His grin looked forced, his lips stretched tight across teeth as white as the paint on the plaza's tree trunks. "It takes a lot more than a gun to shoot someone, Kat."
I'd seen that kind of false bravado before, right before a client chose to pass on the leap of faith on the ropes course. I suspected that no one had turned the tables on Eliah before, that he always had the element of surprise with his gentle giant routine. Fortunately the element of surprise worked both ways.
He looked into my eyes, and must have seen something that gave him pause. He loosened his grip on my shoulder gradually.
"Good move," I said evenly. "It takes less than you think to shoot someone, Eliah. Remember, I jump off cliffs for a living."
I got up slowly, keeping the gun trained on him and backing out of his reach.
"New plan," I said. "Meet me at Julio's Cafe Corona in an hour. And this time, don't come alone. If you don't have Antonia, all bets are off." I reached over and grabbed his water bottle. "Oh yeah. Thanks for the water."
Chapter 25
I pulled out the zip-lock plastic bag I'd bought and sealed the water bottle in it. I took a sharpie and wrote the date, Eliah Trevino's and our location on the bag. Granted, I wasn't an official entity, but if the DNA did show a link to Caleb, I might be able to convince someone else to get a legal sample.
I grabbed my phone from the passenger seat. Willie Alacon had finally called back. I'd left her several messages trying to find out if she had a number for the Detective Mora or had any leads. Then I left her one last message as a precaution. I figured it would be a good idea to let someone know that I'd heard from Eliah and where I was meeting him, in case something happened. I wasn't sure if it was wise to trust her after meeting only once, but I didn't have much choice. Pilar was still recovering and Abuela's phone was off limits.
"Are you a lunatic?" Willie shouted in the phone message. I had to pause it and turn down the volume.
"What the hell are you doing going to meet him by yourself?" she continued yelling. "Do you think he's going to actually bring her? She's probably tied up somewhere! You think you're some kind of hero or something? Call me back if you're still alive."
The phone didn't even finish ringing when she answered. "Thank GOD. My father would have killed me. I've never lost anybody and I'll be damned if I'm starting with you."
"Hi, Willie," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Hi, Willie? Hi, Willie? That's the best you've got after you tell me you are going to meet with a dangerous felon?"
"Wait. What? Eliah?"
"Yeah. Eliah Coronado also known as Eliah Trevino, former inmate in Our Lady of Huntsville, aka, the Walls Unit." Willie paused and I heard a slurping sound. "Sorry, last of my coffee. Anyway, your Eliah was serving time for running some shady land deal. Also brought up on half a dozen assault charges over the years before that, but the cases were mysteriously dropped. Friends in high places."
More likely relatives, I thought. "Look, Willie, at this point all I want is to get Antonia back. I told Eliah I'd give him everything, I just want to get her back and get out of here." I lied. I knew I needed to do a lot more than just get back Antonia. I told her a little about my meeting with Eliah and the meeting in an hour.
"And what are you going to do if he doesn't bring her?" she asked.
My sore rib ached and my stomached clenched. "I don't know!" I said, snapping. "Maybe I'll beat the hell out of him."
There was silence on the phone for a second. "That could work," she said slowly. "He's a big guy, but you've got this fury thing going."
"You noticed."
Before we hung up Willie said she would meet me at the restaurant and would bring a few friends, in case I needed help with the beating. I thanked her, then sped up to get to Julio's.
Even though it was early in the lunch rush, Julio's was busy. I had driven straight there so I was thirty minutes ahead of schedule and was able to pick a table in the middle of the dining room. I scanned the lunch menu, ordered something to eat and kept an eye on the door.
Willie walked in a few minutes later, laughing and calling out to the owner. At her side was a guy the size of a semi truck. Despite his size, he moved with an athlete's grace. He had dark hair streaked with gray pulled back in a ponytail. They both shook hands with one of the waiters, then headed toward the back of the room.
