Yet how was the latter possible? No one on campus other than Cate was aware of his position with the DEA.

It didn’t make sense.

All he knew was that depending on how his people wanted to play this, his undercover gig at Ivy Hill Academy could be over.

“He’s back, Eduardo.”

From his seat at the kitchen table where he was paying bills, Eduardo looked over at Margarita, who stood beside the back window, watching the alley through a slit in the blinds.

His stomach clenched.

Miguel was a blight on their days, and every moment he spent under their roof inched them closer to a dangerous precipice.

“He’s not coming in.” Margarita remained at her post.

“What’s he doing?” Eduardo gathered up the bills and pocketed the checkbook he’d begun keeping on his person. He wouldn’t put it past his brother-in-law to forge his name and empty out their meager savings.

“Sitting behind the wheel.”

Odd.

No matter how high you cranked the heater, cars weren’t the warmest place—and most people didn’t linger in them if the temperature was in the teens.

“I think he’s been up to no good.” Margarita sent a worried look toward the table.

So what else was new?

But an odd nuance in her tone put him on alert. As if there was a basis for her heightened concern.

“Why?” Eduardo crossed to her.

“He was wearing strange clothes when he left earlier.”

“Strange how?”

“All black.”

“I’ve seen him wear black before.”

“But he was also carrying a black knit cap. The kind that covers the whole face. Like people use for skiing.”

Or to hide their identity, if they had an illegal activity in mind—as Margarita must suspect.

His anxiety rose a few more notches.

“Did he say where he was going?”

“No.”

Of course not.

He squinted through the slit. As he watched, Miguel got out of the car. Walked down the alley. Stopped.

“He’s waiting for someone.” Eduardo strode across the kitchen and snatched his coat and hat off the hook by the back door.

“What are you doing?” Fear raised the pitch of her voice.

“I’m going to see if I can listen in on the conversation. We have to find out what he’s up to.”

She latched on to his arm as he headed toward the front door. “No, Eduardo! It could be dangerous.”

“It’s more dangerous waiting around for Miguel to pull his next trick—and I’m tired of being a puppet. Maybe I’ll hear something that will help me figure out how to get us out of this mess.”

“But . . . but what if they see you?”

“They won’t.” He started forward again. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”