Sworn to Protect (28 page)

And then she placed him.

He’s the one who murdered Rita.

Danika hid her recognition. Surely Nadine was not a part of this killer’s life.

Nadine’s eyes widened. “What’s been going on?”

“Too much. Please sit down, and we’ll work through getting you reunited with your family. And I do have some questions.” Danika turned to Joe. “Can I get you something?”

“No, ma’am.” He sat on the sofa beside Nadine. The girl cringed.

Danika smiled. “If you’ll excuse me for a moment, I—”

Joe whipped out a .45. “The only place you’re going is with us.”

Had Nadine been reduced to this? to planning the demise of her own family? The thought sickened Danika, but the proof was before her.

Nadine stood and took a step back from Joe.

“It’s only a matter of time before the authorities discover who you are,” Danika said. “The volunteer who saw you at the hospital has given the police your description. My guess is you’re the one who blew out my tires.”

He laughed and waved the firearm in her face. “Maybe so, but by the time I’m across the border, no one will find me.”

Danika watched Nadine draw a .380 automatic from the back of her jeans, where it had been covered by an oversize shirt. What was she about to do? Nadine trembled and pointed the gun at Joe’s back. “Jose, drop the gun before I kill you.”

His eyes narrowed, and he lifted his weapon to Danika’s face. “I thought you and I could get something going here. But you played me.”

“I’ll send a bullet through you for every woman you beat, for setting my house on fire, for sending that finger to my dad, for trying to kill my aunt.”

He sneered. “Got us a stand-off, Nadine. What’s it going to—”

Pop.
Nadine sent a bullet into Jose’s back. Then again.

His eyes went wide, and Danika slapped away his arm before he fired at her. His limp body fell against her, the weight forcing her to the floor. Her gaze darted to Nadine, who shook with the gun in her hand.

“I had to make them believe I didn’t care about what they did.” Her voice broke into sobs. “Lucy and Jose have hurt and murdered so many people. You have no idea what they’ve done. She’s behind all of it.”

“It’s all over.” Danika struggled to shove the body from her. She grabbed the sofa for support and forced herself to stand, the agony in her abdomen nearly taking away her breath. Nadine had drifted into shock, her eyes glazed and her body seemingly paralyzed. “Give me the gun, and I’ll call the police.”

The front door opened and shut with a crash that shook the house. Danika’s attention flew to the entranceway, where Lucy aimed a gun at Nadine. “Toss that piece over here, Nadine. You thought you could outsmart me? Jose wasn’t the only one listenin’ in.”

Nadine did as she was told, still trembling and ashen. Danika stepped in front of the girl. “I’m the one you’re after. Leave her alone.”

“Brave talk for an unarmed agent.” Lucy shook her head. “And so soon after surgery. By the way, I don’t have a problem killing you both.”

“Take my advice and get out of here. The police are on their way.”

“How’s that? The pair guarding you left hours ago.”

Danika wondered how quickly Jimenez contacted the police. The time neared ten thirty. If not for an emergency at the medical center, Alex would have been there hours ago. Now he’d be walking into a hornet’s nest. “Chief Jimenez wasn’t happy with me dismissing the cops, so he’s sending more.”

“Now’s as good a time as any to leave. Both of you are to walk through the kitchen to the garage, where Danika will pull my car inside. Either of you try anything, and Nadine gets the first bullet. In fact, Nadine, you are to laugh, talk about all of us going to dinner. We want the neighbors to think this is a good time. Do not use any names. Understand?”

The teen merely nodded, obviously too frightened to speak.

Danika had to stall for time. “Where are we going?”

“None of your business. But the McAllen station will receive at least one body tonight. Move. Now. You two have a date in the trunk of my car.”

Danika and Nadine moved toward the door. Lucy took a step back, just out of Danika’s reach. “Why, Lucy? What have we done to you?”

“Nadine hasn’t done a thing but play into my hands. You, on the other hand, have stood in my way for a long time.”

“How?” Danika studied Lucy’s face. The woman would not see fear. “Are you going to tell me why I’m your target?”

“Toby.”

Danika had to confirm what she’d read in his Bible. “He discovered what you were doing?”

“Shut up.” Lucy opened the door and motioned them into the garage. The hot air mimicked the ordeal. She handed Danika the keys.

Lucy pushed her into the garage while pulling Nadine along. She pressed the garage door button, and it hummed into action. The ceiling light cast a jagged path across the garage floor, illuminating some things and concealing others. The pain in Danika’s abdomen made her dizzy. She didn’t want to think about the lack of air and the heat in the trunk of Lucy’s car.

A 1992 Dodge Dynasty sat in the driveway.
Think, Danika.
She refused to allow meds and fear to dissolve her into a pool of inaction. Perhaps a cell phone had been left in Lucy’s car. Fat chance, but a hope. Normally Lucy drove a Lexus.

Danika slid into the car and started the engine. Nothing lay on the bench seat. Lucy knew how to cover her tracks. Danika drove the rattletrap with Texas plates into the garage, and the door buzzed back down.