The waiter brought me a steaming plate of enchiladas, fresh tortillas, and a giant glass of water, told me not to touch the plate because it was hot, then rushed off. The dining room was filling up fast and I knew from my college years of waiting tables, he'd want me out of there so he could turn the table at least once. I picked at my food. I hadn't eaten anything since last night, but still couldn't eat.
When Eliah walked in a few minutes later, he was not alone. I recognized the man at his side, despite his baseball hat and glasses - Trent Bonita, his brother and candidate for Governor. There was no sign of Antonia.
Eliah spotted me quickly and they both came over to the table.
"Sorry we were running behind," Eliah said as he sat down across from me. His brother sat at my left.
Trent Bonita was handsome in that 'elect this man, he's a good guy' kind of way, dark hair with a little wave in it, blue eyes, a strong line to his jaw. He was nowhere near as tall as Eliah, who's Ichabod Crane looks were a sharp contrast to Trent's compact build. Hard to believe they were related, if Abuela's letter was right.
"Where is Antonia?" I said flatly, looking at Eliah and ignoring Trent. "And who the hell is this guy?"
"All in due time, Kati," Eliah said, perusing the menu. "I told you she wasn't going to be happy, brother."
Trent visibly stiffened. "I told you, don't call me that in public," he said under his breath. "Ever."
Eliah laughed, then called over a waiter. The two placed their orders and the waiter rushed off again.
"Antonia is very safe, Kati. My brother," he smiled broadly, "I mean, of course, my associate, he wanted to meet with you, personally." Eliah leaned over the table, reaching for the chips and salsa. "He wasn't convinced you were sincere in your offer. You see, unlike you and me, he never really cared for his mother much."
Trent looked like he was ready to strangle Eliah. I empathized, but he'd have to get in line once this was over.
"Eliah, I don't care about your 'family' issues. I don't care about whatever issues my mom was looking into. I just want to get Antonia back," I said.
"See?" Eliah turned to Trent. "I told you. She takes after her grandmother, like I told you. Kati isn't anything like her mother. She isn't a crusader."
I bristled but bit my tongue.
Trent looked around the room. "Fine. Let's get out of here and do the exchange."
"I agree." I said.
"Nonsense," Eliah said, sipping from his water glass. "We just ordered. I'm starving."
"Damn it, Eliah," Trent began, but was interrupted by the waiter bringing drinks. The waiter assured them their order would be right out and dove back into the flow of bus boys, waiters, and restaurant patrons walking back and forth.
"Where is Antonia?" I said.
"She's safe," Trent snapped. "Jesus. Who do you think we are?"
"I know who you are," I said, my voice rising. "You're thugs who would kidnap a woman with a brain trauma. Sound accurate?"
Trent almost coughed up his water and looked around the room frantically.
Eliah, on the other hand, grinned with pride as if I was a trained dog in a circus and he was the ringmaster. It took all I had to not leap across the table at him and throttle his skinny neck.
"See? Brother, she's nothing like the kind of sorority girls you're used to. She's a tough woman." Eliah turned to me, reaching out with his hand to pat mine. "Kati, here's how it's going to go. You're going to give us the documents your mother had so we can look them over, and if we're satisfied, we're going to have a friend of ours bring in Antonia."
"Screw you, Eliah. I'm not giving you anyt
hing until I see Antonia." I rose to my feet. "We're done here."
"Whoa, hang on, hang on," Trent said, reaching for my arm. "Be reasonable. We all have interests here, and we have to..."
"Interests?" I shook off his arm. "You have my mother, you freaking asshole." I hissed at him.
I could feel the attention of patrons at surrounding tables shift toward us. Trent paled.
"Okay, okay, calm down." Eliah took out his phone. "No reason for everyone to get all worked up. She's right, like I told you earlier. Kati, I'll call and we'll have Antonia here in a few minutes. Now where are the documents?"
I sat back down. "Nearby."
"So you didn't bring them in here either." He mocked tipping his hat to me. "All right then. When Antonia arrives in a few minutes, then we can head out to get the documents and do the exchange."
Eliah dialed a long series of numbers on the phone. "Get over here," he said briskly, then hung up.
