Into the Fray (Daring Escapes #3) - Margaret Daley Page 0,60

for her as an archaeologist who worked at dig sites in remote areas.

When Tory neared the cabin, the silence worried her more than the gunfire. She approached the shack, using the vegetation as cover. “The car I saw is parked not far from the road.” She pointed in the direction she saw the vehicle. There wasn’t any sign of Bob’s vehicle.

“This, I can do. Stay behind me and let’s sneak up to see what’s going on inside.” Juan gestured toward a window and whispered into her ear, “I don’t want any surprises, especially since we don’t see Bob’s car.”

Eyes on the front door, Tory followed Juan. As he paused at the window, she peered over his shoulder. The first body she saw was Ramon, shot in the forehead, the chair knocked over with him still tied to it. She drew in a deep breath as she scanned the rest of the interior. Two more men were lying on the floor, blood pooling around them. No sign of Guerrero or Bob.

As Tory, with Juan right behind her, rounded the safe house to go inside, she spied Guerrero and Bob coming into the clearing from the rainforest on the other side of the shack. She came to a halt, and Juan nearly ran into her.

Questions tumbled through her mind, but she only asked the most important ones. “Where have you been? What happened here?”

“A shootout as you can see,” Guerrero said as he waved toward the opened door. “I see you found Juan.” His gaze shifted to his friend.

“I was at the safe place Bob showed us. I heard the gunshots and hurried back. That’s when I found Tory coming back here. Who are these guys?”

“They were part of the raid on your place this morning.”

“Did you find the professor?”

“No, he was murdered conveniently for the person running this cabal.” Guerrero closed the space between him and Tory. “We were following another clue when Tory called because she was scared you’d been taken by the smugglers.”

Juan’s stiff shoulders relaxed. “I got lost in the jungle. It worked out, though. I left, and she’d decided to go look for me. If Tory hadn’t done that, she would have been inside the cabin when these thugs showed up.”

Tory turned slightly toward Juan next to her. “I’m just glad everyone’s all right, but it’s a shame we have no idea who the leader is.” When she glanced at Guerrero, his tension poured off him. “Did you get a chance to check the professor’s office?”

He shook his head. “The place was crawling with police officers according to Bob’s sources.”

Bob joined the trio, standing on Juan’s other side. “We need to report this.”

“I agree.” Guerrero put his hand on his weapon in his holster. “I have just one more question for you, Juan. Why did you form this cabal to steal from your own country? Were you there the night my wife was murdered?” He removed his gun and pointed it at Juan’s chest.

Tory whiplashed her head around to stare at Juan as the color drained from his face. “You did this?”

Juan squared his shoulders and lifted his head. “How can you say this? I’d never do that. I fought for Tory’s expedition. It wouldn’t have happened if not for me.”

“That’s not what your pal Chan said after I shot him a couple of times. He was sent to kill Ramon and Tory. After I subdued him, I persuaded him to tell me what he knows. It seems he knows a lot.”

Guerrero moved quickly and disarmed Juan while Bob slapped handcuffs on him.

“I’ll take him to my car and drive back here,” Bob said and gripped Juan’s arm to escort him.

“I’ve been betrayed by two people I thought I could trust. Why didn’t I see that coming?” She balled her hands, her fingernails digging into her palms.

Guerrero drew her into his embrace. “You’re a trusting person. You were focused on the Temple of the Stars archaeological site.” He lifted her chin and stared into her eyes for a long moment.

At the sound of a car coming, Guerrero leaned down and kissed her. “We’re alive, and we both have answers to what happened recently and in the past.”

“I wish it hadn’t been Juan. I know how close you two were. Even in the short time I’ve known him, he was a friend and helper. Or so, I thought.”

“Greed makes people do evil things. When Chan told me Juan was behind this smuggling ring, the first thing I wanted