Uneven Exchange (21 page)

“Why? Will Santiago’s men be following her?”

“We don’t know. It’s doubtful, but we cannot take any chances.”

“You do realize I can be there even without your permission, don’t you?”

“I know you can. But I also know you will do whatever it takes to protect Alexandra. We could have a problem when she sees you.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Think about it. Alex is being strong right now because she has no choice. But the moment she sees you, her guard will be let down and her emotions will spill.”

“You’re the expert. Just tell me how you want me to play it, and I will.”

“If I let you be there, you would have to remain cool. Don’t start any major conversations, good or bad. Don’t ask her any questions about what happened. Just be there for her, listen to any instructions I give, and obey them to the letter.”

“I can do that, and I will do that. Please give me the high sign. I absolutely cannot wait around for her at home. Kevin, I won’t make it.”

Kevin hesitated, wanting to give in but knowing he should put his foot down and say no. Instead he said, “I told Natalie I wasn’t going to play matchmaker.”

“Natalie? That’s Sparky, Alexandra’s trainer,” Jake confirmed.

“That’s correct.”

“What do you mean about playing matchmaker?”

“Natalie wanted me to put my nose in your personal business, and I said no. But now I’m beginning to think it’s high time someone did. Alexandra has been through so much, and I really would like to see her happy.”

“What are you trying to tell me?”

“That you should tell her how you feel. The two of you should quit beating around the bush and finally admit you belong together.”

“Am I absolutely the last person on earth to know how Alexandra feels about me? She even told you?” he asked, laughing.

“We’ve all been together a lot. When the workday is over, and you’re winding down, things come up.”

“You know,” Jake said, “I feel like such a fool for not seeing it before. Now that all of this has happened, I also feel like I’ve wasted more than enough time.”

“Hearing you say that is almost a problem, Jake. If I let you go down to Mexico with us, part of me is worried you will want to make up for lost time.”

“You definitely don’t have to worry about that, Kevin. My first and foremost priority is getting Alexandra home safely. If that doesn’t happen, being together will not be an issue.”

“Okay, then.”

A light ignited in Jake’s green eyes. “Okay? Okay that I can go with you?”

“You can go.” Kevin smiled.

“Great,” Jake exclaimed. “Thank you! Thank you very much.”

“You’re very welcome. So now everything is settled, are you ready to call it a day?” Kevin asked, reaching for the tab.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Jake responded while leaning forward to retrieve his wallet from his back pocket.

“Your money is no good here,” Kevin joked. “It’s the least the Administration can do.”

“Thanks.”

“No, thank you. You don’t know how hard it was for me to come here today. You made it easy for me, Jake, and I appreciate it. Now let’s talk about Sunday. I would like to be there extra early.”

“No problem. What time?”

“Six a.m. I’ll pick you up at home. That should put us there no later than seven.”

“What’s the earliest the bus could get in?”

“My guess is nine a.m., but that is highly unlikely. We’re looking more at noon to even two or three. We might have a very long wait.”

“I’ve had a long wait, and it’s only getting longer.”

“I hear you. What are you going to do tomorrow?” Kevin asked.

“Who knows? I’ll probably just pace.”

As they made their way down the stairs, Kevin suggested, “Maybe you should play a round of golf?”

“I don’t think I could concentrate.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll call you if I hear anything.”

“We’ll see, but I’m sure I’ll probably hang at the house. Maybe I’ll rent a couple of movies to distract me. Perhaps some no-brainers.”

Kevin laughed. “I have a feeling that’s what my kids will want to do.”

“How many do you have?”

“Two. Randee, our girl, is the oldest. She’s eleven, and Tanner, our son, is four.”

“Wow. You waited a few years in between, huh?”

“Yes, we did.” Kevin smiled. “Tanner was a little unexpected, but we wouldn’t change a thing.” He stopped by his truck to hand Jake a business card. “You already have my mobile, but here is the number for the Administration switchboard. If you have trouble reaching me, they can locate me any time of any day. If you need anything, even just to talk, call me. Okay?”

