Remembering the sad child she’d first met and seeing her now warmed Bailey’s heart. She’d made a difference in Maria’s life. That made the trip to Mexico worth all the bad that happened.
Maria tilted her head. “Are you coming home with us too?”
“I don’t know.” Bailey bit her lip. She hadn’t decided if she wanted to return to Mexico other than to finish out the school year. The school expected her to teach next year, but she wasn’t sure she could. She shook her head, dispelling the memory of fear, of running away. “How about we go downstairs?” she asked. “I think I smell bacon and cinnamon rolls.”
“And then I can put my new dress on?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
When they entered the kitchen, Bailey spoke to her mom before helping Maria into a chair. Her cell phone rang and she slid the phone out of her pocket. “Hello?”
“Hey, bad news,” Danny said.
“What?”
“Dad’s insisting that I sit in on the contract negotiations with Edward Montoya, and Angel called. The doctor who was supposed to see Solana was called out for an emergency. She has to go back to the clinic this afternoon—they’re on their way back to the B&B now. Looks like we’ll have to reschedule the Corning trip for tomorrow.”
Bailey didn’t relish telling Maria or Joel that news. “Looks that way, doesn’t it. Do you know when you’ll be back?”
“Depends on how well the negotiations go.” His voice turned husky. “I was looking forward to being with you on the flight over.”
A shiver raced through her. “Me too.”
“See you soon.”
Joel entered the kitchen from the back door as she disconnected from the call, and Maria scrambled from her chair and ran to him. “Uncle Joel!”
He picked her up. “I see you’re wearing your necklace.”
A grin spread across Maria’s face. “Are you going with us in the plane?”
“No, sweetheart. I’ll be driving to Corning in case I need to stay behind.” He shook his head. “You wouldn’t believe the trouble I had getting a rental car yesterday so that I didn’t have to use Edward’s. How long does that convention go on?”
“Through the weekend,” Kate said. She took a breakfast casserole from the oven. “Is everyone ready for something hot?”
“That looks good, Kate.” Joel set Maria in the chair Bailey pulled out. “So tell me, how do you have rooms available when no one else does, other than the fleabag I vacated.”
Kate poured him a cup of coffee. “My bed-and-breakfast was omitted from the list that went out to attendees. By the time I found out, it was too late to change it.” She glanced at Maria. “And now I’m glad it worked out that way.”
Bailey was too. She turned to Joel. “I hope you slept well.”
“I did. And whatever your mother just took out of the oven smells wonderful.”
“It is.” Bailey dished out three servings of the casserole, then took a cup from the cabinet. “I’m afraid our plans have changed from last night. Neither Danny nor Angel can go today or at least not this morning.”
Joel jerked his head toward her. “You’re kidding.”
“Not unless something changes.” She explained the problem to Joel and her mother.
“I may be able to help with Solana,” Kate said.
Joel turned to Maria and took a small box from his pocket. “I have something for you. You don’t have to worry about losing this one—it’s not that expensive.”
Bailey smiled as Maria’s eyes grew round as he opened the box and took out a necklace. “She wants to show it to her grandmother.”
“Well, this one is just like it.”
“Does it have Mommy’s picture?”
Joel seemed to stop breathing. “Ah, I’m afraid not. But we can transfer the picture from the other one.”
“Let me take a look at it,” Bailey said and opened the locket Joel held. She winced. There was no frame to slide a picture into like in the original. “I don’t think your sister’s photo will fit.”
Maria’s bottom lip poked out, and she placed her hand over the locket she wore. “I want to wear this one. I want to show Nana Sue my mommy’s picture.” She raised her tear-filled eyes. “I’ll be careful, Uncle Joel. I won’t lose it, I promise.”
“I’ll try to make sure she doesn’t lose it, but if something happens to it, I’ll pay you for it,” Bailey said. She hoped the child didn’t lose it since the necklace obviously cost a pretty chunk of money, but Maria had been through so much in her short life, it seemed a shame to deny her wearing the necklace with Claire’s picture in it. Besides, Joel should have known how much having the photo meant to Maria. Men. They knew nothing about females, even very small ones.
