“That makes sense,” Amanda said. After a long silence, she looked at Katiya and smiled. “You know I have to ask this… do you think we’re going to find anything?”
“That’s a good question. The honest answer is that I don’t know.” She gestured toward her laptop and the piles of paper. “I didn’t share this at the meeting, but I’ve discovered some pretty interesting things about our target zone. So much that it makes me suspicious that there is something going on out there.”
Amanda’s eyes widened. “So what did you find?”
Katiya smiled. “Give me another day or two, then we can talk. I’m still trying to put a couple of pieces together.”
“You tease.”
Katiya smiled. “I promise you’ll be the first to know.” She glanced at her watch. “Besides, it’s getting late. I think we can both use some shut-eye.”
Amanda stood. “Can’t blame a girl for trying though.”
Katiya slid off the bed and stuck her hand out. “I’m so glad you’ve joined the team, Amanda. I feel like we’re kindred spirits.”
“It’s funny, but I feel the same way.”
Katiya stepped across the room and opened the door. “Sleep well.”
“You too.”
Amanda stepped out into the hall, closing the door behind her. As she started toward her cabin, she heard a thump behind her. She turned, but no one was there. She figured the noise must have come from the door at the end of the hall, which led to the stern. Who would be out there at this hour?
Probably just a stick or a limb hitting the boat, she thought.
Hearing nothing else, she turned and walked toward her cabin.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
There was a brief flash of light as the door at the back of the Izabel opened. A man draped in a raincoat stepped outside, closing the door behind him. He crossed to the rail, doing his best to ignore the storm that continued to rage along the river.
Thunder grumbled overhead, and a gust of wind sent sheets of rain whipping across the stern. The man cursed under his breath. If the cabin walls weren’t so thin, he never would’ve ventured out into the tempest.
He turned and looked back at the door. It was still shut. Quit worrying. No one would come out in this weather. And even if they did, he’d already concocted a story that would explain why he was there.
Confident he wasn’t being watched, the man pulled a phone from his pocket, leaning over to shelter it from the rain. He used a thumb to scroll through the contacts list until he found the name he was looking for. A quick tap initiated the call. After two rings, someone picked up but didn’t speak. As the wind whipped his coat, the man hunkered down and passed along his first report. He gave them the precise location of the Izabel as well as a few pertinent details he’d picked up during the presentation earlier in the evening. His contact seemed pleased but reminded him that all the guidelines were to be followed. If they weren’t, then he knew what to expect.
After telling his contact he understood, the man ended the call and placed the phone back in his pocket.
He lingered for a few minutes, thinking about all that had transpired that day. He’d been able to gather a lot of information already, and no one seemed to have noticed anything was amiss. Even the team lead, supposedly a sharp man, didn’t seem to suspect a thing.
Suddenly a bolt of lightning flashed less than a mile away. The man realized he’d been outside long enough. Turning, he crossed over to the door, and like a hooded phantom, he slipped back inside.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Zane shielded his eyes from the midafternoon sun as he strode down the boat’s ramp and onto the sheltered beach. It was the first time he’d set foot on Brazilian soil in almost two days, and it felt good. This was where the real journey would begin.
As others began to stream out onto the small strip of red sand, he looked up. The rain and clouds had finally retreated, and the rainforest was bathed in a soft golden glow. The foliage was teeming with creatures, large and small, searching for food in the wake of the rain. Primates screamed from distant treetops while insects buzzed around a myriad of flowering vines.
Suddenly, he caught a flash of color out of the corner of his eye. He turned and saw a large bird flapping across the river, nesting material dangling from its bill. Seconds later, it disappeared into a large tree on the opposite bank.
The jungle was returning to life.
In a way, the poor weather of the last couple of days had provided a valuable service. Everyone had been forced to stay inside and recharge their batteries after long flights. Zane had spent most of his time going over the route with Jorge. They had discussed areas of potential trouble, including the possibility of flooding. The rains seemed to have fallen over a wide area, but they wouldn’t know its effects until they began traversing the jungle on foot.
Zane unscrewed the top of his thermos and took a sip of coffee. He watched the others spread out across the beach, their necks craned as they soaked in the beauty around them. Katiya and Max moved toward a row of flowering vines where insects of various kinds were buzzing with activity. As expected, the linguist had been prickly throughout the trip. He seemed to survive on bottled energy drinks, and Zane wondered how much more obnoxious he would become now that he’d be forced to drink water.
Zane’s eyes moved to Katiya. As he watched her crouch to examine a flower, he felt a little surge of warmth. He tried to push it away, but it lingered stubbornly. He would normally attribute such a feeling to physical attraction, but this seemed different. It was a development he’d have to monitor. Maintaining personal discipline while working was something he prided himself on. And while Dr. Katiya Mills was certainly someone who would warrant any man’s attention, this was not the time or place. At least, he hoped not.
“I agree one hundred percent,” said a male voice from behind him.
Zane turned to find Brett standing at his shoulder. “I’m sorry?”
Brett set his backpack on the ground and nodded toward Katiya. “Uber hot.”
Zane shook his head. “Was it that obvious?”
“Don’t feel bad. If you hadn’t noticed, I might have asked for your man card.”
Zane’s eyes returned to the group. “How is everyone doing?”
“For the most part, good,” Brett said as he took a swig of bottled water. “I think everyone has cabin fever and is just ready to get going.”
“I am too.” Zane reached up and wiped away the beads of sweat that had already gathered on his forehead. The breeze generated by the boat, as well as the storms, had given them a false sense of cool comfort. After stepping off the boat, that changed immediately. They weren’t even under the canopy yet, and the humidity was already suffocating. “My big concern is preparedness.”
“How so?”
Zane took another sip of coffee and screwed the cap back on his thermos. “I’ve had to survive out in the jungle before, and nothing really prepares you for the wave of discomfort that hits you out here. The heat, the clouds of insects, the sudden rains that soak through clothing in seconds. Not to mention all the deadly critters that lie in wait for the uninitiated.” He nodded toward the others. “Unfortunately, some are going to have trouble adjusting, and we need to make sure we get them—”