Page 16 of Falling for the Enemy

“Oh, that’s right. There was a change of plans,” Ava said. “I was so busy this morning I forgot to send out the email. The river raft service we’re taking to the campsite won’t be running by the time we arrive. We’ll stay overnight in the hotel by the airport and then set out in the morning. You’ll have time to eat, shower, shop for anything you might still need.”

“That sounds good. Thanks.” He glanced back. “Looks like he’s out of the restroom. I’ll go ask the flight attendant for a sparkling water. That should help.”

“Thanks, Evan. You’re the best.”

Evan walked away. “The only good member on your team,” I said. Ava was right. I was back to my old snarling self. The talk about my lack of adventure had set my mood back.

“I’ve got a great team,” she countered. “Granted, Norman is a complainer, but he’s very smart. By the way, one of your team members—you’ll know who I’m talking about when I finish this sentence—was telling a friend that she hoped there were at least decent accommodations on this forced trip.”

I couldn’t hold back a smile.

“You didn’t tell her all the details, did you?”

“Details like the crude shelters and cooking cans of beans over a firepit and waking to the possibility that bullet ants have moved into her hiking boots? I might have left out a few key points. At least she’ll have a hotel room on the first night.”

“Yes, but I’m fairly certain it won’t live up to her standards, and she’ll be sharing the room with Robyn and me.”

“Oh wow, girls’ night. Have fun.”

“Did you think you’d have your own posh suite with a whirlpool and ocean view?”

“Well, I know the airport we’re landing at is not near the ocean, so I wasn’t considering a view. A whirlpool would be nice.”

“You’ll be bunking with Milo and Ian. Or I can do a little switcheroo and put you in with Evan and Norman.”

I looked at her. “You wouldn’t.”

She smiled and shrugged. “Seems you’ve already forgotten the pastry event.”

“No, I have not, and trust me—I don’t know when or how but one day I will get you back for that.” I sat back and closed my eyes. “Now that the snoring has stopped maybe I can catch a few winks before the nightmare begins.”

Chapter Eleven

AVA

It was a tired, bedraggled group of grad students who heaved their packs into the van for the quick trip to the hotel. We were glad now for the short respite from the adventure. None of the crew were seasoned travelers. There were complaints of hunger and being sticky and hot in the van on the way to the hotel. Norman was usually the premier whiner, but Pam was giving him a run for his money.

The pout on her face as she jumped down from the van was photo-worthy. “I hope there’s air conditioning in the hotel.” As she said it, she glanced over to the ivory-colored building with the penitentiary-style façade and landscaping. Her chin dropped. “Please tell me this isn’t our hotel. Are we seriously spending the next two weeks in a maximum-security prison?”

“Only one night,” I said cheerily and swept a smug grin Jack’s direction.

“As long as there’s running water and a restaurant, I don’t care what it looks like inside,” Robyn said. She was the only one of the group who still looked pulled together, as if the plane trip had only been an hour and not six long, stuffy, cramped and mostly unpleasant hours.

The research station at the river had taken care of our accommodations. There was a message at the reception desk that the van would pick us up at eight in the morning and drive us the two hours to the river raft company. From there it was a short ride down the river to the station and then another two-hour hike to the campsite. It all sounded standard and fairly uneventful to me, but as I read the message there were plenty of groans. “A two-hour hike,” Norm whined. “And that river trip—what if there are rapids?”

“Not this time of year,” I assured him. “I think you’ll enjoy it, Norm.” I had the keys in my hand. Jack had given himself the job of just watching from the sidelines, and it was getting annoying. He stood at the back of the group while I worked to alleviate worries and complaints.

Pam seemed to finally comprehend that this wasn’t going to be a five-star resort kind of vacation. She walked over to Jack. He immediately stiffened and assumed an equally stiff smile.

“I don’t understand. You didn’t mention we’d be living out in nature,” Pam said.

“Oh, didn’t I?” Jack shrugged. “I just assumed you knew. It’s not as if we’re going to find new species of fungus inside a hotel.”

“I’m not so sure about that.” Pam surveyed the hotel lobby. It was plainly decorated, and the yellow plaster walls had moldy cracks. Two potted ferns and a bright green couch were the only décor in the lobby. Big overhead fans swirled around the hot, sticky air, and there was no shortage of flying insects buzzing through the air.

I cleared my throat to get everyone’s attention. “I’ve got the keys. All rooms have two double beds. The women will take one room?—”

Pam scoffed, so I repeated that statement. “Professor Sinclair, here are the other two keys. I’ll let the men figure out their own sleeping arrangements.” I walked over to him anddropped the keys on his palm with a wink. “The hotel has a bar that serves some snacks. There’s a restaurant just around the corner, and a few of the locals have food kiosks up and down the road. The van arrives at eight, so be outside the hotel by half past seven to make sure you don’t miss the ride. The rest of the afternoon and evening is yours to do as you like, but I highly recommend you stay within a few miles of the hotel and that you get plenty of rest. It might be the best night of sleep you get for the next two weeks.”

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