Reluctant Smuggler

by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

  “Sounds like a good deal to me.”

  “Then you and I have no further problem. Sit, por favor.” He pointed to a pair of chairs.

  Tony pulled one out for her, and Desi folded herself into it, still more than half tempted to clobber a federal. Then Desi noted a bruise on Peñas jaw that would roughly match the one Tony would show pretty soon. She bit her lip and settled back as her husband sat beside her.

  Agent Peña folded his hands in front of him. “I have decided you are not in league with El Jaguar, Señor Lucano. You left a trail that a child could follow. Using your credit card to rent the snorkeling equipment? Tsk, tsk.” The man put his elbows on the table and steepled his fingers. “However, as to your wife’s part in this business, I am unclear.”

  Desi opened her mouth. Tony’s heel squashed her little toe. She swallowed a yelp.

  “She is equally innocent,” Tony said.

  “Of course.” Peña sat back and smiled.

  Desi sent the Mexican agent a narrow-eyed glare, which he ignored. The man was enjoying himself, and she’d swear off orange soda for life if he didn’t know more than he was letting on, or else he’d insist on interrogating them separately.

  “Por favor.” The federal nodded to Tony. “Give me your version of the story.”

  Tony explained, and Peña grew more and more sober. “So where is Señor Corona?”

  “We don’t know.”

  Peña arched an eyebrow at Desi.

  “I hope Señor Corona is all right. I haven’t seen him since the shooting started. Did you capture Clayton Greybeck?”

  “The husky blond gringo?”

  “Sí. Un bandido americano muy malo.” Desi bared her teeth.

  Peña chuckled and glanced at Tony. “You have your hands full with this one, eh?”

  Tony slipped his arm across her shoulder. “Consider me a fortunate man.”

  They exchanged a guy-grin.

  Should she hug her husband or pay him back a toe-stomp? “Clayton can tell you a great deal about antiquities gone missing.”

  Peña’s eyes widened. “We will question Señor Greybeck most closely.”

  “Clayton deserves your attention. And those poor women next door need to be restored to their families. One of them is American. Juanita, a staff member from the Sanchez household, should get a medal and a well-paid job. Tony and I crave food, clean clothes, baths, and rest—not necessarily in that order. Plus, my husband needs medical treatment. He’s gone through an accident and major surgery, and now he’s been shot and mauled…and punched.”

  Peña nodded and rose. “I will organize matters.” He stepped outside.

  Desi slumped. With adrenaline fading, a nap in her husband’s arms sounded heavenly.

  Tony ruffled her hair. “Actually, Des, I ache all over, could eat a cow and sleep for a year, but I feel good. Strong. Like something’s changed on the inside that makes all the difference. Now I know I’ll make it.”

  “Qualify with your bureau physicals?”

  “Yes, but what I really know is that it doesn’t matter. I can be Tony Lucano with or without ‘Special Agent’ in front of my name.”

  “Supervisory Special Agent. But the only thing that counts with me is that you’re señor to my señora.”

  Tony’s gaze meshed with hers. She read warmth, amusement, and the kind of love that could keep a girl in lifelong tingles. “That’s a forever deal, darlin. You can count on it.”

  EPILOGUE

  Desi fitted tall candles into silver holders on the dining room table. She stepped back and took in the china place settings for two, the sterling silverware, the cloth napkins in silver filigree rings, and the long-stemmed goblets. All wedding and shower presents.

  A rich, tomatoey aroma wafted from the kitchen. Desi’s miled. She didn’t cook like Tony’s mother, but she was getting the hang of a few easy things—like macaroni casserole.

  A firm tread came up the hall, and Tony walked in. “What’s the occasion?”

  “Can’t a wife fix a candlelight dinner for her husband? Or has the honeymoon worn off in three months?”

  He grinned. “Not hardly, babe. I’ll get matches.” He headed for the kitchen.

