Silence in the Dark

by Patricia Bradley

  “Something like that. I feel like I’m butting my head against a wall. That I’ve wasted my whole life.”

  “No, don’t feel that way. Look at what you’ve done for Maria. If it hadn’t been for you, she would have been kidnapped.”

  She leaned her head back against the seat again. “There is that.”

  “And a whole lot more. Those kids at that school where you teach. I bet they all love you.”

  She smiled. “Maybe.”

  “No maybe about it. How could they not love you?”

  She raised up. “Thanks.”

  “For what?”

  “Making me feel better. Could we not talk about anything serious for the rest of the way home?”

  “Your wish is my command, m’lady.” Her mouth twitched as she stared straight ahead. He took a deep breath and said, “Remember that time we went skinny-dipping—”

  “Danny Maxwell. I have never been skinny-dipping in my life.”

  “That must have been . . .” He shot a quick look again.

  She was trying not to laugh but lost her battle. “You’re something else, you know that?”

  “Yeah. But I like hearing you laugh.” He checked his mirror. Would he ever not watch behind him again? “Do you remember . . .”

  They spent the rest of the trip reminiscing, and when they reached the bed-and-breakfast, Bailey seemed to be in a better frame of mind.

  “Why do you suppose Ben is here?” Bailey asked as they pulled past his car to the back of the house.

  “Let’s go see.”

  They went in through the back door and found everyone in the kitchen, except Maria and Charlie. “Well, I see all the usual suspects are here,” Danny joked, only no one laughed. “What’s going on?”

  Angel folded his arms across his chest. “The guy we went to see yesterday is dead. Murdered.”

  Geoffrey Franks dead? Bailey covered her mouth with her hand as the greasy lunch threatened to come up. After what happened this week, she didn’t know why violence surprised her anymore.

  She closed her eyes, picturing him when he’d been a couple of years behind her in college. Skinny and wearing horn-rimmed glasses and a bow tie. A glance at Danny made her wince. The color had drained from his face.

  “What do you mean, dead?” Danny shifted his gaze to Ben, and the sheriff nodded. “What happened?”

  “Shot. At close range. The neighbors said you and another man”—Ben glanced toward Angel—“that I am assuming was you, were at his house yesterday.”

  “We were,” Danny said. “I thought since he was going to walk anyway, he might talk to me.”

  “Did he?”

  “He pulled a gun, ordered me off his property. And I left. Haven’t been back.”

  Exasperation flew across Ben’s face. “But I told you to stay away from him, and I know the DA told you the same thing. That I would handle this case. I didn’t need you going off half-cocked.” Ben took out a pencil and pad. “Where were you last night?”

  Danny’s eyes widened. “You think I might have had something to do with it?”

  “You just admitted to going there. Did you take a gun with you?”

  “Maybe.”

  Ben pressed his lips in a thin line. “What kind of gun do you have?”

  “Nine millimeter Glock.”

  “Have you fired it recently?”

  “Not in a month. Target practicing then.” Danny’s voice had gone flat.

  “Then you won’t mind getting it for me.”

  “Are you sure you didn’t fire it when we were at the airport in Mexico?” Bailey said.

  “No. Angel did all the shooting.”

  Ben shifted toward Angel. “How about you, do you have a gun?”

  “Ben Logan!” Bailey fisted her hands on her hips. “I cannot believe you’re questioning Danny and Angel about a murder.”

  “It’s my job, Bailey.”

  Kate spoke up. “Not telling you how to do your business, Ben. But neither one of these boys killed anyone.”

  He nodded, looking uncomfortable. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Next thing I know, you’ll be asking me questions.”

  He shifted his gaze to Kate. “Actually, you’re right. Can you tell me if either of these two left last night?”

  Kate put her hands on her hips. “Do you seriously suspect them of killing that rat? And speaking of rats, have you questioned Gresham? He’d have the most to gain from Franks’s death.”

  Bailey glanced toward Angel. Why didn’t he tell Ben that he’d left in Danny’s SUV last night?

