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“Dad!” Suki yelled with relief. She hurried to the passenger door.
“You see anyone like that, you call the police, okay?” the officer said.
“Okay!” Suki agreed. She opened the door and got inside.
Sarina and Jane Louise were already in the back. The windows were tinted, so she hadn’t noticed them.
“Have a nice day, Officer!” Lund said with a kindly wave. As soon as the door was shut, the window up, and they were rolling away, he snorted under his breath. “Idiot.”
Suki started to gulp in air. “I’ve got dinner.”
“Yes, please,” Jane Louise said patiently.
“We can’t go back to the airport,” Lund said, checking his lane and turning immediately down a side street. “There’s news about the three of you going through Florida right now. Not your names, just your descriptions. We need to find another way back.”
Suki’s sigh of relief stopped midbreath.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
THE VILLAS
NAPLES, FLORIDA
January 9
It was so good hearing Dad’s voice through Lund’s iPhone speaker. They’d filled each other in on what they’d been through, the twins piping in every so often. It felt so awesome being together as a family again—tethered by cell phone towers up and down the East Coast. Suki wanted so badly for them to be together again. Jane Louise had fallen asleep on the double bed, a peaceful smile on her face, and Suki and her mom sat on the other bed with the phone. Before Jane Louise had lain down, Dad had promised her they’d get in touch with her mee-maw.
Lund sat on the gray fabric couch by the window. The blinds were drawn, and the lamp was off, adding to the darkness of the room. It was nine o’clock, and they all needed to go to bed, but this time was precious. It meant the world to her.
“Can I talk to Lund for a minute?” Roth asked. “Is he still there?”
“He’s here,” Sarina said. “I miss hearing your voice, Jonny.”
That was her pet name for him. It made a warm feeling wriggle inside Suki when she heard them talk like that. Teenagers weren’t supposed to like it when their parents showed affection for each other. But Suki secretly did. Especially now, after all this time apart.
Lund rose from the couch and approached the bed. Sarina handed him the phone.
Other than the two beds and the couch, there wasn’t much to the room. Just a work desk with a rolling chair. They’d already discussed the sleeping arrangements—Suki and Jane Louise would share one bed, and Suki’s mom would keep the other by herself. Lund had said he was going to get more coffee and stay awake all night to help protect them. He’d rented the room and then brought the family in through the side door of the hotel. They had no luggage, no clothes to change into, but that was okay. Even the strange hotel smell didn’t bother Suki so much.
“You guys at the new hotel?” Lund asked, holding the phone out so they could all hear.
“Yeah. Monica called earlier. She said the pandemic meeting is still happening tomorrow with the president’s cabinet.”
Lund chuffed. “I heard the same. It’s beyond irrational. A bomb threat at a high school during finals week is taken more seriously than this. I’m appalled. I thought Director Wright would be more sensible.”
“I don’t know what else we could have said to convince them. Not even the visit with the senator seemed to work. The jaguar priests are here in DC. Well, at least one is. She said the FBI director isn’t convinced it should be canceled. They’re not even boosting security.”
Lund sighed and shook his head. “Brower’s not an idiot. And neither is Director Wright. But that’s the thing about the executive branch, Mr. Roth. It maneuvers about as fast as a Winnebago in the sand. Without a credible threat, they won’t take action.”
“What about an in-credible threat?” Roth said, snorting. “Maybe nothing will happen tomorrow. Maybe that’s not Calakmul’s plan. But Moretti confirmed there’s a threat to the president, and Senator Coudron verified that the corruption is deep inside. What about the attorney? Has she talked yet?”
“We’ve gotten nothing out of her. And no grounds to hold her because we can’t prove she caused the heart attack. Personally, I’m holding out hope that the CIA will learn something tonight during their operation down in the jungle. If a drone can confirm the location of that temple—and that there are people there—then the story will be legitimized. I just hope it’s not too late.”
“Me too. Thank you so much for getting my family back, Steve. Seriously. You have my eternal gratitude. If things get weird here in DC tomorrow, I’ll let you know.”
“Well, Jordan better let me know first,” Lund said with a chuckle.
“I will, boss!” It was Jordan’s voice, distant but clear. Suki smiled.