Call of Duty 02 - Sworn to Protect

by DiAnn Mills

  He let his mind linger on Danika for a moment longer. Curiosity about the possibility of her being Toby’s widow marched across his mind. Before his death, Toby often spoke about his wife and how much he cared for her and their daughter, but he’d never mentioned her name.

  Alex shook his head. Getting involved with a Border Patrol agent was asking for trouble, especially when he knew they’d have conflicting views about the immigration problem. Ah . . . maybe not that different.

  Back to work. Then a nap on the cot in his office.

  * * *

  The best time of the day was when Danika returned home from work and opened the front door. Tiana would rush to greet her, and all of the stress and problems of the day disappeared. Danika used to wonder how her precious, hearing-impaired little daughter could sense the exact moment when her mommy arrived home; then she learned Tiana could feel the vibrations. Today’s reception was no different.

  Danika hugged her daughter and signed, “I love you.”

  The four-year-old responded and reached for Danika’s hand en route to the little girl’s bedroom, their normal evening routine. Tiana’s sign-language vocabulary was the same as any four-year-old who could hear. Sometimes the words were those understood only by Danika and Tiana’s nanny, Sandra. Yet their communication was typical and vivid.

  Once in the child’s disorganized sanctuary, Tiana pulled out Candy Land and placed the game on a small table for the two to play together.

  “Buenas tardes,” Sandra called from the kitchen.

  Danika drank in the familiar aromas wafting down the hallway. “I smell the coffee. Do you know how much I appreciate you?” More of the normal routine. Home. How she treasured the times with Tiana and sweet Sandra. Especially after today.

  “What game are you playing?” Sandra appeared in Tiana’s doorway with a fresh cup of decaf coffee for Danika and a glass of soy milk for the little girl. “Peppermint?” Sandra’s Hispanic accent and her occasional English mix-ups added one more delicious part to the homecoming.

  “Candy Land.” Danika gave her dear friend a quick kiss on the cheek. “Did our little girl behave herself today?”

  Sandra’s clear brown eyes widened, and she stared lovingly at the child who looked more like her daughter, with her dark hair and olive skin, than Danika’s. The child did not have a single trait of her mother’s except that she was left-handed.

  Tiana grinned as though she understood every word. Lipreading would come later, but right now signing was Tiana’s best source of communication.

  “We worked on school lessons.” Sandra signed each word carefully. From the moment she had come to live with Danika nearly two years ago, the woman had worked hard to master sign language.

  “Wonderful,” Danika signed. She took the coffee and handed Tiana her milk.

  The little girl obediently signed, “Thank you.”

  “Oh, Sandra, we didn’t have to prompt her.”

  “She’s a good girl.”

  Danika chose not to mention that Tiana’s preschool teacher last year had said that the child had a behavior problem.

  “I prayed for you all day,” Sandra said.

  Danika nodded. “Thanks. Tough day. The man who shot Barnett knew me and also claimed I’d never find Toby’s killer.” She chose not to worry Sandra about the contract on her life.

  Alarm crested Sandra’s eyes. “What did you learn from his arrest?”

  “Nothing. No previous arrests. No gang markings.”

  “You’ll find whoever did this to your family.”

  Danika had just about given up, but the shooter’s words had given her new resolve. Perhaps later tonight she’d look through her notes for any new leads. Problem was she’d exhausted her search.

  “We can talk if you like.”

  Sweet, dear Sandra. “I’m okay. When we finish here, I need to use the oven, unless you’re in the middle of baking something.” Danika clung to her policy of leaving work outside the confines of her home. “I need to whip up a dessert. Remember we’re all invited to Jacob and Barbara’s tonight.”

  “I’ll have a headache.”

  Danika refused to give up that easily. “Won’t you reconsider and go with us?”

  Sandra narrowed her brows.

  “I hate to beg,” Danika continued. “But you know how uncomfortable it is for me there. And you’re my rock.”

