Virgo's Vice

by Trish Jackson

  The power had been off most of the day. It came back late in the afternoon. Hendrik had already returned from his charter, and was filling out the paperwork before heading for home. Riaan checked his email. Nothing from Dockery. No phone messages on either phone. He sat for a moment, staring at the screen. This is not right. This whole thing stinks.

  He navigated to Google and typed in ‘Allan Dockery.’

  He sat forward and leaned toward the screen. “What the . . .? Hendrik, come in here.”

  Hendrik appeared at his door. “What is it?”

  “Check this out, man. Allan Dockery, the Hollywood guy who owes us money. He’s dead. He killed himself.”

  Hendrik slid around the desk to stand behind Riaan, where he had a clear view of the computer screen. “Juslaik! This is crazy. What about those people out there?” He waved his hand in the general direction. “What will happen to them?”

  Riaan stood up abruptly. “I’m going to check on them. I don’t think anyone else knows they’re out there.”

  He left the building and hurried toward the hangar, where he ran through his flight preparations as quickly as he could.

  Hendrik came to the doorway of the hangar. “There’s a storm coming.”

  Riaan stuck his head outside. “It’ll be okay,” he said. “I’ll see you later.”

  He climbed into the cockpit and started the engine.

  Chapter 46

  Billy picked up the crutch and hopped over to stand in front of Stretch. “What do you mean Trip’s gone?” His heart hammered wildly.

  Stretch rubbed his shoulder and grimaced. “When we reached the creek he went down and filled these and handed them to me. He seemed to be deep in thought about something. I could tell it was troubling him. Then he stood up and started walking away.”

  “Just like that?”

  “Just like that. I asked him where he was going, and he kept walking. He yelled back over his shoulder. He said, ‘I have something better to do.’ I asked him what it was but he didn’t answer. It was only then that I noticed he had his backpack on.”

  “Which way did he go?”

  Stretch pointed. “Downstream. He went that way.”

  Billy limped to the shelter, ignoring the pain in his knee, and picked up his bag.

  “What’s up?” Jared said.

  Billy grimaced. Jared’s face was sweating and he was feverish.

  “Trip’s gone after Lexie. I have to help her.”

  Jared shook his head. “Maybe you haven’t noticed you’re crippled in one leg, dude.”

  “Bro, this is some serious shit going down. Trip knew Lexie in the past and he . . . he hurt her.”

  “How are you gonna catch up with her on that leg?” Jared sat up and wiped his face with his hand. His eyes were glazed and Billy briefly wondered if it was the effect of the painkillers or if it was an infection setting in.

  “I’ll figure it out as I go. See the camera down there? Don’t let anyone mess with it. If someone tries and you can’t stop them, don’t let them know you saw them. Got it?”

  “Sure. But why?”

  “There could be footage of one or more of the murders, or something that’ll tell us who did it.” Billy zipped his backpack closed and slid it over his shoulders.

  “Good luck, dude.”

  “You hang in there, bro. Help will come soon,” Billy said as he exited the shelter.

  “Billy, what about your food?” Rodriguez said. “You need some sustenance.” He stared at Billy’s bandaged knee.

  “I don’t have time. I think Trip is up to no good. Lexie says he’s our murderer and I think she’s right. He doesn’t want us to be rescued.”

  “Wait. Here.”

  Billy stopped. Rodriguez had broken a drumstick and thigh off one of the birds, and was holding it out to him. “It’s cooked. Take it.”

  Billy took the meat and bit into it. It was hot, but he didn’t care. He was very hungry and he knew Rodriguez was right. It wasn’t much but it was something. “Thanks, man,” he said through his mouthful.

  “Take care. Don’t let the monster get you.”

  “Hey, what are you doing?” Faith yelled as she approached.

  “He’s going after Lexie and I’m making sure he eats first. The birds are ready.”

  Faith glared at him. It was strange that her former overly groomed appearance had given way to a wild, unkempt appearance and she had an almost crazy glint in her eyes.

  Billy didn’t hang around to hear her come down on Rodriguez.

  “Thanks, man. Appreciate it.” He headed toward the creek, the direction he was sure Lexie and now Trip had taken.

  He had to get to Lexie in time. But how? Trip was bush wise and had two healthy legs. Lexie had told him Trip was a monster and what she had told him sickened and terrified him.

  He glanced up at the dark clouds. They were still not overhead. Maybe the storm could go around them, but the wind was blowing toward the way he was going, so he knew there wasn’t much chance of that.

  Riaan knew he should not be attempting to fly with that storm so close. Black clouds swirled above him, and a few drops of rain spotted the aircraft’s windshield as he taxied to the end of the runway.

  I can’t leave those people a moment longer. They have nothing there. No food. Now that I know about Dockery, I have to make certain they’ve been taken care of.

  The small aircraft lifted off the ground and was immediately buffeted by the strong, gusting wind. He hoped he would fly out of the storm. It could be a little brighter out the way he was heading.

