“Forget it, Annabelle. We’d be leading these guys right to him,” protested Alex.

“And besides,” added Reuben, “I’m sure Oliver had a nifty escape plan.”

“Really? No ID. No money. I gave him a credit card. I checked on it. It hasn’t been used in months. He can’t get on a plane. He can only run so far.”

“Before they catch him,” said Reuben quietly.

“Maybe that’s what he wants,” stated Alex. The other three stared at him. “He got Simpson and Gray. He felt terrible guilt for Milton. He may feel he has nothing else to live for. He runs, but not that hard. He knows they’ll catch up to him and he’s prepared for what that means.”

Annabelle said, “I’m not going to let his life end that way.”

“Annabelle, stonewalling the CIA is one thing, but you get mixed up in actively helping Oliver elude the authorities then you’re looking at prison time too. A big chunk of it.”

“I don’t care, Alex. Look what he did for me. He risked everything to help me.”

“He’s done that for all of us,” added Reuben.

“You wouldn’t be here either, Alex,” Annabelle said, eyeing the man. “Except for Oliver.”

Alex sat down on an old desk. “Guys, I hear you, but I’m a federal agent. I can only go so far.”

“We don’t want to get you in trouble, so you don’t have to do anything,” said Annabelle, though her tone was less gracious than her words.

“Except look the other way,” added Reuben.

“How would you even go about finding him?” said Alex.

“That’s for us to figure out,” said Reuben coldly. He glanced over at Caleb. “You’re a federal employee too, but are you in?”

Caleb nodded. “I’m in.”

Alex, his features grim, rose. “Well, I guess this is where we part company. Good luck.”

“Alex—” Annabelle began, but the door had already closed behind him.

The three remaining members of the Camel Club simply looked at each other.

“Screw him,” exclaimed Reuben. “So how do we find Oliver?”

She gazed at him. “The fox is on the hunt, right?”

“Right. So?”

“So we follow the fox.”

“You have a plan?”

“I always have a plan.”

“Annabelle, girl, I love you.”

Chapter 24

CHAPTER 24

STONE WAS ABOUT TO APPROACH Danny Riker when someone else appeared from the other side of the graveyard. Stone shrank down behind the stone wall as the man stepped clear of the shadows and into the moonlight. At first, Stone thought the big fellow was going to attack Danny, so stealthy was his approach. Indeed, Stone was preparing to spring out when the other man gently touched Danny on the shoulder.

“Come on, boy, no good you being here.”

Danny looked up into the face of Sheriff Tyree, who bent down to help him up.