12

"Are you sure about this?" Pablo Escamilla had just brought an old tan 1980 Toyota pickup to the back of the bar and handed Houston the key.

"I don't have any choice." The PI looked around outside; the alley was empty except for the two of them. It was nearly 7:15 and there was about forty five minutes until sundown. "I really appreciate it, Pablo."

"I'm sorry I can't do more." He held his hand out to Matt, then pulled the younger man into a hug, patting his back. "You really are like your father. He was stubborn, too." The last was said with a sad smile.

"Tell you what…" He slid behind the wheel of the pickup and closed the door. "One day after this is all over we're going to sit down over a bottle of tequila and you can tell me about him. Deal?"

"Deal." Pablo stepped back as Houston started the little truck, put it in reverse and backed out of the alley. With another quick wave he shifted into first gear and headed toward Mendoza's place. "Vaya con Dios."

Diego Mendoza stood outside his home as a black Impala pulled up. Two men exited the vehicle and went to the trunk where the lid was being kicked. They opened it and as they reached in for Will, both received a kick to the nose. Once over the shock, one man grabbed his arms while the other took his legs and they dumped the man onto the driveway. His hands and feet were bound and they both kicked at him for a minute before their boss stopped them. "Well, Mr. Houston. Welcome to my humble home." He grinned down at the American. "I trust you enjoyed the trip down?"

"You son of a bitch." Will spit out blood.

"Take him to the garage. He can wait there for his cousin." He watched as Will once again struggled with the two men but was carried off to the building and tossed on the floor.

It was sweltering in the building, but he looked around hopefully. If he could find something to cut the ropes he was going to try to get the hell out of there. First thing you need to do is try to calm down. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply for a minute. Now, look around you. Opening his eyes, he systematically began scanning the area, rolling onto his opposite side to look at the back wall. There was a tool bench along the northern wall and he began scooting that way.

"There he is!" CJ yelled and Roy came running into the study along with Rosa. "It's Will!" They watched helplessly as the man put up a fight with the men pulling him from the trunk.

"Way to go, boy. Give 'em hell." Roy felt a flash of pride as he watched his son kick the two men before he was thrown on the ground and kicked. "Sons of bitches." Will was carried into one of the buildings and Mendoza went back into the house.

CJ texted Matt telling him that Will was in fact at Mendoza's and was tied up in an outbuilding on the northwest side of the house. It took a few minutes for a reply. On my way there now. Got a tan truck.

Roy watched as she zoomed out a little bit and began scanning the roads nearby. It was nearly dark and getting hard to see. Finally, she pointed to a spot on the screen. The road was nearly deserted and a small tan truck was moving quickly toward the Mendoza estate. Before it arrived the picture was lost; the headlights were cut off and all she could see were the lights from the house.

Matt killed the lights on the pickup and stopped a quarter of a mile from Diego's gate. There were no trees to hide behind; the only vegetation in the desert area was scrub. He knew that they were going to need the truck to make an escape. He also knew that the easiest way into the estate would be to drive the truck right through the wire fencing that surrounded the property. What he didn't know and hadn't been able to discern by watching the satellite was did Diego have surveillance cameras on the property? Or did he strictly rely on his people? During his time watching the comings and goings at the estate, Matt had only seen a couple of guards on duty at night: one stationed at the gate and one that circled the house. That was assuming that they continued the same routine after sundown. After dark he could only use his imagination. Plus, did Diego know that he was on his way? Had anyone in Nuevo Laredo seen him and tipped off the gangster?

Regardless, he knew that at last sighting Will was in a building on the northwest side of the house. During his surveillance he had concluded that it was a garage. Maybe Will can find something to get loose. He drew a deep breath, started the engine, and slowly edged off the road toward the northwest. There was a pair of bolt cutters in the passenger seat and he could use them to cut the fence. Did Diego have an alarm on it? Who knew? He would get through the fence, get to the garage, get Will, and...He still needed to take out Diego. "Damn it." Will's kidnapping hadn't been something that he had figured on. His plan was going to have to change.

