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She nodded. “He said if I tried to get him back…” She glanced at Bobby. “I got the message.”
So did Jeff. Kray threatened to kill her if she tried to get her son back. “Apparently you don’t know how to listen.”
She rose to her feet. “What was I supposed to do? Just let him keep my son?”
“You could have done a hell of a lot better than sneaking in to save him yourself.”
She stiffened and cleared her throat. “Do you think I’m crazy? I didn’t come out here alone.”
Her first lie. “Listen, lady, I don’t—”
“My name isn’t ‘lady.’ It’s Andrea Cochran. Andie. I’ll thank you to call me that.”
“Fine, Andie. The way I figure it, the maid back at the villa already knows the kid is not in his room. She’s about finished searching the house and grounds, and is going to call Kray on his boat. We can stand here talking about who and what you are, or we can move out of here and stay alive.”
She glared at him. “May I remind you, Rambo, you’re the one who asked about my past.”
“And you told me. Let’s go.” He bent down and picked up Bobby. “Wanna bet you and me together can go faster than your mom alone?” He ended his sentence with a quick wink, forestalling the child’s fear.
Bobby eyed him warily, then nodded slowly. “Mommy can’t go real fast.”
“I’m not surprised. Let’s see if she can keep up.”
Andie grabbed his arm. “Give him back to me.”
Jeff started walking. “He’s too heavy and you’re already exhausted. How far is your car?”
“I’m not sure.” She fell into step behind him. “I left it off the side of the road.”
“Camouflaged?”
“I didn’t hack down a tree and bite off the branches with my bare teeth to cover it, if that’s what you’re asking. I did pull into a turnout and park behind some brush.”
“That’s something.”
“Your faith in my ability is overwhelming.”
“How are you planning on getting off the island?”
She didn’t answer.
He ducked around hanging vines, then stepped over a log, not letting either slow him down. Andie didn’t have the advantage of his training or endurance. He could hear her labored breathing and she struggled to keep up. Bobby held on tightly, his skinny legs wrapped around his waist, one hand holding on to Jeff’s backpack. The kid wasn’t too heavy, but he was awkward. Jeff shifted so Bobby’s weight rested on his hip and kept moving.
After a few minutes, he eyed the sun overhead, then turned slightly east. They would come out on the road about a half mile from the villa. It was unlikely she would have been willing to hike much farther on her own. He hoped she remembered where she’d parked her Jeep.
The temperature rose steadily, and with it the humidity. The call of birds and the drone of insects provided background noise for his tangled thoughts. None of this felt real. Not the boy, or the woman. Not the circumstances in which he found himself. Somewhere in the past few minutes he’d made the decision to get her off the island, mostly because the alternative was being identified before he’d finished what he’d come for. But he sure as hell didn’t want to be saddled with an inexperienced, volatile party girl and her bratty kid.
He glanced down at Bobby and smiled. Okay, so the kid wasn’t so bad. Bobby smiled back shyly and offered the last bit of his roll. “Want some?”
“No, thanks.”
When they neared the road, he paused, waiting for her to catch up. Perspiration coated her face and her cheeks were flushed bright red. More strands of hair had escaped from her braid.
He reached behind him and ripped open the Velcro strap that held his canteen in place. He opened the top and handed it to her.
“Thanks,” she said, between pants. She took a small mouthful of water and swished it around in her mouth before swallowing. “If you were trying to prove a point, you did. Aerobics doesn’t equip you for jungle combat. I see that now. I’ll be sure to have a word with my instructor when I get back.”
In spite of himself, he admired her spunk. “You’re some mouthy woman, you know that?”
“Yeah.” She took another drink, then handed him the canteen. “I know.”
After Bobby had drunk his fill, Jeff took a couple of sips, then slipped the canteen back in place. He shifted the boy to his other side. “The road is about ten feet that way,” he said, pointing. “Which way is your Jeep?”
She walked through the brush to the edge of the road. Once there, she looked to the left, then to the right. He rolled his eyes. “Let me guess. You can’t remember.”
She turned around and glared at him. “Listen, Rambo, I’m not having a good day here. You didn’t kill me, so I assume you’re either toying with me, waiting to turn me back over to Kray or you’re genuinely trying to help. As you pointed out, you’re stronger than me, you’re armed and right now you’re holding my son. I think you’ve got enough of an advantage without resorting to giving me a hard time, as well.”
“The name’s Jeff,” he said.
Her gaze narrowed. “Is there a last name, or don’t I need to know?”
He didn’t answer.
“Figures.” She returned her attention to the empty road. “That way,” she said, pointing.
He followed her out of the brush. A hundred feet or so up the road there was a turnout. As she’d mentioned, the Jeep was parked behind a tree, partially concealed by brush. Someone driving by quickly wouldn’t spot it. Someone looking for it would see it in a minute.
He moved closer, then stopped dead. “That’s your car?”
She nodded cautiously. “What’s wrong with it?”
He looked from the vehicle to her. “It’s a rental.”
“I know. I wasn’t able to bring my own car across the Gulf of Mexico. The water was a little too deep for my convertible.”
“Let me guess. You flew in on a commercial flight, flashing your passport and credit cards at will.” He swore under his breath. “Stupid woman.”
“Don’t call me stupid.”
“Don’t yell at my mommy.”
Kray’s ex-wife and child both glared at him. He bent over and lowered Bobby to the ground. The boy scampered over to stand next to his mother.
“He’s mean,” Bobby announced.
The childish pronouncement shouldn’t have mattered, but Jeff felt a slight sting. Andie laid a protective hand on the kid’s shoulder.
“I may be inexperienced, but I’m not stupid,” she said. “I flew into San Juan, then took a series of tourist boats from one island to the other. I haven’t had to use my passport and I’ve paid for everything in cash.”
