Chapter Nineteen: The Fortress in the Andes

In the weeks that they had been together, Ranger had served as a welcome distraction in this fortress prison Bob felt he would never escape. At first, Bob focused on cleaning the infected wounds that covered Ranger's body. Compresses of vinegar and salt water soaks as well as some oral broad spectrum antibiotics all helped close wounds that had festered for weeks. Bob also, very slowly and carefully, increased Ranger's oral intake. Ranger's teeth were loosened from the malnutrition he had endured, but Bob believed he would recover.

Over two years… nearly three years had passed since Bob had been forced at gunpoint from of the hospital complex in rural Bolivia where he had lived and worked for eight months. He was interrogated about who he was, where he worked, who his family was, who would search for him. He was grateful his parents were already dead- he hated the idea that, if not, he might tell these evil men something that would hurt his folks. If he was truthful with himself, he wasn't sure anyone would miss him.

After the first year in captivity, the guards treated him better. They were less hostile and even gave him more of the food ration. He shared his meals with Ranger now. He knew the man had been starved as part of the torture he endured- they had wanted him to suffer. But when he was near death, they gave Bob access and the equipment and food to save him. Odd really.

After Ranger had recovered from the Machupa virus, he asked Bob why the guards were allowing them access to food, clean water and the medical supplies. Bob answered honestly, "I was told to keep you alive, that there are plans for you. But I have no idea what the plans are."

As his health improved, Ranger also spoke about his work in the most basic terms, his friends and employees. It was in the second week he mentioned his daughter, his wife and the child that would be coming soon. Bob ached with jealousy- he had no family.

Now it was a baking hot day in the height of the Southern Hemisphere summer and Bob was concerned. Usually, the guards would have been around to check on them but it had been quiet all day. Nobody had been around since last check last night. Strange. A break in routine. Bob knew the ins and outs of the schedule and it NEVER varied.

His other concern was this man, Ricardo Carlos Manoso, who asked to be called Ranger. Ranger was sick again. Really sick and Bob was concerned. Dysentery, he thought. And as he palpated his abdomen, Bob grew more convinced that more advanced medical care than he could provide would be needed and soon. There was a start of jaundice, he thought. And Bob was pretty sure that there was a lesion on Ranger's liver. Doing what he could, he gave the medical care available and said a prayer that help would find them. It was nearly Christmas, from what the guards had said yesterday. The Lord's birth. Bob once again prayed for freedom, if not for himself, then for this man with him, Ranger, who had served his country as a warrior and had a wife at home waiting.

The infirmary door was opened and Bob took in the unfamiliar face. A large man, Latino, late 30's, maybe early 40's, well built, with a goatee.

The man spoke, "Jesucristo Ranger, parece que te estás muriendo." Bob agreed, he did look like he was dying. Ranger, who tried to sit up as the stranger entered, spoke in a voice that didn't believe what he was seeing.

"You, you are behind all of this. All that has been done to me…" Ranger didn't sound angry, no he actually sounded sad. Hurt. Like he had been betrayed by a friend. "Why? Why would you come after me?"

Bob watched as the stranger clutched his hands over his heart, "No hice que te trajeran aquí." So this wasn't the guy who kidnapped Ranger. "En verdad, estoy aquí para liberarte de este infierno." This man was here to rescue Ranger. To free him from this hell.

"How… I have so many questions." Ranger stopped.

The stranger switched to English "Once we are away from here, I will tell you what I know."

Ranger steadied his voice. "You are a long way from Rio, my friend." Then he turned to me, "Dr. Bob, I would like to introduce you to Ulysses Ramos." To Ulysses, he said, "We need to bring Bob out with us."

The thought of escape froze Bob. Would this man, Ulysses Ramos, agree?

The stranger didn't hesitate.

"Doctor, pack what you need. We will leave in ten minutes."

Two men came in from the corridor, and Ramos instructed them to pack anything Bob needed. They provided Bob and Ranger with simple clothing and sandals that had been created from old truck tires. When dressed, neither man stood out.

As they were being loaded into the back of the truck, Bob asked, "Will the guards not be after us?"

Ulysses laughed. "All the guards were drugged with Ativan and are currently being driven, by truck, to a remote mountain village where a friend of mine has offered to… house them for the next week or so. By the time they are released, our trail will have gone cold."

Thirty minutes after Ulysses Ramos arrived at the fortress, the truck he came in on had been reloaded and they were driving North to freedom.

In the back room of Rossini's, Vito Grizolli passed me the tray of spinach and ricotta gnudi with tomato-butter sauce and I took a small helping. He had invited me as he promised he would and I was nervous for the news he would share. My appetite had abandoned me, but we needed to play our parts. The servers were still bringing dishes and several types of bread to the table.

I had gotten the call about my reservation and was surprised when I was led directly to the back room with Vito.

"Stephanie, did you know I trust Joey Morelli?"

"I know he is a friend to your niece and I know he has served as your liaison with Trenton PD."

"This is all true. Joseph has always been good to my family, and up until now, I have not been able to repay him." He offered me a platter of pesto alla genovese. "I wonder if you know that my niece and Joe Morelli are vacationing at my villa in central America."

Oh my goodness- they had found him! They found Carlos. The plan was finally underway. I held my voice steady. "I believe I heard something about that." I had also heard that Joe and Denise had provided the Burg grapevine with a spectacular break-up fight a week earlier. We wanted to ensure Denise was out of the line of fire before Joe left town with Terry. And now Vito's contact had done the impossible.

Vito pushed an odd-looking satellite phone across the table toward me.

"I need you to take this and keep it with you."

"But why would I need it…"

"You will be called on this when there is news. Since, in your condition, you cannot fly anywhere. It will be someone you trust. You should not use names, while it is an encrypted satellite phone, I still think there are risks of interception."

"How long before…" I couldn't form a question. I was fighting back tears. I almost couldn't believe it.

"I am hoping you have a Christmas surprise."

Ranger could be safe by Christmas. Not home, but with Joe and Terry at her uncle's villa on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. Located on the side of a volcano just above a tiny Mayan village that could only be reached by boat, it was a secure location, but more, it had a room that was stocked like an ER. Just in case. And after months of captivity, I imagined Ranger might need some medical care.

The love of my life was coming home.