“I think ours. Sounds like Noah was taken to keep him quiet. Agent Williams is here. He’s in Mandeville, wherever that is.”
“A town right outside of New Orleans. Is Tyler in on this, too?Can you get out of there? God, I wish you would have come with us.”
“It wouldn’t have made a difference. They would have gotten me back somehow and maybe someone would have gotten hurt in the process. They also talked about somebody named Riley but I don’t know who that is. Tyler was out there with them for a few minutes but Thomas sent him on some sort of errand before Mateo showed himself. He’s using Tyler and Tyler has no idea.” I still hate Tyler for what he’s done and for what he’s doing but a very small part of me feels so sorry for him. He must really look up to Thomas to be involved with this and Thomas is making a puppet out of him, too. I totally believed him when he said he would make sure we were okay. But now I know that’s not a promise he can keep. “Whatever they have planned, it’s for three p.m. today. Agent Williams will be led in when it’s all over. Hammond isn’t the mole either, but Agent Williams will think that.”
“Why do they need you? I don’t get this.”
I quickly tell him about Mateo’s and Thomas’s plan to kill him.
Ethan lets out a deep breath. “The best thing we’ve got going for us is that they don’t know we’re on to them. Check everything you have for a tracker, especially your shoes. It will be small and fit into a tiny space. I’ll figure out how to get out of this house without being followed. You stay put until I can get there. Keep the phone powered on but put it on silent. I’ll be there in two hours.”
“Ethan, don’t come here. Go get Mom. Make sure she’s safe. Find a way to get in touch with Agent Williams and tell him what’s really going on. Tell him to come to the Quarter and to keep his eyes peeled for me. And tell him about Hammond. But you stay away.”
“I’ll make sure someone gets your Mom and I’ll get Catherine’s uncle and his buddy to find Williams, but I’m coming back for you right now. It’ll be hours before they’re even talking about a plan. If I wait for them, it could be too late. I love you. Keep the phone on.”
He ends the call.
I could scream! He’s so stubborn! Why is he risking coming back? He’s hurt and is no match for what’s happening here. There may be no stopping him from coming back, but I will do anything in my power to keep him out of this disaster, so I power the phone off. Tiptoeing back out on the balcony, I listen for anything else I can find out about the plan for today.
The wind picks up again, blowing through the small trees planted in the courtyard, and the door I left open to my room slams shut.
Both men stop talking and look toward my room. I throw myself against the wall and I don’t think they’ve seen me. I crawl back to my room, opening the door just enough to slip through, just as I hear steps coming up the outdoor stairs. I can’t let them have any clue I’ve seen Mateo or know anything they’ve said.
Racing to the bed, I shove the gun and the phone under my pillow and get the covers over me just as I catch a glimpse ofThomas’s shadow fall across the window.
I fake sleep. Let every muscle relax and concentrate on even breathing. I’m not sure how long he stands there because I am terrified of opening my eyes, but after what seems like an eternity, I inch my lids open.
He’s gone.
I’m still lying in the bed an hour later. I can’t quit thinking about the conversation I overheard.
There’s a knock on the door and then Thomas’s booming voice asking, “Are you up?”
I’m still in the bed, mostly buried under the covers mainly because I can’t find the will to get up.
“Come in,” I call back.
Thomas walks in and looks around. He’s here to find the gun. “We’ll be leaving here in a few hours.”
“Where are we going?” I ask.
He shakes his head and answers, “You’ll know everything all in due time.”
Oh, I’m sure I will.
“I’m here. I know you have someone watching Mom. Please tell me so I can be prepared.”
He paces around the room, eyeing every surface. As if I would leave the gun out in the open.
As I watch Thomas open drawers, I still try to process what is going to happen today. Mateo will double-cross Vega. Thomas will take over Señor Vega’s position and Mateo will take over Thomas’s. Win-win for them both.
“So who will be the big boss after today? You?”
He doesn’t answer but I see a small grin on his normally emotionless face.
“Is it that easy? The other cartels will let you just slip into his place?”
I need him talking.
