Silent Pursuit Page 14

  She slammed one shut and wanted to scream. “Nothing. Where do I look, Mario? Help me out here, will you?” She ran her hands down her jeans. “I’m appealing to the wrong person, aren’t I, God? I’m sorry. I just don’t know where…” She stopped, looked at the picture on the wall and stepped closer. Wait a minute. The safe. It seemed that Mario had mentioned a safe once upon a time.

  Behind a picture on the wall. But surely that was too obvious. There was no way he would have hidden anything there—would he? She pulled the picture away from the wall and stared at the combination dial in front of her. Without a doubt, she knew if Mario had put something for her in the safe, then the combination would be something she could figure out. Starting with her birth date, she worked her way through every number combination she could think of.

  And stepped back with a groan. What would he use? Even his sister’s birthday didn’t work. Nor the day she died. Not even his grandmother’s birthday.

  With her head against her knees, she thought. Pictured every date, every number she could come up with. Lifting her head, she stared at the desk. At Mina’s wedding picture sitting so innocently in its silver oval frame.

  As though in slow motion, Gina reached for the dial once again and spun it to clear it out, then entered what should have been her wedding day.

  The safe opened.

  Gina reached in and pulled out stacks of papers, a picture album. Patrice’s birth certificate—and death certificate. A stack of cash.

  And a DVD player.

  With a DVD taped to the bottom.

  She had a feeling this is what she’d been looking for.

  With shaky fingers, she reached for the cell phone to call Ian.

  She turned the machine on and the home screen came up telling her to insert the disc.

  Sucking in a deep breath, she followed the instructions, then pressed Play. Mario’s face filled the screen and the breath left her in a painful whoosh.

  “Hi, Gina,” he said, “I guess you’re still alive if you’re watching this.”

  “Right. I’m still alive, Mario. No thanks to you,” she muttered.

  “I’m really sorry about the crazy chase I’ve led you on. And if you just stumbled on this by accident, don’t worry about the chase I mentioned.”

  “What is it?” Ian asked as he stepped into the room.

  She pressed the pause button and turned the computer so he could see it. “I found this DVD Mario made.” She looked around. “In fact, he made it right here in this room. Have they found them yet?”

  “No, not yet. They’re still searching. I half-heartedly offered to come help, but Joseph threatened me with my life if I left you. I didn’t argue.”

  “Here, watch.” She pressed Play again as Ian scooted closer.

  Mario spoke. “I guess I’m dead now. Let me just tell you that you can stop worrying about my eternal resting place. All of this has really brought home the fact that I need God. Everything you and my grandmother ever preached to me has sunk in. So, I’m good there.”

  Gina couldn’t stop the tears of relief that flooded her eyes. Her heart ached with joy. Thank you, Lord. Ian’s warm fingers curled around hers and squeezed.

  “Anyway, listen, I guess you’ve figured out by now that I’ve got some pretty nasty people after me. Basically, it comes down to this—I messed up, big time.”

  “Who’s after me, Mario?” Gina whispered to the screen.

  “Our last two missions were in Colombia—where Patrice died.” He swallowed hard and scrubbed his chin. “You’d asked me over and over what was wrong after I came home from that first one, but I just couldn’t…share.” His throat bobbed again and he looked straight at her. “I’m sorry for that. The authorities know it’s the Rodriguez family behind her death. They just can’t prove it. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Five more minutes…” Tears welled in his eyes and Gina swiped her own.

  “I started investigating her death and one day I saw Bandit McGuire. He signaled that he was undercover but wanted to talk. He’d catch up to me later.”

  Ian got up and checked the window, so Gina paused the video for a moment. “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know. I feel like Joseph should have called me by now. They should have found those guys…or something.”

  “Why don’t you call him?”

  He gripped the phone so tight his knuckles turned white. Then he relaxed, walked back to her and said, “No, I’ll give them a little longer. Let’s finish seeing what Mario had to say.”

