Day 4

Max woke up, as the sun streamed in through the windows. Squinting against the intruding light, reality set in.

"Why couldn't this have been a bad dream?" she groaned, as she pushed her hair out her eyes, "Why can't I be at home, in my own bed? Instead of in a house, with a body that is starting to smell, mobsters who want me dead, who at least think I'm dead, and no feasible way to get out of here. Unless I find this hypothetical boat of Toms. Please God, let me find the boat."

Stomach grumbling, she stumbled toward the kitchen.

-----

Kenny silently hoped that his fake credit card would hold up a bit longer, at least until he could get to this island.

"Thanks," he said, as he bordered the charter, "Uh, how long is this going to take?"

"Six hours," the crew man grunted, "Why you go to empty island?"

"I'm looking for someone. Has anyone else been there lately?"

The man shrugged, "Helicopters have been flying in and out for the past few days. Who knows where they go?"

Kenny nodded, and settled in, "Is there anything I can do?"

"You passenger. Sit. Enjoy ride."

----

"We ran Sophia's prints, I got them from her statement, and you know what?" Skeeter asked, "Her real name is Carmen Sardelli. She is Tom's sister, and is married to Robert Sardelli."

"Who is known to work with Giorgio Millani," Jimmy finished, "Shit."

"And now she has vanished. That is a shock."

"We have to find Kenny," Jimmy stated, "Shit. Those bastards set him up."

"And we fell for it."

"I fell for it. You didn't."

Skeeter shrugged, "I didn't want to believe my friend was capable of that. Where would he go?"

Jimmy paused, "I don't know. If Tom set this whole thing up, Kenny would be looking for him. Where would Tom go?"

"We'll have the list of his real estate soon enough."

----

Max made herself eat something before she started trekking around the island again. Stuffing the metal briefcase, some clothes, food, and Tom's gun in a backpack, she made her way back out into the heat of the day. I already checked this side, and it's time to see what is on the other side of this jungle. Gritting her teeth, she plunged through the trees. Please don't let there be any killer, poisonousness, rabid, animals, waiting to kill me. Mobsters either. Come on, just cut me a break.

"What is that?" she asked aloud, as she came to the cliff that she flung the sweatshirt off yesterday. Crouching on the edge of the cliff, she peered down at the lagoon beneath her, "Oh shit."

Watching the people disembark the boat, she slowly backed away from the edge. They're back, she thought, they must know! Or they sent someone back to finish the job, or to look for the money.

"If no one is on the boat," Max whispered, as a vague plan began to form in her mind, "How the hell do I get down there?"

----

Kenny looked around the tranquil lagoon, as he stepped on Tom's island. Where do I even start to look, he thought, and if Tom is a mobster, I doubt he'll have any reservations about shooting me. Max, concentrate on her for now. If she is alive, find her. He took a deep breath, as he began his hike up the cliff.

"Interesting," Jimmy mused, as he read over the list of Tom's properties, "Tom Miller and Tom Millani own a good deal of land."

Skeeter nodded, "No shit. Vegas, Miami, New York, Sweden, Russia, Chili, Acapulco, and Greece. Only New York and Las Vegas are listed under Miller though. Where do you want to start?"

"He has private islands in Chili and Greece. I'd start there."

Skeeter nodded, "I'll call the F.B.I. I'm sure that Morell will be eager to help out."

----

Come on assholes, Max thought, as she crouched behind the rock formation. You want me? Come and get me. Switching the safety off on the gun, she vowed that she would get off of this island today, mob or no mob. Steadying her shaking hands, she dared to take a peak out from her hiding place. I swear in my next life all I'm going to do is lie in a hammock and drink maragaritas. Shit! They're here!

Hearing the footsteps come closer, Max leveled the gun between the crack and rocks and fired at the approaching figure.

"Shit!" a voice yelled, as she watched the body hit the dirt, as she fired again, "Don't shoot! I don't want to hurt you!"

Max paused, as she listened to the familiar voice. Lowering the gun, she watched as the man stood up, and looked around him. I can't see his face, she thought, so how do I know? I'm losing it here. I really am.

"Max?" he called, "Max, if you're here, answer me! For the love of God, don't shoot me!"

She choked back her tears, as she leapt to her feet, "Kenny?"

----

"Morell is out of the country on assignment," Skeeter said, "So someone named Rich Baker is coming down."

Jimmy nodded, "Good. Look at this. There have been two private boat rentals today, and they both requested to go out to this island."

"Kenny," Skeeter said, "And who else?"

"The Millanis? Tom and Max? I don't know. Either way, someone is going to need back up."

----

"Max," Kenny gasped, as he crossed the ground to her, and pulled her into her arms, "Max. Thank God."

