Free Hide Away by Iris Johansen Page B

The only reason I’m giving you that much is because I remember how Castino and his wife treated those two children before Salazar kidnapped them. They were cared for by nurses, and I had reports they rarely saw them. Castino’s wife, Natalie, would trot out the older girl, Jenny, to play the piano at her parties. But other than that, they scarcely had anything to do with them. Natalie was only interested in her parties and shopping. Castino never wanted to admit that anything he owned wasn’t the best even though he wanted a son.”
    â€œYou know a lot about them.”
    â€œI know a lot about all of the cartel bosses down here. That’s why I’m on the hit list of practically every one of them. It’s not only that I wish to break their power, it’s sheer self-preservation. Get a plan together. One week.” He hung up.
    Succinct and to the point, Joe thought as he shoved his phone into his pocket. Manez would do exactly as he said he’d do. He was a good cop, and he’d do the best job he could to protect his people. He had no problem with that, he’d do the same under like circumstances. But it left him less time than he’d hoped to keep Immigration away from Cara.
    Get a plan together.
    And he would. He just had to line up the enemy and see how to take them down.
    In one week.
    Not impossible, just difficult. And he had to make sure there was no threat to Eve or Cara.
    And no smiling tarantula hovering around them to take his bite.
    Well, he was almost sure the tarantula wasn’t on the move here and now. There was no way of being certain, but that was what instinct was all about. Joe had checked the cars, boats, exterior of the house. If Franco was on the property, he was keeping a safe distance and only observing. There was no telling about tomorrow but tonight was—
    Music.
    He stopped on the trail, his gaze on the lights of the cottage just ahead.
    Exquisite, diamond-sharp, velvet-soft. Intricate and complex and yet simple enough to stop the heart. The music wasn’t being played, it was being newly created with every note.
    â€œMy God,” he murmured.
    He stood there and let the music flow over him. The composition was familiar, but he wasn’t sure what it was. He didn’t care. It was enough that it existed. It was enough that the little girl who was playing it existed.
    Oh, Cara, what the hell have Eve and I brought into our lives?
    *   *   *
    Eve was in bed but not asleep when Joe came into their bedroom. Cara was still playing in the living room but they could hear it only faintly back here in the bedroom. “I was beginning to worry.”
    â€œI stayed outside for a while listening. I didn’t want to disturb— No, that’s not true. I just wanted it to go on.” He started to take off his shirt. “Is she as brilliant as I think she is?”
    â€œYes, I don’t know about brilliant, but if that’s the ability to tear the heartstrings, I think that’s Cara. I finally came back here to the bedroom because I thought she might want to be alone with it. She’s intensely personal with her music.”
    â€œIsn’t that the way it is with any artist?”
    â€œI don’t know. But I’ve been lying here thinking about her sister, Jenny. She loved her music, too. I wish I could have heard her play the piano.”
    â€œI was talking to Manez, and he was saying that Jenny’s mother always made her perform to entertain her guests. Jenny must have been a prodigy as talented as Cara.” He’d finished undressing and got into bed and pulled her close. “And I’m sure Cara would be designated the same role if she was sent back to Castino.”
    â€œNo!”
    â€œJust a comment. It’s something we have to face.”
    â€œNo, we don’t. Not if she doesn’t go back.”
    â€œI thought that was the way you were