Rogue Diamond Read online

  "Badly?"

  Jose shrugged. "One woman. They took her away in an ambulance."

  Nick's eyes narrowed. "You're sure it was an accident?"

  Jose nodded. "There was another young woman involved. A norteamericana, with blond hair. She was looking for a Mexican baby. Claimed the child was there before the accident."

  "Injured?"

  "They don't know. Couldn't find her."

  "Hmmm." Nick looked back down at the sheet of paper in his hands. As soon as he'd memorized this information, the paper would be destroyed, leaving no evidence.

  "The woman, she was very pretty, Capitan. Blond hair and blue eyes. Muy bonita. From the States—" Jose halted.

  Nick had already turned his back. He hadn't heard, nor did he care about any pretty, blond woman. But it wasn't surprising to Jose. In the year they'd worked together in Mexico, Nick had never shown anything more than lusty interest in any woman. Although his women were beautiful, Nick never bothered with anything more than a brief encounter.

  The man was remarkable. Jose knew his partner had blocked everything else out and now concentrated completely on the information before him, and the wrap-up of tonight's operation. It was just as well. He didn't need the complication of a woman in his line of business.

  The policeman jotted down more information from Alex, then stuffed the pen and paper into his pocket and led her to his sergeant. The three conferred, then began a search in the streets which lasted until every cart had been set upright again and the wrecker had hauled away the ugly green hulk of a car. Its drunken driver had long since been whisked away to jail.

  Even when the police gave up the search, Alex stayed. Hours later, after the mess in the streets was completely cleaned up and vendors were attempting to sell what wasn't destroyed by the crash, Alex was still there. Except for the light post resting against a building, the marketplace bore no trace of the earlier tragedy that had darkened Alex's life.

  But Alex couldn't give up. Jenni had to be here. If she wasn't injured, then someone had rescued her. Someone knew where she was, Alex was sure of it. One of the shopkeepers had to know where the child was, and Alexis was determined to find out. Tirelessly, she went from shop to shop, vendor to vendor, even to strangers on the street. "Have you seen a little girl? About two. Dark, curly hair . . ."

  "Senorita?"

  "Yes?" Alex halted wearily beside an open-front taco stand.

  "Senorita, please, come in. Have a seat." The shopkeeper gestured to a small round wrought-iron table near the wall. "Let me give you something to drink. To refresh you."

  The small place looked like a welcome haven, and his voice was so kind that Alexis complied without a second thought. She slumped at the table and stared blankly, exhausted from the energy-draining events of the day. When he shuffled toward her with a blended fruit and ice drink in his hand, Alex recognized him as the same man who'd stepped forward to help her after the accident.

  Alex smiled faintly, her mouth softening. "Thank you for helping me today." She spoke to him in fluent Spanish. "I was so scared."

  "It was nothing." He shrugged and sat down opposite her, sliding the tall glass across the table. "Here. Drink, please."

  "Thanks." Alex sipped gratefully, not fully realizing how hot and thirsty she was until this minute.

  "You must give up this search for the child," he said gently. "Let the police handle it."

  "But the police have gone. Jenni has to be around here somewhere! If she wasn't injured, and obviously she wasn't, then maybe one of the shop keepers or street vendors saw her—"

  "No, senorita. We know nothing."

  "Nada, nada! That's all I've heard all day! I'm sick of it! Do you even believe we had a child with us this morning? The police don't! When we didn't find her right away, they questioned me about even having her along. Can you believe that?"

  "Si, I think she was with you, senorita."

  "Then where could she be now?"

  He spread his palms. "She is not here, senorita. You will not find her here on this street."

  "Then where—"

  "I would say . . ." he paused and looked around. In a lower voice, he continued. "I would say that she has been taken."

  "What? By whom? Why?"

  "I cannot say. I do not know." He shrugged again. "I have told you too much already." He shuffled away to wait on another customer.

  Alex sat stunned by the shopkeeper’s revelation. Was it possible that Jenni had been snatched in the chaotic moments before anyone remembered to look for her? A thousand questions plagued Alex. Where was Jenni now? Was she safe? Was she being fed and cared for? Was she hurt? Was she scared and lonely and . . . crying for her mama?