Joel’s lips twitched, then he nodded. “I suppose one more day won’t hurt. But be very careful.”
Maria’s eyes lit up, and she threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you, Uncle Joel. I’ll be careful, I promise.”
“You better,” he said as Maria climbed back into her chair. He took a sip of coffee. “I’m still making the trip, and there’s no reason why Maria can’t go with me.”
“I doubt Angel would go for that.”
The back door opened, and Angel and Solana came in just in time to catch what Bailey said.
“Go for what?” he asked.
“Daddy!” Maria squealed. “Are you ready to take me to see Nana Sue and Papa Joe?”
Angel swept her up. “I think we will wait until tomorrow. Will that be okay with you?”
Her face fell. “Can we go back to that park, then?”
“Maybe.” He turned to Bailey. “What is it I won’t go for?”
Joel squared his shoulders. “I talked with my mother, and the doctors have scheduled my father’s surgery for tomorrow morning. I’m going to see him today, and I want to take Maria with me.”
“On Saturday?”
“Evidently the doctor operates on weekends.”
Angel folded his arms across his chest. “No.”
“Why not? He’s facing a risky operation and may die, and I’d really like for him to see Maria. I’m sure Bailey would be glad to accompany me, and it’s what Claire would want.”
Memories of Wednesday in Mexico sent shivers down Bailey’s back. Although there’d been no indication that they’d been followed to Logan Point, she wasn’t certain she wanted to risk the trip without Danny and Angel along.
“Please, Daddy, I want to wear my new dress you bought me and go with Uncle Joel.”
The tendons in Angel’s neck throbbed as he ground his molars. If Joel thought he’d use Claire to play on his sympathy, he’d learn quickly it wouldn’t work. Maria was going nowhere without him.
“Angel,” Solana spoke quietly. “Why don’t we reschedule my appointment?”
He directed his gaze to her. “Because you’ve worn that cast long enough.”
“But what if he . . . it would make me feel terrible if she couldn’t go because of me.”
Kate cleared her throat. “Excuse me,” she said. “There’ll be no need to reschedule or for Angel to stay behind to take Solana. I can take her to the clinic this afternoon. That is, if Angel wants to work it out that way.”
It was a solution. But he didn’t like it that Maria would be traveling by car. “Let me call Danny. Perhaps he will be finished by noon—there would still be time to go.”
He stepped out of the kitchen and walked to his bedroom to call. Danny answered on the first ring. “Angel? Is everything okay?”
“There’s a problem with waiting until tomorrow to go to Corning. Claire’s father is having surgery tomorrow, and there’s some question as to whether he’ll make it through the surgery. I’m trying to work out a way to take Maria to see him today. I’d really prefer her to fly rather than travel by car. Less chance of something going wrong. Do you think you’ll be finished by noon?”
“We’re waiting on Edward to start the meeting now—he stepped out for a few minute
s, so I don’t know how long this will take.”
“Would you consider letting me fly your plane?”
“What? Are you telling me you can pilot a plane?”
“I guess I am.”
“What else have you not told me?”
Danny wouldn’t want to know all of his secrets. “That’s it. I didn’t think my piloting skills were relevant.”
“You have a valid license?”
“Of course.”
“Let me think about it. If I see I won’t get through here by noon, I’ll call you.”
“Sure. Do you mind if I check out your plane? Maybe take care of refueling it?”
“That’s a good idea.”
Angel pocketed his phone and walked back to the kitchen. Joel’s voice stopped him just outside the door. From where he stood, Angel could see and hear his brother-in-law. Joel was doing what he did best—charming the people around him. The man thrived on attention.
