"Marsh knows what he's doing. He has a gun too, but he didn't want to risk your life. As long as you were on board you could have been used as a hostage."
"This is all coming so quickly. I'm sorry if it seems like I'm being difficult."
"Not difficult," Agent Knight said. "Concerned. Confused. Maybe even a little angry at being tricked."
"Yes, that too, but I'll get to that when Todd, or whoever he really is, gets down here. If he gets down here," she added more softly.
"I think this is him now," Steel said from the door. "I see the lights from his plane." He pointed in the distance. "It's only a matter of a few minutes and we'll know how he made out." They all hurried back out the door.
I
The other two men took a clearly shaken Eduardo away in their car while Marshal Todd guided Liane into the airport office. "Okay now. I know you have many things you want to know." He ran his fingers roughly through his brown hair.
"Yes. Like where's Jack!"
"Wish I knew," the man sighed as he rubbed his bearded face in a weary fashion. "I had Eduardo right where I wanted him. He was so scared up there he was ready to piss himself!" Marsh looked at her and shrugged. "Sorry about that."
"You know by now that doesn't bother me. Just get to the point," she said impatiently.
"You were right about Tingo Maria. The directions he had for us would have taken us right to Valenquez's ranch. We'd have found the head man. The leader of the rebel forces."
"But you said that one named Suarez was the leader."
"As a fighter, he was their leader. Valenquez was the brains behind everything. We almost had him."
"Almost . . .but what . . ."
"Jack and I were to make it look like we were holding out on them. Wanting a bigger cut for ourselves. We were going to ask to deal only with the Top Dog."
Liane remembered his insistence on seeing the leader. "But Jack disappeared."
"We had to hurry things because you were planning to go down to the mission. Jack didn't want to risk your getting in the middle of everything. So we stepped up the pace.
"We worked separately. We wanted everyone to think he was staying close to the stuff until we got what we demanded. I was to meet with the boss and then contact Jack so we could complete our delivery."
"In reality Jack was going down too, to cover me when I went in," Marsh continued. "I was going to lead him and the government troops to the leader's headquarters."
"But you knew Jack disappeared."
Marsh nodded. "We were supposed to meet in his agent's office. He called me the night before to set it up."
"Where was he then?" she asked, remembering going to Jack's home looking for him.
"With the stuff, wherever he'd hidden it," Marsh looked at her. "Considering everything, do you think you could tell me, now, where that is?"
"A secret room in Jack's house. Which means he must have been there the first time we were looking for him."
"First time?" Marsh was the one puzzled now.
Liane blushed. "At the time we didn't know we were supposed to stay out of it. When we found out, we were already too deeply involved."
She frowned, shaking her head. "What I don't understand is, why he used us to keep his secret about the room. Why not any of the other agents?"
"We aren't the kind of agents you may think. We do things that an ordinary agent can't. Some slightly illegal things. If we got caught, we were on our own. We were as guilty as the bad guys. We were the bad guys."
"But Agents Knight and Steele said they were working with you."
Marsh nodded. "They were told to keep an eye on you and your sister, that was all. Until Jack turned up missing. Then they were filled in on what was happening."
Liane remembered her brother's note. "And you answered to someone called Morello."
"That's where we got our initial orders. After that, we were on our own. We had to play it by ear."
"Okay, I can understand that . . .I think. But what about Jack?"
"Eduardo finally admitted that they didn't have him. They were bluffing so we'd make the delivery."
"That explains why they seemed to stop worrying about the shipment you'd hidden."
Marsh nodded.
"So who then, has Jack? The mob?"
"At first we thought maybe they did. But now we know they tie too closely with Valenquez. He'd have known and been able to use it to his advantage. We played right into their hands.
"After the crash we literally landed right in the leader's lap. He could have held you instead of Jack. That would have been more to his benefit. Jack would have been released and forced to complete the job as we originally were supposed to do it. We'd have lost our leverage."
"I don't know . . .I think I understand, but . . ." She frowned, rubbing her temples. "It's so mixed up."
"For all of us. We want to get Jack back, but don't have any idea where or how to do it."
"Then he could be . . ." She looked away as tears clouded her eyes. "Dead."
Marsh came to stand beside her. He gently stroked her cheek. "Look, we don't know that. And until we do we'll keep trying to find him. So why not go to a hotel and rest? You're beat. Tomorrow book a flight home to New York. I'll contact you there as soon as we know anything."
"But I want to help."
"Right now there's nothing any of us can do. We have to see if the people holding Jack try to get a ransom or something. I'm not giving up. I promise."
"You sound like it's a one man crusade."
He frowned. "It is. M.C., I was a loner until your brother became my partner on this case. I did some of my best work alone. And that's how I'll do this too."
She knew she was being dismissed. Not just from the case, but from his life. As the taxi pulled away, she watched the bearded man standing by the doorway to his office. His good-bye sounded so final. And I never did explain who I really am.
I
The shot gun remained pointed on the red-haired man as his abductor squeezed the cell phone in his hand.
