Page 62 of Cast in Shadow
Zeke took another step forward, and Higgins put up both hands.
“All right, all right! You’re right, okay? About everything. I was making runs. They didn’t really give me much of a choice. It was do what they said and get cash in my pocket or lose my job—or worse. I didn’t feel right about it, but what was I supposed to do? If I didn’t, they’d just find someone else.”
“Tell me about the FBI.”
Higgins shrugged. “A guy just showed up at my door one day. Said he was a fed, investigating the plant, and that if I helped them, they’d help me. I figured it was a way out.”
“But it wasn’t.”
Higgins shook his head. “It was at first. The agent assigned to my case—Paul Hanlon—seemed like a stand-up guy. I was supposed to keep track of everything, and I did. Notes, names, pictures, all of it, on this flash drive they gave me. I was going to hand it over, but Hanlon didn’t show. Another agent did. He asked me for the drive, but something felt off, you know? So, I told him I wasn’t stupid enough to keep it with me, that I had it hidden and couldn’t get it until later. They must have seen me with Aggie and figured I’d given the drive to her for safe keeping. Anyway, he said he needed to show me something. Turned out, what he wanted to show me was a picture of the first guy’s body being fished out of the river.”
“So, you ran.”
“Fuck yes, I ran! Wouldn’t you?”
“Where’s the information now? Do you still have it?”
“No.” He spit again.
“You’re lying.”
Higgins rallied and looked up at Zeke with defiance. “What if I am? Are you going to shoot me?”
“Tempting, but no. Aggie wants me to bring you back alive.”
“Aggie? Why?”
“Because for some unknown reason, she wants to help you.”
“I told you, no one can help me. My only chance is to disappear.”
“I found you. Eventually, they will too. Are you going to live like a hermit for the rest of your life, always looking over your shoulder, waking up every morning and wondering if it’s going to be the day they find you?”
“It’s not so bad,” Higgins said, though his voice lacked conviction. “I’ve got plenty of food and water. I don’t have to deal with anyone’s shit or follow anyone else’s rules. I’ll keep moving. The Appalachians run a long way.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not asking. Get up. You’re coming with me.”
“I don’t think so.”
Zeke sighed. If the guy insisted on doing things the hard way, he’d oblige.
Zeke was just about to haul him to his feet when the leather wrist cuff Aggie had given him began to vibrate. She had insisted he wear it, so she could keep track of his progress and warn him of impending danger.
He had resisted at first. If things did go south, he didn’t want Aggie venturing into the woods, looking for him. But then she’d looked at him with those pretty hazel eyes while sinking down onto his shaft, and he hadn’t been able to say no. Hell, he would have agreed to practically anything at that point.
He held up his hand, warning Higgins to be quiet, and listened, but it was impossible to hear anything over the rain.
He signaled to Higgins to stay put, then moved toward the opening. Keeping his body in shadow, he pulled a scope out and scanned the area. The rain had intensified, coming down in big, fat drops.
Zeke spotted movement about a hundred yards beyond—two dark smudges against the green and the gray. He sensed Higgins creeping up behind him and glanced back in warning.
Higgins held up both hands to show they were empty and whispered, “What’s happening?”
“We’ve got company,” he answered equally quietly and handed Higgins the scope. “Friends of yours?”
“That’s the agent who wasted Hanlon and threatened to do the same to me. His name’s Manelli. I don’t know the other guy.”
“Hey, over there!” the unknown guy said, his voice muffled by the rain.
