Island of Bones(103)
The boat turned into the dock and the restaurant emerged from the mist. There were several figures standing in front of it —- the del Bosque men waiting in a line, the bodies of Carlos and Tomas laid at their feet. Louis spotted a third body, wrapped in a sheet. He knew it was Angela.
Louis counted five men and a smaller figure he knew was Roberto. There were no rifles raised.
Horton came up behind Louis. “That all of them?”
Louis nodded.
“They don’t look like they’re ready to defend anything,” Horton said.
Louis heard Horton giving commands to his men, telling them how he wanted the arrests handled. As the boat throttled down to dock, Louis picked Frank out of the group. His shoulder was wrapped and he was standing slightly in front of the other men.
The boat was secured and Horton’s men went up the dock, guns drawn. None of the del Bosque men moved until Frank put up his hands. The others did the same. The officers began handcuffing the men.
Louis followed Horton up to the yard.
“Where are the women?” Horton asked.
“I’m guessing they’re at the compound in the main house with the old lady,” Louis said.
Horton nodded. “I’ll send some men inland.”
“Al, let me take them in.”
“Why?”
“It’s hard to find your way around. The fog will make it even harder.”
“All right, but I’m going with you.”
Louis looked back at the patrol boat. He could just make out Landeta. He was just sitting there, staring into the darkness.
Horton followed Louis’s gaze. “He’s not getting off that boat,” he said. “He’s lucky I let him come back with us. What the hell were you thinking, Kincaid, taking a blind man out here with you?”
“He made the decision, Al.”
“It was a damn stupid one,” Horton said.
Horton led the way off the boat. The del Bosque men were now seated in the dirt, their hands cuffed behind them.
Louis’s gaze fell on Roberto. A uniformed officer had a hand on his shoulder, trying to talk to him, but Roberto’s dark eyes were locked on Louis. They glistened with a wild anger.
Louis looked away, meeting Frank’s gaze. Frank’s eyes were steady and calm.
“Is your mother at the house?” Louis asked him.
Frank nodded. “She’s very old,” he said. “She doesn’t understand what is happening.”
“We have no choice, Frank,” Louis said. “We have to arrest her.”
“Let me go with you,” Frank said.
“Frank —- ”
“Just let me talk to her. Please.”
Louis hesitated then went over to Horton. “Frank wants to see his mother before we take her,” he told him.
“Fat chance,” Horton said.
“Al, I think it might be a good idea to take him with us,” Louis said. “It might make things easier.”
“You told me they’re murdering babies and now you want to make it easier for the crazy old bag who let it happen?”
“No,” Louis said sharply. “Look, if she has anything to say about this, it isn’t going to be to us.”
Horton thought for a moment. “All right,” he said and motioned toward one of his men.
Frank was hoisted to his feet by an officer and they went to the fence. Louis went through, with Frank following, flanked by two officers, and Horton behind. They found the path to the compound and started uphill.
Louis led the way, his step sure, his breathing calm. It was still dark and the fog had settled near the bottom of the trees, making them look as if they were floating in air. Louis felt no fear as he walked now, just a sense of alertness. But he could see the jittery play of the officers’ flashlights. The stories, the rumors about the island, had already started to spread.
The lights of the house came into view and they stopped in the middle of the compound. The men were quiet.
“Jesus,” Horton said softly, running his flashlight over the cabins. “They got toilets in those?”
“It’s not as bad as it looks,” Louis said.
Horton shook his head. “Well, let’s go get the old lady.”
They went in the front door and into a long, dim hallway. There was a staircase and a closed door to the right. The door opposite was open and the light was coming from a room that looked like a small parlor.
Horton motioned one of the officers to search. The other officer kept a firm grip on Frank as Louis led them into the parlor. It opened onto a larger room, the one Louis had seen from the window.
Ana del Bosque was sitting in a large wooden chair in front of the stone fireplace. A single lantern sat on the table next to her. She was dressed in black, a lace shawl covering her shoulders, her white hair pulled back from her thin face. She sat straight-backed, her eyes fixed on the door. She didn’t blink when Louis came in. Her hands were folded over a large book sitting closed on her knees.