Trail of Lies (13 page)

“I'm sure they would love it, but it may be a long time.”

Stifling another yawn, her daughter snuggled under the covers. “That's okay. I'm pat…” She screwed her mouth into a thoughtful expression. “I can wait.”

Melora kissed her. “Yes, you are patient.”

After switching off the lamp, in the soft glow from the night-light she made her way to the door. Throwing a glance back at Kaitlyn, she saw her daughter clutch Mr. Snuggles and close her eyes.

When she returned to the kitchen where she'd left Daniel and Gisella, she only found Daniel. “Where's Gisella?”

“I sent her home to pack some belongings since she'll be staying here, too. She'll be back later. She's allergic to cats, so she's got to pick up some meds.”

Melora walked to the stove and poured some hot water
then retrieved an herbal tea bag from a cabinet to make a soothing drink before going to bed. “I got hold of the funeral home and we'll have the service at Lone Star Christian Church. Uncle Tyler occasionally attended with Kaitlyn and me. It's big enough for a large crowd.”

“When?”

“Saturday.” She sank into a chair next to Daniel at the table. “The last thing I want to do is go to another funeral. Uncle Tyler didn't want a big fuss. I'll respect his wishes and keep it as simple as possible.”

Daniel toyed with the handle on his mug. “I got a call from Levi right before dinner. I didn't want to say anything until he knew more, and I didn't want Kaitlyn to overhear us talking.”

Melora clasped her drink and brought it to her lips. The heat from the cup barely warming her cold fingers. “I'm not going to like this, am I?”

He shook his head. “When they arrived, Carmen wasn't there. They thought she would return before they left, but she didn't.”

“Did they get to go inside?”

“That's what was strange. The front door was unlocked.”

“And you think something has happened to Carmen?”

“Maybe.”

Her hands trembled as she placed her mug on the table. “Was there any evidence of foul play?”

“No, and Carmen's clothes aren't in her closet and drawers.”

“Is it the same as with Alicia? Where someone made it appear as though she left in a hurry?”

“In this case I think Carmen really did. I think she met up with Juanita.”

“She had a blue Chevy she kept in the garage. Is it still there?”

“Yeah, but the security tape showed a cab picking up Carmen not twenty minutes after I left. Levi is checking with the cab company to see where the driver took Carmen.”

She scrubbed her hands down her face, numb from the onslaught of emotions that had bombarded her the past few weeks. “So the question is why did Carmen and Juanita run?”

“And where to? We need to find them. They could be in danger.”

“Or they know something about what's really going on. Maybe they're as involved as it appears Uncle Tyler was.” Defeat and sorrow sagged her shoulders.

“Which only reinforces my feeling they're in danger. People connected to this case are dying.”

For a while through dinner her headache had subsided. Now it returned full force, beating a loud tempo against her skull. Even the soothing effect of the herbal tea could do nothing to calm her tattered nerves.

“Do you have any idea where Juanita would go if she was in trouble?”

“A lot of her family is still in Mexico.”

“So you think she might have gone there?”

“Maybe. She loved living here and was so proud when she became a citizen, but if she feared for her life, she might go back.”

“While you were putting Kaitlyn down for bed, I put out an alert to the border patrol about Juanita and Carmen Perez. If they try to cross legally, I'll know where.”

“But there are a lot of miles of border between the U.S. and Mexico, and if they didn't want anyone to know they left here, they could try crossing illegally.” Her mind felt
crowded with fear, weariness and betrayal, each vying for supremacy. Suddenly, she didn't know what she should do, as if every time she came to a decision something else happened to make the situation worse. The temptation to shut totally down inundated her. “So what do we do now?” Even to her own ears she heard the exhaustion in every word she uttered.

Daniel rose and, taking her hands, pulled her to her feet. “Right now you need to get some rest. Tomorrow will be a busy day with funeral arrangements, people wanting to offer their condolences.”

“But we need to find what Axle left behind.”

“I'll continue to look. You don't need to worry about anything. Take care of your family.”

She gripped him, the tactile connection comforting as if she wasn't totally alone in the world. “Finding that is taking care of my family. Kaitlyn and I aren't safe as long as it is still out there and people are looking for it.”

“I understand your need, and you can help when you're able to.”

“We've already looked through half this house and nothing. What if we don't find anything here? What if the person who killed Axle took the flash drive?”

“I think this is all connected to the Lions of Texas and the person who killed Axle is part of that group.” He drew her toward the doorway. “We haven't looked everywhere yet. You're worrying about something that hasn't happened. I've found worrying is wasted energy.”

