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  Antonia took a hit from her cigarette and helplessly watched the smoke drift toward the motel. She immediately put it out and hoped the guy wouldn’t smell it. She should’ve tossed it when she’d first heard his truck coming. There was no recovering from this mistake; the smoke was on its way. She was about to relocate when a light came on inside the motel office. A few seconds later, Mr. Fernandez opened the door and waved the guy inside. The timing was perfect. She’d head up the street to the gas station. Although the tavern offered a decent view of the motel, the gas station was directly across the street. She’d be able to count doors and tell Franco the exact room number.

  She ran north along the dirt alley paralleling the road and angled across a vacant lot. A glance to her right confirmed the light was still on in the motel’s office. The gas-pump island offered an ideal place to hide. The pumps were big enough to screen her entire body, and the old convenience store blocked the moonlight. He’d never see her.

  Nathan saw the girl reemerge on the north side of the tavern. “She’s on the move again. She just ran up the street to the gas station. She’s hiding behind the pumps. It looks like there’s a clear line of sight from there to the motel room doors. I’ll let Estefan know where she is once he enters his room.” He watched for a moment, then saw Estefan leave the motel’s office and head down the walkway lined with doors. After he lost sight of Estefan, he pressed the transmit button a couple of times, making Estefan’s radio click in his pocket. He didn’t want to say anything, because he didn’t know if the motel room’s window was open.

  “Copy. I’m here.”

  “Antonia’s across the street hiding behind the gas pumps. Pull the curtain and turn on a light. We want her to think you’re settling in for the night.”

  “It’s like an oven in here. I’ve gotta open the windows. I’ll turn my radio down to a whisper. She’ll never hear it from across the street.”

  Even with the curtains pulled, Nathan’s scope registered a tiny amount of bleed light escaping the room onto the gravel. “Is there a rear window?”

  “Yes, it’s next to the bathroom, but it’s fogged glass. There aren’t any curtains.”

  “Does it open? Can you get through it?”

  “Yeah, it opens. It’ll be tight, but I can get through.”

  “Okay, sit tight for now. I have a feeling Antonia’s next move is to the pay phone to report your room number. Wire up your radio, and be ready to move out.”

  “Should I leave the light on when I leave? There’s no TV in here.”

  “No, turn it off when you leave, but keep it on for now.”

  This place is stark, thought Estefan. It looked clean enough, but all it contained was a bunk bed and a nightstand. The only place to sit other than the floor was the bed. The horrid purple carpet had been worn through in a triangular pattern between the door, the bed, and the bathroom. He supposed this room served its purpose. He’d been in worse, but this one ranked in the top five. At least the nightstand drawer contained a Bible.

  Check-in had gone quickly. Estefan hadn’t recognized the young man handling night-shift duties, but he’d opened the office, taken Estefan’s money, and given him a room key without complaint.

  Already a sheen of perspiration had formed on his face. Time to get out. He radioed Nathan to confirm he was leaving.

  “Okay. On second thought, leave the light on. Do you have any cover behind the motel when you climb out?”

  “Not really. My pickup is back there with some other cars, but if anyone’s watching, they’ll see me for sure. I’ll be a silhouette in the bathroom window.”

  “Well, it seems unlikely that anyone but Antonia’s out there, and she’s in front. Harv has eyes on the lumber mill. Should be low risk. We’ll keep eyes on the girl and let you know if she heads for the phone. Go ahead and slip out the back window, but hold position near your truck.”

  Estefan clicked his radio in response and reached for the rear window.

  “There are a few lights on at the lumber mill and ore-processing plant,” Harv told Nathan, “but I don’t see any activity.”

  “If Raven’s men are going to ambush Estefan, they’ll need his room number.”

  “And they won’t have it until Antonia relays that to Raven.”

  “Right. I need a break,” Nathan said. “Alternate eyes between the tavern and lumber mill.”

  “You got it.”

  Nathan secured his M40 rifle, walked a few steps away, and stretched his arms over his head. He bent at the waist a couple of times and twisted his torso. “Maybe we should pick an SP overlooking the front of the motel, not the helipad and lumber mill.”

  “That would mean relocating to the west, across the river on an east-facing slope.”

  Nathan nodded. “That will take at least twenty minutes. I have a feeling Antonia will be on the move before that. Let’s stay put for now. We’re zeroed from this SP. I think we’re good.”

  “If things turn ugly down there, Raven’s men will probably disable Estefan’s truck. Unless we steal a vehicle, we’ll be looking at a long hump back to our extraction point.”

  “You’re raining on our parade, Harv.”

  “Hey, I’m just trying to think everything through.”

  “Unless Macanas can mobilize dozens of men to canvass the entire area, we’ll get back to our EP okay.”

  “What about Estefan?” Harv asked. “Assuming we kill Raven, Macanas won’t be real happy about it. Estefan won’t want to spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder.”

  “You’re making it rain harder.”

  “I know, but seriously, if we kill Raven, I don’t see how Estefan could stay in Nicaragua with Macanas still in the picture.”

