Ethan said, “You want me to swing by and pick it up?”
Sam turned his attention from a car wash to Ethan. “Pick what up?”
“A hooker for the ride.” sniped Ethan, rolling his eyes. “The labyrinth key I stole from Syria, Sam. What else?”
Sam shook his head, ignoring the quip. “Probably best to leave it wherever it is for now. Safer. Don’t need to invite more trouble than we’ve already got. It’s safe, where you have it hidden, right?”
“It’s safe,” Ethan confirmed.
“Good.”
Ethan continued to drive in silence for a few minutes.
“So that’d be a no on the girl?” Ethan flashed a quick grin, and Sam had to laugh.
It was clear Ethan knew these roads and that he’d made this drive many times. When Sam started to recognize the signage, he kept his mouth shut, but was surprised. When they crossed the Potomac and into Washington D.C., Sam asked “Capital man?”
Ethan glanced at him. “How do you know it’s a man?”
Sam considered. “Fair point.”
They drove in silence a while, emerging from the suburbs and heading toward the center of town via a maze of streets that made Sam glad he wasn’t driving for a change. He’d had enough of taking the wheel after yesterday.
“It is, though.” Ethan spoke as if revealing some kind of truth, the tone of someone who’s made up his mind to trust. He’d been quiet the entire ride and Sam wondered if that was what he’d been wrestling with. He wondered what Ethan had come from that made him wake up with karate moves in the middle of the night and that taking enemy fire came easier than having faith in his fellow man.
He’d lost Sam, though. “It is, what?”
“A man.” Ethan kept his eyes on the road and made a careful turn across traffic. He shot Sam a glance from the corner of his eye as they stalled at a light. “You’ve actually almost met him.” He tapped the wheel and cruised forward as the light changed. “Josh Rowe. He was there that morning back in Rhyolite…”
Sam swallowed and shifted his body weight, somehow uncomfortable in the seat. “Any chance he might recognize me?”
“Not a chance in hell.”
Sam’s eyes narrowed. “You’re sure?”
“Certain. He left as soon as the shooting started.”
“Smart man.”
Ethan laughed. “Yeah. I’m the idiot that stayed.”
Sam said, “And how exactly do you know that your friend is connected to the collector?”
“Josh knows everyone.” Ethan shrugged, checking street signs and the rearview mirror. “He’s a lawyer,” Ethan said, as though that explained everything.
He caught Sam’s face as they swung into a wide boulevard and Sam began to recognize the corporate, slick side of town. “He’s a good man,” Ethan hastily added. “Don’t worry. He’s just got a colorful past.”
Sam nodded dubiously. Didn’t they all? “In what way?”
Ethan sighed, relenting, but didn’t take his eyes from the road as he said, “Josh got involved with a drug lord from the Black Muerte Cartel.”
Sam raised his eyebrows but said nothing.
Ethan’s brow furrowed in loyalty. “Don’t,” he said. “I know what you’re thinking, but it’s not like that. He got involved with the cartel because his little sister developed a drug habit. They hooked her in because she was pretty and lonely and, well, people can do some really stupid things sometimes.”
“It happens,” Sam acknowledged, his voice level, noncommittal and not judging.
Ethan took one hand off the wheel to run it through his buzz cut and fix his collar. “In this case, it turned into a habit she couldn’t afford.” His voice turned bitter, and Sam wasn’t entirely sure who the rancor was for. “It always does, doesn’t it? In the end, she ended up having to work for them to pay her bills. And once that happened, they owned her.” He shifted his shoulders, but his meaning was clear.
Sam faced him head on. “Is she still hooked?”
Ethan sounded surprised. “On heroin? No. She got clean.” There was more pride in his voice than his friend’s kid sister warranted, Sam thought. “But just because she stopped using doesn’t mean she can leave when she wants. They’ve got her, now. She knows too much. And she’s useful to them. She’s had to be, to survive.”