  Beside her, Danny stepped toward Ben. “Why not just ask us? I didn’t leave the property last night.”

  “I can vouch they both were here when I went to bed,” Kate said.

  “And you didn’t hear anyone go out?”

  She shook her head.

  “How about Charlie? Reckon he would know?”

  “He might. He’s keeping Maria occupied. Do you want me to go up and get him?” She wiped her hands with a towel.

  “No, not just yet.” He nodded to Danny and Angel. “You were getting your guns.”

  When Angel left to go upstairs and Danny to his SUV, Bailey turned to Ben. Should she tell him about Angel and Joel leaving last night? “Do you have any other suspects? You know Danny didn’t do it.”

  “Come on, Bailey. You want me to do my job, don’t you? And I don’t mind telling you that Jonas Gresham is my primary suspect, but I have to look at everyone who might have a grudge against Franks. And Danny has made no bones about not liking the man after what he did.”

  “How will this affect Gresham’s trial?” Kate asked.

  “I don’t know. I heard earlier this week that his lawyer has asked for a change of venue for both trials. Claims he can’t get a fair trial here.”

  “What do you mean, both trials?” Bailey asked.

  “Dogfighting and gunrunning. With a couple of his comrades turning on him, we have him dead to rights on dogfighting. With Franks dead, he might get a not guilty on the gunrunning.”

  She hadn’t read about the dogfighting. For that one, he should be put under the jail.

  She turned as Angel came into the kitchen and handed Ben his gun. “I don’t know what caliber gun was used, but here’s mine—it’s a 9mm and hasn’t been fired since Wednesday in Mexico.”

  Ben examined the automatic. “Do you have a permit to carry this in the States?”

  Angel answered him with a curt nod. “Texas. And I believe Mississippi honors the Texas permit.”

  Ben handed the pistol back to him. “I don’t know yet what kind of gun was used, but if it turns out to be a 9mm, I’d like to compare a bullet fired from your gun to the slug taken out of Franks. Same for you, Danny,” he said as Danny returned to the kitchen.

  “What time was Franks killed?” Danny handed Ben his pistol.

  “Hard to say. Heat was turned off and the back door left open. With the temperature dropping below freezing last night, I’m sure determining the time of death will be much harder.” He sniffed the gun and handed it back to Danny. “Unfortunately, no one saw him after you two were there.”

  Bailey’s heart sank. Ben actually viewed Danny as a suspect. And why didn’t Angel speak up and tell Ben he went to see Chavez last night?

  “Have you questioned Joel and my uncle?” Angel asked.

  “Would they have a reason to want Franks dead?”

  “That would depend on whether or not one of them was Franks’s Mexico contact.”

  “You have a point. Where can I find them?”

  “Joel is in Corning with his parents,” Bailey said. “His father is having surgery tomorrow, so he probably won’t be back before tomorrow afternoon.”

  “And Edward Montoya is probably still at Maxwell Industries,” Danny said.

  “There’s one more person you might be interested in,” Angel said. “Sergeant Chavez.”

  “Him I’ve talked to.” Ben leveled his gaze at Angel. �
�He’s staying at a motel here in Logan Point, said you came to see him last night.”

  Bailey swallowed hard. Ben knew all along Angel had left the house last night. Now it looked as if all of them were hiding something.

  “I did, but I came right back here. I don’t even know how to get back to Franks’s house.”

  “So you say.” Ben jotted something down in his notebook. “What motive do you think Chavez would have to kill Franks?”

  Danny answered for him. “The same as anyone who might fear being exposed as the Mexico contact.”

  “Noted.” Ben looked from Danny to Angel. “You two aren’t planning on leaving Logan Point any time soon, are you?”

  “No.” They answered in unison.

  “And the guns you showed me are the only ones you have?”

  Angel nodded while Danny hesitated.

  “Danny?” Ben said.

  “I have another Glock. It’s in my SUV.”

  “Would you—”

  The door from the hallway flew open, and Charlie burst into the room. “This girl needs a doctor. She’s burning up with fever.”

