Page 55 of Dangerous Liaisons

Chapter Forty-Two

Jesse followed a servant past Perez, through a salon, and onto a veranda. Two glasses and a pitcher filled with something fruity sat on a tray beside a small table where the servant seated her. He filled her glass, placed it on the table in front of her, then started for the door. Jesse reached for the drink and cast a casual glance at Perez. He still stood in the doorway speaking in low tones to another man.

She looked to the right where an eight-foot wall separated her from freedom. The jungle had been cut back, but lush tropical pines still grew so close, their needles kissed the vines that crept over the wall. Rubber trees vied for the remaining space, their massive leaves allowing only reflected sunlight to filter through. She could make it over the wall before anyone could raise an alarm. From the corner of her eye, Jesse saw Perez start to turn toward her. Sipping her drink, she leaned back in her chair, and closed her eyes. Guava. She liked guava—on a beach in St. Thomas.

“You will have to forgive me,” Perez said.

Jesse opened her eyes as he slipped into the chair opposite her.

He reached for the pitcher. “I did not intend for you to spend the night incarcerated. I was not present when you were detained.”

She sipped her drink as he filled his glass, then placed the pitcher back on the tray.

Perez picked up his glass, leaned back in his chair, and met her gaze. “There was no need to sabotage the dry dock and channel,” he said in a conversational tone. “The fuel depot and diesel generator would have been sufficient.”

Jesse set her drink on the table. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Of course not.” He took a sip of his drink, then set it down. “I’ll get to the point, Miss Evans. You have made a grave mistake.”

She laughed. “Have I?”

“You have.” He paused. “You are nothing like I expected. You are…extraordinarily beautiful. I was told you were formidable.” She detected a grudging note of respect in his voice. “I am surprised Robert Lanton so easily fooled you.”

Jesse narrowed her eyes. “What does that mean?”

“You believe you’re here on a personal vendetta but, in reality, this entire affair was orchestrated. You and Mr. Smith are here to kill me and get evidence to prove Robert Lanton is your traitor. Isn’t that true?”

“I’m no assassin.”

“But you are. License to kill. And if you won’t kill me, Mr. Smith will, for he believes I murdered his men.”

Jesse knew exactly how Cole felt. She controlled the near compulsion to reach across the table and strangle Perez for what he did to Green Team, Martinez, and Maria. Jesse reached for her drink.

“You think I killed Maria Hamilton,” he said as if reading her mind.

Jesse let her hand fall from the glass. “You didn’t have to kill her—then send her home—” Her voice broke. “You son-of-a-bitch, she was a little girl.”

“I never had her. The kidnapping was a fabrication. In fact, Robert was supposed to meet me at the village.”

“Lanton—in Colombia? He’s not that stupid.”

Perez leaned back in his chair. “He wanted his next payment in bonds and demanded we meet. I had no idea I had been falsely accused of kidnapping a little girl and went to the village to meet a business associate. Imagine my surprise when I received word Mr. Smith and his death squad were waiting for me.”

“Our units aren’t assassins,” Jesse snapped.

“Perhaps you do not know Robert Lanton as I do. A man like him feels he owns the power he has attained. You—everyone around him—exists for his pleasure.”

The all-too-apt assessment sent a shiver down her spine.

Perez set his elbows on the table and leaned forward. “Miss Evans, I could kill you and no one would ever find the body. What possible reason could I have for lying?”

“I don’t know, but I’m not stupid enough to take your word.”

“Then take the word of your Senator Hamilton. He agreed to let the world think his daughter was kidnapped, then killed.”

Jesse stared. “The Senator in league with Lanton? My God, you have balls.”

Perez gave a slow shake of his head. “The logic makes perfect sense. Senator Hamilton wanted into Colombia. Robert convinced him using his daughter would ensure that.”