Flying in Shadows (The Black Creek Series, Book 2) (34 page)

"I'm okay, really," she mumbled. "I probably should have sat down is all."

"I shouldn't have brought you here. What was I thinking?"

She forced herself upright but knew not to stand just yet. "You did the right thing.
I'm all right. I'll sit next time. How much do you think the other girls will tell
you without me?" At that moment, she realized Miguel would have used pictures of her
grandfather. Certainly he would. She felt light-headed all over again and buried her
face in Dave's shoulder.

* * *

Andy and Rose canceled much of their plans and decided instead to stay in their room,
leaving only when they tired of room service. While sunning on the balcony, they made
plans for their future. They lounged in the Jacuzzi and snacked on trays of pretzels
and chocolates. Plans ranged from the rest of the summer, the next year, all the way
to how many children they wanted. They made love between ideas until their arms and
legs could simply fall from their bodies and lie as if detached on the oversized bed.

Andy had come back with graphing paper from a morning coffee and bagel run.

He sat on one of the leather chairs, sketching designs for their home. She noted that
Nathan and Duncan's artistic genes hadn't passed over him. The drafts were detailed,
creative and to scale. He wanted big; she wanted small. He wanted wood; she wanted
brick. As they had learned to do, they met somewhere in the middle. She had never
really thought of choices of rooms, sizes of rooms or roll-out drawers versus shelves.
She generally unpacked her few things at the cheapest place she could find.

He seemed to know her wants and needs better than she did. A general area on the main
floor was designed just for her to get away. It included space for her tech equipment
and a desk facing two walls of windows that looked out to a large area built for any
injured animals that needed round-the-clock care. He made a place for Charcoal and
any other strays she may pick up. A door equipped with an animal flap for a dog to
get in and out led out to the other areas.

As he sat next to her, he propped his feet on her thighs, crossing them at the ankles.
She recognized the slight squint he did when concentrating deeply. As if he came out
of a zone, he looked over to her, set his graph pad down on his lap and leaned back,
clasping his hands on the top of his head.

"I'm in love with you." She stood and walked to him, replacing the graphing pad with
herself on his lap. "We're going to be married." She kissed him lightly. "We're going
to be married, and you gave me exactly the weekend I needed." This time, she drew
out the kiss, meshing lips and tongues, tilting her head to sink deeper.

"How am I supposed to plan for our home when all of the blood has drained from my
head?"

She reached toward the coffee table to pick up the pad. "Explain."

He detailed his ideas and made revisions as she described her thoughts and the needs
of any animals that may come to stay with them. She found herself as excited as a
teenager getting her first puppy. She watched him as he erased and revised, and she
thought of how he took her away this weekend, mostly to explain his reasons for his
passions. Instead of reluctantly accepting, she'd found herself diving in with him
and, oh, it was an amazing fall. She could picture herself in this home he created
on paper, living with her best friend, her lover, her husband; and raising their children
and teaching them about conservation and building.

She realized he, too, had become not only accepting of her lifestyle but developed
his own need to do his part. And, he was in love with the cranky, self-serving Gracie
every bit as much as she was.

They never made any mention of the years that had been stolen from them or of her
biological father. No one would see anything from Rose except a woman in love, taking
an extended weekend away with her lover.

No one needed to know about the private mornings when she wrapped her hands and beat
the heavy bag in the hotel gym as if her life depended on it. Without condemnation,
Andy worked the weights, allowing her all the alone time she needed.

* * *

Rose picked up Grace at Wes' place on her way into work. Still weird, she thought.
Grace's toffee skin had a rosy glow. Her dark, shiny hair tied low in a smooth tail.

"You look clean and neat and... not wrinkled. You have a drawer. You have a drawer
and closet space at Wesley McGee's apartment."

Grace grinned now, coy and ear to ear. "What if?"

"What if I said that if you give me even one detail, you'll be scooping poop for a
month?"

"Well I want details," Grace said. "Lots of details. The knight, eh? I have two words.
Yum and yum."

It was Rose's turn at coy. Damn it, Grace was right. "I'm swinging by my mother's.
It was too late when I got home last night to see her. She makes a great cup of coffee."

"You're the boss." Grace propped her feet on the dash and rested her head back on
the seat.

"Well... it's great to see you," Rose told her.

"Huh? Really. In that case, I'll tell you that Gracie is fed and exercised. How
well
fed and exercised might be a different story. I don't know how you do it. She's all
yours."

* * *

"Hello?" Andy called as he walked to the door of his office, with his keys in one
hand and his briefcase in the other. He sighed at the tall piles Delores had left
him, piles he had all but ignored and wondered when he could get to them. When his
phone rang, he put his keys in his front pocket and pulled out his phone. He wondered
who was calling his private number at this hour.

"It's me."

"What's with the blocked number, Duncan?" He held the phone between his ear and shoulder
as he dug his keys back out.

"I found something. Is your computer up, yet?"

He stopped walking. "It's already been up. I was just leaving for an appointment."
He turned back and was glad he'd left it on. "Sup?"

"I sent you an attachment. Open it."

"Okay, okay. What've you got?"

"He's in Binghamton."

