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Tino sat beside the road waiting for the drug shipment to go by. He’d followed all of Garza’s directions with one small change. He’d called Rico and told him to follow the shipment and discover where the drugs were held until they were distributed. But not to move on the building for a day or two or Garza would know it was Tino who supplied the information.
Sitting in the dark watching the vehicles zip by, all he could think of was Isabella. What did she discover today? Why did señora Garza take her into the basement? That scared him more than Garza finding out he was DEA.
He flipped open his burner phone and hit the button for Juanita. One. Two. Three rings. ¡Coño! Why wasn’t she answering? Had something happened to her?
Six rings.
“Hello?” Out of breath but alive, Isabella answered.
His heart started beating again. “Querida, where are you? When you did not answer... I saw you go into the basement with señora Garza and all kinds of things—”
“I’m fine. I was packing.”
Relief rushed through him like a surge of adrenaline. “That is wonderful. You will no longer be in danger, and I can wrap up what I am doing.”
The silence on the other end stood the hair on his arms at attention. “Querida, you are going back to Arizona?”
“No. I told the Garzas I was, but I’m just moving across town to the other museums so I can research in anonymity.”
“Why? What more do you need to know?” The vehicle with the drug shipment flew by. He shifted into drive and charged onto the highway behind it.
“I’ve discovered more unaccounted for items, and I believe this is more than stealing artifacts.”
His head throbbed from trying to keep his attention on the vehicle and the conversation. Especially when the conversation was so unpleasant. “You know how they were stolen. You have accomplished your mission.”
“But there is more and it could be more damaging than the stolen artifacts. I believe someone is trying to take over Garza’s empire.”
“Sí, everyone who he does business with.” Tino didn’t need her getting mixed up with the drug wars going on.
“Someone on the inside.”
Her softly spoken words zinged to his brain. “Who?”
“His wife.”
Two motorcycles sped onto the road, following the drug shipment.
“¡Coño! We’ll discuss this later. Call and tell me where you end up.” He slapped the phone shut and sped after the thieves. There was no way anyone other than the driver could have tipped off Garza’s enemies of the changed route. Now, he had to capture one of them so Garza didn’t believe he was the traitor.
~*~
Isabella hung up the phone and stuffed the last of her things into her suitcase. She traveled light. A small suitcase and her backpack. She’d already called a taxi to take her to the airport. From there she’d take a taxi to the Marriott where she and Tino had spent such a pleasurable night. It was within walking distance of the National Anthropology Museum. Before leaving on this mission, she’d arranged with WIA to get credentials as an anthropologist to request records from the Templo Mayor museum if she couldn’t find the information at the National museum that she needed.
Felix was still off duty when she checked out. “Would you give this to Felix when he comes to work?” she asked, handing the clerk a sealed envelope. She wanted Felix to call the phone Tino gave her when he returned to work. She needed a way to contact Alphonso. His knowledge of the city’s tunnels would help when she took photos of the three statues in the Garza’s possession. It was risky to pull him into her mission, but she could tell he wasn’t gang material. She could get him to the states and into an academic world that would give him options and opportunities he couldn’t get being a gopher for a gang.
In case Karyme had someone watching her, Isabella instructed the cab driver where to go as he stashed her suitcase in the trunk of the taxi. At the airport, she tipped the man and headed into the building. She didn’t know how far the eyes of the Garzas reached, so she stood in line to get a ticket as she dialed the Marriot’s number.
“Yes, I’m Doctor Sanford, and I have a reservation at your hotel. I just arrived at the airport and would like you to send a car to terminal two, por favor.”
“We can have a car for you at the arrival entrance in one hour,” said a young woman with barely any accent.
“I’ll be waiting.” Isabella closed the phone and found a spot that was secluded from the main thoroughfare. She’d hide out here watching the people for forty-five minutes then wait at the curb. Standing at the curb for an hour would draw attention to her. Right now, she didn’t know who her enemies were.
The phone Tino gave her buzzed. She didn’t know the number.
“Hello?” She hesitated to answer a number she didn’t know.
“Dr. Mumphrey, you wished me to call you?”
“Is this Felix?” She hadn’t expected to hear from him this soon, but she was happy to get started early on her plans.
“Sí.”
“I need to contact Alphonso,” she said, wondering how she would explain her need of the man’s cousin when she was supposed to be leaving the country.
“Why would you need my cousin? Do you plan to turn him into the policia?” The wariness in the man’s voice was warranted.
“No. I need him to run an errand for me. I want to send something special home to my boyfriend.” She hated lying especially to a man who had so far proven to be honest.
“I will give him your number and he will call you if he wants to help.” The phone clicked and silence filled her ear.
“Shamutz!”
A lady walking by stared at her oddly.
She didn’t want this number given to Alphonso or anyone. It was the only phone she had for contact with Tino. If Alphonso turned her into the Bohu gang...
