Second Chance Hero

by Liz Lee

  Right. He laughed this time. “It’s one hell of an excuse. Look at the body count Lil, and then look at what Ortiz already figured out. You’re the common denominator. I don’t want you added to those numbers.”

  “The school is the common denominator. It’s why I’m helping with this. It’s why I’m not going anywhere.”

  He could tell she wasn’t budging. She either did this with him or she did it on her own. No way in hell was he letting her do this alone. “I’m not pushing you away, Lil.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest, looked at him with a mixture of distrust and something he couldn’t quite name.

  He had to make her see.

  “I don’t want you to leave,” he said. “Every night I lay in that room on the floor listening to you breathe, imagining what it would be like to touch you, to kiss you, to just surround myself with you. I want you to be safe. And I don’t know if that’s possible here.”

  Lil felt the anger, the resentment, evaporate. He really was afraid. Of course he was. What was wrong with her anyway?

  She stepped forward, looked at the family photos on the wall behind his head and thought of what a good man he was. How this had to be tearing him up. He could say he wanted away from responsibility all he wanted, but he chose to stay here surrounded by his family. He was used to keeping people safe. This was out of his control, and it was driving him crazy.

  “It’ll be okay, David. We’re working with professionals.”

  David didn’t look like he quite agreed with her on that one.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “I made this about us. It’s not about us at all.”

  “The hell it’s not.” His words were whispered, hot, angry.

  “What?”

  He stepped toward her, reached out a hand and her skin burned as she anticipated the touch. Instead he dropped the hand to his side. “The hell it’s not about us. From the minute you called me, it’s been about us.”

  Oh.

  She tried to look away, to catch her breath, but she couldn’t tear her eyes from his face.

  He stepped closer still, grabbed her hand in his, placed it on his chest where she could feel his heart thudding away under the buttons of his lightly starched shirt.

  “Feel that Lil?”

  She didn’t trust herself to speak. Instead she nodded as he splayed his hand over hers.

  “That’s my heart pounding like I’ve been running a marathon through San Antonio in the middle of summer. It’s beating so fast because I’m afraid for your life. But that’s not all.”

  She looked at him then, really looked, saw the grey smudges under his eyes, the barely there scruff of his beard. He was exhausted, afraid, but yes, there was more. “It’s not?” She whispered the question.

  He shook his head, his soft dark hair brushing the top of his shirt. She wanted to touch it. To see if it was still as soft as she remembered.

  “It’s been beating like this since you moved in with me,” he said. “Sure, it’s fear, but it’s desire too. I see you, hear you, smell that squeaky clean soap of yours and I want to touch you. Kiss you. Just once. Just to remember. Really remember.”

  Oh God she did too. She wanted to remember. “So do it then. Quit talking about it and…”

  She didn’t get the chance to finish. His lips claimed hers in punishing fury. They’d never shared a kiss like this. Never.

  His beard scratched her cheeks, his tongue plunged, his teeth bit and she wanted more.

  His heart pounded harder under her hand and she knew her pulse matched his. She slid her fingers between the buttons of his shirt, felt the hard planes of his chest and settled closer, closer. His hands surrounded her, encasing her in a way, as his lips moved down the side of her chin to the pulse point at the base of her neck.

  Her head fell back as she gave him more access. She heard a moan, thought it was hers. She wanted. More.

  And then, just as quickly as it started, it was over.

  He stepped back, brushed his hands over his face, shook his head. “Oh man.”

  Oh man was so right.

  “Whoa.”

  He smiled then, that slow sexy smile that made her toes curl. “Whoa.”

  What exactly was she supposed to say now? She couldn’t stand there letting him look at her like he wanted her for dessert. If he was going to look at her like that, he was going to have to do something about it. “So that was nice. Different. But good.”

  He nodded and she noticed his top three buttons were undone. His shirt untucked from the waistband of his jeans.

  “You’re a wild woman, Lil Palmer,” he teased.

