Bad Habit

by JD Faver

  “That sounds like Martin Kelso.” Teri smiled. “He always wanted everything to be accomplished by yesterday.”

  “When I was still in New York I had the good fortune to be the recipient of many of his phone calls. He said you were like a daughter to him and he was worried sick about you.”

  “Mr. Kelso is a very nice man,” Teri said. “He’s always been supportive and I tried to make sure he didn’t regret giving me an opportunity in such a competitive position.”

  “Kelso was the one who hired Marcel Farmer to find you.”

  Her stomach clenched at his words. “I wonder if Mr. Kelso knows his investigator is dead.”

  “I don’t know.” Angel located a parking space on the street close to the library. “If he does know, I would have to wonder how he found out.” He gave Teri a long look as he turned off the ignition.

  #

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Bernie held the receiver for a moment after Teri hung up. She took a deep breath and released it. She thanked God for keeping Teri safe and for the man named Angel who was protecting her.

  The bell rang and classes were released. She returned to her classroom to find her students putting their supplies away.

  “Thanks for carrying on without me,” she said. She finished the clean up after her students were gone. The act of cleaning was like a balm to her troubled mind.

  Bernie washed a film of clay dust from the stainless steel table where they’d worked. She propped the heavy door of the kiln open with a chunk of firebrick. The kiln was almost cool but the ceramic items inside were too hot to handle. Removing them too soon would cause the glaze to crackle and disappoint the girls. Tomorrow morning would be soon enough.

  She lined up the tubes of acrylic paint and made sure all the brushes had been cleaned properly. When she closed the door and locked up her classroom, the halls were empty. Her rubber-soled shoes made a squishing sound on the highly polished floors. She nodded to the janitor as she left the building. For a moment Bernie wondered what had happened to Herman, the man who had worked at the convent for as long as she had been there.

  #

  Angel and Teri sat on stools at the library. He logged on and checked his e-mail, opening the communication from his boss. It took a few minutes for the file to download.

  “Are you okay?” Angel reached out to take Teri’s hand. “You look worried.”

  “I’m okay,” she said slowly. “I’m a little nervous.”

  “I can’t tell you not to worry because I don’t think it would do any good. Are you concerned about anything in particular?”

  “Nothing in particular. Everything in general.” She pressed his palm to her cheek. “I feel guilty for causing so much trouble, for everything that happened.”

  “You did nothing to cause Colin’s death.” Angel cupped her face in his hand. “If you’d called the police when you found him, I might have met you sooner, but at least we got to meet each other.”

  “After I lied to the nuns and the students. Only Father Conlyn knows the truth about me.”

  “Really?” Angel gazed into her eyes. “So you confessed and received absolution?”

  “I confessed and received his blessing. I was still living the lie.” She smiled up at Angel. “If I go back I can ask him for absolution.”

  “You can’t go back,” he said. “It’s much too dangerous.”

  The file was open and Angel quickly read the entire document. “The photo was identified as Frank Altman, a thug with a record of breaking and entering and assault. He’s been charged seven times but the charges were dropped five times because the complainant withdrew charges.”

  Teri gazed at the mug shot. Altman’s eyes stared back at her, hooded and flat. “Why would someone who had been assaulted drop the charges?”

  “They were probably threatened or paid off.”

  Teri shuddered. She could read the evil behind Altman’s expression. She remembered when she’d hidden in Colin’s closet watching Altman go through Colin’s pockets with his fat, stubby fingers. He’d been nervous and angry. The second man yelled at him for killing Colin before he could recover the cash.

  “Teri?” Angel’s hand swept over her smooth cropped hair and came to rest at the back of her neck.

  She closed her eyes and let her head drop back against his hand. “I was thinking about being in that closet. I was thinking about the look on Altman’s face when he was searching Colin’s body.”

  “You need to keep that image because it will be your testimony that puts him away.”

  Teri raised her head and opened her eyes. An army of spiders crawled over her skin. “I’ll have to testify. Oh, no...I’ll have to face him.” Nausea roiled up from her stomach.

  “Don’t worry, Teri,” Angel said. “I’ll be there with you, and Altman will be in custody. We’ll get the other man too. I would never let anyone hurt you.”

  Teri nodded, but her face felt tight. She couldn’t tell Angel that the second man was a cop. She sensed that it would bring their relationship to a screeching halt. If he knew she would accuse another police officer, would he still feel that he could protect her or would he think she was crazy?

  She could only bide her time and wait to see how the investigation progressed. I’ll tell him, when the time is right.

  Angel gestured to the monitor. “Let’s look at his known associates and see if you recognize anyone.” He clicked on each mug shot separately, but Teri shook her head each time. “I should have known identifying the second killer couldn’t be as simple as you picking him out of mug shots.”

  “The other man was furious with Altman for the killing. He must have been the boss. He yelled and talked down to him.”

  “That’s good. Anything else?”

  She shook her head, then decided to add, “He had a scar on the back of his left hand. It could have been a burn.”

  “That’s something to work with.” He relayed this information to his boss and logged off.

