“We don’t know, pumpkin. Brandon and Sam are being overly cautious. They saw a lot of things when they were in the army.”
“Will they be all right?”
“Yeah, they’re sensible. They won’t go near it until the police arrive, and the police will have the right equipment.”
A small-town police station wouldn’t have the equipment or knowledge to defuse an explosive booby trap. There were only a few people who would have those skills.
Sam and Brandon could.
Penelope sucked in a breath at the realisation. Horror filled her. Lara was still asking Faith questions in the back, so she murmured to Amy. “Would they try to defuse it themselves?”
The blood draining out of Amy’s face was all the answer she needed. Amy slowed, but as Lara asked her next question, she clenched her jaw and kept driving.
They had to keep the others safe.
Chapter 12
Sam smiled at the backpack Penelope had shoved at him. It was sweet that she was worried enough about him to provide him with food and water. He set his watch to alarm every ten minutes and took the radio from Brandon, clipping it onto his shorts.
“She’s got issues,” Brandon said as he swung the rifle onto his back and opened the esky.
Sam didn’t bother glaring. “You mean like Amy has?”
Brandon grunted. “Amy’s got me now, and Sherlock, if he ever gets back from his mission.”
Sam ignored the gut clench.
“Why’d she want to stay?” Brandon continued. “You two slept together yet?”
Sam shoved his friend harder than was necessary. “It’s none of your business. Penelope deserves your respect.”
Brandon glanced at him. “You serious?”
He wasn’t asking regarding the respect comment. “I think I might be.” When he’d recognised what the plastic package could be, his first instinct was to step between it and Penelope. The thought of her being injured had chilled him.
“OK. Enough said. You heard back from your investigator?”
“Not yet.” He hated the suspicion still lurking in his mind that she could be a Stonefish plant.
“All right. I’ll tell the others to avoid talking to her about this until you’re done.”
It didn’t sit well with Sam, but he needed to be sure. Sam crouched next to him to see what they had to work with. Lots of food, drink and ice in the esky, but nothing particularly useful. He opened Penelope’s backpack and laughed. “Jackpot.” First aid kit, survival kit containing a multi-tool, wire, rope, fishing hooks, water filtration tablets, and a couple of energy bars.
“She’s a prepper,” Brandon said.
Sam sobered. This was probably in response to not having what she needed to save Emelia. “More of a Girl Scout prepared for any emergency.” And right now he was thankful for it. “It’ll take Dot at least an hour and a half to get here.”
“If she takes the western track, she might cut it to an hour.” Brandon grimaced. “She’s good at getting here fast.”
All since Stonefish had showed their hand. “How do you want to play it?”
“Let’s examine it again. We’ll work out the best course of action and then when we hear the car, we can move.”
Sam nodded. That’s what he’d figured, too. That way if something went boom, there would be someone who could help them. His watch beeped, and he took the radio from his belt. “You ladies made the right choice,” he said. “Air conditioned comfort. It’s getting hot out here.”
Penelope’s voice was a stiff hiss. “Do not do what you’re planning.”
Brandon raised his eyebrows. “I wondered how long it would take for it to sink in.”
