Read Silence in the Dark Online
Authors: Patricia Bradley
Tags: #FIC042060, #FIC042040, #FIC027110, #Christian Fiction, #Mystery Fiction, #Suspense Fiction
“I don’t know. You’re not thinking . . . ?”
“If there are rooms available and Joel hasn’t found a place to stay, I would like for him to stay there.”
“And your reasoning is?”
“I remember a saying from one of your old movies—keep your friends close but your enemies closer.”
Danny grinned. “Michael Corleone said that in the second
Godfather
movie.”
“I have discovered it is valuable advice.”
16
B
ailey didn’t really think God kept score of her mistakes. Or did she?
She’d continued to sit in the pottery shop long after her mother left, mulling over her words.
Peace and joy were possible—sometimes she even possessed both. But when something went wrong, like Father Horatio or the cartel, fear and anxiety took over her life. She quit trusting God.
She wasn’t sure how she’d go about really trusting God, but recognizing the problem was the first step. The next step was to focus on what God
had
done, like keeping them safe this week.
The security buzzer rang, and she glanced up at the security TV. Joel, in the driveway. Good—she had a few questions for him. She hurried inside the house, speaking to her mom and Maria in the kitchen as she slipped on her jacket.
“We’re making apple dumplings,” her mom said.
Maria waved a small rolling pin. “I’m rolling out the biscuits.”
“Can’t wait,” Bailey said. The doorbell rang, and she hurried down the hallway to let Joel in.
“I didn’t expect you back so soon, but I’m glad you are,” she said. “We haven’t had a chance to talk at all.”
“I know. Where’s Maria?” He looked past her.
“Mom has her busy. Why don’t we take a walk?”
“Sure.”
The air was invigorating, but a cold front had dropped the temperature from earlier in the day, and Bailey pulled her coat tight against the wind as they walked down the drive. “Angel told Maria he was her father, so you may have questions to answer.”
He nodded. “Leave it to Angel to make my life harder.”
She laughed. “You’re surprised he told her?”
“No, I assumed he would, just not so soon.”
Sunlight filtered through the oak trees that lined the drive. They were beginning to bud, a sure sign winter was over.
Joel cleared his throat. “I’ve noticed Maria isn’t wearing her necklace, so I’d like to take it back for safekeeping. It’s quite expensive, you know.”
She glanced sharply at him. “Maybe you’d like the one you gave me back as well.”
He paled. “Of course not. Forget I said anything.”
She would. Especially since she’d rather not tell him the necklace broke, since he was so preoccupied about the price. Hopefully, she’d have it back before Joel asked about it again. They walked in silence for a few minutes.
“What’s that?” Joel pointed to a green clump.
“Daffodils.” She smiled. “They’re the first ones I’ve seen this year.”
“I thought maybe that’s what they were. My mother had some when I was growing up.”
“She doesn’t anymore?”
“I doubt it. My father always griped about having to mow around all her flowers. One day he just cut them down.”
“I think Daddy fusses too, but he’d never do that. Mom would have his head. Oh, there’s crocus.” She pointed to another green clump, then gave him a sideways glance. “Have you spoken to your parents today? They didn’t mention you being in the States.”
“They don’t know. I talked with my mother early this morning
while she was in the ICU waiting room. Talking to her on a cell phone isn’t the easiest thing in the world, and getting her to call when she’s in the room with my father is next to impossible. She was worried about you and Maria, though, and I reassured her you were all right.”
“She seems really nice.” Dried leaves crunched under their feet. “Tell me about your relationship with Angel,” Bailey said. “I’m visual, so I’ve been trying to see what’s going on as a big picture—like a jigsaw puzzle—but I’m having trouble fitting all the pieces together.”
“It’s because Angel isn’t someone you can put in a nice neat package. He’s too unpredictable, and he will lie to you. If you listen to him, there’s no way you’ll ever have all the pieces.”
“He accused you of leading him into a trap.”
