Ghost Sniper

56

Crosswhite had returned to Mexico City early in the morning, leaving Vaught to keep an eye on Ortega’s family. Nancy and Paolina were getting along well, and the children were having fun playing with the puppy, which Valencia had named Chance at Crosswhite’s urging. Paolina remained unaware that Nancy and the kids were there under false pretenses.

Vaught didn’t like being cooped up in the house. He wanted to be at the police station with the men. Things were too quiet around town for his comfort, and he was already bored playing babysitter. Not to mention he still felt like a shitheel using a woman and two children as pawns in a war that was partially of his making. Mendoza and his family were already dead. How many more innocent lives would it take to bring down Serrano and the gringo sniper? There had to be a limit. But then again, that was what men like Serrano counted on: people being afraid to risk innocent lives.

“Breakfast?” Paolina asked from the kitchen doorway, much nicer to him now.

“Yes, please.”

Ortega’s son brought over the puppy and placed it in Vaught’s lap, saying in English, “You have the same name, so you have a dog’s name!”

Vaught chuckled, scratching the pup’s ears. “Sounds that way, doesn’t it?”

Nancy brought him a plate of eggs and refried beans. “How soon will you hear from Dan?”

“I’m not sure.” He handed the puppy back to the boy and accepted the plate, noting the worry on her face. “I’ve got a good feeling though, Nancy. I think he’ll have good news when he calls.”

She looked away, blinking her eyes to prevent them from tearing up. “I hope so. Corrupt police scare me more than anything. They’re twice as dangerous as regular criminals.”

“That’s true, but they’re also twice as vulnerable.”

She returned to the kitchen.

Paolina brought her own plate into the living room and sat down in the chair beside Vaught, checking to make sure Nancy wasn’t paying attention. “Daniel took his pistol with him. He doesn’t usually do that. What’s going on?”

“Mexico City is a dangerous place to be right now. There’s a lot of civil unrest, and he’s a gringo.”

Paolina moved her food around on her plate with her fork. “Is there any chance she’ll get her husband back?”

He glanced toward the kitchen. “Normally, I’d say probably not, but under the circumstances, I think the chances are pretty good.”

“What’s different about these circumstances?”

“Dan is different. He’s on top of it.”

She looked at him, her pretty young face appearing more adult than usual. “Is he in danger this morning? I want the truth.”

“Aside from the chaos in Mexico City, he shouldn’t be in any danger.”

He was pushing a piece of tortilla around his plate to mop up the last of the egg yolk when he heard what sounded like a distant clap of thunder. He jerked his head toward the door. “That was a fifty!”