No One to Trust - Iris Johansen [2]
“You’re reaching for straws.”
“I’ll find out when I see her. She wants me to meet her and be ready. It’s all she asked. It’s worth a shot.”
“It’s not worth being shot.”
He smiled bitterly. “Maybe it is. If we take Chavez out, it will dry up one of the largest suppliers in Colombia. That could save a hell of a lot of kids. You don’t like drug dealers any more than I do, Galen.”
“But I’m more of a realist than you. This would be a finger in the dam. It’s a losing battle.”
“Not this time.” He paused. “I’ve got a hunch.… I believe her.”
“Good. Then go get her yourself.”
“It may not be that easy. One of my informants told me that she was on the run from Chavez, that she’s disappeared.” He hesitated. “The word is that she’s been captured and is being held in a prison in Belim.”
“A prison?”
“It’s a government jail, but Chavez bribes the warden to house his special prisoners.”
“Then she’ll be of no use to you. If she has any evidence, Chavez will have her tortured until she gives it up.”
“Chavez is at an important meeting with the Delgado family in Mexico City. She may have a reprieve for a while. I’ve heard he likes to do his own dirty work.”
He sighed. “Don’t tell me. Not just a pickup. You want me to bust her out and deliver her to you?”
“It may be necessary.”
“Forget it. Stage a DEA raid.”
“And have the government yell bloody murder that we were overstepping our position as guests in their country?” He hesitated before adding reluctantly, “Besides, there may be informants in the agency.”
“That hurt, didn’t it?” Galen said. “Hell, yes, there are informants. When there’s that much money floating around, corruption is a fact of life. You’re the only DEA man I’ve ever met that I’d trust without question.” He smiled. “You’re a throwback to another age. An untouchable. The Eliot Ness of the drug world.”
“I don’t feel untouchable.” Forbes grimaced. “I feel dirty. I’ve been at this game too long. I want to see something good happen for once. Do this for me, Galen.”
“A prison?” Galen shook his head. “Too big a risk. I don’t want to lose another man to that son of a bitch. I’m going fishing.”
“Think about it. It would be an interesting challenge and a chance to thumb your nose at Chavez.” Forbes turned to leave. “I’ll call you in a few hours. There may not be much time. I don’t know how long Chavez’s meetings will last.” He stopped at the door and looked back at Galen. His expression told him nothing. Well, he had done all he could. He had thrown everything at him, from saving kids from drug overdoses to revenge against an old antagonist. Was it enough? Galen was one of the toughest bastards he had ever run across and as volatile as a keg of explosives. He would just have to wait and see.
“What do you think?” Logan asked when the door had shut behind Forbes.
“What do I think?” Galen repeated roughly. “I think someone’s setting him up. I think Chavez is probably tired of having a man as honest as Forbes after him and is going to stage an ambush.”
“Forbes isn’t dumb.”
“But he’s desperate. He wants this too much. He’s been in drug enforcement for over twenty-five years and it’s the most thankless job on the planet. After all these years Forbes needs to know he’s made a difference.” He crossed to the window and gazed out at the bay. “Crazy bastard.”
“You like him.” Logan smiled. “And I think you admire him. You’ve always had a thing about Don Quixote.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m going to help him tilt at his damn windmills.”
“What’s the situation in Colombia now?”
“No better than it’s been for the last forty years. The leftist rebels fight the government, the paramilitary fight the rebels and protect villages and sometimes the drug traffickers. The drug lords sit on their thrones and pay off everyone