Murder at the Alamo

by Dianne Harman

  Brigid shook her head. “Anything to get to surf a little more, hmm?”

  “You got that right,” he said with a laugh as they got in the car and he started it up.

  CHAPTER 8

  Jerry Martinez had been working as a tour guide longer than anyone else at the Alamo. He’d started working there when he’d gotten close to retirement age. His body wasn’t exactly what it used to be, making his job at the auto repair shop where he worked almost impossible. Yet when he’d tried to stay at home, he’d felt as if he was going stir crazy.

  Since then, he’d put his heart into being a tour guide. He always made sure he was patient with each and every visitor, answering questions to the best of his knowledge or giving them suggestions where to go to find their answers if he didn’t know. It was much more interesting than he’d originally thought it would be. San Antonio was rich with history, but he’d never quite realized how interesting that history was. After all, the Alamo wasn’t just built for the battle that happened there.

  Before he started working at the Alamo, he wasn’t aware of how many people visited San Antonio. People from every state in the U.S and even from countries all around the world. It was amazing how diverse their visitors were. Jerry felt as though he probably learned as much from them as they did from him. It was a great way to spend his retirement years. It was almost as if rather than traveling, the travel came to him. For an older man, that was definitely a blessing, plus it was a lot cheaper.

  “I heard Miguel is retiring,” Shavonne said to him as they stood near the front of the Alamo, waiting for another group of tourists to arrive. She often gravitated to him and helped keep him in the loop about what was going on at their historic place of employment. Many of the younger employees avoided him, but not Shavonne. She loved to listen to his stories and he, in turn, listened to her.

  “I heard something about that, too,” Jerry admitted. “Someone said Celine has been trying to decide who’s going to take his job.”

  “Well, whoever it is, they need to really know their stuff. Miguel is practically a walking encyclopedia when it comes to the Alamo,” Shavonne chuckled. She was quite a bit younger than Jerry, probably in her late twenties, but she was his favorite person to work with. She was a no-nonsense person and did her job well.

  “That’s very true,” Jerry said. Secretly, he’d been hoping he’d get the promotion. It wasn’t the reason he’d started learning all the information about the Alamo, but once he realized how much he knew, he felt he definitely was the man for the job.

  Shavonne gave him a sideways look. “Think you might get it?”

  “I hope so,” Jerry said. “The only ones who really seem to know their stuff around here are you and me. The other guides don’t seem nearly as dedicated as we are. It would be a shame to see it go to any of them.”

  “I heard she’s going to announce her decision later today or tomorrow. Miguel only has a week left, and she wants to give him a chance to show the new person the ropes. Although, I can’t imagine it’s too hard of a job.” Shavonne said as she crossed her arms in front of her.

  “All I know is that it better be you,” she said. “If not you, I’m not afraid to hope for myself. If it’s anyone else, I’m going to pitch a fit.” She set her jaw like she meant it, too. Jerry knew she wasn’t afraid to speak up when she didn’t feel something was right. He was just glad he was on her good side.

  “You don’t really think she’d pick someone else, do you?” Jerry asked. “I mean, the others…”

  “Yeah, I know. All I’m saying is she better not,” Shavonne said as they heard a group of people approaching.

  As a tour group entered through the main doors, Jerry said, “You take this one, I’ll wait for the next group.”

  “You sure?” Shavonne asked.

  “Sure. I think I’ll go talk to Celine and see if she’s made a decision yet. I don’t know about you, but I’m not a fan of waiting around,” Jerry told her. Which was true. He’d gotten fairly impatient when it came to decisions in his older years. There was no beating around the bush with him.

  She nodded. “Let me know what you find out,” she said before plastering on her trademark bright happy smile and stepping forward to greet the visitors. She began with her typical introduction as he turned to walk away.

