Border Offensive by Don Pendleton

Author:Don Pendleton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Worldwide Library
Published: 2012-11-08T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Tanzir opened her eyes as she heard the chains on the door rattle. It was light outside, the sun spilling through the gaps in the boarded-over windows. She shifted, stretching lithely, one muscle group at a time. The doors opened and food was brought in—loaves of grocery-store bread and bologna, and a bucket of water. People crowded around, shouting questions, but not too loudly. The coyotes ignored them, save for the leader, Sweets, who raised his hands and grinned like a naughty schoolboy.

“Folks, I do apologize about the accommodations and the disruption to your itinerary, but it could not be helped. Safe to say, we are going to be on our way this fine day, if nothing else serves to distract us.” His eyes shifted through the faces, settling on Tanzir. “Some of you faster than others, I will admit.”

Her heart beat faster. Had Agent James talked? Had he even seen her? Recognized her? Adrenaline flooded her weary limbs and she fought to control the sudden surge of panic. Sweets trotted toward her and she prepared to strike, her muscles knotting in readiness.

“Ain’t you a pretty one?” he said, dropping to his haunches in front of her. He rubbed his chin and grinned. “Guess I can see why he likes you....”

Tuerto. He must mean Tuerto. She relaxed slightly, looking at him through lowered lashes. She said nothing, waiting for him.

“After last night, he needs to work off a bit of frustration. Get up, girl,” Sweets continued in Spanish. He snapped his fingers and she rose obediently. He smirked and looked at the others, eating as if they hadn’t done so in days, and then he looked back at her. “Guess every batch of raisins got one grape in it, huh?” he said in English.

He led her out of the building and across the street. In the hot light of day, the town looked worse. There were unpleasant stains congealing in the dirt of the street. Here and there, bodies lurked under tarps and moth-eaten bedsheets. A truck and van clung to one another like lovers, a building slumping over them. Someone had tried to give the town a makeover, Tanzir noted. Perhaps she hadn’t given Agent James enough credit.

Sweets saw her looking and clapped a hand on her shoulder. “Now, don’t go getting distracted, sweet pea. You got a big day ahead. Yes, indeed.” She stopped herself from peeling his hand off her, one broken finger at a time.

The building had once been a bar. These days it was a den for two-legged scavengers—Tuerto’s men. They were hiding from the oppressive gaze of the sun, and watching her with avaricious intent. “Just up the stairs, sweetness,” Sweets said, patting her rear. “He’s waiting for you up there. Fairly salivating, he is.”

She took the stairs slowly, as if hesitant and unsure. It wouldn’t do to appear too eager when she saw Tuerto. Infatuation could turn to suspicion fairly quickly. Her palms were sweaty and the boards sagged beneath her feet.

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