by L. T. Ryan
“My guess is Martinez knew the shooter.”
“Why?” Goddard stood up and turned his full attention onto Jack.
Jack ignored the stares of the room and paced along its perimeter, taking in all the information he could. “Martinez was disabled before he was killed. There are five other men in this room, but three of them were clearly stationed outside, given their clothes and their larger weapons. They were probably the guards that should have met us out front as we pulled in.”
Goddard looked over at Spero, who nodded and pointed at a man across the room. “Gutierrez should’ve been there to lead us inside.”
Jack continued his circuit around the room. “My guess is the shooter was invited inside to meet with Martinez and two of his closest advisors. He took Martinez out first, but didn’t kill him. Then he took out the two advisors with a pair of bullets to the chest each. When the shots were heard, Gutierrez and two of his closest men came rushing in. The shooter was ready for them and took them out before they could get off any shots of their own.”
“Why keep Martinez alive?” Goddard asked.
“The shooter’s business was with him. He wanted to send a message before he killed him, maybe let him think he might survive the ordeal if he talked. The gunman only disabled him so he’d have time to go back and speak with him after everyone was dead. Once the message was relayed, Martinez joined the dead.”
Reynard spoke up for the first time since Jack had met him. “There are three more men upstairs. Two on the roof. All dead.”
Jack looked back over his shoulder, as if he could see through the walls and up to the second floor. “Any dead on the staircase?”
Reynard shook his head.
“The shooter had a team then. They knew the layout of the building and where all the men would be stationed. He probably came in with three or four guys, who headed upstairs while their boss conducted his business. The lackeys took out the guys upstairs and on the roof so no one could come to Martinez’s rescue when the shooter open fired.”
“Impressive,” Goddard said.
Jack shrugged. “I’ve been around a lot of murder scenes. Besides, knowing how the other guys think has kept me alive all these years.”
“Congratulations,” Goddard said, and it sounded like he meant it. He then turned to his assistant. “Jordan, make the appropriate arrangements to deal with this mess.”
“Already on it, sir.”
Goddard stepped over a body and placed a gentle hand on Sadie’s shoulder. She had built herself up to have tears in her eyes now. “I’m sorry you had to see that, Michelle. I usually try to keep you out of such situations.”
“It’s all right.” There was a waiver to her voice. Jack couldn’t help but be impressed. “Should I collect the books?”
“Yes.” Goddard looked down at the phone buzzing in his hand. Jack managed to catch the name Vasquez before Goddard answered it. “Excuse me.” He exited the house through the front door.
Jack peered around the room to figure out if this worked out in their favor or not. He turned to Jordan. He was clearly in charge while the senator was out of the room despite only being Goddard’s assistant. Even Spero himself deferred to the young assistant.
“What next?” Jack asked.
Jordan looked around the room and then met Jack’s gaze. His finger hovered over the screen of his ever-present PDA. “Do you have room in your schedule for one more contract?”
Chapter Thirteen
After retrieving Martinez’s books from the locked cabinet in his office, Sadie allowed herself to be guided out through the main doors by Reynard, who kept a gentle hand on her shoulder. She fought against her instinct to break his arm. She let her eyes glaze over while keeping Jack in view at all times. It was easy to trick the others into believing she was just a woman who was good at math who wasn’t used to seeing the carnage of the business she was so entrenched in.
But Jack saw right through her. She wasn’t sure if she liked that feeling or if it bothered her that she couldn’t trick him as well. He got on her nerves more often than not, but she couldn’t deny she was as impressed as Goddard had been when he’d read the room earlier. They knew odds-on favorite for the shooter was Martinez’s nephew, Nicolás—he fit the description of being familiar to the leader of the cartel—but Jack had done a good job of making it seem like he was in the dark about that detail.
She shouldn’t be working with Jack. She liked living life by the rules, even if they weren’t the societal norm. It had helped her get to this point. Jack was as wild a card as they came. Riley was a bit easier to deal with, but both of them had a reputation of using the rulebook as a coaster.
