Into the Fray (Daring Escapes #3) - Margaret Daley Page 0,50

care. How could he ever forgive himself if something happened to Tory?

While the medic paused to make a call, Guerrero recognized his surroundings. “We’re almost to the village. As soon as we can, we need to head to the capital in my Jeep. The medic is calling for an ambulance. If it isn’t at the village, we can take them to the capital.”

“Are you okay?” Tory asked.

An intensity surrounded Guerrero as though he’d tightened every muscle in his body. He slowed his pace to try and let go of the anger ruling him right now. Being calm worked better than letting anger rule his actions. He knew that as a police officer, but it was hard for him to do what he should. He’d devoted the past three years to getting answers and justice. “I will be when we find Ramon. I think he can lead me to Anna’s killer.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because some of the artifacts the night of my wife’s murder were from the Temple of the Stars. It’s a hunch, but I’ve found hunches often are right.”

“What if he isn’t connected?”

He didn’t know what he would do. “Then I’ll continue looking. How can I move on without answers? I would always wonder what I missed.”

“You might be too close to your wife’s murder. You might not be objective.”

“How did you decide to use Ramon?”

“Juan mentioned Ramon had been working on the site years ago as an intern. A professor at the college, whom I respect, gave him a great recommendation.”

Both now and in the past, everything was tied to the Temple of the Stars. Guerrero vowed he would find the person behind all of it.

* * *

Tory opened her eyes as Guerrero came to a stop. They had arrived in the capital city. No matter how much she fought to keep her eyes open, exhaustion swamped her a few minutes after she and Guerrero left the village. The ambulance had been there waiting for Mario. Once he’d been put inside, Guerrero and Tory hurried to his vehicle and followed them.

Finger combing her hair, she sat up straight and scanned her surroundings. “Where are we going to start looking for Ramon?”

“I’m going to talk to Juan first.”

“We are?”

“I’d rather keep you somewhere safe.”

She narrowed her eyes and stared at him for a moment. “Haven’t you learned I don’t sit and wait very well?”

Much to her surprise, Guerrero chuckled. “And I knew you were going to say that. At least I gave it a try.”

“Good. I’ll feel safer by your side.”

At a stoplight, Guerrero tilted his head and looked at her, his expression hidden behind a curtain. When the light turned green, he floored his Jeep and kept his attention focused on the road. “Hunting for Ramon will be dangerous. I know that you feel safer with me, but I won’t let another woman die.”

“I can use a gun. I can protect myself. You know that. I learned how to handle a weapon from one of the best, my father. That was one common activity we did as I grew up.” But she’d wished there had been more. Later as she’d chosen her university, their relationship grew further apart. He couldn’t see what she wanted to do. All he talked about was her following in his footsteps and joining the army. She could never get him to let her do what she desired. That was why she hadn’t seen him in years. She had to go out on her own. But she wished their relationship had been different.

“No. Stay.”

“This situation isn’t the same as your wife’s. Who do you think is behind this?”

Guerrero drove down the long driveway to Juan’s house. A nerve in his jawline twitched. “I won’t know for sure until I dig deeper into Ramon’s life.”

“I can help you with that. I’ve lectured at the Puerto Sierra University. I have ties to several archaeologists. I need to go there anyway because the Temple of the Stars will be shut down if I don’t get more help. I can’t do it with only Mario and Katie working with me. I don’t know if the Mayans will come back to the place after all that’s gone down. And all of it will hinge on whether Senor Sauto will continue to allow the military to protect the site. I feel in my gut the find will be beneficial to the country, but he might not agree if we don’t unearth more important artifacts. We don’t know how much