Deadly Ties (30 page)

“But I promised your mother I’d bring you home.”

“I can’t back down on this, Mark. Any success or failure at it is mine.”

“Is there anything I can say to change your mind?”

“No.” She shrugged. “Positions reversed, you wouldn’t change your mind either.”

He grimaced. “Then I’m going with you.”

“But how can you help me if—?”

“I can’t stop you, but I will not be in the wrong place at the wrong time and see another woman important to me killed. I won’t. I’m going.”

Lisa opened her mouth.

“Don’t bother. You’re cute, but not enough to get me to do what you want on this.” He clamped his jaw shut.

“Okay.” She bit the edge of her lip.

Groaning, he turned away. “Roxy, which one of them will break?” He nodded over at the units holding Frank and Juan.

“Juan,” Roxy and Lisa said simultaneously.

“Frank’s a Spider. Die-hard, hard-core NINA subcontractor with a long history,” Lisa said. “He’ll die first because he knows his choices are to die this way or NINA’s way, and our way takes longer. NINA isn’t merciful. But Juan’s different.”

“She’s right,” Roxy said. “We have nothing on Juan, and he’s talking a lot already. Frank’s got a rap sheet as long as your arm.”

“I’ll get him.” Joe turned to retrieve Juan.

“What are you doing?” Lisa asked Mark.

“I’m stepping in for Frank, and then we’ll proceed as planned. That work for you, Roxy?”

“If anything happens to you women, it could cost me a lot more than my job, but, yeah.” She nodded. “We’ll work out the details on the road.”

“Mark, could you get us some fresh air in the back?” Selene asked. “It’s stifling and the smell isn’t pleasant. We’ve been miserable.”

Mark kicked a deep dent in the side of the truck.

Joe tossed him a tire iron. “Save your leg, bro. Might need it.”

Mark swung the iron once and the metal breached. Flipping the iron, he used it as a wedge and widened the hole. The whole process took seconds.

Gwen nearly jumped out of her skin.

Selene stretched her eyes wide. “Okay then.”

Joe took back the tire iron. “Sorry for the delay, ladies. He’s not typically so slow.”

“There you go.” Mark offered them a hand to get back into the truck.

Lisa waited until last. “Mark, when I got away to call you, I think Juan watched me do it. He didn’t stop me, and he sure didn’t tell Frank what I’d done or I’d be dead. Just wanted to pass that along.”

“I’ll tell the others.” He hugged her quickly. “Listen, don’t scare me anymore, okay? My heart can’t take it.”

She smiled and stroked his jaw. “I’m crazy about you too.”

When Lisa got inside, Roxy passed Mark an earpod and lip mic. “I’ll be in the back with the others. My team will question Frank at the field office. If they get anything we can use, they’ll let us know. You work on Juan. We have three unmarked cars following, watching for anyone else who might be tagging along. If you pick up on anything, let me know and I’ll relay.”

“You handle the logistics,” Mark said. “We understand the shipment has to progress to locate the other women. But once you know where they are, these three are done. No discussion.”

“I wasn’t going to argue the point.”

“Good.” He shot Roxy a hard look intended to wilt her knees. “I won’t lie and say I like any of this. Lisa’s been through a lot more than you know, and the other women have had hard times too.”

Lisa hadn’t yet told him about having been abducted the first time. Yet when he focused on her, it was almost as if he already knew. But how could he? She hadn’t known herself until recently.

Roxy stepped back. “If it helps, I don’t like the circumstances either. I can’t guarantee anyone’s safety, but we’ll do all we can to minimize risks. Without these women, our odds of locating, much less rescuing, the other women are slim, and there’s little chance of success at shutting down the operation.”

Lisa shuddered. NINA would have another truckload of women shipped in no time. They had to get to the top of this operation and cut off its head.

“Right now,” Mark said, “we get backup in place and do everything possible to keep the women safe until we pinpoint the others. Then we’re out and you take over.”

Lisa worried her lip. He was protecting her again, but following her instincts, she decided to tackle his objections one step at a time.

Roxy eyed him warily. “We could fail, Mark. NINA—”

“We will not fail.”