She scooted out—with no more idea of how to free Nadine and herself than she had before, except to get close enough for hand-to-hand combat. Still the questions assaulting her for two years begged for answers, and that meant precious time. As soon as she climbed out, Lucy demanded the keys.

Danika slapped them into her palm. If Lucy pointed the gun away from Nadine’s face for two seconds, she’d use her martial arts skills and hope the lack of physical strength wasn’t their demise. She calculated Lucy’s reaction time to a blow against her arm while the garage door closed. Yet the pain made her dizzy.

According to Sandra, Lucy loved to talk about herself.

“Why did you have Toby killed?”

“
I
killed him. Put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger.”

The news of Lucy murdering Toby staggered her, but she refused to dwell on it now. Later . . . “He didn’t tell any of us what he suspected.”

She popped the trunk open and motioned for Nadine to get inside. “Toby tried to ruin my business, and I had to eliminate him. But he was stupid. Claimed you and Jacob had evidence against me.” She sneered. “He either lied or it’s in your house somewhere. I’m tired of looking for it at Barbara’s.”

Danika shoved aside the fury pelting her and willed it to subside. Toby had chosen the law and his love for her and Tiana that day, and the result killed him. “If I had proof, it would have been used a long time ago.”

“Unless Toby hid it.”

“Search my house. Or is that what you had Sandra doing?”

Lucy laughed. “Sandra’s refusal killed her.”

Oh, Sandra.
“Is that why you set up Jacob?”

“He ticked me off when he got in bad standing with the Border Patrol. See, I used the sensor info in his backpack before he got fired.”

Keep stalling her.
“Why did you wait two years to come after me?”

“It’s more complicated than you think, dear Danika. Business expansion required it. I always had a scapegoat if you or Jacob found the evidence. But Naddie just shot him.”

“If you’re going to kill me, I deserve to know why.”

With her gun aimed at Nadine, Lucy motioned Danika to crawl into the trunk beside the girl. As she did, a staggering burst of pain spread across her lower body, and she grabbed the bumper to steady herself.

“You think you hurt now? Wait till later. How’s that old song go? ‘By the light of the silvery moon’?”

“I deserve to know why.”

“You? You’ve cost me money just like all Border Patrol agents. Six months ago, you and Jon Barnett stopped an oil tanker at the checkpoint carrying 784 pounds of marijuana in the bottom of oil drums. Over $625,000. At the time I wanted to poison every K-9 and handler on the Border Patrol payroll. Less than a year before, you and Jacob stopped an 18-wheeler carrying 20,000 pounds of marijuana. I was supposed to get a cut off of that. Sixteen million dollars gone up in smoke. Is that reason enough?”

She slammed the trunk shut. A moment later, the garage door opened and the car backed out. Did Lucy have the rest of her plans as carefully laid out?

Chapter 53

While there’s life, there’s hope.

Terence

Alex’s mind spun. Why wouldn’t Danika answer the front door or her phones? He pounded on the door with his fist, ready to kick it in. Maybe she’d fallen asleep.

“Sir, what’s the problem here?” A police officer walked up the sidewalk behind him.

“Are you the officer sent to check on Danika Morales?”

“Let’s start with your name.” The young officer had a radio in his hand.

“I’m a friend of Ms. Morales and Chief Jimenez at the McAllen Border Patrol Operation. She’s been expecting me, but she’s not answering the door.”

Two police cruisers sped into the driveway, lights flashing. A truck whipped to the curb, and Alex recognized it as Ed’s. Two other cruisers joined them.

Officers jogged to the front door. “Thanks for the license plate numbers, Warner,” an officer named Montoya said. “How long ago did the car leave?”

“Six minutes at the most.”

“Who? What car?” Alex had long since lost his patience. He wanted an explanation now.

“Sir, we have no idea who you are,” Officer Warner said. “If you’d kindly step aside, we need to talk to Ms. Morales.”

Alex’s nerves shot into panic. “And I’m telling you she’s not answering the door.”

“Sir, you are interfering in police business. Your name and purpose?” Officer Warner was about to be on the receiving end of Alex’s temper.

“Alex Price. Dr. Alex Price.” He spotted Ed. “Would you tell these officers who I am?”

“Officers, I’m Chief Ed Jimenez of the McAllen station. This man is with me. He has clearance. What’s the problem?”

Alex took a moment to regain his composure as Officer Warner began to explain. “I received the call and got here first in time to see a ’92 Dodge Dynasty pull away from the house. I jotted down the license plate numbers and learned the car was registered to Jose Aznar. He’s wanted for armed robbery.”

“Did you see who was driving?” Officer Montoya said.

“No. The car looked suspicious for this neighborhood.” He banged on the door, then turned the knob. It opened. “Ms. Morales, this is the police. Are you all right?”

Nothing. A lamp glowed in the living room, and the kitchen light was on. Alex followed the officers into the house. A Hispanic male sprawled on the floor in the living room with gunshot wounds in his back. Blood soaked the carpet.

