CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I was exhausted. I yearned to go home. I missed Haley, Gabe, and Hugo. My eyes were grainy. My head was getting dizzy, my vision was blurry, and my left hand and arm were tingling like crazy.
But I still wasn’t beat to the point of falling asleep before my head hit the pillow. So, it wasn’t time to leave yet. I learned the hard way that a nightmare-less sleep was only possible when my eyes couldn’t stay open anymore.
That was why I opened my laptop in one of the interrogation rooms and waited for the rest of the guys to find me.
Ben plopped down on a chair across from me. “Let’s get this over with, go to sleep, then head home. I’m done with this place.”
Danny squeezed my shoulder. “Are you good to keep going, cari?o ? Today was intense. Maybe you should rest a little.”
I touched his big hand. “It’s long overdue. I promise to take it easy once we’re home.”
We all knew it was a lie. I was just glad they didn’t call me on it.
The rest of our weird team settled around the table, and Ethan sat by my side. “I figured you might want a hand getting into Matias’s account.”
I slid my laptop to him. “Hack away, Phoenix.”
As I rubbed my eyes, he clicked, clicked, clicked, and handed me the computer. “I’m in. Here’s Matias’s character. These are his tools, and these are his missions.”
“You know we’re not actually playing, right?”
His cheeks turned a light shade of pink, and I hated how endearing that was. “I figured that. I went back to his latest conversations to look for some sort of pattern. Every time he talked to Pablo, Matias picked this axe up and went to this tavern. Only then did he reach out to his father. I’ll connect your screen to the television, so we can all see it, and I’ll set the game up on my computer. As you talk to him, I’ll go back over their conversation looking for other patterns, common words, expressions, so you can sound just like Matias.”
My eyebrows rose. “That’s smart. Thank you.”
At my heavy sigh, Edward leaned over the table. “Are you sure you want to do this, kid? Once you start, there’s no turning back. And if he ever finds out you were tricking him…that can’t be good.”
“I appreciate your concern, but this needs to be done.”
He nodded. “I’ll trust your judgment. If you’ll excuse me, I need to go. But we’ll regroup soon. Stay safe, Mia.”
After he left, Mr. Dawson and Edna joined us at the table.
I clicked around in the game, trying to familiarize myself, and looked at Danny. “They speak only in Spanish.”
He pulled the chair closer to me. “Go ahead. I’ll help along the way and correct everything before you send.”
I took a deep breath. “Tomorrow, we rest.”
After the guys repeated after me—even Ethan—I started.
Matias: Greetings .
We had no idea when Pablo would see it or even if he’d interact with the game. It was a shot in the dark. It was also our best chance.
I was starting to feel the weight of the day. As the minutes ticked by, my exhaustion was settling in, and all I wanted to do was curl into a ball in my bed and forget about the world.
Pablo: Greetings.
I was startled in my chair at the loud ping of the message notification. “It’s him!”
Matias: How are you?
Pablo: Worried. You didn’t answer any of my messages.
Matias: I was too close to getting caught, I was forced into hiding. How about you?
Pablo: Looking for a place to stay.
Matias: Why can’t you stay where you are?
“Ask him where he is.”
I shook my head at Mr. Dawson, not looking away from the computer. “I can’t come on too strong, otherwise he’ll see right through me. ”
Pablo: I heard they’re after me. I need to lay low for a while.
Matias: Want me to come to you?
Pablo: Is it safe?
Matias: They’re looking for you, I’m not that important right now.
Pablo: They might follow you to find me.
Matias: What if we left the country?
I held my breath, waiting for his response.
Pablo: I still have unfinished business here to close .
“He’s still in the US,” Ben exclaimed. “That narrows it down a bit.”
“And he plans on staying for a bit longer. Can you make him talk about his plans?” Danny asked.
“On it.”
Matias: What can I do about it?
Pablo: Stay in hiding until it’s safe to meet again.
Matias: I’m going crazy doing nothing. Let me help.
Pablo: Gomes isn’t happy that you failed your last assignments and went into hiding.
