“Okay, half an hour.”
“No longer. You shouldn’t have any problems. You are to leave your car at Consuela’s and go with Manuel.”
“My car is packed.”
“Put your things in his car.”
“All right.”
“I’ll text you the address on Whitehead Street. It’s surrounded by a tall hedge. She is on the first floor. She will be waiting for you.”
Javier waited for the text then turned the phone to Sharkey who marked the map and called his officers. “Get into position. This could be dangerous.”
McCabe and Jenny were positioned nearest the location and were ready. He had police cruisers covering the main exits off the island on North Roosevelt Boulevard, Flagler Avenue and South Roosevelt Boulevard, all leading to U.S.1.
* * *
Harris told Javier to put on a new pair of jeans. “There’s a tracer in the small change pocket in your jeans. We can follow you this way. There’s a wire in the waist band, so Sharkey can hear what’s going on.”
“What if they find it?”
“They won’t. Unless they take your pants.”
Javier laughed. “I’ll hope that doesn’t happen.”
“We have good professionals following you. Don’t worry, anything goes wrong, we’ll have you covered. We have the tech people close by.”
* * *
Consuela got a call from Vasquez to get the baby ready for a trip. She went to the bedroom where Mateo was sleeping. She already had his things packed up.
“I’m going to miss you, my little one.” Mateo’s eyes were open, and he smiled back at the sight of her. She picked him up and held him close.
“I don’t want to let you go. I don’t know why you must go with Manuel. You need me to take care of you.”
She took the baby into the living room and called Vasquez.
“Ricardo, why can’t I go with Manuel and Mateo?
“My love, it is better this away. Please, I will pick you up tomorrow and we will go together and meet up with Manuel at the airport. Then we go home to our new house at the new vineyard.”
“Okay,” she said softly.
* * *
Billy and Tyler arrived at a place down by the water behind an old shed.
“The guy that owns this said I could use it anytime I needed to. He’s really nice and only comes here once a year to go fishing in July. It’s not much but it’s clean and it’s not far from the public restrooms.”
Tyler was looking very tired. “Look, you take the cot. I’ll sleep outside the door. You’ll be safe. If you want water, it’s right here. Have a cookie before you go to sleep.”
Tyler was sitting on a sack of seeds in the shed. He was watching Billy.
“Do you think we’ll find my mom?” he said, as he took a cookie out of his pack.
“Tomorrow I’ll find someone who can help you. I know someone who will know how to find her. Rest up now.”
“Okay, I’m pretty sleepy.”
“Here’s a Key West T-shirt to wear while you get some sleep. I’ll wash up your stuff and it will be dry by morning. Don’t want to look like a vagabond.”
“Night.” Tyler closed his eyes and was quickly fast asleep.
Billy sat down outside the door to the shed and looked up at the sky…sure wish Jenny was still here…she’d know what to do…
Billy took Tyler’s clothes and washed then in the utility tub and put them through an old wringer and hung them on the close line.
He then put a rolled-up blanket under his head and leaned back against the door to the shed. He put his cell phone just under his leg in case he needed it quickly.
* * *
Javier pulled up in front of the house. He got out and looked both ways but couldn’t see anyone. He headed for the gate and walked through. A man was sitting on the front porch.
“Javier,” the man said, “are you ready for our trip?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Let’s go in and get Mateo.”
He rang the bell and Consuela answered the door.
‘Manuel,” then her eyes fell on Javier.
“Who is this?”
“He is Ricardo’s nephew.”
“Why is he here? Why can’t I go with you? Why him?” she demanded.
“He is good with babies and I have to drive.”
“Oh…”
“Get the baby. We need to go,” Manuel said, looking around for the baby’s bags.
Consuela returned to Javier. She looked closely with concern written all over her face.
Manuel returned. “Give the baby to him…he’s a nurse.”
“Oh,” she stepped close to Javier and passed the baby to him.
Javier took the child and cradled him in his arms as he looked down into the smiling face of his son. “Oh,” he cooed. “You are a beautiful little man. And so happy. You have your mother’s smile and my eyes…”
“What?” Consuela said, her eyes blazing. “What did you say?”
“He was just making noise to make the baby feel safe.”
The baby reached up and touched Javier’s face.
“Give him back to me,” Consuela commanded. “Now.”
“Just stop, Consuela. He’s no one to be concerned about.”
Consuela took out her phone and dialed Ricardo.
“Ricardo, who is this man with Manuel?”
“I’ll be right over. Let me speak to Manuel.”
She handed the phone to Manuel who stepped away with the phone.
“He’s not needed. Wait, then kill him before you leave the house. Tell Javier to give the baby back to Consuela.”
Manuel nodded to himself, handed the phone back to Consuela and said, “Vasquez says to give the baby back to Consuela. He’s on his way over. Do it.”
Outside, Sharkey told the medics to move in behind the house.
“Okay, everybody, Vasquez is on his way over here. Keep the street open but move in as close as you can. We have a situation here that
