Fatal Intent (Desert Heat Book 3)

by Jeffries, Jamie

  ~~~

  Alex had been filling Wanda in on Dawn Redbird’s condition and in general trying to pick her brain about why the Patriots would be involved in harassing the Native American activist group she led. Wanda professed not to know either, but Alex sensed she was holding back, and continued to press her with questions from different angles.

  “What about the Tohono O’odham ancestral lands being cut in half by the border?” she asked, knowing it was a hot button for Wanda. The facts of the issue were also the reason so many of the local tribe had Latino last names. It was difficult to tell which ethnic heritage an individual might claim, with the prevalence of almost-black hair, dark eyes and dark skin tones among Latinos and Natives both. Wanda’s contention was that along these borderlands, there was little difference.

  “You know, a lot of the Akimel O’odham have Latino names as well,” Alex observed. “Why is that?”

  “Child, trade across what is now the border was going on long before there was a United States of America. The Spanish conquered the entire region and imposed their names, and then the people mixed with other tribes. We’re all related anyway. The Pima are just a different group of the O’odham. Think of it like Europe. A few lines on a map don’t keep people from one side of the line from knowing, loving and marrying people from another side. Our names simply identified how we chose to interact with the earth in the places where we lived.”

  Wanda’s lessons had become more impassioned since the death of her husband at the hands of members of a minor cartel the previous fall. Without Hector to balance her, she seemed determined to spend her remaining years forcing people to see history the way she did. More and more, she railed against those ‘lines on a map’ that prevented her and many others of her people from seeing relatives on the wrong side of the line.

  Alex worried about Wanda when she began to wheeze. “Wanda, where’s your inhaler? I’ve let you get too riled up.”

  “In my purse, dear. Would you get it? I’ll try to calm down.” Wanda sat back, looking a bit gray, as Alex went into the house to fetch the purse.

  A glance over her shoulder as Alex went inside revealed the men still playing fireworks with the little boys and paying no attention to her and Wanda. When she returned, Wanda rummaged in the purse for her inhaler and breathed deeply for a while.

  “Tell me about school,” she said.

  Alex gave her a worried look. “Not much to tell. I got a couple more required classes out of the way during the first summer term, but then I decided to come home and save the rest of my prize money for next semester. Dylan’s trying to transfer to an office in Scottsdale or Mesa, and if that happens, I’ll be able to live with him and go to school. We’re keeping our fingers crossed.”

  “You’re not planning to marry?” Wanda asked, a frown creasing her forehead.

  “Well, he hasn’t asked me again lately. But just between you and me, next time he does I’m going to say yes. We’ll probably wait until I’m done with school to actually tie the knot, though.”

  “Don’t waste time, kiddo,” Wanda said.

  Why does everyone decide to call me whatever cockamamie nickname Dad comes up with?

  “Wanda, I’m only twenty. There’s plenty of time.”

  “So you think now,” Wanda answered, wistfulness coloring her tone.

  To change the subject, Alex brought up the mystery she’d discovered a couple of weeks before. “Wanda, did you ever know a Sarah Davis?”

  “No, I don’t think so. Who is she?” Wanda asked.

  “Funny coincidence, I guess you could say. When I moved in with Lisa and Nat, Lisa mentioned their previous housemate had disappeared while they were out of town. They figured she'd changed her mind about school, packed her stuff and went back home.

  I got curious and tracked down her parents, and found out she knew Dawn, so I asked Dawn about her. She was part of the group, but she was Caucasian. Her parents told me she used to post about the group on Facebook. No one has seen her, even her parents, for about four months.”

  Wanda sat up straight, appearing alarmed. “No one reported her missing?”

