Winning Texas (38 page)

“
Glad you called right away,
”
Marr said. He pointed to the trunk of the Accord.
“
Is she in there?
”

“
Yeah. I
’
ll leave it closed until we dig the grave. It doesn
’
t have to be very deep. She would have wanted a green burial, so I didn
’
t bring a casket.
”

When Alicia had begged him at the end to bury her body at her house on the property Marr had given him, he
’
d immediately thought of the leaning oak tree in the back yard. Marr had gone to the house when he called and staked out a gravesite under the lone tree. He
’
d also brought shovels, so they got to work.

They paused when they heard the sound of an approaching vehicle and put down their shovels to greet Rob Ryland. Riggins
’
s nephew parked his pickup in the driveway and got out, dressed in old jeans and carrying a shovel. He embraced Riggins, apologized profusely for being late and offered his sympathy in a faltering voice. Like most young people, he wasn
’
t comfortable with death, though Riggins remembered that he
’
d been stoic as a teenager at the funerals of his parents.

“
I
’
m so sorry, Uncle Dan,
”
Rob said.
“
I was shocked when you called. I didn
’
t know Alicia was that close to the end. She was one of the most alive persons I
’
ve ever met.
”

“
Thanks, Rob,
”
Riggins said gruffly.
“
Let
’
s get this done. You and I will talk later.
”

After the three men dug a little longer, the plot was ready. Riggins opened the trunk and motioned to Marr. Alicia body
’
s was draped in a cotton shroud and a burial sling, but her soft white hair and her closed eyes were visible. He and Marr each took an end of the sling and carried it to the grave, placing it gently in the arid caliche soil.

“
Do you want to say anything?
”
Riggins asked Marr and Rob.
“
You know I
’
m not a religious man, but could you each say a few words? Alicia didn
’
t like most people, but she always felt good about the two of you.
”

“
Dear Lord, please hold close the body and spirit of your daughter Alicia,
”
Marr said.
“
Forgive her many sins and transgressions. Please give comfort to your son Dan and sustain him in his journeys. And bring my Betsy home. Amen.
”

“
Amen,
”
Riggins said. He didn
’
t even mind when Marr mentioned her sins, though he couldn
’
t bring himself to regard her as sinful. As a skilled assassin, she
’
d always performed repugnant tasks that needed doing.

“
Dear God, please bless Alicia for her bravery and commitment to Texas,
”
Rob said.
“
Let her rest peacefully on the plot of land she held so dear. Give her a place in heaven alongside the heroes of the Alamo.
”

“
Amen,
”
Riggins said again. Rob had become his surrogate son in the absence of his twin boys, now grown and gone. He
’
d been thinking about them in the last couple of days. Would he ever see their faces again? He
’
d even miss his two brothers in San Antonio, who
’
d taken over his parents
’
grocery chain and lived the dullest of lives.

He and Rob and Marr all fell silent for a few minutes. The bare-bones funeral had been sobering, especially the sight of Alicia
’
s frail body. They soaked in the stillness, broken only by a bird
’
s solitary song and a car honking in the distance.

After they covered the grave, they went inside the house and washed up. Marr brought out the picnic basket that Maria, his housekeeper, had packed for them. It contained steak sandwiches, fruit salad and cookies. She
’
d also thoughtfully included a bottle of good red wine.

They toasted Alicia solemnly, clinking the hand-blown, blue wine goblets they found in the cupboard. Alicia had collected unique glassware and pottery during the nearly two decades she
’
d run a crafts business in San Antonio.

“
You said something on the phone about changing your life, Dan,
”
Marr said as they ate.
“
What
’
s that all about?
”

“
I couldn
’
t imagine staying in Mexico without Alicia,
”
Riggins said.
“
I hate that place and I hate my life running from the law. I called some of my old contacts in the CIA and worked a deal.
”

“
What kind of deal?
”

“
They
’
ll clear up my fugitive status and wipe out all of my legal problems. In exchange, I
’
ll go anywhere they want and work undercover
–
for as long as I
’
m physically able,
”
Riggins said.
“
I
’
ll do whatever I can for them.
”

Marr whistled.
“
That
’
s quite a deal. But it
’
s kind of a life sentence in some ways. You sure you want to do that? Where are you going?
”

“
I
’
ll be leaving for Venezuela in a few days,
”
Riggins said.
“
Not sure how long I
’
ll be there, but as you know, that country
’
s a big mess. Got to get rid of my stuff in Ojinaga first and tie up loose ends,
”
Riggins said.