Matias: It wasn’t my fault, things got out of control, but I’ll rectify that. Until then, tell me what I can do to help. Which business do you want to close first?
Pablo: The company. They’ve been messing with our operation for far too long. I thought they’d back off after one of them died.
I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to control my breathing, as indescribable pain assaulted me. The flippant way with which he referred to my brother was almost as painful as his absence. Zach didn’t just die. He took a part of us with him. His loss shattered our family and ruined so many futures, especially Haley's and Gabe's. And to think it was my fault broke me a little bit more.
With my brother in mind, I ground my teeth and pushed through the pain.
Matias: He was the main one. With him gone, we can get the others.
Pablo: He wasn’t the main one.
Matias: He was the one who arrested you, he needed to pay, and he did. Now that you’re free, we can take the others.
Pablo: He didn’t arrest me .
Matias: What do you mean?
Pablo: Gomes and I thought it’d be best we never mentioned it. But he wasn’t the one behind my arrest. His sister was. She’s the one we need to get first.
I ignored Ben, Danny, and Aaron’s curses. It was harder to ignore Ethan’s presence when he squeezed my leg in reassurance.
Matias: Then why can’t we go after her? They’re one person short.
Pablo: They aren’t. The geek from the restaurant is working with them. Also, her former boss.
“How the hell does he know all that?” Ethan asked quietly behind me.
Matias: How do you know?
Pablo: From the eyes and ears inside.
Matias: You mean Badge?
He still wasn’t revealing his location, but maybe he could let slip the identity of “Badge”, the DEA character who tattled on us to the cartel and almost cost us Ethan and Aaron’s lives .
Pablo: Yes.
Matias: Maybe I should reach out to him. He might help us go into hiding together until we can attack.
“What are you doing?” Mr. Dawson boomed.
I kept typing. “My job. Any objection?”
Pablo: We already ambushed their teams; they might suspect someone from inside is helping.
“Change the topic, Bryant.”
“Care to give me a good reason for that, Mr. Dawson?”
“This conversation is being recorded!”
“So?”
Matias: Only if they know about the ambush. For what it's worth, it could’ve been a mission gone bad.
Pablo: They know it was a trap.
Matias: Are you sure?
Pablo: Badge told me. They also have Tequila.
“It just happened. How does he know already?” I wasn’t sure anyone besides me heard Ethan’s quiet question. But it sounded like a gong inside my head.
How was Pablo so well informed?
Matias: Do you think Badge can help me find a new place?
“Why are you insisting on talking about that man, Bryant? Demand a meet-up.”
I ignored Mr. Dawson again and followed my instinct.
Pablo: Why do you need a new place?
Matias: My supplies are ending, and I’m short on cash. I was thinking about going to one of our bases. The ones the DEA doesn’t know about.
Pablo: It’s too dangerous. I’ll talk to him. He has a place not far from here, we used it before. It’s his but not in his name. We can meet there soon and keep an eye on the girl and the geek.
“‘ Not far from here ’ and ‘ keep an eye ’ on us?” Ethan pondered.
“He’s close,” I whispered.
“Push for the Badge,” Aaron instructed. “We need his identity.”
“No, we need to meet Pablo,” Mr. Dawson admonished.
“I can’t push too hard. Let me do this, he’s coming around.”
Matias: Do you think it’ll be long until you can find me? I’m getting worried, they’re hot on your track.
Pablo: Don’t worry about it.
Matias: But I do, Father. They’re dismantling our whole operation. It seems they’re getting closer to us. What if you got caught again?
Pablo: Give me a few days. I’ll arrange for you to seek shelter in Badge’s place. I’ll meet you there soon.
Matias: Is it safe for you to reach him? Want me to do it?
Pablo: No need. We have our system.
“Stop wasting our time on this Badge person. Arrange a meet-up.”
“I already told you I can’t push him. I’m reeling him in, he’ll talk without even realizing it.”
“He’ll get suspicious.”
