She explained that the operation had been successful, and that La Bruja had been brought to Medellín in anticipation of being flown out to the United States that night. She told him about the convoy and about how it had been hit by a professional crew.

“That was you?” he said, interrupting.

“Excuse me?”

“There was a shooting tonight. Three men were found dead in a car, shot to death—none of them had any identification.”

“Yes, sir. They were SEALs. The cartel executed them.”

Valencia’s face took on a sombre cast, and all of the slightly sarcastic edge was smoothed away. “I see. Who knows that you have come to me now?”

“No one, sir,” she said.

“Your boss?”

“No. I haven’t spoken to him since the convoy was attacked. He doesn’t know that I’m alive.”

“And you are here because?”

“Because I need your help, sir. A friend of mine was in the convoy when it was hit. He is in very serious danger, and, unless you step up, I’m worried that he’s going to be killed.”

“The cartel has him?”

“Yes.”

“Then he is already dead.”

“Maybe not,” she said. “He’s resourceful.”

Valencia smiled. “And why, after all of the lies that have been told to me, would I agree to ‘step up.’”

“Because he’s with La Bruja, Colonel. You help me get him out and you can have her.”

* * *

Hicks reached over and opened the car door for Ellie to get back into the cabin. The light of the dash washed over his face. It made him look even more anxious than she knew he already was.

“What did he say?”

“He’s going to make a phone call,” she said.

“But he’s in?”

“Oh yes,” she said. “He’s in.”

99