Ransom in Rio

by Theresa Lynn Hall

  “How can you tell?” Lexi laughed.

  “You're talking about the weather.”

  Kristy was right. She was a wreck. Lexi grabbed her carry-on from the backseat and yanked it to the front. She dug frantically in the front pocket.

  “What's wrong? Did you forget something?” Kristy pulled into a space and waited for her to answer.

  Lexi let out a deep breath. “Thank goodness. I thought I had left my passport on the counter in the kitchen. It's right here.”

  “Seriously, what's the matter with you? Your flight doesn't board for three hours so you've got plenty of time to tell me what's wrong.”

  She didn't want to talk about it. The case with Jace was wearing on her and missing him was tearing her apart, but today she was more of a mess than she’d been in weeks.

  “Is it because Braydon McCoy is meeting you in Rio?”

  Lexi glared up. “No. I’m not like you.” She regretted the comment as soon as it passed her lips.

  Kristy recoiled with a hurt look. “What does that mean?”

  Lexi threw her bag into the backseat and covered her face with her hands. She hadn’t meant to throw Kristy’s past at her like that. It was a thoughtless and horrible thing to do. Maybe the stress really was getting to her.

  “Lexi? What did you mean?” Kristy’s voice was firm, but her tone wavered on tears. “People really can change, you know. I don’t try to pretend I’m something I’m not, but I walked away from those bad habits a long time ago. I’m not perfect, but I’m a Christian now and…wow, Lexi. That was really low.”

  “Kristy, I didn’t mean that the way it came out. I just meant that I’m not comfortable around men or take trips with them, that’s all. I’m so sorry. I love you like a sister. You know I didn’t mean it.”

  Kristy shrugged. “I guess I do. I know you haven’t been yourself lately. I know how you can make it up to me.”

  “Uh-oh.”

  “I’m singing a solo at church next month. I’m really nervous, and it would help to have you there.”

  Lexi winced at the thought of going to church again. She wasn’t ready to make that commitment. She had enough going on in her life without people pressuring her to attend church on a regular basis. Once you were there, they’d keep hounding you until you came back. She knew how it worked.

  “I don’t know. Maybe I can buy you a new dress for the occasion instead?”

  “Really? No thanks, I can buy my own dress. What I would rather have is my best friend there for support.”

  Lexi conceded. “I owe you one for being a horrible friend just now. All right, I promise I’ll be there.” She smiled and patted Kristy’s hand. “By the way, how are things going with Mike?”

  The smile on her friend’s face said it all. “He is the sweetest man I’ve ever met. I keep thinking he’s going to wake up and be a total jerk, but he hasn’t. I can’t find a thing wrong with him. And believe me, I’ve tried. He’s been coming to church with me too.”

  “You deserve to be happy.” And she did. Her friend had been through so much. They’d both grown up with less than perfect families and parents who provided little to no supervision to them as teenagers. She’d had Jace to look out for her and a lot of money to play with. Kristy’d never had anyone; her mother was an alcoholic who never held a job, and her dad was…somewhere. Lexi had always thought it seemed so unfair that she’d been born with so much money and someone as good as Kristy had been born with so little. She didn’t understand how God decided who got what, but at least she was able to even the playing field a little. No one ever knew that she’d given Kristy money to help the family pay the bills.

  “Just don’t start trying to play matchmaker with the brother. Got it?”

  Kristy laughed and shrugged one shoulder. “You read my mind. Sorry, I'm not promising anything.”

  “Come on; let’s get into the airport before I miss my flight. Hopefully, this storm will pass soon.”

  ****

  Brayden ended the call and stared at his laptop screen. The numbers were making a little sense now, but not much. Was she involved? He didn’t see how she couldn’t be, but he prayed she wasn’t. She seemed too nice of a girl to be caught in something like this. For now, he’d continue to see what he could find out about the events leading up to her brother’s death. He’d let the FBI and Texas Rangers help him with the rest. Like Luke, he also thought he’d stumbled onto something bigger than her brother’s death.