“So what do you suggest I do?” she asked, placing her foot on the bottom stair.

“Pray. Let the Lord take your worries. He's much more capable than us to deal with them.”

“That's supposed to take my worries away?”

In the middle of the staircase, Daniel faced her and
clasped her upper arms. “Yes. Do you have a better idea?”

“How do I do that?”

“Talk to God. Tell Him your problems then give them to Him. Let Him work on them for you.”

“Have you done that?”

“I'm working on it with my situation with Clay.”

“But you haven't totally.”

He stared over her shoulder, a thoughtful expression in his eyes. “You know a week ago I would have told you no, but more and more I have been. I think you've helped that.”

“How?”

“You seem determined to see me and Clay mend our relationship. Your suggestions on how are good ones.”

A grin that made his eyes sparkle blanketed her in warmth. “I've always been a worrier. It won't be easy to do.”

“What harm will happen if you try? It might help.” He resumed his ascent up the stairs.

At the second-floor landing Daniel led her toward her room. “I'm staying up until Gisella gets back. You're safe. There are two guards outside, and I'll make sure the house is secured. Get some sleep.” He stopped at her door and faced her. “Don't worry. We'll figure this out. There are a lot of Rangers in Company D who want to make sure this works out.”

She peered up at him and the need to be held overpowered her common sense. “Will you hold me?” The words came out before she could stop them.

Without hesitation he drew her into his embrace and pressed her close to him. “That, ma'am, I can accommodate,” he said in his Texan drawl.

She listened to the beating of his heart and it soothed
her, as though it flowed from him to her—steady, strong. She could get used to this. She could so easily fall in love with Daniel.

That thought brought back the common sense that had fled. Look what had happened the last time she thought she was in love. She stepped away, gave him a shaky smile and quickly went into her bedroom. Leaning against the door, she closed her eyes and could smell his aftershave, a light lime scent that enveloped her in that warmth she drew from him.

Oh, she was in more trouble than she realized. She was falling in love as her life was falling apart around her.

“W
hat are you going to do with all these boxes?” Daniel asked the morning of the funeral as he swept his hand over the stacked cartons in Melora's garage.

Melora, with her hands on her waist, scanned all the containers with Axle's possessions from the house. “The ones with a red star I'll keep for Kaitlyn. When she gets older, she can decide how much she wants to keep of her father's. The rest are going to the homeless shelter. I hope others can benefit from Axle's clothes. Something good has to come out of all this.” She pivoted toward him. “But we've been through the whole house and found nothing.”

Rubbing the back of his neck, Daniel frowned. “Yeah and our search for another safety deposit box didn't turn up anything. Nor have we found Juanita and Carmen, Alicia Wells or Gordon Johnson.”

“What if the bodyguard killed Axle then left the country? He could have been paid or maybe he and Axle had some kind of falling-out. Axle could be very demanding.”

“Or he could be dead and his body hasn't been found yet. We've expanded the search outward from where Axle was found.”

A sigh escaped her lips. “At least we now know that Uncle Tyler and my husband were business partners, that
my uncle helped finance the chain eight years ago. And neither one ever said a word to me. Which makes me think my uncle was involved with whatever my husband was caught up in.”

“Are you ready for this afternoon?”

“Yes, I still owe Uncle Tyler for taking me in when my parents died, but I feel used. He's the one who introduced me to Axle and encouraged me to date him. Sometimes I wonder if I married Axle for my uncle's approval. And then I begin to wonder if it came down to me or Axle, who would my uncle have chosen?” That thought had kept her up a good part of the night before. She'd spent another sleepless night pacing her bedroom, staring up at the dark ceiling with images of the past flittering in and out of her mind.

“If Tyler hadn't cared for you, he wouldn't have come that day to your house to try and get you to back off. I think that was his way of trying to protect you from what was happening.”

“Are you just saying that to make me feel better? It could have been his way of protecting himself.”

“Maybe. But in the end he was asking for your forgiveness. That doesn't sound like a man totally looking out for himself.”

Her shoulders sagged with the weight she felt pressing down on her. “I'm firing William Thompson. It's clear he knows something about what's going on.”

“We're keeping tabs on him and checking into his background and finances. We don't have enough to charge him yet, though.”

Melora headed for the door into the house. “With nothing turning up in the house, where do we go from here?”

“The cabana, stable and any place you can think of
that meant something to your husband. But not until tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I have to get through the funeral that's in,” she checked her watch, “two hours.” In the kitchen she paused at the island, gripping its edge. “Have you ever felt torn by duty and what you really wanted to do?”

