Killjoy

a sign with writing

on it and you'd find what you're lookin' for right by it.'

'Did she tell you what's on the sign?'

'Coward's Crossing. All the locals use that name too, for that little area where you can look down at the river if you're too

afraid to go in. Years ago, there used to be a rope bridge, which is why they called it a crossing.'

'You'll have to hike to get there,' Kenny said. 'I know the lay of the land 'cause I've been comin' up here ever since I was a

boy, and there ain't no path up there.'

Chrystal didn't agree and began to argue with her husband.

Avery reached for the phone and then stopped. One quick call to Margo, she thought, to tell her where she was and what was going on. Should she chance it?

Kenny finally won the shouting match, and while Chrystal sulked, he gave Avery detailed instructions on getting to Coward's Crossing. She pulled the map from her pocket and asked Kenny to mark the area.

John Paul had two plastic sacks full of bottled water and food. He grabbed two more protein bars, shoved them into the smaller sack, and headed to the car. Kenny hopped off the counter to chase after him just to make sure he wasn't going to try to drive away without paying.

Avery grabbed a piece of paper and wrote down Margo's number. 'Chrystal, I want you to drive to another phone and call this number. Tell whoever answers that I was here and where I'm headed. There's a lot of money in it if you make the call,' she promised. 'But don't use this phone.'

'How much money?'

'Five thousand dollars.' She said the first figure that popped into her head. 'And when we capture the man we're after, there

will be twice that amount, and you'll get all of it.'

'How much exactly?'

'Ten thousand.' The lies were getting easier.

Chrystal looked suspicious. 'How do I know you aren't gonna help yourself to that money?'

'Because I'm FBI,' she said. 'My ID is in the car. Would you like me to go get it?'

'I should have guessed it,' she snorted. 'You bein' so bossy and all. You don't have to show me your badge. I believe you. You got that FBI look about you, and that fancy karate move you did on me in the office got my suspicions up. I should have paid attention to the warnin' bells goin' off in my head.'

What fancy move was she prattling about? All Avery remembered doing was stepping out of the woman's way.

'That's very astute of you,' she said dryly.

'Now, tell me again about that money. Would it be fifteen thousand in all?'

'Sure.'

Chrystal squinted at Avery. 'And you're saying all I got to do is make that call?'

'Yes, and will you-'

Chrystal cut her off. She'd glanced at the number on the paper and blurted, 'Wait a minute. This here is a long-distance call. Can I reverse the charges?'

'Yes.'

'Okay, I'll do it, but I got to tell you, I still don't get it. You could use the phone right there,' she said, pointing to the counter. 'What's the catch?'

She didn't waste time telling Chrystal she couldn't take the chance the line might be tapped. 'You just can't use this phone. Wait about twenty minutes, then get in your pickup and drive to the nearest phone.'

'Will you pay for the gas?'

Avery felt like screaming. 'Yes.'

John Paul had just walked back inside the store when the phone rang. Avery flinched at the sound.

'That's probably her,' Chrystal said. 'We haven't gotten a single call since we reopened the store this morning, so that's got to be her. Want me to answer it?' - Avery grabbed the phone and answered on the second ring.

'You were late,' the caller said.

'No, we weren't. We were right on time. The woman you left the package with was using the phone when we arrived.'

'Yes, she was.'

Avery then knew she had been monitoring the line. Thank God she hadn't tried to call Margo.

'Did you get the directions to where you're going?'

'Yes. I want to talk to Carrie.'

'No, that isn't possible.'

'Then how do I know she's still alive?'

'Carrie is alive… for now anyway. It's up to you to keep her and her friends that way, isn't it?'

'Why are you doing this?'

'No more questions,' she hissed. 'Or I'll hang up the phone right now. Do you understand me?'

'Yes.'

'You're on a lovely treasure hunt, and you're winning points as you move along. The prize is Carrie. You do want to see her

again, don't you?'

'Yes.'

'That's good.' She laughed. 'You're so eager to please. You'd better hurry, Avery.'

'How long-'

'Hurry now.'

The woman disconnected the call. Avery's heart was pounding. She put the phone down as Chrystal asked, 'Was it her?'

'Yes,' she answered. 'Chrystal, describe her to me.'

'You mean you want to know what she looked like?'

'Yes.'

'She was older than you, but not as old as me, and not as heavy as me. Kenny?' she shouted. 'How old would you say that woman was?'

Kenny walked inside. He scratched his stubbly jaw while he considered his answer. 'I don't know. Never could judge a person's age real good. She sure was a looker, though.'

Chrystal nodded. 'Had yellow-colored hair, and it's kind of funny really, you askin' me what she looked like.'

'Why?' Avery asked.

'Well… 'cause…' Chrystal shrugged. 'She kinda looked like you.'

Chapter 15

Chrystal told Kenny they would receive a big reward if he drove to town and made a call for Avery. Kenny didn't

believe his wife, and he didn't want to do it. Avery thought it might be because his nose had started bleeding again.

Unlike Avery, John Paul wasn't interested in trying to coax them into cooperating, because he understood how their twisted pea-sized brains worked. He had had enough of the Bonnie-and-Clod pair. He shoved Kenny into the wall and calmly told him

that he would hunt him down and skin him alive if he didn't do what Avery asked. Simple as that. Kenny believed him, and so did Chrystal. The look in John Paul's eyes indicated he wasn't the type of man to make idle threats.