"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."

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.

Chrystal jumped back when John Paul walked past. She knocked the phone off the counter and quickly picked it up. Instinctively putting the receiver to her ear to make sure no one else was on the line, she hung up and said to Kenny, "The phone isn't workin'."

"Are you sayin' the line's dead?" Kenny gasped the question, still trying to recover his breath.

"Didn't I just say it was broke?"

"She did it," Kenny decided, glaring at Avery. "She must have broke it after she finished talkin' to that woman and hung up. You saw her slam it down, didn't you, Chrystal? You're gonna have to pay for repairs," he told Avery.

Avery picked up the phone to see if Chrystal was telling the truth. The line was dead. That was quick, she thought. They must have been ready.

John Paul stood by the door waiting to get Avery's attention. "Avery…"

"Just a minute." She walked over to the teenagers sprawled out on the floor. Two of them were curled up like cats, sound

asleep, but the droopy-eyed boy named Mark was still sitting upright and watching her every move with the stupid grin still plastered on his freckled face.

"Who's the driver?"

"Huh?"

She nudged his foot. "Who's driving the car?"

"Me."

"Give me the car keys."

The grin didn't falter. "I don't have to," he slurred even as he dug into his pocket and pulled out his key ring. He dangled the

keys in front of his face. Then he giggled.

She snatched the keys out of his hand and tossed them on the counter. "Chrystal, you make sure those boys don't get into that

car. You understand?"

"I'm not gonna be a baby-sitter. You expect me to stand here and watch them?"

"Make them sleep outside, but don't give them the keys." She turned to leave, but John Paul raised his hand for her to stop.

"More customers," he said. He glanced out the window and watched two older women, dressed in hiking clothes, get out of a Ford. He pushed Avery's hand away from the doorknob. "You're not going with me."

"Oh, yes, I am," she insisted.

"Listen to me," he ordered. "You go back to town with those women and get to a police station. Keep the gun just in case."

"While you go ahead to Coward's Crossing?"

"Yes. If I can get there quick, I might be able to find a good spot to ambush him."

She shook her head. "If you kill him, we won't be able to find Carrie and the others."

"The woman knows where they are."

"She'll disappear, and you know it. It's too risky. Besides, if Monk or the woman finds out I'm not with you-"

"They won't know."

"You have to take me with you."

"No. It's too dangerous for you, and you'll slow me down."

"Then I'm going to follow you. Kenny gave both of us the directions. I can find Coward's Crossing. I'll take the teenagers' car. Simple as that, John Paul." She poked him in his chest. "You need me to get him. Now get out of my way."

He didn't want to waste any more time arguing. He decided he'd have to find a place to dump her on the way. Someplace safe. Yeah, that's what he would do.

He opened the door. "You stay close," he whispered as he stepped back so the gray-haired women could come inside.

The ladies walked right past the teenagers and didn't seem to notice them when they headed for the facilities, as Kenny so