No One to Trust (22 page)

Elena froze.

“Chavez.” Galen handed her the phone.

“I don’t know how much more Luis can take,” Chavez said. “Give me the boy.”

“We’ve already discussed this.” Her voice was shaking. “No deal.”

“You’re upset. I think you’re weakening.” He paused. “And you’ll be even more inclined to save him if you see what kind of punishment you’re inflicting on him. Yes, I believe we should arrange to bring you and Luis together. Let me see. Suppose I take your brother to Orlando two days from now? The garden of the Kissimmee Hotel. The bench beside the koi pond. Ten
A.M
.”

“Do you think I’m an idiot?”

“Oh, he’ll be alone. I understand Galen called the DEA on me when I was at the ranch. Do you think I don’t know that he could have a truckload of agents at the hotel to try to catch me? It wouldn’t be smart to place myself in that position.”

“Then what’s to stop me from taking Luis?”

“The fact that I’ll have a very fine marksman stationed nearby with his sights on Luis. He leaves the garden, he’s dead.”

“And that same shooter could take me out.”

“That’s your problem. I’m sure you can work it out to your satisfaction.”

“I won’t be there.”

“After another two nights of worrying about dear Luis? I think you will.” He hung up.

“He’s bringing Luis to the Kissimmee Hotel in Orlando. Ten
A.M
. two days from now,” she said. “He thinks I’m softening. He wants to show me his handiwork. He says Luis will be alone.”

“Not likely.”

She nodded. “Trap.”

“But there may be an opportunity there,” Dominic said. “Perhaps we can snatch Luis before they can close it.”

“He wants Elena,” Galen said. “And I don’t want that trap closing on her.”

“Wait, maybe Dominic is right.” She rubbed her temple. “I can’t seem to think. It makes sense that he wouldn’t show up himself or in force when he knows that you called the DEA on him before. He said there would be a gunman with his sights on Luis.”

“There’s no way he expects you to go in, look at poor, poor Luis, and then leave. The shooter will try to take you out, or there will be another wild card in the deck.”

“I know that.” She moistened her lips. “But I may never have a better chance.”

Galen’s lips twisted. “And clear the way?”

“He’s her brother,” Dominic said quietly. “He’s weak, not bad, and he deserves better than to be treated this way by Chavez.”

“Dammit, she doesn’t need your encouragement, Dominic.”

“You never knew him,” Dominic said. “I did. And I loved him. No, I do love him.” He smiled at Elena. “Don’t feel ashamed of still loving Luis. Forgiveness is a good thing.”

“Oh, for God’s sake.” Galen threw up his hands. “Why am I wasting my breath? You’re going to do it, aren’t you?”

“I’ve got to try,” she whispered.

“It’s a big risk.”

“Then I’ll have to find a way to make it less.”

He stared at her in exasperation for a moment and then turned away. “Okay, we go in. I’ll call Manero and have him scope out the situation at the hotel.”

“No, I go in alone. Dominic will help me, and I need someone I trust to watch Barry. I don’t like the idea of being away from him. It’s not that I don’t trust your men here, but I—”

“But no one can take care of your son like you do. I suppose I should be flattered you consider me a trustworthy babysitter.” Galen shook his head. “I’m going in with you. Dominic will take care of Barry. If you like, we can bring Barry with us as far as an airport outside Orlando and leave him and
Dominic on the helicopter while we go into town. At the first sign of danger, Dominic can split with the kid.”

She thought about it. She didn’t like the idea of bringing Barry with them, but the alternative of leaving him hundreds of miles away was totally unacceptable. “Okay, I suppose that would be safe enough.”

“Safer than we’ll be.” He turned and left the room.

She couldn’t blame him for being exasperated. The situation could come unraveled in a heartbeat, and her reasons for going after Luis were purely emotional.

“It’s the right thing to do, Elena,” Dominic said.

“Contrary to what the knights of Camelot claimed, right doesn’t always beat might.” She met Dominic’s gaze. “I said I’d try, Dominic. But if I find that I’m endangering my son or there’s a strong possibility he may lose his mother over this, I’ll back out. Barry is innocent, and that weights the scale in his favor.”

