Sighing loudly, Delta turned from the surf and found Flora standing a few feet away.
“Find it?”
Delta grinned. “Yes, thank you Flora. How’d you get so smart all the way out here?”
“American school. Papa say English important soon.”
“So you were an exchange student and then you came home?”
“Sí. Ten months I go school. Come home.”
Delta wondered what future there was for a young woman on a tiny island in the Caribbean.
“Did you like the U.S.?”
Flora’s face brightened. “Oh, yes. So much to do!”
“What would you do if you could go back?”
“Go to college. Be farmaceuta.”
Delta was taken aback by her answer, until she remembered watching Flora carefully pluck the various herbs, barks, leaves, and roots as her grandmother continued with her lesson. “I see. Think you’ll ever make it back?”
Flora heaved a sigh and stared out at the surf. “I must belief. It is all I have.”
Nodding, Delta took her hand and walked back to the boat. “Sometimes, sweetie, it’s all any of us have.”
“I believe, my love, that you have been hiding something in your sleeve.” Gina flopped down on the bed and waited for Connie’s response. “I’ve seen that look in your eyes, and I want to know what rabbit you’re trying to pull out of the computer. Who are you trying to track down?”
Picking up the phone, Connie winked at her lover. “It’s scary how well you know me.” After dialing, Connie waited for what seemed an eternity before making a connection. She then spoke Spanish to a variety of people. Finally, the voice on the other end was the one Connie had been waiting for.
“Bueno?” came the voice.
“Hi. This is Connie Rivera, Delta’s friend,” Connie said, reverting back to English.
“How’d you get this number?” The voice didn’t sound suspicious as much as it sounded curious.
“Not important. Delta’s in trouble. Big trouble. We could use your… expertise.”
The voice did not miss a beat. “I can be on the next plane out of Brazil and be there in thirteen or fourteen hours.”
“Actually, we’re in your neck of the woods. Central America.”
“Then make it four. I’ll get a private charter. How can I reach you?”
Connie gave her number, her email address, and the address of the hotel.
“Anything else?” the voice asked with concern.
“Bring your equipment. Have you ever been in the jungle?”
“I live in Brazil, Connie, what do you think? Of course I’ve been in the jungle.”
“Well, be ready to go deeper into the jungle than just Club Med, because we have a feeling she may be trying to make her way back to a village.”
“You think?” The voice asked. “Is she all right?”
“We don’t know. Just hurry.”
“Gotcha. Ciao.”
Hanging up the phone, Connie pulled from her pocket a lavender card that she had snagged off Delta’s desk moments before they headed to Costa Rica. The card had a picture of Mrs. Emma Peale from the 1960s show The Avengers on the front. However, it was the note on the inside that had made Connie pocket the card. Call it a premonition, call it intuition. Whatever it was called, Connie had managed to track down the only person she knew who could get in and out of anywhere without detection.
“Who on earth was that?” Gina asked.
Connie smiled mysteriously. “Someone I had the feeling we would need someday.”
Gina shook her head. “Is there no end to the connections you have?”
Connie grinned. “Suffice it to say, Delta… affected this woman to such a degree that I had no doubt she’d come running as soon as she received my SOS.”
Gina’s eyebrows rose. “Don’t tell me you called her?”
Connie nodded. “I most certainly did.”
“Did someone here send out an SOS?” asked a petite woman with a black punk haircut. She was wearing dark sunglasses and was draped in a beautiful, flowing peach-colored silk jumpsuit.
Connie opened wide the door of the hotel room. “You made great time.”
“It sounded urgent.”
Connie stepped aside so the woman could enter as Gina walked into the room from the bathroom. “It is very urgent.” As the woman strode through the door, Connie shook her head. “Traded your leather jumpsuits in for silk, I see.”
“The weather dictates my attire, Connie.” The woman bowed elegantly. “I still owe you for that sweep kick, you know.”
Connie laughed. “In your dreams, sweetpea.”