  Sandra crossed her arms over her small chest and shook her head, her black ponytail accentuating her response. “God is your rock, not your nanny. Besides, Lucy will be there.”

  “I know seeing your employer at a social outing can be awkward, but do you detest her that badly?”

  Sandra lifted her chin. “You’re my boss. Lucy just writes me a check.”

  “I understand, really I do. Sorry I pressed you.” Danika didn’t want to spend an evening at the Morales home either. Jacob’s temperament had steadily declined since Toby had died, and to make matters worse, he was highly critical of Barbara and their children. The way he treated them was appalling. Add to that his overprotectiveness of Danika and Tiana, and it made for an unpleasant evening. Tiana steered clear of him, and she couldn’t hear a word her uncle said. In this case, her daughter’s deafness was a blessing. But Tiana must sense the animosity in the home. Whenever the agents were together, Jacob huddled over her, breathing down her neck like a dragon as if he were her guardian.

  The other agents laughed at his domineering attitude, but not Danika. She’d earned a reputation of being a good agent by clawing her way to prove herself in a mostly male-dominated role. Repeatedly she’d told him to back off. She could do her job and converse with the other agents without his permission. Toby had been his brother, but that didn’t give Jacob the right to supervise her life.

  While waiting with Livi at the hospital, Danika realized she wasn’t any closer to solving Toby’s murder. Or was she? She suspected today’s shooter probably knew more about Toby’s killer than she did, and that frustrated her. Tomorrow she’d do a little more investigating—read the reports one more time and look for a lead.

  An hour later, Danika lifted a fresh blueberry cobbler from the oven and scooted it into an insulated bag. She pulled a huge platter of avocados and tomatoes from the fridge and grabbed a bunch of green onions and jalapeños. She set the vegetables on the table to free her hands.

  “Ready?” she signed to Tiana.

  Tiana looked around and signed for Sandra.

  Danika shook her head. “She’s staying home. Just you and Mommy are going to the barbecue at Uncle Jacob and Aunt Barbara’s.”

  Although Danika was certain Tiana understood, the child appeared perplexed.

  Danika bent to her level. “You’ll have fun with your cousins.”

  Tiana frowned and signed, “No.”

  Another member of the family who didn’t want to make an appearance at Jacob and Barbara’s. Danika hid her exasperation. Couldn’t really blame Tiana or Sandra. But Jacob and Barbara were family, all the family either of them had—at least the ones who acknowledged them.

  “I’ll go,” Sandra said, walking toward them from her room.

  Danika released her appreciation in a soft sigh. “Thanks so much. We’ll make it a short night.”

  “That’s my condition. The last time nearly did me in.”

  “Jacob or Lucy?”

  “Both.”

  “Once Tiana starts reading lips, we’re going to have to watch what we say.”

  Sandra picked up the plate of fresh vegetables. “She already knows too much. Remember what you told me? Most of our communication is body language.”

  Danika stifled a laugh and stared at her precious little girl, then glanced back at Sandra. “Okay. If the heat rises, we’re out of there.”

  “My kind of woman.” Sandra always amazed her with something she said or read.

  “Let’s make a deal. If Lucy corners you—and I know she likes to talk—I’ll come to your rescue. And if Jacob starts in on one of his
tirades, then—”

  “No worry. I’ve got the drill.” Sandra winked at Tiana.

  Danika felt the tension the moment she stepped into the ranch house in the north part of town. The home had Jacob’s touch throughout. He had a gift for building with his hands, and he’d customized cabinetry, furniture, and trim throughout. Since Toby’s death, he hadn’t picked up a hammer, except to pound his family with demands.

  She didn’t hear the lively sounds of Nadine, Kaitlyn, Amber, or Jake Jr. Neither did she detect Jacob’s favorite country and western music. The house sparkled from Lucy’s routine cleaning, and the enticing smells of dinner permeated inside and out. The beans, simmering with peppers and onions, were a sweet reminder of Barbara’s ability to prepare truly authentic Mexican food. But the quiet brought a bitter chill, urging Danika to take her daughter and Sandra back home.