They were both professionals, though. And it would be in her favor to remember that. Jack knew what he was doing, and as long as he didn’t step over a line and put her own op in jeopardy, she’d have to trust that he was the key to bringing down Goddard for good. They just had to bide their time until someone discovered the whereabouts of Javier’s daughter.
They stepped into a cloud of dust that clung to Sadie’s damp skin and proceeded past the gardens and bushes and shrubs. They looked less vibrant now. The life had been sucked out of not only the dead men inside, but also the lush surroundings.
Goddard hung up the phone as soon as they approached him outside the car. His eyes flitted to Jordan, who glanced at Jack before returning his attention to his boss and nodding. The senator tucked his phone back into his pocket and then stretched his hand toward Jack. Jack grasped it with an eyebrow raised.
“I’m sure it’ll come as no surprise to you that we had you vetted, despite Michelle’s high recommendation.”
“Trust but verify,” Jack said.
Goddard patted him on the back before opening the door for Sadie. “Exactly. You’ll be happy to hear that your record is highly regarded. We could use someone like you on our team.”
“I don’t tend to stay in place for too long.”
“And how long do you plan to stay here in Costa Rica?”
Jack caught Sadie’s eye, but she let nothing slip. Under the watchful eye of Jordan, Spero, and the others, she couldn’t risk giving him any kind of signal.
Jack turned back to Goddard. “I don’t plan on leaving just yet.”
“Good to hear, good to hear.” Goddard sounded delighted, but there was a pull at his lips that Michelle knew meant something was not sitting well with him. Was it Jack’s behavior? Was it hers? Or was it the fact that Mateo Martinez’s brains were currently splattered across a vintage tea set in the man’s own living room?
“Sir,” Jordan interrupted, tapping his watch.
“Right, right.” Goddard seemed flustered for the first time today, but he straightened his jacket and gathered himself again. “It’s time to pay a visit to one of my associates. I would like you to join us, Jack.”
Jack followed Sadie into the back of the car as Goddard got in the front. “Would this associate happen to be the one responsible for the scene we just witnessed?”
“There’s a high probability.” Goddard turned to the driver. “Swing by Michelle’s place first, Marcus. I’d rather she not join us today.”
Sadie immediately sat up in her chair. “Thomas.”
Goddard twisted around in his seat. He’d always had a fatherly affection for her, which had made it much easier to gain his trust. A seductress was rarely trustworthy the moment she couldn’t get what she wanted, but a daughter was forever loyal. “It’s for your own safety, Michelle.”
Jack placed a hand on Sadie’s arm. Goddard glanced down at the gesture.
“He’s right,” Jack said. “If this guy is the one who took out Martinez, he could be looking for an all-out war.”
Sadie couldn’t help the piercing look she gave him as she shrugged off his arm. She turned back to Goddard. It was time to take a risk. “It’s Nicolás, isn’t it?”
“And why would you think that?” Goddard’s face tightened.
“There a
re always rumors. I know Nicolás. He’s a hothead. He loves his uncle, but he loves power more. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was the one who did this.”
Goddard sighed. “Nicolás is likely the culprit. I’ve been advised to take him out of the picture due to the instability that would reign with him as a leader.” Goddard took a moment. “Since you know him so well, what would you suggest?”
Sadie’s body tensed. She knew Goddard would listen to her, but she had to weigh her options here. On the one hand, she could suggest they take Nicolás out of the picture. It was what Goddard wanted to do, and it’d be one less drug lord in the world. It would also further chip away at the foundation of the senator’s little empire, which would make it easier to take down the whole operation.
On the other hand, Nicolás could prove useful to her. He was a hot head, yes, but he was young and naive. He’d been in the business for a while, thanks to his uncle and his father, but he still had a lot to learn. He could be manipulated, and while Goddard may see Sadie as a daughter, Nicolás had always had a much more lustful interest in her. She could play that to their advantage.
