"Fuck off. I'm not saying a word."

"Really? You really want to go that route? Think about it. You're here alone in the middle of the Amazon. No colleagues, no guns, and you're wounded. You screwed up the job you were hoping to get paid for, so you can forget about that. You are totally on your own. The people of Fordlandia don't like you and we don't like you. We can make you disappear. You've tried to kill us numerous times; you killed Sabrina's sister; you killed an innocent man in Nebraska; and you killed a total of four of Mario's men. Everyone who has any connection to this you've either killed or attempted to kill, except the Flynns, and they were probably next on your list."

Lying in the ditch had given me time to think, and I was beginning to make some connections. Something Mario had said about Flynn being the only person who seemed unaffected to that point, as well as some things Mikey had said in his book were beginning to bother me. So I took a chance throwing Flynn's name out there.

But it had the desired effect. He had a momentary look of surprise as I said Flynn's name, then it vanished. But it was enough for me.

"You wouldn't leave me out here," he said. "I know your kind."

"You don't know my kind at all," I answered. "Someone once said to me that to protect yourself, you have to be willing to kill your attacker." I gave a sidelong glance at Sabrina. "Trust me, I would have no trouble killing you. You give us the information we want and I will make sure you get some medical help."

"But you'll turn me over to the police."

"Of course. But at least you'll be alive. And somehow I doubt if prison would be a new experience for you. So it's your choice. And unlike you or Mario over there, I keep my word."

There was silence while he considered his options, but he really had no choice, and he knew it.

"We were hired by Bill Flynn and his wife. He wanted you and your girlfriend gone, her sister gone, Guidry gone, and anyone else who knew too much gone. He didn't tell me why, but he said he wanted the slate completely wiped clean. And he paid us well. The guy had money."

He grimaced. The pain was beginning to set in. "Our instructions were clear. Everyone connected to this thing was supposed to die."

Chapter 35

Bill and Amanda Flynn. The two who wanted nothing to do with the past, who gave me Mikey's book with a good riddance, and who seemed so relieved when they found out they could finally turn in the stolen art. They were the masterminds behind this? Of all the lies we'd had to sort through, theirs was the most convincing.

One of the locals brought a bandage and some antiseptic and Emil worked on the man's arm while he talked. By now, most of the population of Fordlandia—a couple of dozen or so—was observing the scene.