Chapter 89

Vlad and I spent three more days at the campground. He slipped out every night and I pretended that he was still in the trailers. It wasn't like summer when people would have been moving around, but still it didn't hurt to have me go outside and call his fake name. "Edward are you making the coffee or should I come do it. Oh alright you men are helpless." That kind of thing at least once a night. I also slept with the door unlocked while he was gone, but the 9mm was always close at hand.

During the daylight hours we went for drives around the holler. Everything was within easy reach, so Vlad swore that he was ready for the meeting. I had my doubts but I trusted him. The call came in exactly a week after the meeting that we didn't make. I expected that it was just a coincidence. Surely they weren't stupid enough to meet on the same day every week. Especially since they went to all the trouble to move the meeting place around each time.

I did learn one thing during my time in the military, people will always surprise you with their stupid actions. Even people. you believe to be intelligent. will act stupid from time to time. No other one thing brings out the stupidity of the human animal more than interpersonal relationships. Okay to call it what it is, people act stupid mostly to get laid, it seemed to me.

"The call came telling us that Ivan had left with product. It was up to us to figure out where the meet was to take place.

"I figure our best bet is to stick to Jasper like glue. Maybe he will give me a hint." I said.

"It would be nice to be there first, but if not I can follow Jasper to the meet. That would be a lot easier if you planted a tracking device on him." Vlad suggested.

"And you just happen to have one?" I asked. Rather than answer Vlad handed me a disk the size of an American quarter, maybe a little thicker. I put the disk in my purse for the time being. "So you have been planing all this from the start?"

"Well, I have a few things I managed to pick up along the way. Look Maxine, I knew what I was going to do when I came here. Meeting Blevins, who told me about you, was just a beautiful accident. I could do this without you, but it wouldn't be as easy. Not that it is going to be easy at all," he hurried to add.

"I guess I need to go find Jasper, but to be honest it seems a little early. I'm just afraid that he will leave the holler without us seeing him at all today. If he does that, we will be starting all over again."

"If he doesn't have the meeting in the holler. we might have to just swoop in guns blazing and take our chances. Have you considered that possibility?" Vlad asked.

"The numbers will be all wrong, but yes as a last resort I considered it. I don't like it for sure." I admitted.

"Nor do I, but I am not leaving this valley with Ivan still breathing." Vlad was quiet and very serious. I knew how he felt. In his mind he was on a mission. Maybe it wasn't a mission from God, but it was a mission none the less.

"Give me a ride into town and I'll see if I can't plant this coin on Jasper." Vlad nodded as he removed his heavy coat from the back of a chair.

"While you are gone, I will clean and check out the weapons." he suggested. I nodded my agreement.

Vlad dropped me in front of the community center. It was where most of the people who didn't have jobs went to spend their time. The community center had computers and even WIFI if you wanted to use your own computer. I used a dummy computer Vlad had bought for the trip. It had no incriminating information on it at all. I waited at the community center an hour but Jasper never showed.

"No Jasper," I said to Vlad over the phone. I'm going to the sandwich shop to see if he shows there."

"Very well Maxine please be careful." Vlad said into the phone.

"I will do my best for sure, You be careful as well. He might at least give killing me a second thought, he won't you, neither of them will."

"You do know they will be coming for you as well, if this doesn't work perfectly." Vlad said.

"I know, but thanks for reminding me," I said with a laugh. I quickly changed the subject because Jasper walked in. "My, my our boy just came in with a girl his own age."

"Be careful, he might not be in any mood for you," Vlad said.

"Maybe not, but I have to at least give him the chance." I shut down the phone, then finished my sandwich. Jasper had a tray full of food when he headed my way.

"Move over bitch," he said to me.

"Jasper, don't talk to me like that please," I asked. I didn't really care what he said. I was just staying in character. Jasper would be lucky, if the Russians didn't cap his ass within 24hours of the hit. That was payback enough for me.

Jasper sat beside me and the girl sat across from us. She didn't seem to mind all that much, so my guess was that it was true love. In the crowded booth slipping the fake coin in his pocket was easy. He was all marked up within two minutes of his arrival. The next move should have been Vlad's.

"Did you miss me bitch?" he asked with his sandwich in his hand.

"Why would I miss someone with that foul mouth?" I asked it to answer his question.

"Because you loved sucking my dick, didn't you?" he demanded as he grabbed onto my arm. His grip hurt but not so much that I had to answer, but I did anyway. I wanted him to keep me around a while.