He glanced at Sam as if begging him to understand. “That’s how Josh got involved with working for them. He can keep tabs on his sister, maybe help her out. He’s a lawyer – always good to have in your back pocket if you’re on the wrong side of the law, and he’s good at his job; makes himself useful, works the angles to get them to owe him favors, make himself indispensable. He’s hoping he’ll be able to get her out one of these days. Pull enough strings, and maybe you get somewhere, right?”
“Yeah, he sounds like a decent guy.”
Ethan rounded on him in fury. “Yeah, and since when were you a saint? Mr. Harvard or wherever the hell you went to school on daddy’s dime. You think that people just step into life without mud on their shoes?”
Sam raised his brows. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.”
Ethan’s fury morphed to sullenness. “You do what you want. I’m not going to pretend I didn’t say it.”
Sam held up his hands. “Hey! I’m not trying to judge. I’ve known my share of men in dire straits.” Hell. He’d been in dire straits. “Family is family. And friends are friends. And I did mean it, you know—it sounds like a more noble cause than just winning cases to get rich and buy new cars.”
“He’s good at that, too.” Ethan grinned, despite himself. “And if you can say one thing about the cartel, they do pay well.”
Sam grinned too and the mood lightened. “Maybe you and I should apply. We’ve got the dispatch arm taken care of already.”
Ethan sounded surprised to laugh with him. When he spoke again it was a little easier. Sam felt he’d taken the chance to be vulnerable and it had paid off. He hoped the other man would trust him a little more easily in the future. Trust streamlined things, so he’d take it. They were going to need all the help they could get.
“Nah, I don’t think it’s a good idea. But I’m thinking there might be a vacancy soon.” At Sam’s raised brow, he shrugged. “See, that’s why I figured there was some connection to your collector or whatever. He called me a few days ago to say hey, grab a beer someday, we should celebrate! So I asked him why. He said his sister had just finished a big job in Paris and they’d been really pleased. Said she’d mentioned it’d been the second part of her operation, or something like that, but that she only had ‘two more’ to go and that if successful, they might talk about her release.”
“That is great!” Sam kept his voice light though; in his experience the cartel didn’t just ‘release’ assets, nor that easily when it was someone who’d been privy to their inner workings. He expected that when, or if, she did get out, she’d have to set up quite a different life than she’d had to date—if she wanted to keep on living for any length of time.
Ethan grinned a broad, genuine smile, though worry lurked in his eyes. Sam thought he knew what a risky move it’d be. “Actually, she wants to be a circus performer. But not just in any circus; she wants to be part of something really special. As in Cirque Du Soleil kind of special.”
“She any good?”
Ethan’s smile flared a hundred watts. “She’s amazing. You’d never think someone that small could pack that much power. She moves through the air like she’s moving through water. Immune to gravity. Just… weightless. Free.”
Something clicked. “Ethan,” Sam said. “Your friend’s sister wasn’t SCUBA diving in the Yucatan, recently, was she?”
“What?” Ethan blinked at the non-sequitur. “I don’t know – Josh didn’t mention anything like that. It wouldn’t surprise me, though. I know she’s one hell of a diver. Did all kinds of training here in D.C., then went down to Mexico to take some on-site courses specific to cave diving.”
Sam shook his head. “There can’t be that many cartel-working cave divers with the body of a dancer. It’s more than likely the same person who stole the key hidden in Xibalba.” He glanced at Ethan. “If they’re trusting her with this mission, she must be in pretty deep.”
Ethan’s chin came up, a hardness in the set of his jaw. He kept his eyes on the road, but his voice was steady and sure. “She’s a good person. She deserves to be free.”
Sam looked at him with curiosity. “You sound like you have a soft spot for her.”
Ethan shrugged. “She’s my best friend’s sister. I’ve known her since I was a kid and, yes, I’ve loved her a long time.”
“Childhood sweethearts, hey?”
Ethan shook his head. “No. She hated my guts when we were kids.”
Sam smiled. “Is that so? Why?”
“To be honest, because I wasn’t the nicest of kids. My father beat me and I took that out on just about anyone around me, including my friend’s little kid sister.”