  He rubbed his eyes and yawned. He’d made a point of getting to Rio before her, but unfortunately, that meant he hadn't slept in over a day. His body ached from being cramped in the tight airplane seats. Her plane should be landing soon, and he wanted to be there to meet her at the airport. He’d sent her an email asking for the flight itinerary, which she sent back quickly. Her reply was short and didn’t hint at any emotion. She was a hard woman to read. His gut was telling him she knew nothing, but the detective in him was more of a cynic.

  Brayden locked his hotel room and rode the elevator to the hotel lobby. The van was waiting in front of the building to take him to the airport. He’d booked a hotel room near the airport hoping he wouldn’t have to be on the street long. He’d spent a few weeks in Brazil a couple years ago while investigating the disappearance of a Texas teen who’d been partying in Rio with his family. That case hadn’t turned out well, and it still haunted him to this day, but he had learned that people drive like maniacs in Brazil.

  The two-block drive left him white-knuckled and shaky. Brayden threw a five-Reais note into the front seat and heard what he thought was profanity, but he chose to ignore it. He guessed the guy thought the thrill ride merited a tip worth more than a couple U.S. dollars.

  He went into the airport and scanned the baggage claim area to see if she’d arrived yet. Several people stood watching luggage circulate past on the conveyer.

  He glanced at his watch then back up. There she was. Her hair was pinned up with a few loose curls hanging down. She wore a navy T-shirt and a pair of faded jeans with tennis shoes. It was the first time he’d seen her in normal clothes. And he couldn’t stop the butterflies in his stomach as she approached. He waved a hand in the air until he caught her attention. Something strange crossed her face, and he couldn’t read what it was. He crossed the airport to greet her. The closer he got, the harder his stomach twisted.

  “Hey there,” he said.

  She smiled as she hoisted a black bag onto her shoulder. He reached to take it from her, but she gently pulled away. “Thanks, it’s OK. I’ve got it.”

  “Not with me here.” He took the strap and carefully pulled the bag from her hand. “So, where do you need to go?”

  “My aunt and uncle are meeting me here. I’m staying at their house. I’ve already talked to them and you’re welcome there too. You’re going to stay with us.”

  “Oh, I couldn’t impose on your family. I’ll be staying in a hotel.” The strap of her carry-on luggage smelled of her floral perfume. A good reminder that his decision to get a hotel was the most sensible solution.

  “Please, don’t argue. The house is large enough that you will have privacy. The maids’ quarters are near the guest house so someone will be there to make sure you have everything you need. You’ll just need to brush up on your Portuguese.”

  “Really?” They walked toward the exit. She seemed calm and collected.

  She grinned up at him. “It’s only a joke. I don’t speak it, either. I know a few words, but thankfully, my family have all learned fluent English. You’ll be fine.”

  He looked across the sea of people as if he knew who he was looking for. He had no idea what her aunt and uncle looked like, but it gave him something to do besides stare at her.

  “Minha doce menina. Sempre bonita!”

  Brayden turned to see a small, dark-haired woman, probably in her sixties, walk toward them. He smiled at what she’d said. He totally agreed.

  “Tia Sophia, you know my Portuguese is rusty.”
Lexi wrapped a free arm around the woman’s shoulder and kissed her cheek. “Where’s tio?”

  Her aunt kissed her face and said, “My sweet girl, you’re always beautiful.” She placed a palm on Lexi’s cheek. “I have missed you.” She waved a hand in the air. “And your tio, he’s playing golf.” Something in her tone made Brayden think her husband was in the dog house for choosing golf over picking up his niece at the airport.

  “This is all of your luggage? Do you have a ball gown for Carnival?”

  Lexi gasped. “Oh my gosh. I have nothing to wear, Tia. I didn’t bring anything formal.”

  Sofia waved a hand in the air. He realized it was her signature trademark. “No worry. We go shopping. Today.” She turned and smiled up at Brayden.

  “Oh, that’s OK. I don’t shop. And I’m not going to attend any celebrations with you. I have work to do here. I’m on business.”

