Page 6 of Raider Unleashed

Piper wanted to tell him to shut up. No need to piss Denlo off any further.

“What I mean is,” Baker continued cautiously, “we don’t have an explosives guy. The plans you gave me don’t match the store, which means I can’t guarantee where we’re gonna come through. And,” he pointed at Wells, “he needs time to crack the vault door. He hasn’t had enough time to practice. Cracking a safe like that can take hours. It’s an all night job and that’s if everything goes right.”

Denlo leaned forward. “Let me let you in on a little secret. Wells is gonna be able to do it in the time we have. We’re doing this now because the volcano erupted and the whole world is busy with that. The risk is lower than if we waited. The boss doesn’t give a shit about the details. He just wants it done, so if any of you think you can’t do it, now is the time to tell me.” He pulled his gun out of his waistband and put it on the table.

No one said a word. Piper glanced down at her food. The little she’d consumed had turned to stone in her stomach. What the fuck had she been thinking of, getting on that plane? She was in way over her head and the chances of finding a way out didn’t look good.

Denlo got up, picked up his weapon, and waved it around negligently. “So if you bitches are through with your belly aching then we’re done. I’ll be in my room. I suggest you do the same. Don’t even think about leaving.” He gestured with his gun again. “I’ll hear it if your room doors open or close. I’m between both rooms. The walls are thin so don’t think of trying anything.” He waved the gun around one more time and left. They stayed silent. They heard his room door open and then bang closed. The sound of Denlo’s voice came through the walls. Piper heard the rumble of Denlo’s voice through the wall but couldn’t make out the words.

Baker and Wells stared at their food without saying a word. Piper got up and tossed her food into the garbage can. She started back toward the bed when Baker jerked his head at her. He pointed with his chin to the other chair.

Piper swallowed hard as she claimed the seat as directed. She glanced at Wells and then Baker and waited them out.

“I don’t fucking like this one bit,” Baker whispered.

Wells nodded. “Me either. This isn’t the job Slick said it would be. He said it would be professional. This is…a fucking mess.”

Hmm.Slug recruited them too. Interesting.She filed away that little tidbit.

“Not much we can do about it,” she murmured.

Wells shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not. If we don’t find an explosives expert then the job is off. None of us can blow the floor.”

“Then why did you offer your guy?” Piper whispered to Baker.

Baker shrugged. “I was trying to buy us more time. Because it would take him a while to get here. Besides, it’s always better to have someone you know and trust on board.”

“What do you think we should do?” Piper asked.

Wells glanced at Baker and leaned forward. “I think we need to stall until it’s too late.”

Baker shook his head. “I don’t know, man. I don’t think Denlo is gonna let us stall. If this job goes south, I think he’s gonna kill us when the boss says do it, and then start over with a more agreeable crew.”

Icy fingers clutched at Piper’s heart. She’d been thinking the same thing. If they didn’t do this job soon, Denlo would just kill them all and find new people. She decided to take a gamble. “Do either of you know who the boss is?”

They both shook their heads. “Whoever it is, has lots of juice and money,” Wells offered. “He got all that equipment no problem and none of it comes cheap.”

“You guys have seen it?” Piper was surprised.

Baker nodded. “Yesterday, Denlo took us to a warehouse where the equipment is stored before we picked you up. We’ve been here longer than you. We’re supposed to be working on the plan for the next couple of weeks but when the volcano went, Denlo said everything was moving up and then we went to get you at the airport.” He eyed her speculatively.

“Why are you here?” Wells asked straight out.

“Slu…ick said he needed a driver for a job. I said yes and then suddenly I was on a plane.” She shrugged. “Not sure why Denlo needs a driver really… but whatever. If I’d known about all this, I never would’ve gotten on the plane.”

“Me either,” Baker agreed.

Wells cocked his head and listened. They all did the same. Piper didn’t hear anything unusual. The TV in Denlo’s room had gone on. It wasn’t overly loud but audible enough. He wasn’t talking any longer either. Did that mean he would be checking on them?

“I think whoever the boss is, he’s here on the island,” Wells said conspiratorially. “Denlo was talking to him on the phonewhen he said that we needed a ladder and some rope. The guy told him to get it at HPM Building Supply. I’ve never heard of the place. It’s local. He told Denlo to ask for Bruce and that the stuff would be ready when he got there.”

Baker shrugged. “Could be that the guy just knows the area well. Doesn’t mean he’s on the island.”

“Maybe,” Wells conceded, “but it seems like he’s here when they talk.”

It was food for thought. There was no question that Piper wanted to get the Snake. His presence on the island would make catching his ass easier. But first, she had to survive this job.

“What happened with Vardis?” The words ripped out of her mouth before she could stop herself.

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