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“Down the block, under the awning with the old Coca-Cola sign.”
Remi checked the side mirror. “I see him.”
“He slowed beside us, then parked and got on the radio.”
Sam started the engine. They sat in silence for a few minutes.
“What exactly are we doing?” Remi asked.
“Giving him a chance.”
Remi caught on: “If it’s official business, he’ll stop us here. If not . . . ‘note-and-notify.’”
“Right.” Sam put the Rover in gear. “Time to play navigator again, Remi. We’re backtracking.”
“To where?”
“Hopefully, nowhere. If he doesn’t follow us, we’ll turn around again.”
“And if he follows us?”
“Then we’re on the run. We’ll be needing one of those unnamed roads you mentioned.”
“WE’RE ON THE RUN,” Remi announced a few minutes later. Facing backward, she’d been staring through the rear window since they’d left Manjakandriana. “He’s a mile back.”
“We’ve got some dips and turns coming up. Let me know each time you lose sight of him.”
“Why?”
“If we sprint while he’s watching us he’ll know we’re running; this way we may be able to get some distance before he realizes it.”
“Tricky, Fargo.”
“Only if it works.”
“What if he tries to stop us?”
“I don’t even want to think about it.”
FOR THE NEXT FIFTEEN MINUTES Sam followed Remi’s cues, flooring the gas pedal for a ten count when Remi said, “Go!,” before slowing back down to the speed limit. Slowly but steadily, they put an extra half mile between them and the Passat.
“Are any of th
ose roads not gravel or dirt?” Sam asked.
Remi studied the map. “Hard to tell, but this one coming up looks a tad thicker than the others. So far on this map, that’s usually meant blacktop of some kind. Why do you ask?”
“No dust trail.”
“From a quick turn,” Remi said. “That could work both ways.”
Sam frowned. “Good point. Tell me when the turn’s coming up.”
For the next few minutes Remi matched passing roads and signs against the map’s markings. “Should be the next turn to the south.” She measured the distance with her fingernail. “A quarter mile, give or take. Should be just over this hill.”
“How’s our friend?”
“Hard to be sure, but it looks like he’s picked up speed.”