Page 124 of Last Chance
She did as he asked, then nodded. “I’m positive he’s the missing hostage.”
“Did you see Hernandez when you were visiting Maria and David?”
“No, and I didn’t recognize him when he sat beside me on the plane.” She looked at Sawyer. “Maria knew him before she married my brother?”
He hesitated, loathe to hurt her. Couldn’t be helped. She needed to know the truth. “I don’t think so. I went back over a year on Maria’s social media pages. Hernandez didn’t appear in her photos until two months ago.”
She stared at the screen again. “She’s in love with him,” Janie murmured. “You can see it in her face and in the way she looks at him.” She sat at the breakfast bar. “This will break David’s heart. I don’t know if he’ll fight to recover when she leaves him for Hernandez.”
“That’s assuming Hernandez is looking at your sister-in-law the same way she’s looking at him,” Brody pointed out. “We never see his face.”
“Brody’s right.” Sawyer sat beside Janie. “Don’t assume the worst until we have all the facts.” He had little doubt that David and Maria’s marriage was doomed, baby or no baby. Maria loved another man and that would be a blow to a man reeling from a vicious beating and a stroke with still unknown repercussions.
Janie looked at him without saying a word.
He held up a hand. “I know, baby. I think you’re right. However, we deal with one thing at a time. Do you know if David suspects his wife loves Hernandez?”
Janie shook her head. “He barely talked to me when I was in Chile, and Maria never mentioned Diego.”
“All right.” He leaned over and brushed her mouth with his. “We need to leave soon. Would you like to pick up breakfast on the way?”
“If it includes an apple muffin from Tabitha’s Cafe, absolutely.”
“You got it.”
Jesse strode in. “Breakfast?” he asked, his expression hopeful.
“Stopping by Tabitha’s Cafe on the way into Hartman.”
“I love her food.”
“Good thing since it’s the only food place open at this hour.” He poured the medic a to-go cup of coffee, picked up his own, gave Janie her tea, and grabbed his Go bag. “Ready?”
She nodded and glanced at Brody. “Thanks for keeping watch overnight.”
“Glad to help.” He turned to Sawyer. “I’ll lock up. Keep me updated. Max will take over from Jesse. He’ll contact you when he leaves home.”
“Copy that.” He ushered Janie to the SUV.
“I’ll follow you in.” Jesse unlocked his SUV and climbed behind the wheel.
Once Janie was set, Sawyer stored his gear in the back and settled into the driver’s seat. He drove toward town, detouring ten miles out to stop by the cafe. He parked near the entrance and came around to help Janie to the asphalt. The three of them went inside and ordered breakfast to go. In less than five minutes, they resumed their journey toward Hartman.
Despite Janie’s protest that she wasn’t hungry, she consumed both the apple muffin and banana muffin he’d bought her. When she finished, she sat back with a sigh.
He polished off his own banana muffin. He didn’t know anyone who made better muffins than Tabitha. “Need anything else?”
“I’ll be fine until later in the morning. Thanks for stopping at Tabitha’s, Sawyer. Her muffins are wonderful.”
When he reached the parking lot of the strip mall where Janie’s shop was located, Sawyer parked at the back of the shop. “Ready?”
She nodded. “Let’s get this done. Maybe I can convince Maria to let me see David.”
He exited the vehicle and circled the hood to open Janie’s door.
Sawyer held out his hand. “I want to check the shop before you go inside.” When she handed him the key, he glanced at Jesse, who gave a slight nod.
Unlocking the door, he slipped into the back room of the shop and disabled the alarm before checking every room and storage area of Natural Bliss. He breathed easier when he finished the sweep and found the shop clear.