Into the Fray (Daring Escapes #3) - Margaret Daley Page 0,45
prayed that Katie would be found okay, that both men would recover fully, and that they would find no one else dead.
* * *
After combing the dig site for Katie, the Mayan workers, and any sign of who had pillaged the area, Guerrero came up empty-handed. He lit the torches to make it easier to walk around the ruins. He retrieved the horses with the supplies and headed back toward the common area. As he neared his destination, he spied movement in the jungle nearby. He reached for his gun, his hand on the butt of the weapon. He prayed it was the soldiers, but he stiffened, alert and prepared if it wasn’t them.
God answered his prayer. The tension that gripped Guerrero eased. The leader of the detail was a friend. As a DEA agent, Guerrero had worked with Xavier to take down a drug dealer.
He approached Xavier and shook his hand. “I should have known you were leading this group. That explains why you were late.” Guerrero tried to maintain a stern expression, but instead, he chuckled. “It’s good to see you. We returned here about an hour ago to find that two guards were killed, the rest of the Mayans are gone, returning possibly to their village, two of the archaeologists were beaten no doubt to get them to disclose the whereabouts of the artifacts. Katie Benson, an intern for Dr. Tory Winters, came with her from the United States with a grant to process these ruins, is missing. Ramon and Mario are from Puerto Sierra. They’re in the tent where they meet and eat.” Guerrero gestured toward the place.
“I’ll be there shortly after I talk with my men. I’ll send out some scouts to see what they find while the others set up their tents. Then I’d like to talk with the two archaeologists.” Xavier motioned to one of the soldiers. “This is Milo. He’s our medic. Get your supplies and check on the two injured men.” His friend pointed at the large open tent.
“Yes, sir.”
When Milo retrieved his medical supplies, Guerrero turned to Xavier. “Now that I know this place is in good hands, I need to take the two dead Mayans back to their village tonight.”
“Why tonight?”
“That’s what they would want. Besides,” Guerrero lowered his voice, “I need to talk to the Mayans who ran from the intruders.”
“Do you believe the intern has been kidnapped?”
“I don’t know, but I’m hoping they can tell me something. I’ll be back late tomorrow morning.”
Tory approached him and Xavier. “I’m going with Guerrero in case Katie’s there and needs me.” She took Guerrero’s hand and gripped it tightly. “I’m responsible for her being here. I promised her parents she would be all right. I have to go.”
Guerrero knew the trek in the mountains was hard, especially when he wanted to travel at a fast pace.
“If she was here and saw us, she would have come out of her hiding place,” Tory added, determination lining her face.
“Okay.” Guerrero agreed. If he didn’t, she would probably slip away from here and follow him. And when he really thought about it, he felt better being the one to protect her. It would keep him from fretting about it while in the mountains. “Has Mario regained consciousness?”
“Yes. I asked him and Ramon about the raid. They both heard two shots. At first, they thought it was one of the guards because of what happened at the pool yesterday. Ramon was in the room in the temple he was excavating. By the time he got to the top of the ruins, someone was waiting for him. Mario was in the main tent washing some of the artifacts made of stone he’d discovered today.”
“I’ll go talk to them and my medic,” Xavier said. “Tomorrow we might have to take one or both of them down to the village if they need more medical attention.”
After Xavier left, Guerrero started for their tent. “It gets cold where we’re going. You might want to change into something that will keep you warm. I’m going to get two mules and a few supplies. Then we will leave. Don’t forget your gun and night vision goggles. It’ll be a rough journey.”
She paused at the entrance into their shelter and placed her hand on his upper arm. “Thanks for not arguing with me on taking me to the Mayan village. Aapo has helped me from the beginning, and the least I can do is make this trek back to his family.”
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