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During the day, she took Mai with her everywhere, organizing wine tours and a new regular special event that Michael and Viktor had spoken to her about with enthusiasm. The guest list for the special event was a closely guarded secret. Good food and their best wine would be served before Viktor held a secret auction of their finest bottles of wine. She’d made the arrangements, and only their trusted staff members would be serving their guests. Avril stood in front of Viktor’s polished oak desk, her knees slightly shaking. “Why all the secrecy? Surely if one of your bottles of wine goes for an incredible price, you’d want people to know about it.”
“Our clients prefer confidentiality.” Viktor’s cold eyes settled on her face. “You’ll make all the arrangements and greet our guests, but the auction is for the bidders only.” His gaze moved to Mai, seated in a huge leather chair. “Enough about the auction. Has Michael explained about the orphans? I’ve received information about others living alone on the streets and have asked my people to round them up.” He steepled his fingers and smiled. “Michael convinced me it’s the humanitarian thing to do. Don’t you agree?” He indicated to Mai. “Look at her. In just three days she’s a different child. Like you and Michael, there are many childless couples out there who’d offer a similar girl a home. Wealthy couples would dote on them. We just need Mai to convince these kids to go with them willingly. No one will be happy with a belligerent child.” He sighed. “Michael tells me she is very compliant. We need them all to be the same. It’s fortunate in their culture they respect their elders. It will make things easier.”
Avril frowned. Since when had Viktor Carlos thought about anyone but himself? She forced down the rush of uncertainty. If anything was amiss, she’d be able to trace the children through Judge Arnold and put things right. For now, she had to focus on obliterating the cartel. Forcing her lips into a smile, she lifted her chin. “I’ll help in any way I can. I’m already attached to Mai, and Michael is thinking of adoption.”
“Is he now?” Viktor gave a belly laugh. “Did he ever tell you about the puppy his mother gave him for his birthday? God rest her soul.”
Not wanting to know, Avril shook her head. “I’ll ask him one day, but right now I must get back to work. The auction will take a lot of organizing.” She gathered her things. “Are we done here?”
“Yeah, we’re done.” Viktor smiled at her. “Don’t get too attached to her. I’m told there are plenty to choose from and I’m sure Michael has yet to make his choice.”
What a strange turn of phrase? Avril hurried for the door, grabbing Mai’s hand on the way.
Thursday arrived and Avril had everything for the auction the following Friday night arranged in warp speed so she could leave the estate and supposedly visit the dentist. Exhilaration thrummed through her at the chance to finally get the evidence on the cartel to the DEA. She carried a tiny, yet powerful camera, microcards, and hollow coins. These she kept stashed in the heels of a pair of shoes. She’d added the secret code to the ten-dollar bill and would drop it along with the fake dollar coin containing the microcard into undercover DEA Agent Steve Breuer’s busker’s hat. He would communicate her message to her handler and then get the hell out of Dodge. His work would be over.
It had taken her a long time to get inside Viktor Carlos’s closely guarded circle. Impossible, in fact, and the only chance she’d had was through his son. It hadn’t been easy getting close to Michael Carlos, but fortunately he liked blondes. She’d made herself available by always being at clubs he frequented, and it hadn’t taken anytime at all for him to notice her. From then on, being the perfect girlfriend and then his wife, she’d become seemingly oblivious to the family’s secret dealings, armed guards, and electric fences. The hazardous move had paid out in silver dollars. Michael trusted her, but he had a jealous streak a mile wide. He didn’t want her, but nobody else could have her either. He limited himself to checking her phone and sometimes her shopping bags but was apparently content she had no other male interests. Although, he expected her to be on show twenty-four/seven as a frontperson for the business, and had her face plastered all over the brochures for the winery tours.
As usual, she went to Michael’s office to inform him she’d be leaving. His secretary was sitting at her desk filing her nails and flicked her a glance as she rested a hand on the door. Hearing conversation, she looked at the secretary. “Is he alone?”
“Yeah.” She didn’t as much as look up at her. “He’s on the phone.”
Avril opened the door and led Mai inside. The conversation was about shipments, or rather ships. The trucks had been waiting for a ship to dock and some supplies had been hel
d up in customs. She bit her bottom lip. Orders had been given that, during the sting operation, customs were to allow Carlos’s cargo free passage, without any holdups. She cleared her throat. “What’s happening?”
“It’s customs.” Michael rolled his eyes. “I ordered supplies and they’re playing hardball. Seems the crew we usually have on the docks has been relocated.”
It would be dangerous to contact anyone in her team but the incoming shipment was likely to be the bulk chemicals the factory required to make “ice.” Without these, the production would cease and she’d have no proof to offer for a raid. She swallowed the bile creeping up the back of her throat and smiled. “I have a few contacts I could try. Watch Mai for me. I’ll go to my office and see if I can find the number.”
