John Sneeden - The Hades Conspiracy

Carmen gave a brief celebratory shout then opened the throttle.

“Do you know where we’re going?” Zane yelled.

She nodded. “ Sì, certamente .” Yes, of course .

“Look.” Emily pointed at something behind them.

Zane glanced back. The other boat — full of at least half a dozen gunmen — had entered the canal behind them. Zane hoped the crafts were of equal speed. If so, they’d at least be able to maintain the same distance until one of them ran out of gas.

Over the next several minutes, Carmen wove through the maze of canals, guiding the craft with deft skill. Zane couldn’t tell if she was simply trying to lose the other boat or if there was a method to her madness. A native Italian, she’d been to Venice dozens of times. Hopefully, that meant she knew the canals as well as she knew the streets. For now, he’d have to trust her instincts.

Two shots rang out behind them. One whistled overhead. Emily let out a scream, and Carmen reacted by swerving the boat back and forth. Two more shots were fired, followed by a loud thud.

“We’re hit,” Amanda said.

They were words Zane didn’t want to hear. Reluctantly, he looked back. A hole had opened along one side, and a thin stream of water poured into the bottom of the boat. In weaving, Carmen had inadvertently exposed their port side.

Zane got Amanda and Emily’s attention. “See what you can do to get the water out. Every little bit will help.”

As they worked, Zane fired a couple of shots toward their pursuers. He doubted he could do any damage at this distance, but he might at least be able to keep them down.

Carmen slowed the boat slightly and took a tight right turn. Two gondolas filled with tourists loomed directly ahead. She yanked the tiller sharply. The move helped them avoid a collision, but the wake rocked the other boats. As they passed by, one of the gondoliers cursed in Italian and lifted his middle finger.

After passing under another bridge, Carmen hung a left. A minute later, they emerged onto a large waterway. Dozens of gondolas and motorboats were scattered across the expanse. The scene was familiar. The Grand Canal . Finally, Zane knew where they were. But why had she brought them here? If anything, they were more exposed now.

He looked back at Carmen. “Where are we going?”

She nodded at something ahead but remained silent. Zane faced forward. A quarter mile away, a lighted plaza stood at an intersection with another canal. A large crowd gathered on the plaza, and Zane heard loud music.

“There is always a concert here on weekends,” Carmen shouted.

He knew what she was doing. She was going to dock at the concert, where they would disembark and melt into the crowd. Not only would it provide them with cover, but it would also deter their attackers from following. In Zane’s opinion, it was a brilliant move.

As they approached, loud sirens blared from somewhere further down the Grand Canal. The Venice police were on the way by boat. Zane glanced back at their pursuers. Unfortunately, they were still following, although they seemed to have given up firing for the moment.

Carmen pulled up to the dock and killed the engine. Zane didn’t bother tying it down. There wasn’t time. Instead, he grabbed one of the pilings to give the others time to get out.

“Go!” he shouted.

After they were safely on the dock, Carmen pointed to a set of steps leading up to the plaza. “Walk quickly, but act like you’re supposed to be here.”

The wail of sirens grew closer. Zane expected to see the police craft come around the corner at any moment. At least their pursuers wouldn’t be foolish enough to stick around. As best he could tell, everything was playing out perfectly.

Carmen led Amanda and Emily up the stairs. In seconds, they would be hidden in the crowd. Before following them up, Zane stopped and looked back toward the water. His pulse quickened. He’d expected to see the other boat turning away. Instead, it was already easing up to the dock with the gunmen waiting to stream out in pursuit. At most, they had about a half minute to hide in the crowd. Whatever these men were after, they were willing to do anything to get it.

Turning, he fled up the stairs.

Emily Pauling wished she hadn’t made the mistake of glancing back as she neared the top of the stairs, but she did. The gunmen spilled out of the boat. They were so close she could see the malevolent intent written on their faces. For the first time ever, her life was in danger, and she realized she might not live to see another day.

“Keep moving!” Carmen yelled.

Emily didn’t need to be told twice. She turned and sprinted the rest of the way. The crowd in the plaza was even larger than it had seemed from the water. People pressed in on all sides. A few were in chairs, but most stood in groups, socializing while trance music blared through massive speakers a short distance away.

Zane was already moving to the left. “Everybody, go in different directions. If we diffuse, it will make it more difficult for them to find us. We’ll meet back at the safe house.”

“I don’t know where that is!” Emily yelled back.

“You don’t need to.” Carmen grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the right. “You’re coming with me.”

For reasons she was just beginning to understand, Emily would’ve preferred to go with Zane. Something about him made her feel safe. Maybe it was the strong hands she’d felt minutes before. Or maybe it was the chivalry she sensed in him, letting everyone else go down the laundry chute first. Then again, she knew Carmen was fully capable of protecting her. In fact, Emily had already guessed they were both spies of some kind. They probably worked for the CIA.

As they pushed through the crowd, Carmen finally released her wrist. Emily glanced back toward the dock as she ran. Two gunmen had already reached the top, their heads swiveling back and forth as they scanned the crowd. One’s eyes seemed to rest on Emily. He tapped his partner, and they both ran toward her.

“Let’s go!” Carmen shouted. “Quit looking back!”

Emily ran after her, weaving through the mass of people. She’d been foolish to stop. If she’d kept running, perhaps the men wouldn’t have seen her. Those precious few seconds might be the difference between living and dying.

Emily was surprised at how rough Carmen had become, bumping and shoving people out of the way whenever necessary. Emily could tell the Italian’s stylish looks were deceiving. She was tough as nails. If they got pinned down somewhere, it would be nice having her there for protection.

A minute later, Carmen pointed to the right. “This way.”

Two long rows of kiosks lined the edge of the plaza. Vendors sold everything from food to clothing to glass ornaments. But more importantly, the crowd was even more packed there, making it the perfect place to lose their pursuers.

A gunshot cracked in the distance. Emily flinched in response. Screams broke out everywhere, and panic swept through the crowd. Most ran to nowhere in particular, trampling others in the process. Emily leaped over a woman who’d been pushed to the ground then sprinted after Carmen. A minute later, they entered the rows of kiosks. Some of the business owners were hunkered inside their stands, not knowing whether to stay with their goods or run. Emily guessed thoughts of terrorism ran through their minds.

Carmen kept pushing forward. She seemed to be headed for the city streets, still about a hundred yards away. Another shot rang out. Pure pandemonium ensued. People fought and scratched, pushed and shoved. Despite Carmen’s prior warning, Emily slowed and glanced back a second time. At least one gunman had entered the market — a tall bald man, who seemed to have a permanent snarl etched on his face.