He nodded slowly. “I understand. Innocence is a bright and shining thing. But someone has to save the lost ones too.”

“That’s why I’m going.” She stood up. “And now I’ve got to get a plan together. Two days isn’t a hell of a lot of time.”

Would she come?

Chavez stared thoughtfully out over the rail at the skyscrapers of Miami Beach.

The chances of Elena trading her son for that weakling of a brother weren’t high enough for him to bank on. Yet she might be lured into trying to free him if the circumstances were set
up correctly. It was the kind of action that would appeal to a woman of her nature. It was a long shot, but he didn’t have many options at this point. He hadn’t been able to turn up any clues to Elena and Galen’s possible whereabouts.

“We go to Orlando?” Gomez asked behind him.

Chavez nodded. “Two days.” The setup might not yield his son, but it could rid the boy of his most ardent protector. He’d prefer her to be taken prisoner, but that might not happen. It was more likely they’d have to put the bitch down, and that wasn’t all bad. Galen might be more willing to deal for the boy with her out of the picture. “How is Luis?”

“Out.”

“Wake him up. We have to get him ready.” He paused, thinking. The situation had to be handled carefully. “And I want the bruises to be very visible, Gomez. I want her sweet, gentle heart to bleed for him.”

“Manero faxed me a diagram of the hotel and surrounding area.” Galen spread the sheet on the kitchen table. “Here’s the bridge over the koi pond where Luis is supposed to be waiting. The hotel is six stories, but the garden can only be viewed from about a third of the windows on the south side of the building.” He drew a circle around the windows facing the garden. “So this is sniper country.”

“Maybe.” Judd tapped the hotel across the street. “How much of the garden can be seen from here?”

“That’s the Mirado Hotel. Their angle is skewed. Only four rooms have a view.” Galen circled those rooms. “There aren’t
any other nearby hotels with access. Of course, that doesn’t mean anyone leaving couldn’t be picked off by someone in a car driving by.”

“Then you take care of it,” Judd said. “You’re good at extractions. Extract us.” He pointed at the windows of the Kissimmee Hotel. “I’ll clear the ground here and scout out the hotel across the street. Who meets with Luis?”

“I do,” Elena said. “And we need a car waiting outside that garden gate. I’m not going to waste time talking to him. I’ll just get him out.”

“You don’t even know if he’ll be able to walk,” Galen said.

“I’ll get him out.” Elena’s lips firmed. “Just have the car waiting.”

Galen nodded. “I’ll do a sweep through the garden before you go in, just to make sure there aren’t any surprises.”

“No, you have your job. I have mine.” She turned away. “I’ll check it out myself.”

“Suit yourself.” Galen turned to Judd. “How much time do you need?”

“I’ll go in tonight and scout around. Chavez may stage a last-minute arrival for his shooter at the Kissimmee Hotel, so I’ll position myself across the street at the Mirado and keep watch while Elena meets with Luis.”

“Good idea.”

“Just don’t forget me when you pull everyone out.” He smiled sardonically. “It would seriously offend me.”

“Then don’t waste time when you see Elena and Luis heading for the gate. Be out front waiting.” He folded the sheet of paper and put it in his pocket. “I’ve arranged for a pilot
and helicopter to pick us up and take us to Orlando. Josie McFee. I’ve used her before. She’s good, trustworthy, and tough as nails. She’ll land at a private field on the outskirts of Orlando.”

“Isn’t that pretty close?” Elena frowned. “I don’t want Barry or Dominic to be put in danger.”

“The airport’s safe. If we think we’re being followed, we won’t go back there. Okay?”

It wasn’t okay. The entire plan was risky, but at least Barry’s part in it seemed fairly secure. She slowly nodded. “I guess it is.”

“Good.” He moved toward the door. “Then if you’ll excuse me, I’ll see what I can do to pull a rabbit out of a hat to get us out of Orlando with our skins intact.”

“How are you going to do that?”

“Search me. That’s Disney World territory. Maybe I’ll put Donald Duck into the mix.”