Heart thumping, she dashed to her office, made a call on her cellphone to the harbormaster, asked him a stupid question, disconnected, and then called a memorized number. It took her a few seconds to identify herself, state the problem, disconnect, and then delete all evidence of her call from her phone. If Michael checked up on her, he’d only find the first number called. She stood and walked slowly back to his office. On opening the door, she was surprised to see Mai sitting on his lap. The young girl looked a little confused. Avril held out her hand. “It’s all fixed. I have to go. My dentist appointment is at eleven and I’d like to get a few things done beforehand. Come on, Mai.”
“Why don’t you leave her with me today?” He stroked Mai’s hair. “We can get to know each other better.”
Not liking the amusement in his eyes, Avril shook her head. “Not today.” She took the little girl’s hand and pulled him from him. “We have girl things to do. I’ll need my card. I’ve seen a diamond necklace I want to buy for the dinner. You want me to look the part, don’t you?”
“I spoil you.” Michael cupped her face and squeezed. “It’s just as well you get more beautiful by the day because I’m losing my patience. No one comes close to you, Avril. I miss the fight in your eyes. It’s time you came back to my bed.” He pulled the card from his wallet and handed it to her. “This card may not have a limit, but I do.” He gave her a long look. “Hurry back.”
She looked at the card with the name Avril Carlos and smiled. “Thank you. We’ll talk later.”
The card had her name, but she didn’t own it. Like her, it was one of his possessions. She headed back to the house and went to speak to the housekeeper. “Arrange to have Mai’s bed moved into my room. She’s having bad dreams.”
Without waiting for a reply, she headed for the front door. The men’s sudden interest in young girls had her mind working overtime. Something wasn’t right and she had to get to the bottom of it before the agency rolled into action and intercepted the trucks on Sunday night. The special occasion for the rich and famous was a clue she hadn’t missed and her instinct told her the answers she needed centered around it. The tension in the situation was reaching critical mass. She chewed on her fingers. The auction had to be a front for something else or why all the secrecy? She had to find a way of sneaking inside to find out. If she discovered another arm to the crime empire of Viktor Carlos or not, she’d take the girl and make a run for it. She’d add a message to the note for her contact to tell the bureau that she wanted out on Friday night, and to evacuate her before daybreak.
She hurried to the limousine awaiting her. Inside, as the car rolled through the picturesque rolling vineyards, she pulled out the ten-dollar bill she intended to drop into the busker’s hat. She was well hidden behind the tinted glass partition between her and the driver and bodyguard. She added an addition to her coded information: Important development. Emergency evac. Midnight Friday from town.
Six
It was a little after ten when Avril arrived in town. She instructed the driver to pull up some ways from the dentist’s office and she strolled through the streets window-shopping. She could hear the soft notes of the guitar played by Steve Breuer coming from the park. It was his usual place, sitting on the edge of the fountain, a ratty hat before him on the sidewalk. He looked unkempt, his dark hair shaggy and hanging way past his collar. He played the guitar as if it were an extension of his hands, the music mesmerizing. Steve, in his way, had kept her going. Just knowing someone knew her true identity and what she was doing after so long out in the world alone made her strong. Being so deep undercover, she understood now how some agents could be turned, but not her. Her determination to get a job done was how she’d landed this mission—well, that and the fact after losing her family she’d been alone. With no family to threaten, the only thing Viktor Carlos could take from her was her life. Being a natural blonde had tipped the agency in her favor, but she realized now she’d been a little too young and lacked experience. Avril didn’t have the street smarts she needed and, in truth, she’d only survived by using her gut instinct.
She led Mai through the fragrant rose gardens, set in neatly bordered circles amid a luscious green lawn, and headed for the fountain. She stopped to listen to Steve and passed the bills and coins to Mai to drop into her contact’s hat. The little girl seemed to understand the concept of busking and smiled and clapped her hands as the song came to an end.
“Why, thank you, little one.” Steve smiled broadly. His eyes never left Mai. “Maybe when I get off the streets, I’ll take you and your mom out for ice cream.” He looked up at her. “What do you say, Mom?’
Astonished, Avril gaped at him. “Ah, no thank you.”
“One day.” Steve chuckled and plucked his guitar.
Panic gripped Avril. Her bodyguard was close enough to have heard him. Without doubt, he would pass on the information to Michael the second she arrived home. She moved away not saying a word and, heart thundering, kept on walking. She could hear the bodyguard’s steady footsteps behind her—always watching, always there—like an ugly dangerous shadow.