Alex bent clumsily and felt for his pulse. “He’s dead.”

“Dr. Price, please do not touch anything until the area can be swept for fingerprints.” Officer Warner radioed for an ambulance.

The officers and Ed conducted a search and found Danika’s purse, cell phone, and weapon in her bedroom. No sign of a struggle. Each room, each closet held the possibility of containing Danika’s body.

Alex stood in the living room with Ed and Officer Montoya while they waited for the ambulance. He leaned on his crutch. “What happens next?”

Officer Montoya pointed to the body. “Do you know this man?”

Alex shook his head. He hesitated. “You might want to see if he’s the one who murdered a young woman at McAllen Medical. A volunteer gave the police department a rough sketch.”

Ed whipped his attention to Alex. “You and Danika suspected Lucy Pinion. I called the police chief, and he’s having her brought in for questioning.”

A lot of good that would do if Lucy had taken Danika. “Earlier, Danika and I realized the Pinion woman may have had access to both homes and may also employ undocumented immigrants in her maid and nanny service. Danika was to call Barbara Morales with questions—and to warn her—while I contacted you. She would not have left willingly with Lucy.”

“We need to assume Danika left in the car. Did she get ahold of Barbara?”

“I have no idea.”

Ed yanked his cell phone from his belt. “I’ll call her now.” He walked outside the front door.

Alex detested waiting for any purpose, and he desperately needed to do something. The question of Danika’s whereabouts slammed against his brain. He hobbled to the garage, where Officer Warner bent to the concrete floor and examined a faint indication of liquid.

Warner glanced up. “Looks like condensation from the car, and it’s fresh. Can’t tell anything else.” He unclipped his radio. “We need to find that car.”

Ed appeared in the doorway. “Barbara hasn’t heard from Danika. She put me on hold and called Lucy but didn’t receive an answer. She also relayed a strange conversation they’d had earlier. Said she came to see Barbara and mentioned Nadine’s fingerprints on Jacob’s watch. Lucy had no way of knowing about that piece of evidence. Barbara was getting ready to call me. She suspects Lucy is involved.”

Alex sensed the blood draining from his face.

Officer Warner’s radio alerted him. He answered it and glanced at Ed. “We’re on it.” With the radio replaced on his belt, he took long strides to the door. “The car’s been spotted on Old Military Highway. Possibly heading toward the Hidalgo Bridge.”

* * *

In the blackness of Lucy’s trunk, Danika maneuvered her body to tear away the carpetlike material and the vinyl protecting the taillight. She hadn’t been able to locate a tire iron; Lucy had probably removed it a long time ago.

“Pull on the other side,” she said to Nadine.

They both tugged on the covering until it broke free. With only flip-flops on her feet, Danika kicked against one taillight until it shattered. The plastic shards cut into the side of her foot and heel.

“Do you have anything we can wave through the hole?” Danika said.

“My shoe,” Nadine said. The teen was amazingly calm. No doubt she’d seen and heard worse happenings while captive with Lucy. “Here.” She twisted her body to hand a sandal to Danika. “I can manage this easier than you.”

In the cramped quarters with her stomach crying out in pain, Danika breathed out thanks. “I’m going to do the same with the other taillight. If a vehicle is behind us, they might be able to see. Of course, now Lucy’s taillights are out.”

A few minutes later, another hole offered air and provided means to show their imprisonment. Both of them waved their shoes through the jagged holes. But how could anyone see unless they were right on the rear bumper?

“Lucy hired guys to kill your friend. A doctor, I think.”

So Alex had been the target, just like he suspected. “He’s alive.”

“Good. Aunt Danika . . . I killed Jose.”

How could she comfort Nadine? Certainly not by telling her it was okay. The girl had always been analytical and extremely bright. “You killed him to protect me and yourself.”

“God says do not kill.”

“It was self-defense, honey. Like a soldier who has committed himself to keeping others safe from the enemy.”

“I’ve been praying for Lucy and Jose to be stopped, but I hadn’t counted on me pulling a trigger. Lucy is working with a drug cartel. I heard her say it took nearly two years to gain their trust. She told me to run away. Said I could stay with her. Then she kept me prisoner.”

Before Danika had a chance to respond, Lucy hit a pothole and jarred the car.

“Are we going to get out of this alive?” Nadine’s voice had softened to that of a child.

“I won’t lie to you and say we’re not in serious trouble, but good people are looking and praying for us. The police were on their way when you arrived.” Danika sounded more encouraging than she felt. All she could do was trust God. “Do you know where she’s taking us?”

“I’m afraid so. It’s an exchange with a drug lord at the river. I heard her call a man by the name of Carlos to meet her there. You were to be an exchange for something Lucy wanted.”

“Carlos Galvan?” He led one of the largest drug cartels and operated from Reynosa. His business had spread into South America. Last year he beheaded two opposing gang members and dumped their heads near a church in the city. She didn’t want to think what he’d do with them. And if Nadine knew, she wasn’t saying.

“I only heard his name. Nothing else.”

Danika refused to tell her any more.