Deceived (14 page)

Now what? Face
it, McGrady, you are in big trouble here.
Jennie decided to follow the same course her mind had been taking earlier. Ramirez was letting her wander around freely. Apparently, he didn't feel she was a threat. That could work against him.

She walked back outside and took her time strolling through the gardens. If anyone were watching they'd think she was just admiring the flowers or going for a walk. When she reached the gate, she stopped to admire a bird of paradise, then walked on.

No one stopped her, so she headed toward the boat docks. Off to her left, several men tossed bags of coffee beans into a truck bed that had already been partially loaded. A dark plastic tarp covered another kind of cargo. Most likely cocaine. The drugs would be hauled through the jungle and transported to the States, where they would probably be sold to dealers and resold again to kids too dumb or in too much pain to say no. Jennie shook her head at the thought.

Ramirez was an animal. And Dominic? Even if he wasn't involved, he had to know about the drugs. Jennie tried to imagine what it would be like to be in Dominic's shoes. Would she stay loyal to her family at all costs? It wouldn't happen, of course—Jennie was certain of that— but if Gram or Dad broke the law, could she turn them in? It was a question she hoped she'd never have to answer.

Jennie tore her attention away from the warehouse and the trucks and concentrated on the water—her most likely means of escape. A couple of boats bobbed on the water about a mile off shore. She could swim that far. Were they Ramirez's men, or a way to freedom? She'd just have to chance it.

“If you're thinking about making a getaway, I'd reconsider.”

Jennie spun around in the direction of Roberts' voice.

“Did Ramirez send you out here to keep an eye on me?”

“Ramirez thinks you're a helpless female. I know better.”

“Hummph.”

“I'm going to get you out of here, but you're going to have to trust me.”

Had she heard right? “You can't be serious. You turn my father over to that creep Ramirez, and now you want me to trust you?”

Roberts glanced behind him. “I am an agent. So is Matt. I took a break from my duties to help you through this business with your dad. I didn't realize until this morning that Matt had been assigned to Dominic as a way of getting into Ramirez's inner circle—or that Dominic was Ramirez's grandson.

“By the time we got word that you and Dominic were not on board the ship, you were already on your way here. About the same time I discovered who Matt was. He briefed me on Ramirez and his operation, and we decided to team up.”

“You expect me to believe that? You're both agents, both on the same ship, and you didn't know what was going on? Never mind. Let me guess. The fewer people who know, the better.”

“That's right.”

For some strange reason she believed him. “I think you guys need to change your policy.”

“Maybe. But first I have to get you off the island. And we have to do it in a way that doesn't hinder the DEA's plan to take down Ramirez and his operation. The US government has been after Ramirez for a long time. Caught up to him a couple of years ago in Colombia, but his son interfered and Ramirez slipped away from us. We managed to shut him down for a while, but he emerged bigger and more powerful than before.”

“You're going to arrest him?”

“We're going to do more than that, Jennie. We hope to close him down for good. We don't want anything to go wrong this time.”

“What about Dominic?”

“We'll just have to hope he has enough sense to stay out of the way while the bullets are flying and that he'll cooperate with us when it's over.” Roberts glanced up at the villa and frowned. “Go back in the house, have lunch as usual and come back down to the docks at 1400 hours—two o'clock,” he added for her benefit.

“I can't leave without Dominic.”

“Impossible. He might tip off his grandfather. We can't take that chance.”

“But…”

“Jennie, this is important. I don't have time to argue with you. Divers from those boats out there will be setting explosives at strategic points on the island. At exactly ten minutes after two we let 'er rip. Matt's men will raid the compound, and you and I will be on our way to Cozumel.”

“Why are you telling me all this?”

“Because you need to know. If I'm going to get us out of here alive, you've got to do exactly what I tell you.”

“What about my dad?” Jennie glanced up at him. “What's going to happen…?”

Roberts removed his glasses and raised an arm to shade his face. “He'll be safe.”

Their eyes met and Jennie's question stuck in her throat. Brett Roberts' eyes were the same dark blue as her own. Shock waves coursed through her. She felt as if she'd been trying to open a lock for years and suddenly the door had swung open.

Brett Roberts was her father. Older, balding, shorter than she remembered—but then she'd grown at least a foot since she'd last seen him.

Daddy.
She opened her mouth to say the word aloud, but he held up his hand.

“Don't, Jennie.” His eyes told her he wanted nothing better than to take her in his arms—to hold her and protect her like he had when she was little. But he didn't. He replaced his glasses and stepped away from her. “We'll talk about it later. You need to get back. Ramirez will wonder what we've been talking about.”

