“Yes. That’s Margie. Can you visit with her, please, baby?”
“Mama, I can’t do anything for her right now. I’m real busy. Tell her to go to the police.”
A prolonged sigh. “All right, but I bragged about your expertise—”
“OK, OK. I’ll call her when I get a chance. But I must hang up now. Kiss Papi for me. Good-bye, Mama.” She pocketed the phone and sat.
“Problems?” Jay handed her a glass and joined her on the sofa.
“Mama considers me the family’s problem solver.” Lela swallowed a long drink of the refreshing, cold liquid and then relayed the gist of what her mother had shared. “Mama’s friend will have to wait if she wants my help.” She set her glass on the coffee table and picked up the legal pad. “My last note indicates Chuck wrote down the information from the computer screen. He must have a good memory.”
“He does.” Jay scanned the entry. “He documented the data immediately, but there’s no information listed on this page. I guess Chuck wrote it someplace else. He then adds, ‘I think I know what’s going on, but before I take my suspicions and information to the authorities, I must gather more evidence and take more photos.’”
Lela drained her glass before turning to a clean yellow sheet. “That scrap of paper we found at the house in Mexico contained this type of information.”
“Right. But why would Chuck type it in Spanish? He’s fluent, but that doesn’t make sense.”
“None of this makes sense. Keep reading.”
“July 15. ‘I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about Man B’s sudden wealth. He must be involved in a lucrative venture. I wonder if they need any help.’” Jay shook his head. “I hope Chuck didn’t do anything foolish.”
“Like what?” Lela asked.
“That’s just it. I don’t know what he might do. July 16. ‘Made a point of having lunch with Man B today. We had a long conversation. Will have to see where my suggestion leads.’ That’s not good. What did he mean?”
“He’s not short of money, is he?” Lela peeked at Jay. She’d been this close to him before, but for the first time, noticed the lack of tan along his hairline. Must have recently had a haircut. Some haircut. A fourth of an inch, if that long. Gray glistened through the blond, his spicy aftershave tickled her nose. She recalled his tenderness with the children and Beth, and her heart flip-flopped. Had she been too harsh on him? He raised his head, and before he caught her ogling, she switched her focus and fiddled with the pad.
“No. He has a good head for business, invested wisely. Besides that, as an only child, he inherited his parents’ estate. We’re talking megabucks.”
“But you also said he likes excitement. Would he try to get involved for…kicks?”
“If Chuck did, it would be to infiltrate the group for the purpose of gathering information.” Jay shook his head. “He wouldn’t break the law.”
“Are you sure?”
Jay stood and wandered to the desk. After a moment’s pause, he turned and leveled a firm gaze at Lela. “As certain as I can be of any human. Chuck’s a devout Christian.”
Lela’s stomach muscles seized at the mention of the word devout. She clutched her middle, easing the tight scars. A dull ache gripped her soul. The word elicited a negative meaning for her.
“Chuck has no need for extra money.” Jay returned to the sofa. “I take back what I said about his wacky ideas. He documented all this to provide proof. I wish he’d used their names.”
“I’ll accept that you vouch for Chuck’s integrity.” At this point, she had to cling to anything positive. “How many more entries?”
Flipping the pages, Jay said, “Three, but the next one is three weeks later, August 5. ‘Haven’t written for a while. Been real busy. I must e-mail Jay.’”
“Did he send you a message that day?”
Jay paused before nodding. “He asked if Kate and I discussed how many children we wanted. Why he’d ask such a question is beyond me. I…” His gaze raked the room and out the window as if the answer lay in the distance.
The mention of his former fiancée drenched Lela in cold reality. She blinked and forced her full attention back to the information before her. Photographs of newborn babies. Pregnant women. Lawyer. Warehouse with rows of beds. The question posed to Jay and Kate. Had Chuck discovered an illegal adoption operation?
When Jay looked at her, his eyes sparked with anger. “LL and her minions are trafficking babies.”
“Exactly. The data Chuck viewed on the computer. Babies’ names, dates, and locations of their births. Yes. It all makes sense. Wish we had that list he compiled.”