  “I guess her parents finally did, but apparently the investigation went nowhere. Dawn said she quit coming to meetings about the same time. I’d like to get to the bottom of it, but the trail is cold.”

  “Maybe she doesn’t want to be found,” Wanda said.

  Alex looked at her, puzzled at the statement. Wanda looked tired again, and Alex was thinking they ought to get her home where she could rest. Or maybe to the hospital. Was that weariness she saw in Wanda’s face normal for a woman not yet seventy? She started to get up and go to her dad for advice when Wanda said something else. It was slurred, but Alex understood it perfectly.

  “Reminds me of your mother.”

  “What? What about my mother?” Alex said. Wanda didn’t answer. She seemed to have passed out.

  “Wanda? What did you mean about my mother?

  “Ask your dad, dear, I’m too tired,” Wanda mumbled, and then her head lolled to the side.

  “Dad! Dylan! Hurry! Something’s wrong with Wanda!”

  Both men came running. Dylan put his hand around Wanda’s wrist and spoke urgently. “She has a pulse. Get an ambulance, quick!”

  Paul went running for the house phone while Alex tried to keep the boys out of the way. In a matter of minutes, two EMTs came running through the house and cleared everyone away. “Looks like heart. Who’s with her?”

  “I am,” Dylan said, looking to Alex and then the boys before climbing into the ambulance with Wanda.

  She nodded. “I’ve got them. See you in a few.”

  As the ambulance raced away, Alex reached deep inside herself for calm. She needed to quiet the boys and get them home. Her dad was already on his way to the hospital, and she wanted to be there herself, but her first duty was to Dylan’s boys. She got them home, read them a few stories and then got them through their baths and ready for bed. As soon as they were both asleep, she called Ange.

  “Can you come over, Ange? I’ve but the boys to bed, but I need to go to the hospital. No, it isn’t Dylan, sorry I scared you. It’s Wanda Lopez. The EMTs said probably heart attack. Dylan went with her. Okay, thanks.”

  Ange arrived ten minutes later, gave Alex a peck on the cheek and said, “You could have called earlier. I’d have put them to bed.”

  “I know, Ange, but we all needed to calm down. I was glad to have something to do. They’re asleep now. Thanks for coming. I’ll call you when I know anything.”

  “You’re welcome. Go take care of your man,” Ange said.

  On the way to the hospital, Alex recalled what Wanda had said, just before she collapsed. Something about her mother, and that she should ask her father. Was it possible he knew something about her disappearance? Something he’d kept secret all these years? White rage spiked through her vision, causing her to swerve. When she regained control, she told herself aloud to set it aside. She could confront her dad about it when Wanda was better.

  Wanda had to get better. Dylan couldn’t lose her so soon after he’d lost his mother. For that matter, Alex couldn’t lose her either. Tears blurred her vision as she swung into the hospital’s parking lot. First priority, Wanda. Then she’d have a ‘come to Jesus’ talk with her dad.

  SIXTEEN

  Dylan had just seen Wanda after they moved her from the ER to a room when Alex came in. She looked at her dad with an angry expression and then turned to Dylan, worry in her eyes.

  “How is she?” she asked.

  He had only a few seconds to wonder about the look she’d thrown her dad, before his attention turned to her question. “The docs think she had a mild heart attack,” he reported, including Paul in his glance. “They’re going to keep her overnight for observation, and talk to her primary care doc about what more to do for her tomorrow. She may need bypass surgery.”

  “But she’ll be all right?” Alex asked. “That was so scary, watching her turn
blue. Was it what we were talking about that brought it on?”

  Dylan frowned slightly. “I don’t know. What were you talking about? But no, it was a blockage, they said.”

  Alex seemed to ignore his question, but sighed heavily, which Dylan took as a sign of relief.

  “They can fix that, can’t they?” Alex asked. “She can have a stent or something, right?”

