by Robin Mahle
“You remember the plan?” Walsh asked. “Cain and I will hang back here. You two go inside, check things out and see if you can spot a man who most closely resembles the description we received from Sosa’s tipster. Don’t engage. Come back and we’ll follow him. Any questions?”
“No, sir,” Kate replied.
The women stepped out of the car, dressed in nightclub attire and stood on the narrow sidewalk.
“Ready when you are.” Duncan tugged on her too-short dress.
“I feel like we stand out, but for all the wrong reasons.” Kate said. “Look, if we see this guy, you really want to walk away from him, like Walsh says to?” She turned to the car and with a nod, started ahead.
Duncan kept up. “That’s a loaded question. All we have is a generic description from an anonymous source relayed to us by a cop who’s now dead. And all we know is that this source saw him driving up near the burial grounds.”
“And your point?” Kate grinned.
“Unless Fisher and Scarborough get the samples we need…” Duncan started.
“And the killer left behind DNA, which would have to make him a pretty careless killer.”
“Exactly. So to answer your question, I don’t know what I’ll do until it happens.” Duncan pointed ahead. “That’s the club. I guess we’ll play it by ear.”
They made their way to the club entrance where a bouncer stood guard. “Evening ladies. Go right in. You’re early. Must be new around here. The club doesn’t start getting busy for another hour.”
“Oh, we know,” Duncan said. “It’s our chance to scope out a good spot.” She laughed. “Have a good night.”
“You too,” he replied.
“Smooth,” Kate said. “I’ll let you do the talking.”
They approached the bar and Duncan spoke. “Vodka cranberry, please.” She turned to Kate. “What do you want?”
“I’ll have the same.”
“Two.” She said to the bartender. “So, when’s the real party start?” she asked him.
“About midnight. Are you American?”
“Yes.”
“We get a lot of Americans. I was born in Rio.”
“Your English is better than mine.” Duncan was flirting and she was good at it.
“You can’t work here until you speak good English. I mean, speak English well.” He smiled as he made the drinks.
“So, you say you get a lot of us here. Any regulars?”
“Too many to count.” He placed their drinks in front of her. “Tab?”
“No. Cash.” Duncan handed over the money. “Thank you. Cheers.” She offered Kate her drink. “Sounds like we won’t be the only Americans here tonight.”
“We’re only interested in one. Here’s to hoping he shows up.” Kate raised her glass.
Fisher gazed out through the windshield from the passenger’s seat of Varela’s patrol car. “Lights are on. I thought you said no one would be here?”
“I said not many would be here,” Varela replied. “You’ll only find a few people inside, mostly in the lab.”
“Okay.” Scarborough shut off the engine. “You’ll be coming inside with us. And if I get a whiff of something going bad, you’ll be the one to pay the price.” He stepped out of the car walked to the rear passenger seat.
Varela remained bound at his hands and Scarborough pulled him out. “You’re going to have to untie me. I won’t be much help inside otherwise.”
The agents traded glances, both seeming to come to an agreement before Scarborough cut the zip ties.
“I’m not the enemy, Agent Scarborough. I did what I did out of fear for my family’s safety.”
“You didn’t seem overly concerned about your officer’s safety. He’s dead on some hillside right now.”
“That is right. But if you don’t let me contact them, they will kill my wife.”
“You help us now and we’ll help you out later,” Fisher said. “That’s the deal.” He continued toward the entrance.
Varela stopped dead. “No. It cannot wait. I won’t go in unless you let me call them.”
“Who is it that you’re afraid of, Varela?” Scarborough asked. “The AdA? The man I met? It didn’t seem like you were afraid of him last night. Somehow, I don’t think you’re being completely honest about this situation. For a man who fears for his wife’s safety, again, you don’t seem very concerned.”
“He’s stalling,” Fisher said. “We don’t have time for this.” He pulled Varela by the arm.
“Okay. Wait.” Varela stopped again.
