King of Swords

“I’m hoping that this will help with my father’s case. Maybe one of these names will have something to do with it, or give you a new avenue to pursue. Has there been any progress…?”

“I have a team working on it, but I’ve been, well, otherwise occupied for the last few days…”

“Oh. I’m sorry. I should have known. Getting shot would take priority over case updates, right?” Dinah said sheepishly.

“I try to maintain time for both, but sometimes…” Cruz took in her face. “How are you doing? You holding up?”

“It’s hard. I try not to replay the image in my mind, but it keeps…well, you know better than anyone.”

“I do. But how do you know I do?” Cruz stared at Briones, who was absorbed in the book.

“Lieutenant Briones told me about your family. I have to apologize. I was such an ass the other day,” Dinah said.

“Nonsense. You’d just been through an awful experience.” Cruz raised his voice so Briones couldn’t miss it. “So what else has he told you about, besides my family tragedy and shooting? Did he fill you in on my diet, or my vacation plans?”

Briones looked up from his task, guilt tarnishing his face.

“Don’t blame him. I can be a ruthlessly-efficient interrogator. Ask any second grader. It’s impossible to keep secrets from me,” Dinah said. They both smiled. He noticed how her face lit up the room as she did so. He liked it.

“I think that’s the first time I’ve seen you smile, Capitan. I’m glad the shooters didn’t sever the nerves that do that,” she said. They must have been thinking the same thing. His wife used to be able to read his mind in the same way. “Whereabouts were you hit, if you don’t mind me asking?” She seemed genuinely curious.

“I got nicked in the chest, and plinked in the right leg,” he explained.

“I hope it didn’t do any permanent damage.”

“No, everything is in as good a condition as ever,” he replied. An embarrassed silence hung over them, interrupted by Briones.

“Dinah, can I ask you to step outside for a few minutes? I have a few urgent matters I need to discuss,” he said.

“Of course. Forgive me. I know you two must have a lot to catch up on. I’ll just go down the hall and get something to drink. I’ll be back in a few minutes, all right?” she asked.

They both nodded, captivated by her simple charm. She seemed sincerely embarrassed she’d monopolized Cruz’s time. His eyes followed her as she departed, and Briones caught it.

“She’s quite a woman, no?” Briones remarked.

“I suppose. I hadn’t noticed,” Cruz said unconvincingly.

“She seems to like you. You’re a lucky man, Capitan,” Briones teased.

“Your calling me lucky after I’ve been shot and almost poisoned is beyond the scope of my reasoning, Lieutenant.”

“I’m just saying.” He flipped his notepad open, and began reciting the events since Maria had been hauled from his hospital room. When he finished, Cruz was stunned.

“Great work on turning the conduit, but…how the hell does a man who shot someone in front of you, and who paid to have me killed, waltz out of lock-up and vanish? Just how can that happen? Am I hearing this right? Or is this humor of some sort?” Cruz’s agitation was increasing with each question. The heart rate monitor blipped faster, and his blood pressure was spiking.

“I know. I wish I was joking. Oh, wait a second. This might be something on the case,” Briones said, as his phone beeped to alert him he’d received a priority message. He skimmed the contents for a moment, and then re- read it. When he met Cruz’s eyes, all the blood had drained from his face and he looked chastened.

“What? What is it? Did they locate the man, or ID him? Talk to me, Lieutenant.”

Cruz didn’t think the news could get any stranger or any worse than the story about the killer getting away.

He was wrong.

Chapter 17

“An American diplomat?” Cruz demanded.

“Yes, sir. The prints matched a set on file for a member of the American embassy in Mexico City. Says his name is Joseph Fitch, and that he’s a commercial attache,” Briones said.

Cruz took a few moments to digest the revelation. “Any theories as to why a member of the U.S. embassy would be hiring contract killers to off me, or cold-bloodedly murder antique shop owners?”

“None, sir. Or at least, none of them good.”

“Maybe he’s working with the cartels? Co-opted? Wouldn’t be the first time…” Cruz mused.

“Could be. But doesn’t really matter. If I’m reading this right, he’s got diplomatic immunity,” Briones said, reading from his phone.

“What? No fucking way. Don’t tell me that immunity applies to hiring hit men or shooting people,” Cruz exclaimed.

“Uh, I don’t think that’s what it’s supposed to cover, but we’ll have to get the Attorney General involved for a definitive…”

“He shot a man while you were recording it on tape.”

“Yes. And assuming he’s still in the country, we could and should go to the Attorney General. Even if he isn’t. Maybe we could extradite him…” Briones trailed off, unconvincing to his own ear.

“We can worry about the details later. Get the Attorney on the line, give him what you’ve got, and then let’s press the Americans to hand him over. If he’s sided with the cartels, he’s the enemy, and our ‘partner’ up north needs to get with the program.”

Cruz was processing furiously. He needed to get out of the hospital and back into the field. “Get the doctor in here. I need to determine when I can be released without killing myself.”

“One more thing. The identification came back on the two shooters who tried to take you out. They’re Knights Templar enforcers. So maybe revenge for Santiago?” Briones tried.

“Maybe. That’s the most likely explanation. But it doesn’t explain why an American diplomat would be paying to finish the job…”

“…unless the diplomat was working on behalf of the cartel,” Briones finished. “I get it. Obviously, if the cartels are penetrating and compromising the U.S. diplomatic corps, the problem just got much, much bigger than just Mexico. Now, we’re talking more of a global problem. Certainly for the Americans.”

Dinah returned at that moment, a can of soda in her hand. She beamed at Cruz again.

Briones shot him an unmistakable look of admiration. “I’ll go get the doctor,” he said, making himself scarce.

“We’re going to analyze the information in your father’s book, and hopefully, it will take us in a productive direction, Dinah. Don’t worry. I’m not going to drop this. Trust me when I say that finding your father’s killer is my top priority,” Cruz assured her.

“I do trust you, and I believe that if anyone can, you can. For now, concentrate on getting better. It’s not every day that you get shot. Thankfully,” she added.

“I don’t recommend it. But I should be out of here soon, and then I’ll be back driving things.”

Briones appeared with the doctor, who did a cursory exam, and assured Cruz that he would be out within twenty-four hours.

“Well, that’s great news, Capitan,” Dinah enthused. “I bet you’ll be glad to be rid of the hospital.”

“You don’t know how right you are about that,” Cruz assured her. “Briones, let me have one more minute of your time before you leave, if you please.” Cruz looked pointedly at the doctor and Dinah. She got the hint.

“I hope you get better soon. Try not to get any more dog bites,” she said with a wave, and followed the