Because for a brief moment she’d seen a mixture of surprise and guilt flash in his dark eyes before he slid his gaze down to his remaining food.
Under the table, she gave his foot a light kick. He looked up at her – reluctantly. His defiance speared her. Slowly, she signed. “What did you do, Alonso?”
Jumping to his feet, he knocked the empty tray from the table, drawing startled stares from the other diners.
“Nothing. I didn’t do anything, so stop accusing me!”
Shouting in sign language was just as effective as screaming at the top of one’s lungs using vocal chords. Large, exaggerated signs, hands slapping together furiously to emphasize words, his facial expression, body language – all of it hollered his involvement in the vandalism of her car.
He stomped from the restaurant, leaving his uneaten food on the table and forgetting to remind her that she still owed him twenty dollars.
Sickness filled her because she knew one thing for certain: Alonso had trashed her car. Now, she had to find out why.
And she needed Ethan’s help to figure it all out because she no longer felt safe being alone with her brother.
Shudders racked her as one last horrible question filled her mind: Had Alonso known she would be attacked in the gym that day and allowed it to happen?
TWELVE
Ethan paced his office, staring at the phone on his desk. Another Friday night working had produced no results. Marianna lingered in his thoughts, and several times he’d had to force himself not to text her and ask her to meet him.
She was probably busy with her family. Her younger sister, Catherina, had no doubt already landed and been gathered from the airport. She’d graduate this year from the Rochester Institute for the Deaf with a degree in interpreting and deaf studies. Marianna had practically glowed when she shared that information with him. They were all proud of the young woman.
He’d spent only that one morning with Marianna’s family, but they amazed him with their boundless energy and obvious love for one another. He wished…
No, he didn’t want to think about his own estranged family. Parents too busy with their country club meetings and tee – off times to pay attention to their special – needs daughter wouldn’t be interested in hearing what their son wanted now. They hadn’t been interested when he was growing up; they sure wouldn’t care at this point in time.
Oh, Ashley’ s death had hit them hard – he’d give them that – but they’ d also almost seemed relieved that the “burden” of their imperfect child had been lifted. After all, it hadn’t stopped them from their jaunt through Europe shortly after her funeral. Then his conscience reminded him: They’ve called you several times, and you’ve not called them back.
Ethan shook his head, pulled his phone out of the clip once more and clicked his way through the steps until he reached the screen where all he had to do was type the letters and he could send a message to Marianna. Would she want to meet him? He really did need to talk to her because he had found some interesting news about her ex-boyfriend, Curt Wentworth, but giving her that information wasn’t a top priority. Just…interesting. Possibly enlightening.
And, yeah, he wanted to see her again.
Then before his eyes, a message light blinked on, indicating he had a new text. Frowning, he pressed the button to pull the words up, and his heart expanded with anticipation.
Marianna.
Eagerly he read her message. “Hi Ethan, I know you’re probably busy, but if you haven’t eaten and you’d like to join us, we’re all going to Wade’s Restaurant on Pine Street in about thirty minutes.”
He blinked. She’d just asked him to join her family for dinner.
He’d rather see her alone, have her to himself, but no way was he passing up this opportunity.
“Sure,” he typed. “I’ll meet you there.”
“Good,” she responded, “I need your help with something.”
His heart drooped. Oh. She wanted to see him professionally. “No problem. I’m glad to help.” And he was, he just wished…
No, not yet. They needed this case behind them before he could think about a future relationship with Marianna. If he could even consider a relationship. Right now, he had to focus on dealing with the responsibility of keeping her safe. Nope, anything more would be a mistake.
He just hoped he could convince his heart of that before he reached the restaurant.
Marianna slipped into a seat at the large round table. Sure did seem as if she was visiting a lot of restaurants lately. But when her father had declared that her mother was to take the night off, everyone had agreed and decided on this place for supper. On an impulse, Marianna had sent an invitation to Ethan asking him to join them. Hopefully, she’d get the opportunity to ask him for his help with Alonso.