  Alex's indigo eyes softened as she recalled the child's dark tousled curls framing chubby, golden cheeks. She could almost feel the soft-skinned little girl sitting in her lap, listening to one more story before bedtime, and the gentle tug of Jenni's tight little arms hugging her neck. She could almost smell the baby-powdered fragrance and hear her high-pitched giggle of delight. Mamacita! Mamacita! More cookies!

  Oh, dear God! Where was she?

  Alex bolted away from the table, then stopped to dig for change.

  "No, senorita. Please accept this small gift from me. You have been through a lot today."

  Alex looked up and met the shopkeeper's honest, brown eyes. "Gracias, senor. For everything." Even your dreadful opinion about what happened to Jenni.

  She hailed a cab and told the driver to take her to the hospital. First she had to check on Teresa, then she'd go to the police station. The situation was different now. If the child had been taken . . .

  The ride to the hospital was quick, and Alex hurried into the Emergency entrance. A strong antiseptic smell and drab green walls accosted her senses.

  Alex approached the dark-haired nurse at the desk. "Where is Teresa Portillo? She was in an auto accident earlier today."

  The nurse checked her clipboard, then looked up quickly. "You are looking for Teresa Marie Portillo?"

  "Yes. Which room?"

  "Do you know her?"

  "Yes, yes," Alex answered impatiently. She had so much to do, to think about, and this nurse persisted with formalities. "I'm a teacher at the University. My name is Alexis Julian. Teresa is my housekeeper. Look, if there's a problem with the bill, I'll handle it."

  "No, nothing like that, senorita." The nurse's voice grew gentle. "I'm sorry to tell you this, but the lady you ask about died about an hour ago."

  Alex's breath caught in a hitch, as if someone had belted her in the stomach. Her eyes filled with hot tears and she gripped the desk frantically. "Oh, no! That's not possible! Are you sure? Check again! It just can't be! Not my Teresa! We haven't even found her daughter Jenni yet! God help me, not both of them!"

  Immediately, several nurses converged to handle the norteamericana with blond hair and very blue eyes who was nearly hysterical. For a period of time, Alexis Julian was beyond reason. Drab green walls threatened to close in on her and a certain horrifying scene in which a green car ran out of control kept replaying in her mind.

  Finally, Alex quieted. Even in the sultry heat she trembled uncontrollably.

  “Can we call someone to take you home, senorita?”

  "Yes, would you call my friend, por favor?" she requested in a hushed voice. "Rosemary Garza. Ask her to come and take me home."

  CHAPTER TWO

  Alex climbed into the backseat of the car. "Thanks for picking me up. I'm not normally so hysterical."

  "You weren't hysterical, just upset." Rosemary smiled reassuringly. "And after what you've been through today, Alex, you have every right to be. Isn't that right, Sam?"

  Her husband nodded. "You're doing fine, Alex."

  "Well, I certainly didn't feel like facing an empty house this evening." Alex was still shaken, even hours later, as she drank tea in the home of her friends and colleagues, Rosemary and Sam Garza.

  "That's what friends are for, Alex." Rose
mary smiled sympathetically. "This has been a horrible day for you."

  "So much has happened, I still can't believe it. Oh, my God, I forgot all about the party tonight!"

  "Don't worry about it," Rosemary soothed gently. "After they called from the hospital, we figured no one would be in the partying mood tonight. Sam phoned everyone and canceled."

  "Thanks, Sam." Alex sighed with relief. "You were absolutely right. I'm in no condition to do anything tonight. I hope they understand."

  "Of course they do. I explained, and they sent their condolences." Sam took another sip of his coffee and studied Alex's drawn face. Although he was Mexican, Sam had fair skin and blue eyes that harked back to his Spanish ancestry.

  Sam had been educated at the University of Arizona, then returned to his native Mexico to teach. His dynamic American wife, Rosemary, worked with Alex in the Early Childhood Department at Sonoran University in Hermosillo. During the two years Alex had been an exchange professor in the industrial city, she and the Garzas had become good friends. Now, in the face of tragedy, they pulled together.

