Sam studied it, twisting it over and examining it under the beam of a small, two-inch long halogen flashlight. “This one’s fancy, and I’ve never seen one like it, but then I don’t wear them.” He checked it all over again, “I don’t see how this could be what they want, unless they hid something inside it.”
“That something would have to be very small.”
“I mean.” He gave the watch back to Miguel. “Keep it, and let’s think on it some more tomorrow.” They lay side by side on the tarps, covering with the edges of them, and went to sleep.
Sam was up before dawn and eased down the trail to the tinaja so he wouldn’t scare away any animals drinking. He cupped a handful of the cold water and sipped it. When he checked the traps, Sam found he had four quail. “Nice,” he said.
Miguel had a fire going when Sam returned. They plucked and skewered the birds on mesquite sticks propped over the small, almost smokeless fire, turning them every few minutes to cook the quail evenly. After fifteen minutes, Miguel said, “If they are not ready, I will eat them anyway.”
Sam grinned and said, “Andale.” He handed Miguel two corn tortillas they warmed on a flat stone at the fire’s edge, and both said silent prayers of thanks before beginning the meal.
The rest of the day they alternately dozed, talked, and watched the landscape and sky for movement, occasionally seeing things in the distance, but nothing up close or coming their direction. As night came and things cooled, Sam said, “Let me see that watch.” He took it and again went over the front, back, and side. He pulled the watch stem out and twisted it, moving the sweep hands. When he pushed it back down, it went a fraction below where it originally had been, and Sam heard a tiny click. He looked at Miguel, who moved closer to watch. Sam pushed the stem down again. Click. Turning the watch so the crystal was up, he examined the watch face more closely. “I think it’s a camera.”
“In a watch?”
“Yes, they make all kinds of spy stuff now.”
“So there are pictures inside.”
“I’m thinking its digital, so no film.” Miguel looked confused, so Sam continued, “They are sort of electric pictures that can be taken from within the watch and made into pictures.”
“Like a television gets pictures from a wire.”
“Something like that.”
“Can you do it?”
“Nope. I think you need someone with knowledge and a computer.”
Miguel said, “Who do you think we could go to?”
“Lee Rodriguez. But we have to return to the ranch and get my truck for that.”
Miguel looked beyond Sam, into the night. He said, “I hope it is there. Look.”
Sam turned and saw the glow of a large fire in the distance. Sam stood and said, “Stay here, I’ll go check on it.”
Miguel stood and said, “We go together, amigo. I brought my troubles to you. I will not let you face them without me.”
Sam nodded, “Let’s drink as much water as we can, then we’ll go.” Five minutes later, they were gone, and only the faint wheep of a lone quail broke the silence.
***
Riffey sat in the dark a hundred yards from the burning house, watching through binoculars, and he was still pissed. They hadn’t been back in their cool, air-conditioned cabin for even twenty-four hours before Holland said, “Burn it.”
“What, you mean this place?”
“Kinney’s.”
“You don’t want to give it another day? We just left there.”
“Do you consider me indecisive? Perhaps mentally weak?”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“You are ruining my calm, Riffey. I talked to Crystal and Samir, and they said to do it. Do you want to argue about this with them? I can call them and give you the phone.” Holland put his cell phone on the table and pulled his long knife from the scabbard, examining the blade, testing the edge with a thumb, never looking up.
Riffey said, “I’m on it.” He left, cursing under his breath as he drove, then when he was a mile from the cabin and that horse’s ass Holland, he punched the roof of the vehicle and cursed some more.