“I’ll read the last entries. Chuck might provide more details.” Jay turned a page. “The entry on August 6 is lengthy. ‘On my way to the garage, I saw Man A talking with LL. They chatted a while. Then she handed him a package and entered an elevator. He wasn’t wearing a visitor’s badge this time. I followed him.
“‘In the garage, the security guard approached him. Man A ran away with the guard on his heels. Before the guard caught up, the man threw the package under a car, vaulted over the rail, and disappeared into the lower level. I retrieved the package and opened it in my car. I can’t believe what it contained! Photographs of babies. Can’t contact the police now. Need more proof that I’m not crying wolf.’” Jay jabbed a thumb at the envelope on the coffee table in front of Lela. “Must be the photographs we found.”
“Yup.” The pictures, reason enough for a kidnapping. “What else does he say?”
“The last entry is dated August 7. ‘Sure I saw someone leave my office when Yvette and I returned from lunch. We seldom leave the office at the same time, but I wanted to treat her today. Nothing was disturbed, but no one must find this. Will hide it. Give to cops when we get back—vacation starts tomorrow. Have to check on one more thing before I report my findings. Is VT involved? Heard MF mention his name. Since WF has been back to the building, I think they’re in cahoots. What I have uncovered is a crime of large-scale proportions.”
“That explains why no ransom demand. Chuck was kidnapped because he knows too much.” Lela twirled a lock from her ponytail. “LL and company may have discovered he kept notes and took the pictures.”
“Which is his way of operating.” Jay fanned the book and held it upside down. “The sheet of data isn’t in here.”
Lela massaged her shoulders. Used to action, all this sitting in one position cramped her muscles. She stretched and yawned. “That would have been a bonus, but we have plenty of clues to investigate. The initials, for instance.”
“When we visit Yvette again, we can check the building directory. I might recognize the name of Chuck’s friend.” He set the journal on the sofa between them and yawned, too. “Sorry. You started it.”
Lela picked up the book and flipped through it. “I’ll give this to Bowen. There’s enough detail for the authorities to figure out the names of various characters. We know LL is a lawyer on the seventh floor.” Stopping near the back of the journal, Lela squinted at a penciled notation. “There are words scribbled here.” She drew the page closer.
“What does he say?”
“Chuck’s written in tiny letters. They’re hard to make out. ‘Must…ask Jay about…medic…’ I can’t read the rest. What did he mean?”
24
Jay’s neck heated as blood rushed to his face. He stood and turned toward the desk before Lela witnessed his confusion. Should he tell her now about picking up the medication package? Chuck’s life might depend on his honesty, but he couldn’t believe his brother-in-law was involved in the nefarious operation detailed in the journal. And he didn’t want to sully Chuck’s reputation.
He turned and hiked a shoulder. “I have an idea why Chuck wrote those words. The week before I left for Baja, he asked me about a medication my neighbor takes.” Jay told Lela about Gary.
“Why was Chuck interested in that particular drug? Is he asthmatic? Are any of the children?”
Cro
ssing his arms, Jay leaned against the desk. “No one in the family has asthma.” Come on, Vashon. Mention the blister package. Not yet. To mask his guilty conscience, he asked, “When will we return to Chuck’s office?”
“Right now. I need to check with Agent Pam first. Meet you in ten minutes.” Lela collected the journal and her notes and headed to the door.
Jay expelled a long breath. “Wait.”
Hand on the doorknob, she spun and arched her brows.
“I have something to show you.” He dug in his pocket and removed the blister pill package.
“What’s that?” Lela remained at the door.
“I found it at the house in Mexico.” Jay displayed the evidence in his open palm.
She reached him in lightning speed and snagged the package. “You picked this up and didn’t tell me? Why? What were you thinking? It’s covered in your fingerprints now. I doubt we’ll be able to recover any other prints from it. Where did you find it? Oh, I know. Same place you found the postcard. Right?” Lela examined the evidence more closely.
