The Oracle (Fargo Adventures 11)

Remi followed the direction of his focus. “Where’s he going?”

“If I had to guess, the temple ruins. Any chance you two will take my advice and stay here?”

Remi scoffed. “Like the advice you gave me telling me to stay at Amal’s house? Had I listened, you’d still be trying to get across that flooded floor without electrocuting yourself.”

“A few more seconds, we would’ve gotten out on our own. Right, Lazlo?”

“Or gotten fried,” Lazlo said.

Remi grinned. “You’re stuck with us now. What’s Hank after?”

“The map,” Lazlo said. “He seemed agitated about getting it to Tarek. Or some such.”

“That he did.” Sam thought about the night they left the dinner party and saw Tarek’s SUV parked on the side of the road out behind the ruins. “I’ll bet Tarek’s on his way—if he’s not already here. And Hank’s meeting up with him.”

Remi patted her holstered Sig Sauer. “I vote we follow.”

“Lazlo?”

“I vote no.”

“Two-to-one.” Sam nodded toward the trees. “We go after him.”

“It’s always two-to-one,” Lazlo said as he followed them. “Why bother to vote?”

They kept low as they moved toward the olive grove, hiding behind a thick trunk on the edge of the orchard. “There,” Sam said, pointing down the hill. Hank emerged from the orchard into the narrow valley where a line of ancient olive trees with massive twisted trunks stretched between the orchard and the ivy-covered ruins at the base of the hill.

“He’s definitely headed toward the temple,” Remi said.

“The hidden stairs,” Lazlo said. “I saw it in the mosaic.”

“You’d think he’d at least take a shovel.”

“Whatever he’s doing,” Sam said, “he’s in a hurry.” Though Hank was walking in the direction of the temple, he kept looking out to his left.

Sam studied the hillside, at first not seeing anything, until a movement near the crest caught his eye. “Tarek.”

Remi stood behind him, looking over his shoulder. “A shame you didn’t take out his elbow, too.”

“Hindsight. Looks like he brought a new friend.” He returned his attention to Hank, who was now running down the hill, waving his hand at the two men. “What is he doing?”

“Sam, I think they’re aiming at him.”

“Whatever happens, Hank’s brought this on himself.”

“I know, but Renee …”

The pain in his wife’s voice made it particularly difficult to let Hank just walk into danger. As much as Sam felt Hank deserved everything he got, Remi would hurt because her friend would hurt. “Hank,” he shouted.

If anything, Hank quickened his pace. He waved his hands again. “I’ve found it. I found the map.” He was halfway down the hill, his stride fast and steady, when Tarek stepped out in the open. “I know where it is.”

Hank,” Sam shouted. “Get—”

A gunshot cracked.

Hank fell to the ground.

CHAPTER EIGHTY-NINE