“Right.”

He returned his attention to Lisa. “You need me or anyone wants anything, tell Roxy or tap the front-end panel three times.”

Lisa watched him back away. An agent ran up to him, shoved a file into his hands. “Memorize this, then get rid of the paper.”

Mark looked down. “Mission identification?”

The agent nodded. “Full disclosure.”

Juan headed for the driver’s side of the truck. Mark moved to the passenger’s side.

At the rear of the truck, Joe stepped back. “Be careful, ladies. You need anything and can’t get to us like Mark said, just wiggle your hand through that busted taillight.” Joe let his gaze linger on Selene, then grabbed the door. “The team will catch up with us shortly, Lisa. We’re all communicating and we’ll be close. You might not see us, but we’ll be here.”

“Thanks—no, wait.” Dutch was still on the loose. “Sam will stay with Mom, right?”

“Kelly and the Three Gables security staff are going to the hospital. Nora, Clyde, Jeff Meyers, and someone with hospital security Sam’s personally checked out will be with her until we get back. He’ll be sure she’s safe. Sam has special skills we might need here. Oh, and don’t worry about communications failing. Beth Dawson says she’ll do whatever it takes to keep us all linked up.” He cocked his head. “Is she really
that
good?”

“She’s better.” Lisa saw that sparkle signaling interest in his eyes.

Joe flashed her a grin that no doubt melted hearts. “I like smart women.”

“She’s a brainiac.”

“Kind of pretty too, when she’s not snarling.”

“You can trust her, Joe. Really trust her.”

“Got it.” His smile faded. “No heroics, okay? Just let this play out so we get a fix on these women. With luck, there’ll be no interaction required and Roxy can take over.” He let his gaze slide to include Selene and Gwen. “But if something does come up, that no-heroics stuff goes for all of you.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll avoid everything I can.” Gwen checked her flashlight for the tenth time. “I’m a bona fide wimp.”

“A wimp wouldn’t be in your current position, but okay.” Joe backed away.

Selene sighed. “You’re lucky to have such good friends, Lisa.”

Warmth spread through her chest. She hadn’t often felt lucky. And only now did she realize how shortsighted she’d been about that. What were the odds of having the exact people with the exact abilities needed in her immediate circle at the exact point in time when she most needed them? A million to one. “Yes, I am. Very lucky.”

Joe winked at Lisa and swung the door closed.

This time, it wasn’t locked.

Lisa stared at the hole in the side of the truck. About the size of a basketball, it was plenty big enough to keep fresh air coming in—and light. Even with new batteries in her flashlight, Gwen would most appreciate that.

The truck started, then rolled, and soon pulled into traffic. “Here we go,” Amanda said.

Roxy pulled a recorder from her purse. “Let’s get some statements down for the record. Who was picked up first?”

22

Y
ou said we needed to move; we’re moving. Now start talking, Juan.” Mark angled to get away from the low-slung sun shining directly into their eyes and focused on the driver.

Squinting, Juan pulled down the visor. “I do not dare, señor. I’ve said too much already.”

“You don’t dare not talk. Say everything.” Mark put a bite in his voice the man couldn’t miss.

“You do not understand—”

“I do. Lisa says you saw her escape and go for help. You didn’t report it. That tells me you’re as much a victim as the women. But if you don’t trust me, Juan, I can’t help you.”

“You cannot help me. I know of these people. They are dead in the soul. No one can help me, señor.” Fear burned in the depths of Juan’s eyes. “They are evil.
Muy fuerte.
”

Very strong
. “We’re stronger.”

Juan shot Mark a loaded glance. “Then why is your woman in the back of this truck?”

He had Mark on that one. “I made a mistake. I didn’t personally verify some information.” Not one door but two.

“So you knew they were coming for her?”

“I had strong suspicions her stepfather would do something. I didn’t know what, and I certainly didn’t expect this.” Not until Beth Dawson and his team had linked the tapes.

“Her stepfather did this to her?” Juan made the sign of the cross.
“Puede
Dios proteger y perdonar.” May God protect and forgive
. “How could he do such a thing?”

