Page 51 of Midnight Hunter
My heart soared. We might actually make it out of this alive.
“The closest site to you looks like it’s a couple hours to your southwest. I need to refuel and deal with an issue that cropped up with some of my instrumentation while I was out earlier. I’ll check back in about eight a.m. tomorrow morning, and we’ll make plans from there to pick you up. Hopefully, by midday, you’ll be safe and sound, and on your way back to civilization.”
“That sounds good,” I said into the phone. “We’ll be ready to go when you say the word.”
“Perfect. I know it’s not ideal, but just sit tight for one more night. I’ll get you out.”
My eyes cut to Toren. He met my gaze. We both heard what Walker didn’t say: help was coming.
“Thanks, Walker,” Toren said.
“You bet. Talk soon.” He hung up.
I lowered the phone and held it out to Deke.
He took it. Those flat brown eyes stayed on my face for a moment, searching my expression.
I kept my face carefully blank. It wouldn’t be me who clued him into our plan.
“I guess you two are stuck here for the night, then. Hope you don’t mind sharing a tent.”
Chapter 19
Toren
Ididn’t mind sharing a tent. What I minded was everything else about the situation, but Deke probably already knew that.
“We’ll be good, so long as whoever’s with us knows how to behave.” I speared Deke, then Vic with a look. Based on what I’d seen so far of Toby, I didn’t feel like he’d give us much grief.
Deke simply raised an eyebrow, then turned to Vic. “You choose who babysits.”
Vic held up his hands. “Not me. I want my beauty sleep.”
“All right, then, Toby—you’re up.”
Shoulders tight, the man nodded. “I’ll put their stuff in my tent.” Toby turned and wandered off.
Since we had little else to do, and I knew he needed to keep us alive for the time being, I asked the question that had been rattling around in my mind. “How long have you been up here, running this sort of operation?”
Lana went still beside me.
Both of Deke’s eyebrows rose. “That’s a bold question.”
“Yeah, well, I’m a bold person.” I nodded toward the processing area. “That’s an efficient setup, and you seem to know the area.”
He didn’t answer, but the curious set to his brows told me he was thinking about it, so I kept going.
“This country gets more traffic every year. Game officers, outfitters, sport hunters. Hard to stay invisible.”
“Not if you know what you’re doing.”
“Clearly. Must be lucrative for you to test your luck like that, though.”
“There’s no luck involved. I grew up near here. I’ve been walking these mountains since I was a toddler and hunting almost as long.”
“Why poach, though?” Lana asked. “If you’re that experienced, why not run guided hunts, like Toren does? They pay well.”
“Sweetheart, do you know what some animal parts fetch on the black market?”
