“All right. I know it’s been hell out there, but you’ve done an excellent job so far. I’m working on sending you some support. I don’t need you to apprehend the girl. Just stay on her trail and try to establish visual contact.”
The instructions caught him off guard. Not only did LaGuardia want him to finish the assignment, he expected him to get back on the train. Instead of being pulled from duty, Ian was being praised for his performance.
His chances of securing a permanent position just went up. Way up.
“No problem,” he said, his thoughts churning. This was probably a good time to come clean, while they were on stronger footing. He was also dying to relieve some tension. “There’s something I should tell you. It’s about Maria Santos.”
“Is it personal or professional?”
“A little of both, sir.”
LaGuardia made a noise into the phone, like a hard exhale. “When this is over, I’ll listen to whatever you have to say. But for now, unless Miss Santos is involved in a life-or-death situation, I’m going to ask you to hold off.”
It was Ian’s turn to exhale. “Yes, sir.”
“Take a break for a few hours,” LaGuardia said. “That’s an order.”
Ian promised to do that and hung up the phone. Maria was standing in front of the store with her new canvas tote bag. She looked beautiful, even with dark smudges under her eyes. He liked her fresh-scrubbed face and wet hair. He picked up the second tote, which had two full water bottles inside.
“Looks like rain,” she said.
The dark clouds on the horizon gave credence to her prediction.
“What did your boss say?”
He started walking up the hill, toward the tree. The second he reached it, he was going to drop. “He said Sarai is here. And to get some rest.”
“Sarai is here? Where?”
“She was on railcar nine.”
Maria fell into step beside him. “You think she saw us?”
He shrugged, though he figured it was likely. They’d been on railcar seven. Sarai couldn’t have missed the bandit falling to his death. Ian sat down in the shade and drank some water while Maria spread out the tarp. It was a remote area. They had a nice view of the valley. The other side of the hill gave way to a lush green forest.
Maria lay on her back, hands folded over her flat stomach. “What will you do if the train comes?”
“Get on it.”
“With me?”
He stretched out beside her and tucked his hands under his head. “I don’t know. I can’t leave you here alone.”
She didn’t press him for more answers. She just curled up next to him, using his biceps as a pillow. Her damp hair tickled his bare skin. He put his arm around her shoulders to draw her closer. She smelled clean and wet, but not like the river. More like summer rain. Lovely and fleeting, too perfect to last.