“They don’t have my wife. I no longer have a wife, which is why I’ve done what I’ve done. I have nothing left to lose.”
“Except for your own people,” Fisher pronounced.
“It wasn’t supposed to happen like that. Pedro wasn’t supposed to die. It was a scare tactic. That’s all.”
“It got pretty damn far out of hand, wouldn’t you say, Inspector?” Scarborough asked. “Why try to scare us? You said yourself this was an American. Why ask for our help then allow this to happen?”
“It wasn’t the gangs. This goes far beyond them. They were not the ones who opened fire on your team and killed Pedro. It was the government. They don’t want you here. The military police were the ones. I had to tell them where your people were. And it was an accident that Pedro Sosa was killed.”
“Why? Why would they care if we were here to track down a supposed American killer?” Fisher pressed on.
“The attention it draws to the favelas. The bad publicity about the murders. Because there are far more than those you know about. Everyone knows it. They just don’t want you to know it too.”
“I really don’t give a shit about what you people do down here. If an American is here doing the killing, that’s what I care about.” Fisher pulled him along again. “Get us inside now. We’re done listening to you.”
They arrived at the doors and Fisher began. “Get us in.”
“I don’t know if they will be here, the military police. That is why I hesitate.” Varela pressed the button on the intercom just outside the entrance. “É Varela. Abra a porta.” “It’s Varela. Open the door.”
The buzzer sounded and the door clicked open. “Gentlemen. This is what you asked for.” Varela gestured for them to enter.
The lobby was illuminated with red emergency exit lighting only and the corridor leading to the autopsy rooms was sparsely lit as well.
“I told you not many would be here,” Varela said. “We’ll need to go to the back to where the bodies are.”
Scarborough held a forensic kit that Cain had given him. Fingernail clippings, DNA swabs and hair samples. That was what they needed, then they would get the hell out of there. “Back here. I remember from earlier.” He scanned the area and made sure no one was around while he opened the door to the room where Adriana Santos lay on a metal slab.
“Scarborough, we have company.” Fisher peered through the small window in the door. “Someone’s coming.” He retrieved his weapon and eyed the man in the white coat as he walked past the door. “Never mind. He’s gone. Let’s get this over with.”
Scarborough pulled out the cabinet where the girl lay. “She’s gone.” He whipped around to Varela. “She’s fucking gone. Where did they take her?”
“I told you, Agent Scarborough. No one wants you here. They will not make it easy for you. We should go. Now. Before it’s too late.”
It took about two hours, but the club now brimmed with party-goers as the clock struck midnight. The bartender was spot on, Americans appeared to be in abundance, and they did tend to stand out among the locals. Mostly, it was because they flaunted their wealth.
However, the one the agents had hoped to find resembled far too many of the men here. The description was so general that it would be impossible to know for sure if they had the right one, short of questioning them. That probably wouldn’t go over well.
Kate leaned into Eva’s ear. “I never realized how sim
ilar they all looked. Short beards, gelled hair, all in black. It’s like they have the same design consultant. Anyone stick out to you?”
“Not really. They look like a bunch of lemmings to me. Christ, I’m glad I’m not single.”
“I’m with you on that.” Kate surveyed the floor until her eyes landed on one man who stood outside the crowd. “Hey, isn’t he the guy from that TV show? Oh, what the hell is the name of it?”
Duncan squinted her eyes. “Yeah, you know, I think it is. Wow. I didn’t expect to see a celebrity. Can’t think of his name though. He’s on that show on the cable channel. I can’t remember which. Not that I get much of a chance to watch TV.”
“You think we should ask for an autograph?” Kate laughed.
“Sure.”
“I was joking.”
Duncan placed her drink on the bar top. “I wasn’t. Besides, we look like wall flowers just standing here like this. We need to mingle so we don’t look like the cops we are.”
“Sure. Why not?” Kate followed her.
Duncan opened a path through the packed dance floor until they reached the other side. She smiled and approached him. “Hi. I’m sorry to bother you. My friend and I here love your show.”
