Annja covered the distance fast and slammed the side of her hand down on David's wrist, hearing a snap as she did so.

David shrieked and grabbed his wounded wrist. "What the h.e.l.l!"

Jenny slapped Sheila across the face. "That's for lying to us."

David cradled his gun hand and frowned. "You're supposed to be dead."

"They would be if you did it properly," Sheila said.

"I tied those ropes tighter than anyone could have gotten loose. They must have had help," David said.

Did we ever, Annja thought. "You're a real piece of work, David. Not only are you a loathsome sc.u.mbag, but you'd kill a child as easily as draw a breath. Real nice, aren't you?"

"Joey would have told someone. I couldn't take the chance. He had to go just like you two."

Annja leaned forward and put her face inches from David's. "And all that sweet talk last night on your porch? About how you lured me out here through Jenny? What was that all about?"

"Whatever it takes to achieve the goal," he said.

But Annja could see her comment had hit the mark. Sheila didn't look happy. Annja saw her face darken momentarily. "Your man here has a bit of a libido problem, doesn't he?" she said pressing the point.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Sheila snapped.

"Don't you? You think you're the only woman he's led astray? He's probably got a dozen more dumb chicks like you in Canada."

Sheila looked at Dave. "Tell her that's not true."

"It's not. There's only you, babe."

Annja laughed. "I'll bet."

David frowned. "Don't listen to her. She's just trying to get you upset so you'll turn on me."

Annja pulled up a chair and sat down. "Do you mind telling me what this is all about in the first place? We're all a bit tired of guessing and you clearing up some of this would be greatly appreciated."

David smirked. "You haven't figured it out?"

"There hasn't been much to figure out. We've got you contacting Jenny, but for what reason I can't fathom. Simpson and Baker are intent on capturing big foot. And then there's you two running some kind of illegal operation here and trying to get us all killed. I can't connect the dots, so why don't you do it for me?"

"Why would I make your life any easier?" David said.

Annja smiled and then leaned forward to grab his hand. He yelped as she did so. Annja held his wrist. "I think the bone's broken here."

"Which one," David said. "You nailed it good."

Annja twisted the wrist a little and David screamed. "Wow, you're right. Maybe I did get a couple of them. I guess I just don't know my own strength sometimes, huh?"

David's face paled. "Stop it. You're killing me!"

Annja shook her head. "Not yet, sweetheart. But I will if you don't start talking about what you two are cooking up around here."

David looked at Sheila. "Ask her."

"Why would I do that?" Annja asked.

"Because she's in charge of the entire thing, that's why!"

Annja frowned. Sheila shook her head. "He's delusional from the pain of his broken wrist. I don't know what he's talking about."

"She does! You have to believe me. I'm not the one who knows everything. She is. They They are!" are!"

"They?"

David nodded furiously. "Of course. I couldn't pull this off without their help. You've got to believe me."

"Who are they they?"

David eyed Annja. "G.o.d, are you really so stupid? Tom! Him and Sheila are running this show, not me."

Jenny started to speak. "But Tom just told us-"

The sound of a ratcheted shotgun behind them made both Annja and Jenny turn around. Tom stood there, leveling the mean-looking Mossberg pump action on them. "I guess you might as well stop torturing that poor man," Tom said.

"You sure don't look brokenhearted anymore," Annja said.

Tom smiled. "Time heals all wounds. Isn't that what they say?"

"Some people say that, yeah."

"Wise folks, those people," Tom said. "Now, slowly get on up and stand over by that wall on the far side of the room. I think it's about time we all had ourselves a nice little chat."

Chapter 32.

Annja edged over to the wall and Jenny followed. I hope Joey's okay, she thought.

"Your friend Joey has been taken care of," Tom said.

"You killed him?" Annja shouted.

Tom shook his head. "I gave him a rap on the head and he's likely got a concussion. He won't be a problem for a while." He sighed. "Eventually, though, we're going to have to make a decision about what to do with him."

"He's a child," Jenny said.

"He's a pain in the a.s.s," David replied. "Just like that d.a.m.n wolf of his before I shot him. Things'll be better when they're both gone." He got up from the table and walked over to Tom. "You got any bandages or something? I'm going to have to get this thing set down in Maynard at the clinic," he said, holding his wrist.

Tom eyed him. "You're going to leave now to get that set?"