  Sofia’s glare cut through him. “You will not allow my niece to go alone.”

  Brayden flinched, then shrugged when he saw Lexi grinning. “I guess we’re going shopping then.”

  “Good.” Sofia brushed past him.

  He and Lexi fell into step right behind her. Brayden leaned down. “I see where you get it,” he whispered.

  She appeared to feign ignorance on the subject. “I’m not sure I know what you mean.”

  “Oh, you know. But don’t worry, I’ll point it out when I see it again.”

  This time she laughed. “Better not let her hear you talking about her like that.”

  “I wasn’t really talking about her. I was talking about you.” He grinned and quickened his pace to walk next to Sofia. The sooner he ended the conversation, the better.

  ****

  Lexi feigned contentment as they arrived at the shops. She was already regretting the trip. So many things were not making sense. She was tired, irritable, and not much in the mood for anything, must less dress shopping. Jet lag was catching up to her, and she could see it was taking its toll on Brayden as well. Her aunt, however, was having a great time leading them from shop to shop, telling stories of Carnival and how she’d met her husband at the Magic Ball, the most lavish event during Carnival. Lexi remembered hearing stories of her family attending the Magic Ball and how her grandmother and grandfather and parents had all attended this extravagant event. It was a popular affair of the most affluent families in South America. While the stories were impressive, she believed them to be from times in her family’s past where a woman’s independence wasn’t valued, and her self-worth depended more on her role in the family. Today, none of those things seemed important to her. Happiness was what mattered the most. Look at what had happened to her mother. A perfect example of marriage gone wrong. Lexi would never marry unless she was in love. And even then, she’d have to deeply consider it.

  “You OK? You’re really quiet.”

  She hadn’t realized she’d been so deep in thought until Brayden pulled her back to a reality surrounded by ball gowns and tuxedos. “Sorry. I’m getting tired of the sightseeing. Just don’t tell Sofia. She’d be crushed if we asked to go back home now. Just agree to the first thing she picks out for us, and we’ll be ready to go in no time.”

  “I’ve never heard a woman say that about shopping before.”

  She shrugged. “I don’t like shopping.”

  “You don’t like a lot of girly things, do you?”

  “What does that mean?” Her brows knitted tighter above her nose. She didn’t like what he was implying. “Are you saying I’m not feminine?”

  “Not at all. You’re just not like a lot of women. You don’t get your nails done, you don’t wear dresses much, you don’t wear a lot of makeup. You know, girly-girl stuff. But hey,” he said, putting up a hand, “I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. I would rather see a girl be natural than overly made up.”

  She still wasn’t taking it as a compliment no matter how much he tried to save himself. She turned her back and grabbed an emerald green ball gown from the rack and checked the size. Perfect. “I’ll take this one, Tia.”

  Sofia turned around and eyed the gown in her hand. It was long and flowing with shimmering sequins covering the entire dress. Spaghetti straps dangled from the shoulder, giving way to a sweetheart neckline she hoped would flatter more than flaunt.

  “Oh!” Sofia gasped. “I love it. I have the perfect emerald necklace that you can wear with it. Now, let’s get you a mask and shoes. Brayden will still need a tuxedo too.”

  “I’ll go take care of that right over here. Just give me a second, and I’ll be ready.”

  Brayden sauntered off to speak to a man with a tape measure around his neck. Thirty minutes later, Brayden was carrying a suit covered with a plastic bag, and a box of shoes in his hand.

  What would he look like dressed up? Her stomach fluttered. She was probably going to like what she saw.

  After taking Brayden to pick up his bags at the hotel, the ride home had been quiet. The jetlag, combined with the stress, was evidently affecting Brayden as much as it was her. She needed a nap and a cup of coffee. She’d settle for the coffee first. Sitting in the living room of her family’s home, she graciously accepted the steaming hot cup from the maid. She sipped it carefully, closing her eyes to enjoy the richness that coffee back home was lacking. She kicked her shoes off and propped her feet up on the couch.

