Page 78 of Girl in the Water

He told her what happened as she drove straight to the airport.

That he let her drive was new. Before, Ian always drove when they were together. He really was beginning to treat her like a fellow investigator.

“Did you find out anything?” she asked.

“Our buddy Finch stole diamonds.”

She took her eyes off the road for just a second to stare at him. “No way.”

“Sadly, yes. Marcos used to work for the diamond mines. I’m guessing he stole a couple, somehow Finch saw them, and he lifted them.”

“Why? How could he be so stupid? Didn’t he know they’d come after him?”

Anger and disappointment laced Ian’s voice as he said, “He probably thought he could outrun them.”

Silence settled on the car as she thought of Finch, who, whether he’d realized it or not, had saved her from Senhora Rosa. “Why didn’t he leave Brazil right away?”

“Who the hell knows? Maybe he had a buyer lined up in Manaus.” Ian’s hands fisted on his knees.

Then they were at the airport, and they got through without trouble. On the plane, full as always, they couldn’t really talk about Finch and the diamonds, so they had to shelve that conversation.

Ian drifted off in the aisle seat. Daniela stayed quiet next to him. He probably hadn’t gotten much rest last night. His neck bent at an uncomfortable-looking angle as he slept now. She should have given him the window seat, should have thought about that when they’d sat down. He was going to wake with sore muscles.

She slipped her hand between his head and the headrest and tilted him toward her, until his temple rested on her shoulder. As he settled against her, she smiled with satisfaction, a lot more relaxed now that she was leaving Rio with Ian.

He was safe.

Andshehad saved him.

Nowhe’d definitely see her as a strong, grown woman.

She couldn’t wait until he kissed her again.

* * *

Eduardo

Eduardo Morais watched as his father drank one glass of cachaça after another in his study.

The old man had called in both his sons, but Marcos was off tracking the American who might have their stolen diamonds.

Eduardo was almost glad Marcos had lost the guy. At least now, in comparison, Eduardo didn’t look so stupid for Finch’s premature death. Now Marcos had made a mistake too. The brothers were once again on equal footing.

And maybe, if luck was with Eduardo today, he’d be the one to deliver checkmate to his father.

The old hyena behind the desk had to make do with his younger son today, and his squinting, disapproving eyes said he wasn’t happy about it. He didn’t appreciate losing half his audience when he was in the mood to pontificate.

Joaquim the butler-cum-bodyguard stood unobtrusively in the corner, stepping forward only when his boss’s glass needed to be refilled.

“You and your brother give me nothing but grief lately,” Raul Morais grumbled.

“Yes, Father.”

“I should have had more children,” the man said moodily, staring in front of him. “I wanted to, with darling Maria. But Maria…” He sighed. “I could have with the others, but…” He shrugged.

Thank God you didn’t. But Eduardo nodded.

“After Maria died and I ran north,” his father said, “I went into the rain forest at the end of the rainy season with the loggers, and we didn’t come out until the beginning of the next one. At night, I dreamt of Maria. For months and months, I never got closer to a woman than that.”