[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
He scowled. “Certainly.” He took her elbow as he called over one of his male staff
and gave instructions to call him when the fire trucks arrived. “My first priority is your
safety and happiness.”
Nicki gave a fleeting thought to persuading Muhammed to remain and to call for
the police. But she wondered how effective the locals would be in forensics for
explosives. This part of Mexico was one that had quite a few exotic resorts, but it was
also listed on Interpol’s list of most dangerous criminally controlled areas. The
relationship between the drug cartels, law enforcement agencies and government was
close and rife with corruption. Someone local had executed this job. And quite a few
someones had knowledge of it.
If Calderon and the Campeche cartel were truly the ones after her here, Nicole had
to learn how they had gotten inside this compound and who had helped them. Then
she might be able to look beyond Calderon and Campeche to finger the linchpin who
had given the order to destroy her.
She hurried beside Muhammed as he led her toward the main building sequestered
among the huge palm trees and pink bougainvillea. Inside the cool, dark stucco
building, he showed her toward his office. Appointed in caramel-colored Saltillo tiles
40
Until Midnight
and pale daffodil walls, his ultra-modern glass, steel and leather furniture spoke of a
man and a corporation devoted to the very best of everything.
She took one of the chairs and sank into buttery comfort.
“A drink?”
“Ice water, thank you.”
He strode to the wet bar and fixed her a tall glass filled with slivers of ice and
bubbling water. When he returned to hand it to her, he sat down across from her and
with deadly serious eyes, said, “Tell me what has happened to you here.”
She recounted the incident on the beach in short sentences. Leaving out Adam’s
role in any of it, she told him that she had killed the would-be assassin. She had
dragged his body into the shrubbery. But she kept her words short, her descriptions
brief, thinking this best until she could read the wind on Muhammed’s complicity.
At each revelation, Muhammed stiffened, and at the end asked, “Why did you not
come to me immediately?”
“I am a security expert, Mr. Abbas. I know to investigate my own challenges.
Naturally, I was concerned for my safety but interested in relying on myself first. You,
second.”
“I hear your rationale, Miss Welles. But still, I do not agree.”
She waved a hand. “Your agreement is of no importance to me, Mr. Abbas. But
what you know and who you know is.”
His sea blue eyes narrowed on her. “You think someone here had a hand in this?”
“I know they did. How else would this man get inside your very secure
compound?”
He pulled back. “I see your point. I will call my own security team to investigate.”
“I must ask you not to do that. Not at the moment and perhaps not until after I have
left the resort.”
“Miss Welles. You are not responsible for this facility. I am. Therefore—”
41
Desiree Holt & Cerise DeLand
“Therefore, tell me what your relationship is with Felix Calderon and the
Campeche cartel.”
“What?” Offense written on his features, he sputtered. “Why do you ask about
them?”
“I must.” She waited for his answer, cool and unmoving. She could wait forever, if
need be.
“I have no relationship with men like that. They are vermin!”
“Agreed. Still, I must hear you describe to me if you know Calderon personally and
what you and your corporation do to ward off interference in this facility by his
Campeche cartel.”
He stared at her for a long minute. “I do not know Calderon personally. Have never
met him or seen him.”
“But?”
He pursed his lips and shook his head, disgusted with what he had to say. “One of
our owners pays fees to the local boss of the cartel.”
She sat forward. “And for this fee, the cartel allows you to operate without fear of
invasion or reprisal?”
He nodded, his blue eyes blank. “I pay the fee each month.”
“How? Where? To whom?”
“In cash. In the flower stall in the Mercado. I leave it with the old blind woman who
tends the stall.”
“Does anyone on your staff accompany you?”
“My driver.”
“Anyone else? Ever?”
“Once, my assistant.”
“Their names?”
“Rico Hernandez and Miranda Sanchez.”
42
Until Midnight
“Thank you. I suggest you talk to them after I am gone and see if they have any
personal relationships with anyone in the Campeche organization.”
“You do not wish to meet with them?” he asked, astonished.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]