"There you have it. It's done but, as I said, it'll take a bit for them to get here." His grin was wide as a shark and he tucked the phone back in his pocket. "Relax you two. All this will be over in a few minutes. Let's try to be civil and have one meal together. You can manage that, can't you, brother—I mean, Mr. Bonita?"
Trent grimaced and checked his watch. "Absolutely."
We sat in uneasy silence for a few minutes until the food arrived. As I picked through the almost untouched enchiladas on my plate, I thought through my sketchy plan. I knew the Bonitas would continue to hound us after they had the documents, but once I had Antonia we could disappear until I could reach this Detective Mora. I'd uploaded a few of the files I'd researched to an online drive, but the library's scanner was down, so I didn't have a full backup of Antonia's notes. I had to hope I could, if I had to, re-create most of it. Combined with Eliah's DNA, it would have to be enough. What I really needed was to get Antonia safe. For me, it was the only thing that mattered.
There were a million holes in the plan, but I couldn't think of another option. Not unless I had more time.
Eliah and Trent were mid-way through their meal when Eliah's phone vibrated like an angry bee on the table. He glanced at the number, then took a long drink of coke. It buzzed twice more before he answered it. He held the phone to his ear for a second, then disconnected.
"She's here. Let's go outside, Kati. My brother will pay the bill."
Trent smiled slyly and nodded, pulling out his wallet and checking his watch again. Something about that smile bothered me. And what was up with his checking the time? Did he have another kidnapping to attend to?
Eliah and I walked out together, but I kept my distance from him. When we hit the sidewalk outside, he pointed at the blue sedan in the far end of the parking lot. He gave a thumbs up toward the car and the driver's side door opened. A short dark haired woman in a navy suit and heels stepped out, opened the back door, then got back in the car.
Antonia stepped out and walked toward us. She had dark sunglasses on, but otherwise was wearing the same clothes as when I saw her last. I couldn't see her eyes, but she was looking in my general direction.
"Your turn, Kati." Eliah gestured to the truck a few cars away.
I tossed him the keys. "It's on the passenger seat. I'm waiting here for her."
Eliah caught them deftly and headed to the truck. "Ah. Guess I'll miss the reunion."
"Fuck you," I said between gritted teeth.
I started toward Antonia. She also took a few more steps, then stopped suddenly and I heard a shout from around the building.
"Get out of my way!" a woman's voice yelled. Was it Willie? There was a crashing sound, like dishes clattering to the ground, and I turned to look back toward Eliah. He had gotten in the truck and was sitting behind the steering wheel. I could see him reaching down, and it looked like he was going to start the truck. Seriously? He was going to steal the truck?
"Hey!" I shouted at him. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Kati! Run!" Willie yelled again, her voice a high pitch shriek.
I whirled around and saw Willie rounding the corner of the building in those crazy heels. I looked around frantically. Run? Where? I saw Antonia looking confused, still standing just steps away from the sedan in the parking lot.
"Antonia!" I shouted and starting running to her.
Behind me, I heard the brief sound of Pilar's truck starting with a rev followed by a huge explosion. I felt a wave of heat at my back for an instant. Then everything happened in a series of horrible snap shots. When I opened my eyes, I saw asphalt in front of me and I realized was lying on the ground. The world was strangely quiet and things went black for a second. I shook my head and tried to get up, looking across the parking lot, trying to focus. I could see the woman from the blue sedan forcing Antonia back into the back seat of the car.
I tried to shout, tried to scream, but couldn't catch my breath. Things went black again, then Willie was kneeling next to me, her voice barely penetrating the silence, sounding like she was talking underwater. My mind was racing, we had to stop them, stop the car. I pointed to the parking lot, trying to send her there, trying to tell her to run, to catch them before they left with Antonia.
In another snap shot, I watched as the blue sedan fishtailed out of the lot, the dark windows reflecting a bright orange sun behind me. In another, I looked back to the restaurant parking lot, and there was the dark shape of Pilar's truck, completely engulfed in flames, black smoke rising into the pale blue sky like a writhing genie still trapped by its lamp.
