Unplanned, page 5
Yet Dana had told Hunt she wasn’t taken. Maybe sex with him had been disappointing to her, though how a virgin would know good sex from bad was beyond him.
Remember how you left her in Manu? Can you really blame her for telling Hunt she was available?
Her innocence still was a shocker to Galen. She was a grown woman. How had she been able to get to twenty-eight with her virginity intact? Most women her age had gone through a shitload of men by then.
It was so unjust that the fairer sex could have just about any man they wanted with the simplest of gestures—the right look or smile and men were falling at their feet, begging for attention. Then they moved on to the next unsuspecting fool who showed them an ounce of interest.
Dana was clearly no different, with Hunt being her next target.
Or was she Hunt’s?
Galen picked up his pace across the concrete floor, feeling as if he were going to explode. He had to stop thinking about Dana and Hunt or he was going to do something stupid, like try to escape. Not a smart move considering what he suspected about the chief’s agenda—how the man already wanted to pound him into the ground. Not to mention the guard who’d warned him in no uncertain terms to watch his backside if he dropped the soap. This was not a good time to try to pull something idiotic.
Chapter Six
Dana stepped into the hall and found Hunt leaning against the door frame, looking as if he’d had the best night’s sleep of his life. She wished she could say the same. Too bad thinking of Galen had kept her from actually sleeping half the night.
The plan for today was to try to find someone who might have seen or heard something the night of the murder. They had to exonerate Galen or he’d end up hanging for this shooting—a fact she’d learned from Hunt about justice in this area.
“Are you ready?” Hunt asked.
“Where are Travis and Mattie? Aren’t they joining us?”
Hunt smiled, revealing straight white teeth. “They’re taking one end of town. We’re covering the other. This way we can talk to more people.”
Dana wasn’t sure how comfortable she was with this turn, but at this point she really had no choice. They had to do something. Sure, she could stay at the hotel. But not doing anything would only cause her more anxiety that she didn’t need.
“So where do we start?”
His gray eyes glinted. “I thought we’d begin in the cantina Galen spent the day at before the murder. Maybe someone there will remember him, possibly even the time he left. According to the chief, the shooting took place between nine and ten that night. If we can prove Galen was in the bar when the man was shot then perhaps we’ll be able to convince the authorities to look somewhere else for the killer.”
She sighed. “Do you really believe anyone here will come forward to save an American? I mean, the officials in town don’t seem to like us much.”
Hunt ran a hand over his dark, wavy hair. “I pray that doing the right thing still matters to some. That’s my hope at least. I’ve lived here in the region for close to five years. Most of the locals I’ve come into contact with have been good people. Let’s hope we get lucky and find a few here in Guishil.”
Dana followed him down the staircase to the lower level of the hotel. She wasn’t quite so optimistic, but maybe someone in town saw the event and would be willing to tell them. But then, if that was the case, wouldn’t they have already done so?
Outside the hotel, Hunt stopped long enough to glance left and right, then clasped her hand and tugged her across the dusty road to the sidewalk where a row of small shops lined the street.
Dana had no reaction to his touch. Strange, since Galen just had to look at her to cause a response. The thought had her glancing at the police station. What was he doing?
Why do you care so much?
As they neared the first storefront, an older woman stepped out and gave Dana a clear look of disdain. Strangers weren’t exactly welcome here, from what she could tell. Getting people to talk was going to take a miracle.
“Where are you from?” Hunt asked, moving past the woman down the wooden walkway.
“Right now I’m living in St. Louis. I teach at a local college.”
“Really? What do you teach?”
“Botany.” Dana was sure he’d find that boring. Galen’s eyes had glazed over when she’d talked about plants.
Hunt’s gaze sparked with interest. “Really? That’s fascinating. In a way that’s why I spend so much time in the jungle. I love watching animals in their natural environment.”
Dana was mildly impressed by the man beside her. He appeared sincere about his love of nature. Galen might be a jungle guide but he really didn’t seem to enjoy the job. It was more like something to do until another opportunity came along—or he married that rich woman Travis had told her he was looking for. Why? Did he think life would be perfect if he had money?
Dana had news for him. Life was complicated either way.
She glanced at Hunt and found him studying her. The unsettling attention made her stumble on a protruding slat in the sidewalk.
He caught her arm before she went down. “You okay?”
Real graceful, Dana. While her heart settled and her face flamed with embarrassment, she nodded.
“Here we are.” He gestured to the entrance of a tavern. They stepped inside together and Dana focused on the bar in front of them where a man with a satanic-looking snake tattoo running up the length of his arm stood. A deep-set scowl marred his dark face. Behind him, above his head, perched a long, ominous-looking rifle.
They’d be lucky if they made it out of the place alive.
Sweat formed on her upper lip and she backed away, about to retreat when Hunt held tight to her arm. He hauled her toward Mister Snake Bartender—a man who, by his narrowed eyes, clearly didn’t want them there.
Dana forced down the fear coursing through her veins and allowed Hunt to lead her between a row of round wooden tables.
