bit back a snicker, took several sips of coffee, and slid the cup onto the desk.
There were no outward signs of anything he’d been working on and the computer had been turned off. I walked around the desk, opening the drawers, finding the bottom one locked. I’d never let a lock deter my curiosity. There was no letter opener of any kind but there was a thick paperclip. I laughed as I pulled one of the prongs free.
I was shocked when the technique I’d learned as a kid hungry to find out what I was getting for Christmas worked. I slowly opened the drawer, uncertain of what I might find. There appeared to be a single envelope nestled in the small space. I glanced at the door, half expecting Rafael to be standing in the doorway, ready to admonish my horrible behavior.
I remained nervous as I pulled open the flap. While I wanted to learn as much about the mysterious man as possible, a huge part of me was terrified of what I’d find. What other secrets could he be hiding and would I be able to handle them?
What I found was nothing more than basic real estate transactions, various houses that had been purchased over the years. There was even a comprehensive spreadsheet, although there were no identifiable locations, merely some sort of code used. I had to wonder why this kind of information would be kept in a safe house.
Unless it had been left as an afterthought or perhaps in some kind of effort to throw off anyone who happened to breach the Galicia mafia security. As I thought about the reason, I realized that this house in particular had been designed for the family’s protection only. If what Rafael had told me was true, he’d spent more time in the location that I’d originally thought, handling business operations from this very spot. I shoved everything back inside the envelope, carefully placing it back into the drawer. When my knuckle hit the bottom, the hollow sound drew my attention. I turned on the desk lamp, dragging it closer to the edge of the desk. I could swear there was a false bottom given the depth in comparison to the others.
Using the same paperclip from before, I managed to dig my nail under a corner. There was a single picture in a frame and nothing more. As I held it under the light, I was surprised to actually see Rafael smiling, a drink in one hand, his arm wrapped around another man. There was also a third guy in the picture, all three dressed in beach attire, a cabana-style umbrella in the background.
Happier times.
I rubbed my finger over the glass before replacing it into its secretive home, closing the drawer and once again glancing around the room. The hutch held nothing but additional computer equipment, including a printer. However, the closet was an interesting find, the wall safe housing an impressive-looking combination lock. If I had to guess by the size, I’d say it held weapons and ammunition, among other prized possessions.
Wire shelves were positioned on both sides holding various pieces of surveillance equipment including binoculars and goggles. A cold shiver trickled down my spine. Anyone staying in the location could be prepared to hunker down for some time, fighting whatever enemies happened along the way.
I grabbed my coffee, finally leaving the room. Everything was out of sorts, spending time with him creating more questions than answers. There was one aspect I did continue to return to in my mind. Rafael was right in that our chance meeting not once but twice had seemed far too coincidental. While I doubted that he’d embellished the story about how he’d managed to save me on the darkened street the first night I’d arrived, what about the café? Was it possible this Alviro Calleja had known Rafael wouldn’t be able to resist me, finding a way to push us together?
Ugh. The concept sounded like something out of a thriller movie and not real life. Who in their right mind would go to those kinds of lengths in order to get us together and more important, why? I was no sleuth. In fact, I had no business being here in the first place, coincidences or not.
I moved into the living room, holding the cup in both hands. My entire body had maintained a cold chill since he’d awakened me. He was all business, his expression almost nonexistent except for the continued sadness in