For a moment, there was an awkward silence, broken the second Carducci walked into the room.
“You!” Carducci cried, stopping short.
“Hi, big boy. I’ve come to bail your partner out of yet another mess.”
Carducci looked over at Connie, his face pleading for an explanation.
“We need someone skilled at getting in and out of high places undetected, Carducci. You and I both know Taylor is the best.”
Taylor grinned over at Connie. “Thanks. I retired as a jewel thief, Tony, but when Connie called and said Delta needed help, I dropped everything and flew up here. This time, we’re on the same side.”
Gina moved next to Connie. “So, this is the rabbit you pulled out of your hat?”
Connie shrugged. “Had to. If we’re going to get Delta and the rest of us out of here alive, we’re going to need the best of the best. Taylor has gotten into some of the most secure museums and private residences in the world without being detected, and she’s amassed a fortune doing so. She’s beaten every known surveillance system, from heat sensors to infrared lights. If anyone can get in and out of Zahn’s camp, it’s her.”
Taylor shrugged. “Museum, house, jungle, hell, they’re all the same to me. Point me to this Zahn’s place, and we’re as good as in.”
Carducci looked at Connie and then put his hand out for Taylor. “Gad to have you on board, Taylor.”
Taylor took Carducci’s hand. “Anything for Delta, right?”
Carducci nodded. “Apparently.”
Gina slid over to Connie and said softly, “Does Megan know?”
“Know what?”
“Does she know you called Taylor in?”
Connie shook her head. “Not yet.”
“Oh, that’s just great.”
“What’s great?” Megan asked, walking through the door with a bag of groceries.
Everyone turned, but no one said a word, as Megan closed the door behind her and set the bag on the dresser. “Who are you?” she asked Taylor before cutting her eyes over to Connie.
“This is Taylor. I’ve called her in to help us get into Zahn’s camp for the hostages, and to help us find Delta.”
Megan nodded. “Help? That’s great. What’s your specialty?”
Taylor grinned. “I go where no woman has gone before. I’m a… I was a jewel thief in another life. I used to scale tall buildings in a single bounce. Connie thinks you could use my help.”
Megan shot Connie a look of surprise before eyeing Taylor up and down. “You must be good, or Connie wouldn’t have wasted the quarter.”
Taylor grinned and shrugged. “Yeah. If my bank accounts mean anything, I’m pretty good.”
Megan nodded. “Excellent. Welcome. I’m Megan, Delta’s lover.” Megan extended a hand to Taylor, who looked over at Connie before taking it firmly in her own and shaking it.
“Good to finally meet you,” Taylor said. “Delta is sure crazy about you.”
Megan’s face was a question mark. “How is it you know Delta?”
Carducci coughed. “Taylor… uh… well, she sorta… well… bested us back home.”
This made Megan chuckle. “You bested Delta? My, my, you must be good.”
Taylor shrugged again. “Not good enough to get the gem I really wanted, but maybe some other time.”
“Oh?
What gem was that?” Megan asked, but Connie stepped in between the two women. It served no purpose to explain to Megan that the “gem” Taylor was referring to was Delta, and though Connie never felt like she had gotten the whole story about a certain late night visit Delta had received from the precocious jewel thief, she knew that now was not the time to deal with any of those issues.
“We can get to know Taylor more later. Right now, there’s work to be done. I say we grab dinner and discuss where we need to be at this time tomorrow.”
When everyone found that agreeable, they all trooped downstairs, except for Connie, who grabbed Taylor’s arm as they started from the room.
“I really am glad you came. I appreciate it more than you know.”
Taylor grinned. “I wouldn’t have missed it.”
Connie nodded. “Look, I don’t know what happened between you and Delta, but you’re not just here because Delta’s your friend, are you?”
Taylor’s eyes narrowed. “Does it matter why I’m here, Connie?”
