by Ali Vali
She laughed at his attempt at sarcasm as she reached for the phone Wiley had left with them. Wiley answered before the third ring. “Two guys broke into our house, then blew it up.”
“Where are you?” Despite the early hour, she sounded completely alert.
“In the park nearby. Peter didn’t want to endanger any of our neighbors, just in case. Take care of my girls,” she said, before handing Peter the phone.
It took less than ten minutes for the tactical conversation between the two. The sun was starting to rise and the area had filled with emergency responders and the flashing lights of their vehicles. Before Wiley and Peter finished, Peter’s personal cell rang.
“Good morning, Detective Smith,” Peter said as he handed Karen back the other phone. “We’re all fine, why do you ask? Since you obviously didn’t believe my daughter and didn’t offer protection, I had to do whatever it took to keep my family safe. If I hadn’t, you and your partner could’ve scratched us off your suspect list when the fire department handed you a shot glass of our remains.”
“Where are you?” Barry Smith asked.
“Staking out my house and watching what’s left of it burn to ash.”
“You’ve been there all night?”
“Stop playing games, Detective, and write this down.” He gave Barry a description of the two men and the license number of their car.
“Where’s your daughter?” Barry asked after repeating the information back to him for accuracy.
“Aubrey and Tanith are safe, that’s all I’m saying. You got everything from Aubrey last night, so until you find whoever’s responsible, they’re off-limits.”
“She’s a witness in a murder investigation, Mr. Tarver.”
“She’s in danger, and you and Glenda got it wrong, so back off. You want information from her, you’ll come through me, and that’s how we’ll work it until all these guys are caught.”
“That might not be up to you, sir.”
“I’m not asking permission, I’m telling you, Detective. If that’s not good enough, then do what you need to, but be careful about getting the district attorney’s office to file charges only to keep Aubrey close and in danger.”
Barry laughed. “Is that a threat?”
“You don’t know me well, but I don’t threaten anyone about anything. I’m just keeping my family out of danger and telling you how I’m going to do that. Aubrey and Tanith are safe, and to assure that not even my wife and I know exactly where they are.”
“I’ll be in touch.”
“Did it go like you thought?” Wiley asked once Peter finished the other call.
“Exactly, so what now?” The two men who’d blown up the house drove away slowly. “We head north?”
“No, knowing Mrs. Tarver, that’ll lead to a string of sleepless nights, so I’ve got something else in mind.” Wiley explained her plan and he didn’t interrupt. “Take the long route and call me when you’re close to your final destination.”
After he hung up he crawled over the seat to the front before helping Karen do the same. He turned away from the destruction and neither of them glanced back, as if realizing it wouldn’t do any good to grieve over a place they’d never return to.
“Have you never questioned if Wiley was the right choice for Aubrey?” Karen asked, but didn’t look at him.
“Wiley isn’t perfect, sweetheart, and no one will ever be completely worthy of Aubrey.”
“But?” Karen took his right hand in both of hers.
“The heart wants what it wants, and if you deny it you’ll never truly be happy. They met young and the bond was cemented, and it didn’t make a difference what anyone else thought about it. I like Wiley not because she’s perfect, but because she loves Aubrey the way I love you.”
“Don’t you mean she loved Aubrey?”
“I saw how she looked at Aubrey and Tanith. She not only feels remorse for leaving, but after seeing her with our granddaughter, I can tell she’s sorry for all the things she missed out on. The sentimental part of me is praying they both remember what they found in each other when they were kids. If they do, the real winner will be Tanith.”
“She did seem taken with Wiley.”
Peter glanced away from the road for a moment and smiled at Karen. “She did because she’s finally found the reason Aubrey brought her into the world. Wiley didn’t father her, but Tanith is hers, even if they only found each other yesterday. Wiley’s going to give her the piece of herself she’ll never find from us or Aubrey.”
Chapter Eight
After the Tarvers’ call, Wiley knew she wouldn’t sleep, so she got up and dressed for a workout in the gym next to her studio. She didn’t turn on any lights and moved silently down the stairs after pausing at the hall that led to the guest rooms.
When she’d planned this place, guest rooms seemed wasteful. The only visitors she’d ever trusted before last night were her parents and possibly Don. No way would she have imagined Aubrey here where parts of her soul hung on the walls.
It was too late to worry about that now as she worked the circuit of machines. She slipped on the gloves she used on the punching bag hanging in the center of the room. Eventually she’d have to find a sparring partner, but for now kicking and hitting the bag would have to suffice.
Halfway through a roundhouse kick she saw Tanith standing outside the door. She put her hand up to stop the bag from hitting her as it swung back from the kick’s force. The hour spent in here had darkened her gray T-shirt, and sweat dripped from her head.
“Good morning,” she said, and waved Tanith in. “Did you get some sleep?”
“Yeah.” Tanith came closer and hit the bag with her fist softly. “You really can whale on this thing.” She pushed it this time as if to make it swing and test the weight.