  “I’ll just circle over their camp,” he told himself, but he knew in his heart of hearts he would have to land and speak with them before he could be sure they were okay. Hendrik had said the airstrip was okay, but it would be a bumpy landing. He tried to think back to the last time he had taken a crew out there to cut the weeds and grass down and check for ant bear holes. It had been soon after Allan Dockery had first contacted him to tell him about his reality show and what kind of place he was searching for.

  “I know the perfect spot,” Riaan remembered telling him.

  He was thankful when he came out of the thick clouds and left the worst of the storm behind him, although he knew it could follow him and cause problems for him later. He found himself holding his breath when he reached the area in which he had dropped Dockery’s contestants. He couldn’t see anything that indicated human habitation.

  His partner had told him they had marked their camp. He circled around and dropped lower, searching for anything that didn’t look natural.

  Chapter 47

  Stretch gnawed on the thigh bone even though there was no flesh left on it. All who were left to fend for themselves in the camp were sitting by the fire enjoying the last of the two guinea hens.

  Jared wasn’t with them. He was lying on the bed platform.

  Stretch knew Maria was very worried about him. He had refused the food and she said only one thing could have caused that. Infection was setting in.

  Rodriguez heard it first. “Hey, that’s an airplane. Can you hear it?” He put his hand behind his ear as if it would help him to hear.

  Stretch leaped up and stared up into the sky, aware that Maria was standing beside him doing the same. “It’s an airplane,” he yelled. “An airplane. Halleluiah! We’re saved.”

  “Where’s the duct tape?” Rodriguez yelled. “He might not see us. The wind’s been blowing and the other stuff we put up in the trees could be hidden by leaves. We can’t risk him flying over and leaving again like he did last time.”

  Stretch rushed into the shelter. “You know where it is?”

  Jared was thrashing around and moaning. His eyes were closed. He didn’t smell good. He smelled of death.


  Stretch stopped for a moment to stare down at him. “You’re lucky, brother. We’re gonna be saved.”

  He spotted the bright neon roll and rushed outside again with it in his hand. He handed it to Maria. “Here. I can’t unroll it. I think the tape I put up before is still visible from up there, but we have to be sure he sees us.”

  Maria took the neon pink roll from Stretch and started to unravel it.

  “Here, let me help,” Rodriguez said, holding out his hand.

  “Hurry,” Stretch said. “Give me the end of it. I still have one good arm and I can put it up higher. He hooked the end to a high branch and wrapped it around a few times to make certain it was secured.

  “Okay, run, Maria. Hurry.”

  “I’m doing it as quickly as I can,” Maria said.

  Rodriguez took the roll out of her hand and it dropped onto the dirt. “Fuck it!” he said as he bent to pick it up.

  The airplane noise was coming close rapidly. Stretch shaded his eyes from the sun and stared up at it. He waved his good arm. “Here. We’re down here,” he yelled in his big bass voice.

  “Stop that at once.” Faith rushed toward Maria and knocked her to the ground, flat on her back. She turned to Rodriguez and tried to wrestle the roll of tape from his hand.

  “Hey, what’s the problem?” Stretch shouted. “What the . . .?”

  Faith turned around and stared at him, her eyes bright, too bright. Was that the axe she held in her right hand? He had never noticed how much weight she had lost and with her hair sticking out at all angles and the dirt smudges on her face, plus the maniacal gleam in her eyes, she looked like some sort of crazy woman.

  The airplane circled over them. Stretch ran to Maria, who was struggling to her feet. Blood gushed from her forearm, which she held close to her body, and her face was white.

  “She tried to cut off my arm with the hatchet.”

  Faith was standing a short distance away facing them, with the axe still held high.

  Stretch helped Maria up and guided her into the shelter. She sank onto the bed platform.

  “Rodriguez, are you okay?” he yelled.

  There was no answer. Maria looked like she was about to pass out. “Go to him,” she said in a shaky voice. “I’ll be okay.”

  Stretch peered out to see Faith slashing at Rodriguez’ face with the axe. He ducked and backed slowly toward the shelter, his arms up in a defensive position.

  “Put that down,” Stretch said in a loud voice. “You gonna hurt someone with it.” Can I get a piece of wood off the woodpile without Faith noticing? He knew he had to try. He crept slowly out of the shelter.

  Rodriguez was talking to Faith, his hands in front of him, palms down, trying to calm her. “I’m not gonna do it anymore. We won’t put any more tape up. See. The tape’s over there in the dirt.”

  Stretch bent and picked up a study log, and edged back into the shelter.

  “Come on, Rodriguez,” he said quietly, “over here.”

  Rodriguez still had his arms up, so he could deflect the axe if Faith should try to slash him. He stepped slowly backwards toward Stretch and the doorway of the shelter, the pain in his ankle obviously forgotten.

  The airplane passed overhead. They could all see the pilot peering out of the window, but nobody dared to move.

  Rodriguez managed to get to the shelter while Faith was staring up at the aircraft, and Stretch, who stood with the log held up in front of him, made space for Rodriguez to pass. “Don’t come any closer,” he said to Faith.

  She glared at him with narrowed eyes. “If anyone dares to try and attract any airplane again I will kill them.”

