or something?”

“That didn’t go so well last time, did it?” Allie said.

“When do you want to go?” Drake asked.

“It’s really up to Spencer. He’s the one with the boo-boo.”

“It’s a mere scratch,” Spencer said. “Let’s get some supplies and head out — at least we won’t have to worry about the Red Moon crew anymore.”

“Why don’t we hit Joe’s village first and see if his second-in-command wants to be our guide? It might help to have someone on friendly terms with the Shans. Before, we had Joe. But now… Let’s just say I wouldn’t want to wind up being taken hostage again,” Allie suggested.

“Kind of out of the way,” Spencer said.

“Not if we wind up running afoul of a Shan patrol,” Allie said. “We made a deal with their colonel, and he might interpret it as reneging if we’re nosing around the area without his blessing. You really want to risk it?”

“Put like that, you make a compelling argument,” Drake agreed.

“Then let’s assemble whatever we need and do this right.”

“The lady has spoken,” Spencer said, tossing a few baht onto the table and rising. “Time to go shopping. How much did you have your attorney send you, anyway?”

Allie smiled again. “Enough.”

The day went by quickly as they bought rugged backpacks and filled them with camping gear, a first aid kit, pry bars, a pick, camp shovels, and insect repellent. At the largest electronics store in town they bought a portable GPS and a satellite phone, and after topping up with prepackaged meals, they made their way back to the hotel.

Drake’s burner cell rang as they neared the office. When he answered it, Collins’ voice sounded furious.

“What the hell do you think you’re pulling, Ramsey?”

“Mom? Is that you?”

“You think this is some kind of game?”

“Oh, Collins, nice to hear from you. Might have been nicer if you’d shown up with SEAL Team Six to help me rescue my friends, but I can understand if you were busy…”

“Where is she, Ramsey? Stop screwing around.”

“As I told your charming representative this morning, I have no idea.”

“We left her in your care.”

“No, I rescued her from certain death, and she willingly came with me. We checked into a hotel, and she apparently decided she wanted to leave. I’m not a junior G-man, Collins. I found her, brought her to safety, and she took off. How am I involved anymore?”

“I can have you arrested for aiding a fugitive.”

“A fugitive? Is she really? What’s she done?”

“That’s none of your concern.”

“Wait — you threaten to arrest me for helping a fugitive, but you can’t tell me why she’s a fugitive? Good luck with that. Want my lawyer’s number? He could probably use a good laugh.”

“You’re messing with the wrong people, Ramsey.”

“Collins, you suckered me into helping you. I did what you sent me to do, and my friends and I almost died in the process. You’ve obviously kept information from me, and now you’re threatening me. Why are we still talking?”

“I need to know where she went.”

“I have no idea. I was asleep. She could have gone anywhere.”

“Not without help.”

Drake sighed. “Is there anything else?”

Collins’ voice turned coldly menacing. “I won’t forget this, Ramsey. I can make things difficult for you. Remember that.”

“Sure. And next time you want some help, I’ll remember the charming thanks I got for a job well done. I’d say we’re about even.”

“You little bas—”

Drake punched the off button and tossed the phone in the trash. Allie raised a questioning eyebrow, and he grinned. “Wrong number.”

Spencer edged closer. “You might want to temper the go-screw-yourself with them, Drake. You don’t want the CIA as your enemy.”

“Right. Because having them as my buds has done so much for my well-being.” He looked at Spencer’s arm. “Think of that bullet you took as a greeting card from them.”

“I’m just saying. If you have a choice, keep them on your good side.”

“He threatened to have me arrested for aiding a fugitive.”

“He what?” Allie gasped.

“I told him to pound sand. The call didn’t go so well from there.”

“But Christine isn’t a fugitive… is she?” Allie asked.

“Not that he could articulate. I asked him what the charge was, and he deflected. I’d say it’s BS. He’s just trying to scare me. But after being shot at, crashing in a helicopter, and being in combat for a few days, I guess you could say I’m all out of scared.” Drake’s tone softened. “Let’s head to the border and see about getting a boat first thing in the morning. We’ll need to take the backdoor route, since we don’t have passports.”

“Damn. That’s right.” Allie shrugged. “I guess we’ve been okay without them so far…”

“We can get new ones from the embassy when we return to Bangkok, but Drake’s right as far as keeping a low profile goes,” Spencer said. “And I think we’ve figured out that we’ll need weapons if we’re going into bad-guy territory again.”

“Seems like everyone over five years old has at least an AK,” Allie agreed.

Drake grinned. “And some of the toddlers look pretty shady, too.”