Page 20 of Hidden Falls

“Cruz.” Lei’s eyes darted around the cubicle and her cheeks flushed. “He was—competent in a number of ways.”

Marcella frowned. “Something happened with him and you.”

“It was a long time ago. We were just kids.” Lei shrugged. “We—had a thing. Very brief.”

“My CIA contact is named Leonardo Cruz.” Marcella studied Lei, tracking the way Lei’s eyes widened, the sheen of perspiration that sprang out of her forehead, the way her cheekbones reddened.

“I never got his first name back then. He just went by Cruz. But it can’t be the same guy. Cruz is a super common name. Like Smith in the States.”

“Ha. It can be, and it probably is.”

“I’ll ask Harry about where he is and if she called him.”

“No.” Marcella lifted a hand in a ‘stop’ gesture. “Don’t. Let me talk to him first. See if he knows Harry, and what he says about this case.”

Lei sat back in her chair. “I need to be here for this.”

“On one condition. You get me some coffee. Black. And none of that icky burned stuff from the break room.” The risk of a more upset stomach was worth it for the caffeine.

Lei jumped back up and headed for the door. “You’ve got a deal. Let’s call this guy.”

11

Lei sneaked the bone hook she kept in her pocket out and rubbed it between her thumb and forefinger as Marcella took several sips of fresh black coffee.

“Mm. This is delicious. Where have you been hiding the good stuff all my life?”

“Sophie bought the station a nice coffee maker that uses those pods for our break room, but the pods turned out to be too expensive. I decided to buy them myself and keep it supplied with a donation jar.” Lei’s smile felt forced; her heart was thumping so loud she was afraid Marcella could hear it. “Anyone can use the thing, but we keep it up on a shelf for special occasions. You being here on Maui is one of those.”

Marcella grinned. “You’re not having any, I see. Nervous about this guy?”

“I only met him the one time back in the day, but he—had a big impact on me.” Lei wasn’t about to tell her friend about the unusual sexual encounter she’d had on a moonlit beach with Cruz. “Just wondering how he could have gone from mercenary trainer for hire to a CIA agent, is all.”

“We’re about to find out. I’ll see if he can do video calling.” Marcella picked up her phone and worked it with her thumbs. A minute later it dinged. “Yeah. He says he’s got enough Wi-Fi for a video call. Now you can see what he looks like sixteen years older. My gift to you.” Marcella elbowed Lei. “We may be married, but we’re not dead, right?”

Lei couldn’t even smile; she was too uptight.

Marcella put the phone into an aluminum holder that had been left on the desk. Lei rubbed the bone hook, sitting forward in her chair with her elbows on her knees, as Marcella made the call to Cruz in Mexico.

The phone’s screen was visible between the two of them, and it pulsed for a moment, signaling, and then bloomed into a visual. A man’s face filled the small screen.

Lei recognized Cruz immediately.

His tanned, olive skin was still dappled with freckles across the nose and cheeks; his brown eyes had crinkles at the corners from gazing into the sun. His hairline had receded and was buzzed close; silver shone at his temples.

“Special Agent Scott. I’m Agent Leonardo Cruz.”

“Good to meet you.” Marcella turned the phone so that Lei was visible. “This is Sergeant Leilani Texeira with the Maui Police Department. She is lead on our case.”

“Lei.” His face broke into a smile she recognized and would never forget—his charisma lit up the room, along with his pearly teeth. “What a pleasure to see you again.”

“You, too. It’s been a while.” She cleared her throat self-consciously.

“Didn’t think I’d ever see you again, to be honest. But life has a way of bringing people back together when it’s meant to be,” Cruz said.

Marcella moved the phone to horizontal, so both of their faces were in view. “Sorry to cut to the chase, but we’re on a clock. We’re looking for a missing girl, aged sixteen, the adoptive daughter of a detective here on Maui and her lawyer husband. Their names are Peter Clark and Harriet Clark. The adoption was not legal.” Marcella paused, clearly waiting for a reaction, but Cruz’s attentive gaze never wavered. “I’ll let Lei fill you in on the circumstances.”

“I’m familiar with the circumstances. I was there. And I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that Harry has already reached out to me and asked me to see if I can find out anything about Malia’s disappearance. She wants to be in on anything I might be able to come up with,” Cruz said.

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