  Desi watched him move. She could do that all day and be content as a stroked cat. Fresh from the shower after a long workout at the gym, he looked yummier than the dish in the oven. She sniffed the air where he’d passed by. Smelled good too.

  Candles lit, food steaming on the table, they sat down to eat. Tony blessed the meal, and they filled their plates. Desi helped herself to extra carrot sticks but went easy on the salt.

  “Healthy girl,” Tony said.

  “That’s me.” She spread her napkin on her lap. “The office any better today?”

  “Four walls and a desk.”

  Desi laughed. “That bad, huh?”

  “At least I’m in the door.” He tucked a bite into his mouth. “This is good, babe.”

  “Glad to hear it.”

  “Another thing you’ll be glad to hear. Today, I nailed down a few loose ends on the case against those guys we arrested in the hold of that smuggling ship, and I suddenly realized what El Jaguars girlfriend, Angelina Hernández, was carrying down that gangplank.”

  “What?” Desi’s ipped mineral water from her goblet.

  “What major item is unaccounted for among the antiquities taken by Clayton Greybeck?”

  Desi sucked in a breath. “The crown of Pakal? But why bring it to Boston?”

  “That’s what I asked myself. I had Dell do a little electronic trolling to find out who might have been in town at the time with an interest in such an item for collateral in a drug deal. Turns out one of the big we-know-it-but-cant-prove-it guys from a Brazilian cartel was here for a political conference on U.S.-South American relations, of all things. I took the findings to Bernard Cooke, and he authorized a dive operation. They start tomorrow.”

  “The crown is heavy. It would have sunk and stayed put. This is awesome. Great job, hon. The people of Mexico will be thrilled if we can return one of their best treasures.”

  “Yeah.” Tony frowned.

  “Oh, sweetheart. I know you’d love to be on site when they find it. I’m aching for you to get back out into the field too. Have they scheduled your fitness exams?”

  “Three weeks.”

  Desi laid down her fork. “Already?”

  Tony stared at his plate, lips compressed.

  “Don’t you think you’ll pass?”

  He quirked a smile. “I’ll pass. Im the one who asked for soonest possible.”

  “Then why the ‘I don’t know how to tell Desi this’ look?”

  “I’ll be tested at Quantico, and then they want me to stay there.”

  “In Virginia? But what about your supervisor position here?”

  “Polanski does an all-star job. It’s not fair the way she’s had to step up, then step down.”

  Desi crunched a carrot between her teeth. “So we’re moving. I get that, but that’s not what bugs me.”

  “It’s not? I thought—”

  “Don’t assume, buster. First rule of marriage. Well, one of the first rules. I’m about ready to march into the ASAC’s office and set him straight. You deserve a promotion, not a demotion.”

  Tony tilted his head back and laughed. “It’s not a demotion, Des. Though I’d like to be a fly on the wall when you give the assistant special agent in charge a piece of your mind.” He leaned forward. “They want me to teach martial arts and organized crime classes for a year. Then the hint is I’ll be transferred a few miles north.”

  Desi screamed and clapped a hand over her mouth.

  He nodded. “D.C. office. A supervisor is rearing from the Art Crime Team. I might fit pretty well there, eh? Especially with my own private art consultant wearing my wedding band.”

  She leaped up and threw her arms around his neck. He drew her onto his lap. “Congratulations, Mr. Capital-of-the-U.S. Agent. And while you teach all those
eager young recruits at Quantico, I’ll transform the Washington HJ Securities office into the headquarters.”

  “Is that going to cause a problem for you and Max?”

  She kissed him and smiled. “Maxine Webb is my dearest friend, and shell have the option to work out of the Boston office, which will remain open, or out of Washington. Of course, I want her close to me, but she has her husband to think about in a Massachusetts prison. I suspect shell choose Boston, and she and I will keep on being as close as sisters.”

  “Speaking of relatives,” Tony said, “do you remember what I told you about the Lucano kid in California who wants to be an agent?”

  “The young man in a wheelchair?”

