Leopard 04 - Wild Fire

Isabeau said. “He felt guilty for listening to Suma in the first place. He had the need to make it up to himself and maybe to me. He would have just followed you.”
    “He handled himself well,” Conner pointed out. “He didn’t panic and in spite of encountering an enemy, he went back to the original mission, trying to protect us. Suma was experienced and a fighter. I had a few bad moments with him myself. Isabeau shot him, remember? I just finished the job.”
    “You would have taken him,” Rio said, “but it was going to take time we didn’t have.”
    “I think Ottila is going to be more dangerous than ever,” Isabeau ventured hesitantly. “He appeared to take a backseat to Suma, but I didn’t believe it after encountering him. I think he was the brains. And I think his number-one priority will be seeking revenge for Suma.”
    Conner shook his head. “It will be acquiring you.”
    She frowned. “Suma and Ottila seemed like close brothers. He said they . . .” She bit her lip and forced herself to continue, although she found it embarrassing. “They shared everything—including women. He was willing to share me with Suma, although he said I would carry his child.”
    “That alone speaks to who is the dominant,” Rio said. “He would have taken her in her heat, not allowing Suma access to her, to insure the child was his. She’s right, Conner, it was Ottila, not Suma, who was calling the shots.”
    “And we know they aren’t entirely loyal to Imelda,” Conner added. “Or they would have told her Philip Sobre was recording their conversations. My guess is, they pushed Sobre to do it. Ottila probably had Suma approach Sobre and lay out a plan. They would pretend to work for Imelda, but really be working for him. They most likely suggested he tape the conversations, probably even told him how. Sobre isn’t the brightest man on the planet.”
    “Wasn’t,” Rio corrected. “Did you see the newspaper this morning?”
    Isabeau snuck a quick look at Conner from under her lashes. They hadn’t looked at a newspaper or done much else other than enjoy each other’s body. She had lost count of the times he woke her and still, when the morning light crept into the room, he’d already be moving inside her. She wasn’t certain she could walk normally and definitely was a little sore.
    “Philip Sobre was found murdered. He was hanging in a closet with his entrails wrapped around his cut throat. His tongue had been pulled through the opening in the traditional ‘Colombian necktie.’ He had obviously been tortured extensively. The party was mentioned, but the guests were all seen leaving, and Philip waved good- bye from the door, kissing the ladies, even Imelda on both cheeks,” Rio said. “They have video surveillance to prove it.”
    Isabeau pressed a hand to her stomach. “That’s just sick. Did Imelda do that?”
    “According to the papers, she was devastated. Philip Sobre was a former lover and a wonderful, close friend. She’ll miss him terribly and will not stop hunting his killer. She looked right into the camera when she uttered that lie with such complete sincerity. She had no comment on the findings in his private garden,” Rio added.
    Isabeau inhaled sharply. “What did they find?”
    “Bodies. More than thirty so far, both female and male. There is speculation that Philip Sobre could be Panama’s biggest serial killer in the history of the country,” Rio told her.
    “I believe there’s only been one or two that have ever been acknowledged or known about,” Conner said. “This will be extremely uncomfortable for law enforcement, especially as so many officials knew him.”
    “What a mess. Imelda just couldn’t wait,” Rio said. “My guess is, she took that place apart hunting for those tapes. By now all evidence against her is destroyed.”
    Isabeau grew hot and uncomfortable, her mouth aching as if someone had punched her. Even her teeth hurt. The conversation made her sick.
    “Maybe,” Conner said, “but if Ottila was the one who put the idea of taping the conversations in Sobre’s head in the first place, there’s a good chance he has them stashed somewhere. And if he was the one who searched the house, he’d have no reason to find them. Imelda has no idea he isn’t loyal to her.”

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    “Why am I his first priority?” Isabeau asked. “Isn’t money his true motivator?”