He blinked once, twice from shock, surprise and then sheer pleasure. He continued to stare until, far above, the sun slipped back into the marine layer, and what was once the proud shape of the San Rafael disappeared, leaving only kelp, rocks and the darkness of shadow.
Jordan didn’t know how long he remained unmoving, enthralled, before Aurora tapped his shoulder and pointed up. Stunned, he checked his watch and air gauge, not believing the amount of time that had passed. Already his air supply registered almost half-empty; they’d been below over thirty minutes, with the return trip still ahead of them. Under Aurora’s watchful eyes, he reversed position, and both made their way up the tether.
Almost twenty minutes later, they cleared the surface. Aurora, as dive master and therefore last one out of the water, inflated her B.C. to act as a life jacket while waiting for Jordan to exit. He took off his mask and fins, threw them into the boat, then climbed up on the diving platform. He removed his tanks and handed them to the waiting Donna. Aurora removed her tanks in the water. Like many women, she lacked upper-body bulk and couldn’t climb out of a boat with the weight of air tanks on her back. Jordan grabbed them from her, lifted them over the rail, then reached for her outstretched hands.
He pulled her straight up out of the water, over the side and down. Her feet didn’t touch the side of the boat before resting on the deck.
“Hey, cowboy, I know you’re excited, but easy on the ride,” Aurora said, Jordan’s hands still on her wrists.
“How did you find it?” Jordan demanded. He released her to pull off his hood and toss it into the netted, open storage area.
“The ship was there? You actually saw it?” Donna asked.
“Told you so.” Aurora’s smug response matched the triumph in her eyes.
“How did you find it?” Jordan repeated.
“The Big Guy told me.”
“Huh?”
“I should say Mission San Diego, San Diego’s first church, did. You were right, Jordan, to want to research those records. But I beat you to them.”
San Diego Harbor
Late afternoon
THE STOWED SCUBA GEAR dried in the open air as Neil piloted the Dealer Ship back into San Diego Harbor, Donna on the flying bridge at his side. The two divers had rinsed and dried, changed into their regular clothing and stood on the main deck. With a captain’s eye, Jordan noted that the incoming harbor traffic was even heavier than the morning’s. Only the larger commercial ships and military vessels with radar stayed at sea after sunset.
Donna stayed with Neil on the flying bridge. At the railing, Jordan and Aurora watched San Diego’s shoreline slowly light up. Once again, Aurora had proved herself one step ahead of him in the search for the San Rafael. He felt annoyance mixed with gratitude over her capabilities—tinged by more than a little worry.
“If you could find the San Rafael through old Mission records, so could anyone else,” he said quietly.
She turned to face him, the sun-streaked blond hair blowing into a tangled cloud about her face. “I know. That’s why I was a little careless when I, uh...refiled the documentation. Somehow, some of it ended up under O and W instead of S in the archives. And I shuffled and layered the pages, as well.”
“O and W?”
“Oops and whoops.” She grinned. “Terrible of me, I know. I didn’t sign the museum registry with my own name, either. I used my mother’s first and maiden names. I’d rather have taken the paperwork itself, but I couldn’t justify stealing.”
“As long as we can keep the location of the San Rafael secret...” A sudden thought occurred to him, and the amusement of the moment faded.
“What?”
“Maybe those men on the pier weren’t after me, Aurora. Maybe they were after you and your salvage rights, and I got in the way.”
Aurora’s face blanched. “I told you before—no one knows the location. And no one knew of my visit to the Mission except my sister and Tanya. They’re in jail. They wouldn’t—couldn’t—have told anyone.”
“Glad to hear it. Nonetheless, your little delaying tactic with the files might just keep us—” alive “—one step ahead of the competition.” Jordan studied her in the growing darkness as the Dealer Ship slowly motored toward their slip area. “First thing tomorrow, we go—”
“To the Mission so you can check out the archives?”
“No,” he said. “Tomorrow we go to Mexico to check on your family.”
Aurora blinked in surprise. “You and me? Why?”
