But Inez had learned the truth. And then she had betrayed her. How? And why? She did not understand, but it did not matter. All that mattered was that they were coming for her. And they would take her into Mexico. She fought not to panic-because what she did in the next few moments would determine whether she lived or died.

Think, Lindsay, think!

They would take her, but he would come for her. She was still his wife. Her husband had his faults-he was unfaithful, he was ambitious, he was a politician-but he was no coward. He would come for her. But how would he find her in Nuevo Laredo? Among five hundred thousand people living in five hundred square miles. A sprawling, lawless city controlled by drug cartels. And beyond the city lay the vast Chihuahuan Desert. She would be swallowed whole across the river. He would never find her.

Unless.

She grabbed the satchel and rummaged inside until she found her cell phone. She always turned it off when she arrived at the clinic each day because there was no phone service in the colonias, landline or cell. She now turned the phone on. The battery registered full. He had found her here on the border that first time when the Rangers had tracked her cell phone with GPS. He could find her again-if she had her phone.

But El Diablo's men would search her and take the phone.

If they found it.

There was only one place they wouldn't find it.

She pushed the volume button to mute the compact cell phone then pulled up her dress and reached down inside her panties and between her legs and pushed the phone into her vagina. Then Lindsay Bonner waited for them to come for her.

And prayed her husband would.

SIX MONTHS BEFORE

ONE