Free Unlimited by Davis Bunn

surprised at herself. She seldom spoke of these issues, even with Pedro. She had not even told Enrique. Why would she reveal such secrets to this man?
    “You loved it and you hated it,” he said softly, his gaze distant. “You wanted it and you wanted nothing more than to get away.”
    She felt the exact same sense of conflict now. She was thrilled by his ability to understand, to connect. And yet repelled by him and the risk he represented. And still she continued, “For the first time in my life, I saw beyond this place and yearned for a different future. What precisely, I had no idea. If I had been certain about what I wanted, Harold would not have pressed me. And when I was younger, I had told him I would run the orphanage. Harold did not realize I was changing. Or perhaps he did but assumed it was just a teenage phase. In the end, I ran away. A missionary couple I had known for years helped me obtain a scholarship to the university in El Paso. I studied biology and pharmacology on a church scholarship.”
    He was watching her intently now. “Why did you come back?”
    “This is my home. I never wanted to leave permanently. I just wanted to live here on my terms.” She pointed to the little girl who now held Harold’s hand. “I wanted to help other little girls hope and dream and grow up safely.”
    Simon nodded slowly. “I don’t want to do anything to harm these kids, Sofia.”
    “Then you must leave. Now. Today. Forget what Harold said about this big dream of yours. This apparatus. Go back to el norte and finish it there.”
    Simon’s voice grew sadder still. “I didn’t come to Ojinaga to complete this device. Not really.”
    “Then why else did you—?” Her question was cut off by the sound of an all-too-familiar siren. “Wait here.”

Chapter 10

    As the dark SUV pulled up by the front gates, Simon felt a faint rush of fear. Other than the siren and the flashing red light attached to the roof beside the driver’s window, it could have belonged to the hunter. Then the passenger door opened, and a smiling Enrique stepped into view.
    He entered the orphanage like he owned the place.
    The kids pretty much erupted from their hiding places. They scampered over and danced around him. Enrique smiled and he talked, and the kids answered with a single unified shout. He accepted a plastic bag from his driver and started doling out handfuls of hard candy. The kids shrieked and laughed and raced about, their hands full of sweets.
    The mayor of Ojinaga was every inch a winner. He wore a starched long-sleeve shirt, white with broad chalk-blue stripes that matched his silk tie. His suit pants were a rich tan. His tasseled loafers defied the dust. Simon imagined the man had them polished twice a day.
    Simon realized he did not like the mayor. Enrique had done nothing to justify such feelings. But his gut said this guy was too used to having it all. And Sofia was part of that plan.
    At Sofia’s approach, Enrique separated himself from the kids so he could give her a kiss. The children shrieked with laughter. Simon had the distinct impression that Sofia merely endured his attentions. When she was free, she pointed to Simon, then started over to where the little girl stood with Harold and Agent Martinez.
    Juan skipped over to stand beside Simon. “That is Mayor Morales.”
    Simon watched Sofia take the little girl’s hand and lead her into the dormitory. “We’ve met.”
    “He lets me call him Enrique. He is a very good man.”
    Enrique started toward Simon, then changed course when the agent approached and saluted him. Simon said, “Sure is a popular guy.”
    “Enrique is running for governor of Chihuahua. He will win. He must. He has stood up to the drug cartels here in Ojinaga. He has arrested many of their men.”
    Then from the girl’s dormitory there came a soft wail.
    Instantly the kids went silent. Many children slipped into the shadows. Harold crossed the courtyard and entered the dorm. From inside