Page 54 of Wild Temple

He had already done more than he wanted. But at this point, he had nothing else to lose.

We hopped into the Jeep, and Rex cranked up the engine. He banked a U-turn and headed us back to town. The wind swirled around the open top, blowing Brooke's long, blonde hair.

Talia had made arrangements for us to stay at the Nest. I had checked into the Bamboo Lofts under an assumed name and I planned to do the same at the Nest. I figured with enough cash, they wouldn't ask too many questions.

Slim’s phone buzzed with a text from Caspain on the way back into town.[Is it done?]

I wasn't sure how to respond.

I could buy a little time and give us the element of surprise. Or I could confront the situation head-on.

I replied: [Taken care of.]

Keeping the element of surprise was probably our best tactical advantage, but I couldn't resist. [If you ever want to see the map, you’ll give me both girls, alive and unharmed.]

I pressed send, then waited for a response.

I got one a few moments later when the phone rang. I answered with a smile in my voice. "Caspian?”

"Who is this?"

"It doesn’t matter who I am. I have what you want. You have what I want.”

"Where's Ace?”

"Unfortunately, he and his associates have taken an extended vacation. In hell.”

There was a long silence on the other end of the line.

His breathing grew tight and heavy. He was pissed. In a slow, deliberate voice, he said, “You’re lucky I don’t kill the girl right now.”

“Do that, and you’ll never get what you want.”

Caspian went silent for another moment.

“You’re not going to let Pura Jiva pass you by, are you? You’re so close.”

“Okay, smart guy. We’ll meet at the Black Opal in two hours.”

“No,” I said with an incredulous chuckle. “I pick the spot and the time. But I need proof of life. Both Hannah and Isabella, or no deal.”

“Then it looks like we don’t have a deal,” Caspian said. “I don’t know who Isabella is.”

"Bullshit," I said.

"I promise you," Caspian replied. "I don't know anyone named Isabella. I keep a tight watch on my inventory. I know everyone who comes in and out of my operation. I don't know anyone with that name."

My jaw clenched tight. "You expect me to believe you?"

"I don't care what you believe. The deal is for Hannah in exchange for the map. No trouble. No tricks. A simple exchange. We both get what we want, just as you said. Take it or leave it.”

32

Rex pulled the Jeep to the side of the road. He parked under the shade of a large tree. We were about halfway back to Jatala. “Let’s see this map.”

My uncertain eyes surveyed him. He’d saved our assess, but I didn’t fully trust him. After a moment, I nodded to Brooke.

She fished the leather journal from her purse, opened it, and flipped through the tattered, yellow pages. "I'm not sure where the original is," Brooke said. "But this is the map my father drew from a soldier’s rendition."