Chapter Eight: Nice Timing
Ian Howe glared at his former colleagues. "Hello, Riley, Ben," he said to each. "How are you both?"
"I need to go write my congressman," Ben replied. "There's something seriously wrong with our justice system. How did you get out?"
Ian shrugged, very aware of the gun trained on him. "You wouldn't believe how minimum-security a maximum-security prison really is."
"And you're after the treasure- again."
Ian shrugged. "Old habits, and that." He cast a glance over his shoulder at Natalie. "Darling, if you'd be so kind to drop that gun."
She looked at him. Her green eyes burned. "You're really not in a position to make demands," she pointed out.
Just then, the group heard the unmistakable sound of a gun being cocked. The two agents assigned to the treasure had woken up...and they most definitely weren't there to protect the treasure.
"So hard to find good help these days," Ian replied.
Ben raised his eyes skyward in annoyance as Natalie set her gun on the ground. Abigail raised her hands and Riley closed his eyes in defeat. He leaned forward to rest his head on his good arm.
He accidentally hit the YES key. The keypad started beeping furiously.
Ian looked surprised. Natalie took the chance and tackled him around the knees.
One of the agents fired at Ben. It ricocheted off the plane, Ben grabbed Abigail's hand and dove behind the wheel of the plane. Riley took cover behind the opposite wheel strut.
Natalie wrestled with Ian. She rolled him onto his back and thought she had him pinned, but he managed to get an arm free and struck her cheek. She slid, dazed.
"Natalie!" Riley yelled.
Ben took a shot at the two fake agents. He succeeded in nailing one in the shoulder- which Riley found really ironic. He dropped the gun and hit the blacktop. That left his partner, yet.
Ian stood over Natalie, gun in hand. He looked over at Riley. "How about it, Riley?" he asked. "Feel like handing over that treasure?"
Riley said, "No way!"
Ian's jaw dropped. It wasn't the answer he'd been expecting.
Then he heard hoofbeats.
Natalie looked up and grinned, then passed out.
Ardeth Bey came thundering into the hangar. He rode directly into Ian Howe, knocking him over and out cold. Ardeth swung himself off the horse and made for Natalie's side.
Ben looked over at the fake Treasury agent. Whoever the impersonator was clearly wasn't expecting a black-robed man with tattoos and a sword to come riding into the very modern airport. He was standing there, shell-shocked.
Ben strode up to him, gun leveled. "Drop it," he suggested mildly.
The gun clattered to the ground.
Riley hobbled out to Natalie's side, where Ardeth was kneeling. "Nice timing," Riley told the warrior.
Ardeth merely nodded, returning his gaze to Natalie O'Connell. Riley took her hand. "C'mon, Natalie," he said. "Wake up. I'm sorry about what happened earlier. I'm an idiot, I admit it." He smiled weakly, ignoring the biting pain in his shoulder. "Heck, I'm self-employed. I can take vacation. And I want to spend it here."
He squeezed her hand. "I love you, Natalie O'Connell. And you owe me sunrise over the pyramids."
She opened one eye, slowly. "Say that again."
Riley smiled happily. "You owe me-"
"Riley!" she yelped, and hit him in the shoulder.
The one that had been shot.