Page 62 of The Grave Artist

Carmen added, “That’s Jacoby Heron, my associate.”

“In the honeymoon suite.”

She checked her phone. Liam Grange and a dozen tactical operators were mobilizing.

“Do you have armed guards?”

“Yes, two.”

She continued, “Place one in the corridor outside their door.”

“I can’t.”

Can’t or wouldn’t? she wondered. “What do you mean?”

“There is no corridor. This is the Chinampas Grand Resort.”

Carmen scrunched her eyes shut, frustrated with herself. “I should have realized.”

“Sanchez?” Heron asked.

She said, “Chinampas were the floating gardens of the Aztecs in their capital, Tenochtitlan.”

“Exactly,” Zebrowski said, seemingly surprised she knew this esoteric fact. He continued, “The most exclusive suites are in the water. They’re miniature islands. It’s one of our big selling points. James and Robin are in the biggest one—and the most remote. It’s at the far end of the lagoon.”

“Do they have a boat?”

“No. We have small ones our staff uses to ferry them to and from the main lodge.”

“Can your security people see it?”

“Yes.”

“Have one of those armed guards watch it. And call the couple but just make up something innocuous. I want to know they’re all right.”

“Shouldn’t we tell them about it?”

“No,” Carmen and Heron said simultaneously. She continued, “They’ll want to leave and probably call friends and family. That could scare the person we’re after. He might hurt another guest or staff member trying to escape.”

“Whoever this person is,” Zebrowski said, “you really think he’s here?”

She and Heron shared a look.

It was a damn big assumption.

She said, “Yes.”

Much of policing was mindset. You had to believe your suspect was real and was dangerous and was nearby. Otherwise, you might let your guard down.

“Hold on a minute, please,” Zebrowski said.

For a very tense minute Carmen waited. Nothing but silence.

Were they not picking up because they were wedding-night indisposed?

Or because they were dead?

Then,gracias a Dios, they heard Zebrowski saying he was sorry to interrupt but was just inquiring whether the room was satisfactory. A pause, then: “Very good. Have a nice evening. And, again, congratulations.”