All of this went through Sadie’s head in a couple of seconds. Her hesitation to answer Goddard was natural. She twisted her lips, as if she were truly struggling with admitting what she was about to say.
“Nicolás has always been kind to me, but what he did to his uncle is unacceptable. I know you have a reputation to maintain.” She paused briefly. “Then again, he may prove useful.”
“How so?”
“A figurehead?” Jack said.
Sadie felt a spike of annoyance at him. If he didn’t keep his mouth shut, he could ruin her whole tactic. “Figureheads don’t last long in this business, but they can prove useful. If you keep Nicolás alive long enough to find someone who is a better fit, you may be able to save yourself from plenty of headaches.”
It was a risk for Sadie and her team back at Langley. Helping to stabilize Goddard’s operation could hurt them in the future, but not doing so could get a lot more people killed. They were after Goddard and anyone else who deserved to be held responsible for their actions. She wasn’t looking to start an all-out war.
“You’ll be the one to speak to him?” Goddard asked.
Jack leaned forward, unable to hide his concern. “Sir.”
Goddard merely raised a hand and held Sadie’s gaze.
She swallowed audibly before answering. This could easily blow up in their faces, but what choice did she have at this point? “Yes,” she answered. “I’ll talk to him.”
Chapter Fourteen
I hung back as I saw Jack and Sadie enter the small compound on the outskirts of San José. A small tracking device planted on the inside of Jack’s shoe had allowed me to follow them without being spotted. I could travel several streets over without worrying about losing them. It was a risk being this close to the buildings, but I’d cleared the woods surrounding them. I had to take my chances. If something went wrong, I had to be close.
I knew who was on the other side of those doors. Sadie had briefed us this morning about Nicolás Garcia, Martinez’s nephew, just in case he came into play. Turns out he came into play in a big way after Martinez’s body was discovered. I had heard the entire conversation about the crime scene, as well as the back and forth between Goddard, Sadie, and Jack. I knew Jack was trying to keep Sadie out of a sticky situation, but I also knew Sadie wouldn’t take any of his shit. She was tough, and she had already proven she could stay in character whenever a curveball was thrown her way.
Besides, she had a legitimate excuse to be the one to speak with Nicolás. If Goddard barged in there with them, the situation was likely to blow up. At least this way Sadie and Jack could control the narrative and attempt to guide it in a favorable direction. Martinez was out of the picture now, and that was an unstable enough environment for Javier’s kid, but if someone decided to start a beef with Nicolás, it was unlikely the girl would survive for much longer. As long as Camila was in play, all of their movements were restricted.
I heard muffled words in the background before Sadie’s clear voice sounded in my ear. “Nicolás.”
I kept alert to my surroundings as the scene unfolded in my mind’s eye. I heard the sound of kissing and saw in my imagination that Sadie had leaned forward to peck Nicolás on his cheeks.
Nicolás spoke in Spanish. “Michelle. Who is your friend?”
Sadie responded in kind. “Jack. You can trust him. He’s an old friend. He’s here to keep me safe.”
There was a momentary pause before Nicolás spoke again. I imagined him looking Jack up and down, assessing him. “You don’t trust me to keep you safe?”
“It’s not you I’m worried about. It’s Goddard.”
The pair were still speaking in Spanish, but Jack’s ears would perk up at Goddard’s name. I willed him to keep calm despite not knowing what the two were saying. Sadie would likely switch over to English soon enough.
“Why are you worried about him?”
There was a pause. “May I speak in English?” Nicolás must have nodded after a moment’s hesitation, as she continued on in a language Jack could actually understand. Her light accent was still in place. “Goddard sent me here to talk to you.”
It was a bold move. Sadie was playing triple agent right now, and she’d have to walk a fine line to make sure none of the other parties became privy to her game.
“About my uncle?” Nicolás’s accent was much heavier.
“Yes. He believes you had something to do with it.”