Maybe after supper she could suggest he give her a ride home and they’ d get to talk. Alonso hadn’t shown up at home in time to ride with the family to eat, but her father had sent the young man a text telling him he’d better get over to the restaurant if he knew what was good for him. Marianna’s mother sat to her left, her baby sister, Catherina next to her mother. Her father and Alonso would sit almost across from her.
Alonso still hadn’t arrived…but Ethan had. He stepped into the dining area, eyes searching for her. She lifted a hand in greeting even as she drank in his appearance. Yes, she could definitely fall for this guy.
Not a good idea.
Her BlackBerry buzzed, providing a distraction and she pulled it up to see a message from Curt staring back at her. Sighing in exasperation, she deleted the message without reading it and stuck it back in the clip.
A hand on her shoulder brought her head around to see Ethan seating himself in the chair next to her. He smiled and signed, “Hi, everyone. It’s good to see you all again.”
After the greetings, Marianna said, “Dad’s outside waiting on Alonso. They should be here shortly.”
“I saw your father on my way in.” Ethan linked his fingers and rested his hands on the table in front of him. Marianna felt his gaze land on her, and when he didn’t look away, she knew the red creeping up her neck would soon be in her cheeks. What was he staring at?
Absentmindedly, she reached up and smoothed her hair down around her ears, realized what she was doing and slapped her hands to the table. Why did he have such an effect on her? Why did he make her nervous?
Before she could try to figure out the answers, the waitress arrived, took their orders and disappeared again. Marianna’s father came in, followed by Alonso. The curl of the younger man’s upper lip didn’t bode well for the evening. When he noticed Ethan, his entire posture stiffened, his lip unfurled and he sat without meeting Marianna’s eyes.
Conversation flowed, except from Alonso, and Marianna enjoyed the evening. No creepy sensations, no feelings of being watched, just a nice time with her family and Ethan. The only distraction was her mental rehearsing of what she’d say to Ethan when she could get him alone for a private conversion.
Then Ethan covered her hand to get her attention. When she looked at him, down next to his leg, he signed subtly, “I need to talk to you about something. Can you get away for about an hour?”
“Yes, I have something I need to discuss with you, too.”
Soon the family departed, some leveling, knowing, calculating looks at Marianna and Ethan as they walked out to their cars. Embarrassed, she wished they’ d just go on and leave her in peace.
Finally, she and Ethan stood alone in the parking lot.
With his hand on her back, he led her to his car. The weather for this time of year fluctuated. Tonight was mild, so she hadn’t bothered with a coat. The warmth of his hand seared through the heavy sweatshirt, causing shivers to run up her spine.
A gentleman, he opened her door and waited for her to get settled before he shut it.
When he slid in beside her, he asked, “Starbucks across the street?”
“Sure. I love their mocha lattes.”
Ten minutes later, seated on a bar stool at a high round table, Marianna sipped her drink and pondered how to approach Ethan with the subject of Alonso. She’d let him go first.
“What is it you wanted to talk to me about?” she asked.
Ethan studied her pretty features, noticing the strain she couldn’t quite hide. “Your ex-boyfriend.”
Grimacing, she put her mug on the table between them. “Why would you want to talk about him?”
“I did a little background check on him, and Catelyn did some old-fashioned legwork to see if we could come up with anything.”
“And?”
“He’s got a pretty airtight alibi for the day of the murder. Some audiology convention in New York. He was the keynote speaker, so I seriously doubt he could have come home, killed Suzanne and gotten back to his convention without someone wondering where he was for that length of time. Add to the fact that there’s no airline record of him flying, and it’s been noted that he was speaking to a group of about two hundred people the same time Suzanne was murdered….” He gave a shrug. “Not him, if you ask me.”
“I didn’t really think it was anyway. As unpleasant and autocratic as the man can be, I can’t picture him a murderer.”