Jennie wanted to throw her arms around him and hit him at the same time. Later they'd talk. Now she didn't dare make any move that might betray him to Ramirez. Slowly Jennie turned away, then headed back up the hill and through the gate. Her mind felt numb. Ramirez was walking toward them.
Careful, McGrady. If you slip up or show anything other than dislike for Roberts—Dad—Senor Ramirez might suspect.

“It's bad enough you bring me here as bait to lure my father. But do you have to send your scummy friends to stand guard over me? You know there's no way for me to get off the island, so why don't you just leave me alone.” Beneath the scowl on Roberts' face, she could almost imagine him cheering her on. Or maybe he was warning her not to overact. Jennie flounced past the old man and went inside. She made it as far as her bedroom before her knees collapsed.

She fell back onto her bed, unable to believe it. Dad was here. Roberts. How could she have missed it? No wonder she had trusted him. On some level she must have known all along.

Dad was actually here. And they thought he was one of them. What a coup.

Jennie wanted to spread her good news to the entire world. “Thank you, God. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Dad's getting me out of this place and everything's going to be all right.”

Jennie bolted upright.
No. Not everything. Not Dominic.
Dominic wouldn't hide, or cooperate. His strong sense of family would bring him running to protect his grandfather, just like his father had. If she could warn him, maybe he'd be able to get away, but knowing Dominic, she doubted he'd run. Besides, she couldn't risk saying anything to anyone. Blowing Matt or Dad's cover at this point could not only mess up their plans to get Ramirez. If she wasn't careful, she could get them all killed.

Still, McGrady, you have to find a way to protect him.

During lunch, which she and Dominic shared with Matt, Roberts, and two other men, Jennie put her plan into motion. “Dominic, this waiting is driving me crazy. How about taking me sailing this afternoon?” She glanced at her watch. “Say in about half an hour?”

“You are sure, señorita? After yesterday, I am not certain you trust me.”

“What happened yesterday,” she paused for emphasis, wanting to make certain her father didn't miss her meaning, “was an accident. You saved my life. Please, Dominic. I'd really like to go sailing.”

After obtaining his grandfather's permission, Dominic agreed, and at five minutes to two they met in the living room. “Un momento, querida,” Dominic said as he headed back to the stairs. “I have forgotten something. A gift for you.”

“Can't it wait?” Jennie called after him, but he'd already gone. She glanced at her watch. Four minutes.
Come on, Dominic. Hurry.

Three minutes. Dominic joined her. She grabbed his hand and hurried out of the hacienda and into the courtyard.

When they reached the iron gate, Dominic stopped and pulled her up short. “I know you are anxious to go, but first you must listen. I have been thinking about what you said to me. It was wrong of me to bring you here and endanger your life and your father's. My grandfather…” Dominic shook his head. “He is wrong to do this.” Dominic took Jennie's hand and pressed a heart-shaped gold locket into her palm, then closed her hand and raised it to his lips. “For you, querida. I give you my heart.”

“Oh, Dominic. It's beautiful.” Jennie swallowed hard. One minute. When this was over she'd give it back. She had to get him down to the boat. She slipped the locket around her neck, took his hand again, and drew him forward. “This will make our sail even more special.”

“No.” He pulled his hand out of her grasp and handed her a key. “I am not coming with you. The motorboat at the end of the dock. Take it and go to the mainland. There is danger here. I have learned that Grandfather does not mean to let you go.”

“Dominic, it's okay.”

“Please, listen to me. I will do what I can to help your father. I promise. Only now you must go.”

Two o'clock. Jennie glanced in the direction of the dock.
Think, McGrady. You've got to get Dominic down there.
“All right. I'll go, but…come with me to the boat. If I go alone, your grandfather's men might stop me. Please, Dominic.”

To Jennie's relief, he agreed.

When they reached the dock, Jennie glanced around. Where was Dad? Great. Now what? He could have been on any one of the five boats harbored there. “Dominic.” She fingered the locket. “I wish you'd come with me. My father can take care of himself—that is if he even comes.”

“No, I cannot.”

Jennie handed him back the key. “Okay, but at least show me how to run this thing.”

Dominic stepped up to the console and slipped the key into the ignition. As he did, Matt appeared behind him and touched his neck. Dominic went limp.

“What are you…?” Jennie stared as Matt caught Dominic under the arms.

“Get on board. Now.”

Jennie obeyed. “What did you do to him?”