“So, what changed?”
“I got the shit kicked out of me by a bigger kid, and a stranger saved my life. After some reflection, I decided I wanted to be that stranger instead of the bully. That’s why I joined the Navy SEALS. I wanted to help protect those who couldn’t protect themselves.”
“And the girl?”
Ethan grinned. “She grew up and as time went on, she and I seemed to have more in common than she and her brother.”
Sam watched him levelly. “That sounds… complicated.”
Ethan shrugged. “Not really.”
“Man. You’re dating your best friend’s sister. Tell me how that’s not complicated even if she wasn’t working for the cartel?”
Finally, Ethan laughed. “Yeah, okay. It’s not ideal. And he doesn’t know. We’re going to tell him, but first we need to get her out of there. If he knew, and they knew he knew…” His eyes dimmed. “I’ve seen what people do for leverage. No one knows. And no one can know if she’s going to stay safe.” He turned to Sam, gaze sharp and piercing, suddenly furious. “The boss would execute her if she escapes. He’d track her down and… she’s told me stories of what he’d do to her.”
“Terrible?”
“No.” Ethan’s face went flat. “She didn’t make it sound that bad. That’s how I know.”
They drove in silence for a while.
Ethan turned to him and burst out. “Sam. I don’t know what the hell you’re doing here, or why I met you that day in Nevada, but Mia’s in there, she’s stuck with these people trying to kill us, and she doesn’t deserve to be. Josh and I we’re doing our best, but we’re just not that well connected. But you know something about these men we don’t know. Otherwise they wouldn’t have been after you. You scare them. That’s good. Maybe with your help, we can end this, once and for all.”
Sam watched the gleaming buildings spin by. “Let me ask you something. The cartel boss. What does he look like? Do you know?”
Ethan shook his head. “Nothing really. Mia just said he goes by the name of…”
“Carlos Gonzalez.”
Ethan turned to him surprised. “Yeah, actually. How did you know?”
Sam’s mouth tightened in the memory of vengeance as something clicked into place that had been missing for fifteen years. “Because Carlos Gonzalez ordered President Harris killed after he discovered that I had found one of the Labyrinth Keys.”
Chapter Fifty-Two
Sam watched as they passed through the city center and headed toward a bustling, chic neighborhood full of activists in crocs and secretaries in suits. Everyone glued to their phones. The summer air fanned his hair through the crack in the window.
Now Sam raised his brows as Ethan slowed down and cruised for a parking spot. “We’ve been trolling these streets for twenty minutes, Ethan.” He glanced at the clock, the sun that was now noticeably higher in the sky. “You sure this is where Josh wanted to meet us?” The sidewalk was packed with morning commuters and tourists eager to experience the nation’s capital and they weren’t budging an inch.
“Yep,” Ethan replied as he peered out the window, then slowed to a stop as a sedan in front of them flashed its taillights, preparing to pull away from the curb. “There’s no way anyone is going to pay attention to a few more people here. The worst that could happen is that someone's going to think we’re meeting with a man on his morning coffee break.”
Sam had to admit that there was a good chance they wouldn’t be noticed in the crowd. His stomach growled and he wondered if they’d get some breakfast.
Ethan raised a hand out the window to signal to a dump truck waiting behind him and slid into the parking spot with his bad-ass car like a pro. He slapped his pockets as the engine died, checked the console, then glanced at Sam. “You got money for the meter?”
Sam hopped out of the car and shut the door gently. He dug in his pockets and pulled out some change. He slid the quarters into the meter and the little ticker swung to half an hour. Sam shook his head. Two dollars of quarters for thirty minutes. He hoped this meeting was going to be quick. “Next one’s on you, man,” he said, putting his remaining change back in his pocket. “You ready to go?”
Ethan was already on the street. “Come on.”
Sam started after him but turned and looked ruefully at the car. He knew that he would probably be back, but he did love that car.
Ethan noticed Sam’s glance from the curb. He grinned. “Nice, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.” Sam started out of his trance. “Someday you’ll have to tell me how you wound up with it. So. Anyway. What about this friend of yours? Where is he?”