This was one time when she needed her mind to function at top form. If the Bohu gang wanted her dead, they’d had plenty of time since she’d spotted Alphonso and talked with him, to kill her. So that meant they either didn’t believe her a threat or Alphonso hadn’t told them everything. That could work to her advantage. Would they be interested in taking down Garza? She could use that as leverage to get Alphonso to help her. She’d be showing him and the Bohu gang a way to infiltrate the Garza compound unnoticed. She could warn Tino and he could get out when trouble started
With this little nugget of inspiration at the forefront of her mind, she wandered out to the sidewalk thankful there were lights. The people had thinned since she entered the building. A few locals and out-of-towners huddled in little groups waiting for their rides. Aware a single woman made an easy target, Isabella stayed next to the building under the direct light. While this made her highly visible, it also provided protection in the form of that visibility.
A luxury car pulled up to the sidewalk and the driver placed a sign on the dash. “Dr. Sanford”.
Isabella rolled her suitcase over to the car. The driver alighted and helped secure her baggage and herself into the car.
“Welcome to Mexico City,” the driver said, once he was positioned behind the steering wheel.
“Thank you.” She’d already studied the area where she would be staying but she had to play the part of a newly arrived tourist. “Are there many restaurants or shops near the hotel?”
The driver began what sounded like his usual tour guide spiel as they crossed the town and stopped in front of the Marriott. The car pulled into the circle drive. A bellboy opened her door as the driver pulled her suitcase from the other side of the vehicle. He brought it around to her.
“If you ever need someone to drive you ask for Paul.” The driver looked her in the eye as if he wanted her to read more into the meaning.
“Thank you, Paul, I will.” She held out a five-dollar tip to him.
He frowned and took the money before climbing back into his car.
Isabella had a funny feeling she either embarrassed him with the tip or not getting whatever it was he had implied. The bellboy continued carting her suitcase into the hotel. She hurried after him.
Her throat constricted when the woman, Therese, stood at the counter smiling.
Isabella held out her hand. She gripped the woman’s and squeezed slightly. “Hello, I’m Dr. Sanford with the Arizona University. I believe you have a reservation for me.”
Therese’s eyebrows rose but she released Isabella’s hand and checked the computer. “Sí, I have you booked in one of our terrace rooms.” She glanced up from the computer monitor. “One key or two?”
The woman remembered she was here before as Mrs. Konstantine. Isabella, smiled. “One, por favor.”
Her phone rang as the woman took her fake identification.
“Hello?”
“Dr. Mumphrey, it is Alphonso.”
She glanced at the woman to see if she could hear her caller. Therese appeared to be engrossed in making a key card.
“Can I call you back in ten minutes?” She smiled at the woman as she handed over the key card.
“Sí. But what is this about?”
“I’ll tell you when I call back. Ten minutes.” She pushed the off button and pocketed the phone as she handed over the WIA credit card with her fake name. She signed the paperwork as Mary Sanford and picked up her bags. “Gracias.” Isabella nodded to Therese and headed to the elevator.
Once in a room reminiscent of the one where she and Tino made more memories, she dropped her bags and pulled out the phone. Searching recent calls, she hit dial on the call from Alphonso.
“¿Sí?” He answered on the first ring.
“Are you alone?” Isabella asked, hearing loud music in the background.
“Vamos,” he said and the music grew more distant. “Sí, why are you calling me?”
“You know the tunnels under the city, and I need your help to get photos from a hidden room off the tunnels.” Isabella knew it was foolish to toss her whole scheme out to him but she believed she knew him well enough and his confidence and interest that he wouldn’t run his mouth to the wrong people.
“Where is the hidden room?” His skeptical tone swirled worry in her stomach.
“I’ll tell you tomorrow if you can bring me a map of the tunnels in the north hill area.”
A whistle trilled in her ear. Isabella pulled the phone back and wiggled her ear.
“There are not many tunnels in that newer residential area. How do you know of a tunnel?”
Her nerves were vibrating. He was speaking bolder than she’d perceived him. Had she been wrong in thinking he would be grateful for her help?
“Bring the maps to the Museo Nacional de Anthropologia E Hisotria tomorrow at ten. Ask for Dr. Sanford, and I’ll tell you more then.” She hung up before he could ask more questions.
Her hands shook knowing she was setting up a caper that wouldn’t be condoned by her father, WIA, or Tino. She had been sent here to find out who was stealing. She’d given them the murky films of Alphonso, who if he helped her would have to have his identity hidden from not only who she worked for but the Garzas. She’d pulled him into a dangerous situation. First rule she’d learned at WIA was not to draw in innocents.
She showered, slipped into her tank top and boxer shorts, and placed both her phones on the bedside table. If her father called to find out where she was, she’d have to tell him the truth. If Tino called, she’d discover what he knew about señora Garza and try not to spill what she had planned. She feared he would expose or hurt his mission if he tried to stop her. She used the logic her escapade had nothing to do with drugs or señor Garza and shouldn’t compromise Tino.
Just keep telling yourself that.