  She blushed but she didn’t turn away. “The last few days have been a little tense.”

  “Yeah.” All seriousness again he stepped forward. “The last few days have scared me to death, Lil.”

  They scared her too. God did they scare her. But she wasn’t leaving. No way. “I’ll be safe at the school. We’ll work everything out.”

  They both jumped when a knock sounded at the door.

  David peeked out the window, a disgruntled look on his face. He opened the door and Ryan walked in Mr. All American with his straight smile and good ol’ boy strut. She didn’t like him right now. She wasn’t sure why. She sure didn’t like the way he was checking her out. Smiling like he knew just what she and David had been up to.

  “Sorry to stop by without calling. Heard Ortiz’s been by. You two okay?”

  She deciphered that to mean they weren’t cleared to fill Ortiz in on what exactly it was she was doing these days.

  “We’re fine,” David said as he moved to her side, dropped his arm around her shoulders.

  She leaned into him. Made sure Ryan understood they were a united force.

  Ryan didn’t seem to care much just nodded his head said “good, good,” then sprawled on David’s couch and asked if they had any more cookies.

  As if he didn’t know about the break in.

  Why? Why point that out? Was it on purpose?

  “How’s Rafe?” She had to know.

  Ryan smiled. She bet he practiced in the mirror. “Safe,” Ryan said. “In El Paso for now.”

  David was done with the small talk. “What’s going on Ryan? Why are you here?”

  Ryan frowned at David’s terse tone. “I heard about Lil’s friend. And I wanted to let you know the papers weren’t a bust.”

  She leaned forward, her pulse racing. “What do you mean?”

  “Miguel’s were pure English class mumbo jumbo. Nothing there.”

  She’d ignore the mumbo jumbo comment. “But?”

  “But Solidad’s were another story completely.”

  She wished he’d just spit it out. Tell them what he’d learned. When did Ryan Jamison become the enemy? She needed to remember they were a team. He was one of the good guys.

  “We think Solidad’s papers were a map of sorts. Places on the Hernandez underground.”

  “Underground?”

  He nodded. “They were helping girls escape Degas’s clutches. Her papers were filled with places we think they were using. Churches. Certain towns in Mexico. People they could talk to.”

  Please let this be the break they needed. “Will they lead to Miguel?”

  Ryan blew out a long breath and she knew he had to be as exhausted as she and David. Somehow, though, he didn’t look it. “We don’t know. But we’re checking them out. By tomorrow we’ll hopefully have some answers.”

  Relief flooded her and she couldn’t stop the smile from breaking across her face. She kissed David’s cheek and nearly jumped from the couch. “It’s working. We’re going to win. I thought it was hopeless.”

  Ryan smiled sadly. “I hope we catch the bastard,” he said.

  “Solidad Hernandez died a hero.” David’s voice was soft and sad.

  If only they’d been sooner. That poor, poor girl. She closed her eyes and focused on the positive.

  “Interesting note. Your friend Nancy Valdez is menti
oned in the papers more than once.”

  Lil nodded. Solidad had worshipped the ground Nancy Valdez walked on. Most of the girls did. “Solidad loved Nancy.”

  “And Nancy’s missing,” Ryan said.

  David closed her hand in his, and she squeezed his back.

  Ryan slapped his hands on his knees. Stood. “I just wanted you to know what we’d learned. We’ll have answers soon. Hopefully by tomorrow.”

  She and David stood, walked with him to the door. He started to leave then turned back. One last directive. “Ortiz is a good cop, but he doesn’t need to know. Not yet.”

  And then he was gone.

  It was almost over. It was really going to end.

  She’d helped. The world would be a safer place.

  And she’d go back to her little house with its blank walls, her frozen dinners, her expensive sheets, soft because of the thread count instead of their lifespan.

  No more wild kisses. No more Scrabble.

  In the corner Scamp covered his eyes with a paw and whined as if he knew her thoughts.

  She cleared her mind and told herself all those no more’s were positives. She needed to get back to normal. She just wasn’t sure she could.