  Jerry slipped around in back, heading for Celine’s office. As he walked towards her office, he thought about exactly what he was going to say to her. There was a part of him that wanted to insist that she appoint him to the soon-to-be-vacant position. After all, no one else was nearly as qualified as he was. That wasn’t vanity talking, it was simply the cold hard truth. No one else put in the time and effort needed to learn above and beyond what was expected of them.

  Granted, it was sufficient for the average visitor, but there were some people who came wanting to know even more. He’d been teaching Shavonne bits and pieces of what he’d learned, which was why he’d understand if she was given the job. Jerry wasn’t blind to the fact that he was past retirement age. But if Celine gave the job to anyone else, he would not be happy. When he was almost to her office, the door opened and she stepped out. Surprised, she took a step back. “Jerry, what can I do for you?”

  “I wanted to talk to you about the head tour guide position,” he said as he tugged at his sleeves, making sure he looked presentable. It didn’t do any good to expect a promotion if you looked disheveled all the time. A fact one or two of the younger men could take to heart.

  “Please, come in,” Celine said as she gestured for him to join her in her office. He stepped inside and sat down in one of the simple wooden chairs across from her desk as she shut the door. “What about the head tour guide position did you want to talk about?”

  “I wanted to make sure that you knew I was extremely interested in that job. I’ve been rated as one of the most knowledgeable guides here, and I think that should count for something,” he began.

  “And it does, Jerry. I truly value all the hard work you’ve put into learning about this place. Your tour groups are always so appreciative of the knowledge you give them,” Celine said carefully as she sat down in her chair. “I don’t believe we’ve had a single complaint about you since you started with us. And that’s been, what, two or three years now? That’s pretty impressive considering some of the visitors we get. Some of them can be quite a handful.”

  “Which is why I think I deserve Miguel’s job,” Jerry said. He was sure she could see his point, so why put it off? In his mind, the best course of action was the one that took you where you wanted to be. He’d always been a direct person. That way, the other person knew exactly where he stood. There was no way Celine could turn him down if she knew he wanted the job.

  “I appreciate that, Jerry. I really do. But I have someone else in mind for the position,” Celine said as she leaned forward on her desk.

  That took Jerry by surprise. He hadn’t really expected her to pass him over. “Excuse me?” he asked. “Then you must have chosen Shavonne.”

  Celine shook her head. “I’m afraid not, although she is very good at her job, too. No, I’ve selected someone else. I may still change my mind, but it’s highly doubtful.”

  “Who?” Jerry asked, doing his best to control his rising temper. He was frustrated and disappointed. Didn’t all his hard work count for something?

  “Mark,” Celine said finally.

  “Mark? Why in the devil would you choose him?” Jerry asked as he leaned back and crossed his arms across his chest. He had to reign himself in. This was his boss, after all.

  “I strongly considered you, Jerry,” she admitted. “But I was concerned about your age. I know you’re already past retirement and I didn’t want to train you only to have you…”

  “Die,” Jerry supplied.

  Celine smiled politely. “No, I was going to say retire. I’m just not sure how long you’ll be sticking around. It was a hard choice, and I almost did choose you. Of course, I haven’t said any
thing to Mark yet. He may not want the position, in which case I may offer it to you.” She shrugged her shoulders slightly.

  “That kid doesn’t have the common sense to think before he opens his mouth, let alone coordinate the tour guides. He’ll screw this place up in no time.” Jerry was having a hard time choosing his words. What he really wanted to do was let out a string of expletives and hit something, but he had to keep his cool. He had to show Celine he was still the better choice for the job.

  “I’m sure there will be a snag or two. There always is when someone starts a new position, but I think he will manage just fine. I hope you will show him the same courtesy you’ve given Miguel. Oh, and please don’t say anything to anyone. I haven’t spoken with him yet.” She gave him a small but dismissive smile.

  Jerry stood up. “Thank you for your time,” he said curtly before hurrying out of the office.

