“That’s not necessary. I can pick it up.”
“Absolutely not. Your mom would never forgive me if you had an accident on the way.”
Mike was from the generation where men take care of all sorts of irritating little details for women, and a part of me liked it.
“His name’s Justin McElroy. His dad and I were in the same unit in the service. Justin joined the Marines Special Forces, a real hotshot, but a nice guy. He’ll be there a little after seven. Your mom’s resting, but I know she’d want me to tell you she loves you.”
I would have suspected Mom of trying to set me up with this Justin guy, but she was too devastated for matchmaking. I checked in with Lesroy about taking care of Scarlett and dragged out my suitcase.
Chapter 11
At 7:05, the doorbell rang. Scarlett walked alongside me, and we looked out the paneled window by the entrance. The man on my front porch wore a heavy leather jacket with the collar turned up and a black knit cap pulled low over his forehead. He was obviously Mike’s friend, but I asked for identification before I opened the door to let him know I was security savvy.
“You must be Grace Burnette,” he said, pulling off his woolen hat and extending a gloved hand to me. “I’m Justin McElroy, your mom’s and Mike’s friend.” There was no mistaking that voice. It was the man from the dark SUV.
“Uh, right. Grace. That’s me,” I stammered, wishing I’d at least put on a little mascara or lipstick. The man at my door was more imposing than conventionally handsome. He was tall, not as tall as Mike but close, with wide, muscular shoulders. His black hair was short and wavy with a few threads of white woven in near his temples, and his eyes were a deep, dark blue. A slightly crooked nose and scruffy-looking five o’clock-shadow gave him that bad-boy edge most women would find hard to resist. But it was his mouth that held my attention—full, smooth lips, and incredibly white teeth.
He removed his gloves, and we shook hands. His touch was warm, and I held on a beat longer than usual. Scarlett growled as I slipped my hand from his firm grip.
“Do you mind if I come in?”
I nodded and stepped aside. He wiped his feet on the welcome mat and crossed the threshold, holding his hand out to the dog.
“Careful,” I warned. “She’s not fond of strangers, and she hates men. Easy, Scarlett.” I waited for the Doberman to bare her teeth. Instead, she sniffed his ankles and nuzzled against him, wagging her tail.
“Nice place,” he said, moving toward my combination library and sitting area. Scarlett followed him.
“Mind if we sit? Mike wanted me to go over some stuff with you before tomorrow.” He took off his jacket, sat on the love seat, and put a thick folder on the coffee table. I took a seat across from him. Scarlett, the little traitor, pranced over to him and plopped down at his feet.
“Mr. McElroy, I appreciate your taking the time to stop by, and I know you must have more important places to be. I can go over this material on my own. I love Mike, but he is very protective and doesn’t understand that I’m used to traveling alone.” I sounded a little snippy, but I was being bulldozed by two alpha males. My guest didn’t appear offended or impressed by my attitude.
“Mike said you’d say something like that. But it’s not so much about the traveling as it is about the type of people you’ll be dealing with when you get there.”
“I can assure you, I’m perfectly capable of handling Ben Wilcott. And Mike’s Army buddy can help me with the coroner or police or whatever.”
“Mike’s friend is the one who suggested you might need more help.” He opened the folder and placed several eight by ten pictures on the table.
In the first, Stella was laughing up at the same dark-haired man from Alisha’s album. She stood with her hair tossed over one shoulder, the way she did when she was in the process of captivating a potential suitor. On the other side, her husband stared intently over her head at the same man. The next featured only the two men, each with his eyes locked on the other. The final shot had been taken from a distance. Ben and three men whose faces were out of focus stood on his fancy speed boat.
“I don’t get it. What do these pictures have to do with me?”
“Your sister’s husband is involved with some pretty shady characters.” He pointed to the dark-haired man. “That’s Adelmo Balsuto.”
I didn’t see any reason to tell him I already knew who he was.
“He’s one of the wealthiest men in Ecuador. His family were originally cacao farmers. When the oil boom hit in the late sixties, they got richer. They put most of their money in Miami, so when Ecuadorian banks crashed, the Balsutos came out better than most of their countrymen. The rumor is Adelmo has expanded the family business to include exportation of cocaine.” He returned the photographs to his envelope.
“I still don’t see what any of that has to do with me getting Ben to let me bring Stella home.”
“It may not,” he admitted. “But word is your brother-in-law crossed Balsuto. It’s possible your sister’s death had something to do with it. If that’s the case, Wilcott’s not going to want any more attention from the authorities.”
“But Ben’s the one who wanted me to come to Ecuador.”
“That’s why Mike wants me to go with you.”
“Mike wants what?” I jumped to my feet, causing Scarlett to scramble to hers and stand between me and our visitor. “I’m absolutely not taking a babysitter with me.” My mother’s willingness to send me into harm’s way made sense. She