“Okay, thank you. I really appreciate it.”

“Just give your name. They’ll know to track me down and patch you through.”

“Great, thanks,” Jake said, pocketing the card. “Well”—he extended his hand—“until Sunday.”

“Until Sunday,” Kevin responded, firmly shaking it. He slapped Jake’s shoulder and added, “Hang in there and keep the faith. She’ll be home soon.”

Choked with sentiment, Jake nodded, his lips pursed, clearly trying to hold back his emotions. Feeling pangs of guilt, Kevin watched him slowly cross the street. He hated leaving Jake alone but still denied his first reaction to invite Jake home for dinner. Selfishly, Kevin longed to be alone with his own family. He climbed into his pickup truck and pulled out of the parking lot. Still bothered by his decision not to include Jake, he turned off the radio and drove home in silence.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-SEVEN

THE LONG JOURNEY BEGINS

Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico

Alexandra

The extra day of rest encouraged Alexandra’s body to recover and helped prepare her physically for the long journey ahead. Though one side of her face remained swollen, the wound on her forehead had stopped leaking blood. In addition, reading the Bible and spending time in prayer had aided her mental recovery. Although she was not close to being fully healed, Alexandra felt mentally and physically bandaged for the next chapter of the journey.

Geared up to leave, Alexandra and Rico stood just inside Yoli’s front door to say good-bye. Deep sentiment fractured Alexandra’s voice as she clung to Yoli’s hand and said, “I feel as if I’ve known you all my life.”

“I agree, but don’t get all misty on me,” Yoli warned. She used her free palm to wipe away one of her own tears. “I’ll be seeing you before you know.”

“Will you make it to San Diego before Christmas?” Alexandra asked hopefully.

“Probably not that soon, as I still have a lot of painting to do before the next exhibit. But don’t worry, because I should be there by the end of March.”

“Where is your showing?” Rico asked.

“It’s in Los Angeles, but I cannot stand LAX. I’m thinking about flying in to San Diego, and if Armando isn’t working, he can drive me there. Or else I can take the train.”

“Oh, Yoli, I would love to drive you,” Alexandra exclaimed. “In fact, where do you plan on staying?”

“With Mando, I guess. That’s where I usually stay.”

“Doesn’t he have a one-room loft downtown?” Rico asked.

“Stay with me,” Alexandra blurted excitedly.

“Oh, but I wouldn’t want to impose.”

“Are you kidding? It’s not an imposition. I would love to have you.”

“Thank you,” Yoli said, smiling. “Let’s talk about it when the time gets closer to the exhibit. I’ll call you.”

“Okay, but promise me you’ll at least think about it,” Alexandra urged. “I guarantee you my home is more comfortable than a bachelor’s pad!”

“I will think about it. I promise.”

“Alexandra, we better move out,” Rico cautioned.

“Okay,” Alexandra agreed quietly. She placed both arms around Yoli to embrace her newfound friend a second time. “I’ll see you again soon,” she whispered. “Thank you so very much.”

“Yes, Yoli, thank you,” Rico said, hugging her tightly.

“My pleasure,” she responded, and as they walked away, she shouted, “
Adios.¡Vaya con Dios!
Go with God!”

Though Rico and Alexandra were of Mexican descent, they dressed to fit in with tourists as they stood on the street corner waiting for a
Pulmonia
. Rico wore light blue, prefaded, loose-fitting chambray shorts that hit right above the knee. On the pocket of his white golf shirt was the red-and-green frog logo publicizing the name of a popular restaurant-and-bar hangout in Mazatlan. He had on wraparound sport sunglasses, and a baseball cap turned backward completed the look.

An identical frog logo ball cap concealed Alexandra’s forehead bandage, while the brim cast a shadow over her swollen jaw. Before leaving, Rico suggested she tuck her hair up under the hat because its rich fullness could be a dead giveaway. Alexandra had also donned a pair of dark, circular sunglasses to mask the bruising around her left eye. The rest of her tourist getup included matching white cotton shorts and a T-shirt, both exhibiting a smaller version of the frog logo than the one on Rico’s shirt.