At the bar, Hunt kept her close, enough for her to take in the subtle hint of sandalwood he exuded. It was nice, but Galen’s cologne, a mixture of musk and outdoors, had driven her crazy with desire. She could still smell the scent of his skin as they’d made love. It’d be forever burned into her memory.
“Two beers.” Hunt’s order drew her away from the bartender, who obviously meant to intimidate her with his menacing look. It was working.
She turned to Hunt. “I can’t drink.”
He frowned. “Why?”
What was she going to say now? She couldn’t tell him it wasn’t good for the baby. He’d probably tell Galen. After all, the man had no loyalty to her.
“I meant I don’t drink.”
“I’ll drink yours.” His eyes narrowed with obvious annoyance.
Why? Had he planned on getting her sloshed so he could have his way with her later? If so, he’d be disappointed. She’d been stupid once with a good-looking man. Never again. They wanted one thing and one thing only—a warm body to sink themselves inside. Anything beyond that was only a woman’s hope for something more.
How many times had she seen her brother break a woman’s heart? Probably as many times as Galen had. Then again, it sounded as if he went for a whole different type of woman than her brother. Besides her, of course.
Two bottles slammed down in front of them as the bartender gave her a thorough once-over.
Dana swallowed and glanced away. That’s when she noticed that everyone in the room was staring at her. There wasn’t one woman in the bunch, and she wished she were anywhere but here. She felt like a cornered mouse in a room full of hungry cats.
Self-consciously she inched closer to Hunt, who threw down more money than any two beers would cost. He, in turn, glanced around, then whispered, “They all know a beautiful woman when they see one.”
Dana should’ve been flattered and would have been had this statement come from Galen. Too bad he never saw her in that way. She’d been just an easy lay to him.
“Try not to look scared.”
She stared openmouthed at Hunt. “Right. I don’t see them checking you out.”
“Actually, I think the guy in the far left-hand corner is.”
Dana pursed her lips, knowing full well he was playing with her. To prove that, she followed his directions and studied the man in question. He was definitely watching her with the eyes of a lech. “I hate to disappoint you, but he’s looking straight at me.”
Hunt smirked and turned back to the bartender. “Were you working the night this Fernando character was murdered?”
The guy squinted at Hunt’s question, then shoved three of the bills Hunt had placed on the bar back at him. “Who wants to know?”
“A friend of the man being accused of his murder.”
Dana was surprised at how blunt Hunt was. She would’ve thought he’d have eased into the subject a little more subtly.
“I don’t remember.” The bartender’s dark eyes darted around, a sure giveaway he was lying. He knew if he’d been working or not. He just wanted to stay out of the whole mess.
“Did you know the dead man?” Hunt asked, then brought his bottle of beer to his lips and took a long drink.
“He was the only banker in town. Everyone knew him.”
“Did everyone like him?”
Snickers erupted from the men closest to the bar.
Dana glanced behind her, receiving a number of unwelcome leers.
“I assume by the laughter that no one liked the man. Was there anyone in town who wanted him dead?”
“I guess your friend,” the bartender said, smiling. “He was the one to kill him.”
Dana was about to protest when Hunt hushed her with the wave of his hand.
“He has no recollection of the event. He took a pretty bad blow to the head. Know anything about that?”
“Maybe Fernando got in a good whack before he died.”
“And maybe someone hit my friend over the head and then planted the weapon on him.”
The bartender shrugged. “I don’t see how you’re gonna prove that. With no witnesses and all.”
Dana studied the man’s eyes carefully. He was lying. But why? Had he seen something? Was he in on a cover-up? And how could they prove that if he refused to talk?
Hunt turned to the men sitting at the end of the bar. “You three know anything?”
All heads ducked. No one was going to say a word. Why should they? Galen was a foreigner and they couldn’t care less if an innocent man hanged for a murder that he didn’t commit, especially if everyone hated the man who was dead.
* * * *
With effort, Galen hefted himself to the window and looked out onto the street. So far, this day had been the longest in history. He hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Travis or Hunt, and he was starting to believe they’d decided it was hopeless to try to get him out.
Hell, Hunt could be trying to seduce Dana as he stared out the damn window.
A glimpse of long, dark hair caught his eye. As the woman drew closer, his breath caught in his chest.
Dana.
Hunt stood beside her, holding her hand and looking as if he were out for an afternoon stroll. Without a care in the world.
Galen’s grip tightened on the bars of the window until his knuckles hurt.
Damn you, Hunt. Why was he messing around with her? When he got his hands on the other man, he was going to talk him out of ever touching her again. With his fists.
The door down the hall rattled.
He dropped to the floor and leaned against the wall.
A guard came to open his cell. “Chief wants to see you again.”
Galen smiled. “I thought I sensed a friendship growing.”
The man scowled. “Hold your tongue, chico, if you want to keep it.”
First the rape threat and now this cutting out his tongue innuendo. Guishil wasn’t the friendliest town in the world, that was for sure.
The guard pointed toward the far end of the hall. “Move.”
