"Damn you," Eve said. "Why didn't you stop him?"
"He was in the way," he said simply. "The Colonel didn't want him here, but he wouldn't send him away. This way he didn't have to do it. Quinn did it himself."
"You should have told me, Miguel," Montalvo said.
"But that would have spoiled everything. An opportunity was presenting itself. Neither of us had to kill him. He has a chance of surviving if he's as good as we've heard." He smiled. "It seemed very sensible."
Eve stared at him in disbelief. Sensible to serve up Joe to Diaz? The total ruthlessness of the boy was incredible.
"It was wrong, Miguel," Montalvo said. "And we'll have to make it right. That may not be easy."
"For God's sake, you're talking to him as if he were a two-year-old who'd used a crayon to scribble on the furniture. He let Joe leave. He'd probably have given him a boost over that wall if he'd needed it."
Miguel nodded. "But he didn't need it. As I said, he was impressive."
"Go get him back," Eve said through her teeth. "He's alone out there."
"He has Galen," Miguel said. "But I'll go if the Colonel wishes it." He checked his watch. "It's been over ten hours. Quinn was a SEAL and I don't believe I'd be able to track him."
"You know where he's going," she said. "Diaz."
Miguel nodded. "But if I interfere with the Colonel's plans for Diaz, he won't be pleased."
She swung on Montalvo. "Tell him."
"I will," Montalvo said. "But I'm not going to order him to go retrieve Quinn. One, that might trigger the kind of action you're trying to avoid. Two men with guerilla training have a much better chance of surviving than a whole unit trooping through Diaz's territory. Two, if Quinn is as good as I've been told, then they'd be able to avoid Miguel and anyone I sent with him."
"Then what the hell are you going to do?"
"Send Miguel to Diaz's village and have him ask questions and do a little surveillance. Miguel lived there most of his life and he still has contacts. Everything that goes on at the castle is known in the village. They'll know if Diaz captures Quinn and Galen."
"And if he does?"
"Then I'll have to get Nalia's father moving very quickly before Diaz cuts Quinn's throat." He added, "Though if he doesn't know you've completed the reconstruction, Diaz might use him as a tool to make you stop."
"You still don't know who he has in your camp that might tell him?"
"I'm leaning toward Destando, a man who hasn't been with me as long as others. He's being carefully watched." Montalvo turned to Miguel. "If you'd been watching Destando instead of following Quinn around, I'd be better pleased."
Miguel shrugged. "I was only doing as you taught me. It was an opportunity." He turned away. "I'll leave right away for the village. I'll let you know as soon as I hear something."
"Immediately," Montalvo said. "And, dammit, be careful, Miguel."
"Of course." Miguel smiled back at him over his shoulder. "It would cause you much grief if anything happened. Where else would you find such a fine son as me?"
Eve watched him leave with a mixture of anger, frustration, and concern. "Will he be in much danger?"
"Enough. For a spy there's always danger. But he's gone back to the village and gathered information for me before. Miguel will get out if he sees a threat."
"But you're letting him go."
"He knew that he was disobeying orders. It doesn't matter that he thought the result would please me. He has to learn he can't run the show."
"Even if it kills him."
Montalvo didn't answer directly. "He made the mistake, he has to make it right."
"I'm angry as hell at him, but I don't want him to die."
Neither do I." He was gazing after Miguel. "If I love anyone in this world, I think it's that boy."
"Then call him back. Send out-"
"It's done." He turned away. "Everything I said was sound and this is the best way to handle it. Now have you finished with the reconstruction?"
"Damn the reconstruction."
"I can see how you'd feel that. Is it finished?"
"Yes, you single-minded bastard."
"Then I'll go pack it and get ready to take it to Armandariz." He started for the front door. "And, yes, I am single-minded. However, you might consider that the sooner I can turn Armandariz against Diaz, the sooner Diaz will be rendered helpless to hurt or kill your Joe."
"If he doesn't open that wound and bleed to death before he gets to him."
"Somehow I don't think Quinn will let himself die before he gets within shooting distance of Diaz. I was watching him when he was in the library. He was very… focused."
"Christ, I should have said something to him. Though I don't know what I could have said that would have stopped him." Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "Why did he do it? He knew I was close to completing the reconstruction. If he'd only waited one more day. He's not an idiot. It was almost over. Why did he-"
"He knew that I'd try tohold you here," Montalvo interrupted. "He's a perceptive man. He guessed that I'd need you to take the next step."
She frowned. "What are you saying? You agreed to make arrangements for us."
"And I would have done it. If there had been no other way." He grimaced. "But I was going to try to persuade you to stay and help me."
"What?"
"I have the reconstruction and that will be pretty convincing. The shock value will be enormous. But a man in denial like Armandariz needs more than a jolt. Three days ago I sent him your dossier. It's impressive. Your honesty and professional ethics are above reproach. I gave him time to check you out on his own."
"And what if he throws my dossier in the trash without even looking at it?"
"He hasn't done it. I still have friends among the rebels and they say he read it. If he did his own check, he'll know that you're credible."
"A person in denial believes everyone lies."
"That's why I want you to come along to his camp."
Her eyes widened in disbelief. "What?"
"I want you to explain the process as you did with me. I want you to tell him how you did it. How you never look at a photo before the end."
"And he's supposed to believe me?"
"It's my best chance. You're an honest woman, Eve. It shines out of you. I'm probably the most skeptical bastard on the face of the earth and the first time I met you, I'd have believed you if you'd told me black was white."
"You didn't part with him on good terms. If you push him, he might shoot both of us."
"He'll know that I wouldn't come into camp without backup in the area." He paused. "But we'll have to go in alone."
"I don't have to go anywhere."
"No, you don't. You've done what I asked you. I'm sure Soldono would say that you should let the vermin destroy each other."
"Yes, he would."
"I don't think you'd go along with that philosophy now. You have a vested interest in Nalia and what happened to her." He stared her directly in the eye. "You want her father to know he was wrong about her. You want justice for Nalia."
"And you equate justice with revenge."
"Yes, and so do you. In your heart of hearts." He added, "And that would have been my argument before I knew Quinn had gone. Now the situation has changed."
"You mean, you have an ace in the hole." She smiled sardonically. "Are you sure you didn't tell Miguel to let Joe escape?"
"No, but he reads me well. I'm feeling some guilt," he said. "Yes, you do have more reason now."
"How quickly will Armandariz act if he decides that Diaz has been betraying him all these years?"
"I don't know. I'd like to tell you that he'll rush out and start burning down coca fields but I can't do that. Armandariz is an emotional man but he's a soldier and he'll do what's best for his troops and his cause."