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They reached the trees. Case kept moving until they were deep enough that the lights on the wall didn’t penetrate. Then he stopped to check on Nyx.
“Are you okay?” he asked softly.
She nodded. “Fine. What’s the plan?”
“We’re going to the inn in San Isidro, getting your things, and then we’re going to spend some time in hiding.” He waited for an argument. That wasn’t what he got.
“There’s a path from the Huarona ruins to the town. I drove most of the way, but I could have walked the entire distance.”
“I know. I’m hoping to skirt the ruins and pick up that path without entering the clearing.”
She nodded, lips pursed, and asked, “So we’re staying in the rainforest until we reach San Isidro?”
“What do you think the biggest threat is right now? Walking along a road or hiking through the rainforest?” He kept his tone neutral, curious about what she’d say.
“The rainforest at night and you’re the only one with an NVD. Don’t forget that part.”
NVD? She knew the acronym? He wouldn’t have expected a PhD candidate to be familiar with the terminology or to drop it casually. “I didn’t forget.”
She stared at him for a moment and then shook her head. “I’m going to be glued to your back. Don’t let me get eaten by a panther.”
His lips curved. “Don’t worry, Fireball. I’ll keep you safe.” He hesitated, unsure he wanted her behind him with a weapon, but she was trusting him. He handed her Oz’s pistol.
“I could have handled the assault rifle.”
“Maybe,” he said to keep the peace. “Come on. We’ve stood here too long.”
Speed was slow. Even with the NVD, he had to take his time. He couldn’t risk either of them falling or breaking any bones. The animals and other creatures of the rainforest were a secondary concern. Most of those, given the chance, would avoid humans.
At some point, this part of the rainforest had been razed. The trees were tall, but not block-out-the-sky tall and there was other lower foliage. Woody vines snaked through the undergrowth, which meant going around them or ducking. Fallen branches littered the floor of the forest.
They were about twenty minutes in when Nyx spoke quietly. “This isn’t the way to the ruins. We should be headed more northeasterly than this.”
Case stopped. She recognized that in the dark? All she had to go by was the position of the moon and stars.
“I told you we were going to skirt the ruins and pick up the trail. That road where you parked the Jeep? I want to cross it a long distance from where you left the vehicle. When we’re on the other side, we’ll start to curve northeast.”
“Why? We could hotwire the Jeep and drive away.”
“The odds of it being there are next to none. If it is there, Vargas could have men watching it. Or if it’s not guarded, it might be rigged with an explosive device. We’re not risking it.”
“It’s unlikely Vargas went to that much trouble.” Especially given what had happened to his wife and daughter.
“I promised to keep you safe. That means being extra cautious.”
“The bigger danger is at the inn. They’ll be expecting us to go there.”
Damn, he liked this woman. She thought tactically. “Señor Alvarez is retired from the presidential brigade. He and several other former brigade members keep San Isidro clean. They won’t allow Vargas or his minions to linger. Our risk is when we get near the town.”
Nyx hesitated.
“Trust me, Fireball. I’ll take care of you.”
“I do trust you.” Her chin came up. “You’re in charge. I follow your orders.”
It was stupid. Case knew it. He leaned down and kissed her, anyway. He couldn’t help himself.
Nyx didn’t like being in the rainforest at night. It held enough risks during daylight hours, but if Case thought they were safest taking this route, she had to believe him. He would have gotten intel briefings on the rebels and Vargas’s operation before inserting in Puerto Jardin.