The two left behind opened up with their rifles and stone chips flew off the rocks. They shot wide and high. They weren’t sure where the shots were coming from. Carter shot one in the chest, worked the bolt, took a fast point and shoot on the last man standing. His head shattered like a melon and he went down.
The echoes of gunfire faded away. Carter motioned to Selena to stay where she was. He waited to see if anyone else would come out of the cave. No one did, but that didn’t mean no one was in there. He waited five more minutes, then ran crouched to where Selena stood. She still held the Glock, the slide locked back.
"You’ve got a hell of a voice," he said. "Reload."
She was white faced. She ejected the empty magazine and inserted another, racked the slide.
"Just like Carnegie Hall." She tried a smile. Didn't quite make it.
"I’m going down there and grab two of those rifles. Once I have them, I’m heading for those rocks on the other side." He pointed at two good sized boulders on the floor of the ravine. "After I get there, I’ll signal and you follow. I’ll give you cover if it’s needed. We have to get off this ridge. Do you know how to use this?" He held up the Mauser.
"Yes."
He took rounds from his pocket and reloaded. He worked the bolt and handed her the rifle. "You cover me. Watch the entrance to the cave. Anyone shows himself, shoot at him. It doesn’t matter if you hit him or not, just keep him busy."
"Got it."
"I’m going."
Carter scrambled down the slope, reached the first man he’d shot and grabbed his rifle on the run. He ran to the second group, took another rifle and crossed the ravine to the rocks. No one fired from the cave.
He checked the AK, took aim at the cave mouth and signaled Selena. She half slid down the slope and sprinted across. He handed her an AK and she set the Mauser on the ground.
"Selector's on full auto. Aim and pull the trigger." Your basic AK instructions.
"I know how to use it."
He looked at her, nodded. "Follow me. Keep low and ready to fire." Carter stood and ran for the side of the cave. He heard Selena hard behind him. He caught his breath, ran to the entrance, turned the corner and hugged the wall, AK up against his cheek. He panned across, searching for movement.
The cave had a high, uneven ceiling and went far back into the mountain until daylight gave way to darkness. Boxes and crates were stacked along one side. Sleeping bags and a line of prayer rugs lay on the floor. A small camp stove sat on a large crate that served as a table. Boxes surrounded the crate like chairs.
If someone was still here, they would have been shooting by now. Carter started looking for a phone.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
The cave was an arsenal. The crates held ammunition and rifles. They found four RPG launchers. There were two brand new stingers in a box with US markings. They found food and water. They found two large pallets loaded with packets of white crystalline powder wrapped in plastic. Carter cut one open. He wet his finger and tasted. It numbed his tongue. He spat it out.
Cocaine, courtesy of the Cartels. Millions of dollars worth. Someone in Bogotá or wherever was going to be unhappy. Whatever else came out of this, they'd just put a dent in the drug route to Europe.
They didn’t find a phone.
Carter went back outside and searched the bodies of the men they'd killed. No phones. Nick fought off the feeling this had all been for nothing. He still couldn’t call for help. He picked up the weapons lying around in the ravine and went back to the cave.
He sat on one of the boxes and realized how tired he was and thought about Harmon, back on the mesa.
The sound of an approaching vehicle rumbled up the ravine. Carter looked out the entrance. A Toyota Land Cruiser painted in desert camouflage ground up the slope. It stopped when the driver spotted the bodies.
"It’s an army vehicle."
Selena studied the truck. "Border patrol? Out here? How would they know where this cave was?"
"They wouldn’t. Something’s not right."
After a moment a door opened. A familiar figure emerged from the passenger side, followed by two men in fatigues. Last time Carter saw them, they'd been fingering their batons in the airport security office.
"It’s Samake, with his two goons. If he knows about the cave he’s part of this. That's why he didn't want us up here. Grab your rifle and get out of sight behind that crate. Be ready to shoot if I open fire."
Selena started to say something, thought better of it and went to the crate. She rested her rifle, took aim and waited.
Samake looked around, barked an order. All three ran for cover. It was a mistake, because now he was away from his vehicle. He’d just cut off his escape route. Carter waited. It was Samake’s move.
Colonel Samake called up the ravine. "My brothers, what has happened here? It is I, Colonel Samake."
Nick kept his voice low. "I guess that clinches it," he said. Selena nodded. Her face was grim. She was angry.
"Come out, my brothers. Let me see you. I have come as we arranged."
Selena and Carter waited.
Samake and his men were behind the rocks. There was no clear shot. Samake didn’t know what to do. After a few moments he sent his men forward. They kept low, moving from boulder to boulder. They got closer to the mouth of the cave. Nick signaled Selena. Wait.
"I see no one," one called. "The cave is empty." He stood up, a sign of lousy training. A man with a rifle and a uniform, not a soldier. The second policeman stood.
Carter opened up. Selena began firing.
The AK 47 is a formidable weapon. The rounds ripped into the two men and shredded them. They jerked and spun like marionettes in the hands of a lunatic puppeteer and fell backwards.
"Hey Colonel," Carter called. "Why don’t you throw down your weapon and stand up."
"Depp?" Carter heard anger in his voice.
"Catch any flies lately, Samake? Stand up, you bastard. We can wait all day if we have to. But I don’t want to. We’ve got an RPG here. That rock won’t help you. You’ve got five minutes."
Nick let him think about it. "Selena, get one of those launchers."
She went over to a crate, took out a launcher, pulled several rounds out and brought everything over.
"Keep him covered."
"My pleasure." She took up her position. Carter set his rifle down, loaded the RPG.
Samake called out. "I am a Colonel in my country’s security services. I came to arrest these terrorists. You have killed two of my men. Perhaps you were frightened. Stop this foolishness and we will talk. It is not too late."
Carter took aim beyond Samake and fired. The rocket boosted grenade sailed over Samake's head and detonated thirty yards behind him.
"Next one is right on you, Samake. Stand up."
He stood, slowly.
"Throw down your weapon."
Samake tossed his submachine gun to the side. He had a holster on his belt.
"The pistol, too. Be careful."
Samake lifted the flap and took out the pistol and dropped it on the ground. His face was angry.
"Good boy. Now put your hands up and walk toward the cave."
Samake scowled, but did as he was told. When he was ten yards away, Carter stopped him.
"That’s far enough."
He set the launcher down, picked up the AK and stepped into the sunlight.
"Depp." Samake held his hands out. "You and your friend can be rich. Let me make you rich."
"How would you do that on your salary?"
Samake laughed, a deep, rolling laugh. "There is white gold in that cave, Mister Depp. Cocaine. Enough to make us both very rich. We can both retire to somewhere we enjoy."