Page 33 of Special Agent Rylee


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Chapter Twenty-six

Jake arrived to pick up Rylee and was met by a flustered, semi-dressed hostess.

“What’s wrong?”

“Miguel’s gone.”

“What do you mean, he’s gone?”

Rylee, hair in damp ringlets around her face, no makeup, looked dazed. “I went to have a shower, and I heard someone come into the room. I know he hid in the closet because I heard the door slide. Jesus, Jake. They weren’t even here for a minute; they just dropped off the tray of snacks I ordered.”

“Did they see the boy?”

“No. I would have heard. I’d left the bathroom door ajar just in case of trouble. There was nothing. But he’s gone. Dammit. I shouldn’t have left him alone.” Jake hated to see Rylee suffering. She didn’t do it well, and that kind of hinted, she didn’t often allow herself to get that close to people. Instinctively, he knew it to be true.

“Hey, lady, hold on here. The kid has been on his own before, he’ll know what to do.”

Shoving her hair back behind her ears as she listened to common sense, she seemed to gain strength. “Yes, you’re right. I bet he’s gone back to his original hiding place. Okay. Give me a minute. We’ll check it out.”

Before she stepped back into the bathroom, her outer door opened and Carl, holding a struggling Miguel by the arm, entered.

“Carlos, let him go.” Rylee headed towards the pair. As soon as the boy was released, she reached him and put her arm around his shoulders, bringing him to her side… to her protection. “Miguel, why did you leave? Did the room steward see you here when he came to deliver the snacks?”

Miguel’s head was lowered. He shook it, saying no.

Struggling to understand, she asked, “Well then, did Carlos take you away?”

Carlos cut in before Miguel had a chance to answer. “No, I didn’t take him away. I caught him sneaking from your room and followed. Once I knew el niño here was up to no good, I brought him back to answer some questions.”

Rylee arched back to watch Miguel’s face, and Jake saw his expression go from defiant to embarrassed.

Softly, Rylee questioned, “Did you leave?”

“Si.”

Suddenly, Jake realized that Carlos seemed more involved than just a room steward who looked after Rylee’s things. He acted knowledgeable about the Miguel situation, and that made no sense. Turning to see Carlos heading for the door, he called out, “Carlos?”

“Si, Señor?”

“How did you know to bring Miguel back to Miss James’s room?”

First, Carlos looked at Rylee, and then he shrugged. “The kid told me his mom was here. So, I brought him back. I must go to work, now. Adios.”

Not satisfied with the answer but accepting the explanation for now, Jake zeroed in on the conversation between Rylee and Miguel.

“Why, Miguel. I told you about Jake. He’s here to see you, to help you. But now, he won’t know if he can trust you or not. Do you understand?” The last words came out in a harder tone, and Jake had the feeling that Rylee was clamping down on her mothering and being realistic. “Why did you leave?”

Miguel looked from one face to another and ended with his brown-eyed gaze on Jake. “I got scared. If Señor Jake didn’t want me, then I could get you in big trouble, Rylee. That’s bad for you.”

Jake sensed the boy’s words were truthful. He cared about harming Rylee. How he knew it, wasn’t important. Jake just did. And that’s the moment when he let his heart rule his head and said, “Look, I’ll keep Miguel with me. At least until we get to Grenada. He’ll be safer in my room, and if I pay Carlos, maybe he can help me watch him?”

Moving past Rylee’s large bed toward the seating area where a tray was set out on the coffee table, Miguel went by him and hovered in the easy chair near the balcony.

Okay, this is awkward. Considering what the boy was going through, Jake supposed it wasn’t an act that the boy cowered with abject misery plastered over his features.

He noticed Rylee trying to decide whether to stay with them or finish getting ready. He gave her a gentle push in the direction of the bathroom and whispered, “It’s okay. I’ve got this.”

Nodding, she gave an encouraging smile toward Miguel and disappeared.

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