“It does to that blonde who is scared to death she may never see Delta again. I just don’t want to add any more pain to her already scarred heart. She doesn’t deserve that.”
Taylor grinned and patted Connie’s shoulder. “I’m here because the world needs Delta Stevens plain and simple. You said I was the best of the best, but you were wrong. Delta is. Do I have feelings for her? Frankly, that’s none of your business. Don’t worry. I have no intentions of adding insult to the injury already in Megan’s heart.”
Connie inhaled slowly. “I’d appreciate that, Taylor. Really I would.”
Taylor stepped closer to Connie and laid her hand on Connie’s shoulder. “We all love her. Isn’t that good enough?”
Nodding, Connie started down the stairs. “It sure the hell is for me. Thanks.”
Taylor stopped at the third step before the lobby. “That’s not to say that I wouldn’t grab her if I had the chance, but you know as well as I do that Megan is all she sees, all she wants. I mean, Megan’s why she’s here in the first place, right?”
Connie nodded. “Yes. Megan is Delta’s heart and soul, and I don’t know that Delta could stand losing her.”
Taylor looked at Connie hard and slowly shook her head. “Who are you trying to fool? Megan may be a lot of things to Delta, but heart and soul? Don’t those positions belong to you?” Taylor held up her hand to stop Connie’s response. “Don’t answer. It was a rhetorical question. Come on. I’m starving.”
Sitting around the dinner table, the seven people spoke in rapid whispers about the endless possibilities they could run into and how to handle each when a small, dark-haired man approached the table with two governmental types on either side of him.
“Manny!” Connie cried when she looked up and saw him. “How are you here?”
Manny shook his head slowly. “My family are fast healers and I had a great doctor.”
“Please, have a seat.”
“This is not a pleasure call, I’m afraid.”
Connie, Josh, and Sal exchanged looks. Manny had escorted Delta into the jungle, where he was eventually shot. Josh had carried him all the way back through the jungle to a nearby hospital a week ago. They would have thought he’d be a little more pleasant upon seeing them again. They had, after all, saved his life.
“If not pleasure,” Josh growled, “Then this must mean business.”
Manny pulled a chair over and addressed Connie even though it was Megan who was at the head of the table.
“There’s no easy way to say this, Connie,” Manny said, offering official identification. “I’m an agent for the DEA.”
“I knew it!” Sal cried, slamming her hand down on the table. Then, to Josh, “I told you his English got better as we went along.”
“Aw, shit,” Josh muttered, shaking his head. “Like we fuckin’ need this right now.”
“What does that mean to us?” Connie asked, folding her arms across her chest.
Manny looked around and lowered his voice when he spoke. “We’ve suspected General Zahn of running drugs, kidnapping, and murder for quite some time. When Delta came to town looking for Megan, I never dreamed she would actually find her.”
“Then, you knew where Megan was all along?” Connie’s voice went cold and hard.
“Oh no,” Manny answered quickly. “We suspected Zahn had gone underground. No one thought he’d actually engage in slave labor.”
Sal snorted, “Oh, this guy’s for real, here. Yeah, the guy is a butcher, a thief, and a drug czar, but boy were we surprised he would condone slavery! Get real.”
Manny glared at Sal before returning his attention to Connie. “I’m afraid that’s what I’m trying to do here. You see, I know you want to go after Delta…”
“And we are,” Carducci interrupted, rising from the table. As he did, both government men went for their guns.
“There’s no need for that, gentlemen,” Manny said, stopping his men from drawing down on Carducci. “But, I’m afraid I can’t let you do that.”
“What do you mean, can’t let?” Connie asked coldly. She gave Carducci a look that told him to take his seat, and he did so, never taking his eyes off the other two men. Several other patrons at the bar slid from their chairs and disappeared outside as the tension started building.
Manny leaned forward, his voice a hushed whisper. “I’ve seen what you people are capable of, Connie. Whatever your plans are, I’m sure you’ll see them through, and I can’t allow that to happen.”
