“Don’t tell Ian for a few hours,” she begged.
“You didn’t say goodbye to him?”
“I could not bring myself to.”
“Will you come back?” Kari asked.
Maria’s eyes narrowed with determination. “I promise I will try.”
“Call me, okay? I can help you get a visa. There will always be a place for you at my house, and at Zócalo.”
Her mouth trembled. “Thank you.”
Kari embraced her one last time. They clung together, each not wanting to let the other go. Then Maria jerked away, as if too choked up to stay another second. She hurried across the street, tears streaming down her face.
Kari watched her friend’s dark head disappear into the crowd, feeling like she’d lost another sister.
28
Kari stayed in the lobby for another thirty minutes.
Reluctant to return to the hotel room, she sipped coffee and nibbled on a complimentary breakfast pastry. She wasn’t certain she’d done the right thing by helping Maria. The police had asked them all to stay put. Adam wouldn’t be happy. She didn’t know Ian very well, but she’d seen the way he looked at Maria, and she could imagine his reaction. The woman he cared about had snuck away from his bed like a thief in the night. He’d take it personally.
Palms sweaty, she stepped into the elevator, going up. She wasn’t ready to face her relationship issues with Adam, either. She wanted to go home, crawl into bed, and sleep for another twenty-four hours.
The hotel doors locked automatically and she didn’t have a key card, so she couldn’t slip back into the room without waking him. He answered her knock, a sheet wrapped around his waist, his thick black hair disheveled.
Her stomach fluttered with unease.
“Nice dress,” he said, noticing her new outfit.
“Thanks. I bought something for Maria, too.” She handed him his workout clothes, watching while he put them on.
“Ian called to ask where she was.”
“Did you want coffee? I forgot to bring you a cup.”
“I’ll get one on the way out,” he said, putting on his shoes.
“Are we leaving?”
“Yeah. The Tijuana police are meeting us at the port. I don’t want to talk to them without my superiors there.”
He seemed tense, as if he wasn’t looking forward to reliving the ordeal.
“Are you worried about the investigation?” she asked, surprised. “You and Ian were heroes yesterday. Surely they’ll believe your version of events.”
“My credibility isn’t the issue.”
“What is?”
He dragged a hand through his hair, trying to tame it. “I abandoned my post at the hospital, acted outside my jurisdiction, and took on a crew of top-tier cartel members without backup. Not only did I fail to notify the Mexican authorities, I didn’t even contact my own department.” Shoving their dirty clothes into a plastic bag, he leveled with her. “Vigilantism is illegal, Kari. Cops get fired for it.”
“Oh,” she said, feeling small. “Is there anything I can do?”
“You can tell the truth. Maria, too.”
She sat down on the bed, biting the edge of her fist. This was bad.
“Ian was released from duty for entering a gunfight at the Hotel del Oro, so I’m expecting the worst.”
“He got fired?”
“From the DEA. He might be able to work for another federal agency, but I don’t know. Everything is up in the air right now.”
“That’s awful,” she said, her heart pounding with anxiety.
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Adam went to answer it, letting Ian inside. “Is Maria here?”
“No,” Adam said, frowning.
“Where is she?”
Kari swallowed hard, looking back and forth between them. “She left.”
Ian’s eyes darkened. “Where did she go?”
“Home,” she said, taking the address from her purse. “I gave her money for a bus ticket.”
He snatched the scrap of paper from her hand. “How long ago?”
“Less than an hour.”
Although the station was only a few blocks away, Ian’s chances of catching up with her there were slim. Mexico’s public transit system was popular and reliable. Buses to the capital left every thirty minutes.
Kari twisted her hands in her lap. “There’s something else I should tell you.”
“What?”
“I think she’s going to deliver a letter for Armando first. She had an envelope addressed to his daughter’s school. She said she promised to help him because he stepped in when Chuy tried to shoot her.”
“Which school?” Ian demanded. “Did you see the address?”
“No,” she said, tears filling her eyes. “I’m sorry. She mentioned that it was near her hometown.”
He shoved the paper in his pocket. “How much money did you give her?”
“Two hundred dollars.”
“Do you have any idea how much danger she’s in?”
Kari shook her head, mute.
Cursing under his breath, he paced the room. “Moreno’s drug cartel is finished. Everyone associated with them is a target. Men will be gunning for Armando, maybe even using his daughter to get to him.”
She felt the blood drain from her face. “I didn’t think of that.”
“You didn’t think at all!”
“Hey,” Adam warned, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Watch it.”
“Get the fuck off me,” Ian muttered, shoving him away.
“You can’t go after her right now,” Adam pointed out. “We have to be at the port in twenty minutes.”
“Yeah, I can’t wait to be told that I’ll never work in law enforcement again.”
“They won’t go that far, Ian. You could get reinstated on border patrol. CBP isn’t as strict as DEA—”
“Fuck CBP,” he said, storming from the room. “And fuck you.”
Adam gave Kari an apologetic look and followed him out the door. Although Ian wanted to go after Maria, he agreed to accompany them to the border for Adam’s sake. Ian couldn’t save his own career, but he could stand by his best friend.
