On Thin Ice Read Free Page B

with the reddish hair grimaced. “We do what we must do.”
    “Including killing a harmless old priest and two women who were only trying to help the people?”
    Carlos started to push past him. “Let me shut her up, jefe . She needs to show respect . . .” He was swatted away like the nasty little bug he was, and Beth felt a faint surge of hope.
    “The deaths were unfortunate,” the man said. “The result of young soldiers who panicked. You have my word of honor that you won’t be hurt.”
    She looked past him to Carlos’s glittering eyes, and to the slightly older boy behind him. The chief’s word of honor wasn’t going to mean squat if those two had a chance at her.
    She’d also been in a Latin country long enough to know that you don’t question a man’s power in front of his underlings. So she nodded, ducking her head again.
    “Put her in with the Englishman,” the older man said.
    A flurry of Spanish greeted that pronouncement, clearly protests, but he shut them off with a sharp wave of his hand. “Just in case any of you decide to disobey my orders,” he said. “The Englishman is a romantic – he’ll make certain you keep your hands off her.”
    One of the jackals said something, then spat. The boss still spoke in English, clearly to be sure she understood. “You will do as I tell you.”
    She was hauled to her feet with rough hands, and she just barely managed to keep her balance, but at the last minute she locked her knees and threw her shoulders back, standing upright. Anything to keep them from putting their filthy hands on her again.
    She was hungry, dizzy, and lucky they’d allowed her a few moments in the bushes to pee a number of hours ago. The ground was rough under her feet, but she had no choice. This time they tied her arms behind her back, and she stumbled into the undergrowth, Carlos and his friend on either side of her.
    She understood more than they thought she did. She concentrated on their voices and the rough footing underneath as they pushed her deeper into the trees. They were arguing, but at least the consensus was they wouldn’t touch her now. Not until something happened to el jefe .
    She could barely see the hut in front of her – the night was overcast, the moon invisible. She stumbled and fell against the rough wood and it creaked in protest. She heard the door open and a moment later she was sent sprawling into the darkness, landing hard on the rough dirt floor. What little light had come from the overcast sky was now gone entirely, and she was trapped in the darkness, blind, helpless.
    A moment later a light flared, and she closed her eyes against the glare. The smell of sulfur followed the match, and she squinted, trying to take in the bearded, long-haired figure sitting cross-legged across the small room.
    “Holy Mary, Mother of God,” came the dry voice from the darkness. “As if things weren’t bad enough.” And he blew out the match.
     
     
    Finn MacGowan leaned back against the rough wall of the shed and contemplated fate, that fickle bitch. Izzy and the new kid were wandering off, complaining bitterly and fantasizing about what they would do to the new arrival the moment they had the chance. MacGowan wasn’t particularly squeamish, but he was glad the woman either couldn’t hear or couldn’t understand what they were saying. If she did she’d be screaming bloody murder.
    “No.” Her voice was flat, calm, as she struggled to sit up. He could see her quite clearly – the match had momentarily blinded him but once he blew it out he found he could concentrate on her silhouette and take in all the basics. Late twenties, maybe even thirties, long golden hair that would probably attract snakes, expensive clothes and shoes. They’d chosen someone with money this time – maybe the Guiding Light was finally getting smarter.
    “No, what?” he said, curious.
    “No, I don’t happen to be Holy Mary, Mother of God,” she said, wiggling herself into a