Ring of Lies (57 page)

‘
You’re so damn selfish.
’
He turned and walked toward the kitchen, but Rosa grabbed him by the throat and pinned him hard against the wall.

‘
You just don’t get it, do you?
’
she screamed.

‘
Then explain it to me,
’
he said hoarsely.

‘
I didn’t have the baby because
Jorge
told me to. I did
it for
revenge.
’

‘
Revenge for what?
’

‘
Christ, were you born with no brains? Do you take no interest in family business?
’

‘
Whose fault is that? You and
Jorge
ignore me most of the time.
’

‘
Is that surprising, given the way you behave? You’d rather be out playing baseball than taking an active role
.
Do you have any idea the effort
Jorge
and I
put into providing you for and the rest of the family?
’

‘
The store—
’

Rosa’s dark eyes narrowed.
‘
Provides nothing! You really believe that’s how we make our money? You’re more stupid than you look!
’

‘
I’m not stupid.
’

‘
Then prove it! Go out there and help your brother.
’

‘
With what?
’

‘
Why do you think
Jorge
spends most of his day down at the docks?
’

Ramon’s eyes widened in surprise. No longer able to breathe, he shook his head from side to side, trying to free himself from her
vice
-like grip. His lungs felt ready to burst. His world darkened. Just as he was about to lose consciousness, Rosa relaxed her hold. His body sagged, he slumped to the floor, chest heaving.

‘
You’re such a coward. You’re not worthy of the name Nuñuz
.
’

Ramon put a hand to his throat
,
and massaged the bruised muscles and tendons.
‘
But what has that got to do with Jack and the baby?
’

‘
Eighteen months ago, your second cousin, Estefan, suspected someone had infiltrated his organization. It took a while, but he found out who this person was, and ordered them killed.
’
She lit another cigarette, drew in smoke, and held it, before letting it out in a steady stream.
‘
But, it was too late. The man had already passed the information to the FBI.
Estefan was arrested and charged with drug trafficking.
’

‘
So?
’

‘
Jack was
on the task force. He was the agent
the informer passed the information to
.
Jack
set up a meeting with your cousin, offering Estefan a foolproof way to bring a shipment of cocaine into the country. Only it was a trap, which is
how
Estefan
came to be
serving twenty-five years in the state penitentiary.
’

‘
Face it, Rosa. A few drinks and you’ll spread your legs for any man. If you hate Jack so much, why did you let him get you pregnant?
’

She ran at him then, her nails raking down his cheek, drawing blood.
‘
How dare you!
Jack West ruined my life. Having his baby was my way of getting revenge for what he did.
I loved Estefan. He loved me. We planned to marry
and would have done, if Jack hadn’t arrested
him
and given evidence at his trial.
’

‘
And now
you’ve failed
because you couldn’t keep your mouth shut and behave like a mother
.
’

Rosa laughed.
‘
But I haven’t
failed
.
’

‘
What are you planning to do? B
lackmail Jack into handing back the baby
?
’

Rosa
’s lips twisted into a cynical
smile.
‘
Oh, I’ve already taken care of Jack. He won’t be seeing his daughter ever again.
’

‘
Are you sure you don’t
recognize
him
?
’
asked Agent Diego
.

Grace
rested her chin on her hands and
studied the p
icture
, just as she had every other
photograph on every other
page.

‘
I’m sorry
,
Agent Diego. I don’t recognize any of them.
’

‘
T
hanks for trying,
Mrs.
Elliott.
Can I get you some more coffee?
’

She wrinkled her nose.
‘
No thanks. That stuff is strong enough to keep every insomniac on the planet awake for
two
lifetime
s
.
’

Diego laughed.
‘
It is
kind of
potent. The
computer geeks
like it that way.
They say
it
helps them concentrate
.
’

‘
Do you have any idea what’s keeping Jack?
’

Three men and two women filed into the office
, dressed in cookie cutter black suits
. They nodded at Diego and the other
agents
in the room.

‘
Shift change,
’
Diego said
by way of explanation
.
‘
Jack—I expect he’s
doing something
for
Special Agent
Zupanik
.
’

Grace gave him a slicing sideways look.
‘
What sort of
something
?
Is it
connected to my husband’s
death
?
’

Diego held up his hands.
‘
Hey, I
’m guessing. I have no idea what goes on in the SAC’s office when the door is closed. Are you sure I can’t get you another coffee? Or how about a
Coke
or a sandwich?
’

‘
No. I’m fine.
’

She
drummed her fingers on the desk
, and
was about to ask Diego to call
his boss
when the door to the office swung open and Jack wal
ked in.

‘
You finished here, Diego?
’
he growled.

The other agent leaned back in his chair.
‘
Yeah, we’re through.
’

‘
Grace, g
rab your
things
and let’
s go.
’

Sh
e clenched her hands together then forced herself to pick up her purse.
She shook hands with Agent Diego then walked slowly across the room.

Jack motioned for her to hurry.
‘
Come on, pick up the pace!
’

‘
D
o
you have to be so rude?
’
she hissed.

He
clutched her hand
and
pulled
her
down the hall
to
ward
the exit.
‘
I’ve had
my fill of
this town for one day
and Mike wants us
back
on
the island tonight.
’

Grace match
ed
her steps to his.
‘
But that doesn’t explain where you’ve been for the last three hours.
’

‘
Not now.
’

‘
What does that mean?
’