His laugh came out humorless. “Countless times, especially when it came to my son and father.”

“I hate being away from Kaitlyn. I like her nearby.”

His eyes gleaming with sympathy, he approached her, invading her personal space. “She'll be safe here with Gisella and the guards outside.”

“I'm glad the governor had business in Washington. I assured him I didn't want him to cancel those plans.”

“And I, along with all the other Texas Rangers, appreciate that.” Daniel clasped her arms. “I will make sure you're safe. I'm not letting anything happen to you today. We'll pull right up to the doors. There is only a short distance to the building.”

“What if it's someone attending the funeral?”

“Unless he doesn't care about getting away, it wouldn't be the place to try anything.” He ran his hand down her arm and captured hers, twining his fingers through hers. “I'll be right next to you the whole time.”

His words wrapped about her as though he embraced her. This man before her was strong, protective, caring. She could get so used to that in her life, but when this was over with, reality would return. Right now everything seemed surreal and she shouldn't trust her growing feelings for him. “Thank you for every—”

Kaitlyn came into the kitchen with Gisella right behind her. “Gisella and me set up the zoo again. Can you and Daniel come to it?”

“Sure. I have some time before I have to leave.” Playing
with her daughter would be a perfect way to take her mind off the funeral.

Kaitlyn hurried out of the room and Melora started for the doorway when Daniel's cell sounded. She stopped and glanced back while he answered the call. A frown carved itself deep into his face as he listened to the person on the other end.

When he hung up, he peered at her. “Alicia's body has been found.”

“Where?”

“A couple of miles from her apartment in a wooded area. Someone dug a shallow grave for her that some dogs unearthed. Two teenagers found the body and reported it to the police. She was shot.”

“Which confirms she must have given the man my code and her key.”

“Yep, it appears that way.”

Another person she knew was dead. “When will this end?” Numb, she murmured a question to which there was no answer.

 

Sitting in the front pew with Daniel next to her, Melora listened to “Amazing Grace,” the last song for the funeral service before people began to file past the coffin and pay their respects to her uncle. As the final note sounded, the emotions she'd held in check for the past hour swelled in her like the ending of the song. Why had she chosen “Amazing Grace”? It always made her cry, but she remembered that it was her uncle's favorite hymn. She owed him even if he'd lied to her.

The first group of people viewed her uncle.

“Okay?” Daniel whispered in her ear.

Okay? No. The numbness she'd felt when she'd heard
about Alicia had spread, taking over every inch of her. “I'll be better when I get home.”

The words to the song had made her cry, not the death of her uncle. She couldn't seem to wrap her mind around the fact he was gone, too. It was surreal, as though this was all happening to someone else. She dabbed at her eyes and sat up straighter, preparing herself to greet everyone. She wasn't going to let this get the best of her.

Before she could answer Daniel, Hank Zarvy and his wife stopped in front of her. Hank cupped her hand between his. “Melora, I'm so sorry about Tyler. He was a friend. I'll miss him.”

“Thank you. I appreciate you all coming today.” The mechanical tone to her voice only reinforced her sense of going through the motions on autopilot. Even when Jorge and Beth followed Hank and his wife and offered their condolences, she couldn't dismiss the feeling someone else was shaking hands and accepting people's sympathy.

For the next few minutes somehow Melora said what was expected, shook hands and didn't fall apart in front of the mourners. Then Rodney Tanner paused in front of her. He had been a close friend of her uncle's.

Fury marked his expression as he greeted her. “I still can't believe it. I'd just talked to him a few hours before it happened. I…” The man swallowed hard, his eyes misting. “Some of us have thought of offering a reward for—”

The fire alarm blasted through the church, a red light flashing. Someone shouted in the back, “I smell smoke.” It sounded as if that person had smoked a pack of cigarettes.

The words jolted her with a memory—vague, just out of her reach, but she was too tired to think straight.

Panic descended on Rodney's face while he scanned the area. People near him began pushing him as they made
their way toward the aisle. He swept along on the wave of mourners trying to get out of the one set of double doors into the sanctuary.

Daniel grabbed Melora's hand. “Stay close.”

Tugging her to her feet, he dived into the mob surging for the exit with her plastered against his side. The next thing she realized Levi was next to her. All numbness fled to be replaced with a heart-thudding fear.

Someone bumped into her. Melora stumbled. Daniel's arm went around her and held her up.

As she neared the doors that led out into the foyer, the scent of smoke grew stronger.

A large man behind her shoved at her. “Move faster. There's a fire.”

The people around the man caught the word fire and began pushing the ones in front of them.

