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Chapter 5
Brady began preparing an early dinner for the girls, since they were to arrive back home soon. He set out some steaks, made a green tossed salad to go with the barbecue, and took out one of their favorite bottles of red wine. Even though this was to be their last night home together as a family, he wanted to make it as romantic as possible. His insides were a puddle of mush, but he wanted to make it special.
He fired up the barbecue, set out the plates, picked some flowers from Maggie’s flower garden, and lit candles on the dining room table. He decided tonight, since it was warm and balmy, to stay inside instead of taking a chance on the outdoor patio that would be frequented by mosquitoes the size of small birds. Or at least that’s the way their bites felt. Emma hated mosquito bites. He suspected it had something to do with some of her experience down in Mexico.
If he couldn’t get the information from Maggie, he was going to have to resort to being his own private sleuth. He really didn’t want to do that. But it was so important to him that he knew there wasn’t anything that would slow him down if intervention was required.
Maggie walked through the garage into the kitchen, carrying a large grocery bag. Emma carried a plastic bag from one of the sporting goods stores.
“Wow, look at all this!” Maggie said as she kissed him on the cheek.
“Yes, and I’ve opened the Coppola too.”
“Nice! And you have steak and what else?”
“I pulled out some new potatoes; they’re not very big, but they’ll taste good. And I got a green salad loaded with some of our homegrown stuff.” He noted Emma’s downturned lip. “Emma, just a couple of bites. That’s all you need.”
Emma turned to her mother. “Where do I put these?” she said, holding up the bag.
“On the bed in our bedroom. Thanks, Emma,” said Maggie.
While Emma was off dropping the packages, Brady asked her where she’d been.
“I decided to get a couple new cotton sports bras and some water-wicking sleeveless tops. I also bought a new pair of running shorts and some socks that also are moisture-wick. It’s going to be hot as hell down there. But I think I’m prepared. I also am bringing my own bug spray. And I bought a package of mosquito netting.”
“I’d say you’re pretty damn prepared. Did you bring water tablets and you got all the meds you’ll need?”
Brady had outfitted Maggie with a full medic kit, including tourniquet and specialized medicine for pain, which they brought with them every time they went camping or off-roading somewhere when an immediate run to an emergency room was out of the question. He stored the larger kit in his truck while he gave Maggie the smaller travel size.
“I’m fine. Honest. I think I’ve got everything, including your kit. Thanks for that. I wish I’d had it the last time I was down there.”
“Well, you didn’t exactly expect to stay so long, did you?”
“No.” She stared out at the window overlooking the garden, her flowers, the birds and butterflies flying through the backyard.
“You’re going to miss it, aren’t you?” Brady asked her.
“Yes. The reality of my trip is suddenly falling upon me. I always do this the night before, question everything.”
“Not too late to back out, Maggie. You know how I feel about it,” he said as he tossed the green salad before measuring out dressing to drizzle over the top. “And by the way, have you confirmed they’re ready for you?”
“Yes, I called Father Salvador this morning, and he said he would personally meet me at the airport. They’re going to house me in the clergy section of the mission, which is not open to the general public, so I think you’ll appreciate that they’ve taken great care for my safety.”
“So this Father Salvador, I think you should leave his number with me, just in case something happens. I mean, if I need your permission or something urgent comes up with Emma or someone’s trying to get in touch with you, I just need to be able to have a secondary source to get hold of you.”
“I’ll have my cell, Brady.”
“But can’t you leave the phone number of the clinic, the mission, or Father Salvador? I think it would be a good idea, right?”
“They are trying to make this trip undercover, so to speak. He’s very particular about the outgoing calls he makes or even the ones he receives. I think because of the cartel activity in the area, he’s being watched, and he’s being extra careful. When I get there, Brady, I’ll ask him. I promise you I’ll ask him.”
“That doesn’t sound good, Maggie. I don’t know why anyone would object to your husband having those phone numbers. It’s only to be used in an emergency.”
“As I said before, he doesn’t trust our government, either. He wants no police involvement. He wants all the communication to go through me. He’s not told me he won’t let me make calls. He just doesn’t want calls on his cell phone in case he’s being monitored. Something about calls being monitored going from Mexico to the U.S. I have to honor his request. He told me about this at the front end. I’m not trying to be evasive; I just want to honor what I promised.”
Brady knew already that there was something wrong with her mission. He knew no legitimately-run center would avoid spreading their numbers to any law enforcement or government agency willing to help protect them. He was concerned that the priest was either naïve or purposely trying to hide something. He hoped it was not the latter.
“So then give me his name. Please. And tell me, is he from the US originally or from Baja or another province in Mexico or someplace in Central America?”