  “Clearly nobody is doing that, now,” Stretch said. “Now why don’t you just go over there and sit down and relax.” He pointed at the fire.

  “Maria, are you okay?” Rodrigues asked. “Can I do anything to help you?”

  “I lost a lot of blood and we’ve used all the bandages,” Maria’s voice was weak. “Also, the wound will probably get infected from the axe.”

  Stretch risked taking his eyes off Faith to see if Maria was okay. She was very pale and there was a lot of blood. Rodriguez was helping her wrap the wound with an article of clothing. He blew out air and scratched his head. “This is crazy,” he said quietly. “That airplane’s gone.”

  Faith stared at Stretch for a few minutes before she walked away and threw another log on the fire.

  “That woman’s flipped her lid,” he said.

  “I’d say,” Rodriguez added.

  Stretch wondered if the others were thinking what he was thinking. Could Faith be the killer?

  Chapter 48

  I stop and drop to the ground to rest and take my bearings. I drain the last of my water. I can’t believe I went round in a circle. I wasted all that time and so far I’ve seen nothing, no indication of human life anywhere. The grass has become shorter and scrubbier, and the landscape more bleak. I’m going down into a plain. At least I can see the tall trees that follow the creek now. I’m so tired, but I have to go on. I have no energy and I’m sweating and hot. And hungry.

  Hunger is a burning, gnawing thing that I will never get used to, and I know the only chance I have of surviving is to find a village or town, and they, whoever they are, will have food.

  The thought spurs me on. I pat Jake and struggle to my knees and haul myself back onto my feet. “You’re out of Kibbles, too, boy. I know we’ll find someone, though, so don’t worry.”

  Jake lets out a low growl and the hair on his back stands on end.

  “What is it?” I glance nervously around me. I don’t see anything. I stand very still and listen. All I hear is birds singing, and crickets in the grass.

  I stroke Jake, and start walking again. “It’s okay, boy. We’ll be okay.” I don’t know what’s bothering him, but I have to keep going. Have to put one foot in front of the other. I never ever thought it could be so hard.

  “Wait up, Lex.”

  Oh, my God. No. I swing around. Trip has a disgusting smirk on his face. “What are you doing here? Don’t they need you in camp?” I can’t believe he’s caught up with me so soon. I thought I was walking fast. If only I hadn’t gone in that circle. If only I had used the compass.

  “I’m not gonna be nursemaid to those losers. You and I are heading out. As soon as we get to civilization, we’re out of here.”

  My heart is pounding. It can’t be my nightmare again. It can’t happen again.

  “What are you talking about? I wouldn’t go away with you if you were the last person on earth.” Billy told me to stand up against him and he was right. I have to.

  Trip smiles again. “Come on, Lex. You know it was good then and it’ll be better now. You and me are meant for one another. You’re my girl, the only one for me. I know you better than anyone else in this entire world. I know every nook and cranny of your body. You know I’m right.” He reaches out to touch my shoulder.

  I slap him hard across his face. The impact stings my hand and Trip’s face goes red. Jake growls and snarls and pushes his way between us.

  “You’d better get that mutt under control or I’ll kill him.” Trip holds up the knife, Sam’s knife. “I mean it.”

  “Jake, it’s okay, boy.” I drag him back by his collar. “Hurt this dog, and I’ll kill you. I should have killed you years ago like I wanted to. You disgust me and I will never go anywhere with you.”

  Trip breaks into a chuckle. That turns into a laugh. A laugh that chills me to the bone.

  Riaan couldn’t be sure he was seeing people moving down below. He thought he had spotted something bright reflecting for a short few moments. Something metallic, maybe. When he made a second pass, it wasn’t there. There was something like a pink ribbon in the trees though. Hendrik had mentioned that
he had seen that when he flew over. This had to be their camp.

  He flew over to the air field he had prepared what seemed like a lifetime ago. He made one pass over it. The bush hadn’t overgrown it yet. There was no telling from the air if anything had dug holes in it, though. He had to hope they hadn’t.

  He set the airplane down with his heart in his mouth. It bounced a little, and then settled. The ground was a little bumpy but he was down and he hadn’t hit a hole. He taxied to a halt, slid out of the door, and scanned the sky.

  The storm was following him and the freshening wind worried him.

  He hammered in some stakes and secured the plane before he headed up the hill towards the place where he had seen the ribbon in the trees and, possibly, movement.

  Billy cursed his bad luck over and over. He was so worried about Lexie, and his progress seemed to be so slow. If his knee was good he would be running, and he was fit. He could run a long way without getting tired. Now all he could manage was this half jog. Every step he took jarred his knee, and the makeshift crutch was beginning to chafe his underarm, but he would not let it slow him down.

  Images of Lexie filled his mind. What would that asshole, Trip do if he caught up with her? Billy had no doubts in his mind that that was what Trip intended. He had seen the way Trip leered at Lexie. Add what Lexie had told him. Billy saw red every time he thought about it. He should have killed Trip. Maybe he would have if things had been different and they hadn’t been caught up in that rockslide.