Even though he’d wanted Joel at the bed-and-breakfast, being under the same roof gnawed at his insides. And when Maria climbed in his lap, as she was now, his desire to kill the man intensified. But Joel’s death would not bring back Claire, and if Angel wanted justice for what happened in the warehouse that day, he needed to keep Joel alive. There was always a chance his brother-in-law would make a slip, and Angel would have the evidence to turn him over to the Mexican authorities for collaborating with the Calatrava.
Angel stepped back into the room. “Danny said it would depend on Edward as to whether or not he could fly Maria to Corning. Can you influence my uncle into wrapping up the negotiations by noon? Do that, and now that Kate has offered to take Solana to the doctor, we should be able to fly Maria to see your father before he has surgery.”
Joel’s eyes narrowed, then with a blink, a smile appeared on his lips. But Angel knew from the rigid jaw and tense shoulders, anger at not being in control smoldered just below the surface.
“You can’t drive her?” Joel asked.
“I’d rather not, just in case . . .” He cast his gaze toward Maria.
“I’ll see what I can do.” He took his phone out and walked away from them. When he finished his call, he turned and nodded. “Edward promised to wrap up today’s negotiations within the hour.”
“Good.” Angel winked at Maria. “And now you get to wear your new dress today, after all.”
Joel checked his watch. “What time do you think you’ll arrive?”
“If everything stays on schedule, around two.”
Joel nodded and knelt to hug Maria. “You be good today, okay?”
She kissed him on the cheek. “I will. I wish you could fly with us.”
“Me too, honey. But I need to go early and visit with my dad.” He gave her one last hug and straightened up. “Don’t let anything happen to her.”
Angel couldn’t reconcile the man he knew with the one embracing Maria. At first Angel thought it was an act, but just as he’d seen unbridled anger in his eyes, he now saw real love.
Joel stopped at the door. “Are you really going to bring her, or is this all an act just to get rid of me?”
“You have my word that I will bring her.”
His brother-in-law lifted his eyebrows, then turned and shut the door behind him. With Joel gone, tension eased from Angel’s body.
Solana squeezed his arm. “You made a good decision.”
“I hope so.” He ignored the way his heart raced at her touch, but he couldn’t look away from the adoration in her eyes. If she knew the blackness that filled his heart, she would run as hard and fast as she could from him.
Solana turned to Kate. “And thank you that I’m not the reason to keep Maria from going.”
Kate hugged her. “Glad to do it. Until then, I’ll be in my pottery shop.”
Angel said, “And I’m going to the airport to get Danny’s plane ready.”
Two hours later, he returned to the house. Regardless of who flew the plane, it was ready to take off. Maria met him at the foot of the stairs. His heart warmed at the sight of the only good thing in his life.
All the time he had lain in the Texas hospital, thoughts of Maria and Claire had given him the will to live. Three bullets had lodged in his body that day at the warehouse, one near his spine. For a while the doctors thought he’d never walk again, but as the swelling and inflammation subsided, feeling returned to his legs. Now the only residual effect of the bullets was in his mind.
“Daddy, you didn’t answer me!”
He brought his attention back to Maria. “Sorry, baby. What did you say?”
She put her fists on her waist. “I asked how I looked.”
Oh, shades of Claire. He laughed and picked Maria up. “You’re beautiful, like your mommy.”
“Really? Uncle Joel says the picture is so I won’t forget what she looks like.” She gazed into his eyes. “I feel bad sometimes when I can’t remember. I think that’s why Uncle Joel gave it to me. Can you open it for me?”
“Let me set you down.” His fingers shook as he held the small heart-shaped locket and stared at the photo of Claire from their wedding. His stomach lurched.
Why couldn’t Joel stay one-dimensional? When he did something nice like this, it made Angel doubt his assessment of his brother-in-law. What if he was wrong about Joel? What if he wasn’t the one who tipped off the Calatrava? But if not Joel, who?
18
Bailey stopped at the top of the stairs and blinked back tears at the sight of Angel holding Maria. To see the child so happy lifted her heart. And when Angel was with Maria, the haunted look in his eyes disappeared. But the child didn’t change just him—she changed everyone who came into contact with her. Even Danny had succumbed to her charm. Danny. Bailey was seeing a different side of him. Gentler, yet with strength in the gentleness.