  Chapter Eight

  Lil’s heart dropped at the words. “What?”

  Anna leaned forward her face a combination of earnestness and fear. “I went to the concert and I swear I saw Ms. Valdez there. She was walking around by herself looking for someone.”

  “Anna, are you sure?”

  She nodded, bit her lip. “Pretty sure. I was there with some friends. When we called out to her, she looked up at us and then she just disappeared. I know it was her. It had to be. And you can’t tell David because he’ll kill me for going to the concert.”

  The concert was the last thing on Lil’s mind. “You’ve got to tell Detective Ortiz what you saw. Come on.”

  Anna sat back further in the desk. “He’ll tell my mom.”

  Oh great. “Your mother doesn’t know you went?”

  Anna looked away. That was answer enough.

  “Anna, you know you’ve got to tell the police. Everything we do has consequences. Good or bad. You snuck out to the concert, that was bad. But you saw Ms. Valdez and that’s good. Come on. I’ll go with you.”

  Anna stood slowly, but she didn’t look happy. “I’m in so much trouble.”

  She could’ve been in a lot worse than trouble. Thank God she made it home okay. Lil chose not to say any of that. Instead she walked to her door and motioned Anna to follow. “We’ll deal with the trouble later. Let’s go see Detective Ortiz.”

  She wasn’t exactly sure where Ortiz would be right now, but she figured they’d start with the office.

  The halls were a different kind of silent now, filled with students, but those students were whispering. Lockers clanged shut or squeaked open. Footsteps clomped along the tile floor. Keys jingled. Every once in a while a book fell with a thud.

  Lil tried to ignore the eeriness as she steered Anna toward the principal’s office. Inside Stan and Mr. Miller were still in deep discussion. No help.

  She turned and there Ortiz was. In the empty vice principal’s office. No one wanted the job. But the office made a nice staging ground for local police.

  Ortiz didn’t exactly look surprised when he saw her. “Ms. Palmer?” His eyes were filled with questions as he looked from her to Anna. “You need to see me?”

  Lil nodded. “Anna needs to speak with you.”

  Anna turned pleading eyes to her, and Lil read the message. Stay please.

  This was David’s sister. Her student. She couldn’t leave. So she and Anna sat and Detective Ortiz waited silently until Anna finally started talking.

  She told the detective about sneaking out of her house, meeting three friends, going across the border. She told about the concert, and how it was crowded and fun and how people were everywhere. And finally she told about seeing Nancy. About how they’d called her name only to have her disappear.

  Ortiz silently took her statement. He nodded as she spoke, frowned when she said she’d snuck out, but never interrupted. He never said a word until she was done. And then he only asked what she remembered about Nancy. What she was wearing—a bright purple turtleneck, blue jeans and a jacket. If anyone was with her—no sir, she looked alone. If she had anything with her—yes sir, a tablet or folder or something like that.

  When he asked for the names of the three friends Anna didn’t answer.

  Lil felt for the girl. But she also knew Detective Ortiz needed her answer. “Anna, you’ve got to tell.”

  Anna groaned. “I know. But David can’t know, Lil. You have no idea how he is.”

  At that Detective Ortiz smiled slightly. “Would you like Ms. Palmer to step outside?”

  Lil wanted to smack him and she could tell he knew it.

  Anna looked like she considered the idea for a minute, but she shook her head. “No. She might as well know. She’ll know by the end of the day anyway. She always knows.”

  Which was true. The students spoke freely around her on a regular basis.

  When Ann listed the friends, it took everything in Lil’s power not to groan. Another cheerleader. Two boys. One of the boys a senior football player known for being way too friendly with the girls.

  “Does my mom have to know?” Anna sounded hopeful.

  “Probably.” Detective Ortiz crushed her hopes before he called someone on his radio. A few seconds later, he’d sent a group of men to find out what they could. He’d handle the school connection. Once they were alone in the office, he spoke to Anna again.