“So, the problem is what?” This was almost her worst nightmare come to pass. If the government guys got involved, they could ship them all out, or even send them to jail if they so desired. The rules were much different than those they played by in the states, and Connie realized Manny could stop them before they even got started.
“We don’t want Zahn touched right now.”
Connie’s jaw dropped.
Megan’s hands formed into fists.
Josh dove across the table and grabbed Manny by the front of his shirt and dragged him clear across the table, sending cups of coffee and dessert plates clattering to the floor.
“I saved your life, you little piece of shit. Don’t come in here telling us what we can and cannot do, you son of a bitch. I should…”
This time, the two government men actually drew their weapons and pointed them at Josh’s head. He never took his furious eyes off Manny.
“You got some kinda balls, little man, you know that?” Josh held his face to within inches of Manny’s, ignoring the two automatics pointed at his face. “I dragged your sorry ass through that fuckin’ jungle, and you think you’re gonna just waltz in here and tell us to go home? You owe us!”
“Josh,” Sal whispered, lightly touching his arm as she eyed the guns. “Please put him down.”
“Oh, I’ll put him down, all right, and then I’ll mash him into the ground with the heel of my boot like the little cocksucker he is.” Shoving Manny backwards, Josh also pushed both silver barrels out of his way as if they were toys. “It’d take better men than you two fuckers to whack me. Get outta my way before I kill you both.”
The two men looked to Manny for direction, but retrained their weapons back on Josh. The remaining patrons scooted out the doors.
Manny straightened his shirt and tie. His face was tinted pink. Taylor leaned over to him and whispered, “Next time, think about a clip-on; they’re safer.”
Manny motioned for his men to holster their weapons. “I figured you would be difficult.” Reaching into his inner blazer pocket, Manny withdrew a foot-long white envelope.
“Here are seven tickets to LAX. Either cooperate and fly out of here in the next three days, or I’ll have you all thrown in jail. Ever seen a Central American jail?”
“Ever seen our blood all over the pavement?” Josh loomed closer, waiting to strike.
Connie held her hand up against his barrel chest. “No, we haven’t, and no, we don’t intend to.”
Megan stepped up to Manny. He was a good six inches shorter than she was, and she could smell an abundance of some kind of cheap cologne. “Your operation and whatever gains you hope to make are nothing compared to the lives we’re trying to save. Shouldn’t you be trying to do the same?”
Manny inhaled slowly and then sighed, running his hand through his short black hair. “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. I’m afraid that’s how these things are looked at.”
“Then you can go to hell, Manny,” Sal tossed out. “These few have no fucking intention of worrying about the needs of the many. God, I can’t fucking believe this shit! We shoulda left you to die in there.”
Manny blushed a deeper red. “I didn’t expect you to understand. Look, we’ll get Zahn, but there are other things to consider. You’ll only wind up either getting in the way or getting hurt.”
Everyone looked at Connie, who was glaring openly at him. “You’re not leaving us much choice, are you?”
Manny shook his head. He clearly wasn’t enjoying this. “Just to make sure we understand each other, these two gentlemen will watch your doors. You Americans are far more resourceful than our intelligence would indicate.”
“What we understand,” Carducci said, leaning closer, “Is that you’re putting us under house arrest.”
“If that’s what you’d prefer to call it, yes.”
“For three days,” Gina added.
Manny nodded, looking at her belly. “You people must be crazy to drag a pregnant woman through the rainforest. What is wrong with all of you?”
Josh gulped back his anger so loudly that everyone at the table heard it.
Taylor rose and faced Manny. “We have a saying in the states about riding a Harley Davidson. When people ask us why, we simply say, ‘If we have to explain it to you, you wouldn’t understand.”
“What I ‘understand’ is that you’re all loco. Going back in after Zahn would be the death of you. You caught him unaware once. You won’t do so again.”
Storm Surge (Delta Stevens Crime Logs Book 6) Page 6