“Pressure point,” Matt grunted as he dragged Dominic into the cabin, dropped him onto a bunk, and cuffed him. “He'll come around soon.”

“Where's Roberts?”

“I don't know. He should have been here ten minutes ago. If he doesn't show in two minutes, you're going to have to take this thing out yourself.”

“No, I can't…Roberts…”

“Something must have happened in there. He was talking to Ramirez. Look, if he doesn't show, get this tub out of here. Head west. You'll hit the mainland. If we don't connect, hand Dominic over to the federales. They'll know what to do.”

Jennie tried to listen
. Oh, God, no. Not now. I just found him. Don't let anything happen.

“Jennie!” Matt grabbed her shoulders. “Did you hear me?”

Jennie choked back the panic washing over her and nodded. Matt twisted the key. The engine roared to life. “Take the wheel. I've set it in reverse. Just back out, swing her around, and push the throttle forward as far as it will go.” Matt jumped off the boat and gave it a shove. “Move it. Now!”

Jennie closed her mind to everything except getting the boat and Dominic away from the island before Matt and his men opened fire. She concentrated.
Back up, turn the wheel-not too much.
“God, please let my dad be okay
.” Straighten it out. Good.
Jennie shoved the throttle forward. The boat leapt out of the water. The force threw her against the safety rail. She fell, jerking the wheel to the right. Jennie regained her balance and turned the wheel back. Too little, too late. The powerboat was heading straight for the cliff beneath the villa.

An explosion ripped the cliff apart, spewing rocks a hundred feet in the air.

Jennie pulled back the throttle and cranked the wheel to the left. As the boat straightened, she braced herself, opened the throttle, and raced toward the open sea. Every few seconds another bomb went off. The staccato sounds of gunfire raced to fill the silent spaces.

When she felt she'd gone a safe distance, Jennie swung the craft around, then idled the engines. The gunfire and bombs had stopped. Smoke billowed around the island, making it look like a volcanic eruption. She wondered how anyone could have survived.

The scene blurred. Jennie didn't bother to brush away the tears.
Dad. Don't even think it. He's okay. He just has to be.
She turned away from the wheel and sank onto a cushioned seat. In a few minutes she'd regain her composure and head west, like Matt had told her. Maybe she'd turn Dominic over to the federales. Maybe she wouldn't. It seemed a better choice to call his uncle Manny.

She heard a moan from the cabin and hurried below to investigate. “Dominic? Are you all right?”

He shook his head as if trying to orient himself. “What happened?”

“Matt put you out of commission for a few minutes. He's an agent.” She hurried to his side. “Oh, Dominic. I couldn't let you stay on the island. When Roberts—he's an agent too—told me what they were going to do I had to get you out of there. I was afraid you'd be killed.”

Still stunned, Dominic struggled to sit up. “What about Juan Carlos?”

“I don't know.”

He glanced at his cuffed wrists, then raised his gaze to hers. “You must take me to Cozumel. I have much to tell the policía.”

Jennie offered him an approving smile and lifted the locket from her neck. “You'll want this back.”

“No, querida—my friend.” He reached up to stop her and took both of her hands in his. “You must keep it. You have given me back my life. I can never repay you. So, please. The locket is so little a token for so great a gift.”

Jennie blinked back her tears and nodded, accepting Dominic's gift and the kiss he left on her cheek. She drew in a ragged breath and stood. “We'd better go.”

They went topside. Dominic stared at the island for a long agonizing moment, then tore his gaze away.

“I'm so sorry, Dominic. It was a beautiful island.”

“It will be again someday,” he said, looking back at the smoke rising from it. “Perhaps I will ask Tío Manny to build a resort there. And I will sculpt and paint again.” He smiled at her. “Perhaps I will take your grandmother's advice and have a showing in the United States. You would come?”

“You can bet on it.”

Dominic nodded and ducked back into the cabin, saying he needed to be alone. Jennie didn't ask why.

“From ashes to roses,” she whispered, remembering one of her mother's favorite Bible verses. Dominic would be all right.

Jennie took the wheel.
But will you? Will Dad?
Matt had told her to keep going—to take Dominic to the mainland. But how could she leave Dad or Matt? They could be hurt.

Jennie pressed the throttle forward. Maybe she'd go a little closer. Have a look around. No. She shouldn't.

Matt had given her orders. And going back could create more problems. Jennie aimed the boat toward Cozumel and eased the throttle forward.

