Page 76 of No Time Off

“Then we go on the offensive,” I said.

That got a reaction—meaning dead silence. I figured they were shocked by my bold suggestion. Lexi, however, looked at me like she was thinking it was about time.

“We’re done hiding,” I continued. “We flip this back on them. They’re controlling the narrative—painting us as terrorists. We take that away from them.”

“And how do we do that?” Manny asked.

“Electronically. I need my computer, and Lexi needs hers. ASAP.”

Manny sounded skeptical. “What are you going to do? Post an angry Yelp review of the coup?”

I grinned at the thought of it. “Something like that. First, we contact the US government. I need to get this full recording from the compound to them right away. Second, we turn their own game against them. We now have the power to control their communications and leak the informationwewant to shift public opinion. If you’re right, Petra, the people here don’t want to be under China’s thumb. Economic support is one thing, but what we’ll expose is something entirely different. We just need to show the people the truth.”

“But we have a problem,” Lexi chimed in. “We’re uncomfortable about using the yacht as our center of operations to strike back. It’s too exposed, and it is probably just a matter of time until someone notices the unusual increase in activity here. Plus, to wage our campaign, we’ll need a better internet and Wi-Fi connection, at least as good as we had back at the farmhouse. Unless you have another safe location where we could operate.”

“I’ll have to check with the security guys to see if there is another safe spot,” Manny said. “They were supposed to be working on that. Wait a minute…” He stopped and must have turned away from his phone.

Finally, he returned. “Petra suggests returning to the farmhouse. She has reports that the police haven’t returned since we left. After considering the alternatives, we agree it’s probably as safe as any other location right now. Additionally, we can easily get there from here without using the roads.”

“That would be great if it’s safe,” Lexi said. “What do you think, Slash?”

“I doubt any place is truly safe, but I think we should trust the prime minister,” I said. “We can check it out first before anyone gets there.”

“I’ll lead you there,” Manny said. “If it’s clear, we can presume they think we wouldn’t be dumb enough to go back. Plus, in retrospect, I’m not even sure they can link us to the farmhouse. All they know is there were two people on a motorcycle who fled the house. They never saw the prime minister or her family.”

Petra’s voice came through the phone clearly. “I don’t know how you’re going to do any of what you’re planning, but I’m convinced the premise is the right one. We’re running out of options and time.”

“Manny, Lexi, and I will investigate the farmhouse,” I said. “If it’s clear, you can relocate with us. We’ll send Manny back for you while we start making Shi and Maivia very uncomfortable. Pack up and be ready to move, Petra. Manny will coordinate with your security. Manny, when you return to shore, please bring Lexi’s phone, our bags, laptops, and any cords or other peripherals that go with them. And, sorry to ask, is there any way you can find me a shirt? I’m doing a slow roast in this white food jacket and might as well have a bull’s-eye on the back of it.”

Manny chuckled. “Will do. Give me ten.”

I hung up, and Lexi and I exchanged a silent glance. Shi had taken on the wrong people…again. We weren’t going to go quietly, this time or ever. We’d stopped Shi and his brother before. He’d had his turn at bat, and now it was ours. All we needed was a little help from our friends.

He’d messed with the wrong honeymooners.

THIRTY-SIX

Slash

“It’s time to call Candace,” I said, holding up Manny’s phone.

“Will she answer if it’s not your phone?” Lexi asked.

I nodded. “She will. There are just a few of us who have this number.”

Sweat trickled down the side of my face as I punched in the numbers and waited while the connection was made. I was hot and dehydrated, not a good mix when I needed to keep my head clear. I hoped Manny brought some water with him. Even though we were protected from the sun by the thick canopy of jungle leaves and branches, the tropical heat beat down through the leaves, making the air feel even hotter and thicker.

The phone rang at least five times before she answered. “Hello?”

“It’s me,” I said. “I’m free from the compound and I have the full recording of Jiang Shi’s plans. It not only links China to the coup, but it also shows Maivia, the acting prime minister, as complicit. It will blow this thing wide-open.”

On the other end, Candace’s brisk voice sounded concerned. “Thank goodness you’re safe. You’ll have to provide details of your escape later. Is your wife okay?”

“She is.” I glanced at Lexi, who was kneeling beside me, scanning the shoreline with a focused ferocity. Shi had made this intensely personal to both of us. We didn’t just want to push Shi off a cliff. We wanted him to hit every boulder and branch on the way down.

Candance exhaled a breath. “That’s good news. Whose phone is this?”

“An ally. It’s a long story.”

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