“Yes. I—”
“Huh. I’m not surprised you kept it hidden. It’s terbutaline. You said Chuck asked about this medication. If it was his, why would he leave it at the ranch house?” Agitation fueled her movements. She paced the room, glaring at him.
Jay dropped onto the sofa. If he was to be subjected to an inquisition, at least he’d be comfortable. “I don’t know why Chuck had it. But to be fair, we don’t know that it belonged to him. I made the assumption—”
“Exactly, Mr. Vashon.” Lela stopped in front of the sofa and pointed an accusatory finger at him. “You had no right to keep this from me. From IRO. How can we find Chuck when you’ve done nothing but thwart our—”
“Hold on a minute, Agent Ortiz.” Jay sprang up and gripped her shoulders. They tensed under his hands, and a cold, dark cloud obscured her eyes. Her breath heaved in and out in short blasts. He released her and stepped backward. Instead of defending himself from a verbal assault, he prepared for physical contact. The sneer, the anger-filled eyes—he could have been facing a rabid coyote. Any minute now he might have to restrain her.
She blinked, and a whimper escaped from her lips. Retreating to the far wall, she rested her forehead on the paneling. Her shoulders rose and fell.
Jay couldn’t tell if she was sobbing or gulping air. “Lela.” He closed the gap between them with caution. “Are you all right?”
With a quick turn she faced him.
No tears.
“I’m sorry. My words and actions were unprofessional. I know you’re concerned about Chuck, and you wouldn’t deliberately hinder our investigation.”
The words sounded like an apology, but her tone was void of any emotion. What else bothered her? Dare he ask?
Lela’s breathing slowed, and the coldness all but vanished from her eyes.
Jay took a chance. “I should have given you the blister package right away. My reason…” He had to inquire. “You were ready to rip out my throat. Other than suppressing a piece of evidence, what triggered such anger?”
A brief spark glinted in her eyes. She rubbed a hand across her face and let out a hollow laugh.
Peculiar reaction. Jay extended his hand. “Come. Let’s sit.”
Folding her arms over the journal, she shook her head. “I’ll stay here, thank you.”
At least she hadn’t bolted from the office.
He waited.
She shifted weight from one foot to the other, frowned, and then pursed her lips. At long last, she said, “I suppose since we’re working together you deserve a brief explanation. And I mean brief. Don’t ask any questions. OK?”
“I understand. No questions.” The pause drew out so long he thought she’d changed her mind, but he held his tongue.
“I…my late husband, um, this is hard. I haven’t spoken about it for ages.”
Those limited words were enough to alert him to what might follow. His hand fisted at his side. “Take your time.”
Lela rubbed her stomach, a gesture he’d noticed on previous occasions.
“My husband, um, was a brute. He…” She crossed her arms tight against her chest, and the next words spewed out. “He beat me. Although he’s dead and I can defend myself now, it frightens me when a man grabs me as you did, raises his voice.” Eyes downcast, she let out a ragged sigh.
Holding back his own anger, Jay resisted the urge to wrap his arms around her and offer comfort. “I’m sorry. My words are inadequate. I don’t understand how—”
“I should have said no questions and no comments.” Lela’s voice quavered. Head high, she strode out the door. “We have work to do.”
Jay thumped his fist into the sofa cushion. How could a man, no, not a man, a coward…?
With a better understanding of his partner, he stormed out of the office.
~*~
Lela fled outside and pressed her back against an aged oak tree. Shame burned her face. She’d never come that close to losing control before. Other men—co-workers, friends—had patted her shoulders, touched her forearm. Why had she turned on Jay like that? It certainly had little to do with the evidence he’d withheld. Certainly, she was curious who possessed the terbutaline and why, but that knowledge wouldn’t necessarily lead them to the kidnappers.
He’d prayed for her.
Adrenalin pulsed deep inside. Her hand shook as she brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. As much as his praying infuriated her, there was something more. When Jay grabbed her shoulders, she’d lost whatever self-control she’d developed over the years. Why did she react with such venom? She’d never planned to disclose any of her dark past. Few people were aware of her troubled relationship with Gilbert. What possessed her to tell Jay? Would she ever be free of Gilbert and the trauma he’d subjected her to?
