Page 3 of Monstrous Rampage
Rizan leaned over my shoulder, staring at my screen. “The IP address checks out to a hotel called Tiosh Abaj in Santiago Atitlán. It doesn’t appear to have any embedded coding or trackers.”
What was I worried about anyway? Draco Sirius Command had no clue who I was and certainly no reason to care about my interest in paleobotany. Even Dr. Snyder hadn’t given a damn about my specialty, only bringing me along to Guatemala because of my looks and who my father was. Ugh.
I quickly typed a reply to the professor.
Dr. Ibarra, that would be great! What time would be convenient for you to meet? Thank you, Holly.
I sipped my coffee, wandering how long it might take him to reply. But if he was checking email over breakfast—like me—he might…
Another email pinged.
Holly, I’ve arranged for a boat tour of the lake today. If you can meet me at Cetcafé by 10AM, you’re welcome to join my wife and I. She’s as interested in paleobotany as you and already marked some areas she wants to explore. Jorge.
“Any concerns?” I asked. “Do you think Natalie will need me for anything this morning?”
Rizan laughed softly. “I doubt she’ll be up by ten. Even if we decide to move locations again, we won’t be ready to jump until later.”
“Unless we’re fucking attacked,” Axxol snapped. “No one’s coming back to save your ass.”
I gnawed on my lip, trying to decide if it was worth the risk of being left behind. I didn’t think Natalie would leave me to fend for myself, but if it came down to protecting her baby or helping me, she’d save Akylla and rightfully so.
A little window popped up on my screen.
We won’t leave you behind whatever the Big Rig says.
Relieved, I flashed a smile up at Riz over my shoulder. “Call or text me if anything changes, but I’m going to meet Dr. Ibarra while I have the chance.”
“You got it,” Rizan replied. “Can you find your way to the village? Or would you rather have a car come pick you up?”
I drained my coffee and shut my laptop. “It’s not far, right? I think I’ll just walk down the mountain. I’ve got maps on myphone if needed, but I’ll probably see if I can get a taxi to drop me off. I’d rather not climb up the slope especially after a day hiking around the lake.”
Rizan grabbed some bottled water out of the fridge. Grateful, I tucked the bottle into my bag. I’d need to grab some sunscreen too, probably bug spray, my camera for sure?—
On my way out the door, I yelled back, “Thanks!”
“Have fun!”
2
HOLLY
Ichecked the reference image of Dr. Jorge Ibarra from Google on my phone one more time before stepping into the busy cafe. Attractive man with dark hair in his forties, on vacation with his wife. So he wouldn’t be wearing a suit and tie. All of the tables were full, many with couples on vacation, but they were clearly tourists.
I pulled up my email again, but I didn’t have a phone signal to reload my inbox. Hopefully the cafe provided Wi-Fi. Damn it, I should’ve given him my phone number so he could text me. I flagged down one of the harried servers. “Dr. Ibarra?”
The woman shook her head and rushed toward the front of the cafe. Then straight out the door. She yelled something but I didn’t quite understand. People started to stand, jostling me. Someone screamed.
Then I smelled smoke.
Fire. No wonder she’d been in a hurry. She’d run from the kitchen.
Panic spread as the customers all tried to get out the front exit. Smoke thickened, choking me, burning my eyes, making it difficult to see.
“Holly.” Someone grabbed my arm. “This way!”
My eyes watered so badly I couldn’t see the man’s face. I covered my nose and mouth with my arm and stumbled after him, sliding along the wall, past the crowd of panicked customers, to what looked like an office area. A side door. We stumbled out into a dingy back alley. Gasping for fresh air, I bent over a moment, blinking the tears out of my eyes.
Something wasn’t right. I kept my head down, pretending to still be fighting for breath, while my mind raced.