Kari felt sick about her mistake. She’d never imagined that Maria’s disappearing act would cause this much trouble. She also hadn’t realized that Adam might lose his job. Last night she’d been kidding herself.
Everything was not okay.
In the harsh light of day, reality set in. They still had to deal with injuries, and emotions, and consequences. Her sister was dead. Maria was gone. Kari couldn’t handle any more upheaval.
As soon as they reached the San Ysidro port of entry, she was separated from Adam and Ian for questioning. Mexican police interviewed her extensively. A CBP officer and an ICE agent took a detailed statement.
After what seemed like hours, she was released from custody. One of the police officers brought her rental car to the detainment area. Exhausted, she got behind the wheel and drove around aimlessly, reluctant to go home.
She couldn’t face the flowers, the aftermath, the emptiness.
Instead of heading back to Bonita, she took the dusty trail to Border Field State Park. Parking near the monument, she strolled down to the beach, wind whipping at her skirt. The wall that separated the United States from Mexico ended here, extending a hundred feet into the sea. Slats of treated wood rose from the water like jagged teeth.
Kari stared at the waves crashing against the fence, wondering what to do about Adam.
Imagining a life without him wrenched her heart in two.
The interrogation process was even worse than Adam had anticipated.
They’d revisited the crime scene for a walk-through and found out that Moreno’s body hadn’t been recovered. Either his bones were still buried in the smoldering ash or someone had taken his charred remains.
This strange discrepancy, paired with Maria’s very inconvenient disappearance, cast a shadow of doubt
on their version of events. It was difficult for Adam to defend his actions; he’d worked with Moreno during the takedown. His boss, Pettigrew, grew more taciturn as the afternoon progressed.
At the end of the day, Adam and Ian were led to Pettigrew’s office and seated across from him. Another intimidating figure, ICE Special Agent in Charge Mark LaGuardia, accompanied them.
Drenched in sweat, Adam waited for the ax to fall.
“The Mexican police are pissed off, and rightfully so,” Pettigrew began. “Rambo officers make everyone look incompetent. There’s no way either of you can take credit for what went down in the shootout.”
Adam exchanged a hopeful glance with Ian. “We’d prefer that, sir.”
“I don’t give a fuck what you prefer, Cortez. I’m just telling you how it’s going to be. You two were never there. An unknown assassin, probably someone within the organization, executed the attack. Is that clear?”
They both nodded, relieved. This way, no disgruntled family members would be coming after them for revenge.
“I can’t keep you in the lanes,” Pettigrew said, looking at Adam.
He understood the implication. If he couldn’t do inspections in the vehicle or pedestrian lanes, he’d be useless at San Ysidro. Dead weight.
Pettigrew’s mouth tightened in anger. “The only reason I didn’t fire you on Tuesday was because your ragtag op shook up the Moreno cartel and led to several key arrests. But I can’t overlook the fact that you involved a citizen without my knowledge, and failed to disclose your relationship with her.”
“I’m sorry, sir.”
“I was going to demote you to a lower ranking and put you on administrative leave. That option is no longer on the table. You went too far off the reservation to come back. There’s no way I can let this one slide.”
Adam had to force himself not to shift in his seat or look away.
“I don’t need cocky hotshots in my department, Cortez. I want levelheaded soldiers who know when to fall in line.”
“I can do that, sir.”
“All evidence points to the contrary.”
“I love my job,” he said from between clenched teeth.
“I know you do, son. But you don’t belong in CBP and you haven’t for a long time.”
Adam stared at Pettigrew in silence, sensing Ian’s frustration beside him. Now they were both unemployed.
Pettigrew addressed Ian with his next statement. “I spoke with Special Agent Michelson about your past performance. He said you were one of the most dedicated agents he’d ever worked with.”
“Thank you, sir,” Ian said.
He drummed his fingertips on the surface of his desk, looking back and forth between them. “Because you both did well in the academy and have exemplary records otherwise, ICE has offered to take you on.”
Ian straightened at the unexpected news. Adam glanced at Special Agent in Charge LaGuardia, who inclined his head. Working for ICE was no demotion. The division handled most of the border-related drug arrests and smuggling investigations.
They were top-notch.
“When your unpaid leave is over, Cortez, there’s an entry-level opening for you on the task force in Otay Mesa,” Pettigrew continued. “If you do well, you might be able to transfer back to San Ysidro. As an investigator, not an armed guard.”
“I’m grateful for the opportunity,” Adam said.
“You should be.” Pettigrew turned to Ian. “ICE has a unique assignment for you.”
“On the line?”
“No, across it,” LaGuardia said, taking over. “Are you familiar with the International Affairs division?”
“Of course,” Ian said, his brows lifting. DEA handled undercover operations within the United States, but ICE was responsible for those types of investigations in foreign countries, especially border areas.
“We need an ICE attaché to go after a fugitive in Mexico.”
“Why isn’t USMS on it?” Ian asked.