  He couldn’t believe it. Mark? That guy was a few sandwiches short of a picnic and was more than just a little lazy. He didn’t give his visitors nearly the experience Jerry did, and he didn’t treat the Alamo with the respect it deserved. On more than one occasion, Jerry had seen him leave his trash around or tell a visitor he simply didn’t know something. It drove him crazy.

  This was a place of reverence, not just any old tourist spot. Treating it with anything other than complete and total respect was a travesty. Of course, it seemed as though anything old and historic wasn’t worth a hill of beans anymore. Didn’t Celine see that? Didn’t she notice all the little things that added up indicating Mark was the wrong guy for the job?

  That was when what Celine had said sunk in with him. She said if Mark didn’t accept the job, it would be Jerry’s. So how do you get a cocky little pipsqueak to turn down a job promotion? He probably wouldn’t. Jerry had heard Mark talking about gambling with one of the janitors once. It had sounded like the kid was in debt up to his eyeballs. There was virtually no way someone who needed money would turn down a raise. Not willingly.

  But maybe… Jerry began to think. Maybe I can convince him to quit. Celine had said that he was passed over because she didn’t know how long he would continue to work there. If Jerry could get Mark to quit, that would leave the spot wide open for him to fill. But how could he get him to quit? The guy was slick, so it would probably take something fairly big to motivate him to quit.

  Jerry made it back to the main hall, still thinking through a plan. He thought that if he could scare Mark enough, maybe he’d leave. It was a longshot, but pretty much the only thing Jerry had going for him at this point. There was no way he was going to get passed over for this promotion. He’d worked hard to show that he was capable.

  The long hours on his feet were starting to get to his knees, but a cushy desk job would be right up his alley. All he had to do was get rid of Mark. But how to do that? Perhaps there was a way to make him feel that this job wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Maybe make him feel unsafe? An idea began to brew in Jerry’s mind, and he couldn’t help but smile.

  CHAPTER 9

  After the long drive back to the Silver Star B & B, Linc and Brigid shuffled in the front door. It had been a full day, but a wonderful one. Their skin was still warm from the sun, and Brigid could feel the salt in her hair. It made her feel twenty years younger.

  “How was the beach?” John called out from his spot near the fireplace. Charlie trotted over to greet them as they entered the room, licking their hands and giving them a little bump with his nose.

  “Amazing,” Brigid said with a smile. “We couldn’t have asked for a better day.”

  “That’s great. I’m happy for you. You just never know what might blow in off the ocean. I was afraid an unexpected shower might pop up. That happens every once in a while, about this time of year. Did you get a chance to try your hand at surfing, Linc?” he asked as he folded his paper.

  Brigid and Linc joined him by the small fire he’d built. It wasn’t cold out, but it gave a cozy feeling to the room.

  “I sure did. I think I’ve been bitten by the surfing bug. I was telling Brigid I wish there was somewhere closer to home where I could practice,” he said as they sat down.

  John nodded. “I’ve never been much of a surfer, but I did do a fair bit of sailing in my day,” he admitted.

  “Really?” Brigid asked. “I bet that was wonderful.”

  “It was. My wife, Francis, and I would sail out until we couldn’t see land anymore and then have a picnic. We’d just forget our troubles while we were out there. It was kind of a thing with us. When we were stressed or worried about something, we’d sail out and say that we left our worries on the shore.” The older man looked a little misty-eyed. “Those were the days.”

  “She must have been a very special woman,” Brigid said softly. Her heart broke for the kind old man. She couldn’t imagine losing the love of your life and having to continue on without them.

  “That she was. I still miss her every day, but I do my best to keep plugging away like I know she’d want me to,” he said with a smile. “She was never one for sympathy, that woman. Always wanted everyone to be happy, even at her own expense.”

  “I’m sure she’s smiling down on you. This place looks wonderful. You’ve done a really nice job of keeping it up,” Linc said reassuringly.

  “Thanks. She’s probably got a few things to say about a couple of my choices, but I think all in all she’d be happy with it.” John looked around the room as if he were looking at it from a new perspective.