“Two reasons. We need to see if anyone’s tracked them down to talk to them about this, and we need to know if there’s anything else that can be done for them—legally and aboveboard. Their well-being is my primary concern before we dive. Salvage diving is dangerous enough. It can be deadly if your mind isn’t on your work. Okay?”
“Right. Mexico first. Then the Mission.”
Tijuana
Next morning
TO AURORA, the usual potholed road leading to the women’s cárcel seemed to have developed new holes since her last visit. Despite her seat belt, she felt as if her bones had shaken loose long before they reached their destination.
Jordan rode silently beside her, ignoring the dust and the uncomfortable drive, but not the ravages of poverty before him. Not once did his expression or words show disgust, only sadness and compassion, especially when they passed the begging children.
His nieces and nephews will never starve with this man in charge of the Castillo family. I wish my sister was as safe. If Dorian doesn’t look any better than the last time I was here...
Aurora refused to dwell on that possibility. She stole a look at Jordan, then returned her eyes to the road.
He’s got heart. Jordan’s concern for her and her family surprised her and touched her deeply—more deeply than she’d thought possible.
But it’s too bad he’s such a stickler for rules and regs. Aurora admired his character, but knew his strict New England morals wouldn’t free her sister. And too bad her unconventional outlook on life interfered with Jordan’s view of her as a desirable woman.... She found him attractive in both looks and character, yet his polite disapproval of her actions hurt more than her pride. It wounded the tender heart she possessed, a heart that had learned to live with pain and loneliness. That was what being true to herself had required. Her unrelenting sense of rightness demanded that she try to free her family, no matter what the conscience of society or Jordan Castillo said to the contrary.
If he thinks a pinstripe-suited lawyer is going to help Dorian, he’s sadly mistaken. He doesn’t know Mexico like I do. And he doesn’t know Tanya, either.
Aurora felt tears start in her eyes at the thought of her sister’s suffering. At Jordan’s questioning glance, she mumbled something about the dust, then rolled up the windows and flicked on the air conditioner. She sighed and continued driving in silence until she reached the familiar littered lot in front of the women’s jail. As she drove toward the main entrance, she swiveled around, looking for Roberto. She’d called him at his message number last night, informing him of her visit this morning.
“Problem?” Jordan asked.
“Just looking for someone,” she answered. She paid another child to guard the truck from theft and led the way inside, clutching her bag of nonperishable groceries for her sister and niece.
The smell of the jail hit her hard as they both stepped inside, submitting to the usual search by guards. Despite the darkness, it seemed even stuffier and more oppressive than outside.
“Is he with you?” the guard asked in Spanish as she signed the book.
“I am accompanying the lady,” Jordan replied in perfect Spanish. The guard studied Jordan carefully, then with a new air of respect, he asked him to sign the book, as well.
They were shown to Dorian’s cell, that particular section guarded under the watchful eye of Olivia, the mother of the ill baby Guadalupe.
“It’s about time.” Tanya’s voice rang through the g
loomy corridor. “Hey, who’s the hunk?”
Aurora flushed at her niece’s bad manners. She waited until she and Jordan were up against the bars to answer.
“Hello, Tanya. This is Jordan Castillo—where’s Dorian?”
“In the infirmary,” Tanya replied.
Aurora immediately turned toward Olivia. “Please, take me to her,” Aurora said in Spanish.
“Your man isn’t allowed in the women’s infirmary,” Olivia told her. “He can remain here to visit with your niece.”
“That’s fine,” Jordan said, also in Spanish. “Go, Aurora. I’ll wait until you get back.”
Olivia motioned to one of the other guards to stand watch over Jordan, and led Aurora away.
* * *
“SO, J.C., WHAT’S happening?” Tanya asked.
Jordan switched his gaze from Aurora’s departing form to the young girl—no, woman, he corrected himself—behind bars. The familial likeness between niece and aunt registered easily. Tanya’s hair, eyes, build, even her physical movements, often mimicked those of his new partner.
