“Human trafficking … You’re saying he kidnapped Jenny and was going to sell her?”
“That was my first thought.” He shook his head. “But everything connected to her death is too complicated. Why kill her instead of sell her?”
“Impulse? Emotions?”
He shook his head. “Then why spend years hunting down her sister? There had to be a reason that would impact his wallet or reputation.”
“And that would be?”
“I think this is the way it went down. Walsh was working for the Castino cartel in Mexico City right before Jenny was killed, according to Interpol. It’s logical that the chain started there. Castino was dipping his hands in human trafficking as well as his other criminal pursuits, and it would be natural for Walsh to be involved as his enforcer. So I called Mexico City Police and asked some in-depth questions. You know I spent a few weeks down there this year at that cartel seminar.”
“I remember. You made quite a few contacts.”
“And one of them was Detective Máñez, who has been investigating the cartels for the past twelve years. I believe we managed to work it out together.”
Eve leaned forward. “Tell me.”
“Castino’s is only one of several cartels in Mexico. Probably the most powerful, but there are others who are constantly at war with them. Needless to say, the fighting gets very vicious. No holds barred. A man can make a fortune playing both sides.”
“Walsh.”
“Juan Castino had a beautiful Russian wife, Natalie, and they had two children. Unfortunately for her, both were girls. Our macho Castino wanted boys. But he would never admit something he owned wasn’t perfect. He made a big play about being besotted with the girls. Which made them automatic targets. Kill the girls, hurt Castino. The police think Walsh was hired by Alfredo Salazar, who runs a rival cartel, to double-cross his boss and do it. But it was too dangerous to do it on Castino’s home turf, so he waited until he was due to escort a group of slave laborers to Southern California to work the fields down there. He arranged to kidnap the girls and send them in the trucks bound for the fields. It was a quick and easy way to transport extremely hot merchandise. When he got there, he was supposed to kill them and safely dispose of them. No one was supposed to know that Salazar had funded the kill. It would have started a messy gang war. Salazar wanted the satisfaction of destroying the children Castino cared about and wanted to be able to gloat without consequences. It was important that no bodies be found. So Salazar chose an expert, Walsh.”
“A monster…”
“But something evidently went wrong. He wasn’t as efficient as Salazar had hoped. One disposal clumsily handled, one child escaped and went on the run. That probably had something to do with Elena Pasquez, who might have helped the children to escape.”
“Who?”
“Elena Pasquez, a young nursemaid, who disappeared at the same time as the children, probably also kidnapped by Walsh.”
“Elena Pasquez. She changed her name to Elena Delaney?”
“That would be my guess. She probably changed her name many times while she was on the run.”
“But if she helped Cara to escape, why not just go to the police?”
“Her entire family was involved with the cartels. No one ever went to the police, and those who did usually ended with their entire family being targeted.”
“So Elena was alone and trying desperately to hide from Walsh. He must have been relentless.”
“We both know how egotistical Walsh is. I believe he’s been trying to rectify that mistake for the past eight years. Not only did he have to keep Castino from knowing he’d sold him out to Salazar, he had to make the correction to preserve his spotless reputation.”
“And Jenny had to remain lost and unknown. Cara had to be found and killed, no matter what the cost.”
Joe nodded. “That about covers it.”
“How did it all go wrong? What happened in that forest?”
“I haven’t gotten that far yet. I have a few ideas. I think I’m getting close. It’s all beginning to fit together. I have to make a few more calls.” He tapped the Nalchek column. “And I haven’t developed any valid scenario for him, except for a feeling that he could be involved in something dirty.” He smiled faintly. “Give me another hour or so.”
Eve stared at the yellow pad. “You’ve accomplished an amazing amount as it is.”
“I had to know him. You had to know him. Any questions?”
“Yes, are we sure that these Castino daughters are Jenny and Cara?”
“I’m sure. Máñez e-mailed me the newspaper stories about their disappearance. Natalie was the typical heartbroken mother who only wanted her children back. Bragging about her Jennifer, who was a brilliant pianist and always entertained her guests. Wishing vengeance on the monsters who had done this foul deed. According to Máñez, she didn’t mention that the girls were always in the care of servants and seldom saw either of their parents.”
Jenny. Brilliant pianist …
They didn’t take away the music.
And other than her little sister, the music was all Jenny had.
Eve could feel the tears sting her eyes.
“Hey.” Joe reached for his phone. “Stop feeling sorry for her. She was awesome. I had them send me a few pictures.” He handed her his phone.
Jenny at the piano in her white dress. Her expression intent, totally absorbed, lost in her music, almost ecstatic.
Jenny at a tall window looking out at the sunset, dreamy, wondering.
Jenny on the ship with Cara, laughing and full of love.
“I saw this last photo at the apartment. She loved her sister, didn’t she?” She shook her head. “No, she loves her. Present tense. What else is this all about?”
Joe nodded. “That’s what it’s about.”
She looked down at the photos again. “She was awesome. Thank you for showing them to me, Joe.”
“I thought you had to see them. All you’ve seen of her has been death and sorrow. You needed to see what she was, what she could be, what she should be. The complete package.”
“If Walsh hadn’t killed her.”
“No, you believe Bonnie hasn’t changed except to become more of herself now that she’s crossed over. You have to believe the same of Jenny. Walsh has to be punished, but he did nothing to damage what Jenny was or is.”
She cleared her throat. “I know that.”
“Then don’t forget it again.”
“I won’t.” She got to her feet and turned out the light. “But right now, I want to hold you. Is that all right?”
He pulled her into the bed with him. “I believe I could put up with it.”
She was silent for a moment in the darkness, listening to his heartbeat beneath her ear. “You’re an amazing man, Joe Quinn.”
“I keep telling you that.”
“And I’m a lucky woman.”
His lips brushed her temple. “Damn straight. And don’t forget that, either.”
She nestled closer. “I won’t. I promise…”
* * *
Something was wrong!
Eve’s eyes flew open.
Panic.
Darkness.
Wrong. All wrong.
Eve sat up in bed, her heart racing.
All wrong.
Her first thought was Joe.
No, he was still asleep, his breathing normal.
All wrong.
She swung her legs to the floor.
“Where are you going?” Joe asked drowsily as Eve slipped out of the bed and reached for her shoes. “What am I? A one-night stand?”
“I don’t believe that’s an accurate term since we didn’t have sex.” She stood up, leaned over, and kissed him. “I’m going to the hotel to shower and change. I want to get an early start on locating that bus driver.” He opened his lips, and she put two fingers on them to silence him. “I love you. I’ll keep you informed.” She hurried out of the room before he could protest.
All wrong.
She leaned against the wall of the elevator, trying to overcome the sickness as the car zoomed downward.
Crazy.