  They left the library and returned to the Garcia household. When they entered through the back door, Isabel was cooking and her grandmother sat at the kitchen table sipping a small glass of juice. The elderly woman greeted Angel and smiled as she spoke a few words of Spanish.

  He grinned and went to her side. Teri watched him as he slipped an arm around her shoulder and conversed with her in low tones, their heads close together.

  Isabel snapped green beans into a colander, but her gaze remained fastened on Teri.

  Teri flushed under her scrutiny and Isabel smiled.

  “I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” Isabel wiped her hands on a dishtowel and drew Teri into the living room.

  Teri picked up the orange kitten and it stretched lazily as she sat on the Queen Anne sofa beside Isabel. It tucked its head under its paws and began purring as Teri scratched its ears.

  “What’s on your mind?” Teri thought she would tackle Isabel head on.

  “You and my son.” Isabel held her hands up as though warding off protests. “I’m not trying to meddle, but I am concerned.”

  “You want to know if my intentions are honorable?” Teri smiled.

  “No. No, I’m concerned about whatever is going on. I know Angel came to San Antonio on police business. He said he followed you here.” She looked to Teri for confirmation and when she nodded, went on. “I also know that my son cares for you deeply and I hope you return his feelings.”

  Teri smiled and looked down at the kitten.

  “That’s alright Teri. I think you do care for him.”

  “What’s this about?”

  “I can tell my son is guarding you and I don’t want him to get hurt. He’s very protective of you and I think he would risk his life to save you.”

  Teri drew in a sharp breath. She stared at Isabel, wide-eyed. Of all the people she’d endangered she hadn’t considered the peril to Angel. He always seemed to be so big and smart and invincible. Surely he couldn’t be hurt.

 
Teri shook her head as tears sprang to her eyes. “Oh, no! Not Angel.” She clasped both hands over her mouth in horror.

  “He’s just a man, Teri.” Isabel gazed at her steadily.

  Teri’s eyes filled as she realized how selfish she had been. Once more, she was only thinking of herself.

  Isabel held her arms out and Teri collapsed in tears.

  “What’s going on here?” Angel appeared in the doorway. “Mother, what have you done?” His gaze fell on Teri’s tear-stained face.

  She stood and reached for him. Without a word he went to her. Teri’s arms went around his neck and she buried her face against his chest. He felt so strong as he held her. He lifted her and carried her from the room. He transported her up the stairway and into his childhood room, nudging the door closed behind them.

  Angel lowered Teri onto his bed and pulled off her sandals, letting them fall to the floor. He kicked out of his shoes and stretched out beside her.

  “I don’t have a handkerchief,” he said. “But you can use this.” He pulled out his shirt tail and mopped her tears.

  Teri tried not to smile but she couldn’t help it.

  He brushed her hair off of her forehead and lifted her chin. “What did my mother say to you?”

  “Nothing.”

  Angel raised his eyebrows giving Teri a knowing look. “C’mon. Spill your guts. Don’t make me get out the rubber hose.”

  Teri laughed in spite of her tears. “It’s just that she’s worried about you. She thinks you might be in danger because of me.”

  When he spoke, his voice sounded strained. “I’m sorry she said that to you.” Angel lay back on the pillow, stretching his arms overhead and staring up at the Metallica poster.

  Teri rolled up and turned to gaze into his eyes. “Angel, she’s right. Two men are dead. I couldn’t stand it if anything happened to you.” She placed her hand on his chest, imploring him to heed her concerns.

  Angel grinned and covered her hand with his. “That sounds almost like you’re saying you care about me.”

  “Of course I care about you!”

  “Oh yeah? How much?” He pulled her down on top of him. “Are you ready to admit that you’re in love with me?”

  Teri groaned and buried her face against his neck.

  “Come on. This is an official police interrogation.” He rolled over, taking her with him. He examined her face, wiping away the last trace of her tears and kissed her above her eyebrow.

  Teri looked up into his eyes. She glanced at his lips and he took the hint, kissing her tenderly.

  She touched his face with her fingertips. “Angel, the last man I cared about was murdered.”

  “Did you love him?”

  “I thought I did.”

  “And what do you think now?”

  She frowned. “I don’t know. I felt differently about him than I do about you.”

  He traced a line across her cheek with his fingertip, leaving an echo whispering on her skin. “That means what we have could be more,” he said. “But it could also be less.”

  Teri experienced a feeling of warmth rising from her chest. She blinked and cleared her throat. “Colin and I were friends first. We spent a lot of time together. We were great companions, but it was different.”

  “How was it different?” He dropped little kisses along her neck.

  “This,” she said. “I didn’t feel this.”

  “Mmm, I see,” he said. “Then what we have is better because this is great.” His hands trailed over her body. Lifting her shirt, he kissed her stomach and ribs causing her to arch toward him. Angel grinned when he saw the new pink lacy bra she was wearing. He unhooked it and pushed it up out of his way before kissing her breasts.

  Teri gasped as a tingling sensation radiated throughout her body. His lips and tongue caressed her nipples as she sank her fingers into his hair. She felt Angel’s hand flat on her stomach and realized her jeans were unzipped. She giggled and he pulled away to gaze down into her eyes. Teri pulled her shirt and bra off overhead and tossed them on the floor.