  Brayden had excused himself to his room for the rest of the evening. She was angry at first, because he had promised to discuss what he’d found in Cozumel. But she knew he needed some rest, and they needed privacy to discuss it. At least she could enjoy the night without butterflies battling in her stomach. Something about that man was getting to her, and being in Rio was only making it worse. She had to stay focused on one thing: finding out what happened to her brother. Nothing else mattered.

  ****

  Brayden pulled a hand across the stubble on his cheek. What he wouldn't give for eight hours of sleep. He’d been awake half the night working on his notes and talking to contacts in Cozumel, the U.S., and Rio. The pieces were starting to come together, and he dreaded having to tell Lexi. The worst part would be telling her she was right. Her brother was murdered. By whom, was still a mystery. But she’d been right all along. He had to admire her grit. She was a strong, determined woman. Any man in his right mind would be attracted to her. And one thing he’d always said about himself was that he was right-minded.

  Even though it was all business, he was having a hard time separating his feelings for her. He dreaded having to hurt her with bad news about Jace. Since there was no good time to do it, he’d take care of it as soon as they had breakfast and coffee. He would take her somewhere quiet and go over all of the details. He closed his laptop and headed to the bathroom. A shower, a shave, and a toothbrush would have him feeling like brand new again. But he couldn’t believe he was trapped into going to some crazy ball tonight.

  He’d just finished his shower when a knock came on the bedroom door. “Hey, are you up yet?”

  He yanked a clean white T-shirt over his head and pulled on a pair of jeans. He glanced in the mirror and ruffled his wet hair, then headed to the door. He opened it to see Lexi wearing a pair of denim shorts and a green tank top with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. He’d never seen her look more beautiful.

  She bit her lip. “Good morning,” she said, holding out a hot cup of coffee. “You’re going to love the coffee here. I wasn’t sure how you liked yours, so I thought I’d just throw in a bit of sugar and take my chances.”

  He grinned and reached for the steaming mug. “Thank you. That’s perfect. Come in for a minute. I was just about to go find you.”

  She walked in and looked around the room as if she were a school girl doing something she wasn’t supposed to be doing.

  “Is everything OK?” she asked.

  He couldn’t lie or cover up the truth. She had to know. “No, not really. Sit down. I’m going to tell you everything I’ve found out so far. That’s if you
’re ready to hear it.”

  “Yeah, sure. I’m paying you to find out, aren’t I? I need to hear everything. Don’t spare any of the details.” She sat on the edge of the bed, her gaze fixed on his face.

  He stared at the floor because it was easier than looking at her. “Lexi, you were right. Jace’s death wasn’t an accident.” He waited for her to process what he'd just told her. She inhaled sharply.

  “OK…go on.” She clutched the side of the bed with both hands.

  “I told you that the boat was paid for by a woman. Jace and two other men, besides the captain, were on the boat. The woman paid in cash, and then she seems to have disappeared. We can’t find her. The captain remembered something important. He said that the men on his boat spoke a different language, not Spanish. He knew they weren’t from Cozumel. He said he remembers hearing Portuguese and English. He heard a few words and understood them because of some similarities between Portuguese and Spanish, but he couldn’t translate everything. Luckily, the captain was fairly fluent in English. He remembered talking to Jace before leaving the dock that evening. He said Jace seemed nervous and upset. He said he remembered hearing one of them talk about mobiliario, which means furniture in both languages. They spoke of furniture and money. He said he remembered hearing Jace say he didn’t know anything about the money.”

  “Could that be the bank accounts he sent me?” she whispered.

  “Maybe. Someone was making large cash deposits into the accounts and then sending money to an overseas bank. We traced a few of the deposits. The bank is here in Rio.”

  “Those are legitimate. We send money to our stores here. We pay them for shipments of furniture to the U.S.”

  “Wait, there’s more. Some of the numbers on the flash drive were connected to a Bitcoin wallet. Someone was keeping a spreadsheet to track Bitcoin transactions.”

  “Bitcoins? Why?”

  “Digital currency. It’s unregulated and the feds hate it. The transactions are often used to launder money. Looks like they started out using money and found out a better way to do it.”