“Except for the rental,” he said.
“They wouldn’t let me pay cash. Besides there’s a hundred just like it on the island. The rental company only has Jeeps.”
“Did you pay cash at the hotel in town?”
“I haven’t been to a hotel.”
He raised his eyebrows. “When did you arrive?”
She brushed her hair out of her face. “Two days ago.”
“Where have you been staying?”
“In the Jeep.” She gestured wearily to the jungle around them. “I’ve been sleeping out, when I could sleep. Are there snakes on St. Lucas?”
“Some.” He looked her over, more thoroughly this time. Weariness lined her face. There were shadows under her eyes, and her jeans weren’t as clean as they could have been. Camping out in the jungle for two nights. Not bad.
He walked over and popped the trunk. She’d brought a small bag of clothing. He unzipped it. A pair of jeans, shorts for Bobby, T-shirts and underwear for herself and the boy. No makeup, no impractical shoes or fancy dresses. Next to the satchel was a cardboard box filled with bottled water, fresh fruit and a half-eaten loaf of bread.
“You buy this in a local store?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I went to the port when the cruise ship came in and shopped with the tourists. I’m obviously not a native. I figured it was the only way I would be able to blend in.”
“I’m impressed.”
He’d thought she might say something smart, but instead she smiled. A warm genuine smile that exposed perfect white teeth and made his gut clench. She’d been a model in Europe, earning a living on runways and in print ads. She’d never made it big, and after her marriage to Kray, she’d disappeared. God help the advertising world if they’d ever seen her smile. She could have made millions.
He ignored his typically male reaction to a pretty face, reminding himself it didn’t mean a thing. It sure as hell wasn’t about her specifically. She’d once belonged to Kray. He would rather be roasted over open coals than be attracted to a woman Kray had been with.
He walked around the vehicle. The glove box was locked. He held out his hand for the key. She reached into her jeans pocket and pulled it out. He opened the vehicle’s door, sat on the passenger seat and unlocked the glove box. Her purse spilled out. He dug around in it until he found her wallet. She murmured a protest, but didn’t try to stop him. He looked at her California driver’s license.
“Not a great picture,” he said.
“I was having a bad hair day.”
He flipped through the credit cards. There was enough plastic here to buy a car. She had a couple thousand in cash, and no traveler’s checks. He put the wallet back and searched until he found her passport. It was in her name. Bobby was listed on the document. That was something at least.
“What do you do in your real life, Andie?” he asked, stuffing the purse and its contents back in glove box and finally looking at her.
She stood by the edge of the Jeep. Her spine was straight, defying her weariness. “I go to law school.”
He laughed out loud.
Andie glared at him. “Why are you so surprised? Even bimbos have brains.”
He cleared his throat. “Look, I’m sorry I called you a bimbo. I’m sure you’re a great person, even if you have lousy taste in men. Does Kray know you’re studying law?”
“I don’t care if he does. Despite what you might or might not think of me, until three weeks ago I hadn’t seen or spoken to my ex-husband in over five years.”
Jeff stepped out of the car. “Kray doesn’t let go easily. Especially not a woman like you.”
She rubbed at her damp cheek, then stared at the dirt on her fingertips. “I’m a real prize. You can see the men lining up for miles. It made it hard to get away, as you can imagine.”
He had a feeling that if she stopped mouthing off, she would start crying. He couldn’t deal with her tears. It would make him feel sorry for her, and he didn’t want that. He didn’t want to think of her as a person. Not now, not after what had happened with Jeanne. He couldn’t forget and he wouldn’t forgive. It might not have been Andie Cochran’s fault, but he still blamed her for being alive when his wife wasn’t.
“How are you planning to get away?” he asked. “Back the way you came?”
She stared at him without answering.
He walked over to her, stopping so close that she had to tilt her head back to meet his gaze. Fear battled with exhaustion and determination.
“Kray controls this island,” he said quietly. “He comes here several times a year to relax.”
“I know that,” she said. “That’s why I was able to find Bobby.”
“You don’t get it. He owns the ground we’re standing on. He owns or controls all the hotels, half the banks and most of the people. He’s everywhere. You’ve been lucky, but don’t expect your luck to hold out. How are you planning on getting off of the island?”
“I won’t tell you. How do I know you’re going to help me? How do I know you aren’t with Kray? Maybe you’re keeping me hostage until he gets back and then you’ll turn me over to him. I won’t tell you anything.” She glared at him. “Not a word. I don’t care what you do to me.”
Before he could decide whether or not to just leave her to her own devices, a sound caught his attention. He cocked his head, trying to identify it.
He swore under his breath.
“Mommy, that man said a really bad word.”
“I know, honey.”
Jeff ignored them both and slipped off his backpack. He pulled out his powerful binoculars. There was a clearing a few feet to the left. He walked to it, then looked out toward the ocean.
Sunlight sparkled off the clear water. Rocks jutted out to meet the sea, while waves crashed over the uneven formation. He waited patiently. In less than a minute, he saw that he’d guessed correctly.
“You’re about to find out if your theory is true,” he said, holding the binoculars out to Andie.
“What do you mean?”
“Look.”
She took them and stared out at the ocean. “So?”
“See that boat? The one that’s followed the coast of the island and is making a wide turn and heading back in the other direction?”
“Yes.”
“Does it look familiar to you?”
She adjusted the focus, then gasped. “Oh, God. Kray.”
“They’re heading back here in a hurry,” Jeff said, then glanced over his shoulder at Bobby. “Looks like somebody figured out you took his kid. It’ll take them about forty minutes to get back to the house. So if I’m with Kray, this is where I make my move.”