  Angel drew in his breath as she unbuttoned his shirt and traced her fingers over the dark swirl of hair leading from his chest and pointing down into his pants like an arrow.

  He tossed his shirt beside hers on the floor and gathered her in his arms. He kissed her shoulder and the side of her neck.

  “My beautiful Teri,” he said. “I want you so much.”

  Her flesh warmed where it touched Angel’s. They lay together as Angel stroked her skin and slid her jeans down over her hips.

  “I want you so much, but I can’t make love to you.”

  “I know,” she whispered against his skin. “Your mother is downstairs.”

  “She’s probably right outside the door.”

  Teri let out a whoop of laughter and clasping both hands over her mouth.

  Angel grinned and pulled her jeans the rest of the way off. He stroked her legs and fingered the lacy pink panties.

  “If you’re not going to make love to me,” she asked, “why are you torturing me?”

  “I’m not torturing you.” He kissed the inside of her thigh. “I’m torturing me.” Angel slid the panties down.

  “Angel?” she whispered.

  “Shhh...” He opened her thighs and plunged his tongue inside her, sending shock waves to her core.

  Teri groaned and bit into Angel’s down-filled pillow to keep from crying out. She grasped his hair as he intensified his efforts bringing her wave after wave of pleasure. Her entire body seemed to pulse with his rhythm as he brought her to a pinnacle of ecstasy. Her thunderous heartbeat slowed as slowly, her spent body relaxed.

  “Are you okay?” He pulled the pillow off her face.

  “I’m better than okay,” she said. “Why did you do that?”

  He gave her a dark-eyed look that scorched. “I wanted to please you.”

  She smiled and nuzzled his chest. “I’m pleased.”

  “But I lied to you, mi querida,” he said.

  She jerked her head back to stare into the depths of his dark eyes. She tried to read his expression.

  “My mother would be happy if I was making love to you. She would be thrilled if I was filling you with her grandchildren.”

  Teri sucked in her breath and opened her eyes wide.

  “Does that sound so strange to you? Would you like to make babies with me?”

  Teri sat up, her mouth open. She turned around to catch Angel’s mischievous grin.

  “You horrible man!” She punched him on his arm.

  “Don’t you want to make my mother happy?”

  “Shut up!”

  “I’m teasing you. I’ll take it one step at a time.”

  Teri released a deep breath. “Is this the first step?”

  He pulled her down to rest against his chest. “Yes.”

  When they dressed and went downstairs the whole family had assembled at the table. Angel seated Teri and joined his mother in the kitchen.

  “Is everything alright?” she asked.

  “Don’t be mean to Teri,” Angel said.

  Isabel threw her hands up over her head. “I’m not mean to her! I love Teri.”

  “I love her more and I don’t want you to chase her away.”

  Isabel looked stricken. “Mijo! I would never do such a thing. But it’s entirely your fault. You never tell me anything.”

  “When I’m in New York you aren’t informed of any case I’m working on.”

  Isabel grasped his sleeve. “But you’re right here and I see you worrying about this girl. And you’re going and coming at all hours.”

  “Mom, I can take her to a hotel if you prefer. I thought you’d want us here.” He shook his head as though puzzled.

  “Of course I want you here. Don’t even think of leaving.” She clasped her arms around Angel’s waist.

  “If we stay you have to stop badgering Teri. If you have questions, ask me. I won’t be able to tell you much.”

&nbs
p; “Alright. I promise.” Isabel brushed the back of her hand across her eyes before turning to the counter. “You take the roast to the table,” she said over her shoulder.

  Angel heaved a sigh, refusing to buy into her drama. “Sure, Mom.”

  #

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  When Angel exited the kitchen he noted the uneasy silence around the table. He placed the platter in front of Arturo. “Here you go, Pop.” He took a seat beside Teri as Isabel slid into the chair opposite her husband. She kept her eyes averted and remained silent during the meal.

  “This is delicious,” Teri commented. Others mumbled agreement.

  He squeezed her thigh under the table. It seemed as though everyone ate in record time and scattered as soon as possible. Rosario and Esme helped clear the table but Angel took Teri’s hand and pulled her out of the house before she could offer her help. He led her to his car and opened the door for her. She glanced up at him, questioningly.

  “It’s all okay,” he said and shut her inside. He rounded the car and backed out of the driveway. At the corner he took a deep breath and stretched his fingers before wrapping them back around the steering wheel. He tried to release the anger he felt toward his mother.

  “Where are we going?” she whispered.

  “Anywhere,” he said. “How about ice cream?”

  “Sure.”

  He drove a few blocks and parked in front of a national chain ice cream shop. He turned off the ignition but made no move to get out. He felt as though a heavy weight restrained him.

  Teri reached over to clasp his hand. Wordlessly, he raised it to his lips.

  “I’m sorry if I caused some sort of rift,” she said.

  “Nothing was your fault.” He turned in the seat to face her. “They say you can’t go home again.”

  “Thomas Wolfe.”

  He nodded. “He knew what he was talking about. The first time I was on my own was when I joined the Navy. Then I moved to New York and enrolled in the Police Academy.”

  “You’ve been away a long time,” she said.