Page 31 of Badlands (Nora Kelly #5)

S KIP THOUGHT THE idea of Nora going down into Mexico all by herself, deep into the mountains no less, was totally crazy.

He’d told her so repeatedly, standing in the tiny living room of their shared house, hands on his hips, a frown on his face, watching as she packed her bag.

“Is that all you’re taking?” he asked.

“You need to bring a gun. You can borrow one of mine.”

“Skip, you know you can’t bring guns into Mexico.”

“Hide it in the door panel of your Jeep.”

Nora shook her head.

“And end up in a Mexican prison cell?”

Skip shook his head.

“Got your knife, at least?”

Nora dug into the bag, withdrew her blacked-out Zero Tolerance 0888, and waved it at him.

“Just how long do you plan to be gone?”

“According to Google Maps it’s a twelve-hour drive. So I figure, a long day down, two days to find Oskarbi and talk to him, then a day’s drive back. Three or four days. Done.”

“You don’t know his exact location—all you have is the name of a village. Finding him could take a lot longer than that—in difficult country, too.”

“Okay. Maybe four or five days, then.”

“The Federales will stop you and extort bribes.”

“I know how to handle the Federales. I’m bringing down plenty of twenties and a carton of cigarettes.”

“The narcotraffickers will shoot you.”

“The last thing they want is to kill an American tourist. As long as I stay out of their way, they won’t bother me.”

“You’ll be a good-looking single woman traveling alone in a macho-man country.”

“I’ll be in my own car, driving straight through. Skip—please don’t worry.”

“But where are you going to stay when you get to—what’s the crazy name of that village where Oskarbi’s supposedly living?”

“San Luis de Majimachi. In places like that you can always find someone to put you up. I don’t mind sleeping on the floor.” She pulled out a piece of paper.

“Meanwhile, here’s a honey-do list to keep you busy while I’m away.”

“I hate that term.” He was annoyed but had long ago accepted that his bossy older sister was in charge of their household—and in her own way, sort of in charge of his life.

But not totally. And it had occurred to him that the three or four days she would be gone was an ideal time for him and Edison to make their trip into the Gallina country without her finding out.

He sensed—or rather, he knew—that his sister would not be happy with him going into the wilderness with Nash.

In fact, that might be the incentive behind this punch list she’d drawn up.

Nora spoke again, as if reading his mind.

“Look, Skip,” she said.

“While I’m gone, I just want you to… well, be a little careful with your new friend.”

“Edison? What’s wrong with him?” he asked, flaring up.

“I’m not sure he’s on the up-and-up. As a collector, I mean. You work for the Institute. You don’t want to be seen as too palsy-walsy with that guy.”

“The Institute has no say on who my friends are,” Skip said, feeling self-righteousness suddenly kindling within him.

“I agree in principle, but let’s live in the real world. Nash’s a sketchy collector, and you manage the collections of an archaeological institute. The two don’t mix.” She hesitated.

“He’s also… kind of weird.”

“I will choose my friends as I wish,” said Skip stiffly.

“And,” Nora plowed on determinedly, “he drinks too much. Just take it easy with all that expensive tequila. Okay, younger brother?”

Skip felt heat creep into his face.

Nora was right, of course.

But a few drinks now and then were definitely not a problem—he could manage that and stay in control.

“Caveat noted,” he said, careful to moderate his tone.

“I’m going to text you every day, at least when I’m in range,” Nora said.

“And I’ll call you when I get to San Luis.”

“Great. And don’t worry about me—just be sure to take care of yourself.”

They hugged.

She gave Mitty, their golden retriever, a hug as well, and then she zipped up the duffel she’d just packed.

Skip watched her head out to the Jeep and heave her duffel into the trunk, feeling more than a twinge of anxiety.

Mitty stood next to him, looking worried, as he always did when anyone went away.

Skip did not have a good feeling about this last-minute trip to Mexico.

But… at least it freed him up.

As her vehicle disappeared down the street, he shook off the feeling of doom and pulled out his cell phone.

“Hey, Edison. It’s Skip. Listen, the trip is on, and it’s on now . Get your shit together—we’re heading to Gallina!”