“
What about this house?
”
Marr said.

“
Save it for Betsy. Alicia would want her to have it. She didn
’
t have anyone left she cared about in Peru.
”

“
When my Betsy comes back, the little house will be hers. I know she
’
ll treasure it,
”
Marr said, his face somber.

“
One more thing,
”
Riggins said.
“
I
’
m leaving a package for you. The note will explain everything. Just tell the authorities you found it on your doorstep. Don
’
t tell anyone you saw me
–
or that Alicia is buried here. Who knows what people would do to her grave?
”

His chin trembled and he covered it with his hands for a moment. He gave Marr a wobbly smile.

“
You got it, buddy,
”
Marr said.
“
What about the Nation of Texas? They
’
ll miss your leadership. Are you really giving up on Texas secession?
”

“
Of course not,
”
Riggins said.
“
That
’
s one reason I invited Rob today. We
’
ll leave you now and go somewhere to talk about what needs to happen.
”

He hugged Marr again. After a moment, so did Rob. His nephew walked a few feet ahead, giving the two older men time to say goodbye, a lifetime of memories between them.

“
Goodbye, Tom. Don
’
t forget my Alicia. Come by and visit her when you can.
”

“
I
’
ll take care of her, Dan. You take care of yourself.
”

Marr looked over at Rob.

“
You know I
’
m not going to get involved in the Nation of Texas again. But good luck, son, and don
’
t get yourself killed.
”

CHAPTER 42

Annie sat in her living room with her cats. As usual, Marbles attached himself to her right side on the sofa, as close as he could get without climbing into her lap, while Benjy lounged on the Queen Anne chair across from her. The silky red upholstery probably felt soft and cool, she thought. She didn
’
t care how much black hair the cats left on her sofa and chairs
–
their silent presence comforted her.

She drank her light beer with its three orange slices slowly, because the single glass would be all she
’
d have tonight. She
’
d been fairly successful kicking her nightly wine habit in favor of one beer. It tasted refreshing after the heat of the day.

Today was the first full day of work since Barry McKnight and Agamemnon had announced their plan to shut down the newspaper and shore up the website. Across the country, journalism pundits were still obsessing over the terrible decision to do away with the only daily paper in the nation
’
s fourth largest city. Television news was all over it, with TV reporters doing live shots in front of the building and in the newsroom about the latest nail in the industry
’
s coffin. It was all so depressing.

Annie had gone to the first planning meeting today with top editors discussing how to staff the website-only operation, which would be phased in soon. What really upset her was seeing the faces of the reporters who
’
d have to fight each other for the small number of jobs that soon would be posted. She
’
d refused to think much about her own dwindling prospects. But she felt heartsick for so many others, including Travis and his excitement just a few days ago about marriage and fatherhood. He was quietly going about his business, not saying much but looking anxious.

She needed to stop thinking about the whole newspaper catastrophe because she was waiting for Tom Marr. He
’
d called her at work to say he was on his way to Houston and wanted to stop by briefly. She had no idea what he wanted, but she looked forward to seeing him. After the debacles in her love life lately, she wanted to be around someone whose constancy she was beginning to trust.

The doorbell rang before she
’
d finished her beer. She opened the door and there he stood, in his usual jeans, scuffed cowboy boots and white shirt.

“
Hi, Tom,
”
she said and he stepped inside. She looked into his blue eyes and suddenly he was holding her tightly and kissing her, their first real kiss. He
’
d kissed her on the cheek and the head, like a fond friend, but his kiss on the lips felt warm and sensual. He smelled of sunshine and Ivory soap mixed with a fresh breeze. After the disturbing collapse of her reunion with Jake and the disastrous ending with Matt, being with Tom felt new and fresh. After a minute, she broke away, but held his hand and steered him into the living room.

“
You look great,
”
she said.
“
I
’
m so glad you
’
re here.
”

“
Can
’
t stay long, because I
’
m meeting with a detective about Betsy,
”
he said.
“
But I
’
ve been thinking about kissing you ever since I saw you last.
”

“
Well, we better talk about whatever brought you here,
”
she said.
“
Can I get you a beer?
”

“
No, but I
’
ll sit down for a few minutes while I explain.
”

“
First of all, what
’
s the news on Betsy?
”

He shook his head.
“
She
’
s somewhere in the Houston area with her boyfriend. Maria persuaded her to talk to me on the phone briefly and she said she
’
s fine, she
’
s happy and she
’
s working. But she says she
’
d disappear if I pressure her right now.
”