Stuart Woods - Short Straw

He reached for her, and she melted into his arms, feeling for his crotch. Gotta keep him sweet, she thought, and she ducked under the covers, giving herself to the enterprise.

WHEN SHE WAS DONE, she nestled in his arms.

"That was wonderful," he said.

"You know what would be wonderful?"

"What?"

"If we could just stay down here."

"In Mexico?"

"Yes. I like it down here, and you can live dirt cheap."

"Your three hundred grand wouldn't last all that long."

"I've got more coming," she said. "A lot more."

"From where?"

"From Ed," she said.

"I don't think that's going to happen," he said.

"It'll happen, if you don't FedEx him those signed sheets."

"That wouldn't work," he said.

"Why not?"

"Cupie."

"What about him?"

"He wouldn't sit still for that."

"So, don't tell him. We can just send him on his way."

"But when Eagle doesn't get the signatures, he'll put Cupie on us. Cupie is very smart; he'd find us again."

She wondered if she could talk him into killing Cupie. Probably not. "I guess you're right," she said. She turned over, putting her back to him. He reached for her ass, but she removed his hand.

"Look, baby," he said, "I took the man's money; I have to finish the job."

"You took my money, too."

"And I'm going to finish that job. I'll get you back to the States."

She said nothing.

"And then there's the Mexican police: they're still looking for you."

He had a point. She couldn't stay in Mexico. But if he sent Ed those blank sheets, the hunt would be on again, at least until this guy Pepe did the job. If he did the job. There were too many loose ends to this; she was going to have to think of a way to tie some of them up. When Eagle was dead, then she'd have everything she needed.

What she had to do now was buy time, until Pepe did his work. If Eagle died without a signed settlement agreement, she'd get his estate and the life insurance. That was the best way.

CUPIE PUT HIS BAG in the trunk of the Toyota, then leaned against it, gazing out across the Pacific. Something was wrong, he figured, maybe a lot. First, he had to get straight with Vittorio, then they could discuss the rest.

Vittorio came out of the casita, carrying his and Barbara's luggage, and put it into the trunk.

"We've gotta talk," Cupie said.

"I'm listening," Vittorio replied.

"Your new, ah, relationship with the lady is screwing up this job."

"How?"

"She's gonna try to talk you out of going through with it, and I'll be left with an angry client."

"She's not going to talk me into anything," Vittorio replied. "I'm getting laid; I'm enjoying it. All I have to do to complete the job is to FedEx Eagle those signatures, then get the lady to the U.S. Eagle will be happy, and she'll be happy, then we can all say bye-bye."

"Has she asked you yet not to send Eagle the signatures?"

"Of course, but I'm going to anyway. I'll find a shipping office in Mazatlan and FedEx them from there. That will take care of our client, Ed Eagle, then all we'll have to do is take care of our client, Barbara Eagle."

"You're sure you're on board for this?"

"I'm on board, Cupie. Besides, I wouldn't want you dogging my ass."

"Then there's something else we have to talk about," Cupie said.

"Shoot."

Barbara came out of the casita and headed for the car.

"We'll talk later," Cupie said.

"Okay."

They got into the car, and Vittorio started the engine.

Cupie was looking at the map. "I got an idea," he said.

"What's that?" Vittorio asked.

Cupie pointed at the map. "You see this dotted line that runs from Mazatlan over to La Paz, in Baja, California?"

"Yes."

"That means there's a ferry. Instead of driving straight up the road to Tijuana, why don't we take the ferry and drive up the Baja peninsula. It won't take much longer, and the policia won't be expecting it."

"I like it, Cupie; good thinking." Vittorio turned and looked at Barbara in the back seat. "You okay with that?"

"Good idea," she said. Barbara thought it was a really good idea, but not for the reason Cupie and Vittorio did.

JOE BIG BEAR SAT IN HIS PICKUP A HUNDRED YARDS UP THE mountain from Ed Eagle's driveway. He checked his watch again: eight o'clock. As if a button had been pushed, Eagle's Mercedes came out of the driveway and turned downhill toward Tesuque. Joe did not follow; there was no point. There was just the one road.

He waited until the car had disappeared down the road, then he started the pickup and drove slowly down the hill. Halfway to the village, he went round a bend, then pulled over at a wide place on the shoulder and got out. This was good, he thought. Eagle would come around the bend and see the truck there with the hood up. Joe would step out and flag him down, as if he needed help. Eagle would recognize him and stop, roll down the passenger window. Joe would put both barrels into him, get back in his pickup and drive away.

He waited in the spot for another half hour, and no one drove by. No commuters at this time of day, except Eagle. Good.

ED EAGLE WALKED into his office at 8:30 a.m. and called the agent representing the seller of Susannah's new house. Within a few minutes he had moved up the closing a week. He called Susannah.

"Hello?"

"Good morning. How did the unpacking go?"

"Very well, thanks, and I got a good night's sleep. By the end of the day it's going to look like I've always lived here."

"Good. I moved up the closing to this Friday. That okay with you?"

"Sounds great."

"Can you fly here tomorrow?"

"I can. I think I might even be able to wangle a seat on the Centurion Jet. Rick Barron has a place in Santa Fe, and he goes every weekend."

"Let me know, and I'll meet you at the airport."

"Great, because I don't have a car in Santa Fe, yet. I'll have to buy one."

"I'll take you car shopping."

"That would be very nice."

"And I'll cook you dinner tomorrow night."

"That would be wonderful. You sure you don't mind putting me up until Friday?"

"Longer, if you can't get your furniture here by then."

"I've already told them to ship it. I'll call and see when I can expect it to arrive."

"Call me from the airplane and let me know your ETA tomorrow." He gave her his cell phone number.

"Will do. I'm looking forward to seeing you."

"And I you." Eagle hung up feeling just wonderful.

They drove into Mazatlan and followed the signs toward the ferry. Vittorio pointed ahead. "There's a pack-and-ship place," he said, pulling into a parking place. "I'll be right back." He got out of the car.

Barbara, lying in the rear seat, lifted her head and watched him go, the FedEx envelope in his hand. Less than ten minutes later, he returned empty-handed. She was very disappointed with him. When Ed got the envelope with the blank pages, he'd be on the phone to Vittorio, and there would be hell to pay.

She lay back down and thought about her plan. It wasn't foolproof; she'd have to get lucky. On the other hand, she'd always been able to make her luck, one way or another.

HALF AN HOUR LATER they rolled onto the car ferry. Barbara stole a look around as they drove on. It wasn't very big: half a dozen vehicles and some foot traffic.

"Barbara," Cupie said, "you're going to have to stay where you are; we can't take any chances. There's a snack bar one deck up. Can I bring you anything?"

"No," she replied. "I'm going to take a nap. How long is the ferry ride?"

"An hour and a half," Cupie replied. "Vittorio, you want a sandwich?"

"No, I'm going to the top deck, I think. I like to be as far from the water as possible on boats like this."