  “If you don’t mind me asking, what happened to her?” Brigid asked.

  “Cancer, I’m afraid. She’d had a bit of melanoma cut off two years before. The doctors kept checking her over and said everything was clear. But one morning we were sitting on the front porch drinking our coffee, and she started losing her vision. I rushed her to the hospital only to find out she had a large tumor on her brain. It ended up taking her right after she got her first round of chemo.” He sighed. “I guess it was just her time,” he said.

  “I’m so sorry,” Brigid said.

  He smiled at her faintly. “The B & B hadn’t been opened very long. To be honest, I almost sold it. I just didn’t want to stay here without her. But one night I had a dream, and she came to me. It was her, but she looked the way she had when we were younger.

  “We were out at sea on our boat, her long hair blowing in the breeze. She turned and asked me to keep it going for her. When I woke up the next morning, the dream felt like it had been real. I took it as a sign and did just as she asked me to do. Now that I look back on it, I don’t think she steered me wrong.”

  “That’s beautiful,” Linc said. He reached over and squeezed Brigid’s hand. “You two must have had quite a connection.”

  “We did,” John said nodding. He yawned. “We were like two peas in a pod. But I guess it was her time to go, so I do my best not to question it. Doesn’t do me any good, anyway. It’s best not to think too much about some things, because it only ends up making things worse. Instead, I try to make the most out of the days I have left and keep plugging away until I can be with her again.”

  He patted his palm on the arm of the rocking chair. “Well, it’s past this old man’s bedtime. You two can stay here and enjoy the fire as long as you like. There are a few more logs in the wood rack. I better get some rest if I’m going to be weeding the flower beds tomorrow. I’m not as young as I pretend to be, so I tend to need lots of beauty rest. You two have a good night,” he said as he stood.

  “You too,” Linc and Brigid said in unison as he retreated to his room, Charlie followed, close behind.

  Linc pulled Brigid close. “I’m so glad I found you,” he said as he wrapped his arm around her. He squeezed her tightly, as if John’s story had touched him as much as it had Brigid.

  Brigid was lost in thought, imagining such a beautiful love lost. Her heart broke for John and Francis, but she was happy that at least they’d been able to have each other for the time they did. Not everyon
e got to have a love like that.

  Some people searched their whole lives and never had a chance to experience it. She felt that real and pure love like that was rare in this day and age. She wished she’d have been able to see John and Francis together.

  “So am I,” she said as she cuddled up under his arm. “I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”

  “And I feel the same,” Linc said as he kissed the top of her head.

  *****

  “How are things going in Cottonwood Spring, Fiona?” Brigid asked her sister after she’d answered Brigid’s call. It was the following morning, and she’d felt the need to call her little sister to check in with her.

  “Not too bad, although I have had the worst case of heartburn you could ever believe,” Fiona grumbled.

  Brigid was sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting for Linc to get out of the shower. She was rubbing aloe on her legs to help with all the sun she’d gotten at the beach the day before. She wasn’t sunburned, but her skin had definitely gotten pink.

  “I bet you’re feeling miserable,” Brigid commiserated. “How’s the morning sickness?”

  “Still with me,” Fiona admitted. “About the only things I can eat are oatmeal and crackers, unless I want to spend the day hugging the toilet.”

  “Wow, that’s terrible. So I probably shouldn’t tell you how great of a time I’m having?” Brigid asked, wincing.

  “No, please. Tell me. Maybe it will take my mind off my rebellious digestive system,” Fiona groaned.

  Brigid told Fiona all about the B & B where they were staying and how John and his dog, Charlie, had quickly become their friends. She went on to tell her all about their evening at the River Walk and then their day on Padre Island. She couldn’t help but gush over each and every detail.

  “Why didn’t you try out surfing with Linc, you old fuddy-duddy?” Fiona asked. “I would love to see pictures of you on a surfboard.”