Page 24 of The Guardian

“So, my turn,” she said.

I knew I wouldn’t be letting go of that subject yet as I raised my chin and said, “Go ahead.”

“Why did you move from New Orleans?”

I paused.

“Oh, it is that bad, eh?” she pushed. “Don’t forfeit on me now.” She grinned.

I leaned in and told her the bald-faced truth, “I made a very bad man, very angry.”

Her eyes rounded.

I gave her a nod and poured her a glass of wine from the bottle sitting by our plates then gave it to her. “Take a sip. Cause the next one will be a doozy.”

She stared at me and did just that. Took a sip or two. Setting the glass down she said, “Go ahead.”

“What were you looking for in Catemaco?”

She opened her mouth to answer.

“Her family.”

We halted and gazed up.

My brother Michael stepped between our chairs and added quietly, “She was looking for her sister and her parents.”

Maya dropped her gaze down to stare at her empty plate.

I looked up at him then at her.

She let out a sigh. “They disappeared while on vacation.”

“In Mexico?” I asked.

She nodded. “I know the police and Interpol thought it was kidnapping or they were robbed and…murdered. But I found evidence that it might have been for another reason entirely.”

“And did you take this reason to the authorities?” Michael asked her.

She glared at him. “They refused to listen. The Policía in Mexico are crooked and Interpol refused to help at all.”

“Can you tell us the reason?” I asked her.

She shook her head. “I don’t want to play this game anymore.”

I looked up at Michael.

He immediately knew I wanted him to leave. Michael had always been a genius and he did just that…he walked away.

I leaned in and took Maya’s hand. “We aren’t playing that game anymore. I want to help you.”

Raising her head she looked into my eyes. “But why would you do that?”

“Maybe because you are just about the nicest person I have ever met. Because what you did for those kids did make you an angel to me. And because I happen to know the best tracker in the world.”

She stared at me and asked, “Mr. Rainmaker?”

I nodded.