Ethan toyed with his mug, took a sip, then looked back at Marianna. “And before he dated you, he also dated that teacher you said was so ugly to you.”
Shock twisted her features. “Misty?”
“Yep. Catelyn got that information from someone at the audiology office. She started asking questions of the staff and uncovered that nice little tidbit.”
“So you think Misty’ s hostilities stem from her being jealous of the fact that I dated Curt?”
“Absolutely.”
“You don’t think she could be behind the attempts on my life, do you?”
“I don’t know. We know it was Gerald Chambers who was in your house that night. What we don’t know is if he has some kind of connection to Misty. Catelyn’s working on that one, too.”
She blew out a sigh and shook her head. The urge to gather her close and hug her pulled at him. He fought off the feeling and focused on her fidgeting fingers.
Wrapping a hand around them, he looked her in the eye. “Now, what is it you’ve been wanting to talk to me about all night?”
Marianna locked onto his blue-gray eyes and wondered how this man that she’d known for the grand total of two weeks could read her so easily. The feel of his warm hand around her ice-cold fingers did strange things to her insides. Turned them to mush, caused butterflies to swarm, her blood to hum. Those kinds of things. Things that made her want to snuggle down in his arms and let him take on the burden of all that was wrong with her world.
Reluctantly, she pulled away, straightened her spine. No, she didn’t need a man to take care of her. She could take care of herself.
Hadn’t she fought long and hard for her independence? Hadn’t she proved she was a very capable person who could face a challenge and come out the winner?
Yes, but that didn’t mean she didn’t need some help. Especially with Alonso.
“I think…my brother, Alonso, can tell you who trashed my car that night in the parking lot.”
Surprise lit his eyes. “Why do you say that?”
“I confronted him yesterday. I’m very worried that he’s involved with some people he shouldn’t be involved with. Doing things he shouldn’t do.”
“But what made you even ask him anything?”
Marianna sighed, scrubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands, then said, “Because I had my car detailed that day.” She told him of her routine. “No one’s prints should have been there.”
“Well, that explains a lot. The lab guys wondered why it was so clean.”
“I’d been out there earlier that day to get some clothes out of my trunk, so finding my fingerprints wouldn’t surprise me, but Alonso’s…”
“Maybe it was missed in the detailing.”
“It was on the hood, Ethan. Not exactly a place that’s going to be missed.”
He rubbed his chin. “So, what did Alonso have to say about it when you confronted him?”
“He was furious. He stormed out of the restaurant. Now he avoids me, won’t look me in the eye.”
“Then I guess it’s my turn to do a little questioning – and now isn’t a moment too soon.” The grim expression on Ethan’s face told her Alonso was going to wish he’d stayed put at McDonald’s and spilled his guts rather than face the man before her.
With mixed feelings, they headed to her parents’ house, where she hoped Alonso had the good sense to be.
As they walked in the front door, Marianna noticed Alonso’s favorite jacket hung from the peg. She looked at Ethan. “He’s home.”
“Good, let’s do this out on the porch. There’s plenty of light, and we won’t need to get your parents involved, yet. This isn’t a formal interrogation, just a friend doing a little digging.”
Relief at the way he was going to handle this flowed freely, yet she still worried Alonso might think that she had betrayed him somehow by bringing Ethan into this.
Shoving aside her feelings of wanting to protect Alonso, she forced tough thoughts: Too bad, kiddo. You did this – now you’re going to see some consequences of your actions.
Now, if only she would follow through.
Ethan stepped back out onto the porch to sit in one of the rockers.
Marianna went upstairs to get Alonso, asking him to talk with her.
It took threatening him with telling their parents about his recent nocturnal activities to get him to come down the stairs with her, but finally his reluctant clomping steps could be felt.
