Across the River of Yesterday

She wheeled and strode back to him. 'I've got to do something. I can't just sit here and wait.'

'You will be doing something. We can do more here right now than in Mariba.'

'How? Dane's in Mariba, dammit.'

'Easy.' Gideon's tone was soothing. 'I know you're upset and worried nearly crazy, but trust me. You heard what Ross said; you know that money alone won't do the trick. We'll have to find another way.'

'What other way?'

'Well have to work through the revolutionaries.'

'But they're in Mariba.' Serena twisted her fingers through her ponytail. 'Are you trying to drive me crazy?'

'Not all of them are on Castellano,' Gideon said. 'One of the principal ringleaders is here on Santa Isabella. We'll contact him tonight and make arrangements for Dane's rescue.'

'Oh, Lord, it all sounds so dangerous,' Serena whispered. 'Revolutions, and juntas, and nightmare prisons.'

'I know.' Gideon's hands closed on her shoulders. 'I can't promise you there won't be danger, but I won't let Dane be hurt.'

'How can you stop it?'

He tried to smile. 'I'm a steamroller, remember? I'll roll right over them.' He lifted her chin. 'For heaven's sake, don't cry. I don't think I could take it.'

'He's only twenty-one years old.' Serena's voice was shaking. 'I've always tried to take care of him. I'm so scared I've failed him this time.'

'You haven't failed anyone. All this is my fault, not yours.' Gideon's lips tightened. 'And I'll be the one to set it right.' His hands dropped away from her and he took a step back. 'Run along and pack a change of clothes. You'll need jeans, tennis shoes, and a light jacket. We'll want to be ready to go right after we contact Julio.'

'Who is Julio?'

'That's an interesting question,' Ross said dryly. 'Julio Rodriguez is something of an enigma. I'm not sure anyone knows who or what he is, but he's definitely interesting.'

'He's the revolutionary leader?' Serena asked.

Gideon nodded. 'In a manner of speaking. Julio's position is a little complicated. I'll send word to him to meet us at my hotel on the other side of the island. Julio prefers crowds.'

'Will he help us?'

'He damn well better. He was the one who told me Dane would be safe for the next month.' Gideon smiled grimly. 'Oh, yes, he'll help us. We'll have dinner in the hotel dining room and then go to the nightclub afterward. He'll be at either one or the other.' His gaze searched her face. 'Will you be all right alone? I'm going to have Ross drop me at the hotel so that I can set up the meeting with Julio.'

'I'll be fine. I'll do your packing too.' Lord knew she needed something to do to keep her mind off Dane's dangerous situation. 'Is there any other way I can help?'

He shook his head. 'I'll be back in a few hours and pick you up to take you to the hotel. Try to take a nap. I don't know how much rest we'll get once we contact Julio.'

'How do you expect me to-' She broke off. Even to her own ears her voice had sounded half hysterical. She mustn't fall apart. Gideon was right. There was no telling how far their resources would be stretched before this was over. 'I'll try. Goodbye, Gideon.' She started up the stairs.

Gideon stood at the foot of the stairs and watched her until she disappeared from view.

'She took it very well,' Ross said soberly. 'Damn, I hated to bring her news like that.'

'Why? None of it was your responsibility. I'm the one who gave the orders and made the decisions. I'm the one she's going to hate, if anything happens to him.' His skin was drawn tightly over his cheekbones and the expression in his eyes was sick. 'But no more than I'll hate myself.' He turned to the door. 'Come on, let's get moving. There's no way I'm going to let Mendino do this.'

'That's your hunted revolutionary, skulking among the shadows?' Serena shook her head in bewilderment as she tried to catch another glimpse of Julio Rodriguez among the crowd on the dance floor. 'Is this some kind of joke?'

'Julio is no joke-just a bit unusual.' Gideon took a sip of his bourbon. 'He's definitely a free spirit in more ways than one. As for being hunted, the guardia of Castellano has agents who would be overjoyed to assassinate him, but as long as he doesn't allow himself to be caught off guard, he's safe enough on Santa Isabella. He's one of the island's wealthiest citizens and owns a private air charter service and several coffee plantations here.'

'If all his property and interests are here, why is he trying to overthrow the government of Castellano?'

'His old friend, Consuela Jiminez, was raped and murdered by the guardia two years ago,'

Gideon said grimly. 'Since then, he's supplied money, arms, and transportation to the rebels on a regular basis. He may be a little unconventional, but if anyone can arrange to get Dane out of Mariba, it will be Julio.'

'Dear heaven, I hope so,' she whispered. Then misgivings bombarded her again as the crowd parted and she caught another glimpse of Julio Rodriguez. She didn't know how she could have lost sight of him even for a moment. He was almost six feet five and his apparel stood out like a neon sign among the dark tuxedos of the other men on the dance floor. He wore scarlet trousers that hugged his buttocks and thighs with loving detail and a white silk shirt unbuttoned almost to his waist. The gold chain encircling his tan throat glittered as he undulated opposite an elegantly gowned blond. He was shockingly different from the sleek, expensively dressed patrons of the nightclub. 'I gather you don't have a dress code here.'

'Julio has an exemption,' Gideon said. 'He can be very persuasive.'

Serena could believe it. The blond with whom he danced was looking up at him as if she were starving, and he was prime rib with all the trimmings. There was no question that Julio Rodriguez was very attractive. He was very Latin, and darkly handsome. His flashing white smile managed to be sensual and endearing at the same time. 'Let's hope that he puts his persuasion to good use with Mendino.'

'I don't think persuasion will be the order of the day,' Gideon said as he caught Julio's eye and motioned to him. 'He's seen us; he should be right over.'

Serena saw Julio bow elegantly to the disappointed blond, smile with enough wattage to light up New York City, and then start to make his way through the crowd. He walked as gracefully as he danced, and as he drew closer she realized he was probably older than she had first thought, perhaps in his late twenties. She found she was becoming accustomed to his outrageous garb and it no longer jarred her. Somehow that color and dash belonged to Julio Rodriguez, as the traditional 'suit of lights' belonged to a matador.

Gideon rose to his feet and shook hands with Rodriguez and then turned to Serena. 'Julio Rodriguez, Serena Spaulding. Now that we have the formalities out of the way, sit down and tell me what the hell went wrong. You said-'

Julio held up his hand as he dropped into the chair opposite Serena. 'I know, I know. It was as much a surprise to me as it was to you.' His expression was somber as he gazed at Serena. 'I'm very sorry. It was my fault that Gideon blundered so badly. His plain to win you appealed to my romantic side, and I truly thought I was giving him the right information. Unfortunately, sometimes events occur that change our plans.'

Gideon sat down again. 'And what 'event' occurred this time?'

'The guardia executed the editor of the largest newspaper in Mariba four days ago,' Julio said simply. 'The rioting was completely spontaneous, but we're going to take advantage of popular opinion to strike while the iron is hot.'

'Not before I get Dane out of Mariba.' Gideon's expression was flint hard. 'The junta could initiate a bloodbath, if they think their regime is on the verge of toppling.'

Serena felt the panic rise within her. 'When is all this supposed to happen?'

Julio's eyes glowed with gentle sympathy. 'I'm sorry, I can't tell you that, but it's best we move quickly.'

'We?' Gideon asked. 'You're going with us?'

Julio looked at Gideon in surprise. 'Of course. I share the blame, so it follows that I should also share the danger.' His grin flashed bold and brilliant in his dark face. 'Besides, when the real action starts it will be a group effort, and I've always worked better alone. This exercise will be a nice little warm-up.'