“It’s a good stress reliever.” She stripped her gloves off and dropped them on the small refrigerator full of water and juice. “Want one?”
“My mom’s still sleeping,” Tanith said after pointing to an orange-juice bottle.
“That’s good. I’m sure yesterday had to have been hard for her.”
“Did you know Maria?” The kid spoke hesitantly, probably from shyness and not a communication problem.
“No, but because of your mom’s relationship to her, I’m sure you’ll miss her.”
“You think Maria was like a mom to me?” Tanith finally raised her head and made eye contact. “Do you?” Tanith’s eyes were glassy, but she sounded angry.
“Your mom and I were friends, but we haven’t spoken in years, so I don’t know what kind of relationships you have with anyone.” Having Aubrey and Tanith here wouldn’t be easy since she had no experience with children and talking to them. “You were as big a surprise to me as I’m sure yesterday was to you, but no matter what, you’re safe with me.”
“That’s cool.” Tanith dropped her eyes again. “And Maria wasn’t like my mom. My mom and me were leaving there, and leaving her. Did my mom tell you that? She’s not like Maria at all. You don’t have to worry about that, or us being here.” Tanith was talking so fast Wiley thought of Jerry’s speech pattern when he was explaining himself and his actions. It signaled true desperation, knowing if you didn’t get everything out something bad would happen. “I promise we won’t be any trouble.”
Wiley wished an instruction manual would drop from the ceiling. Their conversation had gone from mundane to what sounded like Tanith begging not to be thrown to the curb.
“Do you like peanut butter?” Tanith nodded but still kept her eyes averted. Something had spooked Tanith and she was starting to understand what that was, or at least she hoped she’d guessed right. “Good, since it’s the only thing in my kitchen right now.” She moved closer and put her arm around Tanith’s shoulder, but kept some distance between them for comfort.
In the kitchen she made two peanut butter sandwiches and poured two glasses of milk before she sat across from Tanith. The upstairs was still quiet, so if Aub
rey had a problem with her talking to her kid, she’d have some fence mending to do later.
“Maria and you weren’t close?” she asked, as a way to start.
“No.” Tanith shook her head vehemently, as if to show her the word wasn’t enough.
“She’s gone, though, and you don’t have to share how that makes you feel if you don’t want to, but I’d like it if you would.”
“I’m sorry she’s dead, but not real sorry.” The way Tanith peeked up through the hair that’d fallen on her forehead made Wiley want to laugh. She’d tried that look on her mother on more than enough occasions. “Do you get me?”
“Whatever you feel isn’t wrong, but I’ve found it’s not necessarily a good thing to wish someone dead. Karma’s a wicked mistress at times and repays those kinds of thoughts ten times over. But yeah, I get you.”
The half sandwich Tanith had left stayed in her hand as Wiley listened. “I hoped we’d never see her again when Mom said we were leaving, but not because she’d be dead. Her and Mom argued a lot, and now I kinda know why.” She took a small bite and swallowed. “Why’d you break up with my mom?”
“Is that what she told you?” Wiley poured herself another glass of milk and put the carton between them. Behind her the coffeepot started by first grinding the right amount of beans.
“No,” Tanith said, as if this had somehow become an interrogation and giving short, noncommittal answers was important to her survival.
“Your mom was special to me, but being with me was holding her back.”
“What’s that mean?”
“I was stationed in Texas, and she was here. I had a few years to go with the army, and that’s hard, waiting when you’re in a relationship, so we thought the best thing was to stop seeing each other.”
“That’s not exactly true, Major,” Aubrey said, as she descended the stairs in her jeans and T-shirt. “I’m still kind of mad at you for not giving me much choice in the matter. Anger must’ve clouded my judgment, because after that it seems I became an idiot. After one mistake the pile of others got easier to make, I guess.” Aubrey kissed Tanith’s temple, then smiled at Wiley. “My first call yesterday was to force your hand. You’ve shirked your responsibilities long enough,” Aubrey said, but from her smile Wiley could tell she was taking it easy on her, perhaps because of Tanith. “It’s time to stop running and coming up with excuses.”
Wiley kept her eyes on Tanith. “You have a lot more good things to show for your time than I do.”
“Don’t be too sure about that. You might’ve been off fighting the good fight, but you’re going to have plenty of good things to show in your future.” Aubrey put her arms around Tanith from behind and sighed. “Aren’t you as tired as I am?”
“I’m actually exhausted.”
“You loved me—I never questioned that.” Aubrey had tears in her eyes as she spoke. “I hope you never questioned how I felt about you, but the time’s come for you to come clean, Major.”
“You want to get into that now?” She stood and picked up her empty plate as an excuse to turn around and gather herself. “I’m still the same old Wiley. My reasons haven’t changed.” The rational part of her brain screamed that this wasn’t an appropriate conversation to have in front of a child, but nothing had made her forget. Not the assignments that made Maria’s death seem tame, and not the women who took care of a physical need, though never a deep emotional one. She’d wanted Aubrey from the time she was thirteen, and having her, every bit of her, had made her crazy when she’d had to let her go.
