Free Under Fire by Rita Henuber Page A

isn’t much time.”
    “You put that napkin in my purse.”
    He gave her a cold stare. “Yes.”
    “What did it say?”
    “Silva.”
    “Why did you give me Silva’s name?”
    He made no response.
    “Answer my question or I’ll make the call and we aren’t going anyplace.”
    Rico sighed. “To scare you. Stop you from asking questions. It was a good bet you’d research the name. When you found he’s linked to the largest drug syndicate in the world you’d stop.”
    Olivia was dizzy with excitement. Finally, she was getting close.
    “Why did you try to scare me off?”
    “Lady, you were messing with my investigation. Why were you nosing around to begin with?” His tone left no doubt he was pissed and he leaned toward her the way men do when they think they can intimidate.
    “I want to put Silva in jail.”
    “Why?”
    “Answer my question and I’ll answer yours,” she retorted. Angry tension filled the air.
    “Get me to Miami. I’ll tell you everything you want to know when we’re there.”
    “Resorting to bribery now?”
    “Yes.”
    DEA or drug runner, he knew things and could answer her questions. She was going with him—there wasn’t another option. Stay or go, her career could be destroyed. Maybe it already was. It didn’t matter. All that mattered was getting Danny’s killer. For the first time she felt it was going to happen. She tossed the cell onto the counter and lowered the gun to her side.
    “What do you want me to do?”

    Rico pinched his eyes closed and let out a loud breath. He’d convinced her.
    “First, put the gun away.”
    “The gun stays until I’m sure I can trust you.”
    Shit. Her with that gun worried him. Pointing it at him her hand had been rock steady. No doubt she would use it.
    “Did you tell anyone you knew me?” she asked.
    “No.”
    “What else?”
    “Give me your cell.” He stuck his hand out.
    Silently she handed it over, and he popped off the backing.
    “What are you doing?”
    “Removing the SIM card and battery. With these out your position can’t be triangulated. As soon as they go back in you can be located.” He handed her the pieces. “You want your location known and can’t risk making a call—put it together.” Rico watched her gnaw her lower lip. “You understand they will use that to find you sooner or later?”
    She nodded.
    “Do it anytime you don’t feel safe.” Was he getting through to her? “Understand?”
    “I’m not a child. I understand you’re telling me this so I’ll trust you.”
    “How’s it working?”
    “The threat level dropped from severe to high.”
    “How do I get it to low?”
    “Like the government, my threat level never goes below elevated. What else do you want me to do?”
    “You have any clothes I can wear?”
    “My brother Sammy’s things, shorts and a few shirts.”
    “Good. Get ’em. You’ll have to help me change.”
    She gave him a withering look.
    “Commander, I was hurting when I came here. You beat the crap outta me.” He shrugged and managed a grin. “It hurts to breathe.”
    She didn’t move.
    “Get the clothes and anything you’ll need.”
    She turned and ran down the hall.
    “You got anything back there for pain?”
    “Yeah.”
    That was a relief. The shot they’d given him in the ER wore off hours ago. “What’s taking you so long?”
    “I’m grabbing everything I can think of.”
    “Stop. We need to be gone ten minutes ago.”
    She appeared wearing shorts, a T-shirt and deck shoes and carrying a black duffel and clothes. Looking at her took his breath away. No. He shook his head to clear it. Not her, the pain.
    “Can you take Demerol?”
    “Yeah.” Right now he’d take animal meds.
    “Here.” She jammed two white pills in his hand. Without waiting for water, he downed them.
    “Go easy getting me out of these scrubs. I’m pretty sore.”
    Opening the drawer beside her, she brought out scissors. “Stand still.”
    In seconds the scrubs were on the floor in