Pure Dynamite by Lauren Bach Page B

here, so I was reluctant to leave the car with the keys in it and all."
    "Appreciate it." Adam tried to get a better look at the man without being obvious. How close a friend was he? "Is Nevin around? Lyle's eager to see him."
    "Nobody sees him. Man's a ghost."
    "Safer that way," He shrugged faking indifference.
    "Make sure you leave keys in your vehicle so we can drive it off."
    Adam's ears perked at the word we. How many more friends did Nevin have tucked in the woods? "Will do. Anything else?"
    "Yeah. Tell Lyle that Griz says to keep his eye to the sky."
    "I'll give him the message."
    But the man had already disappeared into the mist.
    Adam closed the trunk and moved the Buick closer to Renata's car. He helped Lyle into the Buick.
    The younger man moved slowly, cursing frequently. "Did Nevin leave anything for pain?"
    Adam dug the pills out of his pocket. "Should I check with Renata before you take these?"
    Lyle took the bottle, scanned the label. "Nah, I've taken this stuff before. And the doc would probably rather see me suffer without anything."
    "By the way, I met a friend of yours."
    "Who?"
    "Griz." Adam repeated the message. "What the hell does that mean? Should we expect trouble?"
    "It means they're planning a diversion."
    "What kind?"
    "Not sure. I'll have to check with Nevin."
    While Lyle tried to get comfortable, Adam transferred the medical supplies. Then he went to get Renata. He briefly debated substituting handcuffs for the gauze but didn't want to waste any more time. Or risk Ethan's men coming in for a closer look.
    Adam opened her car door and reached to help her.
    She leaned away. "Let me stay in my car. Please! I swear I won't call the police or tell anyone."
    He knew Griz and Company were still watching them; probably waiting to report to Nevin that they'd departed. Leaving her behind would place her in even greater danger: They wouldn't tolerate a witness. Adam tugged her out, helped her stand. She was trembling. Afraid. Until he'd touched her. Now her eyes flashed with boldness. In the face of her fear, she had spirit.
    "Sorry, but I'm starting to like having you around" he said.

Chapter Seven

    They drove for five hours, crossing into Virginia and then weaving north. Adam pressed hard knowing it was critical to reach their destination while it was dark.
    Their route had been well chosen. The roads had some traffic but no roadblocks. While Virginia didn't have the same degree of flooding that North Carolina had parts of the state had received record rainfalls. And according to the radio, as the new storm system brought more precipitation to the mid-Atlantic, flood warnings would soon be posted along the entire eastern seaboard.
    Just before dawn, Adam made the last turn onto a rocky lane that led to a large barn near the edge of a recently mowed hayfield. He glanced at Renata. She hadn't said much since they'd left Yanceyville. Which made him wonder what she was thinking.
    When they stopped, Lyle roused from a drug-in- duced slumber. "Are we there yet?"
    "Afraid so." Adam reread the directions. Follow lane to barn. That was it? He grabbed the flashlight. "Let me check it out. I'll be right back."
    Renata leaned forward watched him disappear.
    "What's he doing now?" Lyle asked.
    "He went inside." She heard the back seat squeak as Lyle shifted.
    "You sound nervous, Doc. Afraid?"
    "No."
    He started to laugh, then groaned as if in pain. The sound was macabre. Practically nonhuman.
    She glanced over her shoulder. In the dark, and with Lyle lying down, she wasn't able to see anything. "Are you okay?"
    For a moment he didn't answer, then he rasped "No. I need your help."
    With her hands tied she couldn't do much. Concerned she looked out the window, but saw no sign of Adam. "Tell me what's wrong," she said.
    "What's wrong? I think I explained earlier. Nine months, fourteen days. I'm so horny, my dick hurts." Again that creepy, disembodied laughter followed.
    The painkillers. Lyle was high.
    When Adam