No Room for Error: A Lexi Carmichael Mystery, Book Seven

by Julie Moffett

  I considered. “Any chance French is the primary language of Papua New Guinea? They colonized much of this part of the world, didn’t they?”

  Basia swatted a mosquito on her neck. “Yes, they did. But the primary language is Tok Pisin. And before you ask, no, I don’t speak it. It’s an English-based creole language, so if I could find someone who spoke it we might be able to share a few common words. But it is unlikely because the only reason I even know about Tok Pisin is because of Papua New Guinea’s distinction as the most linguistically diverse country in the world. I think there are over eight hundred different languages spoken on the island. There’s no telling what dialect they’ll speak if we encounter anyone in this godforsaken area.”

  That didn’t seem like a promising development, but it was good to know.

  I made some rough calculations of flight distances and times, estimated the time to rent one or more helicopters—assuming they were available—gather supplies and fly back to this location.

  “We have to start walking and soon. I estimate that we have somewhere between four and eight hours before the bad guys are likely to return. We may have more time than that if they watched our crash landing and determined that no one was likely to have survived. In that instance, they might try and avoid attracting more attention while they organized a recovery operation.”

  I squeezed water from my ponytail. “We have to put as much distance between the crash site and us as quickly as possible.”

  Finn nodded. “I concur. But given our condition and lack of equipment, we are going to have to follow the road for as long as possible if we are going to make any time at all.”

  “Agreed,” I said.

  “My suggestion is to head downhill on the road for as long as we can.” He checked the position of the sun. “The walking will be easier in that direction. I would guess we have five or more hours of daylight left at least. Even if we walk slowly we can cover a number of miles. Plus I suspect we’ll find the larger and more civilized villages and towns in that direction rather than higher up in the mountains. We should be able to hear an approaching airplane or helicopter from a decent enough distance to be able hide ourselves as needed.”

  Basia stood up. “Alright, let’s do it then.”

  I held up a hand. “Wait. I’m going to play devil’s advocate here. Let’s put ourselves in the shoes of our Chinese adversaries and think from their angle. If I were the Chinese mastermind behind this operation, this is what I would do. If I felt the crash was not survivable, then I would only send one helicopter to retrieve the briefcase. However, if I felt it were possible some crew and passengers survived, then I would need enough people to recover or dispose of the survivors. Given the amount of money they’ve already sunk into this hijacking I think that’s a safe assumption that they will play it safe and assume there are survivors. I think they’ll return with more than one helicopter if they can get them.”

  No one said anything, so I continued thinking it through while talking out loud. “I would first land at the crash site to check for survivors. If I couldn’t account for everyone, then I would establish a search cordon to contain the survivors until I could find them. They would most likely assume we would head south because it is downhill and more traversable. They will probably set up a roadblock there. Just to be thorough, they will go uphill and do the same. Once we are sealed in, they’d begin searching inward toward the crash. If we are caught within that perimeter, I’d calculate a ninety-four point six percent chance of being caught within forty-eight hours.”

  Basia and Finn stared at me with mouths open.

  I blushed. “Okay, maybe I picked up a little something from my time with the SEALs. Guys, I think if we are going to survive this, we have to outwit them, continuing to do the unexpected and keeping them off balance until the advantages swing our way. It’s a sound maneuver in cybersecurity, so why can’t we apply it here? We take the road north as far as we can, getting outside of their cordon if we can. Then we find a way to go south by following a stream or river. There are enough trees along the streams to protect us from aerial observation until we move down into the thicker lowland jungle. Still, even if we don’t escape their perimeter, if they start searching downhill first, it will give us more time to put a greater distance between them and us despite our injuries. What do you think?”

  Finn snapped his mouth shut. “One question. How will we know which helicopter has the good guys and which one has the bad guys?”

  “We won’t. We’ll have to assume all of them are bad unless we can get a safe, secure look to make sure.”

  After a moment, he nodded. “As much as I dread the thought of trudging uphill, I like your plan. I’m in.”

  “I’m in, too.” Basia cradled her arm to her stomach. “So, now what?”

  Chapter Thirty

  I stood. “The next step is to get organized, and fast. First, we need to use duct tape to seal Finn’s pants shut or he’ll get eaten alive by insects. Next, we rub mud on any exposed skin to protect us from mosquitos and bugs.”

  Basia gulped. “Mud? On my face?”

  “Not just on your face, Basia, but behind your ears, on your feet and around your neck. Everywhere I see skin it’s going to get covered. When it dries, the mud will form a crusty barrier against insects. “Since we don’t have insect repellent, managed to miss our inoculations and we can’t afford to get sick, we have to take precautions.”

  Better to lay it on the table so it was clear. There was no time for balking. “Then we pack our stuff. I’ll divide our supplies into three piles so we can spread the weight. I’ll take Wendy’s sports bag, Finn can take the pilot’s bag and I’ll make a pack out of a garbage bag for you, Basia.”

