Page 54 of Hidden Falls

“Me too. She had a nightmare but seemed to be resting better when I left.”

The waitress came by bringing extra mugs; he ordered corned beef hash.

“Not very Mexican,” Lei said.

“This place isn’t Mexican.” He gestured to the decor. “When in Rome . . .”

“I get it.” Lei sipped the coffee, wrapping her hands around the mug to warm them. “My husband is a lieutenant with Maui Police Department. I only tell you that to let you know that he’s a professional in law enforcement and he’s also done contract work overseas. He’s concerned about this op. He’s given us twenty-four hours to wrap up what we’re doing here before he calls in a Security Solutions team. Or I leave and go home. Maybe both.”

“Gotta run home to Papa. I understand.” Cruz tightened his mouth.

Lei’s temper flared; she took a minute to breathe through it and rein in an angry response. “Where are we going with this case, Cruz? Nowhere, fast. We’re outnumbered and outgunned, and I don’t like our chances if Ramirez gets wind we’re here. Stevens is right to be concerned.”

Harry sat down in the booth beside Lei. “Who’s concerned?”

A flush heated Lei’s cheeks. “I called home. It didn’t go well. How did your call home go?”

“Terrible. But then I didn’t expect anything different.” Harry glanced around; her hair was still tangled from bed and her clothing was yesterday’s. “Can I smoke in here?”

“You need food, not cigarettes.” Lei moved a paper menu that doubled as a placemat in front of her. “The server just took Cruz’s order. And here’s coffee.” Lei pushed the remaining mug in front of Harry and poured her a cup.

Cruz had his phone out. “Did you think over what I proposed last night, Harry? It’s where I hope we’re going with this case.” He shot a glance at Lei. “Since an achievable plan is necessary.”

Harry sipped the coffee. “I’m a little fuzzy on the details. Remind me.”

“We reach out to Ramirez through secure channels. We ask for a meet with him and Malia to work something out.”

This was a much better direction than storming the drug lord’s fortress. “What makes you think he would be open to that?” Lei asked.

“Remember what I told you about seeing Malia try to escape?” Cruz’s brown eyes bored into Harry’s. “It’s got to be dawning on Ramirez that Malia’s sixteen years old and he can’t keep her locked up and build a relationship with her, too.”

“I don’t like it,” Harry said flatly. “He’ll know we’re here.”

“As I said, I will work through secure channels he can’t trace. We’ll stay out of sight.”

“You mean here in the Holiday Inn?” Harry snorted. “Because if you think this place is secure, think again.”

“I can move us somewhere more secure. I have access to a CIA safe house.” He took a sip of coffee and winced. “In any case, we have twenty-four hours to resolve things in some direction.”

“Or what?”

“We call for a security team,” Lei said. “Or I go home. Maybe both.”

Harry pinched her mouth tight mulishly as the server brought Cruz’s breakfast and set it down in front of him. The waitress turned to Harry. “Can I get you anything,señora?”

“No, thank you.”

“Yes,” Lei said. “Your two-egg breakfast. Scrambled. Bacon and wheat toast.”

“Si, señora.” The woman left.

“You’re going to eat that if I can’t,” Harry said. “My stomach’s been upset for days.”

“I understand.” Lei held her friend’s gaze. “But you have to try. We need you strong and steady. A diet of caffeine and nicotine isn’t going to help that happen.”

Harry rolled her eyes, then glanced at Cruz. “Okay. If you can guarantee our security, I’ll go along with trying to talk to Ramirez. If he rejects that, then I’ll find a way to afford the security team and we’ll go after Malia that way.”

“Let’s move to the safe house after breakfast,” Cruz said. He smiled at Lei. “I can tell you’re a mother. Thanks for taking care of Harry; she needs it.”

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