  “Or something. I don’t know if they’ve decided what the best course of action is. Alex, what were you talking about?” Dylan didn’t want to think that any conversation they’d had could be so stressful it would cause a heart attack, even if it wasn’t what caused this one.

  Alex looked at her dad again before turning back to Dylan. “Nothing.”

  He’d seen it again. Whatever the ‘nothing’ was, it had upset her and it had to do with her dad. Therefore, not his business. Unless she opened up to him. Maybe she would once she settled it. To his horror, Alex left his side and walked over to her dad with purpose.

  “What do you know that you’ve been hiding from me all these years?” she asked.

  The question didn’t sound at all friendly. Dylan cringed. Now he was getting along so well with Paul, he hated to have anything upset the apple cart. What was she talking about?

  From Paul’s reaction, Dylan guessed he didn’t have any idea what she meant, either. Paul soon confirmed that.

  “What are you talking about?” he asked. His voice was mild, as usual, but with an edge Dylan didn’t understand.

  “Just before she passed out, Wanda said something reminded her of my mother. When I asked what she meant, she said, ‘Ask your dad.’ I want to know what she meant,” Alex said. It was a challenge, the way she’d tilted her head up and the hard look she was giving her dad left no doubt about that.

  “Come on, Baby Girl, you’ve got to give me more than that. What had you been talking about? Could be anything.”

  “You know very well it was about Mom leaving,” Alex said. “And don’t call me Baby Girl. I’m not a baby, and I deserve to know what happened to my mother. All these years, you’ve pretended not to know, and now I find out you did! I’m seriously pissed at you, Dad, and if you don’t tell me what you know this instant, I’m out of here, and this time I’m not coming back!”

  Dylan stood up straighter.

  What? Out of here! What about me?

  Alex was in her dad’s space, almost toe to toe, with her fists clenched at her sides. Dylan took a step toward her, but Paul quelled him with a glance and a shake of his head. Whatever this was, it was none of his business, but it affected him. He stepped back and crossed his arms, ready to intervene if Alex needed him.

  Paul had also stepped back from Alex, just far enough to establish a personal boundary. “What do you think I know, Alex?”

  “I know you know what happened, Dad. I’m asking you to stop lying to me and tell me. I’m old enough to take the truth now.”

  “I never lied, Baby… kiddo. I don’t know what happened to her.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “Language…” Paul began, but Alex cut him off.

  “Does Nana know?”

  Paul sighed. “Alex, this isn’t the time or the place. Please, can we drop this, at least until we leave the hospital? Come home with me and we’ll talk. There’s no need to air our dirty laundry in front of everyone.”

  Considering Dylan was the only other person in the area, he felt as if he’d been cut out of the conversation. Hurt flooded him as he realized this was something he couldn’t fix for Alex or protect her from. She’d have to go through it on her dad’s terms or not at all, and all Dylan could do was pick up the pieces, if she’d let him. He waited for her answer along with her dad.

  “All right. Dylan, am I correct that Wanda can’t have visitors for the rest of the evening?”

  “Yeah, as far as I know. I told her you were taking care of the boys. She understood. Said she’d see you tomorrow.”

  “Thank you. I’m going to Dad’s to have this discussion. If it’s late, I’ll go ahead and stay there, so I won’t wake you coming in.”

  “No, Alex, come home. It will be fine,” Dylan said. He didn’t know if what she would learn tonight about her mother would change things, but he wanted a chance to hold Alex, comfort her if necessary, and assure her that whatever choices her mother had made, it had nothing to do with her.

  “I’ll see you when I see you.” She allowed him to give her a peck on the cheek, but was too rigid for him to take into his arms. He assumed she was holding herself together with an effort of will.

  Paul left, and Alex followed, with Dylan staring after her.