However, when he opened the door to step outside and saw Ethan sitting on the porch, fear lit up his face like a Christmas tree and he whirled to go back into the house. Only the fact that Marianna stood in the door blocking the entrance and he’d have to mow her down to get back inside kept him on the porch. She signed, “Sit down, please.”
“You ratted on me, didn’t you?” Fury bristled from him.
“Yes, I did. But only because you wouldn’t talk to me.”
“So, you called in a cop?” His large signing indicated his extreme agitation.
“Yes, I called in a cop. I’m doing this for you, Alonso.”
“Well, forget it. I don’t have to stand here and listen to you accuse me of…”
Then Ethan was between the siblings, his fierce expression threatening barely suppressed violence. Alonso took one look and stumbled back.
Marianna bit her lip and refused to allow herself to intervene.
She’d fought hard for her own independence, struggling to prove herself trustworthy and capable, pushing her parents away when they hovered. Perhaps she’d done too good of a job and as a result, Alonso had been given too much freedom.
Ethan signed, “We can do this here, or I can take you downtown.”
Trying to put on a brave front, Alonso bucked up to Ethan, “I didn’t do nothing, and you can’t take me downtown if you don’t have any charges.”
With one swift move, Ethan pulled the cuffs from his pocket and had Alonso’s wrists shackled together – in front of him. Marianna breathed a sigh of relief. Her brother could manage to sign with his hands cuffed in front. Ethan may have looked like he was on the edge of strangling Alonso, but he was thinking clearly.
“Now,” Ethan signed, “one more chance. We can talk here, or I can put you in the car. Your choice.”
Alonso dropped his head, scuffed his toe against the porch floor, huffed and signed, “Here.”
Ethan uncuffed him and pointed to the rocker on the porch. Alonso dropped into it.
Marianna watched Ethan step in front of the boy and ask, “What do you know about Marianna’s car being trashed?”
Alonso deflated; he sagged against the back of the rocker and closed his eyes for a brief moment. Then he started signing.
“I was supposed to meet my girlfri
end, Kelly, outside her dorm. But then she texted me and told me to meet her down by the little pond at the president’s house.” The president of the school lived on campus in a nice Victorian two-story home. Recently, maintenance had built a small man-made pond that included some beautiful goldfish.
“So, I started walking toward the pond and see this guy writing notes to a couple of my buddies. I go up to see what’s going on, and the guy starts freaking out, slapping his head and walking in circles.”
Alonso swallowed, looked down. “I pulled out my notebook and started writing notes to him.” Most deaf people carried a pad and pen to assist in communicating with the hearing population. “He offered us a hundred dollars each to trash a car.” At this point, Alonso’s Adam’s apple bobbed several times. “I said, sure, to count me in. Then I found out which car…and I tried to back out. I wasn’t going to rat on my friends, but I didn’t want to be one of the guys who…” All of his defiance had leaked out of him during the telling of this story. Both Marianna and Ethan sat, not wanting to say anything for fear the boy would clam up once again.
“But this guy shoved me up against the car and told me if I didn’t cooperate, he’d…he’d…”
“What, Alonso?” Marianna asked gently.
“He’d slit my throat.” The signs were slow, as though he didn’t want to relive the moment – or tell the two adults about it.
Marianna blanched, sat back and put a hand to her throat as though she could feel the blade pressed against it.
“So, I did it.”
“And while you guys were vandalizing Marianna’s car, this guy was staked out in the gym waiting for Marianna to show up so he could scare her to death.”
Thoughts swirling, she fought to process everything, line it all up in some kind of order. “But why involve the boys?”
Ethan pulled at his lower lip. “My guess is he got caught.”
“What?”
“One, or both, of those guys came up on this dude messing with your car, searching it or whatever. He had to come up with a plan that wouldn’t expose him and the only way to do that was to involve the kids. If they had a hand in helping him, there’s no way they would go to the cops or volunteer information. Then Alonso walked up, so he had to be part of it.”
A Silent Terror Page 12
