Juan’s cuffs were removed and replaced by a pair the Homeland agents had brought. Then he was given his belongings, including his suitcase from the Belle, and escorted outside. The bright sunlight felt wonderful after so many hours under the nauseating glow of fluorescent lights. They led him wordlessly to a black Crown Victoria that screamed government vehicle. One of them opened the rear door. Max was sitting in the back bench seat, half his head swaddled in bandages and tape.

“How’s the noggin?”

“Hurts like hell, but the concussion’s mild.”

“Good thing they shot you in the head, otherwise they could have hit something important.”

“You’re all heart.”

As soon as Cabrillo was settled next to Max, the car pulled away from the sheriff ’s office. The agent in the passenger’s seat turned and held up a key. Juan wasn’t sure what he wanted until he recognized it as the key to his cuffs. He held up his hands and they were freed.

“Thanks. We won’t give you any trouble. Where are you taking us?”

“Airport.”

“And then?”

“That’s up to you, sir. Though my orders were to recommend you leave the country.”

Max and Juan exchanged knowing smirks. Langston Overholt had done it. God only knew how, but he’d gotten them out of that quagmire. Juan wanted to call him right away, but his cell phone had finally died from its soak in the river, and Max’s hadn’t been returned to him.

The agents dumped them at the curb in front of the Jackson-Evers terminal. Juan hailed a taxi as soon as they’d pulled out of sight.

“I take it we’re not going to follow their advice?” Max asked.

“We are, but I don’t want to hear you grumble about flying commercial. There’s a charter service here.”

“Now we’re talking.”

Twenty minutes later, they were in the general-aviation terminal waiting for their plane to be fueled. Juan was using his laptop to act as a telephone. His first call was to Overholt.

“I take it you’re out?” the old CIA agent asked.

“Charter jet’s fueling as we speak. Max and I both owe you one. How’d you do it?”

“Suffice it to say, it’s done, and leave it at that. How could you possibly know about Argentina and China?”

Juan wanted to tell him about Tamara Wright’s abduction, but for now even someone as powerful as Overholt couldn’t do anything more than was already being done by local law enforcement and the FBI.

He explained what Linda Ross and her team had discovered when they checked into the Argentine research station. He also told him about the gruesome find at Wilson/George.