  ~~~

  Alex pulled her car into the driveway and went into the house. Paul was waiting in the living room, a bottle of beer in his hands.

  “Can I have one of those?” Alex asked, doing her best to keep her voice even. She didn’t drink much, partly because she didn’t much care for the taste and partly because Dylan didn’t drink much either. If what she suspected was true, though, she might need something to blunt the anger she was feeling toward her dad.

  “You’re…”

  “I’m twenty, Dad, and it isn’t as if I’ve never had a beer before. Just one.”

  “All right. Help yourself.” He sat in his chair.

  Alex stared at him for a moment and then went into the kitchen and opened the fridge. Selecting a cold Tecate, she returned to the living room and sat in her usual place. Her dad stayed silent until it was clear she’d have to start.

  “We were talking about a girl who was involved with Dawn Redbird and her organization. It turned out she was the person my housemates rented to before me. She cleared out her things and disappeared. I asked Wanda if she knew the girl, Sarah. She said no, and I guess that’s when she started to have the heart attack, because things got weird. She said maybe Sarah didn’t want to be found. That was when she said it reminded her of my mother and to ask you. What does that sound like to you, Dad?”

  “It sounds like you’re making a big deal out of something Wanda said during a heart attack. You can’t take that literally.”

  “Quit talking to me like I’m a fucking child, Dad! You know how much I’ve always needed to know Mom didn’t just leave me. How could you keep this from me?” Alex dashed the angry tears from her cheeks and glared at her dad. If he said one word about her language, she’d… She didn’t know what she’d do, but it wouldn’t be pretty.

  Her dad’s head was down, and she couldn’t see his eyes. Had he heard her? Would he finally stop stonewalling her and answer her question?

  After a few minutes of silence fraught with tension, her dad looked up. “All right, that’s fair enough. But I can’t give you all the answers, Alex, because I don’t know them all.”

  Alex opened her mouth to call bullshit, but her dad held up his hand. “Let me just tell it, and then I’ll try to answer your questions. Okay, Alex? This isn’t easy for me.”

  She closed her mouth again and stared at him, waiting.

  “Okay. After you were born, your mom didn’t have an easy time of it, emotionally. She had what they called baby blues back then. Now, I think they call it postpartum depression. It didn’t have anything to do with you, or not wanting you, Alex. Elizabeth loved you very much. Depression is an illness brought on by brain chemical imbalance. We know that now. Back then, it wasn’t understood as well. Your mom, she’d have bouts when she was afraid she’d hurt you. She’d take you to Wanda and go off for a few days to try to get her balance back.”

  “Why didn’t she go to a doctor for it?” Alex asked, unable to wait for her dad to finish, as he’d asked.

  “Like I said, it wasn’t understood. Going to a psychiatrist or psychologist was considered a weakness. It was a different time, Alex. Please try to understand.”

  She sat back, silent again, so her dad could go on.

  His voice got shaky as he continued. “I… didn’t know what to do for her, and I wasn’t very understandi
ng, either. A lot of what must have happened is my fault. She stayed away longer each time, and it’s probably because I’d be angry when she came home. Things were rough between us, Alex. I loved her, and I thought I was losing her. And then I did.” He stopped as tears choked his voice.

  Shocked, Alex didn’t know what to say. After several minutes while her dad seemed to fight to regain his composure, he began speaking again.

  “She met someone, in Casa Grande. She never went far, just to Tucson or CG, sometimes Phoenix. I guess she went to bars. I don’t want you to think badly of her, Alex. She was confused, depressed. Anyway, she came home one time and told me she was pregnant. It couldn’t have been mine. We hadn’t, uh. It couldn’t have been mine. She said she was going to stay away from Dodge until the baby was born, and then she’d be back. I assumed she meant she’d give it up for adoption, but then she never… I don’t know what happened after that.”

  He said the last part fast, and it sounded like the rush of wind in a thunderstorm to Alex. Her ears were buzzing. Her mom…pregnant by another man? Unfaithful to her dad? She had a sibling?

  “Wha… what do you mean, she never? Dad, what do you mean?” Alex was too shocked for tears, too confused for diplomacy. If she hadn’t known better, she’d have sworn the earth had just been knocked off its axis.

  “Just what I said, Baby Girl. She went off to have the baby, and never came back. I looked for her. I checked hospitals for weeks. She just…disappeared. I’ve always assumed she couldn’t give the baby up, or something. I don’t know.”

  When he said that, Alex’s confusion turned to rage. “She couldn’t give up the illegitimate baby, but she could give me up? You said she loved me! What a load of fucking crap! Why didn’t you tell me the truth from the beginning? It’s just like I always thought…she didn’t love me enough to come back. I fucking hate her!”

  Alex jumped from her seat and began striding around the room, gesticulating wildly. She stopped next to the hideous chair her dad would never get rid of and picked up an ornament from the side table. Whirling, she threw it with all her might at the wall, where it shattered.