Page 56 of Hidden Falls

“It’s a motor scooter. It’s been with us for several turns.”

“Nice spotting,” Cruz said. “Do you see any other tails?”

“No,” both women said at the same time.

“Good. We’ll be there soon.” Cruz turned into an underground parking structure attached to a mall that looked like something straight out of Southern California—all glossy metallic windows and sleek structures. They passed all the way through and came out on the other side of the building, pausing to watch for any slow or parked cars before reentering the flow of traffic. “This is kinda fun,” Lei said.

“Until someone’s shooting at you,” Cruz said. “But this vehicle’s bulletproof, thankfully.”

“You have quite a budget, Cruz,” Harry said.

“All government appropriations from the same drug dealer. Wait till you see the safe house.”

The entrance to their new lodgings was concealed at the end of a nondescript alley, just a copperwork gate flush with a high stucco wall. A surveillance node must have recognized the vehicle because the gate opened as they approached. On the other side, a cobblestoned courtyard surrounded a fountain featuring stone mermaids.

Cruz pointed to it. “Government cost-saving measure. No water in the fountain. This property belonged to a United States citizen with shady dealings.”

“Glad it could be reused,” Harry said.

Cruz hit a button and a garage door Lei hadn’t noticed, painted to look like the stucco walls of the compound, retracted. “There’s an exit on the other side of the garage to a busy street if you ever need to make a fast getaway,” Cruz said as he pulled into the cavernous opening. “Just so you know.”

“I like this place already,” Lei said.

“Yeah, why didn’t you invite us here right off?” Harry asked as old-fashioned carriage lamps bloomed on to illuminate several other exotic cars parked in a row. “Especially since these are our getaway vehicles.”

Cruz bounced his brows at her. “You think I get to use all this and not account for why? I had to get you two approved, and let’s just say I took a few liberties with the truth of why housing you here is important to US interests.”

“Thanks, Cruz,” Lei said. “That can’t have been easy. This is very much a private citizen case, and not an official one now that it’s a known parental kidnapping.”

Harry stiffened and got out of the car abruptly; she clearly didn’t like to be reminded of the brutal truth of the situation. “We don’t know for sure that Ramirez is her birth father; we only know that he thinks he is. Let’s see this drug dealer mansion, shall we?”

Cruz followed Lei as she trailed Harry to a door with a stained-glass window in it. The lever-style handle opened as Harry pressed down on it and stepped inside an entryway. “Nice.”

Overhead, more stained glass: this time, an arched cupola with scenes of angels, stars, and demons. Bright pools of light lit a dusty white marble floor. “Beautiful,” Lei said.

“Came from a church that was being torn down,” Cruz said. “This way. The bedrooms are on the second floor.”

Lei glided her hand along a velvety soft wooden handrail that swooped up from the entry to an open second story gallery with an elaborate circular railing along one side. Dust collected on her palm, and she spotted spiderwebs in the corners. “Let me guess—no maid service.”

“Nope. Feel free to clean anything you like.” Cruz paused in front of a row of doors at the top of the stairs. “Take a look inside. You can pick any one you want, but the linens probably need to be freshened. The washer and dryer are in the basement.”

“I don’t care which room or what state it’s in,” Harry said. She opened the door directly in front of her and went inside. “I’ll take this one.”

Lei was more curious.

She felt Cruz’s amused gaze on her as she opened each door and peeked in to examine the decor, which varied from rich jewel tones and antique furnishings to a corner room on the end of the passage done all in colors of the sea with a painting of a mermaid on the wall. “This one.”

Cruz smiled. “I might have known, Hawaii girl.” He walked to the window and opened it; below, the residential street was illuminated. “This is also a getaway window.” He opened a cupboard in the built-in bay window seat, revealing a folding ladder. “Just push a button and this baby opens up outside of the window to provide a way down to the street.”

“Good to know, though I hope I don’t have to use it.” Lei gazed down two stories to the cobblestoned street, vividly remembering several cases where she’d had to either rappel or climb down cliffs. She could do it, but that didn’t mean it was easy or fun.

She turned back to Cruz. “Now what?”

The playful glint disappeared from his gaze. “I’ll take you to the computer room. It’s also the safe room in the house. That’s where we’ll reach out to Ramirez.”

25

Harry appeared in the doorway of Lei’s chosen room, determination firming her jaw. “Let’s get to the computer room, Cruz. I’m ready to make contact with that snake. My daughter needs me.”

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