Mason Wylder smiled. “You’re American.”
“You’re very perceptive. We’re on a girls’ vacation,” she replied.
“Very cool. You are a stunner, aren’t you?” He exuded charm and laid it on thick, like he was performing just for her.
Duncan retrieved a cocktail napkin that was tucked in her cleavage. “Do you think I could trouble you for an autograph?”
“It would be my pleasure.” He reached for the napkin and retrieved a pen from his pocket. “What’s your name?”
“Eva Duncan.”
“That’s a beautiful name, Eva.” He scribbled on the napkin, then kissed it. “Here you go.” He turned to Kate. “Can I sign something for you too, miss?”
“Uh, I don’t actually have anything.”
“That’s okay, this one will do.” Duncan attempted to salvage the deal.
What’s your name, sweetheart?” He asked Kate.
“Kate Reid.”
“Another beautiful name. I do hope you both have a lovely evening. It was a pleasure to meet you.”
“Thank you so much.” Duncan pulled on Kate’s arm and led her back to the bar. “I still don’t remember his name. What’s it say on the napkin?”
Kate squinted to read the handwriting. “Geez. He writes like a doctor. It was weird that he kissed the napkin, right? I think it says Wylder. M-something Wylder.”
“Mason Wylder. That’s right.” Duncan raised her hands. “He’s on that cop show. I remember now.”
“Interesting, but we should probably keep our eyes out for the man with dark hair, blue eyes and a five o’clock shadow.” As Kate gazed out into the crowd, she replied. “Yeah, I just described every man in here.”
“Not Mason Wylder,” Duncan pointed out. “His eyes were brown. I noticed that much.”
“Is that all you noticed?” She smiled. “I don’t know. I think this is as good as it’s going to get. I’m not sure who we think we’ll find, but maybe it’s time to call it.”
“Apart from meeting Mason Wylder, this was a bust.” Duncan started to leave.
Kate followed her and as they reached the exit, a man entered and nearly collided with her. “Excuse me, sir. I’m so sorry.”
“No problem.” He smiled and carried on.
Kate reached for Duncan’s shoulders and pulled her to a stop. “Did you see that man?”
“Who? The guy you bumped into?”
“Yes,” Kate replied.
Duncan seemed to pick up on her implication. “No. Do you think?”
“He’s American. Matches the description, down to the blue eyes. Let’s wait and see what he does and who he talks to. What do we have to lose?”
“If you got a feeling, I’m all in.” Duncan kept her eye on the man they had just encountered. “He’s going to talk to the actor.”
“A fan?” Kate asked.
“Not from the looks of it. They’re having words and I’m not sure they’re good ones.”
“Maybe he’s not the guy we’re looking for after all. He probably works for Wylder or something,” Kate said.
Duncan held her gaze. “Hold on now. Why rule him out?”
Kate appeared somewhat bewildered. “Well, because he’s with the actor.”
“And your point?”
13
In the north zone of the city, in the bairro known as Tiajuca, lay a modest middle-class residential home tucked behind tropical foliage. This was where Noah Quinn waited alone. The hour approached 2am and none of agents had returned.
Every minute, he opened the blinds and revealed only darkness. “Damn it. Where the hell is everyone?” He paced the small living room, his arms folded and eyes cast to the ground. Regardless of what Reid thought of him, he wasn’t a spiteful man. She’d turned everyone against him. That was what was happening now. And to think, he helped save her life today. “This is the thanks I get.” He never wanted any of this to happen. She just wouldn’t do what he asked. She’s his damn subordinate, for Pete’s sake and she refused to help him—to help each other. They could’ve been a great team and Reid screwed it up. None of this was his fault.
Quinn reached for his phone. “You better answer the damn phone. Don’t leave me alone in this God-forsaken city.” Within a single ring, Fisher picked up. “Where the hell are you guys?”
“On our way back. The bodies are gone, man. They’re gone. Someone knew we were coming.”
“Varela?” Quinn asked. “He must’ve leaked it.”
