"I know. But I want to see the shed."

He shook his head with exasperation but started around the side of the house. "Come on, see for yourself. And it's not a good idea for you to occupy the balcony room. You're too accessible."

"I didn't choose it because I thought it was romantic. If someone can climb in, I can climb out if I have to. It's always better to have an escape route. Don't worry, I'll know if someone tries to come in that way. I'm a very light sleeper."

"I don't doubt it." He opened the door of the fermenting shed. "Here we are. As you can see, it's empty. Satisfied?"

The sweet-sour smell of wine and wood assaulted her as she stepped into the shed. "Not yet." The room was large, and three wooden vats at least twenty feet high and ten feet wide lined each side of the room. The broken ruin of a catwalk ran over each line of vats. No access there. "Will you have a couple of your men get a ladder and check inside each of those vats?"

"I was going to do that."

"And then get rid of the ladder."

"Right."

"Thanks." She went down the row and looked in back of each of the six vats. "Now I'm satisfied." She came toward him. "Tell me about those DEA men who came with us."

"Bill Carbonari's been an agent for ten years. He has two commendations. Jim Stokes has worked with me for three years on various assignments. Mike Wilder served at the Mexican border for five years and was with Immigration before he became an agent. Randy Donahue has been with the agency for only two years, but he's sharp. Very sharp."

"I want you to introduce me to them. I want to know their faces and the way they move so well I'll be able to tell who they are in the dark."

"Why?"

She stared at him in surprise. "Why do you think? So I don't shoot the wrong man."

"Our job is to protect you. You're not going to have to shoot anyone."

"I want a gun. Galen never gave me mine back."

"Are you sure you-"

"I want a gun."

He nodded. "Okay, I'll have one for you by this evening."

"Thank you." She started for the house. "Now let's go meet your DEA friends."

"It's a television set, Mama." Barry's eyes were shining with excitement. "And there are cartoons and Bugs Bunny and a big yellow bird and-"

"Hold it." She held up her hand. "You found all of those in the first thirty minutes you were here?"

"Dominic gave me a remote." He held up the device proudly. "It's magic." He ran back across the room to sit cross-legged before the set. "You just press this button and you can find anything."

"Oh, dear." She smiled at Dominic. "You've created a monster. He'll never pick up a book again."

"It's only the novelty. When was the first time you saw a television set, Elena?"

"When I was nine. My father went to Bogot  to raise money for arms and we stayed for six months. It was interesting. There were so many things I'd never done. I'd never been to the movies or seen a circus or been to the zoo." She frowned, troubled. "And I've cheated Barry out of doing any of those things."

"He'll catch up."

"I should have found a way to leave before this."

"He's smart and happy and he's learned to use his imagination. Not many kids are that blessed in this technological age. So stop thinking you're a bad mother. You did what you had to do to keep him safe."

"You're supposed to work to give your children a better life than you've had yourself. I haven't done such a good job so far." She straightened her shoulders. "But that's going to change. I've got a chance now." She turned toward the door. "I'm going down to the kitchen to see what I can find to cook for supper. Do you think we can pry him away?"

"We'll do it. Want me to help with the meal?"

"No, I want one of us to be with Barry at all times from now on."

"You don't trust Forbes."

"I trust him. He just hasn't had the same experience as I've had. I've seen how Chavez can corrupt and change people. People you'd never expect to betray you." She could feel the bitterness surge through her. Don't think about it. It's in the past. All she could do was learn from the experience. "Barry will sleep in my room and we'll take turns being with him during the day. Okay?"

Dominic nodded. "As long as he doesn't make me watch those obnoxious Teletubby creatures. Otherwise, you're on your own."

She was smiling as she left the room and started down the tile staircase. Teletubby? What on earth was a Teletubby?

Eight miles.

Chavez could feel the burn as he ran down the path and then started up the steep hill toward the huge house the villagers called a palace. This was the best part of the run, the hardest, the most challenging. It was during these last yards that he knew the pleasure of triumph, the realization that he'd conquered every trace of weakness.

He could see Gomez waiting at the end of the driveway. He didn't stop, forcing Gomez to fall into step with him.

"It was definitely Forbes. A solo mission. No one in the agency knew anything about it until the woman was in the United States."

"Where in the United States?"

"I haven't been able to find out yet." Gomez was already getting short of breath. "Somewhere on the West Coast."

"If you've found out that much, then you can get me the rest. He wasn't alone. What did you learn about the helicopter?"

"It was rented by a mercenary, Ian Carmichael."

"And who hired him? Forbes?"

"Not likely. He's expensive."

"Then bring him in and find out."

"He seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth."

"Locate him. I want to know who else was involved." He had reached the outbuilding that contained his gym, and he stopped and allowed himself a deep breath. "It's been a week, Gomez. You haven't been efficient." He smiled. "And I think you're getting soft. Look at you huffing and puffing. Why don't you join me on the mats this morning?"

Gomez's eyes widened and he took a step back. "I have to get back to Bogot . I've a lead on someone in the DEA's West Coast office who might know something."

"Then by all means hurry back to the city." He opened the door of the gym. "I'll have to make do with a young man I found among the paramilitary group." He gestured to the dark-skinned, beefy man who was sitting on a bench by the weight-training machine. "He's very strong and said to be good with weapons. What do you think, Gomez? Can he take me?"

"No."

"I don't believe he can either." He could feel the excitement tingle through him as he walked toward the man who was looking at him with eagerness. He liked that attitude. It boded well for the battle. "But he may make the morning interesting."

"Chavez has gone back to his place in the hills," Jose Manero said. "It's business as usual with him."

"He didn't come to the U.S.?" Galen asked. "You're sure?"

"Gomez has been the only one stirring. He's been to Bogot  four times in the last three weeks, and he's asking questions."

"But is he getting answers?"

"Maybe. I haven't been able to track him for the last day or two."

Galen stiffened. "Could he have left the country?"