RENATA WAS LEANING AGAINST the side of her SUV and straightened as she saw Megan pull up. 'Where's Grady? He shouldn't have let you come alone.'
'He's right behind me. I told him I wanted to talk to you.' She grabbed the briefcase and jumped out of the car.
Renata's stiffened, her gaze on the briefcase. 'Is that it?'
'Yes. Let's go for a walk.'
Renata didn't move. 'Why?'
'Stop asking questions.' Megan didn't look at her as she strode ahead of her down the road. 'I have a few to ask myself.'
'Just give me the briefcase.' Later.
Renata caught up with her a minute later. 'You opened it, didn't you?' Yes.
'What was in it?'
She stopped and turned to face her. 'Don't you know?'
Renata shook her head. 'The Kipler woman said the drawer was crammed. It could have been anything.'
'But you knew whatever it was that you'd be able to use it.'
Renata moistened her lips. 'What's in it?'
Megan hands were shaking as she opened the briefcase. 'It's a child's pink dress. It's ragged, faded, and it must have belonged to a little girl, no more than seven, or eight.' She pulled out the dress and offered it to Renata. 'Such a little thing to upset a tough CIA agent. Grady said he couldn't wait to get rid of it.'
'It's not such a little thing.' Renata didn't take the pink dress. 'He must have known what it was.'
'And what is it, Renata? What was in that drawer? You've been acting scared to death ever since we talked about it.'
She lifted her chin. 'I'm not scared.'
'Then take the dress.'
'I will.' She didn't move for a moment and then reached out and her hand closed on the cotton material of the dress. She shuddered. 'Oh, God.'
She ran over to the side of the road and threw up.
'Renata.' Megan was beside her, her comforting hand on the other woman's shoulder. 'For heaven's sake, Renata.'
'I'm sorry.' She gasped. 'I didn't mean-I'll be better soon.'
'Sit down.' Megan gently pushed her to the ground to lean against a tall pine tree. Renata's breathing was harsh, rapid. Megan knelt down beside her. 'What's wrong? What's happening?'
'It's pretty obvious, isn't it? I got sick.'
'Why?'
Renata looked down at the little dress she was still clutching. 'Maybe I don't like pink.'
'Then let me have it back.' Megan took the dress from her hand. 'You don't have to use this. We'll get something else.'
'No.' But her breathing appeared to be less labored now that she was no longer clutching the dress. 'It has to be this one. Or something like it.'
'Why? What is it?'
'I think you know.'
'I made a guess when I saw it. I almost threw up too.' Her hand tightened on the dress. 'Did it belong to one of the little girl's Molino sold into slavery?'
Renata nodded jerkily. 'The Kipler woman told me that Molino was into collecting trophies. He had everything in that drawer from body parts of men who had crossed him to the hair of children he'd raped and killed.' The tears were slowly running down her cheeks. 'He particularly liked the dresses the little girls had worn the day they were captured. Hedda Kipler made a number of trips from various parts of the world gathering booty from customers and bandits and delivering them to Molino. She said she'd seen him sit at his desk, smiling and fondling them.'
The horror that image brought was almost overpowering. 'And you still told us to go get… this.'
'You want Molino, don't you? This will make it certain I can find him for you.'
'You can't even touch this dress without throwing up.'
'Yes, I can. Give me a little time.' She reached out a tentative finger and touched the dress. She shivered, but her finger remained on the material. 'I'm not usually this much of a coward. It's just that I can
'You can?'
'And Molino too. They're all mixed up together. I was afraid it would be like that. It's happened to me before. I'm not like you. I… can't handle that kind of emotion. It's feels as if I'm being beaten.' She drew a deep shaky breath. 'And it wasn't only the money for him. It gave him a sense of power to destroy those little girls. He liked to stroke these clothes and think about it.' A monster.
Renata nodded. 'And these trophies couldn't be sending out stronger signals. This is the essence of that son of a bitch. I'll be able to find him even if he's a thousand miles away.'
'You said it was mixed up with the little girl.'
'Once I get used to her, I'll be able to isolate him.' She said hoarsely. 'She was so frightened, Megan. Her name was Adia and she ran and ran, but the bandits were on horseback and they caught her. She was crying but nobody cared…'
'Maybe we can find her, Renata.'
'Maybe. If she's still alive.' Renata's eyes were glittering with moisture. 'But first we have to find Molino.' She sat upright and wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. 'Sorry. I'm okay now.'
'For heaven's sake. There's nothing wrong with-' She wasn't reaching her. Renata's moment of softness was over and she was pushing her away.
Why accept it? She felt closer to Renata now than ever before. Renata would just have to learn to deal with affection.
Megan deliberately reached out and took her hand. 'I think you're nuts to put yourself through this, but I admire and respect you for it.' She got to her feet. 'If I can help, let me know. What do you do next?'
'I drive around and see where it leads me.' Renata smiled unsteadily. 'I'll try hard to find Molino for you before tonight, Megan.'
'I know you will. But if you don't, stay away from the graveyard. Do you hear?'
Renata didn't answer.
'I mean it. I don't know what to expect, but I don't want Molino to make any phone calls that will hurt Phillip.'
'I'll think about it. It wouldn't do any good to try to make a connection with Molino there anyway. It won't be the place he has your Phillip. And it would be broken when he put enough distance between us. What's the plan?'
'Harley is going to scout around the cemetery and make sure Molino doesn't have backup there. Grady will stay in the trees with a rifle trained on Molino.'
Renata thought about it. 'I suppose that's as safe as Grady can make it for you.'
'Then promise me you'll stay away from the cemetery.'
'If I can locate Molino before that it will be a moot issue.'
'Promise.'
She frowned.
'Promise.'
'Hell, no.' She turned on her heel and walked back toward her car.
10:45 P.M.
'HARLEY SAYS THE IMMEDIATE area's clear,' Grady said. 'There are four of Molino's men in the forest across the way. I didn't expect him to take a chance and come alone.' He gestured to the south. 'I'll be in that patch of trees with a rifle trained on Molino. Harley will circle and keep an eye out to make sure Molino's men don't start