“But I didn’t. I was just trying to help my sister’s husband get straight with the law. Angel believes the end justifies the means. At first he stayed under the radar of the Federal police, and I turned my head the other way. But when he started using Claire to procure rifles—I had to stop him.”
“She told you she was helping him?”
“No. I was at their house babysitting Maria one night and found invoices in her handwriting. I confronted Angel, told him if he wanted to join forces with the Federal police and work against the Calatrava, I had a contact there.”
“Why were you going through his papers?”
“I wasn’t.” He kicked at an acorn on the drive. “They were on the desk in the living room. He agreed to a meeting.”
“The one where he was shot.”
“Yes, as well as my contact. I didn’t know he was Sergeant Chavez’s brother.” Joel fell silent for a minute. “I don’t know what went wrong that day. While the Federals wanted to rein Angel in, the Calatrava had a contract on his head. Someone informed them that Angel was meeting with the Federals.”
“So all this time, you believed he was dead?”
“Yes. I don’t know why he didn’t get word to us that he was alive. If he had, Claire might still . . .” He kicked at another acorn. “As it was, she just gave up.”
“I don’t think he could contact you. He almost died in the gun battle and spent months in a Texas hospital.”
“He could have if he’d wanted to.” They’d reached the hand-carved signs that advertised her mother’s pottery shop and bed-and-breakfast, and Joel nodded toward the road. “Go back or keep walking?”
Cold had seeped through her coat, sending a shiver through her. “Let’s go back to the house. I’m sure you want to spend time with Maria.”
Twice she’d glanced up and found him looking at her the same way Danny did. She looked up, and he was doing it again. And like before, he quickly averted his gaze.
“Those signs,” he said. “Who made them? They’re quite unique.”
“My dad. He’s quite good with a carving knife, almost as good as my mom is with her pottery.”
“Claire loved working with clay. She was very talented. Sometime I’d like to see your mother’s work.”
“I’ll tell her. She’d be pleased to show you.” Bailey jammed her cold hands into her coat pocket. “I’ve never known for sure how Claire died.”
“A drug reaction. Her doctor gave her an antidepressant, but she was also taking an herbal concoction that increased her serotonin level, causing what the doctors called serotonin syndrome. By the time they diagnosed her problem, she’d slipped into a coma. Then it was too late.”
“That is so sad.”
“Yes.” He put his hand on her arm. “I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for Maria. I don’t know how to repay you.”
“Nothing to repay me for. Maria is such a sweetheart.”
“Yes, she is. And I’m glad for the opportunity to get to know you better. After all that’s happened, will you return to Mexico?”
“I have to finish my contract, but after that . . .” She shrugged. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do.”
“I don’t blame you for that.”
“I’ve been thinking about something Solana said—that if all the law-abiding citizens leave Mexico, the drug cartels will win. I’d like to think when this is all over, I’ll want to go back and try to make a difference.”
“That’s a noble sentiment, but it’s not our fight. Waging war on the drug cartels is futile and foolish. It’s best to just mind your own business.”
Joel’s declaration added to her confusion. “Someone has to stop them.”
“The Mexican people are the ones who have to stand up to them, not foreigners.”
“Like Angel?” They had reached the house and climbed the steps to the front door.
“No, not some vigilante but someone who will work within the framework of the government.” He opened the door, and a tantalizing aroma met them. “What do I smell?” he asked.
“Apple dumplings. Maria was helping my mom bake them. Let’s go see if they’re done.”
When they pushed the swinging door open, Maria was standing on a chair at the sink, wearing an oversized apron. “Uncle Joel, I’m washing dishes. Miss Kate said when we cook, we have to clean up.”
“Good for you, Mrs. Adams.”
“We don’t stand on formalities around here. The name is Kate.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She dried her hands on a paper towel. “I need to check the kiln. Help yourself to an apple dumpling.”
“Thanks.”
Bailey helped Maria take off the apron. The child tilted her head toward Joel. “Did Tio come with you?”
“No, he’s busy with work. Perhaps some evening you can go with me to the hotel to see him.” Joel patted her on the head. “But a little bird told me you did a good job cooking.”
