Page 39 of No Time Off (Lexi Carmichael Mystery #15)

THIRTY-NINE

Slash

L exi stayed in the office to ensure the prime minister’s video had been successfully sent to Elvis and Xavier before she started packing up our equipment…again. The rest of us helped Manny throw together some makeshift backpacks stuffed with water, food, and essentials.

I made a point to find Paul and thank him for getting Lexi safely from the farmhouse to the yacht.

“Considering we almost died several times, Lexi did great,” Paul said affably. “Rode the bike like an expert with minimal screaming. Good on ya, mate, for finding such a plucky woman. She held her own.”

I didn’t want to hear about the almost dying part, but I grinned at the plucky part and thanked him once again.

A few minutes later, we gathered in the farmhouse kitchen one last time.

We were a group of eight—Lexi, me, the prime minister, Rangi, Manny, Paul, and two of the loyal police officers. That left Henry, the kids, and four security guys behind at the farmhouse to protect them. I personally didn’t think the family needed more than two of the police for protection, but I read the expression on Petra’s face and immediately agreed to the split. It was far more important to have her focused on the matter at hand than to be worried about what might be happening to her family. No one else objected, either, so it was settled.

The prime minister adjusted her backpack before nodding resolutely. “Let’s go,” she said.

We filed out of the farmhouse, blinking in the bright afternoon light. The humidity hung heavy in the air, and the sound of our shoes crunching against the crushed shell road was the only noise we heard until we moved into the jungle and toward the trail.

Manny and Paul scouted ahead at some distance, scanning the area to ensure there were no immediate threats. Behind them walked another loyal policeman, followed by Petra, Rangi, Lexi, and me. The last police officer brought up the rear.

The heat was oppressive, the air thick with the smell of earth and vegetation. I stayed close to Lexi, partially to make sure she didn’t trip over anything, but also to make sure she stayed safe. The weight of the gun against the small of my back was reassuring.

As we walked, we fell into a comfortable rhythm. My mind raced through the upcoming plan, looking for any weaknesses or shortcomings I might have missed. Unfortunately, there were a lot more shortcomings than I would have liked, but it was what it was. I was used to missions that required precision and stealth, but a hike across the island with seven other people—most of whom were untrained for the type of mission we were about to launch—felt different.

The operation, at this point, wasn’t fully in my control anymore, and that concerned me. Our friends back home would take care of their part, so I wasn’t worried about that. The truth was the success or failure of this operation would come down to the strength and fortitude of the prime minister and her desire to save her country. I’d seen the fire in her eyes and believed she could do it, but we couldn’t afford mistakes and timing was everything. It was very uncomfortable risking everything, including our lives, on someone else.

We had to be precise. All of us.

Once we reached the start of the Cross-Island Track, it was a relatively easy incline for the first twenty minutes. Manny and the guard were vigilant, keeping an eye on the path ahead. But soon the path narrowed, and the ground underfoot became more heavily crisscrossed with thick tree roots and jagged rocks. I kept a hand under Lexi’s elbow to make sure she didn’t twist her ankle as we began to climb in earnest.

The air cooled as we entered a section where the jungle canopy thickened, blocking out the sun. It was a welcome relief from the heat, but it also became harder to see the ground beneath our feet. The trail became even steeper as we climbed toward the higher reaches of the island, the sounds of the jungle swirling around us.

At some point we came to a section where a rope had been fastened to the rocks, allowing hikers to pull themselves up the slippery terrain. We stopped briefly to catch our breath, have a water break, and admire the beautiful waterfall nearby.

“This is the Papua Vai Marere, better known as Wigmore’s Waterfall,” Petra said, scanning the view. “It’s about fifteen meters high and has about two thousand cubic meters of water cascade over its crestline each day.”

“It’s stunning,” I said.

“It is,” Petra said, smiling. “A lot of young couples come to this spot. This is where I had my first kiss with Kodi Turua when I was fourteen years old.”

I glanced over at Lexi, who was not looking at the gorgeous waterfall, but instead eyeing the rope leading up the slope with a mistrustful expression. “I’m not sure kissing would be on my mind knowing I have to pull myself up that incredibly steep slope with nothing but a rope,” she said.

