“Sweet deal...for you.”
“Hey, man. I get results.” Troy drilled his knuckle into the table with every word. “I got the heads-up that EGV was near Rocky Point. I went there for a vacation, put out some feelers and discovered this rich dude had a compound on the coast—electric fences, guards, dogs, the whole nine yards. I also found out he was an art lover. Then it got a little hot, and I had to leave, but not before I discovered the guy’s interest in local art. So, I contacted Libby James.”
Rob’s hand curled into a fist. “And put her in danger.”
“I didn’t twist your arm, Libby. When I told you what I suspected, you were more than eager to help.” Troy skimmed a hand over his head. “I don’t know the details, but it seems like you had a particular reason to bring down this guy if he was involved with the cartels. You have no love for the cartels, Libby. You made that clear.”
A crease formed between Libby’s eyebrows. “Did you get the impression it was personal with me? Some hatred beyond what any decent person would feel for the cartels?”
“Oh, yeah.” Troy drummed his fingers on the table. “Don’t ask me, though, ’cause I don’t know, and now I guess neither do you. What I don’t get?”
“Yeah?” Libby met his gaze, and Rob placed a hand on her thigh beneath the table.
“How did EGV know you were on to him, and why did you have those goons on your tail on your way up here? This was supposed to be an informational meeting. You told me you had something to show me. Next thing I know, you blow off the meeting, don’t acknowledge me in the street and Paradiso is thick with cartel members looking to kill you.”
Libby’s hand jerked and her tea sloshed over the edge of her cup.
“Sorry.” Troy patted her arm with a clumsy hand. “I suppose you don’t have your phone, do you? I got the impression what you had to show me was on your phone, but you didn’t want to send it to me.”
“I’m assuming it burned up in the car along with my purse, my ID, my suitcase, my life.”
Rob asked, “What about your phone? You said in the parking lot you had text messages between you and Libby for proof. I’d like to see those messages, see what she texted you before the accident.”
“I have it...” Troy dug in his pocket and withdrew a phone with a pink sparkly case. “Damn, I don’t have that particular phone on me. I have a lot of burner phones, and I swap them out just in case.”
“Right.” Rob snatched up Troy’s phone from the table. “Passcode?”
Troy rattled it off, and Rob accessed his phone. He scrolled through enough text messages to see that Troy did have clients, and he had Libby’s number saved. He called the number just for the heck of it. It rang and rang and rang.
“Libby’s phone was probably destroyed in the car fire.”
“I know that now. You don’t think I’ve been trying it?” Troy slumped in his seat. “I guess it’s back to the drawing board unless you get your memory back and can tell me what you had.”
“Back to the drawing board for you. Libby’s out of it.”
“Lawman, she ain’t gonna be out of it until she starts remembering. There are more Pablos out there, and they have orders to make sure Libby’s gone before that happens.”
LIBBY SAT IN Rob’s truck, pressing her fingers to her temples on both sides of her throbbing head. “What do you think?”
“I think Troy Paulsen is a blowhard, and just listening to him tired me out.”
“Do you believe him?” Rob must’ve believed some part of that story because he gave Troy’s weapon back to him. “Because I believe him.”
“I don’t know why he’d lie about working for April Archer. That sounds like something her brother would get up to, and maybe she figured she’d go along with it to see if Paulsen could come up with something.”
“Why do you think April didn’t mention it to us when she came over? I realize she didn’t know I had come across the border to meet with Paulsen, but El Gringo Viejo came up in the conversation and she even admitted that she suspected he was her father.”
“I can give you one reason.” Rob wiped his brow and started the engine. “Her husband. I’d bet my last dollar Clay doesn’t know a damned thing about this investigation, and he wouldn’t be happy about it if he did. April wasn’t about to tell me.”
He backed out of the parking space and pulled out of the lot.
“Why didn’t you want me to tell him about the dead body from my memory?”
“You were spilling enough. No need to give him everything. I’m going to run him. If he checks out as legit, maybe we can schedule another meeting with him and you can tell him about the dead man. He might know who he is.”
“Why would I have it in for the cartels?” Libby shoved her hands beneath her thighs to keep them from trembling.
“Why wouldn’t you? They’re a law unto themselves down there. They wreak havoc and pain up here. I’ve got it in for them. I would even if it weren’t my job.”
“Troy said I had a personal issue with the cartels.” Libby gnawed at her bottom lip. “What if that dead body is someone I know? Someone I love?”
Rob’s knuckles blanched as he seemed to tighten his hold on the steering wheel. “Troy made it sound like you had an issue with the cartels from before and that’s why you didn’t hesitate to help him. Don’t you think you fled because of the dead body on the lawn?”
“I don’t mean a husband or boyfriend.” She trailed her fingertips along Rob’s tensed forearm.