“Mm-huh. We’re having a . . . a cel—” Maria cut her eyes to Bailey. “What are we having?”
“A celebration,” she said and left it at that. Joel wouldn’t consider Angel and Maria’s reunion something to celebrate.
“Oh.” He cupped Maria’s chin in his hand. “I don’t see your necklace.”
Maria looked at the floor and shook her head. “It broke last night.”
“What?” he said sharply. “You broke your necklace?”
“I’m afraid it was my fault, and I should have told you earlier,” Bailey said. “I think it caught in her jumper and the clasp broke when I put her pajamas on. My sister took it to be repaired.”
He waved his hand. “No big deal. Tell me where it is and I’ll pick it up.”
“Unfortunately, the jeweler can’t get to it until tomorrow.”
Anger flashed across his face, then just as fast disappeared. “No problem.” He looked at Maria. “I didn’t mean to snap at you, but that necklace cost a lot of money.”
Bailey lifted her brows. If he kept harping on the price . . . “Maybe you should have waited until she was older to buy something that expensive.”
“You’re right. In fact, I have a cheaper one in my bag at the hotel. Why don’t I bring it tomorrow? Then, when you get the other one back from the jeweler, I’ll put it away for her.”
“That’s an excellent idea.”
“Will you put Mommy’s picture in it?”
“I sure will.” Joel glanced Bailey’s way. “You haven’t lost yours, have you?”
“No, it’s in my jewelry box.” She helped Maria out of the chair. “Angel is agreeable to take Maria to see your parents tomorrow.”
“Really. That’s a surprise. Did he say what time?”
“Probably around ten.”
“I’ll let Edward know I won’t be available tomorrow.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Boy, Danny was right when he said I might have a problem getting a room anywhere decent. I’ve had to settle for a room at a motel here in Logan Point.”
She could tell by the tone of his voice that he wasn’t happy with the room. She glanced up as Angel and Danny entered the kitchen.
“Then perhaps you would like to stay here.”
Joel turned and looked as though he hadn’t understood his brother-in-law. “Did you say stay here?”
“Sure.” He wasn’t looking at Joel but at his daughter.
“Angel!” Maria ran to him. “Can . . .” She hesitated, looking to Joel then back to Angel. “Can I call you Daddy?”
“Of course you can.” Angel picked her up and swung her up on his shoulders. “Why don’t we go for a walk?”
Joel cleared his throat. “Maria, don’t forget to put a coat on. It’s quite windy out there.”
“Yes, Uncle Joel.”
Angel stopped at the door. “And Joel, think about asking Kate if she has room to put you up.”
“Wait up for me on the porch,” Danny said. “I think I’ll go with you.” He turned to Bailey, asking with his eyes if she wanted to join him.
“Give me a couple of minutes.”
After they left, Joel’s shoulders sagged.
Bailey touched his arm. “I know this is hard and that Maria means a lot to you.”
“He might be Maria’s natural father, but he hasn’t raised her for the past two years,” he said through his teeth. “Where was he when Claire died? Or when Maria had an earache and
screamed all night?
Daddy
.” Joel spit the word out. “He doesn’t have a clue.”
She didn’t know how to respond to his outburst.
He turned to her, and his face softened. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have lost my temper.”
“I’m glad you held it in until Maria was gone.”
“Do you think your mother would rent me a room?”
“You’d want to stay here? Why?”
“Maybe for the same reason that Angel suggested I stay here—he wants to keep an eye on me. But that works both ways.”
A blast of heat welcomed Joel as he walked through the door to the reception area at Maxwell Industries. He’d faced the icy north wind as he walked across the parking lot, which chilled him to the bone and increased his foul mood. He wanted nothing more than to wipe the satisfied smirk from Angel’s face.
This trip had been a disaster from the start. After he left Bailey, all he’d wanted to do was pick Edward up at Maxwell Industries and get him to drop him off at the auto rental to pick up his own car instead of using Edward’s, retrieve his clothes, and get settled in the B&B. Instead, Edward insisted he come up to Phillip Maxwell’s office.