Maybe when this was all over, they could . . . do what? Did she dare to hope they might have a future? She’d told Danny last night she loved him. And he loved her. It shouldn’t be complicated. But it was. Even though she’d resolved to release her fear and trust God, that resolve hadn’t been tested.
But that wasn’t the only obstacle. She and Danny didn’t want the same things out of life. She’d been the happiest she’d ever been when she first arrived in Mexico, giving the tea parties and teaching the women in the village. What if Danny didn’t want her to return to Mexico?
Did she even know anymore what she wanted to do with her life? This week had changed everything. She had another two months on her contract. But after that, what? It was something she had to sort out. But right now she needed to focus on the trip to Corning. “Have you heard from Danny?” she asked.
Angel glanced up and waved. “Not yet.”
Footsteps stomped on the porch. “Maybe that’s him now.”
The door opened, and Danny hurried in. He caught her eye as she came down the stairs and smiled, making her heart flutter in her chest.
“You made it,” Angel said. “I’ve already refueled and checked the plane out.”
Danny pulled his gaze away from Bailey. “We haven’t seen anyone lurking about, but if the cartel is here and they know where we’re going, they probably will expect us to use the plane and land in Corning. There’s a small airport in Collegedale, the town just before you get to Corning. I’ll land there, and you can pick us up. I programmed the airport into the Escalade’s GPS.”
“Good thinking. I’ll leave now.”
“We’ll leave in an hour—flight time to Collegedale is twenty-five minutes, so we should arrive at the same time.”
“It’s been three days,” Bailey said. “Is it possible they’ve moved on to another target?”
“They may have,” Danny replied, “but there’s no need to take any chances.”
The front door opened again, and Kate and Solana came in.
“It’s off!” Solana raised her foot that was encased in a purple tennis shoe instead of a cast. “The doctor said it had healed nicely but that I should wear
something with support, like these shoes you bought me. And now I can go with you to take Maria to see her grandparents.”
Bailey hugged her. “I’m so glad.”
Danny frowned. “But I thought your appointment wasn’t until later this afternoon.”
Kate patted him on the shoulder. “It looks as though my influence is a little better than yours. I made one phone call and got another doctor to take a look at her foot. They said to bring her right away, and so I did, and now we’re back. Oh, and I made sandwiches for your trip. Let me get them.”
Her mom thought of everything.
In ten minutes, Angel and Solana were ready to leave.
“Watch to see if anyone is following you,” Danny said.
“I will. Do you have your . . .” Angel dropped his gaze to Maria.
Danny nodded. “It’s in my car. I need to get it before you leave.”
“And I’ll borrow Daddy’s .38,” Bailey said.
“Do you know how to use it?” Angel asked.
“She’s passable,” Danny said with a laugh.
Bailey nudged him with her elbow. “I beat you the last time we target practiced.”
“I was kidding.” He eyed Angel. “You don’t want to compete against her.”
Danny walked out with Angel and Solana. When he returned, Bailey was setting out their sandwiches. “Where’s Maria?”
“Upstairs with Mom.” She cocked her head. “Why was your gun in the Escalade?”
“I had it yesterday when I went out to Geoffrey Franks’s house.”
“You went to Geoffrey’s house? By yourself and with a gun?” Her mom had mailed her newspaper clippings of Geoffrey Franks’s arrest last summer. She couldn’t believe Danny had gone to see him.
“No, I took Angel with me. Franks ran us off with a semi-automatic.”
She stared at him. “What were you going to do? Scare him into confessing who his contact in Mexico was? What if he’d shot you? Or what if you’d shot him?”
“Well, he didn’t and I didn’t. And I’ve already caught enough flak from Ian about this, so could you lay off?” He caught her hand. “I’d much rather talk about you, especially since you’re all I’ve thought about this morning.”
Silence in the Dark Page 19
