Page 112 of Paladin's Hell

It’s getting warm in here. It’s getting harder to breathe. You shouldn’t leave dogs in hot cars in the sun, let alone people. For the first time I’m glad I’m not in Tucson, in that heat, I’d already be dead. But even though the outside temperature might be twenty or thirty degrees cooler, and the sun’s rays a little weaker, the end effect will probably be the same. It might just take a little longer.

I’m already thirsty, dehydrated. Not yet you’re not. But you will be.

I’m so scared, I start screaming again.

What’s his plan?If he’s handing me over to the Herreras, he’ll be back before I’m dead, else he wouldn’t get any money.

What if I’m wrong? What if my brain just went to the one enemy I knew I had? What if he’s got nothing to do with the Tucson crime family? Perhaps it’s closer to home. Perhaps he wants nothing for me. Only to take me away from Pal.

Why would he want to hurt his brother?

If anything about Taser had seemed off before today, I may not have believed him. Wouldn’t have been tricked by him, and certainly wouldn’t have gone anywhere with him. But I’d not had a clue. If Pal suspected anything, he hadn’t warned me. Had he been wrong? Was Taser the man he’d had suspicions about? Was it what I didn’t know that had ended up hurting me? Had he known about Taser?

I think back to the few short hours ago in the kitchen. There was no indication anything was amiss. Taser had seemed friendly enough with everyone, even Paladin.

Pal. Tears roll from my eyes. We had our whole lives ahead of us. Now, I don’t know how much of mine I have left.

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