“He’s not who we thought he was, that’s for sure. Look, we’ll be there shortly. Just hang tight and we’ll fill you in on our return. Have you heard from the others?”
“No,” Quinn replied.
“I’ll put a call into Cain then. They should have been back by now. That’s all we need,” Fisher said. “This whole thing is fubar and I think the time’s come for us to leave this country before one of us gets killed.”
Duncan negotiated among the swollen throngs inside the nightclub and maintained a line of sight with Kate and their target, the man who was talking to the actor, Mason Wylder. The last-ditch effort to walk out of there with something tangible led them to make the move, regardless of unforeseen dangers.
Kate looked on as her cohort pushed through the drunken dancers with handsy men grappling as she passed them by. The target was still within her purview and the dark-haired stranger still spoke to the actor with obvious agitation. She retrieved her cell phone and snapped pictures of the man and his apparent companion, Mason Wylder.
A man who appeared inebriated slammed into her. “Desculpe, desculpe.” “Sorry, sorry.”
“Shit.” Kate dropped her phone and began to search the floor to retrieve it, but the drunkard stumbled around and she heard a crackling beneath his feet. “My phone!” She squatted to retrieve it after the final, crushing blow. The screen was shattered and pixelated. “No.” She pulled back up and realized she’d lost sight of Duncan. Panic rose in the pit of her stomach as her eyes shot back and forth, all around the club. “Duncan?” Amid the smiling, drunk faces of the people around her, she’d lost her and the man who collided with her was gone.
Kate pushed and shoved her way through the club in search of her teammate. Her phone was destroyed. It wouldn’t turn on. She had no way to communicate with anyone. But she wasn’t going to leave without Duncan. Her elbows flew and pissed off people yelled at her. She didn’t care and barreled her way through the floor until she made it the spot where she last saw Duncan. “Eva? Eva, where are you?” Her voice could not rise above the loud techno-music. She stood in place, turning and peering everywhere when a hand touched her shoulder. Kate spun around. “Oh my God. There you are.”
The look on Duncan’s face was nothing short of fear. “We need to go. Now
.” She grabbed Kate’s hand and pulled her toward the exit.
“I couldn’t find you. Where did you go?” Kate pleaded.
“We need to get to the car and leave.” Duncan pushed through the front doors.
They could breathe again in the refreshing night air versus the stifling sweaty bouquet inside. Kate’s pulse settled now that they were outside and Duncan was okay. “I see them. Just ahead.” She caught Cain’s eyes and he started the engine anticipating their arrival.
The two quick-stepped in their high-heels like manic speed walkers until they reached the car.
“Get in.” Duncan held the door, her gaze shifting everywhere, before slipping in after Kate. “We need to go back to the house before someone sees us all together.”
Walsh kept his eyes glued to the vicinity of the club. “Are you being followed?”
Cain didn’t hesitate to shove the gear shift into Drive and speed away from there.
“I don’t think so, but there were a lot of eyes on us inside,” Duncan replied. “Are you okay?” She asked Kate.
“Someone ran into me. I dropped my phone and then he stepped on it. It’s shattered. I’m pretty sure it was done on purpose because as soon as I picked it back up, I lost sight of you and the man who crashed into me.”
“Last I saw was him running into you. That was when someone pulled me away.”
“Who?” Cain asked.
“Some asshole who tried to dance with me and when I managed to get away from the creeper, I lost visual with Reid. They were watching us. I think they knew who we were.”
“But do you know who ‘they’ were?” Walsh peered into the rearview mirror. “Who did you see before all of this went down?”
“We split up,” Duncan began. “We saw a man who resembled the description, and he was talking to an actor we both had met a little earlier in the evening.”
“Splitting up was your first mistake,” Cain said. “You two should know better than that. Especially since you’re both unarmed.”
“We didn’t think we had a choice,” Kate replied. “I think the point of concern is that as soon as we split up, they saw me taking pictures. And that was the end of it.”
