Page 77 of Bad Rio

The system he’d brilliantly set up using De Monte’s shop as a shipping hub was making them a lot of money, keeping the campaign machine running on the mother’s milk of cold hard cash.

So long as he didn’t have to personally see it happen, Daniel De Monte had agreed to it all, and Harrison enjoyed exploiting the other’s overweening need for political influence.

For a moment, he indulged in thinking about that. Having a sitting senator deeply beholden to him, and one so cozy with the President himself—nowthatwas influence and authority. At the prospect of such a marvelous outcome, Harrison smiled. Finally, he’d be the one pulling the levers of power in Washington. He’d waited and schemed a long time and the opportunity was ripe. No one could stop him now.

He picked up the phone.

“Our trucks,” Tim said on the other end, “are being stopped, at least half of them, damn it! The authorities are confiscating the goods and setting the girls free. What the hell’s going on?”

“Calm down, Tim,” Harrison said, lighting a cigarette. He didn’t care if Tim took the fall, because if the worst happened and the operation blew up, he planned to take the money and just disappear. Perhaps to Rio de Janeiro. The idea made him smile again. Rio would have a good laugh at that one, not that he’d ever get to know. “So what if the police grab a couple trucks? Others will get through. At this point the authorities don’t know about the warehouse. The drivers won’t talk, not even if they’re convicted. They’re too well paid, and they know a wad of cash waits for them when they get out. If they talk, they’ll get a bullet. Trust me, they know that, too. Just keep doing what you’re doing.”

“Rebecca hasn’t come back from wherever she went,” Tim said. “Her brothers don’t know where she is. Tell me you didn’t have the cartel snatch her again. You said she wouldn’t be hurt.”

“Haven’t touched her. She must have run away for a while, scared. Can’t blame her. I’m sure she’s fine.”

“Yeah, well if she’s with that boyfriend of hers then I’ll worry. He’s a mean sonofabitch. He really roughed me up. Think he broke my nose.”

“Don’t worry about him,” Harrison said smoothly, hiding his disgust at the whining. Tim was weak, and he wasn’t too bright, either. “He’ll be out of the picture soon,” he assured the other man. “Just keep those deliveries rolling, hear me?” Fondly, he fingered the grips of his Beretta. “Everything’s working out great.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

For three days, Rioand Becca waited for word. Sarah was unfailingly kind, and took Becca on more horseback rides. She was quick, funny, and tough. Becca liked her.

At night, she slept warm and snug in Rio’s arms, his big body curved around hers. It felt right. And it felt good. Becca never wanted her time with him to end. She couldn’t bear to face the day when he might wish to part from her. So, she didn’t think about it. When those thoughts arose, she pushed them firmly aside.

On their fourth afternoon, she and Rio sat together on the screened porch, enjoying a cool glass of white wine. Sarah was busy with chores and Jim had gone to town for a tractor part. Beyond the porch, the alfalfa fields gave way to the towering mountain range. Two blue jays winged past.

Rio held Becca’s hand, their fingers linked. He smiled at her.

“Sarah shared with me how you two came to have a home here with Big Jim,” she said. “I hope you don’t mind.”

His smile didn’t falter. “I don’t mind.”

His easygoing attitude encouraged her. “Well, I’m curious. Do you ever wonder about your mother and your true father?”

“Big Jimismy true father.” His smile abruptly faded.

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