"Kenny," she cried, as the tears she hadn't shed in the past four days came rushing out, "Oh Kenny! I'm so sorry! I almost shot you."

"Ssh, don't cry. It's okay," he promised, just looking at her for a moment, "Max, what the hell is going on? I thought you were dead. Where is Tom? What are you doing here?"

"I woke up here three days ago, with Tom. He said we had to run away from his family, they were going to kill us, and they set it up to make it look like he killed his boss."

"The Millanis."

"How do you know?"

"I've been doing some research."

Max nodded, as he wrapped his arms around her, "He said that he made it look like you blew us up, and that you had ties to his family. So it would take the heat off of us. Then these people showed up yesterday, and . . . they killed Tom. Tom's dead . . ."

"Max," Kenny said, hugging her close, as she shook, "I'm sorry."

"He shouldn't have died," she gasped.

"What about you?"

"I ran, and they think I fell off the cliff," she whispered.

"It'll be okay. I promise you that. I have a boat down there, and we're getting out of here. If it's okay with you?"

She nodded, "Yeah. What was that?"

Kenny moved closer to the cliff, and he peered over the edge, "Uh Max? Are you sure that these people think you're dead?"

"I'm not sure of anything. Why?" she asked, joining him on the edge, "Oh God."

She closed her eyes, as she watched the crew of Kenny's boat get slaughtered on the beach below.

"No, no, no," she breathed, "Why are they back?"

"Come on," he said, grabbing her hand, "They're heading up here. Where were you heading to before I showed up?"

"I . . . I was looking for a way off this island. Tom had to have a boat, or something to get off this island somewhere."

"Well come on then," Kenny said, as they ran into the jungle, "I don't think that we're going back there. What's in the bag?"

"Stuff," Max said vaguely, as they ducked under the tree branches in an effort to put as much distance between them and new arrivals as possible, "How did you know how to find me?"

"I knew I didn't kill you, so I started looking for who did. It led me here."

"Kenny? Do . . . people think that you did?"

"Yeah."

Max contemplated that before replying, "You came anyway? Do you know how much trouble that you're going to be in?"

"And I don't care. You're alive, and that's all that matters to me right now. So keep going. I don't know where we are going, but we're making great time."

"Look," Max gasped, as they came to the other side of the island, "Now what?"

Kenny looked around at the 10 foot drop, to the rocky shore beneath the, "There has to be a way down."

She scanned the area up and down the coast. Caves. There are more caves, "Come on. Let's look in the caves. If nothing else, maybe we'll find something in them."

"What are you talking about?"

"I found a briefcase full of money, a map, and some other stuff on the other side of this hell hole, so maybe Tom left a helicopter over here."

Kenny listened to the sounds coming from the woods, "It'll give us a place to hide at least. They're getting closer, Max."

She nodded, running on pure adrenaline, "Come on."

----

"The Santiago airport just faxed these pictures over," Skeeter said, "We know where Kenny is now."

"And hopefully where Max is," Jimmy added, "If she is still among the living."

"Careful," Max said, "It's slippery in here."

Kenny didn't say anything, as she flipped on the flashlight. He just held tight to her, to reassure himself that she was real and to keep them both balanced over the rocky terrain.

"It's like a maze," she said in his silence, "We could get lost in here. Or . . ."

"Or what?"

"What if these caves run all the way under the island? Maybe we could get back to the lagoon, and get on one of those boats."

"That is a big what if."

"Tom would have known if they did, and that's probably why he picked this island out of all the other ones. This is the bunker. The map," she trailed off, rummaging through her bag, and pulling it out, "See? This one shows us how to get back to the mainland, and this one . . . I didn't know what it was. It's these caves!"

Kenny peered over her shoulder, "So if we're here . . ."

"We want to go over here," Max said, feeling hopeful for the first time in what felt like weeks, "Kenny, this means that there is a chance that we're going to get out of this!"

"What are the chances that those guys have a map too, and know about these caves?"

"Do you have a better plan?"

"Don't get snippy. I'm here to rescue you."

"I don't need you to rescue me. I was doing just fine on my own."

"Yeah? I could tell when you almost shot me."

"I didn't know it was you. I thought it was them."

"Maybe your aim will be better next time."

"Oh, shut up."

Kenny grabbed her arm, "Max, wait. What are we fighting about? We have to work together to get out of here."

She tried staying mad, but let out an exasperated sigh, "I know that. Do you know how glad I was to see you? I don't think I have ever been more happy to see anyone. I'm scared, Kenny."

Knowing that Max almost never admits when she feels vulnerable, Kenny treaded carefully in the dimness of the flashlight illuminated cave, "Max, we're going to get out of this. Together, both of us. Look at me. We are going to fine. Don't be scared. We'll keep each other safe."