  Danika had come this far, and for Barbara and the children, she’d venture closer. Through the kitchen window, Danika viewed Jacob flipping burgers on the patio grill, and inside, Barbara scurried about setting the table, but her face and neck were redder than the tomatoes. What wasn’t said shouted louder than the silence. The two younger daughters helped Barbara set the table. Danika saw Jake Jr. standing beside his dad. But where was their oldest daughter?

  “Where’s Nadine?” Danika asked, dumping a bag of nacho chips into a bowl.

  “Don’t ask,” Barbara said.

  As Danika suspected, discord had sung its song before they arrived. She was determined not to get involved in family problems, but the lines deepening around Barbara’s dark brown eyes revealed the burden on her heart.

  “Hey, kids, I’m here to help Mom. Why don’t you play until dinner’s ready?” Danika captured Sandra’s attention and silently reaffirmed their earlier commitment.

  The nanny escorted Tiana from the kitchen in the direction of her youngest cousin.

  Alone, Danika turned to her sister-in-law. “Do you want to talk?”

  Barbara’s eyes watered. She shook her head and lifted the lid on the bean pot. Steam rose and clouded the glass lid. “I don’t want to take advantage of our relationship. Lately, Lucy seems to be right there when I need to talk.” She reached for a tissue. “Thanks for coming tonight. It helps. It really does.”

  “I’m here if you need another listening ear.”

  Barbara washed her hands before stirring the pot’s contents. Must have been a huge argument. “Nadine is in her room.”

  Was it choice or had she been banished? Even though she was seventeen, Jacob refused to allow her to date, and he restricted her girlfriends as well—just like he ruled the rest of his household. Toby had never been abusive. He’d been kind, caring, encouraging Danika to reach out to others . . . No wonder the two men argued.

  “Can I talk to her?” Danika asked.

  Barbara placed the lid back on the beans. “Lucy is with her.” She shrugged. “Praise God my dear friend has a way of calming her, or . . . I don’t know what I’d do.”

  “I’m so sorry.” At least the girl wasn’t alone. Danika had no idea why Sandra didn’t like Lucy when she was always there for Barbara. The woman had a successful maid and nanny service, and she was intelligent and attractive. But then again, Danika didn’t work for her.

  “Jacob’s getting worse.” Barbara drew in a breath. “Nothing any of us can do is right.”

  “Is he still meeting with Father Cornell?” Danika placed her arm around Barbara’s waist.

  “He quit several months ago. Said he couldn’t fit it in with work and family responsibilities. And he’s spending a lot of time away from home. I have no idea what he’s doing.” She didn’t have to say how his family suffered. Barbara peered out the kitchen window to where Jacob stood with Jake Jr. He was telling the boy something. He pointed his finger in Jake’s face. The boy stepped back. “Please, Jacob,” Barbara called to him. “I can’t stand by and do nothing while you browbeat our children.”

  Jacob’s shoulders fell. He bent to the boy’s level and held him close and then kissed the top of his head.

  “That’s my Jacob, not this strange man who is angry all the time.” Barbara’s words seemed more like her most intimate thoughts.

  “He’s not happy with me right now about some work matters,” Danika said. “I’ll go talk to him.” She had no intentions of apologizing to Jacob for this morning, but she’d explain to him again what happened with Barnett. Shouldn’t his concerns be about a wounded agent?

  Opening the door leading to the patio, she stepped into the heat. “How are the burgers coming?”

  Jacob rose from talking to Jake and grabbed a large shaker of seasoned salt. “A few more minutes. Of course, you’re the one who eats the bun with cheese and the fixin’s without the meat. Jake, would you go get Nadine for me?”

  “Sure, Dad.”

  Maybe this was a step in the right direction. “About this morning, I—”

  “I thought you’d been shot too.”

  Now she better understood his fiery reaction at the hospital. “I’m sorry you were worried. But I had my hands full with the situation.”