  “It wasn’t so long ago I was a teenager in this same school. I know what it’s like. But it’s never a good idea to sneak out of your house, Anna. Especially right now.”

  Anna looked away, then back. “I didn’t believe my brother. But I do now.”

  He steepled his hands on the desk. “I’ll probably have more questions for you and your friends. You can go to class.”

  Lil felt sorry for her. She looked so sad and lost. She couldn’t help but wonder if that was more about her mother learning the truth than about Nancy.

  She started to follow Anna, but Detective Ortiz stopped her. “Ms. Palmer. I’d like a moment of your time.”

  Oh great. She sat and waited for the door to close behind Anna. Funny how sitting here made her feel like a kid in trouble.

  “I take it the boys in question aren’t exactly quality material.”

  This she could handle. “Not exactly. I’m kind of surprised at Anna’s decision.”

  And she was. Especially after the dance episode earlier in the week.

  “People do funny things in small towns sometimes. They forget who they can trust, who they can’t.”

  Okay. So they weren’t talking about Anna now.

  “I would’ve trusted Nancy with my life. And turns out she might be totally involved in this.”

  “Or she could be a victim.”

  “My papers were in her house.”

  “They could’ve been put there by the people who took her.”

  “Only she was at the concert last night.” She was done. “Are you trying to tell me something here, Detective Ortiz?”

  He leveled her with a long, silent look, the shook his head. “Be careful, Ms. Palmer. Be very careful.”

  “We’ve already had this conversation.” He was freaking her out on purpose and she didn’t need it. “I’m afraid. Plenty afraid. And I’m definitely careful.”

  “And yet, you’re still here.”

  Why did everyone want her to leave?

  “I’m not in danger.”

  He nodded solemnly. “And David?”

  She laughed. “He’s not in danger either.”

  “And yet the two of you keep showing up in my case.”

  “Like you said it’s a small town. It’s coincidence.”

  “I don’t believe in coincidence,” he said. “I get the distinct impression th
ere’s more at work here. And I figure someone’s getting played.”

  Played. She wasn’t sure played was the right word for it. “It’s because of the school. That’s why we’ve crossed paths so often.”

  “Just remember people always have agendas. Always.”

  Okay fine. “So what’s your agenda?”

  “I want to know the truth. I want to catch Degas. I want to find Nancy Valdez alive. And I want to know what happened to Miguel Hernandez and his family. That’s my agenda. And I think you hold some of the answers to those questions.”

  She stood because she had to leave. She couldn’t stay. If she did, she’d tell him everything. “You’re wrong.” And he was. If she had answers she’d have given them to Ryan Jamison. She didn’t have anything at all. “I’ve got to go.”

  As she fled she heard him saying be careful again. She didn’t bother to answer.

  The day passed in a sad blur. When her room was empty, she let her head fall to the desk. Was it wrong for her not to tell Ortiz about the papers, about the potential map Solidad had left them?

  It couldn’t be.

  Her phone rang and she jumped. It was David.

  He told her he’d been called to the police station for questioning, but he’d be done soon.

  She took comfort in his voice but hated that she had to stay longer. Everything about the school left her afraid and sad and hopeless.

  She just wanted to lose herself in David. In whatever time they had left.

  A knock at her door brought her head up.

  Stan stood there looking puzzled. She waved him in.

  “You okay?”

  He held up a lump of brown…. Bear. A teddy bear.

  “Kind of strange finding this in your hall.”

  Lil forced herself to stay calm as she walked toward him.

  “No doubt. Maybe someone wrote descriptive papers today.” Somehow her voice sounded normal.

  Stan handed her the bear and her stomach dropped to her toes. Bear. It was impossible.

  “Some kid must’ve dropped it outside your door.”

  Some kid. Rafe. No. It couldn’t be. She nodded and he continued. “Thing looks half dead. It’s going to make an interesting paper.”

  “You know how kids are about their stuff.” Her voice was low, barely above a whisper, but Stan didn’t seem to notice.