“Have the car brought around the side exit,” Daniel said to Levi while he kept his arm around Melora, protecting her from the jostling.

Finally out in the church foyer, Daniel gripped her arm and directed her toward the hallway that led to the classrooms and the side exit. A few others were running down the corridor toward that door while most of the crowd poured out of the main entrance.

“Is the car there?” Daniel peered back at Levi taking up the rear.

“Yes.”

As they cleared the mass of people in the foyer, Daniel picked up speed down the hall. The exit loomed before them. Three couples left by the same way, a momentary stream of sunshine flooding the dim corridor before the door shut again. When two women went out, Melora saw the front bumper of the black SUV she'd come to the funeral in parked close to the building.

At the door, hand on the knob, Daniel peered at her. “Once I check out the area, I don't want any hesitation. Get to the car and get inside.”

She nodded, her pulse thundering so loudly she was surprised she heard him. She knew getting in and out of the armored vehicle was the most dangerous part of the trip.

Daniel let his hand slip off the handle. Something didn't feel right. His nape pricked with a warning. Swiveling around, the arm he held around Melora dropping to his side, Daniel locked gazes with a medium-sized, skinny man, dressed in black slacks, white shirt and long dark coat that fell to his boots. A black cowboy hat sat low on his forehead, shadowing his face. The newcomer slowed his step.

Recognition dawned in Daniel. He was the young man who had been watching Melora. In the next instant, he pushed Melora toward the last classroom in the hallway, yelled at Levi to protect her and went for his gun at the same time the man in black drew out a short-barrel shotgun.

Moving now, Daniel aimed at the intruder and got off a shot as he dove into the classroom behind Levi and Melora. A spray of buckshot peppered the door frame. Crouching by the entrance into the room, Daniel listened to Levi call for backup and the running footsteps of the man in the corridor. Growing closer. He took a deep breath and peeked out, his gun leveled.

Another blast from the shotgun splintered the wood near Daniel's right ear. Lining up the man in his sights, he pulled the trigger. The bullet striking his leg only slowed the man down a couple of steps. He kept coming.

Now he could see the man's eyes—red, wild-looking as though he were on something. He pumped his shotgun
again and this time Daniel went flat on the floor as the pellets spewed into the room.

“Get her back,” Daniel shouted.

No time to make sure Melora was as safe as possible in the room, Daniel rose slightly and swung out to shoot again. He shot him in the chest this time. Finally, the man stopped, staggered back a few paces then came forward, raising his weapon.

Daniel steadied himself and squeezed off another round. A bright red spot growing on his white shirt, the assailant halted, upright for a few seconds before he collapsed to the tiled floor. Daniel rushed to the shooter and kicked his shotgun away from him, then bent down to feel for his pulse.

The man grabbed Daniel's hand, gripping it for several heartbeats before all strength flowed from his grasp and the life left his body. He stared at the ceiling.

Rangers from both ends of the hallway poured into the corridor. Daniel took a deep breath and stood.

“Daniel.” Melora flung herself at him, her arms going around him. “Are you hurt?”

“No.”

“You're bleeding.”

“I am?” Then he felt the sting from the splintered wood in his cheek and reached up to touch it. Blood coated his fingertips. “It's nothing.”

Levi thrust a tissue into his hand. “Get her out of here. I'll clean up this, and let you know who this dude is and how he got in here with a gun.”

Daniel pressed the tissue to his cheek while he wound his arm around Melora and headed for the door. After carefully scanning the area, he hurried her to the waiting SUV, the driver, a Texas Ranger, still in it.

“Let's get out of here.” Daniel slid in next to Melora in the backseat.

The driver gunned the engine and sped away from the church.

“Let me see your wound.” Melora's soft lilting voice washed through him as though it were the only balm to heal him.

She opened her purse and removed a moist cloth from its package and patted at his wound.

“What else are you carrying in there? The rest of a first aid kit?” he asked to lighten the mood. After what just occurred, he desperately needed that.

“Well, let's see. Bandages, antiseptic and a few other necessary items if you have an active five-year-old with you.”

He chuckled. “I hope you aren't referring to me.”

The sides of her full lips turned down. “I'm glad you can laugh after what just happened.”

He sobered, the scene from the church hallway flooding his thoughts. In all his years as a law enforcement officer, he'd never had to shoot someone. He'd only wanted to stop him, but the man had kept on coming. The thought of the shooter getting close to Melora still chilled him. “There was nothing funny about that. He could have killed you.”

She looked him in the eye. “He could have killed
you.
”

Silence, for a long moment, charged the air between them. His focus was totally centered on her beautiful face, full of concern.