  “I took your advice and e-mailed him the facts about qualifying as an agent. Didn’t deter him a bit. In fact, an amazing thing happened. His mom called me today. Her son has improved markedly, and she thinks it’s because he has a concrete goal.”

  “Like you do with your physical training?”

  “Right. They want to bring him out here for a tour of the bureau office. I told them to come ahead. Is that all right?”

  “That’s wonderful.”

  “For my fractured family, it’s a huge step. For the first time I’ve got a little hope that my moms dream of reconciliation will happen.”

  “Believe it.” Desi hopped off his lap. “But you’re not the only one with news.” From the counter, she picked up a small box stamped “Mexico City.”

  Brow furrowed, Tony lifted the lid. “Your medallion.”

  “A replica. The Corona family is keeping the original, and they’re burying the woman’s remains found in New Mexico, even though she’s actually a Sanchez and not a blood relative.”

  “Good.” Tony set the box on the table, and the faux emeralds twinkled in the candlelight.

  Desi sighed. “I still think about Señor Corona.”

  “I’m glad they found his body.”

  “Injured as he was…to try to ride through the jungle on a mule to get help.” Desi wallowed a lump. “He reminds me of you.”

  “Why? I don’t have a mustache.”

  “Oh, you!” She swatted his arm. “And they haven’t declared you a national hero either, though they should. Pretty ironic, huh?” “That I haven’t got a medal?”

  “That Señor Corona gets the honor Vidal schemed and murdered to get for himself.”

  “Pretty sharp there, darlin. Must be why I married you.”

  “One of many reasons. Besides, you kinda like me.”

  “Theres that.” Tony pulled her close. “How about we leave the dishes?”

  She wiggled out of his arms and sashayed toward the living room. “One more surprise, sweetheart. You’ll like it.”

  “Lead on, babe.”

  She took a DVD case from the coffee table and handed it to him.

  “A classic movie? That’s no surprise, coming from you.”

  “Not just any classic movie. It’s a Wonderful Life!”

  Tony laughed. “That’s a Christmas show. It’s June.”

  “So? I don’t intend for us to watch the whole thing. Just a teensy part.” Desi clicked on the television, and then settled on the sofa. Tony draped an arm around her and drew her head to his shoulder. She found the scene she wanted and pushed Play.

  Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey walks into the bedroom of his home in Bedford Falls. His wife, Mary, played by Donna Reed, is in bed, apparently asleep. Shoulders slumped, George removes his tie as he looks at a picture drawn by Mary before they were husband and wife. The caption says “George Lassos the Moon” and shows a man holding a rope tied around the moon. Frowning, George starts unbuttoning his shirt. Mary sits up, too perky to have been asleep. The couple exchanges a few words, and then Mary puts her face close to her husband and announces, “George lassos stork.” Flummoxed, Stewart delivers his classic stammering? and then—

  Desi’s topped the movie with Georges mouth hanging open. “Do you remember what he says next?”

  “Sorry. You’ll have to let me hear it.”

  Desi pushed the button.

  Georges big-eyed amazement continues with an exclamation. “Mary, are you on the nest?” She bobs her head like a regal bird “Mm-hmm.”

  Desi froze the picture. Next to her, Tony had ceased to breathe. She snuck a peek at his face. His mouth had flopped open big enough to fit an ostrich egg.

  A slow smile grew. “Desi, are you on the nest?”

  She bobbed her head. “Wont Mama Gina be thrilled? With a grand-baby coming, I know she’ll want to relocate to whatever city we—” Tony’s whoop about cracked her eardrums. “Help!” she squeaked as he scooped her off the sofa and whirled her around.

  Much later, snuggled in bed, Desi rubbed Tony’s arm that lay across her waist. “I can hardly wait to have a little boy just like his daddy.”

  Tony propped himself up on his elbow and patted her flat tummy. “Sorry, darlin. We’re having a girl.”

  Desi laughed. “You sound so definite, Mr. Know-It-All.”

