No One to Trust - Iris Johansen [66]
“Then you take care of it,” Judd said. “You’re good at extractions. Extract us.” He pointed at the windows of the Kissimmee Hotel. “I’ll clear the ground here and scout out the hotel across the street. Who meets with Luis?”
“I do,” Elena said. “And we need a car waiting outside that garden gate. I’m not going to waste time talking to him. I’ll just get him out.”
“You don’t even know if he’ll be able to walk,” Galen said.
“I’ll get him out.” Elena’s lips firmed. “Just have the car waiting.”
Galen nodded. “I’ll do a sweep through the garden before you go in, just to make sure there aren’t any surprises.”
“No, you have your job. I have mine.” She turned away. “I’ll check it out myself.”
“Suit yourself.” Galen turned to Judd. “How much time do you need?”
“I’ll go in tonight and scout around. Chavez may stage a last-minute arrival for his shooter at the Kissimmee Hotel, so I’ll position myself across the street at the Mirado and keep watch while Elena meets with Luis.”
“Good idea.”
“Just don’t forget me when you pull everyone out.” He smiled sardonically. “It would seriously offend me.”
“Then don’t waste time when you see Elena and Luis heading for the gate. Be out front waiting.” He folded the sheet of paper and put it in his pocket. “I’ve arranged for a pilot and helicopter to pick us up and take us to Orlando. Josie McFee. I’ve used her before. She’s good, trustworthy, and tough as nails. She’ll land at a private field on the outskirts of Orlando.”
“Isn’t that pretty close?” Elena frowned. “I don’t want Barry or Dominic to be put in danger.”
“The airport’s safe. If we think we’re being followed, we won’t go back there. Okay?”
It wasn’t okay. The entire plan was risky, but at least Barry’s part in it seemed fairly secure. She slowly nodded. “I guess it is.”
“Good.” He moved toward the door. “Then if you’ll excuse me, I’ll see what I can do to pull a rabbit out of a hat to get us out of Orlando with our skins intact.”
“How are you going to do that?”
“Search me. That’s Disney World territory. Maybe I’ll put Donald Duck into the mix.”
“Good luck,” Judd murmured ironically.
“Well?” Elena stared Judd in the eye as Galen left. “Aren’t you going to say anything to me? Isn’t this what you warned me not to do? I’m putting Galen’s life on the line.”
He shook his head. “He’s doing that himself. You couldn’t stop him if you wanted to.”
“I do want to stop him.”
“Then back out. This is a lose-lose proposition. What are we going to do with your brother if we do get him away from Chavez?”
She didn’t know. It was a complication she didn’t need, but that didn’t matter. “I have to do this, Judd.”
He shook his head. “Emotion is a bummer. It really gets in the way of clear thinking.”
“And of course you never let it bother you.”
“It bothers me, but I’ve trained myself not to allow it to interfere. It makes a man hesitate, and that can be fatal.” He smiled. “You wouldn’t want me to hesitate if I see that sniper aiming at you.”
“No.”
“Then don’t talk to me about emotion. I’ll see you in Orlando.”
She followed him out onto the front porch and watched as he got into the jeep.
“Stop fretting, Elena.”
She turned to see Dominic coming up the path from the lake.
“Where have you been?”
“Just sitting and thinking. Nothing like looking at God’s wonders to soothe the soul. You should try it.” He dropped down on the porch steps. “Your soul needs some soothing.”
She sat down beside him. “Yes.”
“You always were a worrier. Even as a little girl, you fretted over every little detail. Luis was different. He lived for the moment. But he was good for you. He made you remember that you were still a child.”
“Is that who you were thinking about down by the lake?”
“How could I think of anyone else? Are we going to be able to save him?”
“I hope so. Galen and Judd are smart and experienced. They’ll make a difference.”
“I pray everything will go well.”
She leaned her head against his arm. How many times had they sat like this on the front steps at Tomaco? Comfort flowed through her in a blessedly familiar stream.