After the Fall ba-2

by L. G. Castillo

  “The blonde whore? Who in their right mind would listen to her?” Luke laughed. “I have a copy of her criminal file right here.”

  After a ruffling of papers, Luke continued. “Arrested for prostitution, in possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, petty theft, and the list goes on. No, this Megan Dalene is not a threat. Let the media have their fun with her. It’ll blow over quickly.”

  Jane heard footsteps down the hall heading in her direction. She quickly walked toward the library, clicking her heels loudly on the wood floor, making sure she was heard and then knocked. “Luke?”

  “Ah, Jane, come in, come in.”

  She entered the library and glanced over at Sal, giving him a slight nod of greeting. His jaw flexed as he clenched his teeth, his head barely making a nod in return.

  She blinked and felt a sense of cold wash over her. She took in the way he stood stiff and unmoving. Somehow, he seemed to look bigger, more threatening. Although she was used to his dismissal of her, only acknowledging when it was expected from him, his animosity toward her seemed to have grown within the past few months.

  She took in black eyes that pierced through her, the ferocious scowl, and huge muscles that bulged in a snug-fitting black suit. He looked like a hit man. The type of guy one would see in the movies, who mob bosses hired to kill people like...political figures. She shivered at the thought.

  “Did you read the Dallas paper?” She waved the paper at Luke.

  “Yes. What a shame.”

  Jane studied his face. For the first time, she noticed his gray eyes looked empty, void of emotion, even though his words sounded sincere. “I was thinking we could put together a small fundraiser for the family.”

  “My dear Jane,” he took the paper from her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I do admire your compassion. However, it’s not a good idea to do so at this time. We don’t want to draw attention away from your announcement.”

  “We have to do something. And the poor little girl, she’s fighting for her life. If Prescott Oil is to blame, we need to make this right, Luke.”

  Anger flashed across his face. His hand seared her shoulder as if it was on fire. She winced, taking a small step away from him.

  In a blink, his face was back to normal, as if she had imagined it. His lips curled into a smile that caused the hairs on the back of her neck to stand. “I’ve already made some phone calls, and there’s a full investigation underway as we speak. I’ll send Sal to set up an anonymous donation to the family.”

  He crumpled the paper and tossed it into the trash. “There. Done. Now, shall we go over the key points in your speech?”

  Jane was shocked by the way he took over. He’d never done that before. He was definitely hiding something from her.

  She glanced over at Sal and then back at Luke. Both were watching her expectantly, as if wondering what her next move would be. A voice screamed inside of her, warning her not to press the issue with him. That same voice warned her that it would be dangerous for her to do so.

  She’d stop for now, but she wasn’t letting go. Somehow, she was going to get to the bottom of this. She’d find out, one way or another, what was going on. And the place to start was to find and talk to Anita Duran.

  13

  Naomi brushed the tears from her cheek with the back of her hand as she watched Megan read to a sleeping Emma. It broke her heart to see the little girl in the hospital bed, her tiny body lying in a sea of white: white bandages around her arms and hands, white sheets and pillows, and the white walls of the hospital.

  Naomi alternated between feeling heartbroken for Emma and elated that Chuy was alive. She hadn’t believed Jeremy when he told her Chuy was still alive until she’d seen him, limping out of the house with a fireman under his arm, helping him.

  She had cried into Jeremy’s chest, relieved, until another fireman came out with Emma in his arms. Pain had crossed over Jeremy’s face, and she had realized that the look he’d given her when he first came out was because of Emma.

  Chuy sat in the corner of the room, taking turns with Megan reading all of Emma’s favorite stories. Naomi wasn’t surprised that he had stayed with them, even though he had just met Megan. He was always the first person to volunteer to help a neighbor when it was needed. And when it came to children, he was putty in their hands.

  Chuy had held onto Megan when the doctor told her that her aunt died. Naomi could tell Megan already knew her aunt was dead. There was something about hearing it from someone else that somehow made it more real. She knew what it was like, and so did Chuy.