"You mean Ramirez? He was just spotted in Boston a day or so ago." Andy could hear
his brother sigh heavily on the other end of the phone. Waiting for his computer to
wake up, he asked, "What have you been up to while I was gone?"

"I've been looking through the Northridge Police Department's computer files on Amanda
and Rose. I found him. I'm sure of it."

Andy sat in front of his computer. "How? What?" Damn it, load!

"Hundreds of tips have come through since the wanted posters went up. I've been combing
through them."

The still photo popped up. It wasn't clear. The person was walking away, but it seemed
like he turned and looked right at the camera. "I can hardly even tell this is a man,
Duncan. What time is it out there?"

"Damn it, listen to me! It's him. The eyes." He made a frustrated growl Andy had only
heard a few times in their lives. "This picture was taken yesterday. Some single,
old dude who lives in an apartment they're watching. He's called in so many times
that they aren't listening to him anymore."

Andy dipped his head closer to the screen. "Fuck." He pushed away from his desk and
left everything as he ran for the door.

* * *

Amanda stood in the doorway watching him. Dave pulled apart the knot in his tie for
the second time, grunted and started again.

She slipped between him and the mirrored dresser. Taking the tie from him, she didn't
ask but stated, "You got a call."

"It's not that I can't tie my own damned tie. I'm just pissed off, that's all." He
paused for a minute. "Yes, I got a call."

"Anything about Michael... Miguel?"

Dave placed his hands on the sides of her face and took a deep breath. "Are you sure
you want to hear this?"

She wrapped her fingers around his forearms and squeezed. "Is it Rose?"

"No. No, not Rose." Dave shook his head.

She felt the muscles in her face relax. "I can take anything, then."

"What time is Rose coming by?"

"Any minute now. She called not too long ago and is en route."

She finished with the tie. Dave checked the safety on his gun and placed it in his
holster. His phone vibrated at his waist. He looked at the number. Taking her hand
to his lips, he kissed her fingers. "We're getting closer. There was another possible
spotting not far from the Boston site. I'll call you when I find out." He leaned over
and took her face in his hands. "I love you."

She kissed him and stepped out of his way.

* * *

Rose rounded onto the familiar cul-de-sac. She'd gone for much longer before without
seeing her mother, yet the ache in her heart seared. Should she be gentle? Talk about
it? Not mention it? The elephant in the room. She decided to be herself.

She and Grace walked up the familiar concrete path passed the aged weeping willow
to the front porch. As she reached to push the door open farther, she heard a man's
voice. Next, she heard the sound of Charcoal going mad from the back of the house.
Straining her ear toward the screen door, she listened. Her heart nearly beat out
of her chest.

"You thought you could beat me at this."

"Please, you can have anything. I have money. Lots of money."

"It was only a matter of time before he left you alone. Not so tough without the Taser,
are you, Mandy baby? I bought my own toy."

Rose heard him cock it. She motioned for Grace to call for help, then crept silently
through the door. She worked to control her ragged breathing as she tried to assess
where he was, where her mother was. Whimpering came from far inside the kitchen.

"Mmm. You make me hard when you do that."

"You're right. Of course you're right. What can I do, Miguel?"

"You don't call me that!"

Rose peered around the corner just as her mother's head jerked from a pistol whipping
and fell to her knees. "Please don't, not now, please," she choked. "You can have
anything. Have me."

Rose watched her mother open the front of her blouse as blood dripped down the side
of her face. She nearly wretched at the horrifying sight.

Her mother noticed her from the corner of her eye just long enough for Miguel to see
the flicker. He had a smirk on his face as he twirled the gun, ready to shoot.

Chapter 28

As he turned, Rose jumped with one foot and kicked with the other, sending the gun
flying across the room. Miguel used a left hook, but she was faster. She ducked and
he lost his balance from swinging at air. She used her weight and momentum to plant
her fist in his gut. He swayed but stayed up, clenching his fists. Faking a low kick,
he took the bait and went to block as she spun and sunk her heel into the side of
his head.

Grace came running in at that time, screaming tirades in Spanish.

Rose was half mad, shrieking with anger. She struck him again, but he wouldn't fall.
As he staggered, she caught sight of her mother. The blood, her tears. Her mother's
hands clutched her head as she wept. The pause gave Miguel his chance. He connected
his fist with her temple. She fell face-first and hit her head on the back of the
nearby kitchen chair with nearly as much force as the blow from Miguel. Stars danced
in her vision, and she hung onto the kitchen table, trying to sort out the sounds:
her mother crying, Grace screaming, Miguel cussing, and Andy...

He'd heard the screams of Grace from the drive, and the sound of insane barking from
the dog in back. But the sight of Rose bleeding sent him over a staggering edge he'd
never crossed. He didn't slow down when he hit the front door and felt the vibration
when it struck the wall after he shoved it out of his way. It took three running strides
through their living room to reach the kitchen. He growled much like the dog as he
flew through the air and took Miguel from the side. They toppled the kitchen table
with Andy, fist and fury, landing on top. Taking Miguel's greasy hair, he used his
other hand to punch his jaw hard enough to hear a crack. Miguel bucked beneath him.
Andy hit him again, knocking out a tooth and bloodying his lip.