  Gina started the disc again. “That night, someone tried to kill me in my hotel room. Fortunately, I was the better fighter. I…uh…killed him and escaped to a bar up the street, where I called Mac. The television was playing. Time passed. Then suddenly there was a news flash saying Thomas Rodriguez had been found dead in a hotel room. Two days later, while everyone was at the funeral, I broke into the house.”

  Gina blinked. He’d broken into Esteban Rodriguez’s home? “What were you thinking, Mario?”

  How had he done it?

  But he had skills ordinary men didn’t have. And he’d managed something no ordinary person could have pulled off.

  He spoke from the screen. “All I managed to find was a microchip stashed in a drawer. So, I snitched it, hoping something was on it, replaced everything the way it had been and left the way I came in.”

  He sucked in a deep breath and leaned forward. “This was the family responsible for paying the guerrillas who killed Patrice, and I’m going to get them, Gina. One way or another.”

  “You went after Patrice’s killer. Oh, Mario, you should have told me.” Gina shifted, narrowing her eyes at the screen.

  “I knew the only way I was going to buy some time was to have some leverage.”

  Ian rubbed his face. “I have a bad feeling about what he’s going to say next.”

  Mario stood, paced out of sight of the camera, then came back, sat down and cleared his throat. “I…uh…found Rodriguez’s daughter, talked her into having coffee with me. I had this plan to…um…kidnap her and hold her until I could figure out what to do. Also for leverage when these guys came after me.”

  Ian groaned.

  Gina closed her eyes and sucked in a breath.

  “But it didn’t work out. Jase—” Mario let out a disgusted humorless laugh “—the idiot, showed up. He…uh…took some pictures. Confronted me in front of Celestina Rodriguez and accused me of cheating on you. I said some things I shouldn’t have and…” He rubbed his hands together, then scrubbed a hand through his hair. “Anyway, about that time, I noticed Bandit standing under the awning of a building trying to get my attention. He obviously didn’t want Jase to know he was there, so I sent Jase on his way and met Bandit. An informant had come through and he needed someone to help him out, be a part of the team he already had there. I said sure.

  “Only it’s a setup. We get to the warehouse and Bandit pulls a gun on me—tells me to give him the microchip.” Now Mario looked embarrassed. He glanced away from the camera, then gave a rueful shake of his head. “I missed a camera.” Then he shrugged. “I was in a hurry—what can I say? Bandit played the video for me, and it’s clearly me stealing the chip from the office.”

  Gina groaned. “Why didn’t you ask for help? And why was Thomas the one to go after you? Don’t they have hired guns for that?”

  She hadn’t directed her question to Ian, but he answered anyway. “He was working with Bandit.”

  “What?”

  “For some reason Bandit didn’t want anyone to know he was still alive—or where he was living. On a chance encounter, Mario sees him. Bandit knows Mario will tell someone, so he has to get rid of him.”

  She closed her eyes. Had it all been a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time?

  Mario continued. “Bandit admitted he’s a part of the gunrunners. I knew he wasn’t the leader, but he wouldn’t give me a name. We fought—I shot him and escaped. Only now I’m wonder
ing who else in the unit might be involved.”

  Ian stood and paced to the window. Gina jumped. She’d been so involved in Mario’s story she’d tuned out the rest of the world. Probably not a good idea. But Ian hadn’t. “What is it?”

  “Joseph should have call—” His ringing phone cut him off. He snatched it up. “Joseph, did you find them? I see. Okay, thanks. See you soon.”

  He hung up. “I don’t know how much time we have left. But we still don’t have the microchip and Joseph and Catelyn are still searching for these guys that seem to have disappeared. The police are helping, but it’s such a small setup that they just don’t have the manpower they need. They’ve called in help from some surrounding counties, but honestly, they’re no match for these guys.”

  Anxiety tightened her stomach and she fiddled with the play button. “We need to finish watching this. He may tell us where it is by the end of the DVD.”

  “Turn it back on, but be ready to run if I tell you to.”

