Page 76 of Battle Mountain

“We got lost,” Geronimo offered. “This place is hard to find.”

“That’s the point,” Handlebar said.

“You boys will need to do us a solid and turn this car around,” East Texas said. “You aren’t going anywhere tonight.”

“Really?” Nate asked.

East Texas turned to Handlebar. “Are their names on the visitor or vendor list?”

Handlebar drew out his cell phone and called up a document. “Nope. No Nate Romanowski, no Yar-ACK.”

“There must be some kind of mistake,” Nate said. “We’ve come a long way.”

“You’ll have to sort that out with the management of the ranch,” East Texas said. “And you’re not going to get that done tonight, or tomorrow for that matter. This place doesn’t open back up to the public for two more days. There’s a private function going on, and you boys aren’t on the list for it, so kindly turn around and go.”

“Go where?” Nate asked. “We’re in the middle of nowhere.”

“That’s the point,” Handlebar repeated.

“And don’t come back tomorrow and try to talk your way in,” East Texas said. “Even if we’re not here, it’s eight miles to the ranch, and there are two more checkpoints before it. So just forget about showing up for a while. Take your hawks and go to Warm Springs. I hear they have a hot spring in town.”

“That doesn’t sound so bad,” Geronimo said reasonably.

“This is going to cost me money,” Nate complained. “I can’t afford downtime.”

“Not our problem,” East Texas said, stepping back and motioning for Nate to turn around.

—

As they droveback toward the highway, Geronimo said, “That was just outlandish enough that it sounded authentic. I think they bought it, even if they didn’t let us through.”

Nate grunted. “They were obviously military guys, just like your friend. They’re probably kicking back and enjoying a few days in the mountains off the base where they don’t have to shave. I didn’t want to have to take them out.”

“Me either,” Geronimo said. “They reminded me of me back in the day.”

Nate said, “So there’s only one road in and out of the ranch and it’s through a pretty deep canyon. There’s no way to get there except on that road, and they’ve got three checkpoints set up.”

“Meaning what?”

“If Axel plans to hit them, I don’t think he’d try a frontal assault. Too much security that would stop them, or at least seriously slow them down. He’s got to have another plan if the Centurions are the target.”

Geronimo agreed.

Nate watched closely in his rearview mirror as they left. He clearly saw Handlebar approach East Texas and ask to see the card Nate had given him. Interesting, Nate thought.

—

When they wereback on the highway heading north, Nate said, “Steve Richards? You don’t look like aSteve Richards.”

“I had to be fast on my feet,” Geronimo said with a grin. “And don’t be racist.”

“Okay,Steve.” Then: “We have to find that compound Joann Delaney told us about. That’s where Axel will strike from.”

“How are we gonna do that?” Geronimo asked.

“I don’t know yet.”

Geronimo stuck his pointer finger in the air as if to preview a profound thought. “How about we come back tomorrow and tell the Centurions what we think is going on?”