Silence in the Dark (17 page)

Her grin faded as she read on.

I hope everything is good. I am continuing the Bible classes at the church, and many of the women come. Father Horatio is very angry. So angry I think maybe his blood will boil. But the women are so happy to be here. I will need more material when you return. Email me when you come back to Mexico!

Love, Elena

P.S. Please do not report what we saw.

“Bad news?” Danny asked.

“Sort of. My friend Elena has angered the village priest, and he can be very nasty. She says she’s made his blood boil.”

“What kind of priest is this?”

She frowned. “He’s not really a priest, more of a shaman. He’s the man I saw in the restaurant.”

“Do you think he’ll harm her?”

“I don’t know. He’s involved with the Calatrava, so he’d have
the means. But Elena’s husband has some standing in the village, and I don’t think he will let Horatio hurt her.” Unlike the woman who accused the priest of fathering her child. She’d been beaten so badly she was permanently crippled, not that it could be proven that Father Horatio did it.

She reread the email. “She’s asking me not to report a poppy field we stumbled on when I was there.”

“Poppies? As in opium?”

“Yes. It’s a poor village, and the farmers there are growing them so they can take care of their families.”

“But don’t they know what that stuff does?”

“They do. But I think they justify it when they see their babies’ bellies swollen from not having enough food to eat.”

“That’s sad too.”

“Yes, it is. I’ve learned some hard things in Mexico. But I did mean to report the field when I got back to the States, not that it would do any good. I need to talk to Ben about it. Let me answer this, and I’ll put my phone away.”

“No hurry. We still have at least an hour.”

It hit Bailey just how much Danny had altered his schedule to accommodate her. “I just realized I haven’t thanked you for driving me to Corning.”

“It was better than the alternative.”

“Alternative?”

“You coming by yourself.”

She rolled her eyes at him, but at the same time part of her bristled that he thought she couldn’t take care of herself. She’d seen this protectiveness earlier, and she understood where he was coming from, that he was scared for her. But she was thirty-one years old. He wasn’t her father, and he couldn’t tell her what to do . . . or not do. Not that her dad ever had any luck with that, anyway.

With a sigh she responded to Elena’s email and put her phone
away. As soon as they returned, she needed to report the poppy field to Ben. He’d know the right authorities to contact in Mexico.

Without the phone to distract her, silence settled between them, a silence that became increasingly uncomfortable. All she could think about was Danny’s declaration last night.
“I still love you, Bailey, even if you don’t love me
.
”

“Do you mind if I turn the radio on?” she asked.

“No.”

At least the music drowned out the silence or rather it and Danny’s fingers tapping on the steering wheel.

She couldn’t stand it any longer. “About last—”

“Bailey—”

Silence again. “You first,” she said.

“No, ladies first.”

He would pull that card. She sucked in a deep breath. “It’s . . . not that I don’t love you.” There. She’d said it. Admitted to herself as well that she still loved him.

“But we don’t share the same values.” He finished her sentence.

She smoothed a wrinkle from the pants she’d found in her closet. The shape her faith was in, it wasn’t even that. “I can’t . . .” She moistened her lips.

He turned his head toward her. “You can’t what?”

“Some things happened that first year I was in Mexico. I—”

“Did someone hurt you?”

She shook her head. “Not physically.”

“I don’t understand.”

That made two of them. “It’s not something I want to discuss. I just want you to know, you’re not the problem. It’s me. I just don’t know who I am anymore.”

13

J
oel sank into the leather seat of the corporate jet. He’d slept little last night and hoped to catch a nap. Across from him, Edward worked on his tablet. The man never let up, and Joel was certain his passion to succeed was one of the reasons the man had never married. A relationship took an investment of time, and Edward Montoya only had time for making money.

Joel cleared his throat. “Can you tell me why my password didn’t work when I tried to access my backed-up files?”

“There was an attempt to hack into the system. When we return, you’ll get a new password.”