“Good luck,” Judd murmured ironically.

“Well?” Elena stared Judd in the eye as Galen left. “Aren’t you going to say anything to me? Isn’t this what you warned me not to do? I’m putting Galen’s life on the line.”

He shook his head. “He’s doing that himself. You couldn’t stop him if you wanted to.”

“I do want to stop him.”

“Then back out. This is a lose-lose proposition. What are we going to do with your brother if we do get him away from Chavez?”

She didn’t know. It was a complication she didn’t need, but that didn’t matter. “I have to do this, Judd.”

He shook his head. “Emotion is a bummer. It really gets in the way of clear thinking.”

“And of course you never let it bother you.”

“It bothers me, but I’ve trained myself not to allow it to interfere. It makes a man hesitate, and that can be fatal.” He smiled. “You wouldn’t want me to hesitate if I see that sniper aiming at you.”

“No.”

“Then don’t talk to me about emotion. I’ll see you in Orlando.”

She followed him out onto the front porch and watched as he got into the jeep.

“Stop fretting, Elena.”

She turned to see Dominic coming up the path from the lake.

“Where have you been?”

“Just sitting and thinking. Nothing like looking at God’s wonders to soothe the soul. You should try it.” He dropped down on the porch steps. “Your soul needs some soothing.”

She sat down beside him. “Yes.”

“You always were a worrier. Even as a little girl, you fretted over every little detail. Luis was different. He lived for the moment. But he was good for you. He made you remember that you were still a child.”

“Is that who you were thinking about down by the lake?”

“How could I think of anyone else? Are we going to be able to save him?”

“I hope so. Galen and Judd are smart and experienced. They’ll make a difference.”

“I pray everything will go well.”

She leaned her head against his arm. How many times had they sat like this on the front steps at Tomaco? Comfort flowed through her in a blessedly familiar stream. “Then I know it will. You have friends in high places.”

He chuckled. “Let’s hope they see things my way.” He kissed the top of her head. “Now, you go for a walk yourself. Look at the lake and the sky, and when you come back you’ll feel better.”

“If you say so.” She stood up and started down the steps. “I’ll give it a try. I wouldn’t want to offend your high-placed friends.”

Poor child.

Dominic stared after Elena as she walked down the path. So much torment, so much hurt and … regret. She believed that everyone was answerable for their own lives, but it had always tortured her that she wasn’t able to save Luis from his own actions. She had told Dominic once that if she’d made just one more try it might have been the one that worked. She had always been the responsible one, the carrier of burdens. But she had not been able to carry Luis’s.

Neither had Dominic. Nor had he been able to teach Luis to shoulder his own. Perhaps when they freed him, both Elena and Dominic would have another chance to save his soul as well as his body.

“Where is she going?” Galen asked from the doorway.

“Just for a walk. I thought she needed it.”

“I wish that was all she needed.”

“You’re concerned about her.”

“You’re damn right.” Galen’s voice vibrated with feeling. “What’s wrong with that? Someone has to care whether she lives or dies. She barges in and tries to save a bastard who—Sorry, I know you care about him too. I’ll shut up.”

“Don’t shut up.” He smiled. “Sit down beside me and we’ll talk.”

“Look way down there,” Josie McFee shouted over the sound of the rotors to Barry in the seat behind her. “That’s Disney World. Home of Mickey Mouse.”

Barry eagerly pressed his face to the window. “I see a castle and a—” He turned to Elena. “Is that where we’re going?”

“Not this trip. We have business here, and we thought you might enjoy the helicopter ride.” Elena glanced at Galen in the copilot’s seat. “How far?”

“Another five minutes,” Josie McFee answered for him. “It’s a little far out, but Galen said it’s private. There’s a car waiting at the hangar.” She smiled at Barry again. “I hear you’re going to wait with me in the copter. Maybe we could do a little sightseeing.”

“Mama?”

She shook her head. “We need Josie to wait for us.”

“Ten minutes and we’ll be back at the airport,” Josie said. “You can’t even drive to Kissimmee in that time.”