But there the resemblance ended. There was no welcome in the teen’s expression, no hint of generosity in the full lips, no warmth in the hard blue of her eyes. I’ve met her type before. She’s every con artist out to hustle what isn’t her own. Inside and out—white trash.
Tanya blanched, and Jordan realized he’d spoken the last few words aloud. He instantly regretted his slip of the tongue, but wouldn’t apologize for the honesty behind it.
“Well,” Tanya said, recovering quickly, “you’re pretty rude.”
And you’re not? But all he asked was “How are you?”
“Are you blind or just stupid?”
Jordan folded his arms across his chest and said nothing. She wants to argue...to show me her stuff. Well, I’m willing to watch. I need to know what I’m dealing with—what Aurora’s up against.
“So you’re the guy Rory thinks will spring us all.” Tanya released the bars so she could flip her hair up and away from her face with a practiced motion. “When? I’m sick of this place, and Mom needs some fresh air. U.S. of A. air.”
So—at least she cares for her mother. “How is she?” Jordan asked.
“In the hospital—or didn’t you hear me the first time?”
“Has anyone questioned you about our venture?” He introduced the subject abruptly, hoping to ensure a truthful answer.
“Nope.” She seemed a bit puzzled.
“Good. If anyone does ask, your aunt wants you to keep quiet about our plans. Think you can manage that?”
“I suppose...for now,” she said, deliberately taunting him. “Just make sure your plans don’t take too long. Tell Aurora to move faster and get me out of here.”
Just as deliberately, Jordan turned his back on Tanya and politely addressed the guard in Spanish. “I’m finished here. Could you please show me out?”
The listening guard threw a disdainful look at Tanya, then approached Jordan, throwing a Spanish insult at Tanya as they left the hallway. Jordan knew Tanya understood it by her reaction. The guard’s words were the Spanish equivalent of Jordan’s earlier remark.
“White trash.”
* * *
AURORA SAT ON the edge of her sister’s bed, since there were no chairs for visitors, and held Dorian’s hand. Dorian seemed even thinner and more listless than before, sick and disheartened. Wasting away. Aurora’s visit hadn’t cheered her sister at all, not even talk of how Jordan and she were now legal partners.
“Come on, Dori...” The old nickname brought back memories of “Rory and Dori,” two happy children who stuck together through thick and thin until Aurora wasn’t a child anymore. “You’ve got to eat. The doctor says you aren’t getting enough nutrition.”
Dorian started crying silently, tears rolling down her face. Aurora suspected she didn’t have the strength for anything more, and cold fear filled her heart. “Dori, don’t...” Aurora pleaded, close to tears herself.
Now what do I do? I can’t leave her like this....
“I can’t help it,” Dorian sobbed. “My family’s split up, the lawyers have failed, and I’ll never see Gerald again. We’ll never be together, ever.”
Aurora looked in vain for a tissue box, then reached for a corner of the sheet and dabbed at Dorian’s cheeks.
“Listen,” Aurora said, suddenly inspired. “I’ve saved the best for last. I’ve got news about Gerald.”
“You have?”
Aurora nodded, hating herself for the lie. “Yes. He’s in the men’s jail not too far from here. And I’ve got to tell you, it’s a lot plusher than what you and Tanya have to put up with.”
Dorian’s hands squeezed Aurora’s. “You talked to him? How is he?”
“Fine. Great. In fact, I think he’s putting on weight.” Good thing Jordan’s not here now to listen to me spin these tall tales.
“When? When did you see him?”
“Right before I came here. He asked me how you were but, Dori, he was worried when I told him you’re sick. And next visit, I’ll have to tell him you’re even worse.”
“Don’t,” Dorian begged. “Tell him a white lie for me.”
“You want me to lie?” Inside, Aurora winced at the irony of her question.
“Please, he’ll worry. I’ll be fine. Just fine by your next visit. Tell him that.”
“Well, I don’t know...”
“I promise I’ll force down this prison slop. Tell Gerald that Tanya and I are okay. Tanya is. That part’s not a lie.”
Aurora considered the question. “All right, but only if you promise to do everything the doctors say and try to eat. I want you out of this sickbed before I see you again.”