“What if I need my files before then?”

“Why would you need them? You won’t be working while we’re in the States.”

Joel dug his fingers into the armrest. When Montoya was like this, it did no good to try and change his mind. Even if Joel’s whole world was crumbling before him. He settled back in the seat and closed his eyes and tried not to think about his problems.

“Did you reach Bailey Adams?”

Joel jerked away from the edge of sleep. “No. My calls still go straight to voicemail.”

“How about Danny Maxwell. Did you try him?”

“He doesn’t answer, either, although the phone rings several
times before it’s routed to a message center.” Danny may have figured out the men after Bailey and Maria were able to track them through Bailey’s phone. If that was the case, her phone was probably in a ditch somewhere. He just hoped she wasn’t with it.

“How about your parents? Have you heard from them?”

“Finally. Unfortunately, my dad was taken to the hospital late yesterday afternoon. Suspected heart attack. My mother called me on a cell phone.”

It surprised him that they had a cell phone. They didn’t have an answering machine on their home phone because neither of them wanted to learn how to program it, and from the way she shouted into the cell phone, his mother hadn’t quite gotten the hang of how to use it. She’d called because she wanted Joel to let “that nice lady bringing Maria” know they weren’t home.

When Montoya returned to his iPad, Joel closed his eyes, but thoughts swirled through his brain. He didn’t understand why his boss was coming along on this trip, why he didn’t just send him to get Maria. Sure, Montoya was fond of the girl, but emotional attachments were not high on his list of priorities. “I could have handled this,” Joel said abruptly.

Edward glanced up from his iPad. “I know that, but Maria is family. I would be very upset if anything happened to her and I hadn’t done everything in my power to protect her. Besides, I had a visit to Logan Point scheduled later in the month to discuss the new contract anyway, and it was no problem to move it up.”

That sounded more like the Montoya that Joel knew.

“What do you hear about Geoffrey Franks?”

Joel uncapped the bottle of water in the cup holder on his seat and took a long draw of water. “I understand his trial is coming up soon but that he’s currently out on bail. Do you know who received the guns he shipped?”

Montoya shrugged. “I thought it might be someone with the Calatrava cartel, but after I had another chat with Chavez, I learned
someone has been waging war with the cartel and helping the local businesses to stand up to them. That person would have an interest in obtaining rifles.”

“Do you know who it is?”

“Chavez didn’t have a name, only that some of the businesses called him and his men the Angels of the Streets.”

“You think it might be your nephew?”

Montoya nodded. “He’s always seen himself as some sort of Robin Hood, and the description from one of the businessmen I contacted yesterday matches him. If it is Angel and the cartel knows it, the attempt to kidnap Maria could be tied to him instead of me. Of course, the kidnappers could be looking at a two-for-one—control Angel and at the same time jack me up for a ransom.” He paused and glanced at Joel. “We need a cover story for your bruises, like perhaps an automobile accident.”

Joel gingerly touched his cheek. Shaving this morning had been an ordeal. “Why?”

“This meeting with Phillip Maxwell is to convince him to continue the partnership with Montoya Ceramics. He was not happy with the notoriety from the Franks mess. If he suspects trouble between my company and the drug cartel, he might decide to pull the contract.”

“Car wreck it is, then.”

Four hours later, Joel shook hands with Phillip Maxwell.

“Looks like you were on the wrong end of a punching bag,” Maxwell said.

“No, unfortunately I drove a little too close to another car, and it stopped suddenly. I didn’t know an air bag could give you black eyes.”

“They can be quite vicious.”

It had been several years since Joel had seen the owner of
Maxwell Industries. He was an older version of Danny and just as fit. The door opened, and Joel turned as a man entered the paneled office. This had to be the nephew, Ian, whom he’d never met. The family resemblance continued except he appeared more businesslike in a navy suit and white dress shirt. Joel couldn’t imagine Danny in anything other than the jeans and pullover he’d always seen him wear.

