Adan noticed RL turn his pistol to the back of Winston’s seat. RL said, “So, we’re doing this Ellis’ way, right?”
“That is what I said, you moron.”
Hunter hoped he would shoot, but Ellis said, “Let’s all calm down here. Nobody’s getting hurt.”
The vehicle hit a chug hole that jerked everyone around inside and fine dust drifted down from the headliner on them. Winston said, “This way is terrible. You need to find a better path, Ellis.”
“It smooths out up ahead there.” Ellis pointed at the slight indication of a road a hundred yards in front of them. Everyone was silent as he motored across the rock-strewn path, and when he reached the primitive road, it smoothed out enough that they could talk.
Winston said, “I won’t go on these little jaunts with you again. I’m a man of refinement. This is for lowlifes.”
RL’s face flushed, but Ellis seemed unperturbed.
Hunter watched them both, looking for any opening, and she noticed that Adan also watched them.
Ellis followed the road as it angled uphill, and Hunter recognized they were on the trail to the abandoned mine. They passed through brush and cactus, transitioning to juniper and a few pinon pines further up the incline, until they arrived at the small shed marking the mine’s entrance.
Ellis and RL exited and told their two prisoners to get out.
Hunter said, “What are you going to do with us?”
“Put you somewhere safe so we can leave you a while and go do our business. We’ve got a ton of dope coming in that we have to get across the river today, so we don’t have time to babysit you.”
“And after?”
“We’ll be living in Mexico, so we will turn you two loose.”
Adan said, “But you killed Dario.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry about that. But this is here and now. I’m gonna hide you two and go do our thing, then come back and you can walk back to the border. Let’s go.”
Hunter said, “Can’t you drop us off at the border? It’s like thirty miles from here.”
“While you’re walking back, we are going to disappear. That’s what the time you’re walking will be used for. You’ll never see us again. Now, get out.”
They got out and Hunter glanced at the dark sky that signaled thunderstorms, as she and Adan walked ahead of Ellis and RL into the shed. It was like she remembered, only a lot more dust covering everything. They walked into the mine entrance and RL used his battery-powered lantern to show them the way.
Hunter caught movement out of the corner of her eye, and saw Ellis loosen his pistol in the holster. She turned her head a bit and watched RL do the same.
Hunter moved closer to Adan as they walked toward the old, two-by-twelve pine board across the hole in the mine floor. She whispered, “run”, and saw he understood.
Two steps from the hole, Hunter and Adan sprinted forward and tight-roped across the board to the far side. Hunter kicked the end of it and sent the makeshift bridge into the hole, where it fluttered down to crash in the bottom. “What the hell?” RL said.
Ellis said, “Shoot them!” He raised his pistol, aimed and shot, knocking bits of rock off the wall beyond the two runners, but missing them.
Adan sprinted ahead and Hunter followed close on his heels, using her body to shield him from the gunfire.
RL shut off the light and they were in blackness. Ellis fired three more times into the dark, but failed to hit anyone.
Hunter touched Adan, and they went forward several steps to where the tunnel made a sharp right turn. Once beyond it, they breathed easier, but only for a moment. Ellis yelled, “You can’t escape! This mine dead ends.”
“We’ll stay here until you two leave.”
Ellis thought a moment, then said, “Okay.” He and RL left the mine and Ellis walked to the blockhouse outside. He opened the lock and entered, returning with a handful of red dynamite sticks and a coil of timer fuse, along with the fuse igniters.
RL said, “What are you gonna do?”
“Seal it up. You got any objections?”