Joss stared at her, his gaze filled with empathy. “You should’ve told us, Maya. We could’ve helped.”
No one could’ve helped. If she’d spilled the beans, Tim would’ve been dead sooner. Nothing would’ve changed.
“I never managed to sink that second shipment,” she said. “Are the weapons still at sea?”
“Don’t worry,” Lann replied. “I sent them a hurricane. They never knew what hit them.”
“Thanks.” She smiled. “I appreciate you picking up the ball I dropped.”
“No sweat. You helped save Katherine’s life when I thought I was losing my sanity.”
“I guess we’re even. Do we have time for a detour?”
Joss’s eyes were wise, full of understanding. Under the team’s code of conduct, they had to grant any member a last wish.
“Where do you want to go?” Joss asked.
She smiled. “I’d like to spend a day on the beach, by the water, laze my ass in the sun, a long cocktail maybe. I was thinking Costa Rica.”
Neither Joss nor Lann replied. They didn’t have to. She told herself Puerto Viejo was as good a place as any, but deep inside she knew the truth. It was the place that connected her to Tim. That was what she wanted most, even more than water.
Chapter 19
The hammock swung lightly in the breeze. From the deck of the dive center, Maya had a clear view of the beach and the turquoise sea beyond. Joss and Lann had refused to leave her behind. The best she could do was convince them to wait in town at a local hotel. She needed this time alone.
She’d been to the condo. The house was deserted. Cesar, Lee, Frida, and all the guards were gone, furniture too. When she inquired at Carlos’s restaurant, he had a newspaper waiting for her. The headline article was about the ambassador’s kidnapping. Government officials were doing everything in their power… Seemed like Frida also did damage control. No one would ever know the truth.
All that was left to do was to get her affairs in order. She picked up her mobile phone and dialed Bishop Alistair’s number.
His voice was slower, but he was still sharp. He answered with, “The Church of our Lady. Donation or charity request? A donation won’t redeem your soul, but it’ll take a few years off my death.”
She chuckled. “Is that all you get lately? Donations or charity requests? Whatever happened to confessions?”
There was a pause, and then his soft laugh crackled through the line. “Son of a bitch. Maya Martin.”
“It’s a sin to swear, Bishop.”
“Yeah, yeah. It’s a sin to live in this piss-up of a town. To what do I owe the honor?”
“I’m sorry it’s been so long.”
“Nah. I didn’t expect you to ever call.”
“No?”
“It’s hard to look back when you’re running from so much.”
“I’ve stopped running.”
“I know. Otherwise you wouldn’t have called.”
“I’m sending some money your way.”
“How much?”
“Greedy bastard. A couple of million.”
“That much, huh?” His voice didn’t carry surprise. “So, I guess it’s a bequest. You must be dying then. Natural cause or are you going to hurry it along?”
“Natural.”
“I see. I hope it’s not AIDS.”
“Didn’t get it from my mother. You know that.”
“I don’t know what you did when you got involved with those gangs, Maya.”
“About that…”
“You don’t have to say you’re sorry.”
“Thanks. Take care.” She paused. “And thanks for giving me a life when nobody else would.”
“You’re welcome. Was it a worthy life?”
She smiled. “Yes. Yes, it was. I think I finally got a grip on love.”
“Good. Then go in peace. Send Darren my regards, and tell that asshole if you see him in heaven, which I doubt, that I’ll hunt him down when I get there for all the hell he made my life while he lived.”
“I’ll give him the message.” Laughing softly, she hung up.
Her hand shook lightly. A dull ache settled in her muscles.
Two lanky figures carrying a cooler box between them appeared in the distance. Their load was so heavy, they were bent under the weight. As they drew near, Elvin and Jake’s profiles became recognizable.
When they noticed her, they changed their direction, heading for the dive center. They dumped the box on the deck.
“Hey,” Jake said, wiping a hand over his brow. “You’re back.”
There was a hint of disappointment in Elvin’s voice. “You didn’t let us know.”
“It’s just for a day,” she said.
It had taken two days to pack up the center and ship the equipment back to New York. Judging by her symptoms, she wasn’t going to last another day. She tried to ignore the throbbing of Tim’s mark.
“You’re leaving?” Jake asked.
Elvin rested his hands on his hips. “For good?”
She chuckled at his choice of words. He had no idea how spot-on they were. “Looks like it.”
Jake’s face fell. “That’s too bad. Where are you going?”
Good question. To heaven, or hell? “Home.”
“We never had that beer.” Jake jabbed Elvin in the ribs. “We’ve got some here.” He pointed at the cooler box. “Want one?”