Mark had wondered a million times how Dutch Hauk could do many of the things he’d done, but he lacked any answers. To stay sane, he’d taken a lesson from Annie and put those questions on the altar.

Did she have any idea how much their phone conversations meant to him? His heart lurched.
God, if she has to die, don’t let her die not knowing. Give me that much peace in all this, please
. “So who is NINA threatening? You or your family?”

Juan didn’t even pretend to be surprised. “
Ambos
. Me with death if I refuse to do exactly what they say without question, and if I fail to act, my wife and children,” his voice trembled as hard as his hands, “will be slaughtered.”

“I’m sorry.” Mark tapped his earpod. “Roxy?”

“I heard.” She exhaled on a rush that crackled.

“Me too, bro.”

“I never thought I would be involved in anything like this.” Juan’s trembling hands now shook on the steering wheel. “I am a decent man, Señor Taylor. A faithful Catholic my entire life—my wife and children too.”

“So how did you get dragged into a NINA operation?”

“I own a boat. It is docked at the marina on the coast east of the estate where I suspect the
hombres
are gathering to buy the women. I fear they have done so before. The men fly in from all over the world. I have ferried them from their seaplanes to the estate, though I did not know then why they were going there.” He glanced at Mark. “Masson has
proscritos
watching my family. I have four children. I had no choice.”

Outlaws watched Juan’s family. “So when did you discover they were selling women at this estate?”

“After Masson brought me to that store to join Frank—I am his relief driver—I learned there that their cargo was the women.” He lowered his gaze. “I got sick. I did not know what to do. Everyone at the marina knows about NINA. They are
mala gente.
”

Bad people
. “Muy mala gente,” Mark agreed.

“A fellow fisherman once denied their wishes. We found his body in three parts. They targeted my family, señor. What else could I do?”

“Got that too,” Roxy said into Mark’s earpod. “I believe him.”

“He’s being straight up,” Joe said. “No doubt about it.”

“What exactly were you supposed to do on this trip?” Mark asked Juan. “Just drive?” That didn’t work for Mark. Anyone could drive a truck. NINA had to have dozens of relief drivers.

Juan changed lanes and passed a blue Toyota. When he eased back into the right lane, he answered. “Drive the truck when Frank asked, then after their
event
, I must ferry couples in my boat to their seaplanes. That is all I know, señor.”

“So you don’t just
suspect
the women will be taken to Mexico, you know it.”

“Masson has not said, but given what he told me, I would think nothing else. My boat is there.” Juan shrugged. “I assumed I would go to the same estate near my home, and he did not disagree. It is on the coast, so the
hombres
have easy access with their seaplanes. Customs does not interfere with NINA.”

That wasn’t good news. “Where on the Mexican coast is this estate?”

“Near Tampico.”

“Anything else we should know?”

“I have told you all I was told and what I make of it. Masson swore that once I have finished, I can return home and my wife and children will never know anything took place. They will suffer no harm.”

“And you won’t be bothered again until next time.”

“Sí.” Resignation slid over Juan’s face. “Until next time.”

Mark understood Juan’s dilemma. With rampant corruption of those in authority and all NINA’s power and connections, Juan had been afraid for himself and his family, and no doubt he felt hopeless and lost. Who could he trust to help him?

“Mark?” Roxy said.

He tapped his earpod. “Go ahead.”

“My office just phoned on my cell. We’ve nailed Gregory Chessman.”

“About a year ago, I know.” He’d been in on that.

“No, in this.”

“But he’s in jail.”

“Yes, he is. He’s also up to his crooked neck in this specific operation.”

Chessman. Again. The news didn’t shock Mark, but it did concern him. If Chessman and NINA could pull off something of this magnitude from jail, what were they capable of doing outside it?

“We’ve got his cell calls as leverage.”

Mark watched the road. “So he’s helping you?”

“He has been for a short while. He’s the source who told us there were other women involved and that they were random abductions.”

That did surprise Mark. He propped an arm on the armrest. “I’m sure NINA will reward him well for that.”

“They won’t know about it. Ever. We need him.”

