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Island of Bones(96)

By:P. J. Parrish


A milk carton. He grabbed it, shut the refrigerator, and went back to the bedroom.

“Here,” he said, thrusting it at Landeta.

Landeta took the carton. “What do you want me to do with this?”

“Give it to the baby.”

“With what, goddamn it?”

“Can’t you figure out some kind of nipple or something?”

“The only nipples I got won’t work.”

The baby’s cries grew louder. Louis walked a tight quick circle then went back to the kitchen. No way was he going to chance opening the refrigerator again. He quickly searched the cabinets, but saw nothing they could use.

He suddenly realized the baby was quiet and he hurried back to the bedroom. He let out a breath when he saw the baby squirming in Landeta’s arms. Landeta had the milk carton wedged between his knees, its top ripped open. Louis watched as Landeta dipped his finger into the carton and then gently put it up to the baby’s mouth. The baby was sucking eagerly.

Landeta looked up. “Don’t say it,” he said quietly. “Don’t even think it.”

Louis’s anger broke into a low laugh.

Landeta adjusted the baby in his arm. “I heard that,” he said. “I heard you laugh. So I guess this means you’re not pissed at me anymore?”

Louis had been pissed. At Landeta’s need to come here, to somehow prove he was still the cop he used to be? At his clumsiness, his neediness, shit...his blindness?

No. He was mad at himself. For getting sucked into this in the first place. For not thinking this through. For not knowing about the tides, babies, and...

He turned and walked out of the room. He went to the kitchen, turned on the faucet, and splashed his face. It stung the cuts and bites but helped him clear his head. He saw a towel, grabbed it and soaked it with water.

He went back to the bedroom and held the wet towel out to Landeta. “I’m not pissed at you,” he said. “I’m pissed at myself.”

“You made a decision when you got in that boat tonight,” Landeta said. “Just like Rafael did when he turned out that lantern.”

“You know you winged him,” Louis said.

Landeta took the towel and wiped his face. “But he’s alive?”

“Yeah, I just saw him. He was with the others.”

“How many men do you think there are?”

“There are seven cabins. I’m guessing only the seven men I saw.”

“Any ideas?” Landeta asked.

“I don’t know. There is no phone in here and I’m not taking any chances on getting caught inside that house.”

Landeta threw up a hand, silencing him. He pointed to the doorway. Louis drew his gun and slid up behind the door.

The floorboards creaked. A small figure stopped in the doorway.

Louis lowered the gun to his side. “How long have you been there, Roberto?”

The boy looked back at Louis. “I was asleep,” he said softly. He was looking at Louis’s gun.

“I remember you,” Roberto said. “You came here for lunch yesterday.”

Roberto looked at Landeta and the baby. He went slowly over to them and peered down. “Is that a baby?” he asked.

“Yes,” Louis said.

The boy was quiet, staring at the baby. Landeta pulled the blanket off the bed and wrapped the baby in it. He was looking at Roberto, who was still staring down at the baby.

“Louis?”

When Louis looked up, Landeta nodded toward the boy. “Hostage?” he asked quietly.

Louis ran a sleeve over his sweaty face and let out a tired breath.

“We don’t have much choice,” Landeta said. “We give him up as soon as we get a boat. And no one gets hurt.”

Louis stared at the boy. It was dangerous and illegal. But hell, they had crossed that line hours ago. And Landeta was right -- they were out of options.

“All right,” Louis said quietly. “Now we just have to get to the restaurant.”

“I know how to get there,” Roberto said. “There’s a path from here to there. But I know a secret way.”

Louis glanced at Landeta then turned to face Roberto. “A secret way?”

“Yeah, I take the secret way when I’m late and don’t want my father to see me sneaking in.”

“Your father doesn’t know your secret way?” Louis asked.

Roberto shook his head, still staring at the baby. “No one knows it but me.”

“Roberto, can you show us your secret way?”

He looked up at Louis. “I don’t know. If I take you that way you can’t tell, okay?”

“Scout’s honor,” Louis said, crossing his chest.

“Scout’s what?” Roberto asked.

“Nothing.” Louis paused. “Roberto, do you know how to play hide-and-seek?”