“You can drive. I don’t have that much experience with mountains, and I’ve watched you drive at Sandrino Place.” She slid into the passenger seat. “Where in the mountains? I thought you said something about snipers.”

“So I did, but I think we’ll be able to avoid them.” He tore out onto the road. “We’re going in another direction.” He reached for his phone. “But just in case we can’t…” He dialed Rennell. “We’re on the move. I’ll be heading up the mountain toward the ridge. You might have to run interference. The card game went splendidly, which means that Volkov is in a very foul mood and might want to castrate me.”

“If it wasn’t Volkov, I’d empathize,” Rennell said. “I’ve felt like that about you many, many times even when my mood was just fine. How close are they?”

“I’m doubling back now and heading up the mountain. I don’t want to go too fast. I want them to be able to see the headlights to follow me. No sign of them leaving the casino yet.”

“Then call me when you have to worry. I’m busy right now.”

“I’ll do that. Are the charges set?”

“We probably had the ones on the upper ridge set before you were halfway through your poker game. The lower ones required more time and thought, but we’re getting there. I just wanted to orchestrate something more interesting in case we got a visit from Volkov. I didn’t want him to feel that we didn’t appreciate him.”

“We? I thought you were handling the charges alone. Who did you pull in to help?”

“Just some bozo who doesn’t know squat about dynamite, but knows enough to keep quiet when I need to concentrate. We’re getting along all right.”

“That’s an amazing compliment in itself. But are you sure that the ridge charges will do their job? If we’re going to lead Volkov into a trap, I don’t want to lure him with a dead device.”

“They’re not as interesting as the ones down here. But they’ll do the job…I think.”

“Could you be a little more reassuring? I have Lara in the car and she’s already had a more complicated evening than she was prepared for.”

“But she can handle it. And she’s probably sitting there resenting you thinking she can’t. She knows I don’t make mistakes. She doesn’t need me to tell her. Isn’t that right, Lara?”

“Absolutely. On all subjects,” Lara said. “But it’s good to hear it from the expert.”

“Which Tanner is not, except in a few minor categories. Did he really pull off making Volkov blow his mind?”

“Any minute now.” She smiled at Tanner. “He handled that minor category very well, indeed.”

“Then we’ll have to see if we can stop playing around and go the distance.” Rennell’s tone was suddenly dead serious. “I’m ready, Tanner. Give me the word and it will be the Fourth of July.” He cut the connection.

Chapter
16

Rennell immediately turned to Maria, sitting on the ground beside him. “Satisfied? I did what you wanted. You heard her voice and she’s fine.”