  Finn nodded. “Good plan. While you’re making the packs, I’ll make a sling for Basia’s arm. We have to immobilize it or she will have agonizing pain for each step she takes. Lexi, are you sure about taking the briefcase with us? Maybe it would be better to bury it somewhere. That way, if we get captured, they won’t find it on us. We could come back and retrieve it later.”

  I considered and then shook my head. “As much as I’m tempted, the briefcase has to go with us. We have to trust that Xavier and Elvis will be looking for the signal. If they can pinpoint our location, it’s our ticket out of here. We just have to stay alive until they can find us.”

  “Okay, then the case stays with us. Finn stood up and brushed off his hands.

  We worked quickly and efficiently—a good team. I figured it had taken us less than twenty minutes to finish all of our tasks except for slipping on the packs and putting Basia’s arm in a sling. I had avoided the mud on parts of my face because of my injuries, but finally put it on the best I could. Finn and Basia, however, looked full on ready for military engagement with just the whites of their eyes flashing. I couldn’t help but smile.

  I crisscrossed Wendy’s bag with the titanium case and my share of the supplies over my body. Finn slung the pilot’s black canvas bag over his shoulder and kept the crash axe in his hand. He seemed steadier with every passing minute, but I didn’t know if it was simply determination or if he was actually feeling stronger. It was hard to tell. Since I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the answer, I didn’t ask.

  Now came the hard part. I stood in front of Basia. “I’m going to have to ask you to lift your arm so I can tie your pack on.” It wasn’t pretty, as I’d fashioned it out of a garbage bag and duct tape, but it would do the job. “As soon as it’s secure Finn will put the sling on your arm. I’m sorry, Basia, but it’s going to hurt. A lot. Are you ready?”

  She squeezed her eyes shut and lifted her arm. To my surprise, she didn’t make a sound as I arranged the pack on her back, although the pain had to be excruciating. I’d underestimated her grit. City girls were apparently a whole lot tougher than I’d expected.

  Standing behind h
er reminded me how petite she was compared to my five foot eleven frame. She wasn’t more than five foot two inches on a good day and probably weighed one hundred and ten pounds after a seven-course dinner at a fancy French restaurant. I’d given her the lightest pack, but now I wished I’d taken even more.

  “Looks good,” I said. “Let’s get that sling on her.”

  She opened her eyes as Finn handed me the long piece of blanket he’d cut off. He’d made a sling out of it, so I looped it around her neck and secured it tightly on top of her shoulder. She clenched her teeth in pain as I arranged her arm in the sling, but otherwise remained silent.

  The blanket was thicker than I’d expected and didn’t tie very easily. “Does that feel okay?” I asked.

  She gave me a tight smile. “Sure, perfect.”

  I looked at her doubtfully. “Really?”

  “Yes, Florence Nightingale. Now let’s go, we have a lot of road to cover before dark.”

  “Wait, take this.” Finn handed her a thick walking stick. He tossed another one to me and then took one for himself. He held the axe and a walking stick.

  I followed him, grateful for the aid of the stick. “Hey, a walking stick is a really good idea.”

  “That’s why I’m the CEO. I have good ideas. Like hiring you two, for example.”

  “You know, I’m really glad to hear that,” Basia said, falling in behind Finn. “I’ve been meaning to ask for a raise.”

  “Don’t bloody push it, lass.”

  I laughed and then winced as pain shot through my nose. Still my spirits were lifted by the banter. We were alive, we weren’t giving up, and somehow we’d retained a shred of humor.

  At this point, I couldn’t ask for more.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  We had barely gotten started along the rock-filled road when I heard a rustle in the bushes to my right. Finn heard it, too.

  Lifting the axe, he stepped toward the bushes to investigate and I followed him, circling to the other side. Basia stayed back. When we got closer I realized the road had narrowed and was backed up against the same sharp incline that the cockpit had been balanced over. I looked down the incline, shuddering. If the plane had landed even a few hundred feet earlier, we probably would have gone over it.

  Suddenly the rustling got louder. A large rat, or maybe a mountain shrew, darted out of the bushes at my feet and headed straight for Basia. She screamed and scrambled out of the way.

  “Oh, my God.” She pressed a hand to her chest.

  Finn laughed. “That put the heart in me sideways, too.”

  I opened my mouth to speak when Oliver DeWitt stood from a crouch behind the bushes, holding a gun aimed at us. I lurched backward until I bumped against Finn.

  “Oliver?” I stared at him. “You survived?”

  “It will take a lot more than a plane crash to keep me away from eight million dollars. I see you all got a lucky break, too. All three of you survived?” He smirked at Basia. “Actually make that two and half.”

  She glared at him, but didn’t say anything.

  Now that I had a minute to recover from my initial surprise, I studied him. Oliver didn’t look good. He had a gash running from his scalp down the left side of his cheek. A bloody and jagged cut slashed across the side of his neck and both of his hands were scraped raw. He swayed on his feet, but unfortunately the hand holding the gun seemed quite steady.

  He motioned at Finn. “Toss the axe in the bushes. Now.”

  Finn complied without a word.

  Oliver looked between us. “I’ll take the briefcase. Whoever has it, bring it to me nice and slow.”