She'd gone only a few yards when she noticed a powerboat heading toward them. Had Ramirez gotten away? Jennie held her breath and let it out again when she recognized the driver and the man who stood on the deck waving.

Matt slowed as he came alongside her craft. Roberts jumped onto the deck behind her. His lip was split and bleeding and he had a bruise on his left cheek.

“How's Dominic?” Matt asked.

Roberts ducked into the cabin. Less than a minute later his head and Dominic's popped back through the opening. “He's okay. Anxious to see his grandfather.”

“Bring him aboard,” Matt called.

Dominic still looked dazed as he let himself be transferred to the other boat. The transfer completed, Roberts gave Matt's boat a shove and waved. “See you in Cozumel.”

Matt grinned and nodded. “Have a good trip.”

Jennie and Roberts watched the boat fade to a small spot on the horizon. “Well, kid,” he ruffled her hair. “We'd better head in too. Gram and J.B. and that redheaded cousin of yours will be anxious to see you.”

“They're in Cozumel?”

“Safe and sound. I saw them and your journalist friend Hendricks just before Matt and I came to the island.”

“Is Hendricks still on our case?”

“Nope. Matt gave him an exclusive on the Ramirez story.”

“Do Gram and J.B. know?” she asked, hopping onto the bench seat to the left of the controls.

“Only that I'm an agent who used to work with Jason.” Roberts took the wheel and swung the boat around until the prow pointed toward the late afternoon sun, then inched the throttle forward.

“Let me guess,” Jennie said. “They didn't need to know so you didn't tell them.”

“Right. As far as they're concerned, you fell into the hands of a notorious drug lord. Agents Matt Hansen and Brett Roberts were sent to rescue you. Had a dickens of a time convincing your Gram to stay put. She insisted on coming with us. Thought for a while we'd have to lock her up.”

“What changed her mind?”

He shrugged. “I'm not sure. She was arguing like a she-bear protecting her cub. All of a sudden she backed off. Guess you'll have to ask her.”

Had Gram recognized him too? Jennie couldn't wait to ask her. Yes, she could. There'd be plenty of time to talk to Gram later. Right now she wanted to concentrate on Dad and make the most of their precious few minutes together.

“What happened to your face?” she asked. What she really wanted to ask was:
Are you coming home?
She didn't.

She already knew the answer.

Roberts touched his cheek and winced. “Ramirez decided he didn't trust me. Sent a couple of his thugs to work me over. Fortunately, the gunfire distracted them. I got the jump on 'em.”

“Is he still alive?”

“Barely. Don't know if he'll make it, but even if he does, he'll spend the rest of his life in prison.”

“What's going to happen to Dominic?”

“He'll be questioned.”

“He won't go to prison, will he?”

“You gonna press charges?”

“Not a chance. He helped me get away. And he plans to tell the police what he knows.”

“You're quite a girl, Jennie.” Roberts wrapped an arm around her shoulder and gave her a hug. “Even if you do ask a lot of questions.”

Jennie grinned so wide she thought her face would break.
You're going to have to give him up, you know
, a voice in her head broke through the happiness. Jennie sighed.

“Did you say something?”

“No. I was just thinking.” Soon they'd be in Cozumel. She'd rendezvous with Gram and the others and finish out the cruise. Dad would go back to being an agent, fighting crime, and doing whatever else agents do.

“I can't go back, Jennie.”

“I know.” She'd lose him again, but for now, God had given them a little snatch of time and Jennie planned to enjoy every second of it. When it was over she'd store the memories in her heart and treasure them forever. “Will you change your identity again?”

“Probably.”

“Will you contact me from time to time?”

“If I can.” He grinned down at her, tears glistening in his eyes. “You take good care of Nick for me, ya hear? And don't be too hard on Michael. I hear he's one of the good guys.”

Jennie choked back her tears. “Sure.”

“Roberts?” she said when she was able to speak again. “Tell Dad I love him.” Jennie wasn't sure why she'd gone back to thinking of him as Roberts. Maybe she just wanted him to know that his secret was safe with her. Or maybe she was just now beginning to understand what he'd been trying to tell her all along.

Roberts nodded. “Your dad said to tell you he loves you too.”

They went on talking about family, friends, and Jennie's future. And she did have a future—not like she'd planned. But it was looking pretty good just the same.

Jason McGrady was gone forever.
But
, Jennie reminded herself,
Brett Roberts, or whatever his new name will be, is very much alive and maybe—just maybe when the danger is past—you'll see him again.
Jennie watched him for a while, then leaned her head against his shoulder and committed him to memory.