Galen trudged down to the other door. He knew he should keep his mouth shut, but it was hard to do that when he was in jail for a murder he didn’t commit. It was true he couldn’t remember the event, but in his gut he knew he couldn’t shoot anyone. Besides, he had no reason to kill the man.
When his pace slowed, the officer whacked him in the back with a baton. Pain shot through him. What he wouldn’t give to turn around and show this guy a little of the same. All the guards treated him like a punching bag and he was pretty damn sick of it. Hunt wanted him to lie low and not cause trouble, but a man could only take so much abuse. Galen had about hit his limit.
In the chief’s office, he was forced into a chair, sitting directly across from the man who probably had something to do with the murder of Fernando Rodriguez.
“Your friends are going around town asking a lot of questions. I am not happy about this.”
What did he want Galen to say? That he’d tell them to stop and just allow him to rot in jail until they hanged him? “I have no control over what they do. As you can see, I’m in here enjoying all the amenities jail has to offer.”
Dark, narrowed eyes bore into his. “You better hope they don’t stick their noses where they don’t belong or they might end up missing.”
Dana’s image appeared then faded away. What would he do if something happened to her? “I don’t think the US State Department would be too thrilled about that.” Galen hoped that knowledge would deter the man from doing what he’d threatened.
“I don’t give a damn what your state department thinks. But you should care how I feel about this turn of events. I could break every bone in your body and no one could do a thing to stop me.”
Galen refused to let the man intimidate him, but hell if his threat didn’t make him sweat, and even more determined to not piss the chief off anymore. He was partial to his bones and he really didn’t want any of them fractured.
“How am I supposed to tell my friends anything when I’m stuck in here?”
“I’m sure I can round one or two of them up. Besides, the dark-haired woman caught my eye. I want her to share a meal with me.”
He stared at the man, his anger reigniting a firestorm inside him.
“I’d like you to arrange that.”
Galen clenched his fists in his lap. “What? I don’t have control over who she has dinner with. Sorry.”
“You’d better get some, amigo, or I’m going to let a few of the guards escort you to the showers and talk you into it. Understand?”
What the hell was he supposed to do? Either get gang-banged by a pair of goons in a shower stall or take the chance of Dana being harmed by the man sitting across from him? In no way did the chief look like the type who took no for an answer, and Dana wouldn’t be able to see what was coming—she was too innocent.
A knock at the door gave Galen a reprieve. “Enter.” The tone in the chief’s voice spoke clearly of his irritation.
Shit!
A guard stuck his head inside the door. “The Americans are waiting to see the prisoner.”
The chief gave Galen a sardonic grin. “Perfect. Now you can convince the chica to be nice to me, and in turn, the guards will stay away from you while you shower.” He looked at the officer. “Put our guests in the interrogation room. The prisoner will be there shortly.”
The guard nodded and closed the door.
“I expect you to tell your lovely friend I’ll pick her up at the hotel.”
Galen wanted to punch the smug look off his face, but he’d be shot immediately for trying. He couldn’t protect Dana from this man if that happened.
The chief rose and came around the desk, gesturing for him to get up. “Don’t disappoint me, Hall, or you’ll be in for the night of your life.”
Galen shuffled down the hall to the interrogation room, feeling as if his life was as good as over. No way could he allow Dana to have dinner with this lunatic. He’d rather live through a night of hell than worry about her and what kind of sick depravity the chief had in store for a woman only Galen had touched. No fucking way. Hunt and Travis would see that Dana stayed safe as long as she was with them.
Inside the room, his focus fell on the woman in question, who looked too beautiful for words. From the first moment he’d laid eyes on her, he’d been attracted, though he could also tell she was too good for a man like him.
Even the lost tribe who’d kidnapped her while they were in the Amazon had valued her attributes. They had clearly sensed she was untouched. They were just lucky Travis had a lighter that day, and that fire was more important to them than Dana had been at the time, otherwise she’d still be with them.
“You okay, Galen?” Travis asked from across the room, his eyes narrowed with obvious concern.
Galen had to appear upbeat. He didn’t want anyone to know what the authorities had in mind for him later. “Did you find out anything?”
“The bartender from the cantina you spent the day in knows more than he’s saying.” Hunt looked to Dana for affirmation.
She nodded, then smiled at Galen. The gesture sent his heart racing.
“I don’t suppose you could get me transferred to another city jail?”
“Why? What’s going on, Galen?” Travis asked. “And don’t lie to me.”
The guard next to the door gave him a sick leer that just about made him spill his guts.
Instead he shook his head. “I just don’t like the food. That’s all.”
Travis stared him down. “Bullshit. What the hell’s going on?”
“Leave this alone, Travis. I can deal with it.” Galen tried to appear as cavalier as he could under the circumstances.
“What are they doing to you?” The shrill tone of Dana’s question drew everyone’s attention in the room.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll live.”
“To help with that, we need to know what’s happening.” Travis moved to his side. “Are they forcing you to stay quiet?”
“I need you to keep Dana safe,” Galen whispered while Travis was close.
Travis grabbed his arm. “Have they threatened her?”