“I feel like a walking billboard,” she complained with a sportive laugh.

“Good, then you’ll fit right in,” Rico remarked, giving her an assuring smile. “Come on,” he said, grabbing her hand after hailing the convertible taxi.

The empty
Pulmonia
approached and stopped long enough for them to jump into the rear seat. Fortunately, the traffic noise and gushing wind prevented the driver from asking questions about their final destination after the ferry ride to La Paz. As they bounced along on the way to the ferry dock, Alexandra strained to enjoy the Mazatlan coastline while frantically holding on to her baseball cap. She could already feel tendrils of hair escaping from the sides.

Having arrived early, they were the first to board the vessel. Rico kept a watchful eye for Santiago’s contacts while he hurried Alexandra into their private cabin.

“Lock the door and stay here,” he instructed. “Don’t open it. I’ll be right back.”

His intensity caused Alexandra to stiffen. As soon as he left, she bolted the door, then turned around to look for any windows. The only one, a porthole, was permanently sealed. Not knowing what else to do, she sat on the bed and stared at the door. Images of Carlos Camacho lurking in the hallway invaded her mind.

As if her thoughts had become reality, someone knocked faintly. She refrained from answering, hoping the person would leave, but the knock sounded again.

“Who is it?” Alexandra asked through the door.

“It’s the hostess,” a sweet voice responded. “I have your dinner menu.”

Alexandra knew she should not open the door, but asking the hostess to leave felt absurd.
Could this be a setup?
she wondered. Then, knowing the action was foolish, she slowly unbolted and opened the door.

Her heart raced as she peered out. Standing in the corridor was a young woman in her late teens. She offered a menu to Alexandra with a delicate hand and instructed that dinner selections should be made no later than five p.m. for private dining. “Or you may have dinner in the main cabin,” she announced politely.

“
Gracias
,” Alexandra responded, accepting the menu. “I’ll speak with my husband.” As the hostess continued to the next cabin, Alexandra closed and secured the door. Still shaky, she returned to the bed and examined the menu.

Again, a knock vibrated the cabin. But before she had a chance to ask who was there, Rico announced, “Alexandra, open up. It’s me.” The ferry started to move as she opened the door.

“Where have you been?” she asked.

“I stood on the deck and watched while the other passengers boarded. It looks like we’re in for a quiet trip.”

“It also looks like we might be in for an enjoyable dinner.” She showed him the menu. “I can’t believe how many selections they have. This doesn’t look like my idea of typical ferry food.”

“Where did you get this?” Rico eyed her suspiciously.

“I know, I know, and I’m sorry. But the girl sounded so nice through the door,” Alexandra said.

“Alexandra, you must listen to me,” Rico said firmly. “When I tell you not to open the door, do not open the door! We’re not playing a game here. That girl could have been a setup. Santiago’s men would have no problem paying someone to sound nice through the door!”

Her eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry,” her voice quivered as she spoke.

Rico’s expression softened, and he held her closely. “No, I’m sorry I snapped. All I want is to get you home safely. Crap, I want to get home too. It’s been a long couple of years.”

Without speaking, Alexandra looked down, and Rico lifted her chin. “Let’s not blow this, okay? Can you hang on for just a while longer?”

Alexandra nodded, then pulled off her baseball cap to rest her head against the security of his chest. She fought hard to keep from crying, determined not to allow her tears to spill. Apologizing for her emotions, she said, “I think I need a good cry.”

“We both do,” Rico responded. “But let’s save it for later.”

“You still love her, don’t you?” she asked.

“I never stopped.”

“Rico, I’m so sorry. All I do is think about myself. You’re the one who has endured all the hardships, and I’ve only been in this for such a short period of time.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be okay. Remember, it’s my job to worry about you. Now,” he said, while pouncing onto the double bed, “let’s take a look at this menu.”

Alexandra sat next to him and reclined on one elbow. “What do you think will happen between the two of you?”