  “As I said earlier, I deserved a call.”

  She inwardly groaned. “Jacob, when I’m working, my thoughts are on the job and what is required of me. Barnett didn’t look like he’d make it, and Livi needed my full attention.”

  He pressed his lips together. “You are my brother’s wife, a member of the family. I have a responsibility for your welfare.”

  “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

  “Not if you’re dead.”

  Danika heard his pain, the grief that he wore like a crimson bandage. “It’s not your fault Toby was killed.”

  “I should have been able to protect my brother, to warn him about the dangers of keeping company with illegals.”

  A mixture of pity and frustration whirled, sickening her with the memories of a life lost. Jacob needed to get some help instead of making life miserable for those around him.

  “The whole Border Patrol can’t stop all of the illegals from infiltrating U.S. soil. So where do you get that Toby’s death was your fault?”

  “It’s there, Danika. It sticks in my throat like a rock.”

  “Didn’t your priest offer any help?”

  He shook his head and lifted a burger onto the platter. The burgers and hot dogs smelled wonderful, even if she didn’t often like the taste of red meat. Danika waited for Jacob to reply, something she’d learned from her own counselor.

  He blew out an exasperated breath. “You gave up on trying to talk it out, too.”

  “I decided today to start again. It was foolish for me to stop, and my counselor really helped me cope with the pain and bitterness.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “Good. I love you and Barbara. You are all the family Tiana and I have. But Toby is in heaven, and—”

  The door opened and Nadine walked out alone. A pretty girl, slim and tiny with full lips and big eyes. Time for Danika to exit, and hopefully father and daughter could patch up whatever damage had been done before Danika arrived.

  “Hi, Nadine. I’ll see what I can do to help your mom.”

  The girl lifted her head, and it took only one glance for Danika to see she was high.

  Chapter 4

  There’s more to the truth than just the facts.

  Author Unknown

  In the game room, Sandra listened to the Morales children fuss over which DVD to watch. Tiana was as noisy as the other three, voicing her opinion in little-girl squeals and pointing to her favorite movie. The closed captioning didn’t help a child who couldn’t read, but she no doubt followed the movie.

  The youngest daughter, Amber, selected a Disney feature. Kaitlyn and Jake protested with all the vehemence of a fourteen- and a twelve-year-old.

  “It’s only a few minutes until dinner,” Sandra said from her position on the sofa.

  Their voices rose.

  “Of cou
rse if your father hears the roar, a couple of kids may go to bed hungry, and those burgers smell real good.”

  That did it, and the combination of her warning and the movie quieted all of them.

  “Smart move,” Lucy said.

  Sandra didn’t reply. She detested the woman who now stood in the doorway, even if she had fronted the money for Sandra to get across the border. For three years, she’d worked as a maid for free until Lucy decided the money had been paid in full. Shortly after Toby’s death, Lucy found her a job with Danika and Tiana. But the woman who owned a maid and nanny service cared only about herself and what went into her bank account.

  Lucy sat on the sofa beside Sandra. “Are you and Danika still more friends than employer and employee?”

  Sandra’s stomach nearly revolted. “My personal relationship with my employer is none of your business.”

  “Where’s the respect I deserve for taking good care of you?”

  “I spent it on toilet paper.”

  Lucy gripped Sandra’s arm and leaned close. “I thought you liked your job, living in a nice house like you were a real person.”

  Sandra pried Lucy’s fingers from her flesh. “Go ahead and fire me. Danika will keep me on.”

  “Not if she learns you’re illegal.”

  Sandra took a deep breath. She’d tolerated Lucy’s condescension long enough, feared what she could do, and avoided being alone with her. Sandra’s realization of what the law would do to Lucy changed things. “You don’t want to know the trouble I can cause. Think about it.”

  Sandra stood and walked from the room. Her legs barely held her frame, and heat flooded her face. For three years, she had worked like a dog for free. She’d paid her dues and didn’t owe Lucy a thing.