Carter nodded and rose slowly, as if he was used to it. “Come on, Eric, let’s hit our hotel bar. You know, that place where everybody knows our name.”
The bartender gave a sarcastic laugh. “Yeah, please do that. And don’t let the door hit you on the ass on your way out.”
The party of locals watched Carter and Jayden stagger out of the bar, with Jayden kicking the front door open and stumbling out. “Thanks for everything!” he yelled back before it swung shut. He and Carter stood directly in front of the door so that everyone inside could see they were indeed waiting for the called taxi. “How was I?” Jayden asked under his breath.
“Oscar consideration is in your future. Here’s our ride.” A classic yellow and black taxi rolled up to the curb. The driver spoke to them through the open window. “Waterstone?”
They got in and the cab pulled out into the light traffic.
Chapter 14
“Have a few too many in there, did ya?” the cabbie asked over his shoulder as he drove along.
“Yeah well, that’s what bars are for, right?” Jayden deliberately over-slurred from the back seat next to Carter, who was scanning their surroundings out the windows.
The cabbie took his hands off the wheel for a moment in order to momentarily throw his hands up. “Hey, I don’t judge. A big part of my business is making sure drunk people get to where they’re going safely, and without hurting anyone else. Your decision to call a cab is commendable. Waterstone Hotel is only fifteen minutes away, but if you’re three sheets to the wind…”
Carter and Jayden exchanged glances and then Carter spoke. “Actually, can you just take us to the airport instead?”
The cabbie glanced at him via his rearview mirror. “St. John’s International?”
“Yes. I know it’s further, but here…” Carter dug some cash out of his pocket and handed it over the seat to the driver. Apparently it was more than enough, because he saw the man’s eyes widen just slightly for a moment and then he picked up his radio and told his dispatcher, “Change of plans, cancel Waterstone, heading to SJI, fare pre-paid.” Carter heard the dispatcher acknowledge the call and then the cabbie hung up the radio transmitter.
That was it, Carter thought. Their escape plan was in action. Daedalus ’ hired local goons, if in fact that’s who they were, would be going to the Waterstone Hotel, while he and Jayden would be heading in the completely opposite direction to the airport. But something nagged at his mind, something not quite right. Daedalus and his outfit ran a tight ship, Carter knew. He didn’t leave a lot of things to chance. And what was the safest thing to do here, if they really wanted to stay with their quarry? To head to the Waterstone in a few minutes after the cab left? Or to simply follow the cab, just in case plans changed or were never honest in the first place? Carter had heard rumors that Daedalus employed a couple of ex-Mossad agents in his organization, to keep all of his field agents on their toes, and this was exactly the kind of scenario where that kind of preparation might play out in Treasure, Inc.’s favor.
Carter did his best to turn around and glance out the back window without it appearing unusual. Only a half dozen cars plied the lanes behind them, and one of them was a silver sedan with local plates that he thought he’d seen parked at the curb in front of them when they’d gotten into the cab. But he couldn’t be positive. He mentally kicked himself for not paying more attention. He turned back around and faced forward. Traffic was becoming slightly more congested up ahead, but still not serious like anyone from a big city would be used to.
“Just relax, we’ll be there in under twenty minutes,” the driver said as he changed into the left lane. Carter found he was able to get a glimpse of the vehicles behind them by looking at the mirror on the driver’s side. He was dismayed to see the silver sedan ease into the left lane also.
“Any chance we could hear a local radio station?” he said to the driver. “I like to hear radio in different countries.”
“Sure thing.” The driver put on some classic rock that could be heard basically anywhere in the western world, but Carter only wanted it for the noise cover. He leaned a little closer to Jayden and told him he thought they were being followed by the silver sedan. “Don’t look back. I’ve already looked once, and you can see them in the left mirror now.”
Jayden eyed the mirror and then said, “Yeah, they were at the bar. That grill is kind of distinctive.”
Carter shook his head. “Not good at all. If they see us even take the airport exit, they’ll know we’re leaving the country even if they don’t manage to tail us on foot all the way to our gate.”
“You have any more cash on you?” Jayden pulled a rumpled bill from his pocket. This is all I have on me. Might not be enough to convince this guy to lose ‘em.”
Carter considered the implications of Jayden’s question. If they did convince the cabbie to pull evasive maneuvers in order to leave their tail behind, it would also tip them off that they were right about who they were following and what they were doing. If they were unsure as it was.
“It might be better to have him drop us off early, in a crowded place, and try and lose them on foot. Then make our way to the airport after that.”
Jayden called over to the driver. “Excuse me, but are there any more areas with shops, maybe liquor stores, that we could stop at on the way to the airport?”
The driver turned down the music and asked him to repeat the question, which Jayden did.
“No sir, I’d have to loop all the way back. I’ll do it, if you want, but you’d really be going out of your way. If I were you I’d just hit the airport bars and duty-free shops once you get into St. Johns International.”
Carter eyed Jayden and shook his head. Casually changing their destination was not going to be an option. Time for Plan B. He figured they didn’t have much to lose by trying, so he took Jayden’s cash, added what he had to it, and held it out to the cabbie.
“You see that silver car back there?”
The driver appeared confused, then concerned, as he consulted his rear view mirror. “Yes? Something wrong?”
“Not really, but those are friends of ours who have been getting on our nerves. They came here on vacation with us, but we’re leaving early. I think they’re trying to talk us out of it, and I’d rather just avoid them, so if you can do us a favor and lose them, this cash is all yours.”
He glanced at the bills and then into his rearview mirror. “That silver sedan four cars back, same lane as us?” he clarified.
“That’s the one,” Carter answered.
The driver looked back at them with a wide grin. “Put on your lap belts, please.” Carter and Jayden did so and then the driver accelerated smoothly, passing three cars in the next lane before changing into that lane. He continued the same process, changing into the next lane over after passing a few more cars. He was speeding in order to do it, but not recklessly so. One car even passed him. But their tail was out of sight, at least for now. The driver pointed out the sign for the airport.
“Sure you don’t want me to take it? I don’t see your friends.”
Carter saw a public bus pulled over at a stop on the right. “Does one of those go to the airport?”
“Yes, that one does, in fact. Takes the long way around.”
“Sounds perfect,” Carter said. “Can you gain a little more distance from our friends and then drop us off at the next bus stop?”
“Yes, sir.” The cabbie sped up again, passing the bus and several cars in the right-most lane. Looking back, Carter still couldn’t see their tail. He knew that didn’t necessarily mean they weren’t back there, but it did make him feel better that they hadn’t gained on them. He watched the scenery of a country he’d never visited prior to this day whiz by, and he couldn’t help but feel how he wished they could slow down and enjoy their stay. But this was a business trip of sorts, and he knew that he had to stay focused. One day, he would return here on vacation, he told himself. After Noah’s Ark had been found.