Reckoning for the Dead

and that was getting her hackles up.

“But I was the one who uncovered this missing interview. Some people might say you owe me one.”

“Well, some people might be wrong. This is my case. And I’ll handle it.”

When Chief Cook stood, he grabbed the stacks she had so carefully put in order and stuffed them back into the evidence box, piling them up helter-skelter. If she’d been lucky, he would’ve been done talking, but that didn’t happen. Cook opened the door to the conference room and waited for her to leave, but not before he said what was on his mind. And the attitude he’d shown her when they first met was back in full force.

“I’m sure you’ll be heading out of town now since there’s nothing more you can offer. Leave a number where I can reach you. And I’ll call.”

“Be still my heart.”

Jessie glared back, but the man wasn’t intimidated. She walked out the door with her mind in overdrive. What the hell had just happened? She’d been kicked out of town twice in one day. A lesser person would have taken it real personal.

But unfortunately for Chief Tobias Cook, that wasn’t Jessie.

Chapter 7

Guadalajara, Mexico

Forty minutes later

Alexa had parked down the street from a seedy-looking bar on the outskirts of Guadalajara, called La Cucaracha. A row of motorcycles was parked in front, with more parking in the rear of the stucco building that had been marred with black and red graffiti.

“Nice ambience.” Alexa sighed. “Guess I can forget the umbrella drinks.”

Tanya had told her about the bar. An arms dealer operated out of La Cucaracha, a man known by the street name, El Puma. In English, his name translated to Cougar. Clearly the man wasn’t concerned with the negative image of his branding efforts, especially if he hung out at a bar named for the cockroach.

While she sat in her SUV, watching who came and went from the local watering hole, she pulled back her hair and tucked it into a ball cap that she’d brought in the canvas bag. Pulling the hat down over her eyes, she wanted to minimize the fact that she was a woman. In a dump like La Cucaracha, her precautions might not make a difference. Once she got inside, Tanya had given her specific instructions. If she did as she was told, El Puma would make contact with her.

“This better work.”

After Alexa entered the murky bar, every head in the place turned toward her. At least, that was how it felt. She avoided eye contact and found an empty table to the left of the smoke-filled bar. The place smelled of cigarettes, sweat, and booze. Eventually, a waitress came over and dropped a napkin on the table and asked to take her order in Spanish.

“Sorry, I don’t speak the language.” Alexa kept her voice low, only loud enough for the young woman to hear. “Just give me a beer. Dos Equis with a lime, thanks.”

After the waitress left, Alexa took out a pen and wrote on the napkin. When the girl came back with her order, Alexa handed her the note she’d written. The young woman looked at it, then locked eyes with her before she went back to the bar. Her exchange with the bartender left Alexa with little doubt that she’d gotten her message across. She wanted to meet with El Puma to talk a little business.

Alexa took a sip of her beer and kept her eyes alert for any sign of trouble. The place gave her the creeps. The only women in the bar waited on tables or looked like hookers working the room. La Cucaracha didn’t exactly cater to the tourist trade. And with the abundance of ink in the bar, she was feeling left out, not having enough tattoos to fit in.

It took nearly twenty minutes before the bartender caught her eye and nudged his head toward the back. His gesture had been so subtle, she almost missed it in the dimly lit bar. Alexa noticed a doorway to the right.

“Showtime,” she muttered.

When she got to the door, a man dressed in jeans and a black T-shirt stood in the hallway. He was armed and carried a Beretta in a shoulder harness. As big as he was, she couldn’t see past him, making her edgy.

“Lead the way,” she said with a wave of her hand.

“After you, senorita.”

Although Alexa didn’t like turning her back on El Puma’s man, she did as she was told and walked by him toward a door at the end of the hall. When she opened it, Alexa was surprised to see who was in the room.

A familiar face smiled back at her. And she couldn’t hide her shock.

“Hello, Alexa. I usually prefer blondes, but seeing you as a brunette could change my mind.”

Sentinels’ operative Hank Lewis was leaning against the far wall of the office with his arms crossed. And a man she didn’t know sat behind a desk like he belonged.

“What are you doing here, Hank?” She narrowed her eyes. “And who’s your friend? El Puma, I presume.” Alexa extended her hand to the guy behind the desk.

He had a wide barrel chest with broad shoulders and slicked-back dark hair. When the man stood to take her hand, Alexa noticed he was dressed in a navy sport coat, open-collar white shirt, and khaki pants. Except for his penchant for gold chains worn around his neck, El Puma looked like any businessman on the street.

“Si, Senorita Marlowe. I have a street name for business purposes, but you can call me Victor, since we are all compadres here.” The man remained standing. “Can I get you another cervesa?”

“Unless Hank gives me a good reason to stay, I’ll pass on the beer, but thanks, Victor.”

When she turned her attention on Hank, the short, muscular man with the burr haircut grinned, and said, “You mind giving us some time alone, Vic? We need to talk.”

“No problem. My office is yours, mi amigo.” Taking his bodyguard with him, Victor left them alone.

“Thought you were on assignment, Hank.”

“Yeah, I was. Mission interruptus.”

“Were you the one who’s been following me since the airport?”

Hank furrowed his brow and shrugged.

“Sorry. Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Alexa watched every detail of Hank’s reaction. His body language, and what she knew of her many missions with the man, made her believe he was telling the truth. And he had no reason to lie. Not now.

Had she gotten so paranoid that she’d imagined being followed?

“I’ve been . . . working, until now.” Hank cocked his head. “I got pulled off an op to talk to you.”

“Talk to me. About what?”

“I’m here to ask you to back off, Alexa. We’re in the middle of a sensitive operation. We don’t need the distraction.”

“Just tell me about Garrett. Where is he, Hank? Is he involved in your assignment?” Alexa crossed her arms and stood her ground. “I just need to talk to him, make sure he’s okay.”

Hank thought about what she’d said before he answered, “As far as I know, Garrett isn’t part of this.”

“But you don’t know for sure,” she guessed. From his hesitation, she knew how things went when a mission was run on a need-to-know basis. Hank might not know who was calling the shots.

“Why are you here, Alexa? Straight up.” He stepped closer and fixed his gaze on her.

Alexa had to give him enough so he’d believe her, but not so much that it would implicate Tanya’s involvement. If anyone got pegged for interference, it would be her alone. She wouldn’t let anyone else go down with her.

“Garrett’s gone AWOL. He hasn’t come up for air with me, and I checked with Tanya. She hadn’t heard from him in a couple of weeks now. I’m worried, Hank. And I have reason to suspect there’s an op going on down here