Page 13 of Grave Peril

“Security is our business. We’re in the loop about the cartel. I understand how they operate, how they think, and what they’re capable of. And Houston is my old stomping ground; I know the turf.”

“But how do you plan to find a woman who’s on the run?”

Rip shifted from one foot to the other. “Let me worry about that. I have a couple of ideas.” He started walking toward the door. “I need the jet. It’s about a three-hour flight, so you’ll have it back before morning. I’ll be at the airport in an hour. Instruct the pilot to drop me at Ellington Field. I don’t want to deal with the crowds at the commercial airports, or carry my Glock through security.”

“I’ll have to see if he can get a flight plan for landing at the field…on short notice.”

“Just tell him to get it.”

“Stay in touch,” Travis said. “I don’t want you out there soloing it. You order backup if you need it. Got that?”

Rip nodded. No further explanations were needed. His boss had faith in his judgment.

“I’ll let Coop know,” Travis said. “He can cover for you while you’re gone.”

“Thanks, man.” Rip left, strode back to his office, and grabbed his jacket. It was going to be tight. He had to stop by his apartment to grab a few items he’d need, then race to the airport. His Harley could whip along the freeways faster than his truck, so he’d take that.

The shower would have to wait. When he got to Houston, he’d find some hotel and take care of his grooming. He couldn’t accost Lela with two days of beard growth and smelling like a derelict. That would scare the crap out of her. He’d have to make the effort to get presentable.

But not until he’d arrived. Lela’s chances of survival were slim, and less with each passing hour. Rip would have preferred driving, and to have his truck with him. But he couldn’t afford a two-day road trip. Lela might be dead by then.

*****

Rip stepped off the private jet, carrying his duffel bag. Dusk had settled in, but the weather was mild, with a light breeze. The small airport was ideal for getting in and out of easily. But it didn’t have the usual amenities, such as car rental services.

A cab was hovering at the curb outside the main entrance, so Rip slipped into the back seat and gave the cabbie directions. Once he was in the area, he’d find a place to stay. It wasn’t a neighborhood that was overwhelmed with tourists, so getting a room shouldn’t be a problem.

It would be a thirty-minute drive to Magnolia Park, so Rip checked his phone for the latest news. The train station incident had garnered public interest, and the media kept the information coming. The report was that Lela Cabelo was missing. There were no clues on where she might have gone.

No surprise there. And she’d better stay out of sight a while longer. Rip was getting to her as fast as he could. But it wasn’t like she’d left a trail. Lela was sharp; he’d noticed some details from the background information and come to that conclusion. She wasn’t going to be an easy target, and so far she’d outsmarted her enemies.

Rip hadn’t arrived a moment too soon. According to the news, Lela had escaped early that morning. It hadn’t taken long for the press to get wind of the story and report on the deaths of the federal agents. But no leads had turned up on the location of the paralegal.

Photos of the gang members appeared on the screen, blow-ups of pictures taken on a train passenger’s cell phone. The images weren’t close-ups, but Rip recognized the tattoos. He shuddered. The gang after Lela wouldn’t mess about.

His goal was to find and rescue Lela without tipping off the cartel. The soulless gang tasked with tracking her down had contacts that penetrated deep into the city. Any sign of her would be reported, and the cartel minions would act fast, showing no mercy.

Rip feared for Lela, but it was good that she’d been on the run for less than twenty-four hours. She might outsmart the gangs for a day or so, but that wouldn’t last. He would get there in time, dammit, and protect her from a fate she didn’t deserve.

He had his own issues with the cartel, a score he hadn’t been able to settle. But this was not the moment for emotions to intervene. His mission was all about Lela. His focus had to stay laser sharp. The window of opportunity to connect with her might snap shut at any moment, so he’d best not allow any distractions.

The cab arrived in Magnolia Park and dropped Rip at an Econo Lodge. He paid and got a room. The lodge was sufficient for the night. This wasn’t about a luxury vacation; just the essentials were required. He dumped his duffel on the bed and retrieved his travel kit.

The shower was adequate and the hot water relaxed his muscles. He washed, shaved, and tended to his grooming. He let his long hair dry on its own, forgoing the use of the hairdryer bolted to the wall. Feeling human again, Rip sat in the one available chair and scanned maps of the area.

He knew Houston like the back of his hand, or he had. But it had been years, and he couldn’t afford any mistakes. Things might have changed: establishments might have closed, or neighborhoods altered by renovations. So he scoped it out as best he could to be as prepared for the following day.

Next on the agenda was dinner. Rip would have gone after Lela immediately. But it was dark outside, and lurking in the neighborhoods where he planned to go was best done in daylight.

There was another factor to consider—Lela had no idea he was coming for her. He was a stranger, and as such, it would be bad judgment to approach her in the dead of night. The last thing he wanted was for her to run from him.

Rip found a burger joint and devoured a double cheeseburger with fries. He had a milkshake with it for good measure. Missions had taught him to eat when the food was there, because there was no assurance of when the next meal would be available.

He needed his strength. The cartel and their flunkies weren’t lightweights. They fought bloody and to the death. And Lela was depending on him, whether she knew that yet or not.

With his belly full, Rip retired to his room for a few hours of sleep. He set the alarm for before dawn so he could be at his first destination by daylight.

*****

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