sleep-but he actually entertained the thought that one day the governor's wife might be his wife.
The federales and cartels had set up competing roadblocks throughout the city manned by heavily armed men.
'And they wonder why tourists don't come no more,' Eddie said.
They evaded the roadblocks by backtracking and taking a longer route around, cutting through alleys, and even maneuvering through a side street of small motels manned by women dressed in lingerie. Shortly before 3:00 A.M., they arrived at the street on which the white compound was located. They ducked into a dark alley between two buildings. Bode accidentally kicked a beer can; it sounded like a siren as it careened down the concrete. Eddie put a finger to his lips.
'Shh.'
At each end of the street stood a man with a rifle slung over his shoulder.
' Halcones,' Eddie said. 'Lookouts. The far one is policia, on El Diablo's payroll.' He pulled out the Glock with the silencer. 'Wait here.'
He disappeared into the darkness. Bode and the doctor stood there, only their breathing breaking the silence.
'I miss him already,' the doctor said.
They peeked around the edge of the building and observed the halcones. First one, then the other, dropped to the ground. Eddie pulled the bodies out of sight.
'He is very good,' the doctor said.
'?No mueva! '
They didn't move. They turned slowly to the voice behind them. A policia held a gun on them. Bode hoped Eddie returned soon. He didn't. But a large brick suddenly slammed against the cop's head; he collapsed to the ground.
'Hidi, Governor.'
Ranger Roy, sounding like a kid come to play.
'Roy-what the hell are you doing here?'
He wasn't wearing his Ranger uniform, but still, a six-foot-six Anglo in a T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers without a tan in the can stood out like a capitalist in Cuba.
'Mr. Burnet told me where you'd gone, so I drove down right after you left.'
'Why?'
'Because I'm responsible for her. Mrs. Bonner, she's like my mother.'
The boy's voice cracked.
'How'd you find us?'
He pulled a GPS unit out of his back pocket.
'Tracking your cell phone.'
' Roy? '
Eddie had returned.
'Hi, Eddie.'
Eddie turned his palms up.
'Anyone else coming?'
'Uh, no, I think this is it.'
Eddie shook his head.
'Let's get closer.'
They stayed in the shadows until they found another dark recess located directly across the narrow street from the front entrance to the compound. Standing outside tall iron gates were four massive hombres.
'I cased the place in daylight,' Eddie said. 'They've got sensors strung all the way around on top of the wall, so even if we could get over, we'd be dead before we hit the ground on the other side.'
'So how are we going to get in?'
'The front door.'
'The front door?'
'Who would be stupid enough to try that?'
'Good point.'
Eddie pulled out the Glock with the silencer again.
'Once we get in, we'll have to split up to find your wife.'
'No, we won't.'
Bode retrieved the GPS unit and activated it again. The signal came on.
'I'm tracking her cell phone.'
'No way he let her keep her phone.'
'She hid it.'
'Where could she…?' Eddie smiled. 'Your wife's a tough broad, Governor.'
They looked at each other for a long solemn moment.
'Well, let's go get her,' Bode said.
Eddie pulled his knit cap down low and the collar to his ratty jacket up high. He dug into his pack and pulled out a small sealed foil container of cottage cheese that smelled sour. He poured the stuff into his mouth, but he didn't swallow. He kept his right hand free under the jacket to hold the weapon. He stepped out onto the sidewalk and began walking as if he were drunk. He stumbled back and forth then into the road, mumbling incoherently. As he approached the entrance gates, the guards started laughing. Eddie then dropped to his knees and puked the cottage cheese into the street. The guards laughed and stepped closer; Eddie rose up, leveled his gun at them, and shot all four men. They fell to the pavement. Not a dog barked.
'He's got skills,' Ranger Roy said.
They ran over and helped Eddie pull the bodies out of sight.
'I don't figure we got much time till we have company. Where's she at?'
Bode checked the GPS.
'East side.'
They slipped through the open gates and headed east along the perimeter wall. The base of the structure looked like a bunker half-built into the ground. Three floors extended above ground level. The entire structure was constructed of steel and concrete.
'Place looks like a fuckin' fort,' Eddie whispered.
The grounds were lush with palm trees and bushes that provided cover. At the east doors, Eddie took out two more men with the silenced gun. They entered the residence but encountered no more guards. They continued down a long corridor until they came to an intersecting corridor. Bode checked the GPS.
'Down here.'
'Governor, you boys go for your wife,' Eddie said. 'I'm going for El Diablo.'
'Why?'
'Because this is what I do… and I do it better alone.'
Bode, Doc, and Roy watched Eddie Jones disappear around the corner. Bode could hear their breathing in the silence of the corridor.
'I miss him again,' the doctor said.
'Let's find Mrs. Bonner,' Roy said. 'And get her out of here.'
Lindsay woke to Enrique's gentle touch on her shoulder. She jumped.
'Enrique-no!'
'Come. The governor, he has already arrived.'
They followed the GPS directions around more corners and down more corridors. They darted across a courtyard with a pool and continued down a dim hallway until they arrived at a steel door. They stopped. The signal came from inside that room. Bode put the GPS unit in his pocket. He drew the big Colt six-shooter with his left hand. Roy wielded a nine-millimeter pistol. Doc removed his six-shooter from his waistband. Bode slowly turned the door handle with his right hand. It was unlocked. He pushed the door slightly open. The room appeared dimly lit. He saw no one. He swung the door fully open and saw that the room had no windows and was empty-except for the cell phone sitting on the floor under a bright spot light.
