“His screaming will warn the others before that.”
“Not if we sedate him.”
Hugo considered it. More of the powerful tranquilizer in such a short amount of time would cause problems with the animal’s nervous system, but if it allowed them to catch more, the risk would be worth it. If they caught enough monkeys, they could simply kill the bait.
Hugo raised his eyes and began to nod, then suddenly froze. The rustling behind Vito had been subtle. Not enough to be heard and barely enough to be seen in the dim light. At that exact moment, the other three poachers each witnessed the same dreaded sight — figures dressed in black and hidden behind the barrels of their assault rifles.
From different directions, Caesare, Tiewater, Corso, and Anderson all stepped out in unison. Each emerging from a position visible by one of the poachers, all of whom froze in stunned silence… except one.
Claudio, the youngest of Hugo’s group and an Argentinian… panicked. At the sight of Tiewater, he was immediately on his feet before anyone could stop him and drawing his weapon.
Corso, moving slowly out of the brush behind him, saw the kid draw and bolted for him. It took only a few steps at full speed for Corso to reach him and knock him out with the butt of his rifle, but not before a single shot exploded from the .45 caliber pistol.
65
Hiding less than a hundred yards away, DeeAnn, Dulce, and Juan all jumped when they heard the loud gunshot. But it was the Brazilians, even further away, who stopped in their tracks. All eyes turned north with dozens of hands instinctively gripping their own guns.
Salazar and his lieutenant looked back at each other, completely ignoring both Otero and Russo.
There was no second shot.
Salazar began yelling. “Hurry! Move!” He locked eyes with his lieutenant. “Move your men out with the search team. NOW!”
It was less than a minute before Caesare reappeared in the darkness and looked down at DeeAnn. “We have to move. Right now!”
They scrambled to their feet. “What the hell was that?”
“An accident.”
“Did you shoot them?”
“Not exactly.”
“Not exactly? What does that mean?”
“It means we’re going to have company if we don’t get out of here immediately.”
A few minutes later they all emerged into what DeeAnn recognized as a small camp. Surrounded by four tents, several fold-out tables and chairs, they could see Anderson standing nearby, bandaging Tiewater’s arm. On the ground was a large man with his arms bound behind his back. He had a deep bronze complexion and sat dressed in rumpled camouflage clothes. He watched the SEALs standing over him with a look of confusion.
“You okay?” Caesare asked Tiewater.
“Yeah. Just a graze.”
“Where’s Corso?”
“Here.”
He turned to his left to see Corso’s large frame appear, pushing through a wall of waist-high plants.
“Where are the others?”
“Sleeping.”
Caesare grinned and knelt down in front of the man, resting his rifle across one arm.
“What’s your name?”
The man stared at him without replying.
“Name,” Caesare asked again, louder.
Hugo stared uncomprehendingly at the men.
Caesare sighed and stood back up. “Anyone speak Portuguese?”
“I can ask how much cab fare is,” Tiewater said with a grimace. “But that’s about it.”
“Great.”
“Portuguese wasn’t exactly popular in high school.”
Caesare looked at Corso with surprise. “Really? Now you get funny?”
“It takes me a while.”
“No kidding.”
Tiewater straightened his arm and snaked his sleeve back down over his bandage. He stared down at the poacher. “We don’t need him. We know where they were.”
Anderson nodded in agreement.
Steve Caesare thought for a moment before turning around to DeeAnn and pointing at her vest.
“Turn it on.”
“I thought you wanted it off?”
“It doesn’t matter now. Everyone heard the gunshot. Which means a company of soldiers is now headed this way.”
He watched DeeAnn turn the vest back on before kneeling down again, in front of Dulce.
From her own viewpoint, the small gorilla watched Caesare’s frame lower to the ground. He was looking at her with an expression she’d come to know as worried.
She stepped forward, studying him, and wiggled her large black nostrils. She could smell his nervousness.
When he spoke, she heard his mechanical voice through DeeAnn’s vest.
You hear now, Dulce?
She nodded at the mechanical sound from the vest.
“Yes. I hear you.”
Me need you help.
“Yes. I help.” Dulce grunted, smiling at Caesare. “How help you?”
We need find friend. Need fast. Very fast.
“Yes. I can find friend. I find friend quickly.” Dulce sniffed again. It wasn’t just nervousness she could smell on Caesare. Some of it was fear. They were in danger.
“I find him.”
Yes Dulce. Now. Fast!
Dulce snorted confirmation. At this distance, she could already hear the monkeys. And they were close.
66
The rolling of the ship caused Alison to stumble and brace against the wall for support. A few steps in front of her, Neely seemed to have less trouble keeping her balance, but even she stumbled slightly as she reached for Alison.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.” Alison stepped back into the middle of the narrow passageway and continued forward with a hand on each wall.
Together they reached the door at the end, on which Neely knocked firmly. She glanced anxiously at Alison and cleared her throat.
The door opened moments later with Captain Emerson standing on the other side. Dressed in a pressed white, short-sleeve shirt, his trim frame filled the opening. He examined them with his piercing gray eyes. After a brief moment, he pushed the door open further and stepped back.
“Commander Lawton. Dr. Shaw. Please come in.”
They both entered without a word and walked into a surprisingly roomy cabin, complete with a small dining room table and leather couch. On the opposite wall stood a chest-high shelf, filled neatly with books and secured behind four small, decorative glass doors.
“Have a seat,” he said, motioning to the couch.
The two women complied as they watched Emerson pull out a chair and sit facing them, wearing a dour expression. “We should be arriving in a little less than an hour. So I thought we should have a talk.”
Both women nodded in silence.
“This isn’t the first time Langford has commandeered my ship like this. In fact, he seems to be making a habit out of it lately. This is, however, the first time he’s done so without giving me much information as to why. What he did tell me is that you two ladies are looking for something pretty damn important. And my job, and that of my crew, is to do whatever we can to help you find it.” He leaned back slightly and crossed his arms. “Is there some light you two care to shed on this?”
Neely and Alison looked at each other, unsure of what to say. Emerson continued, shifting his gaze over to Neely. “I’m sure you would agree that being ordered to relinquish part of my ship to a junior officer, and a civilian, begs for a bit more explanation.”
Neely cleared her throat, nervously. “Uh, well, the truth is Captain, we’re under orders as well.”
“From Langford?”
“Yes, sir.”