Phantom Game (GhostWalkers 18)

“I honestly don’t know,” Crawley said, grateful he didn’t. He had the feeling Jonas really could hear lies.

The wind shifted just a little, just enough that it should carry scents to his two sniffers. Crawley relaxed, some of the tension easing out of him. Can you tell where the snipers are? Can you pinpoint their locations?

Both men inhaled without seeming to do so.

Crawley tried to look harmless. “Do you mind if we put our hands down? We removed all weapons.”

“Before you put your hands down, I want each of you to tell me you left all your weapons and all communication devices behind in the rock corridor, starting with you, Crawley, then Bear, then Hound.”

Crawley made a show of sighing to give his men time to sniff out the snipers. “I left all of my weapons and all communication devices behind in the rock corridor.”

When Jonas indicated he could put his hands down, he did so. Bear followed his example and then Hound. Crawley was grateful they’d followed his orders to the letter. No one got shot.

I can’t even smell Jonas and he’s right in front of us. I have no idea what could be interfering with my sense of smell. We don’t know for certain he’s not alone, Crawley, but he could be.

Do you really want to take that chance, Hound?

“What do you plan to do with us?” Crawley asked.

“Turn you over to my team leader and let him figure it out.”

It’s a long way down the mountain, Crawley said with relief. Cooperate.

“Ryland might not be too happy with you coming to kidnap his wife and son and providing the information to murder his team.” Jonas indicated for them to stand. “You can start down the trail. Apparently, you already know the way. If you step off the path for any reason without first indicating to me that you have a reason, it will be the last step you ever take.”

What do you think, Crawley? He’s going to walk behind us. I haven’t seen anyone else or even smelled them, Hound said.

Let’s go down the mountain. It’s the way we want to go anyway.

He could have part of his team coming up to meet him, Bear cautioned.

I thought of that. I think he’s too arrogant for that. He wants to march us down to his crew and show off that he trapped us.

Crawley got up, taking his time, leading the way along the path that led down the mountain. Bear and Hound followed him. There was no more strange fog. Every now and then he caught glimpses of a silvery stream snaking down the mountain. The terrain grew less rocky and more forested as they dropped another thousand feet.

Lizards and rodents scurried out of their way, disturbing the vegetation on the ground. The wind picked up in the canopy and occasionally blew through the trees where the groves were more open. Birds sang to one another and flew from one branch to another. Squirrels raced up and down the tree branches, chattering nonstop.

Jonas made no sound as he walked. None. He was like a damned ghost. Crawley still felt the ominous sensation of having a target painted on the front of his chest right over his heart. A chill crept down his spine. He wanted to look back and see where Jonas was, but instead, he picked up the pace, trying to outrun the nerves he couldn’t quite shake.

You two feel like you’ve got a sniper watching you?

Bear answered first. It doesn’t make any sense, Crawley. We’ve covered ground fairly quickly, but yeah, it’s still there. The sniper would have to be moving with us.

Same here, Hound said. I’ve looked over my shoulder a couple of times because that guy doesn’t make a sound. I thought for a minute he might have left us, but he’s right behind us. Keeps his distance. No weapons in sight. He thinks he’s safe from us.

Keep walking. We have plenty of time. He can’t be in the best of shape, not like we are. He might have set a sweet ambush, but that first team of GhostWalkers was considered defective for a reason, Crawley told them.

The more he thought about it, the more he was certain it was the truth. The people he worked for were brilliant, and they didn’t make very many mistakes. They bought information all the time, and they paid premium prices for it. Those they paid knew if they screwed up, they didn’t get a second chance. The consortium would send someone, an accident would happen and everyone would know not to try to cheat them again.

This Jonas was most likely going to be winded long before Crawley or his men were. They just had to bide their time. He increased his pace just a little more. Not wanting Jonas to protest but enough that it would wear him out faster. He was also becoming more convinced that Jonas was alone. If there were other team members—like the sniper they kept imagining—one of the sniffers would have smelled them by now. One of the birds would have reacted. A sound would have given them away. No one was that good in the forest.