The minutes ticked by, and he prayed for his father.
The first body to emerge from the dumpster was Juan’s.
Axe crossed himself and said a prayer for Juan’s soul. “Wrap him up and call your contacts at the morgue. We can’t let word get out that Juan died here.”
The next body was none other than Joshua Cano’s.
Both guards gasped and crossed themselves.
“Any more in there?” Axe asked.
“No, sir,” the first guard said.
“You two wrap up the bodies and take them to the morgue,” Axe ordered.
While they went in search of a tarp, Axe shined Adolfo’s cell phone flashlight into the dumpster.
There was no sign of his father or anyone else inside. The sides were smeared with blood, and the stench stuck to Axe’s nostrils.
His father wasn’t there. Had he climbed out? Axe spotted bloody scuff marks that could be a sign that someone had either crawled or been dragged.
He followed the trail of blood as far as he could, but they ended abruptly at the driveway. Whoever it was had gotten into a vehicle. Now what?
Axe had to warn Leanna, and he had to take a chance by using Adolfo’s cell phone.
He keyed in Leanna’s number, but there was no answer. He left a message, “Hey, babe, you know who this is. I’m okay, but warn your father. She’s after his head. I’m on the inside looking for my father. Stay far away and keepla bambinasafe. Both of them. Don’t call me back, babe.”
“Who are you calling babe?” Veronica’s high-pitched voice squeaked. She stared at Axe from behind the barrel of a rifle.
“Oh, I was looking for you.” Axe put on his most charming, crooked smile. “You really ought to find a new bodyguard. Adolfo’s not the right man.”
“I can see that.” Veronica lowered the rifle. “Good job telling the guys to clean up the dumpster. We’re ready for the Federales.”
“Yeah? How?” Axe stood up and slipped the phone into his pocket. As much as he hated her touch, he offered her his arm.
She took it and giggled. “Paid off our guy to look the other way. Thanks for the tip. Now we can have our party without any worries.”
“I thought it better not to have the evidence of the killings on the grounds,” Axe said, extending his hand for the rifle. “Let me get that for you.”
She gave him the rifle. “I looked you up, Mr. Axe Salvadori. It looks like you have a profile with both Bad Boys for Hire and Jazzy Gems Escort Service. What’s your real reason for being down here?”
“Like I said, I was Rivera’s prisoner,” Axe said. “I was on a job when he caught me. You don’t mind if I look around at the fortifications of this place, do you?”
“Actually, I do mind,” Veronica said. “I’m starving, and I need you to dress up for dinner. The gates open at nine for the party, but don’t worry, I have every position defended. I’ve invited Tomas Rivera to the celebration and asked him to bring his daughter and granddaughter. So, you see? Nothing to worry about. They will all be shot when I say so.”
“Just make sure no one takes a shot at you,” Axe said, barely able to keep his voice steady.
“With you guarding my body, I’m sure I’ll be very safe and satisfied.” She pursed her lips, expecting a kiss.