“I don’t know, probably nothing.”

“Why did you break up?”

“She never said. When we were in LA together, things were going great. But when I started working for her brother, suddenly Daniela backed off.”

“Maybe she knows what he does for a living and was upset you would be a part of his world.”

“Not a chance. I mean, she has to suspect her brother is involved in some sort of shady business. After all, he lives in a secluded house surrounded by guards. It doesn’t take a genius to realize something is up. But there is no way Daniela has even the slight idea he’s a killer. If she knew he was a paid assassin, she would have absolutely nothing to do with him. I guarantee it.”

“But you said so yourself. She knows Santiago is into something shady. How can she justify that? Whatever she thinks it is?”

“I don’t know if Daniela justifies it or simply chooses to ignore the truth. Maybe she feels staying in his life will cause her brother to go straight.”

“Maybe,” Alexandra mused. “I know how close my bond is with my brother. If he was in trouble, I would definitely still be there for him.”

“Do you have only the one brother?”

“Yes, his name is Stefano. He’s younger by three years, and I really miss him too. He’s in Europe right now as a postgraduate gift to himself. He’s already been gone for a month and has slightly less than another to go. Our mother insisted he be home in time for Christmas.”

“Does he speak Spanish as well as you?”

Alexandra nodded vigorously. “He speaks Spanish, Italian,
and
French! My brother is kind of a language connoisseur like our father.”

“Like your father?” Rico asked. “I thought your mother was the one who taught you Spanish.”

“She did. Well, they both did. My mother was born and raised in Guadalajara.”

“Guadalajara? That’s where Jon was killed.”

“I know,” Alexandra said solemnly. “Maybe that’s part of the reason it affected me so deeply.”

“You’re probably right. I’m sorry, though. Go on.”

“My father’s family came from France to the United States when he was just a child. But by that time he was already fluent in French, Italian, and Spanish. He then also quickly learned to speak English because all of his playmates spoke it.”

“Where did your parents meet?”

“Believe it or not, they met in Costa Rica. My mother was there on holiday, and my father went for six months as a foreign exchange student. What about you?” Alexandra asked. “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

“Ha, do I?” He laughed. “I have so many I can barely remember their names.”

“How long have you worked for the DEA?”

“Around seven years. I came to work for them straight out of college.”

“Then it must really be hard, you know, leaving your family and going undercover for so long.”

Rico was silent for a few moments. “It is,” he answered quietly. “Plus, it has been especially hard this time.”

“Will you go and see Daniela?” Alexandra asked.

“I don’t know yet. If I do, I’ll have no choice but to be up front with her. That’s the only chance we’ll ever have of making it together.”

“Are you allowed, though? I mean, can you tell her you’re with the DEA?”

“I’m not supposed to, but under the circumstances, Kevin might give me the high sign. At this point, my cover is at risk, and hopefully, Santiago will be locked up for good. Besides, once I testify against him, it will be difficult to conceal my identity.”

“Why will it be difficult?” Alexandra questioned. “I don’t understand what you mean. Won’t your identity be obvious once Santiago sees you on the stand?”

“No, they’ll have me behind a partition, but not to protect me from Santiago. The moment he hears my testimony, he’ll know who’s talking. The shield will only prevent the news media, the jury, and everyone else in the courtroom from recognizing me. But when you think about it, all the precautions are really a joke. The way the communication lines flow through our prison system, my days working undercover will practically be over.”

“Are you okay with that?”

“Yeah.” He paused. “I think so, but I’ll still be a field agent, like Mando and Conner.”

“I’d be scared to testify. Aren’t you?”

“No, I can’t wait to nail the guy. The hardest part for me, though, will be talking about my involvement with Jon Dawkins.”

“You were there?” Alexandra bolted upright.

“Yes, and I know what you’re thinking,” Rico murmured. “Trust me, if I’d known Santiago rigged the car, I would have immediately blown my cover to save Jon. He was a friend.”

“Oh, Rico, I am so sorry you had to go through that. What a horrible experience!”