Ethan pointed across the street toward a busy Cuban cafe. Quaint iron tables outside the café were packed with tourists and Sam couldn’t see anyone who looked familiar. Sam squinted, but still saw no one. Ethan raised an arm in a wave and finally Sam saw one of the men sitting alone raise a hand in acknowledgment. He put a finger in the book he was reading and sipped his coffee with a grin.
Sam started walking, then stalled when he felt Ethan’s grip on his elbow. He turned. “Keep your eyes open,” Ethan said, glancing around. “We have no way of knowing what we’re getting into.”
That was for damn sure. Sam nodded and straightened his shoulders and let Ethan take the lead as they crossed the street.
Ethan grinned as they reached the table. “Starting early?”
Josh laughed and toasted him with his coffee cup. “Busy morning, my man. Cracked ten skulls already and it’s not even noon.”
Sam watched unnoticed as the two men caught up. Ethan’s friend Josh wasn’t that tall of a man, even seated, but he carried himself with the assurance of someone used to getting out of sticky situations, one way or another. It was a good quality in a lawyer, even if it did make him feel a bit slippery. Then again, Sam reflected, slippery was probably a good quality to have when you were trying to double-cross the most powerful cartel in North America to rescue your sister.
He extended his hand with a polite smile.
“Hey, you must be Josh. I’m Sam…”
“I know who you are.” Josh interrupted his introduction with another grin and shook his hand firmly. “Ethan told me.” He gestured at the table and snagged a chair from nearby. “Mind if we use this?” The chair shrieked as he pulled it close. Knew I was coming, but couldn’t get the chair before now?
Sam ignored his annoyance and took the offered seat. “So, you know why we’re here?”
Josh turned his gaze to Sam. It was the sharp, assertive gaze of a politician or a playground bully. Sam was generally unbothered by anyone else, but he couldn’t help but feel dirty as Josh inspected him. It put him on guard, and he wondered what the hell Ethan had gotten them into. But if this man had information about the keys and how to get them, then it was a necessary evil.
Lots of things were necessary evils.
Just as Sam was about to say something, Josh steepled his hands and leaned back in his seat. “Yeah
, I know why you’re here.”
Sam wondered why Ethan had suddenly gone so quiet. “And?”
“It’s impossible.”
Sam fought to keep himself under control. He wanted to punch this slick man in the face.
“It’s impossible? You like to waste people’s time, don’t you?” He shook his head. “You’re a lawyer, you’re paid by the hour. Of course you like to waste people’s time.” He slapped the table and prepared to stand. “We’re done here. If that’s the best you can offer.”
“I’ve been told that you’re in the business of doing the impossible.” Josh regarded him calmly over the Styrofoam cup. Stuck halfway to his feet, Sam looked over at Ethan. Ethan nodded. Sam realized that Josh was just messing with him, gauging him.
“That is my business, yes.” Sam sat back down, tugging at his pants.
“I needed an idea of how committed you are.” Josh eased off. “You have to forgive me. I don’t know anything about you. But Ethan says he trusts you and he doesn’t trust many men.”
Sam glanced at Ethan but Ethan wasn’t looking at him. Josh noticed the look. He nodded. “Because he trusts you, he’ll probably have told you I have a personal investment in how this all plays out.”
“Your sister?”
“Yes.”
They sat in silence in the busy street. Finally, Josh shrugged. “There might be a way. I have some favors I can call in; from people who know some people.”
“What kind of people?”
“People who owe me. They’re good to have.”
Sam narrowed his eyes. “I think that…”
“Sam. If he says they’re good to have, then they’re good to have. He knows how to get what he wants.”
Sam shrugged. “If you say so.”
Josh leaned forward. “You want the Labyrinth Keys, right? We need to get in and get out.”
Sam laughed in disbelief. “Hang on just a second. Ethan says you know where these keys are, but how the hell do I know you really do? Where do you get this information?”
The Labyrinth Key Page 25