“No. I don’t think so. Manuel has been told to keep me in line, but the safety of the baby comes first. Vasquez would never hurt Mateo or allow anyone to hurt him. He will be treated as an honored member of his family. Mateo is what gives him Consuelo, his real love. Everything else can be sacrificed to that end.”
“Okay,” Harris said. “If he doesn’t use the airlines, then how might he proceed?”
“Probably by car into Mexico. Remember he thinks that I’m on his side.”
“Yeah, that could put you in real danger. After all, when they get the passport, who needs you?”
Javier faced him. “They do, to enter another country with my baby. Well, that depends on if he believes me. I could be dead at any point in the trip.”
“Whoever takes him into Chile needs a Chilean passport for themselves. Then no questions would be asked. Especially if they have your death certificate. Just sayin’,” Harris said.
“If I die in the process then that’s meant to be. I was a willing participant. Right?”
“To a point,” Harris said. “We’ll do our very best to see that you come out of this alive and well. Vasquez is another issue.”
Harris pulled into the garage of Javier’s house and they loaded his bags into the car.
“What’s your take now on Susan?” Harris asked as they got back into the car.
“I hate the fact that I went along with Vasquez’s plan. She had passports which means she had more than thought about leaving America. I’m confused and frustrated that she resisted the option of leaving with me to Chile. But I didn’t know. She hid so much. I should have not been so quick to take the easy way out. Mateo deserves to have his real parents. Even though I was not there for them he doesn’t deserve this outcome.”
“What was done is done. Now we have to try to make the best of what’s left. Two children’s lives, my grandson and your son. They need to be brought back into what family is left.”
“If I die…will you take care of the children?” Javier asked, his young face as solemn as Harris had ever seen it.
“I will make sure they grow up with good parents, if I have to raise them myself. You have my word on that. I let Susan down. It won’t happen again.”
Javier looked at Harris. “Susan was right about you. She never gave up on you. And I can tell you Stephanie did everything in her power to make her hate you. She pretended but I heard her heart speak when she talked about her dad.”
* * *
Sharkey told dispatch to go dark on him. “I don’t want any radio conversation or alerts to go public. I’ll call you when we have a go situation with detailed information. Alert Jenny Springfield, McCabe and Cruz Rosario to be ready to go on alert.”
Sharkey then went over to Harris’s and was invited to dinner. “You have to get a good dinner and Harris said he didn’t know how late this might run.”
“I called Camie and told her not to wait up. Thanks for the invite.”
Amy smiled. “You are most welcome.”
Amy had cooked blackened fish and fried potatoes on the grill. “Come and get it while it’s hot.”
They sat down at the dining room table and Harris prayed.
“We pray for the safety of all involved in the safe return of these children and for the safety of all persons involved in what might be a dangerous mission. Javier may be in great danger. Just keep him safe. Amen.”
After dinner they adjourned to the living room and Sharkey set up a map of the city on one easel and a large blank pad on the other.
“As soon as we get a location and directions from Vasquez, we will have a team move into the location, keeping their cover until given the signal. We’re dealing with Ricardo Vasquez, Consuela, the keeper of the children, and a security man named Manuel Rodriguez.”
“How soon do we tell Vasquez that I have the passport?” asked Javier.
Sharkey looked at Harris. “My gut says the longer we prolong, the more time for mistakes.”
“Tell Vasquez that you need an hour to pack. You had to go to Susan’s house to get the passport. That will give us time to set up the locations that need to be covered.”
“Who will have the getaway car?” asked Alex.
“I will. I rented one that’s big enough to comfortably carry luggage and the baby safely,” Javier said.
“Okay. We put a tracker on it.”
Javier sat on the edge of his seat leaning forward. His face was serious as he watched Sharkey set up the map.
“Try to buy an hour, Javier,” said Sharkey.
“I’ll tell him I just got back from Susan’s house where I found the passport.”
“Sounds good. Tell him you’re packed up and ready when he’s ready.”
“Let’s wait an hour. That way the sun will be down. I’ll contact my people and they’ll have time to get in place. They’re good at not being seen.”
Amy appeared with fresh coffee.
“Thanks, that was a wonderful dinner,” Javier said, taking a cookie from the plate.
“Thank you, Javier. I will be praying for your safety.”
Javier smiled at her. “That makes me feel better.”
“Good.” She turned and headed for the kitchen.
Sharkey was on a conference call with his people. “We’ll have several sharp shooters close by when the location is known.”
* * *
“It’s time,” said Sharkey.
Javier took out his cell phone and dialed Vasquez’s number.
“Javier, I take it you have found the passport.”
“I went to Susan’s house and found it among her papers. I just got back. I need an hour to pull my things together.”
“We need to