“Oh, it’s not so bad, you’ll see.” Petra smiled, reaching for Lexi’s phone. “Come on. Let me take your picture in front of the waterfall. It will be a lovely honeymoon memento for you and Slash.”

Lexi hesitated, glanced over her shoulder at the waterfall, and then reluctantly handed over her phone. “I guess one photo won’t hurt.” As she stepped backward, she stumbled. Her balance faltered, and she teetered dangerously.

“Whoa—!” I lunged forward, catching her arm just before she fell. I pulled her into my arms, steadying her. After a moment, I planted a big kiss on her lips while the others laughed, clapped, and whistled softly.

“See, it’s the perfect spot for kissing,” I murmured against her lips.

Petra tapped away on the phone, taking multiple shots. After a moment, she encouraged us to face her. “Come on, one more nice photo with the two of you facing me with the waterfall cascading in the background.”

We both faced the camera and smiled as she snapped a few more photos. Finally, she handed Lexi back her phone. “Here you go. I got some great honeymoon shots—I promise.”

Lexi grinned sheepishly as she took her phone back and pocketed it. The tension lifted—the levity sorely needed.

I finally convinced Lexi to let me carry her laptop bag, and one by one, we used the rope to climb the slick slope. To my surprise, Lexi moved more adeptly than I’d expected, even though I climbed close behind to stop any potential backward slide. We were at a distinct disadvantage compared to the others, who had shoes and boots better suited to hiking than we did. But we worked with what we had and trudged onward.

The trail only grew more treacherous. More steep inclines and thick tree roots made the trek extremely difficult. We had to ford a couple of brooks and streams, wetting our shoes even more. Without the provided ropes, I wasn’t sure how most people would be able to get up the slopes.

“I thought you said this was a trail,” Lexi complained to Rangi at one point, bent over and gasping for breath. “We’re supposed to be hiking, not rock climbing.”

“Well, I may have hyped the trail a bit,” Rangi explained, his cheeks tingeing pink. “It can be a tricky climb and a little more slippery and sharply uphill than one might envision when they first think of the word hike .”

“A bit ?” Lexi repeated in disbelief and shook her head. “But at least I understand why we couldn’t take the motorbikes, and probably why this trail is not regularly guarded by anyone.”

Manny, whose face was also red with exertion, patted her on the shoulder. “I’m sorry, Lexi. I did downplay the Track because we need you and I didn’t want to scare you off. But you’re doing an amazing job, and the good news is, we’re almost at the Needle. It’s the second highest point on the island. After that, everything is downhill. No worries.”

Lexi looked doubtful, and even I wasn’t so certain of those assurances, either, but I kept my mouth shut. Shortly thereafter, we reached the Needle. Somehow, I had envisioned a rest area with a bench or an observation lookout, but no. Nothing. The Needle was simply where the slope jutted to a sharp point to the right of the trail, and that was it. We took a few seconds to admire the spectacular view of the island, but we didn’t linger. We didn’t have the luxury of time.

Going down the back side of the Needle didn’t initially seem like it would be easier. We had to use the ropes to slide down the slope. After another half hour, my adrenaline had completely worn off. The hike was starting to feel like a strain even to me. I was hungry, hot, exhausted, and my shoes were muddy and uncomfortable. I imagined Lexi was feeling worse. But to her credit, she didn’t complain or let it slow her down. She stayed focused on the mission, as did I.

We pushed on, crossing a few streams that made it futile to even try and keep our feet dry. Lexi waded through the water without even trying to balance on rocks. Her shoes were already wet and, apparently, the least of her concerns.

As we got closer to the end of the trail, hand signals came back from the policeman in the lead. We were directed to get off the trail, scatter and hide. Someone was coming up the trail toward us.

The vegetation was heavy, so moving quietly was difficult. Fortunately, we didn’t have to go far to be fully hidden. I crouched down next to Lexi behind some bushes and kept my other hand near my gun. We tried to stay as still as possible, although the insects buzzing around her were proving to be a nuisance.

