Page 70 of The End of Me

“Yeah?”

He extends his hand. “My name is Charles Gil. I’m an archeologist, and I know a thing or two about the world. Why don’t you come with me? We can try to see how we can help each other, son.”

A chill runs through me as I consider the offer. It’ll be sweet to accept it and get rid of Zamudio. But just the thought of putting him in danger is daunting.

“Listen, if I don’t do this now…” I say reluctantly. “If you don’t get out, they’ll come to kill you, sir.”

He clasps his hands behind his back and nods. I almost sigh with relief. Maybe I can help him get everyone out safely. Can I use some of Derek’s money to relocate them?

The man raises a single gray eyebrow and gives me a wry smile. “How long do we have before they contact you to see if you were successful?” His voice is calm and collected.

I shrug, my mind working frantically for answers. “Maybe a day or two?” I can try to buy us more time, but it might be almost impossible.

The corners of his lips twitch in a smirk. “That’s plenty of time to come up with a plan. What did you say your name is?”

“They call me Travis, but I’m not even sure if that’s my name.”

He gives me a reassuring smile. “Once you’re in a safe location, we’ll find you a fitting name.”

“Why are you making this so easy?”

“Because you need help, someone to save you.”

“I don’t,” I protest.

He touches my cheek like a father does to a child. “You can’t hide the fear, the anger, and the agony in those steel eyes. Please allow me to do this for you.”

“Why help me when I came to kill you?”

“I doubt those were your real intentions. I’m helping you because you look like one of my kids. If they were in your shoes, I would want someone to help them.”

“But I’m here to kill you,” I insist, but instead, I sound defeated.

“No. You’re here because someone forced you to act against your moral values. I have the feeling that you want out.”

How does he know? “I do.”

“Then we’ll get you out, okay.”

But how? He’s going to die before he can drag me out, and I’ll have to carry the guilt with me for the rest of my life.

ChapterThirty-Three

Him

Charles Gil has moreresources than Ricardo Zamudio. A jet touches down only four hours after I arrive at the farm. The employees evacuate almost immediately. Charles promises to pay them during the time they have to take off and that their jobs are secure.

I provide Charles with the location of where Ricardo Zamudio is located, along with everything I know about the Zs.

The seven hours it takes to prepare our escape, including calling Ricardo Zamudio, are nerve-wracking. I’m not concerned about myself but all the people that can die if things go wrong.

Mr. Gil knows people who can take care of my problem and even orchestrate my death. I leave behind the equipment my father gave me and bring with me the things I took from Derek’s place.

Once the plane takes off, I finally breathe. There’s still something nagging me, a concern. It’s the same worry I have all the time, I have to help someone, or I left someone behind, and I need to find them.

“Are you okay, son?” Charles asks, taking a seat in front of mine.

I nod because he wouldn’t understand if I told him that I have this weird feeling that I’m forgetting someone important.

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