  “Only because I need another gorgeous female to wrap me around her tiny pinky.”

  “But what about me? I need a miniature magnificent male to bring me bugs and snakes and track dirt through the house and enchant me with sticky kisses.”

  Tony nuzzled her neck. “Then, Mrs. Lucano, I guess well have to take whichever God gives us as the perfect gift.”

  “Hopes and dreams, Mr. Lucano, bundled in a toothless smile and trusting eyes.”

  “We’ll have to work hard to be worthy of that trust.”

  “Work? Oh, yes. But worthy? Only by grace, sweetheart.”

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. At the beginning of the story, Desiree is using work to cover her grief over her dad’s death, rather than dealing with her emotions. What avoidance mechanisms do we sometimes use to keep from confronting the real issues in our lives?

  2. President Montoya compliments Desiree’s perceptiveness to see the deeper motives behind Greybeck and Sons smear campaign, rather than being swept away by emotions that could blind her to the real root of the attack. Often we are tempted to become caught up in battling flesh and blood. What Scriptures admonish us to look beyond the person to the dark forces working through them? What methods can we use to combat those forces while walking in love toward those who behave badly toward us?

  3. Tony runs into a sticky situation with his ex-partner’s prayer request about the woman Steve wants to marry. Tony strives to convey the truth without giving offense. Did he succeed? Could he or should he have responded differently? Have you run into similar difficult situations with people who seek your prayers but not your Lord? How did you handle those situations?

  4. Culture and environment can be huge factors in the choices we make. Zapopa’s grandson must choose between honoring his grandmother, as his culture dictates, or giving in to the hopelessness of his environment and staying with the gang. In this instance, the former path happens to line up with Scripture, and the latter leads to destruction. There are times when both culture and environment can steer us wrong, and we must rise above those factors in order to follow God’s Word. Name ways for good or ill that your culture or environment has molded you and influenced your choices. Name ways that you have defied those influences in obedience to Christ. Name ways that you need to change in order to resist culture and environment and live a life pleasing to God.

  5. When Tony is in a coma, he faces a grave choice—continue physical life or go on to be with the Lord. How much of a factor is our will in these matters of life or death? Later in the story, what nonphysical battle must Tony win in order to assure his full recovery? How important are our attitudes about ourselves in determining outcomes in the issues of life? Give examples from the Bible that illustrate this concept.

  6. Why do you think Desi had so much trouble calling Tony’s mother “Mom”? Was Max’s advice good in telling Desi to be patient until that right moment came? Do we sometimes trip up our relatio
nships with others by trying to force things, or conversely, by resisting a call to deepen a relationship? What finally broke through the barrier in Desi’s heart and cemented her mother-daughter relationship with Gina?

  7. How did you feel about Tony’s gift to Desi on their wedding day? What healing revelation did that gift inspire in her heart? Share a time when a gift in season changed your life.

  8. Tony and Desi have a deep conversation about the gang mentality. Do you agree with Desi’s assessment that hopelessness is a prime factor influencing young people to form and join gangs? Why or why not? How important is a sense of hope to any person, group, culture, or race? What does the Bible say about hope and the human spirit?

  9. El Jaguar does evil because he likes it. Clayton Greybeck appears to be a victim of upbringing and circumstance. For which person do you feel the most compassion? Why? Is that a purely human assessment? How does God evaluate evil?

  10. At the end of the story, Tony states that he and Desi must work hard to be worthy of a child’s trust. Desi counters that work is involved, but worthiness is only by grace. What does she mean by that? How do we walk out that balance of work and grace—especially in our attempts to influence children for good?

  Jill loves to hear from readers. Please e-mail her at

  jnelson@jillelizabethnelson.com or visit her online at

  [http://www.jillelizabethnelson.com]

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  Other Novels in the To Catch a Thief Series

  Reluctant Burglar

  Reluctant Runaway

  RELUCTANT SMUGGLER

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  The characters and events in this book are fiaional, and any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental.

  Copyright © 2008 by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.