  I started to move from behind Finn when to my astonishment, Basia stepped forward. “I’ve got it in the pack on my back.”

  I froze. I had no idea what she was doing as she approached Oliver slowly. He smiled as she got closer. “You know, I’m really surprised you made it this far, princess.”

  Basia scowled. “What’s wrong with you? Why do you have it in for me so bad? I barely know you.”

  “Maybe because you remind me of my ex-wife.” He blinked and swiped at his brow with one hand. He was sweating profusely. “I know your type. She was a high society type, just like you. She had to have designer shoes, purses and clothes. I never made enough money for her, so she dumped me for some other guy.”

  “How can you compare me to her?” Basia flushed angrily. “You don’t even know me.”

  “I can tell.”

  “God, you’re such an idiot, Oliver. If we were married, I’d have left you, too.”

  He snorted. “If we were married, I’d give you poison on our first night together.”

  Basia pretended to gag. “If you were my husband, I would gladly drink it on our first night together.”

  Oliver waved the gun at her. “Shut up and bring me that case before I shoot you on principle.”

  I held my breath and Finn tensed next to me as Basia approached him. Neither of us had a clue what she was planning.

  When Basia finally came within arm’s length of Oliver, she turned around, so her back was to him. “I’m sorry, Oliver, but with one arm, I can’t get the pack off. You’ll have to take the briefcase out of my pack.”

  As soon as Oliver reached out to tug on her pack, she shot her leg out behind her, the heel of her shoe catching Oliver squarely in the crotch. Oliver shrieked in pain and took a step back, realizing too late he stood at the edge of the precipice. His arms did a windmill once before he disappeared over the side. His scream echoed for three long beats and then all was silent.

  Basia turned around, looking a bit freaked out. “Oops.” She peered over the side. “I was aiming for the hand with the gun.”

  Finn and I stood completely flabbergasted.

  Finally Finn walked over to the precipice and looked over. He glanced back at me and shook his head. Oliver hadn’t made it.

  “Bloody hell, Basia,” he said. “After seeing you do that, I’m going to think twice before I give you a bad job evaluation.”

  “That’s good to know,” she said.

  I still couldn’t believe what she’d just done. I groped for the right words to say. “You, you...just saved us, Basia. Single-handedly. I didn’t know you had that in you.”

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t know. I just thought you’d be too afraid.”

  A smile touched her lips. “I was afraid. A lot. And pissed as well. But I was more afraid of dying.”

  Finn retrieved the axe. “Well, let’s get the hell out of here, ladies. We have no idea how much time left we have to get away.”

  We walked along the road with new determination. After the encounter with Oliver, it reminded us how much danger we were still in.

  It was difficult to determine how long we trekked. The last time I’d glanced up, the sun had long passed the midway point in the sky. I knew it had been at least three hours, even if it seemed like all day. My breathing came in short, labored bursts and I was probably in the best shape of the three of us. Our journey was compounded because we were in the mountains. The air was thinner and we were injured and exhausted. So far, we’d had only two short stops to drink, rest and eat some peanuts and crackers.

  I wasn’t sure how far we’d gone, but at our trudging rate, it wasn’t far. I could still see the crash site each time we crested an intermediate ridge as we trudged towards a jagged spine that divided this valley from the next. We needed another break, but I was afraid to call a stop again. It had become increasingly hard to urge them to continue when I didn’t want to keep moving either. But we had to keeping moving or die.

  The sun was starting to slip behind the mountains, though it was still over an hour until sunset when I first heard the helicopter. I figured it was several miles away, but it was hard to tell exactly
where as the hills echoed the sound.

  “This way,” I shouted to Finn and Basia, motioning them toward the cover of the trees along the edge of the road. As we watched the skies, one helicopter came into view following the road from the south followed closely by another.

  “Two helicopters.” Basia’s voice shook from exhaustion or fear. “You were right, Lexi.”

  I watched it pass over, my mouth dry. “Let’s just hope I’m right about the rest.”

  The first helicopter circled around the crash site, probably looking for a good place to land, and then lowered from sight. The second one followed.

  I exchanged a glance with Finn and Basia. “We have a few minutes while they check out the site for survivors, then they’re going to come looking for us. We have only about a half-mile to the top of that main ridge. That’s my best guess as to where they are likely to set up a roadblock since they will be able to see anyone coming up the road. If we can get there before they do, we will have time to escape while they search the inside perimeter. Do you think you can make it?”

  Finn nodded, his eyes locked on where the helicopters had disappeared from sight. “They’ll send one in each direction, so we have to move now.”

  “Let’s go.”

  We raced for the ridge top. Unfortunately, the harrowing day had almost exhausted our stores of adrenaline. After an initial burst of semi-jogging for a hundred yards or so our pace and gait began to resemble that of drunken zombies. Basia was amazing in her heels, despite almost twisting her ankle several times on the rocks. Finn caught her once, just before she was going to pitch sideways into a bush.

  The crash site was strangely silent, but just as we approached the ridge, we heard the sound of a helicopter starting up. That gave us the impetus for a final sprint over the top and down fifty yards on the other side.