Final Option (Oregon Files 14)

“You’re not going to,” Hali said. “I am. We’ve got a tandem harness.”

She looked at MacD, who shrugged as he helped Hali finish prepping the second canopy, which was red and blue. “Fastest way down. Can’t take the cable car, as you already pointed out. And hiking back down would take hours, during which time your friends would be able to intercept us.”

“This is insane. How can you be sure my cover is blown?”

“Ah can’t. Langston Overholt seems to be sure, though.”

“But—”

“Listen. You can stay and hope they haven’t found out about you or you can come with us. That simple.”

Her griping was starting to get on MacD’s nerves. He pointedly looked back up the trail. They were still alone, but that wouldn’t last long.

Belasco followed his gaze, then grimaced and put on the helmet.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

MacD pointed at Ilha da Laje at the mouth of Guanabara Bay.

“See that little speck down there? We’re landing on top of it. No way your friends can get to us there.”

“And then what? A boat picks us up?”

“Sub.”

She rolled her eyes. “This just keeps getting better. Who are you guys?”

“Private contractors. We’re all partners in the firm. Ah can get you a brochure later so you can learn about our time-share opportunities.”

“Great. I’m being rescued by Chuckles the Clown.”

“Hey! You guessed my Ranger call sign!”

Belasco turned to Hali, who helped her into her harness. “You have to put up with this all the time?”

Hali smiled. “That’s why I get paid the big bucks.”

“How long will it take us to get down?”

“Ten minutes tops. Light breeze. Should be a smooth ride.”

“And I should still be on my undercover mission,” Belasco said. She wheeled on MacD. “If I find out you burned me for no reason, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

“Is it too early to regret it now?” MacD asked.

“Maybe I should let you two ride together,” Hali said. “That way, you can continue this whole ‘will they, won’t they’ tension.”

“Oh, please.” She jerked a thumb toward MacD. “My ex was a better-looking version of this guy.”

MacD looked at Hali and shook his head. “It’s good we’re getting paid for this. Ah’ve never heard somebody complain so much about getting his life saved.”

Hali just grinned and gave him a shrug. While Hali put on his own harness and connected it to the suspension lines and to Belasco, he told her how they were going to launch.

“We’re going to face the canopy, and I’m going to pull it into the air,” he said. “Once it catches the wind, we’ll turn around and head down the hill toward the cliff until we take flight. Got it?”

Now she was starting to look nervous.

“You’ve done this before? The tandem thing?”