“Normally a deputy marshal would be called to duty, but because the fugitive is a cartel member involved in smuggling operations, it falls under our jurisdiction. You’re being offered first crack at the case because of your experience with the target.” LaGuardia passed him a photo of the wanted criminal.
“Armando Villarreal?”
Pettigrew made a grunting noise. “We took a chance on that phony news story and it came back to bite us in the ass.”
“What do you mean?”
LaGuardia handed Ian another photo. A pretty brunette in a navy graduation gown smiled brightly, holding her diploma. “This is Caitlyn Weiss. She’s a relief vet at La Canada Pet Clinic, near the Hotel del Oro. No one has seen her since Tuesday.”
“When was she reported missing?”
“This morning. She wasn’t scheduled to work again until today.”
“Signs of a struggle?”
“Not that anyone noticed. Blood is a common sight in an animal hospital. Her surgeries and appointments were finished by noon, so the other employees assumed she went home while they were at lunch.”
“And you think Armando took her?”
“We have footage of her driving across the border on Tuesday afternoon. There’s a dark-haired man in the passenger seat.”
Ian gave back the photos, satisfied. “What do you want me to do?”
“Find them.”
“Can I leave now?”
LaGuardia glanced at Pettigrew, smiling wryly. “You’ve got a couple of live ones here.”
Pettigrew’s response wasn’t as warm. “If either of you boys strays from procedure again, you won’t have to worry about being transferred to another department. The only place I’ll recommend after this is the brig.”
When the meeting was over, they stood, shaking hands across the table. Adam was confident that he could keep himself in line as long as Kari stayed safe.
Ian, he wasn’t so sure about.
29
Kari went home and slept for twelve hours straight.
On Sunday morning, she wrote thank-you notes to everyone who’d attended Sasha’s funeral. The food and flowers were given to a local soup kitchen. On impulse, she made arrangements for her van to be repainted and donated to charity. Zócalo was doing well enough now that she could afford to have her purchases shipped directly to the store. Her weekly trips to Mexico would probably trickle down to once a month, if that.
She loved the crafts and the culture, but she wasn’t looking forward to visiting Tijuana anytime soon. The thought of waiting in the lanes at San Ysidro made her stomach ache. She would always associate the border crossing with death.
That afternoon, Adam showed up on her doorstep, holding a simple bouquet of violets. For Sasha, he explained.
Her heart melted at the sight.
She accompanied him to the cemetery, her face crumpling as he placed the flowers on her sister’s grave. He held her for a long time afterward, stroking her back while she cried. When her tears abated, she rearranged the bouquets and gathered up fallen petals. Adam accepted her obsessive-compulsive tidiness without complaint.
He also stayed by her side for the next three days.
His bruised ribs were far more serious than her minor scrapes, but he waited on her hand and foot. As much as Kari hated to admit it, she was glad for his help. The psychological trauma of her kidnapping and assault, paired with the loss of her sister, had really taken its toll. She needed the downtime. She needed him.
They took long walks together, shared quiet meals, and spent more than a few hours in her bed. Although they kissed and cuddled, they didn’t make love, choosing to let the wounds heal instead. Mostly they just slept.
Adam told her about the job offer with ICE, admitting that the new position would be just as dangerous as his current one, if not more so. She was concerned for his welfare but appreciated his honesty. He didn’t use the L-word again or press her about their relationship. The days drifted by in a dreamlike haze.
About a week a
fter Sasha’s death, she decided to go back to work. Adam tried to talk her out of it, but she was determined to return to her regular routine. He made her a light breakfast and kissed her goodbye.
“I’ve been thinking,” he said before he left.
“Have you?”
“We’ve been at your house for several days.”
She leaned her elbows against the kitchen countertop. “This is true.”
“Would you like to stay at my place tonight?”
Pushing away from the counter, she reached for her coffee mug instead of answering.
He pressed on, undeterred. “Why don’t you move in with me?”
Kari felt a sharp tug of longing in the middle of her chest. She wanted to say yes, even though it was too soon, and he’d made the offer for the wrong reasons. “Are you asking because you want to keep me safe?”
His steady gaze met hers. “No. I’m asking because I’m in love with you, and I want you in my bed every night.”
She filled her mug, flushing with a mixture of pleasure and discomfort. “Adam, I like being independent. I can take care of myself.”
He remained unyielding. “I want to take care of you.”
“And when you go back to work?”
“I have another month off.”
“Yes, but after that I’ll be unattended. You should get used to the idea.”
A crease formed between his brows. Clearly, he didn’t agree.
She set aside her coffee and twined her arms around his neck, soothing the sting of her words with another kiss. “Let’s make a deal. I’ll sleep at your place tonight if you’ll let me take care of you.”
His throat worked as he swallowed.
“Are you up to it?”
“Yes,” he said, though the swelling against her stomach was proof enough.
“Okay then.” She nipped at his lower lip, very gently, and stepped back. “I’ll see you later.”
Adam gave her a dark look, aware that he’d been bamboozled. He must have decided that the arrangement suited him well enough, because he dropped the subject and headed to the door. “Don’t work too hard.”
Caught in the Act Page 30