  He even helped her by contacting her aunt’s ex-husband, who was driving in from North Dakota. When he read a Berenstain Bears book to Emma, Megan asked him to do voices as he read. Naomi couldn’t help but smile when his voice went up three octaves when he read the momma bear’s part.

  “I hope she’s not in pain,” Naomi said as she watched Emma’s little chest rise and fall. “Do you think she can feel anything?”

  “I don’t think so.” Jeremy’s voice was somber as he also focused his attention on Emma. “I’ve been doing this for a long time. I must have taken hundreds of children to the other side. I still can’t get used to it.”

  “Really?”

  He looked down at her, his eyes sad. “Yeah. They’re so full of life, so trusting.”

  Naomi glanced over at Chuy just as his hands gently brushed back Emma’s hair out of her face, and she thought of Welita. She wondered how Welita was reacting to Chuy almost getting killed. She hadn’t been able to follow Chuy when he left the hospital briefly to visit Welita. Knowing Chuy, he probably hadn’t told her, or if he had, he’d played it down.

  The thought that Chuy could have died, leaving Welita all alone, tore her heart. If only she could see her, somehow she would let her know that she was watching over her.

  “Naomi?” Jeremy placed an arm around her shoulder. “What is it?”

  She looked up into blue eyes that looked at her tenderly. “I need to see my grandmother. Please,” she breathed.

  He held her eyes for a moment and then pulled her to him, pressing her against his chest. She heard his heart pounding frantically. She knew she should pull away, but she couldn’t help herself. She felt so alone, and he was her friend.

  Lips pressed against the top of her head, and he sighed. “I know it’s been hard for you. I’ll find a way for you to see her.”

  She squeezed him tight. “Thank you.”

  When she looked up at him, the raw emotion on his face took her breath away. Intense eyes searched her face and then rested on her lips. Slowly, he ducked his head, lips parting.

  A voice inside her told her to let go, step away.

  “I can’t stand this anymore!”

  Jeremy jumped at the sound of Megan’s voice.

  Naomi pulled back and watched Megan as she rose from her chair and paced the room.

  That was close. She couldn’t let that happen again.

  “Why don’t you go outside and get some fresh air?” Chuy said, placing the book down on his lap. “I’ll stay with her until you come back.”

  “No, it’s not that.” She pressed her hands against her forehead and shut her eyes. “It’s just that this didn’t have to happen. If we weren’t getting all these quakes, the pipes would’ve never gotten damaged, and Aunt Verna would still be here, and Emma...Emma would...”

  Red blotches appeared on her face and she choked on tears.

  Chuy immediately stood up and wrapped his arms around her.

  She sobbed into his chest. “It’s not right. This shouldn’t have happened.”

  “Megan, you’ve been here twenty-four hours straight. You need to get some sleep. You’ll feel better,” he said as he rubbed her back, trying to soothe her.

  She shook her head. “No, I can’t just sit back and let them get away with this. All my life I’ve been pushed around. I never fought back because I thought I deserved it. I thought I was nothing. I’m not nothi
ng. I am somebody.”

  “Of course you are. What do you want to do?”

  Megan sniffed. “I want to take Prescott Oil down. I just know this is happening because of all the fracking they’re doing. It’s messing up the land somehow. I even heard that they’re putting something in the water.”

  “I don’t know, Megan.” He brushed a hand through his thick hair. “People have been saying that for years. There are entire organizations that have tried to bring them down. No one can touch them, and they’re gonna keep growing.”

  Megan shook her head. “I don’t care. I’ll find a way. I’ll go to the media. Wait a minute.” She paused, furrowing her brow, deep in thought. Then her eyes widened, and she snapped her fingers. “You work for them. Maybe you can find out what they’re doing. I’m sure they’re doing things illegally.”

  “I can’t do that. I don’t want to lose my job.”

  “You still want to work for them? Emma doesn’t have a mother anymore because of them.”

