Hunter nodded, now knowing who could shoot in the bunch. Hitting a moving pickup and putting the bullet so close to Hunter and Anna’s heads at sixty or more yards, that was good shooting. Something to keep in mind, she thought.

Driving to circle the block and come back to the road to the International Bridge took longer than Hunter wanted because of traffic, but she reached the road and almost turned when she saw the three women standing there watching traffic going toward the bridge.

Hunter continued straight, then turned west on Highway 2. Anna asked, “Where are we going?”

“We’re going to the Amistad Dam. We’ll cross there, then we can circle back into Del Rio.”

“Okay.”

“It’s not far, relax.”

Hunter realized how foolish it was to say, knowing that Anna couldn’t relax while Kelly was missing. She focused on her driving.

They made it across the bridge without incident and when they reached Highway 90, turned right to go toward town. The adrenaline rush made Hunter thirsty, and she asked, Anna, “You want a drink? I need one after that.”

“I would. Just water.”

Hunter turned into another Stripes Convenience Store as a Jeep Wrangler pulled in at the same time. Two teenagers hopped out and looked at the rear window as Hunter exited. The blond one said, “Did you get shot at? We hear that happens a lot down here on the border.”

The brown-haired boy said, “We’re from Amarillo, we don’t see things like that at home.”

Hunter said, “It was a hunting accident on our lease. The new guy was careless and shot at a feral pig and missed, but hit my truck. Don’t worry down here, fellas, Del Rio is pretty safe.”

They nodded and said, “Thanks.” As they turned to go to the store, the two talked together for a moment, then the blond boy said, “I’m not trying to be a stalker, but, well, you are really, really good looking. I’m not trying to pick you up or anything either, it’s just we don’t see women like you, not with that look you have.”

“What kind of look is that?”

The boy blushed, “I mean this in the best way, but your eyes and all, you look like a beautiful assassin.”

“Thanks, I think.”

Both boys said together, “It was a compliment, really.”

Hunter laughed, “I’ll take it that way. You guys have a good time.”

Hunter bought two bottles of water and handed one to Anna when she returned to the truck. Anna said, “They’re right, about your eyes. When you saw the…La Osa, with the pistol, your eyes changed. It’s not so much when you’re relaxed, like right now, but there’s still a little of it.”

“I’m just me. I can’t change that.”

“I wouldn’t want you to. It sort of makes me feel safer, if you know what I mean, like you’re capable of taking on anything.”

“Don’t give me that much credit, but I will try to help you.”

“Now I have some hope,” Anna said, and Hunter didn’t have the heart to tell her not to get her hopes up too high, because Kelly might already be dead.

Chapter 5

Kelly awoke on the third day in the dimness of predawn, hearing whimpering from the other children. She turned on her side and the old, twin bed springs squeaked in loud protest as they did every time she moved. The medicine-like odor still clung in her mouth and nose, but not as strong as the last two days, and she noticed her hair had fully dried and didn’t look blond anymore, but a uniform mousy brown. Kelly studied the inside of th

e large metal barn where she’d been kept since her kidnapping in Mexico. Eight or so other children sat or reclined nearby, all either asleep or emitting soft, plaintive crying sounds into their pillows.

Kelly moved outside the room and sat on the concrete floor of the barn, near one of the other new girls, who looked about nine or ten, with thin legs and mousy brown hair, as all of them had. Kelly vaguely remembered someone dying her hair, but not much else. She looked at the other girl, “What’s your name? I’m Kelly.”

“I am Consuela.” She looked frightened. “Where are we? Where’s my mother?”

“I don’t know.” They both hushed as the large sliding barn doors opened and two women and a large man entered the barn, eyeing them as they approached.

The man said, “We’re halfway there, and they look good.”

Tags: Billy Kring Thriller
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