  “There’s no way we’re going after Macanas,” Nathan said. “We made it perfectly clear to Estefan. We said we’d help him with a surgical strike against Raven, and that’s the end of our involvement.”

  “Agreed, but I don’t think Estefan’s thought all of this through.”

  “We may have to pull some strings and get him a new life in the US.”

  “Think he’ll want to do that?”

  Nathan sat back down and shouldered his weapon. “I have no idea.”

  “We could offer him a job.”

  “Yeah, we could. He’s more than qualified. I’m on the tavern. Switch back to the lumber mill.”

  “Do you think Estefan’s hell-bent on killing Raven?”

  “It sounds like it. Why do you ask?”

  Harv didn’t answer right away. Nathan gave him a moment to collect his thoughts.

  “If we take Raven alive, he could cut a deal with the Nicaraguan authorities and put Macanas behind bars.”

  “That’s an interesting idea, but it’s going to be ten times harder taking him alive than killing him. And you assume the Nicaraguan justice system is ready and raring to go to prosecute Macanas. I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves. If the opportunity presents itself to bag him alive, we’ll let Estefan decide. Estefan knows Raven’s just the trigger man. The true source of his father’s murder is Macanas.”

  “Are you saying we let Estefan decide if Raven lives or dies? I’m not sure that will sit right with me, and I know it won’t sit right with you, especially if he chooses death.”

  “You’re right,” Nathan said. “It won’t. We’re not killing Raven if he’s out of the fight and in our custody. And we aren’t looking the other way while Estefan does it. There will be no summary executions on our watch.”

  “So where does this leave us?”

  “We need to talk about that. We can’t exactly march Raven down to the nearest NNP station and say, ‘Here he is.’ And we obviously can’t leave him in the care of anyone in Santavilla.”

  “Cantrell?”

  “No way. She’d never agree to it, and I’d never ask.”<
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  “Then what?”

  “Hell, I don’t know. I really don’t feel confident about him being convicted for murder here. Unless there’s indisputable proof he killed Estefan’s father and the others—and even if there is—he might very likely walk.”

  “That sucks.”

  “On the other hand, if we nail him in a fair fight, I’m okay with it too.”

  “I hate to say this, but any other outcome is going to cause considerable problems. If we have Raven in custody and Estefan’s hell-bent on killing him, what do we do?”

  “We walk,” Nathan said. “I’m not going to disarm or fight Estefan over it. We’ll do our best to dissuade him from killing Raven in cold blood, but if he ignores us, we’re outta here without looking back. I’m really hoping he won’t do that. I think I know Estefan. I’m fairly certain he won’t execute a helpless prisoner, even if it’s Raven.”

  “He seems pretty pissed about his wife and torched house.”

  “He won’t pull the trigger on a helpless man.”

  “Let’s hope you’re right.”

  Nathan didn’t say anything for a few seconds. “There’s one other scenario we need to reinforce.”

  “Yeah?”

  “We can’t let Estefan be taken prisoner.”

  “Are we prepared to kill Raven and his men to prevent it?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m okay with that. If Estefan falls into Macanas’s hands, he’ll die badly and probably give us up. We could end up looking over our shoulders for the rest of our lives.”

  “More than we already do?” Nathan said dryly.

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Sorry, Harv. I didn’t mean to sound flippant.”

  “We’re good, partner. Estefan isn’t the only one stressing tonight.”

  “Amen to that.”

  “I guess we should’ve had this discussion with Estefan when we first decided to help him.”

  “Things happened quickly. Let’s not worry too much about Estefan. He’s a pro. Instinctively, he knows everything we just talked about. There’s only one eventual outcome: Raven or us.”

  “Yep.” Harv nodded. “And I choose Raven.”

  CHAPTER 24

  “You okay, Nate?”

  Harv’s tone brought Nathan back to full alertness. Even after stretching and taking a break from scope duty, he was finding it hard to focus on his surveillance for extended periods. A sign of fatigue setting in, and it would only get worse. Not a good thing. He rubbed his chin, feeling the stubble that marked their time in-country.

  “If you were Raven, would you want Estefan alive?”

  Harv thought for a moment. “It’s hard to say. I’m not sure he’d believe Estefan’s motivation is anything other than to avenge his father’s death. I mean, why think otherwise? We talked about this. I don’t see any value in taking Estefan alive other than to find out who, if anyone, he’s talked to.”

  “Us.”

  “Afraid so.”

  “Then let’s proceed on the assumption that his men will have orders to capture Estefan alive if possible.”

  “Meaning . . .”

  “Unless something changes, we shoot to kill.”

  “Copy that,” Harv said.

  “Picture Estefan strapped to a chair while Raven tortures the shit out of him. We’ll never let that happen.”

  “Agreed.”

  “What’s the fastest Raven can get up here if he flies?”

  “I’m not sure . . . He’d have to round up some men, drive to the airport, preflight the ship, and take off. It’s an hour of flying time, so I’d conservatively say . . . at least ninety minutes at a minimum. It might take longer if he keeps it in a hangar—he’d have to tractor it out to the flight line.”

  Nathan was silent for a moment. “Maybe I should be the one at risk down there.”