Interesting. Mark wouldn’t have selected Chessman as a likely candidate to turn on NINA.

“We need personal information on Juan’s family to get them under our wing.”

“Juan, I need your address and your family members’ names. Agent Savoy is arranging for their protection.”

Juan measured Mark, then gave him the information. He relayed it to Roxy.

“I pray to my heavenly Padre this is not a mistake,” he told Mark, his accent thick.

“It isn’t. The FBI will secure your family and get them out of Masson’s reach. You can’t trust a man like Karl Masson to keep his word.”

“I realize that. But I have additional concerns.” Juan slid Mark a level look. “Your people will secure my family. This will pass. And then your people will leave. We will return home, and for the rest of our lives, we must watch our shadows to stay safe. NINA will come back.”

“Probably.”

“What would you do?”

Mark didn’t hesitate. “Put my family on my boat and disappear. Start over somewhere else.”

“They will just come after me.”

“Only if they believe you crossed them. Otherwise, they won’t. They have businesses to run.”

“We’ll help Juan and his family relocate,” Roxy said. “Whatever we can do, Mark. He’s got my word on that.”

Mark repeated the offer to Juan.

He didn’t seem reassured by it. “Tell her to secure that aid now,
sí usted por favor
.”

If you please
.

“Afterward, she could be fired for allowing the women to continue, no?”

Roxy could be fired. It depended on the agreement her boss worked out with the Mexican authorities and, frankly, on how things turned out.

“Mark?”

“Yeah, Roxy?”

“The field office just called in. Chessman is handling your substitution for Frank with his NINA contacts.”

That wasn’t reassuring to Mark either. He didn’t trust Chessman. He’d helped put him in jail, and this was no time to give the man a chance to bury a knife in Mark’s back. “He’d sooner kill me than help me.”

“He’s got incentive. We’ll be okay.”

Mark held his silence.

Joe quizzed Roxy and then added his own assurance.

Joe, Mark trusted. “Okay.”

“Good.” Roxy took a deep breath. “Your code name is Bandit. The mission name is Shifter. There’s an authorization code, but Chessman doesn’t have it. Karl Masson is Frank’s point of contact. If he asks for the code, I’m afraid we’re done.”

Mark didn’t know whether to pray that Masson would or wouldn’t ask for it. “So Chessman knows all about this operation, but he doesn’t know the authorization code?”

“That’s right.”

“I don’t think he’s being honest with you.”

“Bet on it. But what can we do?”

Truthfully, not much. Mark frowned and looked out through the windshield.

“Señor, I know the authorization code.” Juan swallowed hard, bobbing his Adam’s apple.

Mark snapped his gaze to Juan. “How do you know it?”

“Frank said it several times—every time Masson or another called him. Sometimes it was someone else. I do not know who. I did not hear names.”

“And you remember it?”

“Sí, I have a gift for the numbers. But I want my family safe and your FBI to handle this so we can stay in our home.”

“Roxy?” Mark waited.

“Everything in our power.”

Mark nodded to Juan.

“I’m trusting you, Señor Taylor.”

“I know.”

“
Dios, protección por favor
. Let me do the right thing.”

“What did he say?” Roxy asked.

“He asked God to protect him, if He pleased,” Joe answered.

Tears brimmed in Juan’s eyes. “Alpha 263891.”

“Amazing.” Roxy sounded breathless. “Write it down.”

“He doesn’t need to, Roxy,” Joe said. “Mark’s got it.”

Mark did have it. “Looks like we’re set. Now we just have to wait for Masson’s next call.”

Juan checked his watch. “He will phone again at six thirty. When we get near Houston.”

Mark hesitated to ask, but he was concerned about Lisa. “Everyone okay back there?”

“Lisa is fine, Mark. We’re all fine.”

His neck went hot. None of them were fine. They were all stressed to the max at what had been done to them, who had done it, and what was happening to them now. Stressed and scared to death something would go wrong. But they were thinking steel, and Lisa no doubt was praying her heart out. So was Mark. He couldn’t fail her. He couldn’t survive another Jane incident.

On a promise and a prayer
.