“He will if I push this. Pablo trusts his son, but he also demands respect. Matias has no business demanding anything. ”
“You’re going to lose Pablo.”
“I will if I don’t treat this lightly.”
“We need to get to him.”
“And we also need the name of the DEA agent who’s helping him. Let me do my job so I can get them both.”
Taking us all by surprise, Mr. Dawson leaned over the table, snatched my computer, and started typing.
I jumped in my seat. “ What the hell are you doing? ”
Matias: We need to meet up now. Tell me where you are.
“What on Earth do you think you’re doing, Robert?” Edna seemed appalled. We all did.
“You just ruined our approach,” Aaron accused.
“He needs to understand the urgency of the matter.”
Ben ran his hands through his hair. “The only thing he’ll understand is that he isn’t talking to his son.”
Pablo: You’re not Matias.
Mr. Dawson fidgeted. “I can fix this.”
I pulled my laptop back. “You’ve done enough. ”
I took off my glasses to rub my eyes. There was no way out of that mess. Robbie had screwed things up spectacularly. I rubbed my forehead and placed my glasses back on.
To hell with it.
Matias: No, I’m not.
Pablo: Where is he?
Matias: Playing on a farm with other dogs, chasing chickens and squirrels.
Dots appeared and disappeared as he decided what to send.
Pablo: Is he dead?
Matias: Yes.
Pablo: How do I know that’s true?
Matias: Because I was there when it happened. Believe me, he ain’t getting any deader.
Pablo: Who are you?
Matias: I’m the “sister you need to get first.” By the way, I’m curious. Why didn’t Gomes and you want people to know I was the one who arrested you? I’m hurt.
Pablo: Son of a bitch. I’ll make you regret it .
Matias: Regret what? Your arrest? That I played a hand in Matias’s death? That my people and I busted your operation so many times? Or that I’ll get you again?
Pablo: You better watch your back. I’m coming for you, you fucking bitch.
Matias: Don’t take too long, I already have plans for the summer. By the way, Tequila sent his regards. His hands are a little tied, but Ian McAlister is taking care of his business while he’s gone…and alive.
Pablo: What does that mean?
Matias: Don’t worry, I’ll send you a picture with a note explaining everything. Where should I send it?
After that, he logged off the game.
I took off my glasses again and dropped them on the table to rub my eyes. “That was almost a waste of time.”
“Not really,” Aaron reassured me. “We know he’s in the country and close. Now that he’s aware Matias is gone, we know he’s alone and weaker.”
“Unless he gets to Carlos Gomes before we get to him,” Ben mused.
Ethan pushed his glasses up his nose. “I find it hard to believe. Pablo said Gomes isn’t happy with Matias, and I bet he isn’t thrilled with Pablo either. He’s a fugitive, his son brought nothing but loss to the cartel, and he has the whole country, and even those abroad, looking for him. That can’t be good for business. My guess: Pablo is on his own unless he can pull a rabbit from a hat he doesn’t have.”
“What about the DEA agent he was talking about?” Danny asked.
Mr. Dawson fidgeted in his seat. “Maybe I should—”
“I think you’ve done enough for today.” I had it up here with him, and I was in no mood to deal with his questionable ways. I stood up. “I’m going to head out. Then I’m going home. The agency knows how to find us.”
Mr. Dawson stood up as well. “There’s one thing you never told us. How did you know about the ambush?”
I was about to answer when Ethan jumped in. “Does it really matter? The important thing is that they got to us in time…Sir.”
I glanced at him in questioning, and he shook his head lightly, asking me not to say a word.
The jerk squinted his eyes at me. “I just find it weird that Ms. Bryant’s company would have access to that kind of information.”
I shrugged. “My horoscope said I’d be betrayed. I couldn’t ignore a warning from the Universe.”
Mr. Dawson’s lips thinned. “It’s high time you start taking this seriously. And start respecting me as I deserve. ”
“I already respect you exactly how much you deserve. I’m not paid nearly enough to respect you more than that.”
He raised his nose. “I’m your superior.”