There was a clinking of ice in a glass. Nicolás’s voice sounded further away now. “And what do you believe?”
“I know you killed him, Nicolás. I thought we talked about this. I thought we decided—”
Sadie broke off with a small intake of breath. There was a beat and then Nicolás said, “Leave us.”
Two pairs of footsteps exited the room, followed by the click of a door.
“I thought we decided to wait. That it would be best to find another way to work your way up.”
“A man must take what he deserves.”
“This will have consequences.”
“I am aware of the consequences.” Nicolás voice moved closer. “Do you doubt me?”
“Hey, man,” Jack said.
There was a rustling, as if Sadie had put her hand out to stop him from moving forward and had brushed the mic under his collar. “Jack, it’s fine.”
“Who is this man?” Nicolás asked again.
“Just a friend.” Sadie’s voice took on a softer tone. “I’m just worried. What’s going to happen next? Will it be safe for us?”
“No one will touch us once we take over my uncle’s empire. You’ll have everything you’ve ever wanted. You won’t have to work for him anymore.”
“And Goddard?”
“That old man is useful, for now. He has to stay in the picture until I can find a way to remove him myself. The old bastard doesn’t know how lucky he is.”
I heard a branch snap behind me and whirled around, ducking down as far as my huge frame would allow me. My eyes scanned the trees until they fell upon a figure walking parallel to my position. He was dressed in black with an AK-47 slung over his shoulder. He yawned widely and kicked a rock out of his way. Some patrolman.
If I stayed still, it was likely he’d pass right by me and I wouldn’t have to deal with a confrontation. I was armed, but if either one of us fired our weapons, Nicolás’s men would know someone was out here. That would put Jack and Sadie in danger. Not to mention I wasn’t sure I’d be able to high tail it out of there before I had someone else on my ass.
I was half-tuned into what Sadie was saying to Nicolás. She was asking him what she should say to Goddard. How could she convince the senator not to take Nicolás out right now? How could he prove useful?
Nicolás laughed. “Let him come at me. I’m not afraid of the American.”
“You don’t need a war right now,
Nicolás. Everything is unstable as it is. Play by Goddard’s rules for now and you’ll benefit in the long run. I have Mateo’s books. If we bide our time, we can cut Goddard out completely.”
If Nicolás was smart, he’d follow Sadie’s suggestions. She was giving him a way to keep what he had taken without having to fend off the big boss. Goddard wouldn’t like keeping Nicolás in the equation for long, but once they found a better suited leader for the cartel, then Martinez’s nephew could be dealt with.
The patrolman had just passed my hiding spot behind a large tree, its roots spreading out like fingers all around me, when my phone began to buzz in my pocket. The woods weren’t quiet by any means, but it sounded like an alarm was going off. The man stopped and tilted his head to the side. He heard it.
I shoved my hand in my pocket and clicked one of the buttons along the side, not even bothering to check who was calling me. Not just anyone had the number, so the call was important. But at the moment I had more pressing matters to deal with.
The bored patrolman remained alert. As soon as he started turning in my direction, I dipped behind the tree and waited. His footsteps crunched on sticks and dead leaves. He was an amateur and would pay for it with his life. But as young as he was, I felt no guilt. If it was him or me, I wasn’t going to go down without a fight.
Sadie’s voice still sounded in my ear, but I pushed it to the back of my mind as I concentrated on the barrel of his rifle appearing around the tree. I dropped to a knee and struck at the man’s groin as soon as he was within reach. There was a grunt and then he dropped to the ground. His grip loosened on his weapon. I yanked it out of his hand and tossed it a few feet away.
He may have been an amateur, but the kid could fight, and he was quick. He was out of breath from the blow, but he was already recovering. He blocked my next shot and crawled away and tried reaching for his gun. I rushed ahead and kicked it out of the way and brought my knee up to his chest. He landed on his back but was already scrambling away as I took two steps toward him.
