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"DUCK! HE'S LOOKING this way!" Sue Lee whispered to Jane.
"Jesus looks hurt?” Jane said squatting down below the window. “There is blood on the side of his head and face. But why is he tied to a chair sitting outside, in front of that water trough?”
"My guess is the fat guy is the caretaker and must be waiting for reinforcements. That was part of the phone call we overheard. We need to hurry. That chair is used to tip him back into the tank until he's half drowned."
"Shh!” Jane said peeking out the window watching the fat guy sitting down again. “Is that a swastika on that cane?" They could see an emblem attached to the handle.
"Yes, I thought we stumbled into the Spanish ratline an escape route for Nazis and other fascists fleeing Europe. But this is something else." Sue Lee said holding up Garcia's painting and a golden watch the banker wore when they were talking back in Paris.
"Where did you get that," Jane whispered?
"In the living room, this briefcase is full of trinkets, including more gold teeth, and family pictures. I have a feeling these guys never made it out of the country, only as far as fatty out there. They were probably told these quarters were a transition point close to the ports of Valencia.” Sue Lee said as she quickly rolled up the painting and inserted it back in the tube.
"Damn, they killed Garcia, then the other guys for their transportation money and rob their bodies afterward?”
Sue Lee nodded yes, “That's probably where that swastika cane came from.” She said while searching the kitchen's Pantry.
"What are you looking for? We're not going to serve this big guy tea, are we?” Jane hissed!
"A diversion," she said holding up a bottle and a box of chocolates.
"Major, did they teach you that in the army, bribery with chocolates? He's wearing a huge gun on his ample waistline!"
“No, we’re making a bomb. Here help me unwrap these chocolates, Mmm. They’re good, save the foil wrapping and fold them down like this.” Jane watched, biting into a piece. “Yummy, I hope this isn’t our last supper, she said folding foils quickly, now what?”
"Okay, I think we have enough. We are going to place the foils into this half-filled bottle of Ammonia and leave it by the stove, and turn on the burners."
Jane finished the explanation. "The foil will create a chemical reaction with the acidity and expand the bottle causing it to explode, brilliant! How much time do you think we have. We need to sneak out the way we came in?"
"Unknown, so let's make it a fast sneak, ready!" Sue Lee stuffed the folio into the bottle and sealed it as Jane turned on the gas burner.
One more look out the window; Jane grabbed the briefcase and said, “Let’s get the hell out of here!”
They sprinted out the back door running behind the other buildings!
The oversized caretaker turned to see what the commotion was all about while he was holding Jesus under the water. The kitchen exploded, and parts of the wall hit him like shrapnel!
What was left inside the building burst into flames just as Sue Lee and Jane ran over to help Jesus.
"My God, we destroyed the place! Jane said, holding his head out of the water as Sue Lee untied the ropes. Can you stand,” Jane asked as they helped Jesus to his feet?
"Sí, he said coughing, is the big one dead?"
"I'm sure he is. Sue Lee answered as they walked by looking at the piece of wood that had pierced his body. We better hurry, this fire can be seen for miles."
"How did he manage to catch you? Jane asked as they ran into the woods where they hid the car.
"Sí, he was deviled that one and crept like a cat that cane has a lead tip, Jesus said rubbing his head. I found the graves when he caught me. The other ones who have been staying here will soon be back. You must hurry before they arrive. Take the left fork on the way down to avoid the town. You don't want the former mayor's family to know you are here.”
"Can you get along without help?” Sue Lee said while jumping into the passenger side.
"Sí, my horse is impatient to go. He said pointing at the large brown Bay sticking his head out of the bush and pawing the ground with one hoof. I will go to the police and bring them to the graves; hurry now.”
Jane stood on her toes and kissed him on his good cheek. She handed him the briefcase and said. "Take this with you to the police station. We think it is evidence showing who is buried in those graves." Jane said before jumping in and starting the engine.
Sue Lee waved and threw him a kiss as they drove off.
"Go with God,” he hollered over the roar!
"Don't forget to take the left fork.” Sue Lee shouted over the wind as they approached the turn.
"I wonder if they will recognize us?” Jane said as they saw a truck driving towards them. One man stood holding on behind the cab watching them as they zoomed past. Sue Lee looked back as the truck skidded to a stop and turned around. "Yep, they did.”
"Okay, left fork it is, Jane said, turning and accelerating. I say we do have one problem, at this speed our petrol is running out rather quickly."
"We are quite a ways ahead of them but don't slow down. We'll think of something." Sue Lee said looking back.
They turned again, and the ocean appeared to their left. "Say isn't this the area that rich kid in the bar was talking about, he wanted to take me out here someday and show me his Betsy?"
"He wanted to show you his what?" Sue Lee hollered.
"It's a float plane, used during the war for reconnaissance, and they sold a few of them to Spain. His parents bought it. I wonder where they would keep it?"
"That small sign said we're coming into a village, why is that important?"
"We are low on petrol he would most likely have a source where he parks the plane," Jane said slowing as they entered the fishing village.
"Lo and behold, look to your left." Sue Lee said pointing at the float plane down by the quay.
"We need a quick look around," Jane said turning to go down the hill.
"I don't see any large tanks, and most of these boats are small, and there's no harbormaster, and nobody is around to ask. Sue Lee looked up the hill. Uh-oh—We got company!" They could see the truck driving towards the town on a different road it would block their exit.
Jane turned and quickly drove onto the dock, stopping by the plane and jumped out to untie the lines. Without asking for an explanation, Sue Lee followed throwing their purses and the tube containing the painting into the passenger cockpit?
Together they pushed the back of the aircraft free from the dock swinging it around. Sue Lee stayed on the dock ready to prop it for Jane.
"Ready, Clear" Sue Lee spun the propeller and jumped back. It sputtered and quit. "Damn, Clear!" One more time is all they had. She spun again, and after several pops, it started!
Sue Lee pushed away, climbing in and shouted: "Go!"
They moved quickly out into the bay. Sue Lee pulled her revolver out of her shoulder holster and looked back as the truck was coming down the hill to the quay.
The hairy Munchkin with the big mustache was driving.
Jane positioned them for takeoff and hit the throttle. She didn't want to be shot at the second time. Hopefully, the floats under the plane would be added protection for her bum.
They bounce across the waves and like Jane’s Moth, they gently lifted into the air, slowly gaining altitude, when a bullet when through the left wing. Jane heard a ting sound. They suddenly pitched to one side. Damn, the strut must have been knocked loose! She could feel the vibration.
Sue Lee looked back and could see the tall pilot pushing the shorter man with the rifle. Apparently, he didn't want holes in his parents Betsy!
They banked again, and for a moment, she lost her view of the three men. When they leveled off, she saw two of the men jump into the cab. Where was the third one? They turned, and Sue Lee could then see the tall boy laying in the bed of the pickup. Is he dead? They were climbing too high to see anymore.