  "You'll find most of the university staff very compassionate," explained Rosemary, a brunette with dark, snappy eyes. "They'll look on your tragedy as one of their own. In fact, they might tend to smother you with sympathy and covered dishes, so it's probably just as well that you're here until you compose yourself and decide what to do next."

  "I don't want their sympathy. If anything, I need their help finding Jenni." Alex pressed her lips together in an effort to control another wave of grief.

  "Alex, please spend the night here." Rosemary smiled warmly and patted her friend's arm. "I know how difficult it must be to go back to your house alone, so don't do it until you're ready."

  "Thanks, Rosemary, but I'll be all right. You two were so wonderfully calm in the face of a crisis, and I needed that. I'm afraid I fell apart at the hospital. It was so unexpected. I still can't believe Teresa's gone—" Alex's voice broke off in a sob.

  "I've called the police twice this evening, Sam," Alex continued after she'd gotten a grip on herself, "and they still claim there are no leads on Jenni. Why haven't they found her? What have they been doing all this time?"

  Sam took a deep breath. "Nothing. To be perfectly honest, they're probably doing nothing active right now, Alex."

  "What?"

  "Please try to understand, Alex. The police are extremely busy. And understaffed."

  "You mean they probably won't do much more than the rudimentary questioning they've already done?"

  He nodded. "I'm afraid so. I'm sure this case isn't high on their list of priorities."

  "What do you mean? A child is missing! What could be more important than finding her?"

  "It's important to us, but to them . . ." Sam shrugged. "Remember, they have violent crimes to deal with and—"

  "Isn't this violent? A child abducted! I just can't believe it, Sam!" Alex rose and began pacing the floor.

  "Alex," Sam said, trying to calm her. "You must have patience. There is also a chance—a chance, mind you—that they may not find her."

  She wheeled around, her indigo eyes snapping it her friend. "No! I won't accept that, Sam!"

  "Alex, be reasonable. This isn't the U.S. Things are done differently in Mexico. You can't stomp into the police station and demand your rights. You have none! You're on foreign soil!"

  "My God, Sam, who cares what soil this is? A child has been taken! A child we all loved. No, I won't accept the possibility that she may never be found! I have to find her!"

  "Alex, I know you don't want to hear these things, but you must be realistic."

  Rosemary gave her husband a warning glance. "Please, Sam . . ."

  They sat in silence for a while, then Sam said, "Alex, I didn't mean to upset you this evening. Surely you know we care about Jenni. But I don't want you to harbor any false hopes for finding her."

  "Are you saying you don't think I'll ever find her?"

  Sam took a deep breath. "No, I won't go that far. But realistically, it may be tough. A young Mexican woman was killed today. She had no family. No husband. Her illegitimate child is missing. The only person asking about that child is an American exchange professor. Face it, you don't have much clout, Alex."

  "Dammit, Sam!" Alex exclaimed, close to tears. She knew, deep in her heart, that he was right. Perhaps there wasn't much chance of finding Jenni. But she wouldn't give up.

  "Sam, hush!" Rosemary scowled. "Can't you see you're upsetting her?" She put an arm around Alex's shoulders. "Don't worry, honey. We'll find her. I'll go with you to talk to the police again tomorrow, if you want."

  "Maybe he's right, Rosemary," Alex admitted hollowly. "It's going to be damned tough. I need time to decide what to do next."

  "Well, you don't have to decide tonight. You can take all the time you need right here. I insist that you spend the night with us. Come on. A good hot bath will work wonders. I know you're bushed. It's been an exhausting day. And look, you have scratches on your knees and elbows. We need to put some disinfectant on those."

  Alex allowed Rosemary to guide her to the back bedroom and put antiseptic on her scraped elbows. The act made them both feel better, gave them something to be concerned about besides the crisis. Long after Sam and Rosemary went to bed, Alex lay wide-eyed and alert. The questions that had driven her all day long still plagued her.

  Where is Jenni? How is she? Is she being taken care of? Is she lonely and crying? As long as there were no answers to those questions, Alex wouldn't give up the search.

