Protector(85)

From the long pause that ensued, Caitlin guessed Miguel wasn’t picking up, for whatever reason. And that speculation proved to be correct, because Alex said, “Hey, Miguel, I’m checking in. Caitlin and I got something you might be able to use. I need you to check on this box and see if there’s a real address attached to it.” For just a second, he pulled the phone away from his ear and went to his notepad, then read off the information for the rented mailbox. After that, he transferred the phone to his other ear and added, “Can you call me and let me know you got this? We’re on our way back to Tucson, but it’s probably going to be close to seven by the time we get there. Thanks.” He ended the call and set the phone down on the dashboard, presumably so he could reach it easily if and when Miguel got back to him.

“No answer, huh?”

A shake of the head. “No. He might be with a client and has the sound turned off on his phone. But I know he’ll get back to me when he can. I just have to hope that it’ll be before we get out into the open desert. God knows if I’ll get any cell reception out there.”

That didn’t sound very good. She was about to ask if he’d ever driven this way before, then remembered this was his first trip to California, just as it had been hers. Not that they’d gotten to see very much of it. But although Simón Santiago had done his best to thwart their efforts, they’d still come away with one valuable piece of information. That was something.

She yawned, feeling something of the anticlimax hitting her after meeting Olivia, and Alex sent a quick glance in her direction. “Tired?”

“A little. I didn’t get as much sleep last night as I probably should have.”

“Sorry about that.”

“I’m not.”

The smile he flashed her then was so brilliant that she could practically feel herself reviving in its warmth, like a sunflower lifting its head to the life-sustaining rays of the sun. But as good as it felt, it wasn’t quite enough to keep her from yawning again.

“Maybe we should stop in El Centro or Yuma or someplace, get you something to eat.”

“I’m fine,” Caitlin protested. “I’d rather just keep going.”

“Is that a feeling, or just personal preference?”

She paused to think about it for a few seconds. “A little of both, maybe.” On the way to Temecula, Alex had had to stop to fill up the Pathfinder, and he’d bought them some bottled water at the attached convenience store. The water would be enough to keep her going. She really didn’t feel hungry, even though breakfast was hours and hours ago now. Something was telling her that they needed to get back to Arizona as quickly as they could, and stopping for even fast food didn’t fit into that plan.

“Okay,” he said. “And then when we get back to Tucson, I’ll take you to the restaurant that invented the chimichanga. I have a feeling by then you’ll be hungry.”

“It’s a deal,” she replied. “I’ve never had a chimichanga.”

“Then that’s definitely where we’re going.” He was still smiling, but his expression turned serious as he added, “I think this time we’re really going to catch him.”

“I hope so.” For whatever reason, the same sixth sense that was telling her they needed to get to Tucson ASAP was remaining quiet on the subject of Matías’ eventual capture. It could be that conclusion was a given, now that they had a solid lead, but Caitlin wasn’t so sure. The warlock was a ghost, elusive as quicksilver.

Alex nodded, then took his phone out of his pocket and set it in a little depression in the dash, one that seemed to have been designed to hold a cell phone. Maybe he hoped it would get better reception there, rather than buried in his pocket.

But there was no return call from Miguel, and as the miles slipped past, Caitlin could feel weariness taking hold. She reclined her seat to get more comfortable, and Alex turned down the volume on the radio slightly, as if he could tell she wanted to rest. That would probably be best. Just an hour or so of sleep while they cruised through the most barren parts of the desert. Then she’d be rested up when they got to Tucson, and they could figure out where to go from there. With any luck, Miguel would have gotten back to Alex by then, and they’d have a plan of action. Some way of catching up with Matías, who might as well be in the witness protection program for all the luck they’d had tracking him down so far.

Her eyelids slipped closed, and for a while it was just blissful darkness, the quiet of sleep. But then she heard voices, and although everything was still dark, she thought she knew who was speaking.