you coordinate your schedules and commit to making this work.” Rodriguez turned his attention to Cruz. “Capitan, in that file is the cell phone number for our friend here, as well as my private cell number. If you have any problems, call me. I expect you to hit the ground running tomorrow.”
“Rodriguez, with all due respect, that’s going to be hard, given the paucity of information you’ve given me. We have nothing. I repeat. Nothing. A tip – really, nothing more than a rumor. I’m not sure what you’re expecting, but I’m not a magician. Nothing ever happens fast, and in one of these cases, when we do make progress it’s inevitably because of patient, methodical police work, not wild hunches by ex-killers. I’ll play along with this because I’ve been ordered to, but don’t expect much. You’ve provided me almost nothing to go on, and it’ll be a miracle if we can catch this man before he acts,” Cruz groused.
“Well, there’s a winning attitude that should pump you full of enthusiasm,” El Rey said to the CISEN staff. “Looks like I’ll have to do this by myself.”
Rodriguez ignored El Rey. “I understand what you’re saying, but we need a miracle here. That’s why we’ve teamed you together. This unorthodox approach is our best shot. The German has successfully evaded the best security in the world for years. I have no doubt that he’ll put ours to the test if we don’t try something out of the box.”
“This is about as unusual as it gets, I’ll grant you that,” Cruz conceded, and then moved around the table.
“Carlos, would you like to accompany the Capitan to look over the offices?” Claudio asked as the meeting broke up, addressing El Rey.
He shrugged. “Not really. I’ll leave the paper clip counting to the methodical assassin hunter, if you don’t mind. I’m going to get something to eat.”
Cruz threw him a black look, but he ignored it.
“We’ll open for business at nine tomorrow morning. Please be there at ten so I can coordinate my efforts with whatever you have to offer,” Cruz said in a tone that indicated very clearly that he didn’t think El Rey could provide anything of value.
“Fine. Call me and confirm the address when you’ve confirmed you’ll take that space,” El Rey said, and then pushed his way through the door and was gone.
Rodriguez and Cruz exchanged glances, and Rodriguez extended his hand to shake. Cruz took it reluctantly.
“Nobody said this was going to be easy. I hope you two can work out your differences and make it work.”
Cruz stared down the corridor at where the assassin had disappeared from view.
“Me too.”
Chapter 15
When Cruz finally made it back to the condo it was already ten o’clock, and he could hear the drone of the television from the living room. He closed the door gently behind him and twisted the deadbolt, then walked towards the clamor of a studio audience applauding the latest contestant in a singing contest. Dinah was lying on the couch in sweats and a T-shirt, one leg swinging off the edge. She looked up when he stepped into the room, and a warm smile broke across her face.
“Hola, amor! You’re back! There’s a plate of food in the refrigerator with your name on it. Enchiladas. Just pop them in the microwave for two minutes,” Dinah said, rising to greet him.
“Perfect. Let me get out of my monkey suit and I’ll be right back,” he said, kissing her lightly on the cheek.
Cruz emerged from the bedroom a few minutes later wearing his favorite jeans and a sweatshirt. The aroma of enchiladas filled the air, and Dinah placed the warmed-up meal on the table in front of him, along with a cold beer. Cruz looked at her gratefully and dug in, the rich sauce reviving him as he shoveled heaping forkfuls into his mouth. She sat across from him, watching him eat, and sipped her soda, waiting for him to finish. He made short work of it, and soon was patting his stomach appreciatively.
“You’re the best cook in the world, my love.”
“Is that the only reason you married me?” she teased.
“That, and other obvious reasons. Which I’m looking forward to exploring later...”
She lifted his plate and slid past him into the kitchen, then turned to study his face. He looked fatigued and worried. Tense.
“Why the long hours? What’s going on? Is it something you’d like to talk about?” she asked.
Cruz closed his eyes. Here it was – the moment