  A tremor shot through Bailey. Maria’s pale body lay limp in Charlie’s arms. She reached for the child, but Angel was faster and took her from Charlie. “She’s so hot. How can she be sick? She was playing an hour ago.”

  “She just started throwing up and said her head hurt real bad,” Charlie said.

  “I’ll call our family doctor,” Kate said. She made the call, nodding as she talked with someone, then hung up. “The doctor just left for the day, and the nurse said to take her to the ER.”

  “I’ll drive you,” Danny said.

  “And I’ll provide an escort,” Ben said.

  Bailey grabbed her purse. “I’m coming too—you’ll need the power of attorney Joel gave me in case something like this happened.”

  “I will stay here,” Solana said. “Too many will be in the way.”

  Two hours later, the emergency room doctor asked permission to draw a small sample of spinal fluid. “There’s a possibility it’s meningitis, and the only way I can be sure is to draw the fluid and test it. If it is, and it’s bacterial, we need to start treatment right away.”

  “Meningitis?” Danny said.

  “How dangerous is the test?” Angel demanded.

  “While there is a slight risk of complications, it’s much more dangerous if we don’t do it and she has bacterial meningitis. And it’s not painful, merely uncomfortable.”

  “Could it be food poisoning?”

  The doctor turned his attention to Bailey. “Have you all eaten the same food?”

  She tried to think what they’d eaten in the past twenty-four hours. “Yes, except for lunch today. We ate at a diner, and Maria had a hot dog.”

  “Did anyone else eat a hot dog?”

  “Solana did,” Danny said. “And she’s not sick.”

  “We’re testing for food-borne diseases, but we’ll lose precious time if we wait for the results and it’s meningitis.”

  “Then do the test,” Angel said. “I’m her father, and I’ll sign the waiver.”

  Bailey exchanged looks with Danny. Angel might be her father, but he had no legal rights.

  “Maybe Bailey should sign as well,” Danny said.

  “Yes,” she echoed and shifted Maria’s bag of clothes to her other hand. She still held the necklace she’d removed when they first arrived and tucked it in a side pocket in her purse.

  After a hesitation, Angel lifted his shoulder. “As you wish.”

  After the waiver was signed and the doctor left, she pinned Angel with what she hoped was a determined look. “I’m going to give Joel a call.”

  “Why?”

  “Because he’s her legal guardian.”

  “But she’s my daughter, and I owe Joel nothing. If he hadn’t informed the wrong people, I would not have been shot and my wife would still be alive.”

  “You don’t know that,” Danny said. “What if he’s not the one responsible for what happened that day in the warehouse?”

  Bailey folded her arms across her chest. “He loves your daughter, and he’s cared for her since Claire died. He didn’t have to do that, you know.”

  Angel scrubbed the side of his face. Finally, he gave her a curt nod. “I know when I’m outnumbered. And now I need some coffee. Anybody else?”

  The thought of coffee soured her stomach, and she shook her head as she found a chair to sit in and took out her phone. A list of incoming emails popped up when she turned it on, and she scanned through them. One was from Pastor Carlos. As soon as she talked to Joel, she’d see what he wanted.

  Joel answered on the second ring. “Good evening, lovely lady.”

  “I don’t feel very lovely,” she replied. When did she get so tired? “Maria is running a fever and vomiting and I’m at the hospital with her. The doctor is doing a spinal tap right now. As soon as I know the outcome, I’ll call you.”

  “What happened?”

  “I don’t know. How’s your dad?”

  “Holding his own. Look, I’m leaving and will be there as soon as I can.”

  Bailey felt better that he was coming. She didn’t like being the one to make decisions, especially if something else came up. “Good. I’ll let Angel know.”

  “Are you sure you’re all right? You don’t sound like yourself.”

  “I’m fine, just tired. I’ll see you when you get here.” She disconnected just as Angel returned with his coffee. “He’s on his way,” she said.

  Angel nodded. “How is his father?”

  “Like he was when we were there.”

  “Maria’s doctor is coming now,” Danny said, nodding toward the door.

