'Where are you?' He listened and looked up, locking eyes with Raven. 'Stay put. I'll be right there.'
Raven stepped closer, standing by his side. Her dark eyes narrowed. When Christian hung up the phone, he grabbed her hand and kissed it, her skin warm to the touch.
'When I come back, I'll introduce you to someone I've been dying for you to meet.'
It wasn't easy to spot her. Dressed in a dark floral skirt and a white blouse, a woman cowered near the guest phones across from registration. The huge lobby with its activity dwarfed her tiny frame, obscuring her presence. Her gray hair was mussed, her dark eyes wary. She looked as though the devil would swoop to claim her soul if she didn't stay vigilant. As he stepped closer, Christian saw something else. Draped off her neck, the woman wore a chain with a peculiar leather pouch dangling from it. Strange, but what could be expected from an owner of a Macumba shop? Even though they'd never met, Christian knew he'd found Bianca Salvador.
The older woman spotted him, confirming his suspicions that she'd been the one behind the peephole the other day.
'Mrs. Salvador?' Christian waited for her to extend a hand. She didn't. The woman only nodded, not looking him in the eye.
'Yes. I'm sorry to intrude, but I didn't know who else might help.' Bianca lowered her voice.
'Please believe me, this is no imposition; quite the contrary. Follow me. We'll have more privacy in my room.'
She followed him, keeping a step behind. And she never said a word during the elevator ride. The silence felt awkward, yet unavoidable. Something he read in her body language made it clear she preferred the quiet. Once they got to the suite, the woman looked shocked to see Raven. She stopped and almost turned away. Christian interceded.
'It's okay. Please, I'd like to introduce you to Raven Mackenzie from Chicago, Illinois.'
Bianca stared at the man with the green eyes as he touched the shoulder of the beautiful woman, clearly a sign of affection. In Bianca's mind, these two fit. They had a connection, unlike the Asian woman he'd brought to her store.
'Raven? This is Mrs. Bianca Salvador. She owns the Guia Do Espirito, a local store specializing in spirit ritual and religious artifacts.'
'Pleased to meet you.' The young woman smiled.
'Can I get you anything to drink?' He extended his hand and directed Bianca to take a seat on the sofa.
She nodded. 'Please. A glass of water.'
While he stepped behind the wet bar, Bianca caught her reflection in a mirror and wondered what these Americans had thought of her frazzled appearance. She pressed flyaway hairs with her fingers, her mind racing. After he handed her the water, the American sat and waited for her to speak. Since she had no time for pleasantries, it didn't take long.
'The military police, they took my Hector, my nephew.' With a voice low, she choked back a sob and pressed a hand to her lips. 'They beat and dragged him from the store. Maybe he couldn't walk on his own. I don't know how bad—' She grimaced; reliving the horror brought pain.
'When did this happen?'
'Earlier this afternoon. I ran straight here. I didn't know where else to go.'
'Did you see any of the men who took him?' he asked. 'Do you know Captain Luis Duarte?'
'No, I saw no one. And I do not know the captain you mentioned.'
'Did you see their vehicle? Get a license tag?' the young woman asked.
'I'm afraid I won't be any help. I only heard the attack from the stockroom, from behind a closed door.' Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. ' I was too afraid to stop it. I would have called the police, but Hector made sure I knew those men
'For reasons I can't get into right now, I believe Captain Duarte took Hector. He's on the police payroll, but I think he's found a way to subsidize his income.'
'So much corruption in my country. I wish it were not so.'
'And we believe this captain took a friend of mine, the one who visited your store the other day. He called it an arrest, but we have proof he never booked her. We don't know where she is.'
'Do you think this woman is dead?' The reality of her question hit too close to home, reminding Bianca of Hector.
'I have nothing to back up my claims, only a hunch. But maybe the chief of police can do something about it. I can tell Chief Ricardo Zharan what happened to your nephew. He might be able to find Hector. He's looking for Duarte and Jasmine now.'
'You would do this thing for me?'
'Yes, I don't know what good it'll do, but it may help. Being a foreigner here, I don't have much choice in the matter.'
The American stared at her. Finally, Delacorte reached for her hand. She drew from his strength before she pulled away.
'Hector is a good boy. Sure, he has grand schemes. What young man doesn't? He has the body of a virile man, but the tender innocence of a child. He has so much to learn.' Bianca fought back the fear that her nephew wouldn't get the chance to learn life's lessons. 'Hector only wants to take care of me. And he's not patient. He probably thought that money was his big opportunity.'
'That money? What do you mean?'
'He knew of the reward money you offered for information on the kidnapped man.' She forced the words from her mouth, hating how they sounded aloud. 'I think the wrong people heard of his interest. Maybe they were afraid he'd learn something to hurt them and say too much.'
'Actually, I have another theory. Hector contacted me here earlier today.'
Bianca wasn't surprised. She'd heard her nephew on the phone, but never knew where he placed the call.
'I do not mean to pry, but can you tell me why he called you, Mr. Delacorte?'
'He called to tell me about my friend Jasmine. He witnessed her arrest outside your store today. He heard her mention Captain Duarte by name.' His green eyes fixed on her. 'Hector wanted money for the heads-up. I thought he wanted it for himself, but after listening to you, I think he wanted it for your sake. Guess I was wrong about him.'
Delacorte exchanged a glance with the young woman sitting next to him. In turn, she reached a hand to him in consolation. These two were definitely in love. Love was always a gift meant for sharing. And it brought back memories.
'Hector's mother died of cancer years ago. My baby sister. Her boy is like a son to me.' She fought the lump in her throat.
'How can I help you? You came here for a reason.'
Even with all his troubles, Delacorte offered his help. Bianca knew she'd come to the right man. The spirits had been right about him.
'This may sound strange.' Bianca didn't know how to explain to a non-believer. 'I cannot go to the police. To do so might get Hector killed, if he is not already—'
The thought of Hector dead tore a hole in her heart. Bianca fought for composure. She sipped water until she could continue.
'The day you came into my shop, I saw you from the storeroom in the back. For security, we
