getting squat for babysitting all those months. But that’s okay if you’re Diego Vasquez, because smuggling drugs and doing favors for corrupt federal agents is only part of your game. He can still sell that five-year-old kid and make his money back a thousand times over—which is what he intends to do. Sanchez said Diego has a buyer lined up, and Marco starts the journey to his new home on Saturday.”
Rayna inhaled audibly, followed by a muttered curse. Nate’s stomach churned threateningly as he tried to wrap his head around the insanity. No way in hell was that going to happen. “When do we leave?”
“Right away,” Joe said. “We’ll stagger our arrival in Nogales—go in small groups. Flying a U.S. military Huey in there will attract attention. No way around it. So Ty and Rayna will leave tonight, take a commercial flight into Nogales International, and check into a motel near the border—as Mr. and Mrs. Whitlock. They’ll be one possible exit strategy.” Joe paused and glanced at Ty.
Ty’s gaze swept to Nate. “You still like to camp?”
Nate shrugged. “Haven’t camped since Val left, but I’ve still got all my equipment.” Val had been his high school sweetheart and everyone, including himself, thought they’d be together for the rest of their lives. Two and a half years ago, she’d left him, unwilling to live with the uncertainty of being a cop’s girlfriend, much less anything more serious.
He raised a questioning eyebrow and looked back and forth between the two men, unable to shake the feeling he was missing something obvious. “I’m in. I don’t care what you want me to do, so let’s stop tiptoeing around. Okay?”
“The rest of us will take the chopper as far as Tucson this afternoon. Jim and I will make our way to Nogales and cross the border. I’ve got an old friend there who’ll put us up for a day or two. Walker will work his way across the border and stay out of sight until we need him.” Joe leaned back in his chair and stretched his legs.
“And . . .” Nate readjusted his hat. What could be so bad they didn’t want to tell him?
“I have a friend in Nogales—Special Agent Benjamin Greeley, FBI. He’s been investigating Diego’s activities for about a year and was instrumental in locating Marco. Ben has agreed to help in exchange for any information we can give him on Diego’s slave ring. He’ll arrange for the transportation we need. As soon as we land in Tucson, there’ll be two Jeeps and an RV waiting. You’ll take the RV and drive to Patagonia Lake for a couple days of camping, hiking, and fishing.
“If Marco is for sale, I’ll try to convince Diego to sell him to me. If that doesn’t work, we’ll have to hit them hard and fast, then decide the best way to get the kid across the border. Right now, I’m leaning toward using the RV. You’ll only have to get him as far as the border. Then use your badge and call in the U.S. cavalry if necessary. No one should suspect tourists in a gas-guzzling motor home, holding up traffic, of being the getaway car. Everyone will think it’s just you and your wife enjoying a little R and R.”
“Whoa, wait a minute. Wife? ” Nate was pretty sure he already knew the answer, and Joe’s silent stare confirmed it. Considering how irritated she’d been with him when they left his bedroom, and how protective Jim Brady had acted when he’d seen them exit together—hell no.
“If you’re considering having Alex and me play house, I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.” Before he got the words out, he sensed her watching him. “I mean, you don’t need me and Alex to team up. You’ve already got Ty and Rayna. They like each other. Hell, they practically are married. They’re perfect for the part.”
“That’s why the two of them are going in together. They’ll stay in a nice hotel, play the newlywed tourists, and be ready to transport Marco north if it falls that way.” Joe glanced
Rayna inhaled audibly, followed by a muttered curse. Nate’s stomach churned threateningly as he tried to wrap his head around the insanity. No way in hell was that going to happen. “When do we leave?”
“Right away,” Joe said. “We’ll stagger our arrival in Nogales—go in small groups. Flying a U.S. military Huey in there will attract attention. No way around it. So Ty and Rayna will leave tonight, take a commercial flight into Nogales International, and check into a motel near the border—as Mr. and Mrs. Whitlock. They’ll be one possible exit strategy.” Joe paused and glanced at Ty.
Ty’s gaze swept to Nate. “You still like to camp?”
Nate shrugged. “Haven’t camped since Val left, but I’ve still got all my equipment.” Val had been his high school sweetheart and everyone, including himself, thought they’d be together for the rest of their lives. Two and a half years ago, she’d left him, unwilling to live with the uncertainty of being a cop’s girlfriend, much less anything more serious.
He raised a questioning eyebrow and looked back and forth between the two men, unable to shake the feeling he was missing something obvious. “I’m in. I don’t care what you want me to do, so let’s stop tiptoeing around. Okay?”
“The rest of us will take the chopper as far as Tucson this afternoon. Jim and I will make our way to Nogales and cross the border. I’ve got an old friend there who’ll put us up for a day or two. Walker will work his way across the border and stay out of sight until we need him.” Joe leaned back in his chair and stretched his legs.
“And . . .” Nate readjusted his hat. What could be so bad they didn’t want to tell him?
“I have a friend in Nogales—Special Agent Benjamin Greeley, FBI. He’s been investigating Diego’s activities for about a year and was instrumental in locating Marco. Ben has agreed to help in exchange for any information we can give him on Diego’s slave ring. He’ll arrange for the transportation we need. As soon as we land in Tucson, there’ll be two Jeeps and an RV waiting. You’ll take the RV and drive to Patagonia Lake for a couple days of camping, hiking, and fishing.
“If Marco is for sale, I’ll try to convince Diego to sell him to me. If that doesn’t work, we’ll have to hit them hard and fast, then decide the best way to get the kid across the border. Right now, I’m leaning toward using the RV. You’ll only have to get him as far as the border. Then use your badge and call in the U.S. cavalry if necessary. No one should suspect tourists in a gas-guzzling motor home, holding up traffic, of being the getaway car. Everyone will think it’s just you and your wife enjoying a little R and R.”
“Whoa, wait a minute. Wife? ” Nate was pretty sure he already knew the answer, and Joe’s silent stare confirmed it. Considering how irritated she’d been with him when they left his bedroom, and how protective Jim Brady had acted when he’d seen them exit together—hell no.
“If you’re considering having Alex and me play house, I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.” Before he got the words out, he sensed her watching him. “I mean, you don’t need me and Alex to team up. You’ve already got Ty and Rayna. They like each other. Hell, they practically are married. They’re perfect for the part.”
“That’s why the two of them are going in together. They’ll stay in a nice hotel, play the newlywed tourists, and be ready to transport Marco north if it falls that way.” Joe glanced
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