“Oh, but you’re not. Remember the day you canned me for doing the right thing?”
“I signed your contract!”
“And you can break it anytime. Tell you what: find anyone who knows the cartel more than I do, and I give back the money the agency has paid.” He stayed silent, throwing daggers at me with his eyes. “That’s what I thought.”
He turned his ire to Aaron. “You better know what you’re doing, Scott.” Then he stormed off, with a fuming Edna in tow.
Ben smiled at his back. “What a nice fellow. Well, that’s it for me. I’m going back to the hotel. Are you all coming?”
“There’s not much for us to do here,” Aaron said. “I think it’s time you follow them to Holy Water, Ethan.”
He nodded. “I’ll talk to my grandpa first and fix a few last-minute things, then I’ll head their way.”
They said their goodbyes to leave, but I stayed behind with Ethan.
“Why didn’t you tell the jerk how we found out about the ambush?”
He looked around, making sure we were alone, yet spoke quietly anyway. “Aaron told me something about you hearing about it from their audio—I still want to know how. But the thing is…you got the audio from the software I created, right?” I nodded, and he whispered. “They don’t know about the program.”
“What?” I gasped and placed my hand over my heart. “Are you keeping secrets? Is the Boy Scout secretly naughty?”
He shifted his weight between his feet. “Aaron knows about it, but I haven’t told anyone else.”
“Why haven’t you?” He looked down and pursed his lips, and then it dawned on me. “You already suspected someone in the agency is dirty.”
“Look, I don’t know what’s going on. But the ambush; the dress down I faced when I chose to warn Danny he was in danger instead of running after you; Tequila ’s reaction today; Pablo’s conversation. It all adds up. There’s someone around us in cahoots with the cartel.”
“Wait. What is it about Danny?”
He sighed. “A while back before Matias was killed, I was…kind of…”
“After me.”
“Well, yeah. And that night when you punched me—”
“The first time?”
He looked at me annoyed. “Yes, the first time. I was supposed to have gone after you, since you seemed to be connected to the investigation. Instead, I decided to stay back and warned Danny the cartel was after him, his family, and you guys. Well, my superiors didn’t like that. Not one bit. I almost lost the assignment.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thank you. It didn’t sit well with me that they’d rather I let someone die, than…I don’t know, not carry on with investigating the cartel’s activities. I guess you can relate to that.”
I bit the inside of my lips. “More than you can imagine.”
Before I could leave, he blurted, “Thank you for saving my ass. We didn’t start this…situation with the right foot. But despite our different approaches here and there, I guess we can say we work well together.”
I thought about what he was saying and took a deep breath. “We’re a team. We don’t need to like or trust each other for me to have your back. I’m still navigating this whole new sea between us. The truth is I have no reason to trust and all the right not to. But for some reason, I’m willing. I don’t know if it’s because the guys vouch for you or because I’m trying to listen to my gut, but I want to try to work with you without ripping into each other’s throats. So, rest assured that as long as we fight together, you can count on me.”
He stretched his hand for me to shake. “And I’ll protect your life with my own if needed. ”
I shook his hand. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
We stood there, staring at each other, still holding hands, until he broke the silence, “I’m sorry.”
“About what? Being let go? You had nothing to do with that. I know I kind of blamed you for replacing me, but I guess I was just…hurt? Wary? I’m coming to realize you’re kind of…okay.”
He chuckled. “You’re being too generous. No, not that. Well, also that.” He sighed. “I’m sorry for…what I said before. I don’t know what happened with…your brother, I had no business making assumptions.”
I pulled my hand from his, already missing his warmth. “Don’t worry about it.”
“But I do. It was unfair, I shouldn’t have said that, and I’m truly sorry.”
I nodded and bit the inside of my cheek, focusing on controlling my breathing to hold back the tears that were already forming. The sincerity in his eyes was making it even harder for me to control my emotions.
He looked at me disturbed. “Come on, Mia. Just say something. Curse. Scream. Yell at me.”
I shook my head and said quietly, hating my broken words, “I can’t argue against facts.”