According to the driver who took Caleb south, Atlanta’s Ritz Hotel was a genuine palace with prices to match.
The driver talked constantly through the first hour of their journey south. Caleb had never met anyone like this man. He lied with every breath. Caleb’s truth sense had kicked in almost the same moment he had shut his door, even before the driver started the engine. Which was interesting, given how the price had been set in advance and then written down at Hester’s insistence. Half was paid before they set out. Even so, the portly man behind the wheel continued to breathe in, lie, breathe in, lie. Even his jolly mood was false.
Finally Caleb leaned forward so as to speak to Hester in the front passenger seat. “Stay on guard.”
Hester’s face tightened into a series of hard edges. “You got something?”
That was enough for Hester. She turned to the driver and ordered, “Stop the car.”
“That’s difficult here, little lady.” The man shot her a big grin. “Up ahead we’ve got the sweetest little spot, you’ll think you’ve died and gone—”
“Zeke.”
The knife flashed gold in the afternoon light. Zeke slipped forward and pressed it to the driver’s neck. “Do what the lady says.”
“Th-the car is registered and the militia are my very best friends—”
“We’re not stealing anything,” Caleb said. When the car pulled into the weeds and stopped, he said, “Open the trunk.”
Hester was already moving. “Stay on him, Zeke.”
Caleb walked around back and waited as she opened the hard case they had purchased to hold their guns. She handed him both a rifle and a pistol and took the same for herself. They checked the loads, then Caleb carried a second pair back for Zeke.
The driver sweated profusely at the sight of the guns. “That’s highly illegal.”
“So is highway robbery,” Hester said. She cocked her rifle noisily, then settled the barrel on the armrest between her and the driver. “Tell me I have your full attention.”
“Absolutely, ma’am.”
She reached into her pocket and flashed her badge. The sight of the guard’s shield caused the driver to wince. “If you stop for any reason between now and the hotel, you die. If you slow for a roadblock, you die. If you have a flat tire, tell me what happens.”
“Zeke, Caleb, roll down your windows and show the world your weapons.” She leaned back. “Let’s go.”
Twice during the remainder of their journey, the driver sounded his horn and flashed his lights. When Hester demanded to know what he was doing, his only response was, “Keeping you folks safe.”