Martinez was hooked up to an IV and was also getting a transfusion of blood. But his eyes were clear. "Ms. McCoy."
"Agent Martinez. You're very good at your job. You had us all fooled."
He smiled, showing the very straight white teeth she had noticed before. "That's the goal of an undercover operative.
Thank God Huerta was also fooled. I've been a member of his organization since last summer. A truckload of people came across the border last night."
"It was intercepted about an hour ago," Galloway informed them. "As usual, the conditions inside were deplorable.
The people locked in were actually grateful for being taken into custody. They considered it a rescue."
"Huerta and I were on our way to make the sale to a wheat farmer up in Kansas. Huerta was to be arrested as soon as the transaction went down. We stopped here to get a snack."
He shrugged, as though to say they knew the rest. "I'm just glad that neither of us went into that store armed.
We'd left our weapons in the car-something that never happens. It was a twist of fate, or divine intervention, whatever. If Huerta had been carrying, it would've got real ugly real soon."
"Will you be in danger of reprisal?"
Again he flashed a smile. "I'm trusting the department to make me disappear. If you ever see me again, you probably won't recognize me."
"I see. One more question, why did you try and take the baby?"
"Huerta wanted to rush Ronnie, overpower him. I volunteered to distract everyone by grabbing the baby. Actually, I was afraid he'd do something to the child. That was the only way I knew to protect her."
Tiel shivered at the thought of what might have been.
"You seemed particularly hostile toward Cain."
"He recognized me," Martinez exclaimed. "We'd worked a case together a couple years ago. He didn't have the good sense to keep his trap shut. Several times he nearly blew it for me. I had to shut him up." Looking at Galloway, he added, "I think he needs a refresher course at Quantic"
Tiel hid her smile. "We have you to thank for several acts of bravery, Mr. Martinez. I'm sorry you got shot for your effort."
"That guy-Doc-did what he had to do. If the situation had been reversed, I'd have done the same. I'd like to tell him I don't hold a grudge."
Galloway said, "He's already left."
Hiding her disappointment and despite the small cuts on her palm, Tiel shook Martinez's hand and wished him well, then was helped down out of the ambulance, where Gully was smoking a cigarette while waiting. As the ambulance pulled away, Gladys and Vern joined them.
Apparently they had returned to their RV, because they were wearing different clothes, smelled of soap, and were looking as spry and alert as though they'd just returned from a two-week visit to a health spa. Tiel hugged them in turn.
"We couldn't leave without giving you our address and getting your promise to stay in touch." Gladys handed her a slip of paper on which was written an address in Florida.
"I promise. Are you continuing the honeymoon from here?"
"After a stop in Louisiana to see my son and grandchildren,"
Vern said.
"Who are without a doubt the five most ornery little bastards on earth."
"Now, Gladys."
"I'm only telling it like it is, Vern. They're heathens and you know it." Then her demeanor changed. She blotted away the tears that suddenly appeared in her eyes. "I just hope those two young people come through this. I'll be worried sick until I hear that they're all right."
"So will I." Tiel squeezed Gladys's small hand.
Vern said, "We had to give our statements to the sheriff, then to the FBI agents. We told them you couldn't help hitting that Cain with the chili on account of he was such an idiot."
Gully snickered. Galloway tensed, but he let the criticism go without comment.
"Donna's hogging the TV cameras," Gladys said with pique. "To hear her tell it, she was a heroine."
Vern reached into his tote bag, removed a small videocassette, and pressed it into Tiel's hand. "Don't forget this," he whispered.
Actually, she had forgotten the camcorder tape.
Gladys said, "We sneaked back into the store to get it."
"Thank you. For everything." Tiel got emotional again when they said their final farewell and headed for their RV.
"Honeymoon?" Gully asked as they moved away.
"They were terrific. I'm going to miss them."
He looked at her strangely. "Are you okay?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Because you're acting sorta weird."
"I've been up all night." Straightening her shoulders and adopting the demeanor she assumed when cameras were about to roll, she turned to Galloway. "I suppose you have a lot of questions for me."
In the van, Galloway plied her with coffee and breakfast burritos donated by the ladies' auxiliary of the First Baptist Church. It took over an hour for him to get from her all the information he required.
"I think that's it for now, Ms. McCoy, although we'll probably have some follow-up questions."
"I understand."
"And it wouldn't surprise me if the respective DAs ask you to attend when we convene to discuss the charges against Ronnie Davison."
"If you convene," she said softly.
The FBI agent looked away, and Tiel realized he bore a large measure of guilt over what had happened. Perhaps even more than she. He admitted to being duped by Russell Dendy's playacting. He hadn't noticed Dendy returning to the private charter helicopter he had arrived in and retrieving a deer rifle from it. If the unthinkable happened and Ronnie died, Galloway would have much to account for.
"Have you received any update on Ronnie's condition?"
"No," Galloway replied. "All I know is that he was alive when they put him in the chopper. I've heard nothing further.
The baby is fine. Sabra is listed in poor condition, which is better than I had hoped for. She's received several units of blood. Her mother is with her."
"I haven't seen Mr. Cole Davison."
"They let him accompany Ronnie in the helicopter. He was… well, you can imagine."
They were quiet for a moment, impervious to the activity of the other agents, who were busy with the "mopping up." Eventually Galloway signaled her out of her chair and escorted her outside, where the morning was now full blown.
"Good-bye, Mr. Galloway."
"Ms. McCoy?" Having started to walk away, she turned back. Special Agent Galloway looked slightly ill at ease with what he was about to say. "This was a terrible ordeal for you, I'm sure. But I'm glad we had someone in there who is as level-headed as you. You helped keep everyone sane and acted with remarkable composure."
"I'm not remarkable, Mr. Galloway. Bossy maybe," she said with a wan smile. "If it hadn't been for Doc-" She tilted her head inquisitively. "Did he give you his statement?"
"Sheriff Montez took his."
He motioned her toward the sheriff, whom she hadn't noticed leaning against the side of the van in the shade.
He tipped his wide-brimmed hat and ambled toward her, but ignored her unspoken question about Doc.
"Our mayor has offered to put you up at the local motel. It's not the Ritz," he warned with a chuckle. "But you're welcome to stay as long as you like."
"Thank you, but I'm returning to Dallas."
"Not right now you're not." Gully had joined them, and with him was Kip. "We're going back in the chopper and deliver this tape to the editor so she can start putting the piece together."
"I'll go too, and send someone back for my car."
He was shaking his head before Tiel finished speaking.
"Not enough room for more than two passengers, and I gotta get back. No telling what that freak with the rings in his eyebrow has done to my newsroom. You take the mayor up on his kind offer. We'll send the chopper for you later, along with an intern to drive your car back to Dallas. Besides, you stink. A shower wouldn't hurt."