"How?"

"It doesn't matter. All that should concern you is that he'll follow him to the United States. I've got something that he can't get anywhere else."

"We only have your word for that," Galen said.

"What can you lose? You wouldn't be here if you hadn't intended to make a deal with me, Forbes. Take us to the United States, give us protection, and then wait and see. Chavez will come."

"Maybe."

"Wait." Forbes frowned thoughtfully. "It makes sense that Chavez would want a son and heir, and he has an extraordinarily macho reputation. There may be something in what she says. If it's the truth."

"He'll come," Elena repeated.

"And what do you want out of this?"

"Protection. United States citizenship and enough money to keep us comfortable until I learn a trade to support us."

"You could always join the Marines," Galen suggested. "Or teach at a karate school."

She ignored him. "I'm not asking much. If you handle it right, you could capture him. That's what you want, isn't it?"

Forbes nodded. "That's what I want."

"Then take us with you."

"I'll have to think about it," Forbes answered.

"Think fast. Chavez isn't going to give you much time."

"Elena." Dominic was standing in the doorway. "Come in and eat a sandwich and get a cup of coffee."

"Coming." She turned, then started back. "Before I have anything to eat, I have to go and wash up and change. As Barry said, I smell. Don't you upset Dominic. He's very sensitive to vibes and he's getting concerned about me."

"Misguided soul," Galen murmured as he followed her into the house. "And a little confused about his calling. Is he a priest or isn't he?"

"He says he's not. He doesn't want me to call him Father, but that's how I first knew him. I can't seem to think of him in any other way." She gave Galen a cold glance. "He's the kindest, gentlest man on this earth, and you will not hurt him in any way. Do you understand?"

Galen smiled. "Perfectly. I'll try to restrain my innate brutality. I'm sure you'll tell me if I offend."

"You can bet on it."

Dominic was a man in his late forties with graying hair and the brightest, most alert blue eyes Galen had ever seen. He was dressed in fatigues and army boots, and his conversation was as wide-ranging as it was witty. He was obviously well educated, and Galen could believe he was a teacher. However, he was like no priest Galen had ever met, he decided after being with Dominic for the next forty-five minutes.

"You're confused." Dominic smiled. "You've been studying me like a bug under a microscope and you don't like not being able to identify the species."

"I'm curious. It's the bane of my existence. But I've been told I'm not to offend you on threat of God knows what."

He sighed. "Elena. She's a little overprotective."

"Are you really a priest?" Forbes asked.

"I was when I was a younger man. I may still be considered a priest by the church. As far as I know, I've not been defrocked." He shook his head. "But years ago I decided I couldn't follow all the teachings blindly. I'm too willful. I have to do what I think is right, and that's considered sin and vanity. So in my heart I'm no longer a priest, and it's heart and soul that count."

"But you were a priest when Elena and you first met?"

"Yes, I was working with the rebels in the hills. I came from Miami, all full of zeal and vigor, with the intention of taking on the entire world. There was a lot to take on down here. Poverty, death, drugs, war. Over the years I lost a good deal of the zeal." He smiled. "But I managed to hold on. There were always the children like Elena."

"You knew her as a child?"

"I knew all the rebels. She was ten when I came to Colombia. Her brother, Luis, was thirteen and her father, Frank Kyler, was still alive. Frank and I became friends. We didn't often agree, but I liked him. It was difficult not to like him." He grimaced. "Like me, he believed he was doing what was right, that he was needed. I respected that even if I felt he was wrong. You have to go where you're needed."

"And now you're needed to take care of Elena's son?"

"Elena took care of him herself for the first three years. She hunted and we grew our own vegetables and we just managed to survive. Then she decided this was no life for the boy, so she went to Medellm to earn a living and left him with me. It wasn't easy for her, considering how she grew up. She had no one to help her, and she won't even talk about those first months in the city. She did everything from waiting on tables to telephone sales to support us and to gather a nest egg to get us out of the country. She came home as often as she could." He poured more coffee into their cups. "And it was no chore for me to take care of Barry. He's a very special child. There are some children who give off a kind of radiance. Barry is like that." He sat down. "My only complaint is that he's a bit too solemn and old for his years. I guess it's natural since he rarely gets to play with other children. Elena was afraid it wouldn't be safe."

"You're hundreds of miles from Chavez's territory here."

"It didn't stop Elena from worrying. The boy is her whole life. She wouldn't take the chance."

"Why didn't she leave the country before this?"

"She couldn't risk earning money at the only profession she had been trained to do, and everything else paid a pittance. She had no money, no papers, and she would have had no way to protect Barry from his father if he'd discovered where he was. She was saving every peso she could get her hands on to get them away from here when Chavez found out about the boy. She had no choice but to move fast when that happened."

"If she'd broken with her guerrilla group, how did she manage to research Forbes?"

"She'd been hearing about him for years. He's something of a legend. I had maintained contacts with the group and made some discreet inquiries."

Galen looked down into the coffee in his cup. "You think he's Chavez's son?"

"I know he is. I'm aware of all the circumstances surrounding the boy's birth." He smiled. "You're very suspicious. You don't believe her."

"I believe he's her son. Anyone could see how much she loves the kid. But she could be trying for a free ride and a nice cushion in the U.S. for the boy. Life is rough down here." His gaze shifted to Dominic's face. "Or it could still be a trap. Though the scenario is getting fairly complicated. If you're bogus, then you're very good."

Dominic laughed. "I do believe you're reaching, Galen. Wouldn't it be a bit hokey to bring a priest into the mix? Besides, anyone can see I'd be terrible at subterfuge. I'm not clever enough."

"You're clever enough to be a teacher," Galen said.

"That's straightforward and doesn't involve deception. I promise you won't catch me setting a candle burning on the windowsill to tell Chavez you're here."

Galen smiled. "A candle in the window? You are out of the loop. Maybe you really are legitimate."

Dominic's eyes twinkled. "Or maybe I just said that to make you think I am. More coffee?"

"No." Galen stood up. "I believe I'd better check up on our Elena. She's been gone too long. Where's your bathroom?"


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