“Why don’t the bugs bother you?” Lexi hissed, slapping at a mosquito near her neck. She was sweating, moisture trickling down her temples. “There’s not one bug on your person or around your head.”

“They know better,” I said, shrugging.

We quieted as the sound of people talking got closer. From my vantage point, I could see a middle-aged couple walking along. The woman had a walking stick, and the man had a backpack and a set of binoculars hanging around his neck. We didn’t have to worry about making too much noise while hiding. They were easily drowning out any sounds we might have made.

Tourists.

“I thought you said we were going on a hike,” the woman said. “This isn’t a hike. This is mountaineering.”

Lexi wagged a finger at me and mouthed the word mountaineering , clearly in agreement with the woman’s assessment of the trail.

“Yes, it’s a bit steep, Elizabeth,” the man agreed. “But not all bad. At the hotel, they said the views from the top are spectacular.”

“If we ever get up there, given the shape of our knees.”

“Oh, what’s a vacation without a little adventure?” he said, leaning over and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

“I guess that’s true,” she responded, and they continued along the trail.

Once the couple passed, we got back on the Track going the opposite direction of them and toward the city.

“I told you this wasn’t a hike,” Lexi said, shaking a finger at me. “And my assessment was just supported by that random tourist.”

I slung an arm around her shoulders. “True, but what’s a honeymoon without a little adventure?” I kissed her on the cheek, and she swatted me.

“You’re lucky I’m not punching you right now,” she grouched, and I chuckled, taking her hand…just in case.

“You’re doing great, cara . We’re almost there.”

Our pace picked up slightly until we reached the end of the trail.

“Thank God that’s over,” Lexi said when we saw the trailhead sign. “I don’t want to do that ever again.” Her shoes squished water with every step. “How far to the safe house?”

“About half a mile,” Rangi replied, handing Lexi, Petra, and me ball caps, which offered a bit of disguise. Lexi quickly tucked her hair beneath it.

“We need to break into smaller groups to move through the city,” Rangi continued. “Paul, you and your men take the prime minister and Manny to your sister’s house first. Lexi, Slash, and I will follow a few minutes later.”

Our instructions clear, we watched as Paul, Manny, and Petra headed off. We followed a few minutes later, with Rangi taking us along back alleys and less-trafficked streets.

At last, we reached our safe house—a small, inconspicuous cottage—and Paul quickly ushered us inside. The furniture looked both functional and comfortable while giving off a beachy island theme, which felt wholly appropriate.

“Where’s your sister?” I asked Paul, looking around.

“She went to stay with our mum and won’t return until tomorrow,” he said. “That’s for her protection.”

“Smart,” I said. It was a good move in the event anything went sideways.

I glanced at my phone—it was 4:42 in the afternoon. Not quite an hour and a half before game time. We had made great time crossing the island. Lexi immediately sat on the floor near the door and removed her shoes and socks, laying them out to dry. Paul tossed her a towel to dry her feet, and she gave him a grateful look as she wiped them down. I kicked off my shoes and did the same, as did several others of the group.

As soon everyone was present, we assembled barefoot in the small living room. It was time to put this plan into action.

“Manny, you need to go now to surveil the television station,” I said. “Prime Minister, you and Rangi monitor the television and social media. Paul, does your sister have internet access? Lexi and I have some work to do on our laptops, and we need the Wi-Fi password. The rest of you, stay vigilant for any unanticipated visitors.”

Paul stepped into the kitchen to call his sister as Manny headed out the door to surveil the station. I placed our laptop bags on the table so Lexi and I could set up.

“Are you ready for the final stretch?” I asked her, plugging in our laptops.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she replied. “How about you?”

“I’m ready,” I said. “Let’s just hope Elvis, Xavier, and the others are at the top of their game.”

“They’re always at the top of their game,” she said with a slight smile, but I saw the fierce determination in her eyes. “And so are we. Together, we’re unstoppable. So, let’s get this done.”

“Absolutely,” I agreed. “Time is ticking.”