  A smile stretched across the ER doctor’s face. “It’s not meningitis. The fluid came back clear. I’m glad to be wrong, but when meningitis is suspected, you don’t want to take any chances.”

  “What do you think it is?”

  “With meningitis ruled out, I think it’s probably the hot dog. I’d like to keep her overnight for observation.”

  Bailey’s cell phone rang. It was her mom. “Hello?”

  “We’re bringing Solana to the ER. She’s throwing up and looks as bad as Maria did.”

  “I’ll tell Angel. We’re still in the emergency room.” She hung up and told the others.

  “And you said she ate the same thing Maria did?” the doctor asked.

  “Yes—hot dogs,” Angel said.

  “That pretty well confirms it’s food poisoning.” He turned to Bailey. “Call your mother back and have her bring your friend to the ambulance entry. That will get her treatment quicker.”

  20

  Angel followed Maria’s bed as it rolled from the ER to the elevator. She looked so tiny in the bed, and her still form with an IV in her arm scared him—he’d much rather see her running and playing, but at least she was getting help from the antibiotic.

  Solana looked awful when she came into the ER. He’d hated to leave her, but Bailey had stayed with her, and where Bailey was, so was Danny. Perhaps Solana would be put on the same floor as Maria when she left the emergency room.

  Maria’s blue eyes fluttered open. “Daddy?”

  “I’m right here, baby.”

  “Are you going to stay with me?”

  “I am. We’ll go home in the morning.” Home. Presently, he had no home. Joel had sold the small house where he and Claire lived after they married and when Maria was a baby. Just as well. It would be better to start over someplace where there weren’t so many memories. If he was ever able to go back to Mexico, that is. Ben Logan had not been happy that he didn’t tell him about leaving the bed-and-breakfast last night.

  Once they moved off the elevator, the ER porter stopped at the nurses’ station to hand over Maria’s chart, then they proceeded down the hallway.

  “Here we are,” the attendant said when they arrived at the room.

  “May I move her to the bed?”

 
; The floor nurse came around to the front of the bed. “Sure, just be careful with the IV. We don’t want it to come out.”

  No, Angel didn’t want that. It had been hard enough hooking up the IV the first time, and he didn’t want Maria to go through that again. The nurse held the IV bag while Angel picked her up and settled her in the bed. “Comfortable?”

  She nodded. “I’m thirsty.”

  Angel shot the nurse a questioning look.

  “How about ice chips, and then later we’ll try a sip or two, and if she keeps that down, she can have more later.” A page sounded on the nurse’s phone. “I’ll be back to go over her chart in a minute.” She hurried from the room and almost collided with someone entering. “Excuse me.”

  “I’m sorry,” a male voice answered.

  Angel froze. He’d recognize that voice anywhere.

  “Daddy.” Maria’s eyes lit up. “It’s Tio.”

  A band tightened around his chest. He expected Maria to know Edward, but well enough to call him Uncle? He took in a breath and blew it out before turning around.

  Edward Montoya stood at the foot of the bed. “Hello, Angel.”

  He nodded curtly. “Edward.”

  “You look well.”

  For a dead man. The unspoken words hung between them. Angel had seen his uncle from a distance since he’d recovered from the gunshot wounds, but nothing prepared him for being in the same room.

  “How did this happen?” Edward waved his arm around the room.

  “She got food poisoning. Maybe you would like to step outside in the hallway.”

  “No!” Maria cried softly. “I want him to stay.”

  “I’m not going anywhere, little one. If necessary, I would take a bullet for you.”

  Angel stared hard at Edward, but his uncle’s gaze was on Maria, and it was evident he cared very much for her. For the first time, Angel noticed that Maria’s eyes were almost the same color as Edward’s. He’d always believed his daughter’s cornflower blue eyes were inherited from Claire, but no, she’d gotten them from his grandmother, the same person Edward had gotten his from. His uncle turned to him.

  “May I sit down?” He nodded to a chair on the other side of the bed.

  That was a switch. Edward asking instead of telling. Angel nodded. For Maria, he told himself. Edward moved silently to the chair and took off the long overcoat and draped it across the back. How long did he plan to stay?