“No, but I cannot think of anyone else who would have the resources in Guàlize — and the sheer gall — to pull this off. I have Gutierrez looking up everything we have on The Black Wolf’s activities within a hundred miles of the landing spot.”
“Do you want me to ask the same question of US intelligence?” Jack asked.
“I am placing this investigation in your hands, Jack,” Raul said quietly. “You know better than I whether your country might have any information that could help us. I do not care what you have to do, who you have to ask, what favors you must promise; I will back you every step of the way. Guàlize’s resources are at your disposal. Just bring my daughter home.”
“This is a very great trust you place in me, Raul,” Jack said after he caught his breath.
“Who can I trust more to bring Ariana home than the man who loves her?” was Raul’s parting shot as the phone on his desk rang and he picked it up. “Buenas tardes,” he said, gesturing at Jack to take the laptop and go across to the table and chair on the other side of the room.
Raul was carrying on a rapid conversation in Spanish with someone named Carlos; Jack did his best to tune it out, sitting down with the laptop and reading the email through thoroughly. The picture of Ariana had been closed down, which was a relief; he wasn’t sure that he could have looked at it again just now without breaking down.
The attached email was in Spanish, of course, but he’d spent enough time studying the language to puzzle it out.
‘I am sure you have realized by now that your daughter is not dead, Minister Monterro; she is a guest at my home and will be well-treated so long as you comply with my requests. The first request will be delivered along with the proof of your daughter’s life tomorrow.’
It was signed, as Raul had said, El Lobo Negro.
Jack was quite sure that Raul had ordered Gutierrez to get people to work on tracing the source; he was equally sure that the NSA could do the same thing faster. Swiftly, he forwarded the email to Lieutenant Colonel Cullane, adding a note. ‘I’m hoping that someone at the NSA owes you favors too, Brody. We need to find this guy ASAP. Jack.’
The click of Raul setting the phone down made him look up. Raul was looking at him with a half-smile on his face. “It seems you won’t be needing much Guàlizean help, Jack.”
“What do you mean?”
“You have some visitors.” Raul went to the door and opened it, gesturing. “Come on in.”
Three men in civilian clothes walked in, all of them grinning when they saw Jack. Out of uniform, they did not salute, but they all nodded respectfully before one of them said, “Good to see you, Captain.”
“What the hell are you doing here, Hunter?” Jack said in astonishment, getting to his feet.
“We’re on vacation, sir,” Hunter said blandly.
“On vacation — here. Right when Ariana Monterro’s been kidnapped,” Jack said incredulously.
“It’s a real coincidence, isn’t it? Heard you could maybe use some help.” Hunter shrugged. “Thought we’d stop by.”
“Colonel Cullane sent you, I dare say,” Raul said dryly.
All three men gave him innocent looks. “Don’t know what you’re talking about, sir. We’re on vacation,” Hunter repeated, obviously hellbent on sticking to his utterly implausible story.
“This is Lieutenant Hunter, Sergeant Mostyn, and Sergeant Diaz, sir,” Jack gave up and introduced them.
“I’m glad to meet you all, gentlemen,” Raul said. “And I’m glad that Captain McAuley will have the experienced assistance he needs. Gutierrez will get you anything you need, Jack,” he added. “Just say the word and it’s done.”
“Where are you going, sir?” Jack asked as Raul headed for the door.
“I have to brief the President on the situation. I’ll be back in an hour. And yes, I am quite safe in the Presidential Palace, thank you very much, gentlemen,” he added as Hunter and Diaz both glanced at Jack before taking a step in Raul’s direction. They both looked around, trying to appear innocent, not at all as though they’d intended to follow him to ensure his safety. Raul rolled his eyes with a small smile before departing the room.
“So,” Hunter said as the door clicked closed, “what’s the plan, sir?”
“We’re going to get Ariana Monterro back and kill absolutely fucking everybody involved in her abduction,” Jack said flatly. “Officially, as far as the United States government is concerned, we are most definitely not here to do anything other than consult and assist the locals in an advisory capacity only. Unofficially, the colonel is pulling every string he can to get us intel.”
“And the locals?” Mostyn asked warily. “Monterro seems pretty friendly.”
“He’s put me in charge of the investigation and of recovering Miss Monterro. The Guàlizeans will see that we have any equipment we might need, and extra manpower too if required.”
The three new arrivals glanced at each other, eyebrows rising, but they were all too well trained to question Jack’s statement. “So we’re sanctioned mercenaries for the duration, in effect, sir?” Hunter checked.
“Correct. Anyone got a problem with that, I’m sure you can figure out how to get back Stateside the same way you came.”
Three shrugs answered him, and Jack smiled. He knew these men. Hunter might appear brash and cocky, but he was on the fast track to promotion, a superb officer even in the ranks of the Rangers, and Mostyn and Diaz were among the finest non-commissioned officers in the regiment. He could hardly believe that Lieutenant Colonel Cullane had sent him all three of them, but then, it was possible that Cullane had decided he could only send three men and asked for volunteers.
“In any case, I’m glad you’re here,” he said genuinely. “We don’t have a target, yet, but I’m hoping that it won’t be long. Monterro will see that we’re well-armed, and there will be backup from the Guàlizean army if it comes down to it.”
“Thought we were the backup, sir.” Hunter gave him a mischievous grin. “We figured all we’d have to do was hold your coat.”
The other man was irrepressible; despite his grief and worry, Jack found himself smiling back. “I hope so, Lieutenant. I truly hope so.”
* * *
Gutierrez found them rooms in a nearby hotel and dropped them off there to get a meal and some rest. Jack knew he wouldn’t sleep, but he also knew that he needed to try, because he had no idea when they might be called to action. Sitting down in the restaurant with the others, he looked at the menu unseeingly, unable to stop himself from wondering what Ariana was doing. Was she eating? Was The Black Wolf mistreating her?
“McAuley!”
A firm hand on his wrist jerked him back to the present, and he blinked, realizing Hunter was asking a question. “Sorry, I was somewhere else.”
“I could see that. What do you want?” Hunter gestured to the waiter, who stood by the table, pad in hand.
“Oh.” He hadn’t even really looked at the menu. “A steak, please. Medium rare, with a garden salad?”
Fortunately that seemed to be on the menu, because the waiter just nodded amiably and took his menu along with the others.