  “We can’t leave without that microchip. Mario’s death can’t be for nothing.”

  He thought for a moment, staring at Mario’s paused face on the screen. “I’ve got an idea.”

  “What?”

  “I’m going to call Mac and ask him for help.”

  “Do you think that’s wise?”

  “Guess we’ll find out.” He held up his phone. “It’s ringing.”

  Mac answered on the second ring. “Masterson, where are you?”

  “At a safe place, but I need your help.”

  “Anything.”

  “Gina and I are getting close to finding what Mario hid. It’s a microchip, but he never had a chance to look at it real well before he was killed. And while he’s left us a trail of clues to follow, he hasn’t come right out and said where this chip is.”

  “But you think you can find it?”

  “With a little more time and your help, yes, I think so.”

  “Tell me what you need and I’ll make sure you get it.”

  Ian appreciated the man’s willingness. “All right, I need to make sure we’re safe. We’ve figured out Bandit is the traitor in this mess, and we need you to keep him away from here. We can’t search constantly looking over our shoulders, waiting for him to show up.”

  “Not a problem. I can have my guys wherever you need us. Give me your location.”

  Ian did so, figuring Bandit already knew where they were anyway and was probably on the way out to the farm. Maybe Mac would be able to intercede, and they would have a bit more time to search. “Thanks, Mac, and I’ll call you as soon as we find that microchip so you can see that it gets to the proper authorities.”

  “Will do, Masterson. You’re a good man and I’d be glad to have you back on my team anytime you’re ready.”

  “Appreciate that. Gotta go. I’ll call you soon.”

  They hung up and Ian returned to Gina. “I’ve got two more phone calls to make and I’ll be right there. I think everything is going to be just fine.”

  “You think Mac was the right person to call?”

  “I think Mac was the perfect person to call.”

  NINETEEN

  Gina watched Ian pace as he waited for whoever he was calling to answer. Turning back to the DVD, she decided to go ahead and watch and if anything major turned up, she would fill him in.

  She pressed Play and Mario came to life once more. A pang filled her as she watched him talk and move. She was so relieved he’d gotten right with God before his death that tears came each time she thought about it. Thank you, Lord, that he’s with You.

  Gina reached up to grasp the necklace, wondering when he’d had time to put the key in it. She thought about some of their last moments together and knew it had been the day they’d gone hiking. He’d taken the necklace from her to examine the picture of his sister.

  “She would have loved you, Gina,” he’d told her.

  And she’d looked into his brown eyes and told him, “I’m sure I would have loved her, too.”

  He’d put his arm around her, and they’d watched the sun set together. Then he’d left and she hadn’t seen him again—until now. She tuned back in to what he was saying.

  “I knew Ian would help you. You see, Gina, you were the reason he left the unit. He was in love with you.”

  She gasped, pressed Pause and, with a pounding heart, whirled to look for Ian. He’d disappeared and she wilted with relief. She looked at Mario, frozen on the screen. “What? Are you crazy?”

  Certifiable.

  Ian was in love with her? Had been in love with her all this time? He came back in the room and she looked at him, still talking on the phone, pacing from one end to the other. She didn’t know what the other person was saying, but Ian looked intense.

  Him? In love with her? There was no way that could be possible. Ian wouldn’t have left the unit just because of her—would he? She was the reason he’d left? It didn’t compute.

  Flicking the play button, she gathered her composure as she listened to the rest of what Mario had to say.

  “So anyway, now you know.”

  “Know what?” Ian’s deep voice rumbled beside her and she jumped.

  “Um…nothing. That part wasn’t important. Just something personal between Mario and me.”

  Sympathy softened his eyes. “All right. Would you like to watch the rest of the video by yourself?”

  Did she? No, Mario probably wouldn’t mention anything again about Ian being in love with her, and they were running out of time. “No, stay. It’s fine.”

  He stood behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders. She shivered and closed her eyes. Should she feel guilty? Maybe. Did she? Not really. Mario had given her the freedom to love again. He’d even picked the guy for her. How ironic.

