The Extinction Series , Ellis, Tara [famous ebook reader .txt] 📗

Marty’s ears and then took a drink of water. He might have smiled then, if he hadn’t looked over at Hernandez. They might eventually make it to the preserve, but his friend would never live to see the Libi Nati.

Chapter 10

JASON

Near Barinas, Venezuela

“Dang it!” Jason pulled his head back from inside the truck and turned to look at the modest farmhouse. “No keys. I’ll have to go look for them.” When they found the vehicle unlocked, he’d been hopeful that the keys might be in it. He should have known nothing could ever be that easy.

“I’ll go with you,” Eddy offered, walking around the truck and toward the house.

“No.” It came out like more of an order than Jason had intended, but it at least had the desired effect, as Eddy stopped and turned to look questioningly at him.

“It would be faster and more prudent,” Eddy said, glancing at Peta. “She can keep watch outside for us.”

Peta scowled at him but thankfully, didn’t say anything. Jason had quickly come to appreciate how she didn’t say a whole lot without prompting. Peta was one of those rare people you actually listened to when they chose to speak.

“I’d rather you go post as a lookout near the road,” Jason said to his friend, carefully gauging his reaction, or if he even had one. “Peta can stick around outside the house in case something goes down, but I think it’s pretty obvious that no one is here. Or, at least no one alive.”

Eddy walked back to the truck and stopped a few feet from Jason, his eyes narrowing slightly as he thought about Jason’s directions. “You don’t trust me.”

Another time, if he were talking with his buddy Dr. Chase over a beer, he would have denied that sort of awkward accusation and attempted to smooth things over. But Jason had to accept the reality of the situation they were in, and that he wasn’t the same Eddy anymore. And it was true. “Not after what you did to that guard, no. I can’t trust your judgement anymore. Not the way I need to in this situation.”

There was a tense moment as Eddy simply stared at him, and shifted the backpack to his other shoulder. Then, he gave one small nod and walked past them and back down the driveway without responding.

“I have to say that I’m not brimming with confidence right now,” Peta said with a heavy sigh. “It’s hard enough when you can rely on the people with you to have your back, but if—”

“He’ll be okay,” Jason interrupted. When her face started to screw up in annoyance, he held a hand up to placate her. “I have faith that what’s left of his heart is in the right place. Or, maybe I should say his brain. Believe me, the guy’s got a massive brain. Look,” he added with a grimace, hoping he was coming across as sincere. “I know it isn’t fair after all you’ve been through, to ask you to have faith in me when we hardly know each other. But I know Eddy. And I think I understand how he’s processing things right now, which if you look at it objectively does make sense. His goal is to get us to the Libi Nati, where you’re both hoping to find some sort of missing link that’ll unlock a way to fight The Kuru. Logically, we’re talking about the potential of saving countless lives, so the term “any means necessary” takes on a rather heavy connotation.”

Peta mulled it over, watching Eddy as he reached the end of the gravel drive. She was hard to read most of the time, but Jason thought he saw what amounted to acceptance. “Okay,” she said simply. “Maybe you’re right, and I suppose it can’t hurt to have someone who’s always going to be unbiassed. Just…make sure he doesn’t come to the conclusion that any of us are holding him back.”

Jason flinched, frowning. He had to admit, it wasn’t something that had crossed his mind. It was deeply troubling that he couldn’t come up with a good argument against the possibility, based on what he’d just said. Shrugging it off, he gestured for Peta to follow him. “Just wait on the porch. I’ll be clearing the house, so I’ll need to know no one is entering behind me. You know how to use a gun?”

Rolling her eyes, Peta removed her Glock and after checking the chamber, held it at the ready to her side in a practiced and easy stance. “Why is it that everyone feels a need to ask me that?” When Jason chose the safer route of not answering the question, she smiled and shook her head. “Yeah, I know what I’m doing. Happy key hunting.”

The front door was unlocked, and as Jason pushed it open, his mind instantly emptied of any thought other than clearing the room. Holding his weapon in a high and ready position in the middle of his chest, he moved into a crouch and quickly surveyed the open, shadowy room.

It was an older structure that had been updated with modern features and comfortable furnishings. While Jason had expected something more rustic, he barely registered the thought as his eyes flitted over the furniture—and then the smell hit him. He immediately recognized the stink of death, and it caused his stance to widen as he shifted and turned to look at the rest of the space, in search of the source.

The foyer and front room were empty, but beyond an arched entry to what must have been a family room, Jason saw a pair of legs extended out on the footrest of a recliner. Gritting his teeth to steel himself, he opened his mouth to avoid breathing through his nose as he moved forward.

The power was out, but a large window in the room was open,