“What color?” Miguel asked.
“White. At least twenty-five years old. It’s registered to the cemetery.”
“Thanks, Officer. That helps a lot. Excuse me. I have to call this in.”
Tex answered his cell phone on the first ring, and Miguel wondered if the man ever slept. “Did you find the Caddy?”
“Yeah. Axis and Axalia are long gone, though. They switched to a white Dodge Ram registered to Lake Forest Cemetery.”
“Hang on a sec.” Miguel heard rapid-fire typing on Tex’s computer keyboard. “Okay, got it. Sending you the license plate number and pulling up footage from traffic cameras.”
More typing.
“Wait. Those sneaky bastards. They switched out the license plate, and I lost ‘em.”
Miguel swore in Spanish. “Let me know if you pick ‘em up again, Tex. We’re positive the Andersons are heading to Mexico to meet with General Jorge Escobar.”
“Shit.”
You can say that again, Miguel thought as he rejoined Julia and Detective Kelly. “Looks like we’re done here.”
“Wait. You still haven’t explained why Secretary of State Washburn is so interested in the Andersons and what they were doing here.” Detective Kelly’s stern gaze traveled between Miguel and Julia.
“Almost four years ago, my mother sent Chief McQuaid to Laguna Beach to investigate illegal arms coming ashore, only it turned out to be something far more insidious. Multi-millionaire Axel Anderson planning a revolution. Chief McQuaid stopped him, and since then she’s kept a close eye on his remaining children. Axis and Axalia came here to retrieve something hidden in that memory bench.” Julia pointed at it.
“Oh?” The brawny Irish detective flipped the bench over easily. The officer who described the truck shined his flashlight on the empty space. “Any idea what they took?”
“Cash. Maybe fake IDs, bank cards to offshore accounts we don’t know about,” Miguel replied.
“All right. We’ll notify the state police and set up roadblocks. I overheard you say you believe the Andersons are traveling south to Mexico?”
“Yes.”
“So, what’s your next step?”
Miguel glanced at Julia. “We have to return to Washington, D.C. I’m supposed to report for Secret Service duty.”
Detective Kelly nodded and handed Miguel a business card. “Keep in touch, Officer Rivera. Agent Washburn.”
Alone in their rented sedan, Julia began, “I don’t want to abandon our search for Axis and Axalia.”
“Neither do I, but we can’t go rogue or AWOL.”
“I agree. I hope my mother can spare you. She risked some backlash by recruiting Chief McQuaid and his team.”
Behind the wheel Miguel kept his eyes focused on the road. “I’m protectingyou.”
His fierce declaration, though spoken in a calm, even voice, caused Julia to place her hand on his leg right above his knee. Beneath her soft touch, Miguel’s muscles leaped in response, and his stomach clenched with a strong rush of desire.
God, help me!
“Yes, I know. Because that’s who you are at your core.” She squeezed his leg a little before she removed her hand.
Miguel let out the breath he’d been holding, feeling both relieved and bereft at the same time. He wanted Julia’s hand back on his leg, yet he didn’t. He wanted her in his arms again, not seeking solace for her tears but seeking his mouth with hers…
“Miguel! Did you hear what I just asked?”
The question startled him out of his fantasy. “Uh…yeah…um…thanks.”