Lela crammed the journal into one of her large pockets and rested against the rough bark. Confusion tramped through her mind. Jay and Gilbert. They couldn’t be more different. After Gilbert’s death, she had vowed to steer clear of romance, but her brief association with Jay had stirred unwanted sparks of attraction and long dormant emotions she no longer knew how to handle.
Enough. Back to business. She snagged her phone from another pocket and called Pam. “Jay and I need to return to Chuck’s office. Please come to the house. Meet me outside, near the pool.”
“On my way.”
~*~
Pam rounded the house and hailed Lela. “Hey, girl. All’s quiet on the perimeter, but there are loose bricks in the wall on the west side. Manny will be here in thirty minutes. I’ll ask him to check it out.”
“Or ask Beth. Maybe their gardener can fix it.”
“Will do.” Pam hooked her arm through Lela’s as they walked to the house. “You OK? If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were caught in a storm. What’s with the slumped shoulders, knitted brows, and teary-eyes?”
Lela slowed and hung her head. Was she that easy to read? “I kinda lost my temper with Jay.” Although not the whole story, it was true.
“I wondered how it would be partnering with a person who wasn’t an agent. Did Bowen make a mistake?” Pam released Lela’s arm as they reached the back door.
“Not sure.” Lela entered the kitchen and squared her shoulders. Time to get back to work. “I need to talk to Beth. Bye for now.”
Deep breaths. Slow, easy steps. Clear mind. Focus. All easier said than done, but she persevered, and before long, a veil of calm surrounded her. Now she could resume her job. Check the evidence. Search for clues. Find Chuck.
But would the sheath of camouflage around her emotions hold the next time she encountered her civilian partner?
25
Standing at the wrought-iron fence overlooking the expanse of ocean, Jay scanned the waves. Lela’s description of her abusive relationship churned in his gut. Good thing he hadn’t known her during that time. He would have…
With eyes closed, he sucked in a couple of deep brea
ths, absorbed the calmness of the water into his soul, and prayed the same peace to cover Lela. If she ever wanted to share more of her past, he’d be ready. But right now, they must stick with the plan. He returned to the sunroom where he found Beth reading to Alyssa and Erin.
Beth turned a page and glanced up. “Lela said Pam will stay inside with us while you return to Chuck’s office. She asked if I can name any of his friends there. I can’t. He doesn’t discuss his business with me.”
Jay knew that. “We’ll ask Yvette. We have other questions for her, too.”
Closing the book, she smiled at her daughters. “I’ll finish this later. Run along and find Danielle.” While the girls scampered away, Beth massaged her temples. “Do you think someone at Chuck’s office building is involved?”
“No.” His quick reply slipped out before he gave any thought to it. “We need to clarify details with Yvette, that’s all.” Dark circles under Beth’s eyes indicated she hadn’t been sleeping well. No sense adding to her worry. “I’ll keep in touch.”
Lela hesitated in the doorway. “Since the IRO office is on the way, we can drop the journal off for Bowen.”
“Sure.” Jay tried not to advertise his assessment of Lela’s state of mind. Had she recovered her composure? Her innocent expression gave no hint of the traumatic scene they’d shared in the office. He accepted that as his cue, and patted Beth's shoulder. “Be back—”
“Mama.” Sean tugged Olivia past Lela and struggled to free his hand from her firm grasp. “Mama.”
The aide leaned close and spoke in a soft tone. “Sean, Mama is busy. You need to wait.” She released his hand and wiggled her fingers to her left side at waist level. “Wait.”
The boy shifted from foot to foot, moving yet standing still. He bobbed his head. “Wait.” His fingers wiggled and wiggled.
Passing Olivia and Sean on his way out, Jay said to Lela, “Let’s go.”
While climbing into the passenger side of the truck, he noticed her raised eyebrows. “You’re curious about Olivia’s finger wiggling, aren’t you?” They were back to normal. Good.
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