Page 50 of Safeguarding the Witness

The undercover agent stared through the computer, and then he nodded approvingly. “Good golly, Miss Mollie. You look exactly like Princesa.”

“Thanks.” Rather than commenting on the obvious fact that identical twins look alike, she jumped in with a question. “What happened on the day you took the video of Julio’s yacht?”

“I wasn’t planning to do surveillance,” he said. “Like everybody else, I was on the shore, watching while Julio cruised past. I liked the boat, and wanted a photo in case, someday, I could afford such a luxury. Many who worked for Peligro were jealous of Julio. He had money and a pretty girlfriend, and he hadn’t been arrested with the other high-ranking cartel members. His uncle and stepbrother were in prison. Not Julio. He was fancy-free.”

“Why do you think he got away with his crimes?” she asked.

“Not because he was smart,” Kiki said. “Madison was the brains in that couple. Most women don’t have a say in cartel business. Sorry to offend, Miss Mollie, but it’s true.”

She didn’t show her irritation, but Spence felt it when she elbowed him in the ribs. “I’m sure it’s true. Very macho.”

“I was born in Mexico.”

Kiki’s statement surprised Spence. Undercover agents aren’t usually open and don’t share personal information. Kiki didn’t have a trace of an accent.

“Please continue,” Mollie said.

“Madison—la Princesa—had a head for numbers. She managed Peligro finances for Julio, building his profit.” He adjusted the mask across his nose. “When the yacht exploded, I wasn’t surprised. I figured somebody was getting even with Julio and his lady.”

Spence asked, “Did you have suspects?”

“I turned all my suspicions over to the FBI, and they sorted it out with the other feds. ATF was most interested. Julio was suspected of dealing in exotic firearms. And his skills with explosives were legendary.”

“Do you believe the explosion on the yacht was rigged?” Mollie asked.

“Had to be. I think Julio, your sister and the crew abandoned that beautiful boat using scuba gear and detonated the charges from a distance. A clean escape. After the smoke had cleared, they were gone. Disappeared.”

“How long before they surfaced?” she asked.

“I wasn’t part of that investigation,” Kiki said. “After two more years, Peligro Cartel was no longer considered a priority. I moved on.”

Spence was curious about this guy who floated undercover at the edge of danger. Must be a lonely life without ties to family or friends. Hiding his identity meant he lied to virtually everyone he met. Not unlike Mollie’s experience in WITSEC.

She craned her neck forward as if she could get closer to Kiki through the screen of the laptop. “What else can you tell me about Julio and my sister?”

“At first, the FBI believed they were dead. After about a year, rumors hinted that they had assumed different identities and set up a new lifestyle near Mexico City.”

“Why weren’t my dad and I informed that my sister might be alive?”

“It was an on-going investigation. We don’t pass on every bit of information to witnesses and survivors. It seemed like they were using money accumulated from the cartel’s drug trade but didn’t go back into the drug market. They were making a fresh start.”

“We heard that Madison was buying and selling property.”

“That’s right,” Kiki said. “She had the advantage of coming across as a wealthy American. At the same time, she and Julio projected an image of Latino royalty. Very smart.”

“And how did Julio keep himself busy while my sister was building her empire?”

Behind his mask, Kiki chuckled. “You not only look like her, but you’ve got the same wicked sense of humor.”

“Tell us about her empire,” Mollie said, digging for any sort of clue. “We heard she has an employee named Raquel Diaz.”

“Another smart, beautiful woman,” Kiki said. “Julio and Raquel are having an affair.”

“Not possible.” Mollie shook her head. “My sister would never sit by and watch while her boyfriend was playing around.”

“It’s a rumor. From what I heard, they were on the brink of a very messy breakup. She’s smart. I hear that much of the money is in her name, and Julio doesn’t want to give up his extravagant lifestyle.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “I also heard that Raquel is pregnant.”

“One last question,” Spence said. “Is it safe for Mollie to come out of hiding?”