Dorian sighed with contentment, and some of the stress left her face. “Did you tell Tanya the good news about her father?”
“Not yet, but I will. I wanted to tell you first.”
“Go tell her now,” Dorian urged. “I’m tired.” Before Aurora could protest, Dorian signaled to the guard with a weak, beckoning gesture. Aurora had no choice but to rise and kiss her sister on the cheek.
“Give Gerald my love,” Dorian whispered. “Tell him I miss him. And please, please, get us out of here soon.”
Aurora nodded, but Dorian had a parting request.
“If you can’t get me out, that’s okay. Just take care of my daughter.”
* * *
TANYA WATCHED JORDAN and the guard leave. Her hands still shook from anger and pain at the insults she’d been forced to hear twice. Garbage, was she? Just because she and her parents were in jail and just because she’d smuggled a small quantity of soft drugs into a foreign country didn’t make her trash.
Well, maybe it did look that way...
But she didn’t feel like white trash. In truth, she was scared to death. Dad’s still missing, Mom’s sick and Jordan Castillo won’t give me the time of day. If Rory doesn’t pull this off—I don’t know what’s going to happen to us. How could I have been so stupid?
Her thoughts were interrupted by Aurora’s return. “Have you been crying? How’s Mom? Is she worse?” Tanya immediately asked. Her sick stomach felt even sicker as Aurora related the details of the visit, including the lie about her father.
“Don’t even think of telling her the truth,” Aurora warned. “Dorian needs hope if she’s going to survive this.”
“Is—is she dying?” Tanya asked.
“I wouldn’t go that far, but she’s pretty sick. If she keeps refusing food, she’ll be in serious trouble. The doctors are worried...” Aurora’s voice trailed off. “Tanya, have you thought about telling the authorities the truth? I promise I’ll do everything to help you, but it’s going to take time, and I don’t know if Dorian has that on her side. She’s not tough like us, sweetheart. This is hard on her—too hard.”
“I know.” Tanya clenched her hands and rested her forehead against the bars of the cell, then lifted it again, unwilling to show any weakness. “When they
took Mom away to the clinic, I did tell the guard about the marijuana—that it was mine, not my parents’. But she didn’t believe me. No one did.”
“You finally told them?” Aurora echoed.
“What did I just say? They wouldn’t listen.” Tanya had indeed told the truth, begging and pleading for her mother with no effect. The expression on the guards’ faces matched that of her aunt. “You don’t believe me, do you?”
Aurora sighed and looked around. “Where’s Jordan?”
“He left. He thought I was a piece of garbage, just like everyone else around here. Just like you.”
“Tanya, please. I’ve got to go. Take care of yourself, okay? I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Aurora pivoted so Olivia could lead her out.
“It’s the truth!” Tanya screamed. “I’m telling the truth. I’m not a piece of trash. I’m not.”
Neither the guard nor her aunt broke stride. For the first time since her arrest a month ago, Tanya began to cry.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Tijuana, Mexico
Late afternoon
THE HOT SUN baking the dirt of the parking lot felt good on Aurora’s shoulders after the gloom of inside. She noticed Jordan playing catch with some of the children, using a much-patched, badly faded football. He saw her, made one last throw and headed toward her.
Aurora also noticed Roberto, lingering at the edge of the lot. He’s finally here. Both approached her, each sizing up the other as they neared the truck. Roberto kept silent. Jordan didn’t.
“Friend of yours?” he asked Aurora, gesturing toward Roberto.
“Roberto’s been helping me track down Gerald. I told you about him, remember? Roberto Ortega, this is Jordan Castillo. Jordan’s my dive partner.”
The younger man’s wary gaze relaxed. “He can hear our business, señorita? Or no?”
Aurora tossed Jordan her truck keys by way of answering. “Would you mind starting her up for me? Turn on the air-conditioning too, please.”
Jordan caught the keys, but stood his ground. “Let me remind you that we’re equal partners now. No secrets.”
Found at Sea Page 8