  “No way. We need you up here behind that M40.”

  As much as Nathan wanted to disagree, he couldn’t.

  “I’m through,” said Estefan. “I put the screen back and left the window open. If anyone looks inside, they won’t be able to see the bed. The narrow hall leading to the bathroom blocks its line of sight. Where’s the girl?”

  “She’s still behind the gas pumps,” Nathan said. “The general store is screening you from her view right now. Stay put and be ready to relocate to the north wall of the store. We still think she’s going to report your room number to Raven. Can you see her house from there?”

  Partially, the Conex boxes are blocking my view.

  “If we see any of Raven’s men emerge from the lumber mill or the ore-processing plant, we’ll move you over to the boxes. You’ll have better cover and a clear line of sight from there. You copy?”

  “Affirm.”

  Nathan kept his scope on the area surrounding the gas pumps. “After Antonia makes the call, things might happen fast. Everything hinges on Raven’s men believing you’re in the motel room. They’ll either try to ambush you and kill you outright or take you prisoner.”

  “Not a nice thought.”

  “Don’t worry. We won’t let you get taken prisoner.”

  “Well, that’s comforting. I suppose you’d be doing me a favor.”

  “We would.”

  “Let’s ah . . . make that a last resort.”

  Nathan spoke slowly. He didn’t want Estefan to feel any doubt about his resolve. “Estefan, if things get heavy, you will be in a shoot-to-kill situation. Center mass or head shots. I doubt they’ll be wearing armor. Anyone who approaches your motel room is fair game, whether you see a weapon or not. Clear?”

  “Clear. Shooting to kill.”

  “What’s the distance from the gas pumps over to the motel?”

  “Around twenty-five yards.”

  “What’s your laser’s zero?”

  “Fifteen yards.”

  “That works. You doing okay down there?”

  “I’m still worried about Martina, but it won’t be a problem. I’m okay. My head’s in the game. If you’re thinking about that truck wreck I caused, I know I acted stupidly. It won’t happen again.”

  “Already forgotten. We’re going to end this tonight. You’ll be visiting Martina later this morning.”

  “I’ll hold you to it.”

  “Antonia’s on the move. You should see her walk past the south wall of the motel any second.”

  “I’ve got her.”

  “Hold position . . . Something’s wrong. She’s not walking toward the phone.”

  “I can relocate to the store’s southeast corner without her seeing me. She might want a look around before making the call.”

  “It’s possible, but it’s really dark down there. Without NV, she’d never see you.”

  “She got the upper hand on me down at the river.”

  “We all underestimated her.”

  “I don’t like the feel of this,” Harv said.

  “Me either. She should be updating Raven. Could someone else have eyes on Estefan?”

  “It’s possible, but we haven’t seen anyone.”

  “I’m still on the lumber mill, Nate. What’s she doing?”

  “She’s walking south toward the church.”

  “You want me to keep her in sight?”

  “Negative, Estefan. We’ve got eyes on her. Is there another pay phone in town? At the post office or Laundromat?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Stand by.” Nathan’s mind raced with alternate plans. Everything hinged on Antonia making the second call to Raven. Where the hell could she be going? He supposed she could still be planning to call him, but when? And why the delay? “Harv, switch to the thermal imager, and sweep the entire area surrounding the lumber mill.”

  “You got it.”

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nbsp; “To be on the safe side, I’m putting more distance between Estefan and the lumber mill.” He radioed to Estefan, “Divert east past the Conex boxes to the small road behind Mateo’s house and turn south. Head over to the rear yard of the church. The small houses on the south side of the vacant lot should screen you. There are some abandoned cars over there. Use them for cover.” His radio clicked. “Harv?”

  “Hang on, I’m just powering it on . . . I’ve got nothing. No warm bodies.”

  “Check the river.”

  “I’m not seeing anyone.”

  “Verify if it sees the girl.”

  “Affirm. The TI shows her as a bright object.”

  “Okay, stay on the TI and keep eyes on the lumber mill. I don’t know what Antonia’s up to, but we’re staying on the offensive. We’re not going to fight Raven’s men on their terms.”

  “She didn’t make the second call. How do we get them where we want them?”

  “We’ll make the call for her. Loudly.” He pressed the transmit button. “Estefan, change in plans. Double-time it across the vacant lot, and prepare to fire a shot in front of Antonia.”

  “Copy. How close do you want it?”

  Nathan liked how Estefan didn’t second-guess his orders, a trait of a good combat soldier.

  “I’ll let you know. You’ll need to be mindful of bullet skip.”

  Nathan refocused on the street and felt a chill.

  Antonia was gone.

  CHAPTER 25

  “Estefan, take a knee and hold position. We lost eyes on Antonia.” Nathan remained focused on the area immediately surrounding Estefan in the event Antonia planned to ambush him. “Harv, I need eyes on the street.”

  “I’ve got her,” Harv said. “She’s running south, along the west side of the road. She just passed the post office.”

  Nathan focused where Harv indicated and reacquired her. “We’ve got her, Estefan. She’s in a dead run heading south between the post office and Laundromat.”