"So what do we do now?" the woman asked, turning panic-stricken blue eyes toward Jack. "He knows who I am?"
Jack sized up his guard, realized the little bit of a woman before him may as well be the size of Conan the Barbarian as long as she held the weapon in her hand. Besides, he hadn't been able to loosen the ropes that bound his hands behind his back.
"Okay . . .Tonight." She nodded as she ended her conversation.
"Is it safe to say there's been a change of plans?" Jack said calmly, having observed this woman enough during the last several days to know she was on edge. It wouldn't take much to trip her already short fuse.
She had admitted enough of their plan to reveal they hadn't thought it through very thoroughly before taking action. He didn't even think they planned on shooting Devereaux. If only he hadn't gotten so brazen and pulled his gun.
"Only temporarily," the woman replied.
Jack knew immediately his abductor's were amateurs. They reacted too instinctively, out of panic. Instead of thinking things through. He knew that by their plan to hold him for ransom. Their scheme probably complicated everything for his partner.
Again, as he had so often during the past days, Jack wondered how everything was going with Marsh. They had worked so hard on this case. He hoped all was not lost because of his disappearance.
I
Liane tossed and turned on her hotel bed, plagued by all the events that had taken place. Everything Marshal Todd had told her kept going through her mind. She knew she'd have to call Mary Catherine in the morning with some kind of explanation. But how, when even to her, none of it still seemed believable?
Most of all she wished she had something solid to tell her sister about Jack. I know M.C. must be worried, probably doubly so, wondering what's happened to me. Yet, how do I explain that we're back to square one?
"Square one," she said, remembering how it had all started. And how she had begun her search for her broth
er.
Suddenly eyes wide, she knew what she had to do. It was simple. First thing in the morning she would set out again, trying to find her brother. This time alone.
Her decision made, Liane could finally sleep, waking refreshed and determined once again. Her first priority was to purchase some suitable clothing. Then, to return to Devereaux's office.
She reached into her bag of belongings and pulled out her sister's Bible. Inside she got her blue plastic debit card and smiled. At least if she didn't have enough money to purchase the necessary clothing, she still had this.
I
She went up the stairs to the third floor wondering if luck would be on her side, and she'd find someone to let her into Ralph Devereaux's office. As she approached the doorway, she saw that it was already open. My lucky day.
A frown slowly creased her brow. If there were any lessons Liane had learned in the past weeks, one was that things aren't always what they seem.
Carefully she listened to the sounds coming from inside the office. The sounds of footsteps were followed by the opening and closing of metal file cabinets.
Hoping it was the agent's secretary, she peeped round the corner for a better look, freezing at the sight. Even from the back she recognized the familiar brown flight jacket covering the broad shouldered man. He too, must have come to search the office for clues.
Part of her wanted to turn and run, spare herself any more pain. But instead, she stepped further into the room.
"So we had the same idea," she said as he turned to look at her in disbelief. "Yes, Marsh. It's me."
"M.C., I thought I told you to fly back to New York," he said angrily. "Do you ever listen?"
"Not to senseless orders."
"Senseless? What was senseless about that?"
"I still may be able to help. That's why I came here."
"And how did you come up with that idea?"
"I . . .I could do what you're doing. See if anything in these files reminds me of something."
"What could they remind you of?" He frowned, approaching her. "I know you want to help Jack, but M.C., you'll have to face the fact that you're no longer needed."
She turned away, nearly falling over a box sitting beside the secretary's desk. When she looked down into its center she saw a picture in a gold frame. "What's this stuff?"
"The secretary's things," he replied. "The office is being cleared out now that the police are finished with their end of the investigation. They've gone through everything for clues."
"When is she coming back for them?" Liane bent down and picked up the picture, then looked up at her companion.
"I don't know. Why?"
"Because I've seen this man." She stood holding the picture. "And it seems strange to find it here among her belongings."
"Where have you seen him?" Marsh asked, taking it from her to look at it more closely.
"No. I'm not telling . . .unless you let me help!" She looked smugly back at the man she had grown to love. "We've come this far together. Why not see it through?"
"Damn you make me so angry!" He grabbed her arm, then suddenly smiled. "But as long as I have my lucky jacket to protect me, what else can happen?"
"Protect you!" She snapped, looking up into his eyes, noting the humor there. "From me, I suppose."
"Yeah, especially from you." His smile faded. "Now tell me where you saw him."
"He's a bartender at the Calypso Club."
"A bartender . . .? It doesn't fit." Marsh rubbed his beard. "Somehow he and Devereaux's secretary must be tied together in this." He reached for the phone. "I have to check something."
When he hung up, he was frowning. "No one has been able to reach the secretary. And it seems our man does work at the club. It's beginning to sound as if they were working their own scam. I told our men to watch out for him."
"I thought you'd have closed down that club by now."
"We will . . .as soon as we prove there's a connection with the weapons. As it is, we only have the men in the semi who made the delivery. We have to prove the transaction was done with the knowledge of the owner of the club."