Chapter 26
When I woke up, I found myself slumped over in the back seat of a moving car. We were driving along the highway from what I could see of the signs and concrete overpasses. As I sat up I could see Willie's huge corona of blonde hair on the driver's side. A flowery scent filled the air, making me dizzy and nauseous.
"Wait, where are we going?" I reached up to rub my head, which was throbbing.
The car swerved nearly out of the lane.
"Shit," Willie said. "You freaked me out. I thought you were still asleep."
Our eyes met through the rear view mirror.
"I ran out there to warn you. A buddy of mine in the parking lot spotted someone messing with your truck. I was afraid you were going to be in it."
In my mind I could see Eliah catching the truck keys in mid-air, his smirk flashing across his face. I hadn't wanted to take my eyes off Antonia. She was walking toward me and I was rushing toward her. And then everything broke into pieces.
"Eliah?" I asked.
Willie sighed. "If that was him in your truck, then they'll be scraping bits of him off the asphalt for weeks."
"How about Antonia?" I knew the answer but still had to hear it.
"They grabbed her."
"Who?" I straightened in my seat. We were getting close to the Yarborough exit. I had a feeling I knew where we were headed.
Willie's voice tightened. "Not sure. But when you got in the car you said we needed to get your grandmother." She clicked on her turn signal. "That was before you passed out. Sounded like a good idea to me."
I thought about everything I had in the truck. The envelopes of evidence, the file from Willie's father, and the tapes from my mother. Tears welled up in my eyes and I rubbed my face to brush them away before they spilled over. I lost all of it. And I'd lost Antonia. All I had left was what was on my shoulder when I walked out of the restaurant. My backpack. All I'd carried in there was the note from Abuela, some money, the bottle with Eliah's DNA, and the cell phone.
What were the chances that I could get Antonia back now? All the other evidence was destroyed, I had nothing left to negotiate with. The only thing I had was what I'd figured out about the Bonitas, none of which would do me much good if I had no way to prove it. I stared at the wide streets, looking at the way the yuccas in the median had grown straight through the gravel.
We pulled in front of the neighbor's house. Abuela's car was parked in the circle driveway. Willie drove forwar
d and blocked one end of the driveway.
"Wait here," I said, opening the car door. "I'm sure she's inside."
Willie got out of the car. "Not a chance."
I pulled my backpack over my shoulder. The curtains were drawn across the living room window. The door was locked. Willie and I looked at each other, and I knocked on the door. No answer. My throat went dry. She had to be all right. Eliah was gone. He wouldn't have hurt her, would he?
I reached up to the top of the porch light and checked for the key. The metal box was cool between my fingers, a fine a layer of dust along the top. I slide opened the box and used the key to unlock the door. When I looked back at Willie, she had a gun drawn, her eyes sweeping the room from side to side. I realized I had Pilar's gun in the backpack where it was practically useless. Rookie move. Maybe I could swing it at somebody.
"Abuela?" I called out as I opened the door. "Abuela?"
There was no answer. I walked through the house, checking each room. Every room was empty. My room was exactly as I'd left it a year ago. The painting I bought at the student art show still hung on the wall, the stack of rock climbing magazines were still on my nightstand. I sat down on my old bed, feeling lost.
"Maybe she went to the store," Willie said, leaning on the door frame and holstering her gun.
"Without her car?" I rubbed my head. The throbbing in my head was getting worse and my stomach flipped. Signs of a concussion. Rock climbers had to know the signs. Part of our backcountry first aid training. Came in handy in self-defense class too.
I looked around the room. Something felt off. I walked over to my old desk where the cork message board hung. There were a scattering of photos, notes from Antonia, and my ribbon from my first rock climbing competition. Third place. I sprained my wrist that day and still brought home third.
The whiteboard. We'd used it to talk the last time I was here, to avoid having someone listen in on us. It was always on my desk. I scanned the room again and spotted the new pillow on my bed, a big blue one with a sunflower. That was from Abuela's room.
When I Knew You Page 17
