Page 48 of Hidden Falls

Lei was keyed up; she wanted to do something NOW. Her whole body screamed to get to Malia—to rescue and comfort her brave young protégée.

But this was not the time, nor the place. That would come later.

“Okay,” she said, and released a tight breath. She lay back on her belly beside Cruz, trying to ignore the heat of his body. “What should I watch for?”

“Try to find which room they’re keeping her in. Is it the one whose window she opened? Watch the house for signs of that. I’ll gather info on the security structure.”

“Got it.” Lei trained her scope on the lighted windows of the house. She began at the bottom floor, scanning along. She spotted a large picture window, behind which she could see a long dining room table with people seated around it. She counted two children and a woman eating dinner—but no Malia, and no father figure that was likely Ramirez.

She worked her way along the second floor. The house was a three-story rectangle from the front, but it enclosed a garden in the center that she could glimpse now and again through uncovered windows; a fountain in the center was brightly lit. “These folks sure use a lot of electricity.”

“They’ve got a generator in case the power goes out on the grid,” Cruz said absently. “Money is no object with this guy.”

“I gathered that.” Everything about the mansion and its gated compound screamed wealth.

Would that seduce Malia into staying with this family? There was no way to tell right now.

“Observe and report,” Lei muttered to herself.

“What?”

“Nothing. Just reminding myself of the current mission.”

Cruz’s chuckle was a vibration that passed from his body to hers.

“You aren’t really thinking we can break her out of there, are you?” Lei frowned. “No way without a ninja army.”

Cruz turned on his side to address her. “No, I’m not. But we need all the information we can gather to give to Harry and discuss options with her.”

“I think we need to convince her to try to open a dialogue with Ramirez,” Lei said. “He’s not going to get far with Malia if she wants to go home. He’ll see that eventually and be willing to talk. It could become like any custody dispute over a teenager. Ultimately the kid decides because they make everyone around them so miserable.”

“You’re not wrong.” Cruz rolled back over. “Now let me see where the guards are bunked and try to get a count on their number.”

* * *

Dawn was warming the sky in the east as they rode back to Mexico City. Lei clung to Cruz’s leather-clad body with the last of her stamina, her eyes closed. By the time he pulled into the portico at the Holiday Inn, she was barely able to stand from tiredness as she dismounted from the motorcycle.

“You need a hand to get back to the room?” Concern crinkled Cruz’s blackish-brown eyes as Lei staggered.

“Too old for all-nighters anymore,” Lei said. “We should have packed a thermos of coffee, then I’d have been fine.” She took off the helmet and shook out her matted curls. “Actually, I’d appreciate it if you’d come up with me to communicate with Harry. She’s going to jump all over me for info, and I’m too tired to be coherent.”

“You got it. I’ll park the bike and meet you in the lobby.” He fired the cycle back up and drove away toward the entrance to an underground garage.

Lei smoothed her clothing and pasted a smile on her face for the doorman. “Muchas gracias,” she said as he held the portal open; the revolving door was closed at this hour, probably for security. That was reassuring.

Inside, Lei collapsed onto a chair near the elevator doors to wait for Cruz. The next thing she knew, a shake to Lei’s shoulder woke her up. “Maybe you do need an assist.” Cruz grinned down at her. “You were snoring loud enough to wake the dead.”

Lei smiled as she forced her tired legs to stand. “I was not. I’m not a snorer.”

“You were. Mouth wide open. Eyes shut. Sounded like a water buffalo.” He hit the button for the elevator.

She narrowed her eyes. “You are not a gentleman, Cruz.”

“Never claimed to be.” He smiled. “Don’t worry, you’re always cute.”

“Hell if I care about that.” Lei leaned on the brass support railing inside the elevator as it whisked them to Harry’s floor.

She had hardly put her key card into the door when it opened, and Harry stood in the room’s doorway, fully dressed, white-faced with fury. “Where have you two been? I’ve been going nuts here!”

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