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73 Running a hotel was one thing; finding a kidnapped infant was another. After everyone left, Jovita sat in the vacant restaurant, looked out into the afternoon sunlight and tried to think of some plan. Nothing seemed possible. Even Locket himself seemed at a loss for action, unusual for him, talking around the subject as if he were still not certain anything was workable. Or legal. But one thing was certain. A young woman, beaten and bruised, lay in one of Jovita’s back rooms, swearing that her infant was out there at this moment, probably in some heat-stifling place, with who knew what kind of care. “Locket was right,” Jovita mused. “We have to do something. And it needs to be soon.” She rose and went back through the lobby and tapped lightly on the first guest room where Bea was with the young woman. Bea came to the door with her finger across her lips. Jovita nodded and gestured for her to come into the hallway. She could see Perfidia stretched out across the bed, still asleep. Bea came out and closed the door. “How is she?” Jovita said. Bea shrugged. “She’s talking in her sleep,” she said. “And crying.” C H A P T E R 6 Bob Cherry 74 “Listen, we’re going to find her baby,” Jovita said with conviction. “And we’re going to find it soon. But I need you to take care of her, Bea.” “Where?” Bea said. “She can’t stay in this room.” “Will you keep her with you?” Bea hesitated and then said, “You mean in my apartment?” Jovita nodded. “You’re asking a lot,” Bea said. “If Immigration found out . . .” “I know,” Jovita said. “But don’t forget, I’m in on it too.” Bea stood rigid, said nothing. “And Clay,” Jovita went on and then, “And so’s Locket.” “Locket?” “Yes.” Bea sighed. “Well, who am I to say no then.” She looked at Jovita and softened. “And I want to anyway. If you’re going to do something, I want to be a part of it.” “Thanks, Bea,” Jovita said. “I knew I could count on you.” “When should I move her?” “Well, let’s wait until later in the evening,” Jovita said.“Acoupleof guestsarestillherebutthey’rechecking out in the morning.” Bea nodded. The restaurant always closed on Sunday evening. “I’ll go back and get a bed ready for her.” “Fine.” “Can you get some clothes? She’s small.” “Well, mine sure won’t fit,” Jovita smiled. “Maybe [3.235.130.73] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 17:48 GMT) MOVING SERAFINA 75 I’ll have to do some shopping.” “In Solitario?” Bea raised her eyebrows. “Good luck.” “I’ll drive down to Presidio,” Jovita said. “First thing in the morning. You go ahead, Bea. I’ll sneak back in and sit with her.” Bea went off down the hallway toward her apartment, secluded at the back of the hotel behind the restaurant. Jovita watched her go. “Well, it’s not much of a plan,” Jovita confessed to herself. She opened the door and went into the room and sat in a chair next to the bed, staring at the young woman. “But it’s a start,” she whispered and Perfidia stirred just a moment but then seemed to relax, as if she had heard and understood the determination in Jovita’s voice. Two doors down from the hotel, Locket and Clay poked fingers at Locket’s map, like two generals before an invasion. “They could have gone east, but not likely west,” Locket said. “Nothing’s next to your old place out that way but desert. They’d need water and somewhere to get their own asses outta the heat. And they’d need it soon.” “Yeah,” Clay said. “Probably over east to Presidio. Maybe even that same night they dumped her?” “That’s what I’m thinking,” Locket said. “Or maybe even farther east, on over to Redford. There’s been lots of action crossing the river here where it’s really shallow with a sandy bottom.” He poked his finger at the map where the river widened below Santa Helena Canyon and bent, slowing down the water and Bob Cherry 76 depositing silt and sand. “And Redford ain’t that much farther east of Presidio anyway,” Locket went on. “They’ll probably try to dissolve into the Hispanic community some way, somewhere. Maybe we oughta check with the Muñoz brothers...