  Realizing that sleep was not imminent, she slipped out of bed. From a desk in the bedroom she took out a pen and paper and dashed off a missive to her friend Carol, relating the terrifying events of the day. She just felt the need to reach out, to express her sorrow and her outrage. But writing about it made the whole ordeal so very real.

  Nick Diamond checked his watch.

  2:29 AM.

  He set the chopper down and cut the lights.

  They sat in the pitch dark for a minute or two, neither speaking.

  Finally, Jose broke the silence. "You okay, Capitan?"

  "Yeah. Close call, Jose. I don't like it."

  "You think someone squealed?"

  "Damned if I know. I just hope no one saw us escape. They came in too damn fast. I'll talk to the boss tomorrow. See if timing can be controlled. Otherwise, we're goners."

  "Si, Capitan."

  Nick sighed heavily and ran a large hand roughly over his angular face. His finger lingered on the scar that ran along his cheek. Another close call. A few more inches and . . . "I'm tired, Jose. Tired of these late-night runs. Tired of the risks."

  "My wife, she is tired of it, too, Capitan." Jose chuckled nervously. "Every day she asks me if this is the last time."

  "When we have a night like this, when somebody else screws up and my life is at stake, I wonder if it's worth the risk involved. Of course, for you it's a greater risk. What is it, three kids?"

  Jose nodded. "Twins and a little girl."

  "Aw, hell. We're just tired tonight. Tomorrow it'll look different."

  "It's already tomorrow." Jose pointed to his watch.

  "Yep," Nick growled. "And I’m a day older."

  "Maybe you need a woman waiting in your bed at night, Capitan. She would rub your back. Keep you warm," he said as he moved to get out of the helicopter.

  "Hell, a woman wouldn't solve anything. She'd only create more problems!"

  Jose chuckled in the darkness.

  "What's up for tomorrow?" Nick asked.

  "Nothing."

  "Good. That's exactly what I want to do for the next three days. Nothing!"

  The next morning, Alex and Rosemary sat on the small back patio eating breakfast amidst the bougainvillea and fragrant gardenia bushes.

  "Sam's gone to play tennis. He has a couple of buddies he would love to beat." Rosemary smiled as she poured them more coffee.

  "I hope you didn't stay home because of m
e."

  "Not at all." Rosemary tucked her robe tighter before sitting. "Sometimes it's fun to be lazy. I wanted to stay and keep you company. Besides, he's beat me three Sundays in a row and I think it's time for him to work out with someone his own size and skill!"

  Alex smiled and reached for another pastry. "I can't believe I'm eating like this."

  "After yesterday, I'm sure you can afford a few extra calories. I'm sorry that Sam was so rough on you last night, Alex. He means well, it's just that he's so realistic!"

  "I understand, Rosemary. Maybe I needed someone to plant my feet solidly on the ground."

  "Leave it to Sam to do the planting." Rosemary rolled her eyes dramatically. "I don't think he understands how deeply you feel about Jenni, Alex."

  "Do you remember the night she was born?" Alex mused softly.

  "Oh, God, do I ever! We paced the living room of your house like a couple of prospective fathers. And when the midwife called for help, I knew I couldn't do it. I'm the one who faints when I prick my finger."

  Alex laughed gently. "I'd never done anything like that before. It was an experience I'll never forget. . . ."

  When Alex's voice trailed off, Rosemary picked up the memories. "The sound of that squeaky, little cry . . . what a feeling! It meant everything was all right."

  "I love her, Rosemary. And I won't give up until I find her," Alex vowed in a shaky voice.

  Rosemary hugged Alex quickly. "You are determined. And I admire you for it. I have every confidence that you'll find her. I just hope the University stays solvent long enough for you to do it."

  "What do you mean?"

  "You know the rumors about financial difficulties that have been floating around for months? Well, there was a private meeting Friday evening of several irate professors. There were complaints about budget cuts, lack of modern equipment, and salary freezes. They're going to present a petition to the president."

  "Is it serious, Rosemary?"

  "I'm afraid it's very serious. Of course, this university has been through upheavals before and weathered the storms. But lack of money is hard to argue."