  “You don’t understand, Megan.” His voice was somber. “I have to take care of my family.”

  “You could’ve died too, Chuy! Who would’ve taken care of your family then? I bet you wouldn’t go back to work for them if Prescott Oil killed your family.”

  Naomi’s breath hitched as she watched Chuy’s brown eyes darken and his nostrils flare. His voice was low and steady as he looked intently at Megan. “I lost my uncle when Jane Sutherland killed him in a car accident. My cousin tried fighting back, and days later, she disappeared.”

  “Oh, Chuy,” Naomi whispered as she felt tears stinging her eyes.

  “I know she’s dead. I felt it the moment it happened. It was like a part of me disappeared that day.” His voice was thick. “I can’t help but think that somehow Luke Prescott was involved in all of it.”

  Megan placed a hand on his arm, speaking softly. “Then how can you still work for them?”

  “I have no choice!” He spun around and headed toward the window. Looking out with his back to her, he said, “They took everything away from us. Everything! I couldn’t get a job anywhere.”

  Megan went to him and placed a hand on his back. “I’m so sorry.”

  He turned to face her. “Believe me, I tried. I got a lot of interviews, but every time I showed up, it was like suddenly the job was no longer available. The only one who offered me work was the Prescott Oil training program. I didn’t even apply for it! I got a letter offering me a job. Lalo got the same letter two days later. We thought it was offered to everyone who lived in the neighborhoods that were bought out by the company.”

  Chuy sank into the chair under the windowsill and dropped his head into his hands. “I sold out. I didn’t know what to do. I’m sorry, Naomi. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know what to do. God, I wish I had her strength.”

  Tears streamed down Naomi’s face as she went to Chuy. She placed a hand on his head, wishing he could feel her. “It’s okay, Chuy. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help. I’m here for you now.”

  Chuy lifted his head and looked around.

  “What is it?” Megan asked.

  He tilted his head as if listening.

  Naomi’s eyes widened, and she looked to Jeremy. “Can he hear me?”

  “It’s doubtful, but I think he can sense you,” he replied.

  After a moment, Chuy shook his head. “Never mind.” He took a deep breath and reached for Megan’s hand. “Look, I know if Naomi were still here, she’d want me to help you.”

  Her face lit up. “Will you?”

  “Yeah, but we only have a brief window to do this. All Prescott Oil employees were given time off to attend the senator’s presidential campaign announcement Friday. You can get national media coverage there.”

  “I don’t have any proof to expose them, or anything that will at least get the feds to investigate them.”

  Chuy stood and reached for his cell phone. “Yeah, let me give Lalo a call.”

  “Lalo?” Megan and Naomi voiced at the same time.

  “They have him doing janitorial work in the offices where they keep confidential information. He can get into their servers and dig up some information for us.”

  “He can?” Megan and Naomi said in unison.

  Chuy grinned. “Lalo has mad computer skills that would make even Mark Zuckerberg drool.”

  14

  Naomi stood at the entrance of Sunrise Haven. She couldn’t believe that in a few minutes, she would be with Welita again.

  “Nervous?”

  Jeremy looked down at her with the same tender expression that he had at the hospital. She didn’t know what to do about it, especially now, when he was going against protocol and allowing her to see Welita. She owed him so much. She didn’t want to hurt him.

  “A little.”

  She felt a quiet calm when he placed a hand on her cheek. “Want me to go in there with you?”

  She gazed into his eyes and saw the love he had for her. He cared...too much. She turned her head and took a step back, feeling a stab of pain when she did so. She hated hurting him this way after he’d been so kind to her.

  “No. I’ll be fine.”

  “It doesn’t look like Megan will be leaving the hospital anytime soon, and Chuy is with Lalo. I’ll watch over Megan for you, so take your time.”

  He turned and started to walk away.

  “Jeremy.” She grasped hold of his arm before he could leave. “Thanks for letting me do this.”