Max swallowed, as she promised herself that she wouldn't cry again, "Thanks."

----

"Kenny wasn't the only one to show up in the pictures. Look who is walking behind him," Skeeter said, "Look familiar?"

"Shit," Jimmy cursed, as he examined the picture more closely, "Is that Morell? He knows that Kenny is a suspect in all of this, why isn't he arresting him?"

"Maybe he's hoping that Kenny will lead him somewhere, or to someone?"

"Look," Max whispered, "Is that an exit?"

"Wait here," Kenny instructed, "We don't know who is out there."

"Please don't leave me here alone."

Kenny glanced down at her, and saw the fear that she was valiantly attempting to hide, "Stay behind me Max, and get ready to run. Give me the gun."

Max did as he said, as the two of them crept to the opening carefully. Kenny looked back at her quickly, before emerging out of the cave. Crouching behind the bush that shielded the exit from view, he surveyed the land in front of him. The lagoon, where the boats were, was 100 feet in front of him, and he didn't want Max to have to see the bodies of the crew that he traveled out to the island with. He turned his attention to the boats, and noted the guard standing on the beach in front of them.

"Kenny?"

"We're back at the lagoon. Someone is watching the boats."

Max nodded, "So what? We wait for them to leave, and then we're stuck here again?"

"We're getting out of here, Max. I promise you that. I didn't come all this way to get stuck on a deserted island. Although it would never be boring with you."

She smiled for the first time in days, and she glanced up at the setting sun, "What if we wait until dark?"

Kenny shook his head, "They'll all be back before then. No one wants to be out in the jungle at night. There is one guy there now. I say we take him out, and run for it."

"You just want to shoot him?"

"Hey, you seemed in to shooting me earlier."

She regarded him carefully, "We probably only get one shot."

"You want to take it?"

"I don't think my aim is the best today."

Kenny turned and looked into her eyes. He pushed her tangled hair off of her face, "Max."

She laid her hand over his, and felt her heart pounding in her chest, "Kenny?"

He pulled her close to him for a brief instance, before saying very softly, "If anything goes wrong, I want you to run back in the direction we came. Promise me that, Max. Promise me."

"I promise," she said hoarsely.

"Good. Get down," he said, as he leveled the gun.

"Are you saying that Morell is part of the mob?" Jimmy asked.

Skeeter shrugged, "Anything is possible these days. It bears checking out."

Max closed her eyes, as Kenny pulled the trigger. The gun shot echoed through the cave, as he pulled her to her feet.

"Go," he commanded, as they fled out the exit of the cave and down the beach, "Faster Max! They're coming!"

Max heard the shouts coming from the top of the cliff, and the shots coming from the guns. Praying and keeping her head down she ran after Kenny toward the boat. Leaping over the gunnels, "Keys! Where are the keys?"

"Here," he said, as he turned the ignition on, "Untie those lines Max! Good."

She braced herself, as the boat planed out of the lagoon and toward the open ocean.

"Keep your head down!" Kenny demanded, as he turned back toward the beach, "Our friends are coming."

Max dared to glance back at the island, and could make out a group of three men climbing in the other vessel, "Oh God, Kenny."

"We made it this far," he said, pushing the throttle farther, "And it'll be dark soon. That'll make it harder for them."

"And for us. The map."

"Are then any other islands on it? We need a place to hide, or a different port to go into. Max, they know that we're trying to get back to the mainland. We need a different entrance point!"

She struggled to read the map, while the wind whipped around her head, "Does this boat have a radio? Could we call the Coast Guard, the Navy, something? The harbor master?"

"I hope your Spanish is better than mine!"

Max snuck another glance behind her, and then looked up at the setting sun, "Is there any extra fuel?"

"Why?"

"I saw this in a movie once, where some people were trying to kill a giant alligator. They dumped the gas in the water, and then lit it. Everything exploded!"

"Your insane!"

"I've been trapped on an island by my dead mobster boyfriend for days. Indulge me."

"It might be insane enough to work. Dump it, and I'll slow down," Kenny said, as he let some pressure off of the throttle, "Hurry Max!"

"I'm going as fast as I can," she snapped, as she dumped the fuel overboard, as the other boat made up some distance, "How much of this do we need to get home?"

"Probably a lot," Kenny said, looking at the half full gauge, "It won't do us much good if we aren't alive to use it."

Max nodded, and tossed one more tank in the water, "Lighter?"

Kenny tossed the one on the dash to her, as the other boat closed in, "Ready? One, two, three! Now!"

Max flicked the lighter, and tossed it in. She turned her head, as the other boat exploded into the night.