"But I was given my instructions right up there on the stage."
Marsh frowned. "Yes, and can you identify who gave them to you?"
"Oh . . .I see." Her shoulders sagged. "Now what? If they know things didn't go according to plan, and we go waltzing in there asking a bunch of questions, we won't find out anything."
"Patience," Marsh said. "I also left instructions with my men for a phone tap."
"Isn't that illegal?" she started, then laughed. "Never mind. I think I'm finally beginning to see that to win, you have to fight some things on their level."
"Meanwhile, let's take a closer look at the stuff in this box and see what we can find," Marsh suggested as he picked the box up from the floor. "Who knows what else she'll have in here."
"What would this man have hoped to gain by taking Jack?" Liane asked. "I mean, there hasn't been a ransom note or anything. Has there?"
"Maybe there was one," Marsh said as though a thought had just occurred to him. "They knew something was going down, and that there was a double cross. It could be that they seized the opportunity without planning their next move."
"In that case, by now, they may regret what they did because it hasn't worked out," Liane said. "Wouldn't that be good? Maybe they'll give up."
"No, it could be bad. They won't need Jack anymore," Marsh said. "But then again, if all this wasn't planned very well in the first place, we stand a better chance of breaking it."
Liane shook her head. "I give up trying to figure out the criminal mind. That's your job."
Before they could continue, Marsh's cell phone rang. Marsh answered it, saying very little before hanging up again. "Our fellow is at the club right now."
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going there," Marsh said suddenly. "Maybe they'll want to deal if they know there's still someone is willing to pay to get Jack back."
"Marsh, it would be more believable if it were me? I'm Jack's sister. They must know I already tried to get him back once."
"So did I."
"Yes, but they've probably also figured out it was you who tipped the Feds."
Marsh frowned. "You're beginning to sound like you're getting into this stuff. Remember, it's dangerous work. You'd be better off sticking with your present line."
"I have every intention of getting out of this once I find my brother. But for now, I think you see that I'm right. It should be me who goes there to make a deal."
He nodded. "Yeah, okay. But in and out again. That's it! You're only going there to let him know you're willing to deal. Give him your number, then get out. Hopefully he'll call the secretary, or whoever else is working with them, and we can trace the call. Or better yet, maybe he'll lead us to where they're keeping Jack."
"Okay, in and out," she repeated as she started for the door. "But you remember one thing. You better not muff anything. The sooner we get this solved, and Jack back, the sooner you'll be rid of me for good!" Without another word she left him alone.
I
Liane sat at the bar and ordered herself a drink. She made sure the tall bartender had noticed the way she looked nervously around the room.
"Are you waiting for someone, Miss?" he finally asked, his grey eyes staring intently into her face.
"To be honest, I don't know," she said with a long impatient sigh. "It's all such a long story."
"Bartenders are good at listening to long stories," he said with a friendly smile, leaning forward on the bar to show his interest.
"It all started back in New York." She hesitated a moment for effect, brushing her long blonde hair away from her face. "You see my sister, she's a nun. Her name is Mary Catherine. Anyway she was worried about our brother, Jack Spencer. I'm Liane Spencer, by the way." She gave her real name, then continued.
The man listened with interest as she told the truth of her search for her brother.
"Then wouldn't you know it, after all the stuff I go through to find Jack, the Feds go and blow it! They got all the guns and everything. So I figured, I still have the money my brother sent for safe keeping. I also know where all those missing crates of gold and silver statues are hidden. Maybe I can work out a deal of my own.
"What can I lose? I only want my brother back." She looked at the bartender, her green eyes bright with tears. "Do you know what I mean?"
"Sure I do." His steel-gray eyes lit with interest.
"I overheard the government agents saying they still didn't have enough to close this club. But they'll keep trying. I figured I'd try to go right to the boss, this Mr. Demotto, or whatever his name is, and try to make a deal with him to get my brother back."
"I see. But you weren't going to try and see him by yourself, were you?" the bartender asked.
"Of course I was. It's my only hope. Who knows how long before the Feds figure out I know where that stuff is?"
"He won't see you. After all that's happened, he's unlikely to see anyone he doesn't know."
"Then what shall I do? I want to save my brother."
"Tell you what I'll do," the bartender scratched his dark head, as if giving some thought to his next words. "I'll talk to the boss for you. Then I'll be in touch."
"You would do that? Thank you." She smiled at the dark-haired man. "I'll go and call my sister in New York and let her know that we may have a deal."
"Your sister?" His eyes narrowed.
"Yes. You see, we figured it wouldn't be very good for me to come out here and end up with someone making a fool out of me. They could make me tell them where the things are hidden, and not release our brother. So after I left, she moved everything from where it was hidden. She put it in storage, and I don't know where.
"All I have is a number to reach her. When I call and tell her that I've seen Jack and he's safe, she'll send a sample shipment. Then when I call again to tell her he's been released and safely with me, she'll send the rest of the money and give the location of the artifacts."
"I can see you're both very shrewd."
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