Page 54 of Out of Sight

“It’s the Columbia. We can get a drink, maybe follow the river to civilization, but we definitely can’t cross it or anything.”

I made eye contact with Claire as I approached, but she looked wrong. Scared.

I stiffened when I felt the gun pointed into my spine.

My first instinct was to turn around and hit him, but he’d probably still be able to shoot me. At least it would give Claire and Jim a chance to escape.

Claire.

She could get away.

I flicked my gaze to Jim, trying to let him know with my eyes what I was going to do. He gave a tiny nod, his hand slowly making its way to the holster at his side. I glanced behind me, but Antonio wasn’t paying attention to Jim at all.

“Hey, buddy!” he said when he saw he had my attention.

“Hey, pal,” I returned.

“Nice to see you again.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Did you know that this guy was supposed to be my mentor before he started hanging with you guys?” Jim froze as Antonio switched his attention to them. “But it’s okay. I still got to learn a lot from him while he was spending time with you.”

“How’s that?” I asked, trying to get his attention back on me.

“Well, with everything you’ve told me.”

“Told you? I haven’t talked to you since the night you killed Mario Costa.” Was he on something? I glanced back at Claire and Jim, seeing suspicion of all things in the latter’s eyes.

“Maybe not me directly,” Antonio relented. “But your Morelli watch told all of us everything we needed to find you.”

“Morelli watch?” Claire asked, confused. I looked to my wrist, seeing the gold watch Carlo gave me that I was planning on hocking for cash as soon as I got the chance.

“Morelli watch,” Jim snarled. “They’ve been listening in. That’s how you guys keep finding us.”

The watch had a bug in it? How was that possible when Jim… Jim always looked for hidden electronics when Claire and I were out of the room. His handy little device never got the chance to pick up the signature from the watch. It was hearing everything we said from the beginning. No wonder they were able to catch up with us every time.

Son of a bitch.

“You-” The gun shoving harder into my spine cut me off.

“No, you don’t have to do that anymore,” Jim said, pulling Claire closer to him and shifting several steps to the side. He finally had the gun in his hand again.Thank god.

Antonio shifted me as his shield, turning as Jim and Claire circled around us. “Do what, old man?”

“Pretend he’s your hostage.”

“What?” I shouted, but Antonio pushed the gun again, shutting me up.

“He’s been on your side the whole time, giving information on Claire’s location. He was hired to kill her a week ago, but he just wanted to sleep with her first and decided to take his time.”

I was too stunned to say anything in my defense, but Claire had to know that was a lie. She knew me. I looked at her.

“That… It isn’t true. Will, it’s not true, is it?” The doubt making her voice tremble was like Antonio’s knife, slicing jagged wounds across my soul. But I could get rid of that doubt. She just had to listen to me. She had to trust me.

“Of course not! Claire. You know me better than that. I wouldn’t hurt you, Claire. I’m in love with you!”

Please believe me.

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