  She watched his broad shoulders stiffen at her touch. When he turned back to face her, his face was somber. His eyes held hers for a moment, and he swallowed. Then his face shifted, erasing the pained expression and putting on his normal, flirtatious twinkle. “Let’s just call it my gift to my future sister.”

  He winked, and then he was gone.

  Naomi closed her eyes and sighed. It was going to be more difficult than she thought, working so closely with Jeremy. She loved Jeremy; he was so sweet and caring. She wanted so much to be close to him, like a true sister. Maybe if she had a talk with him, aired it all out in the open, they could find a way to be like family, without all the awkwardness.

  I’ll have a talk with him when the assignment is over. Now, she needed to see Welita.

  She headed toward the glass doors, and they slid open as she approached. She really didn’t have to use the entrance. It was a habit. She still couldn’t get used to being an angel. She could’ve easily just made herself appear anywhere in the building, although she didn’t know exactly which room Welita was in.

  She glided down the halls, listening carefully for any signs of where Welita might be. She heard the muffled sounds of women talking to each other and dishes clattering. In one room, she heard an older woman cooing and the sounds of a baby giggling, making her smile. She thought about going into the room so she could see, but then thought against it, reminding herself that she shouldn’t abuse her angelic abilities. The family in the room that the happy noises were coming from deserved their privacy.

  In that moment, she realized Welita would never have a chance to hold her child, and the thought saddened her.

  Then she heard a loud and familiar voice that chased the thought away.

  “Ay, Dios mio! No, Pablo! Don’t listen to her. She’s lying to you. Maria slept with your brother. She’s carrying his child, not yours.”

  Naomi chuckled at Welita, yelling at the television. She always did that when she was watching her favorite show—a telenovela about Pablo Rivera, the handsome ranch owner, and Maria, his maid turned movie actress.

  She followed Welita’s voice until she found the place it was coming from. She stepped into the room, and her hand flew to her mouth, stifling a cry, when she saw Welita sitting on a small sofa. Her brown wrinkled hands stroked Bear’s fur while she stared intently at the TV screen.

  “Oh, Welita,” Naomi sobbed. “What’s happened to you?”

  Welita’s raven hair was now almost entirely white. Her once-strong hands were like br
own toothpicks, ready to break at the slightest touch. She was so frail. It was as if the life in her that made her rock solid had been zapped away, leaving her a shell of who she once was.

  Naomi’s eyes shifted to the walker beside the chair. She must’ve been really bad off to even allow something like that in her presence. Welita had always been so proud to be independent and to use her own two feet to get around.

  I did this to her. If she had been there, she could have helped Chuy get Welita the best health care so that she would’ve never needed the walker in the first place.

  Better yet, if she had stayed with her and never left with Lash, Welita would’ve never had a heart attack. She would still have her home. She’d be watching Pablo and Maria in her own living room in Houston, not in some one-bedroom apartment in an assisted-living home in North Texas.

  Naomi took a step closer. Bear’s head jolted up; her ears perked straight up like two furry antennae, and she barked.

  “Not now, Bear.” Welita patted Bear’s head. “Wait for the commercial.”

  Bear’s brown eyes looked straight at Naomi.

  “Can you see me, Girl?” Maybe she could. She recalled Lash saying that sometimes animals could see angels.

  Bear sniffed the air and then leapt off Welita’s lap, yapping. She ran in circles around Naomi’s feet, whining, as if she were crying. Her tail wagged so fast, it was a blur.

  “Oh my God! You can see me! I missed you too.” She laughed as she reached down to pet her. Her hand went through Bear’s body, and Bear shivered. “I’m sorry, Girl. I wish I could touch you.”

  “Ay, Bear! Why are you crying? I’ll let you out during the commer—”

  Naomi watched as Welita turned slowly in the direction where she stood. “Who’s there?”

  “It’s me, Welita. Can you see me?” Of course she couldn’t. Why should she? Welita was able to see Rebecca, but that was because she had shown herself to Welita. Rebecca was her guardian angel. Naomi wasn’t. “I wish you could see me.”