Wolf in the Shadows - Marcia Muller [108]
“When did this happen? Sunday night?”
I nodded.
“He’s had the L.C. all that time and hasn’t bothered to put it through?” His tone was shaded by disbelief.
“Initially Salazar didn’t know what it was or what to do with it. Then he peddled it to Fontes, whose brother owns Colores Internacional. The two are estranged, and the brother knows nothing about the kidnapping, so Gilbert can’t put it through, either. Ann Navarro can—she has a contact there, I think—but she’s been driving a hard bargain.”
Renshaw looked at the second photograph again. “And Diane?”
“Diane is not so innocent as we thought she was.” I explained about her setting up the kidnapping, about her getting shot, and about Fontes facilitating her return to the U.S. “If I read the situation correctly, they’ll draw on the letter of credit sometime tomorrow.”
Renshaw slumped lower in the chair, drumming his fingers on the table. “You say this Fontes is wealthy and influential?”
“Yes.”
“Then we’ll get no cooperation from the authorities down there. And we can’t just go in and snatch Mourning; I explained about our policy vis-à-vis Mexico.”
“No exceptions?”
“None. Especially in a sensitive case like this.”
It was the response I’d been prepared for, but still my spirits plummeted. I thought of Fontes’s well-guarded house and Salazar’s fondness for killing. Of the coyote Luis Abrego had recommended, who was sly and untrustworthy. Of the border fence, the perilous canyons …
Renshaw was watching me, eyes narrowed. I said, “Then we’ll get him out of there without your help.”
“We?”
“Ripinsky and I.”
“You don’t really think you can manage that.”
“We will. We’ve got some leverage with Navarro.”
He nodded, his fingers toying with one of the photographs. “Let me ask you this: why are you involving yourself? Why not walk away from it, let Ripinsky handle it on his own?”
“I saw the photograph of Mourning they sent you. I saw him through my telephoto last night. I can’t let him die.”
He shook his head. “More to it than that.”
More to it than that—yes. But it was a reason that simply wouldn’t compute in a mind like Renshaw’s.
Finally I said, “Money.”
“Money.”
“I took on this job for pay. Because I did it in my own way, it’s been expensive. I’ve lost my regular job, and I’ll need the rest of what you owe me. Which brings me to what I want from you: the balance, in cash, when we deliver Mourning.”
“Where am I supposed to get that kind of cash on a Sunday?”
“You’ll manage. Oh—and Ripinsky wants the balance of whatever you promised him, too.”
Renshaw rolled his eyes.
“And we’ll need a car.”
“A car.”
“We’ll be crossing the border down by Monument Road, near Border Field State Park. When we arrive, we’ll need transportation.”
“We’ll pick you up.”
I shook my head. “We’ll deliver Mourning to you. As well as tell you where you can find Diane. You’ll give us our money, and we’ll leave in the car you provide—without surveillance or tracking devices. And that, Mr. Renshaw, will be the end of our association,”
“What about the letter of credit?”
“If we can get hold of it, we’ll turn it over. Otherwise, all you have to do is contact Emanuel Fontes. No way he’ll allow it to be put through.”
“And Navarro?”
“I may be able to convince her to come back with us and give herself up. Otherwise you’ll have to get Diane to open up and testify against her. I’m sure you can accomplish that easily.”
“What about this Salazar?”
“I’ll let the SDPD or the FBI handle him.”
“If he ever returns to the U.S.”
“Even if he—or Navarro—doesn’t, I think you’ll get cooperation out of Mexico. They’re guilty of transporting a kidnap victim over an international boundary.”
“We won’t be able to touch Gilbert Fontes, though. Mexico fights extradition of its citizens tooth and nail.”
I shrugged. “Fontes is really peripheral to the case. Accessory after the fact is all you’d have him on, and any good attorney could get the case thrown out of court.”
Renshaw considered, then nodded as if he’d made a decision. “All right, you and Ripinsky will get your cash and your car. Where shall we meet