“Something has got to give, here,” she said, popping a reload into her pistol. “They’re way too close.”
“That’s an understatement,” Dane replied, glancing in his mirror. The traffic ahead of them was at a standstill. The oncoming lanes were almost gridlocked, and tourists packed the narrow sidewalks. The last thing they needed was an Old West-style shootout, but it might come down to that. He looked around for a side street, anything that would afford an escape. Ahead of him, the stalled traffic loomed ever closer. And then, to his left, he saw what he was looking for. It could work, but they would have to be fast.
He tapped the brake and then yanked the wheel hard to the left, nearly rolling the top-heavy vehicle. Horns blared as a he cut across the street directly in front of oncoming traffic. Hitting the brakes hard, he maneuvered the Tahoe into a controlled skid, then released the pedal and whipped the vehicle into an empty parking space.
“Out,” he barked. He hopped out of the car and looked across the street, where the sheer volume of vehicles had managed to hold up the Taurus. The driver was trying to force his way across through the heavy oncoming traffic. Through the driver’s window, Dane was finally able to get a look at their pursuers.
The two could have been twins. Each had short, dark hair, and wore wrap-around sunglasses and dark colored polo-style shirts. Dressed to blend in with the crowd, Dane thought. That’s what I intend to do. He took Kaylin’s hand, and led her away from the car. They hurried across the parking lot and into the Charleston Slave Market.
CHAPTER 5
The Charleston Slave Market was a long, narrow building that spanned the length of two city blocks. Contrary to common wisdom, the market was not a place where slaves had once been sold, but a place where slaves from the surrounding area had gathered to sell their wares. Now it had been converted to a sort of giant flea market, which drew thousands of visitors each day. Dane hoped that the milling throngs would provide him and Kaylin with a way to disappear.
His cell phone vibrated. He opened it up and checked the display. It was Bones.
“Maddock, where are you?”
“We’re in the slave market. You know how to get here?” Dane squeezed through the throng of shoppers milling about the displays. He turned to see the Taurus pulling in to the parking lot.
“I’ll find it. What’s the deal?”
Dane explained their situation and gave his friend a general description of their pursuers. Bones assured him that he would be there soon. He flipped the phone shut and turned to Kaylin, who was turning off her own phone.
“I called the police, but I don’t think the dispatcher believed me. She kept going on about the penalty for phony 911 calls.”
“Two cars flying down the street, guns blazing have to have gotten someone’s attention,” he said. “Let’s stay alive until they get here.”
“Should we try and slip out of the market farther on down?” She stood on her tiptoes trying to see over the milling throng. The market offered exits at the end of each segment, but was woefully lacking in side doors.
“I think we’re safer in the crowd,” he replied, as they moved deeper into the throng. He was walking sideways, pretending to look at the merchandise, all the while keeping an eye on the front entrance. So far, there was no sign of their pursuers.
A bit farther down, he saw what he had been hoping to find. He nodded toward the display of Hawaiian print shirts. Kaylin smiled, understanding his thoughts immediately. At the display, Dane purchased two shirts, a straw hat for himself and sunglasses for Kaylin. They donned their new clothing quickly, throwing the shirts over what they were already wearing.
“You look totally lame,” Kaylin said as she twisted her long, blonde hair up into a bun.
“That’s the idea,” he replied with a grin. “Tourist camo.” He was fairly certain she was rolling her eyes behind her sunglasses. He offered her his elbow, which she took in a tight grip that conveyed her tension. Arm-in-arm the two continued to browse, looking, he hoped, like nothing more than a happy couple on vacation. All the while, they kept a lookout for the men who were after them.
Moments later, Dane spotted one of their pursuers, the driver, he thought, enter the market. Trying to look inconspicuous, the man made a show of checking out the displays on either side of the aisle as he worked his way into the marketplace.
“Only one of them,” Dane whispered. “The other guy must be coming in from the back. That’s what I would have done.”
Kaylin examined a fat, silver bracelet inlaid with turquoise. “Buy this for me, honey?” she said in a syrupy voice.
“Not this close to our anniversary, sweetheart,” he kidded. She screwed up her face in an exaggerated pout.
“Keep sticking that lip out there and a bird’s going to poop on it,” he said, arching an eyebrow.
She frowned and smacked him on the shoulder. In response, he pulled her close and gave her a squeeze, giving him a chance to look over her shoulder at the man who was coming toward them.
“He hasn’t seen us yet, but he’s getting closer,” he whispered in her ear. Who were these guys?
“I still don’t see anyone coming from the other direction,” she whispered back.
They broke from the embrace and continued moving. Dane guessed that they were about halfway through the first section of the market. He wanted to look back, but he could not afford to draw attention to them. A bit farther, then they paused at a book vendor’s display. Dane picked up a large picture book and held it up close to his face. He stole a glance back in the direction from which they had come. The man was no more than thirty yards away, moving slowly, but coming steadily closer. At least they had not yet been spotted.
“Dane, here he comes,” Kaylin whispered, her voice strident with urgency.
Dane turned his head and caught a glimpse of the second man, much farther away, but also headed toward them.
”What do we do?” Kaylin bit her lower lip. Worry was evident in her green eyes.
“They’re probably expecting us to bolt out the back door. Our best chance is to try and slip past the first guy.”
“What if that doesn’t work?” she asked.
“Got your gun ready?”
She nodded and patted the large handbag she carried slung over her shoulder.
“Good. Now we just need a way to get past him without him seeing us.” He racked his brain. There was only the wide center aisle running the length of the market. Were their disguises good enough that they could just walk past the man? Not likely. He did not know what kind of look the men had gotten at him and Kaylin, but they would be searching for a man and woman fitting their general descriptions.
“What about this?” Kaylin took his face in her hands, and forcefully pulled him toward her. Their lips met in a long, deep kiss. After an instant of surprise, he cupped her face in his hands as well.
He cracked his eyelid just enough to see the first man move past them on the far side of the aisle. He waited two seconds, then drew away from her. She looked at him with disappointment in her eyes. Whether it was disappointment over the quality or the duration of the kiss, he did not know.
“He’s past us,” Dane whispered. They set off at a fast walk in the direction of the front entrance, with Kaylin walking just ahead of him. They wove in and out of the shoppers. After a few moments, Dane stole a glance over his shoulder. He could not see their pursuers. Had they lost the two men?
Dane and Kaylin continued at their hurried pace. The front entrance loomed ahead of them. Dane cursed inwardly. No matter how fast they moved, the entrance seemed to get no closer. They dodged and sidestepped as they tried to make their way out of the market. Dane looked back again, painfully aware that too much weaving through the crowd would draw attention.