  “I hope you can forgive me, Gina. Everything I did, I did to protect you.” He stood and carried the camera from room to room. He zoomed in on various things in each room as though taking inventory—or saying goodbye. “Thank you for loving my grandmother. You brought light back into her life after Patrice died. And she loved this house. I was looking forward to living here again one day.” He stopped in Patrice’s room, panned around it, then he was back in front of the camera again. “Gina, you were the only woman in her life that didn’t disappoint her. Always a picture of true beauty. Anyway, until we meet again.” He kissed two fingers and placed them on the lens of the camera. Then it went blank.

  And Gina knew she’d truly seen the last of Mario Anthony.

  And would bet her last breath there was a last clue hidden somewhere in the video. And she still didn’t know what to look for.

  Exhausted beyond belief, emotionally wrung out and so frustrated she wanted to scream, she sat back in the chair and stared at the computer.

  “Any idea?” Ian asked.

  She jerked, then looked up at him and blinked. “No.”

  Weariness crossed his face and he patted her shoulder. “All right, then, I’ll get in contact with Joseph and let him know we just can’t find it.”

  Tears blurred her vision once more. “I’m sorry, Ian. I just…I can’t…I don’t know!” She threw her hands up in defeat and stood.

  He quickly crossed to her side and gathered her close. “It’s all right, Gina.”

  “No, it isn’t,” she mumbled against his chest, inhaling his sweet male scent. He was in love with her?

  She slid her arms around his waist and rested there for one brief, peaceful moment; then it was over. She pulled away. “I’ll figure it out. I have to.”

  He let her go, the longing in his eyes making her heart thump. Oh, boy.

  She turned to leave the office and the necklace around her neck flashed a reflection in the mirror on the opposite wall.

  And she stopped.

  Looked back at the computer screen.

  Then back at the mirror.

  “What is it?” he asked, eyes sharp and questioning, any trace of emotion gone.

  She moved back
to the desk. “Can you play the last part of that DVD again? Just the part where Mario’s saying goodbye.”

  “Sure.” He clicked the necessary buttons to bring up the disc again, then forwarded to the part she’d requested and pressed Play.

  She narrowed her eyes, intent on watching each picture. “Ian, did you hear what he said?”

  “About what?”

  His phone rang. He looked at the screen and raised a brow. “It’s Mac.”

  “Go ahead and answer it.”

  She registered Ian’s side of the conversation absentmindedly as she thought about her next move and watched the end one more time.

  Ian was saying, “No, we haven’t found it, but I think if we have about thirty more minutes, we’ll have it. Yeah. Yeah. Thanks for the help.”

  As Mario did his walk-through of the house, the picture of Mario’s sister stood out to her this time. He’d zoomed in on the portrait, then out and moved on.

  The portrait. It still hung on the wall in his sister’s bedroom. The portrait that had been painted two weeks before she’d died. A picture of true beauty.

  Reaching into the back pocket of her jeans, she pulled out the now-ratty letter she’d found at the beach house. Scanning through it, she stopped at the part that said, “Grandmother thought the world of you. You’re the only woman in her life who didn’t disappoint her.”

  “The only woman in her life who didn’t disappoint her. Now that’s not true.”

  “What’s not true?”

  “I wasn’t the only woman in her life that didn’t disappoint her. At first I thought Mario must be referring to his mother because of the abandonment. I guess I think of Patrice, his sister, as a child, but maybe Mario included her in this.”

  “And?”

  “I think Mario’s giving me another clue here. I think Patrice’s portrait has something to do with all this.”

  “Where is it?”

  “Follow me.”

  Turning on her heel, she led the way down the hall to Patrice’s old room. Perfectly preserved, it looked as if it waited on her to return from some teenage jaunt.

  And the portrait hung above the bed. A beautiful piece, it captured the girl’s gentle spirit and love of life. She looked a lot like Mario. Sadness engulfed Gina as she thought about the brother and sister who’d both died too young.