Topsana watched in horror from her bedroom window as the men down below kicked the man that they had pulled from the trunk. He was the one that she had seen two nights before in her dreams. After they took him to the garage Angelita softly knocked on her door. "Come in."

"Señora, they took the man-"

"Yes, I saw." She stood and sighed heavily. "I will go check on him as soon as it is dark."

"No…" The young woman violently shook her head. "Your grandson will be furious."

"It will be okay, niña." She patted her arm. "Things are about to change. I want you to stay inside. There will be a disturbance but you will be fine."

Out in the garage, Will was desperately trying to stand so that he could reach the top of the tool bench. Finally he managed to get his chest resting on the seat of a chair. He paused for a minute trying to catch his breath in the stifling heat. Suddenly his mind flashed back to Afghanistan. He froze, closing his eyes and forcing himself back to the present. "Snap out of it. You know damn well that Matt is gonna show up." Calming, he stood up and surveyed the work bench. Ratchets, screwdrivers...his eyes landed on a file. "Bingo." Leaning forward he used his teeth to grab it. Dropping it into the chair he gave a satisfied chuckle before sitting down and grabbing it. "This could take a while." He blew out a breath.

Topsana silently made her way down the stairs, and could hear Diego laughing in the den. She knew that his top men were there with him and nodded. That was just as her dream had told her. Stepping out onto the patio behind the house she saw the sentry coming around the corner.

"Señora, you should not be out." He approached the little old lady.

"Luis, it is such a beautiful night that I wanted to see the stars! Just look at them." She took a seat in one of the chairs by the pool.

"Sí, but you should go in."

"I will in a few minutes. Thank you." Smiling sweetly she watched him turn toward the far end of the house. Once he was out of sight she made her way to the garage as quickly as possible and slipped inside.

Will almost had the ropes cut when a little old lady snuck into the garage. He held his breath and was surprised when she spoke English. "Good evening."

"Uh, hi." He gave her a smile, not knowing what in the hell else to do.

"Let me help you with that." She took the file and finished sawing the ropes with it. "Now, where is your cousin?"

"Ma'am?" He had no idea what to answer: she seemed nice and had helped him lose the ropes but was it a trap?

"Your cousin Matt. I'm sure he's on the way." She gave an almost girlish giggle. "He's my grandson."

Will could feel his jaw drop but was too stunned to close his mouth. It took a few seconds for his brain to kick back in and when it did he stammered. "You're...his grandmother. You're Carmen's mom?" The answer was a nod. "Does he know you're here?"

"I don't believe so. Not many people do. I've been held here ever since my son took control of the family. He kept me isolated here and now Diego does as well. But not anymore. Not after tonight." She was smiling again and he couldn't help but smile along, wondering just how in the hell that he and Matt were going to get across the border and now they had an old lady to smuggle as well?

Both jumped as there was a sound at the back of the building. Matt had picked the lock on the door and slipped into the near darkness of the garage. "Will, you in here?"

"Yeah, and I'm not alone." He heard as his cousin's progress was halted. "Your grandma is here with me."

Matt came forward, a pistol in his hand and look of complete astonishment on his face. "My grandma?"

"Yes, Mattlock. I'm Topsana, your grandma." She moved toward him, reaching up to run her hand over the cheek of the grandson she had only seen on TV and in the newspapers.

"My…" He couldn't think. Looking into her eyes he could see his were an exact match. Quickly, he pulled her into a hug and felt as if his heart would explode. "I've been wondering what happened to you."

"Fernando and Diego have kept me here ever since we left Chihuahua." She held his hand in both of her own. "But there isn't time for all that now. We've got to get you two out of here."

Matt paused. His plans had just done a one hundred eighty degree turn.

"I've got a truck out back. Come on." All thought of squaring up with Diego was gone: he had to get Will and Topsana out of there. If he could make it back to the bar…

Just then the front door of the garage was opened by Diego and several of his men rushed inside. Matt couldn't begin to shoot at all of them, not with Will and his grandmother in harm's way.

"And so we finally meet, cousin." Diego gave an evil smile.