So far, so good, thought Jack. He saw his own sandals near the bottom of the steps where they had fallen off earlier. He put them on before opening the driver’s door and pushing Lily inside. “Sit on the floor and stay below the dash,” he ordered.

Jack started the engine and pulled away. As he drove, he sat low in the seat and leaned toward the middle of the vehicle. He hoped if the snipers tried to take him out that they would aim for the windshield directly in front of the steering wheel. It left him in an awkward position, but he was still able to grip the steering wheel with both hands while eyeing the snipers’ SUV on the far hill.

When no shots came after about half a minute, he handed Big Al’s cellphone to Lily and gave her the number to call Adams. “When he answers, tell him who you are and that you’re with me,” he said tersely. “If they start shooting at us I’m going to need both hands to drive.”

In the tunnel, the loss of lights was only temporary. Berto still had the flashlight he had taken from the kitchen drawer earlier. While he and Sanchez examined Big Al and believed he had died of a broken neck, the two mercenaries were each using their own cellphones to alert the security teams outside. The teams on the American side were also called to cover the border in the event Jack tried to drive cross-country.

As Jack told Lily the numbers to dial, he saw a figure emerge from the SUV on the hill and hustle around to the other side of the vehicle to join the other man who was looking out over the hood of the vehicle. He knew they were likely using the SUV to steady their aim. They know …

“It’s ringing,” said Lily. “Is he near here?”

“How the hell …” Jack stopped, trying to control the panic he felt and said, “I don’t know. Maybe.”

“Where should I tell him we are?” she asked, bringing her head above the dash to look around.

“Stay down!” yelled Jack.

Jack didn’t want to tell Lily he didn’t know where they were. Her body was shaking uncontrollably and her voice was shrill with panic. He wanted her to keep it together in the event they ended up ditching the vehicle and making a run for it.

“I’m sorry,” she cried, ducking back down.

“It’s okay. I shouldn’t have yelled. Tell him we’re driving southbound toward a paved highway from Casa Blanca.”

“It’s ringing, but nobody is answering,” cried Lily.

Damn it, John! Where are you? Answer!

Seconds later, Jack drove out of the hollow where Casa Blanca was situated and it gave him a better view as he scanned the area. His first thought was to turn around and drive over the rough terrain to the border. He knew it had to be close as he had been told that the tunnel was two miles long, but also remembered Big Al saying there was as much security on that side.

Jack realized that not only would the men on the American side know the layout of the land, but by the time he tried to drive the distance over rough land, they would have a reception waiting for him, while the men on the Mexican side closed in behind.

He tried to remember when he was blindfolded as to what happened when they turned off the highway. He remembered the vehicle stopping almost immediately as Sanchez spoke to someone who was obviously providing security. Was it the same guys who are on the hill looking down at us? It wasn’t long after when we reached Casa Blanca …

He looked to the east. The land was rugged and he did not see any roads, but a reflection from the sun on a far-off hill told him there was likely a security vehicle there.

Jack clenched his jaw and continued to drive south while keeping a watchful eye on the snipers. They didn’t move and slipped from his vision for a few seconds periodically when the dirt road dipped in and out over a few small knolls.

“It’s rung, like, twenty times … he’s not answering!” said Lily.

Jack grabbed the phone, hung up, and pressed redial. Why haven’t they opened up on us yet? He saw that Lily had dialled the number wrong and quickly punched in the correct digits.

As the phone rang, he came over a small hill and saw another road branching off to the right. It looked less travelled and would take him directly in front of where the snipers were. Is this why they haven’t shot yet? Hoping I’ll turn off and drive by in front of them?

He thought it was an easy decision to stay on the road he was on. It also looked hillier up ahead and offered a few more hidden spots where he would temporarily be out of sight of the snipers … if he could make it that far.

As he approached the intersection, he grabbed the rear-view mirror, twisting it down and using it to see the road ahead while looking up from below the dash. He expected the windshield to explode with bullets any second.

His driving slowed, but he still accidentally hit the ditch, causing his vehicle to slide sideways. He sat up in panic and regained control of the SUV, but decided against trying to use the mirror to drive.

Adams clung to the tower, occasionally wiping the sweat from his eyes as he used his binoculars. “We got some activity,” he reported down to Rubalcava. “The guys at the ambush area beyond the fruit stand are out on the road talking. Looks like the truck that was blocking the road is pulling out. Probably coming back to pick them up.”

“Good. Maybe Jack is finished and on his way out.”

“Yeah, hope so,” replied Adams, refocusing the binoculars to look at the snipers on the far hill. “Fuck! What the hell is going on? The two snipers are out of their vehicle again. One has a sniper rifle laid across the hood and the other is spotting with binos.”

“Aiming where they did before?”

“Yeah … hang on, my cellphone is ringing.” Adams fumbled with the binoculars, not wanting to put them down as he watched the snipers. Eventually he looped one arm through girder and was able to use that hand to hold the binoculars while fishing in his pocket for his phone.

“Am I glad to hear your voice,” said Jack when Adams answered the call.

“Where the hell are you?” Adams’s voice was sharp with relief.

“I was hoping you would know. I’ve been burned. They know who I really am. I’ve got Lily. We stole Big Al’s SUV and we’re southbound from Casa Blanca on some dirt road.”

“There’s a sniper on a hill lining up on you right now!”

“I know. I see them. They’re to the southwest of me. I’m surprised they haven’t shot at me yet. Maybe they don’t think I see them and are waiting for me to get closer. Where are you?”

“Watching from a radio tower south of you.”

“I can’t see any tower.”

“I can’t see you, either,” replied Adams, swinging around to take another look toward the fruit stand. The group of men were setting up the ambush again, only this time in the opposite direction.

“I’m leaving a lot of dust behind,” continued Jack. “You should see something soon. If the sniper doesn’t pop me in another minute or two, I’ll be out of his sight.”

“Don’t come south!” screamed Adams. “A bunch of guys have set up an ambush. There is no way you could survive it.”

“Explains why the assholes on the hill haven’t shot at me yet.”

“You gotta turn off. Don’t come this way!”

“There’s a small hill up ahead. I’ll be out of the sniper’s sight. Guess our only hope is to try and drive overland to the east, but I know there is someone there, as well.”

“There’s a farmhouse to the east where the bad guys were. Also a road leading south from it. They’ll have a lot of guys there waiting for you long before you reach it.”