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"I can't tell you."
"And I can't accept your answer," Max said.
"You're going to have to."
"You Callaways are so damn stubborn. You think you can handle everything on your own. Look, Drew, I'm sure you're a hell of a pilot, but chasing down criminals is not your area; it's mine."
"I made a promise."
"And I made a promise to your sister that I wouldn't let you go off half-cocked against a super criminal. Do you think I want to sleep on the couch?"
Drew let out a sigh. "As concerned as I am about your sex life, I still can't tell you the whole story. It's too dangerous."
"You have to give me something."
He hesitated, knowing he was about to cross that line Ria was so worried about. But while he knew more about Valdez now, he still knew nothing about Kate except what Ria had told him. "I've heard that Enrique had his brother and sister-in-law killed," he said slowly. "Did that come up in your notes? The brother's name was Reynoldo."
"It's my understanding the couple was killed in a car accident."
"The brakes were tampered with."
"Not according to the police report."
"Which could have been wrong if Enrique had the police department under his thumb."
Max nodded. "True. I'm assuming your girlfriend is connected to Valdez in some way. Why doesn't she want my help?"
"I can't answer that, either."
"Then let me take a guess." He leaned back in his chair, giving Drew a thoughtful look. "She's done something that could get her into trouble. You don't have to answer. I have a pretty good idea of what's going on."
"She's not a criminal, Max. She's one of Enrique's victims."
"Does she know where he is?"
"No, and she's hoping he doesn't know where she is."
"You should tell her to consider coming clean with us or the feds. If we give her protection, she'll be safer, and we might have a shot at catching him."
"Why? Because you would use her like bait?" He couldn't stand the thought of Ria and Megan being some kind of a lure.
"I never said that," Max replied. "I don't use civilians as bait."
"Maybe you don't, but I imagine others would see the situation differently."
"So what are you going to do? Be your own one-man army?"
"Believe me, I'd love to have a few more troops," he said dryly. "But I'm lucky Ria let me in at all. She doesn’t trust anyone. And she'll hate that I've told you this much."
"What did she do, Drew?"
He stared back at Max. "I really can't tell you."
Max rubbed his jaw. "Did she take something or someone that belongs to Valdez? Emma told me she had her niece with her at your parents' house."
His pulse pounded at Max's sharp question. Harrison was a smart detective. He was already putting the puzzle together with the limited information that he had.
When Drew remained quiet, Max added. "If she did, Valdez won't stop at anything to get that something or that person back."
"Ria knows that," he said heavily.
"You have to let me help you, Drew. Talk to Ria. Convince her to at least speak to me. I'll do everything in my power to make sure she's safe and that the right people go to jail."
He nodded, then got to his feet. "I'll tell her. Thanks, Max."
"I wish I could do more."
"Maybe you can. I'll see what she has to say. I appreciate your discretion."
"We're going to be brothers," Max said with a smile. "Emma has been very explicit in explaining to me what Callaway family loyalty entails. You can trust me."
"I do, but I have to get Ria to trust you, too, and that will be more difficult."
"Maybe bring her by the house one day. She can talk to Emma and me in a non-threatening situation."
"That’s a good idea. I'll see if I can make that happen."
"In the meantime," Max said. "Watch your back."
It wasn't his back he was concerned with; it was Ria's.
* * *
Ria worked in the yacht club office on Monday. She didn't enjoy office work usually, but she was happy to have something to take her mind off of Drew. She couldn't stop wondering what he was doing, because she was fairly certain he wasn't at all done interfering in her life. Part of her was touched that he cared enough to be that concerned about her. But the other part of her wondered if he wasn't just getting caught up in the challenge.