“Ian, meet Edward Montoya and his assistant, Joel McDermott. They’re here to discuss the new contract, and I wanted you in on the discussions since Danny couldn’t be here.”

An easy smile appeared as Ian extended his hand, first to Edward, then to Joel. “My pleasure. Run into someone’s fist?”

Joel went through his explanation once more, then asked about Danny. “I thought he might be here.”

“He was here earlier.” Ian tilted his head toward Joel. “I’m a little confused. I thought he flew to Mexico to see you yesterday, and yet he was here at the plant earlier. Then he left, saying he had to do something for Bailey. Do you know why he came back so soon from Mexico?”

Evidently Danny had not yet told them what had transpired. He shook his head. “I saw him briefly yesterday, and then I learned he had returned to Logan Point with my niece and Bailey Adams. Unfortunately, my cell phone isn’t working properly, so I haven’t been able to contact him or Bailey.”

“Let me try him on my phone.” Ian dialed a number and waited. “Danny. Where are you?” He nodded. “I see. Are you coming home anytime soon? Edward Montoya and Joel McDermott are here, and Joel is inquiring of you.” A frown furrowed Ian’s brow. “He seems to be fine.”

Ian listened for a minute longer, then glanced toward Joel. “Danny’s out of town right now,” he said, moving the phone away from his mouth. “He said he would call you when he gets back.”

“May I speak with him?” Joel had been right that Danny was ignoring his calls. If he didn’t talk with him now, Joel wouldn’t hear from Danny—he’d bet money on it.

“Hold on, Joel wants a word with you,” Ian said and handed Joel the phone.

“Danny, I have a little problem I think you can help me with.” He walked to a corner of the office, away from the others, and lowered his voice. “I’ve tried to call Bailey, but her phone must not be working. Are they all right?”

“She and Maria are fine. From what Ian said, I assume you are as well. When I get back to Logan Point, I’ll contact you, and we’ll meet.”

“You’re not going to tell me where they are?”

“Not over the phone.”

“Then give Bailey a message for me. Tell her my father has had a heart attack and is in the Corning hospital. They won’t be able to take Maria now. I’ll pick my niece up this afternoon and take her back to Mexico with me.”

There was silence on the other end, then murmuring. Danny wasn’t by himself. “If Bailey’s with you, may I speak with her?”

“Which hospital?”

His question confused Joel briefly. “Community Hospital—it’s the only one. But why?”

“I’ll let her know. Where can I contact you later?”

It was evident Danny wasn’t going to let him speak to Bailey. “Just call my phone.”

“Is it working? Sheriff Ben Logan has been trying to reach you, said no one answered.”

Joel took his phone out of his pocket and checked it for missed messages. There were three from a number he didn’t recognize. “I never heard my phone ring,” he said.

“I’d rather not call you on that phone, anyway. Do you have another number?”

Joel thought for a minute and then gave him Edward’s number. “I’ll be waiting for your call.”

He rejoined the group and handed Ian’s phone back to him. “Thanks. Do you know where Bailey might be if she was in Logan Point? My niece is with her, and I’d like to pick her up.”

“Why don’t you just call her?” Ian’s eyes held suspicion. “You can use my phone again.”

“I don’t think it’s my phone but hers. I’ll try, though.” He dialed the number. Nobody answered. “It went straight to voicemail, like it has every time I’ve tried to call her.”

Phillip Maxwell spoke up. “Bailey would more than likely be at her mother’s bed-and-breakfast.”

Yes!

Before he could inquire about the location, Ian said, “Why is your niece with her?”

“Maria has never met my parents since they aren’t well and couldn’t come to Mexico. They couldn’t even make my sister’s funeral. Bailey is her teacher, and since she planned to return home for a short visit—something about her sister coming home—I thought it’d be a good way for my parents to meet their granddaughter.”