“I’m not giving you the option of walking this time.” Aubrey held Tanith tighter when Wiley faced her again. “I called you because it was time Tanith knew the truth of who you are to me, and the truth of who she is in my heart.”
“What do you want from me?”
Aubrey glanced up toward where The Dragon Tree Legacy painting hung, then back to her. “Show her.”
*
Wiley saw the way Tanith looked between them when she stood stiffly at Aubrey’s request. If she’d had any questions about this kid from the moment she saw her, the name Tanith had answered them all. It was why she hadn’t needed the kid to tell her what kind of relationship she and Aubrey had with Maria.
No matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t build a relationship on the wreckage of another one, especially if you weren’t willing to let go. Tanith was like a living, breathing reminder of how badly she’d fucked up.
“Please, Wiley, show her,” Aubrey repeated.
She peeled her shirt off and turned so her left shoulder was visible. The tattoo started at the center of her bicep, circling her arm until it reached the top of her shoulder. The dragon’s wings were folded against its body, as if it was asleep, but its blue eyes were open. It was a work of art since it looked like it had perched on her and wrapped itself around her arm to rest. The head, though, which dipped below the slope of her shoulder back onto her arm, appeared forever vigilant.
Aubrey led Tanith closer so she stood motionless as Aubrey traced her finger along the tip of the tail. There, along the dragon’s body, was the name Tanith, followed by Aubrey. It would have been easy to write over them without damaging the tattoo much, but she’d been superstitious about changing it. Not that she’d wanted to. Erasing Aubrey’s name would’ve been like erasing her from her life. In her mind and heart, only death would do that.
“That’s my name,” Tanith said, her face inches from Wiley’s arm.
“Actually, it’s the dragon’s name,” Wiley said. The room was cool enough to raise goose bumps along her skin. “Tanith is the pagan goddess of war and protection, who takes many forms, one of them being the dragon.” She turned to show them another dragon inked on the other arm and shoulder. This one was smaller, but its mouth as well as black eyes was open, and a small tendril of fire shot past the visible fangs. “And her sister, Tanit. Legend says they were the two sides of the same coin, with Tanit being the goddess of justice and vengeance. Tanith is the protector of life, and Tanit is the black dragon who takes it away when it’s necessary.”
“That’s why you named me Tanith, Mom?”
“Wiley and I read the story of Tanith together when we were younger, after we found our tree. When I got pregnant, it was the only name I wanted to give you because it was special to me, and to Wiley.”
The front door buzzer made Aubrey and Tanith jump, and gave Wiley an excuse to put her shirt back on. Markings and scars of any kind weren’t a great idea in her line of business, since they were easy to remember, so she seldom wore anything that displayed her yin and yang, as she referred to them. The Tanith tattoo had come first, and Aubrey had sat next to her as it came to life, and Tanit second. She’d gotten it after she had to let Aubrey go, to remind her why. The Black Dragon and its place in her life had cost her.
“Who is that?” Tanith asked, her hand on Wiley’s side.
Wiley pressed her fingers to her lips when the monitor in the kitchen came to life, displaying the image of the front door. Walter was back, impatiently pressing the buzzer.
“I need you both to go upstairs and stay in your rooms. Try to stay quiet until I tell you when it’s okay to come down. This guy doesn’t need to know I have company.”
“Will you be okay?” Tanith asked.
“Are you?” Aubrey said.
“He doesn’t have anything to do with Maria and last night. Walter’s trying to force me out of retirement to clean up a mess.”
“Can he, if you don’t want to?” Aubrey asked.
“Freedom is never free,” she said seriously, locking eyes with Aubrey’s. “That isn’t just a recruiting poster, so think about that before you ask or talk about anything other than me helping you out of this mess. I have my freedom, but guys like Walter show it won’t be without costs. Why I ran won’t change until I’m dead.”
Aubrey nodded and led Tanith upstairs. Alone, Wiley bundled her anger in her fists before moving to the intercom. Walter was forgettin
g the rules Don had explained.
“Can I help you?” she asked, opening the mike.
“We need to talk,” Walter said, not lifting his head. “We don’t have a lot of fucking time left.”
“I work for Don, Mr. Robinson. Any timeline or orders I agree to obey come from him, so if you’re worried, call him.”
“Do you really want to force my hand?” Walter whipped his head up and glared at the camera. “I scream national security, and Don’s superiors will shit all over themselves to fuck him and you over for not cooperating.”
“What exactly do you want?”
“Open the fucking door first, then I’ll be happy to give you a list.”
She buzzed him in and watched to make sure he didn’t wander away from the elevator. Once the doors opened he barely glanced at her as he headed for the seat he’d occupied the last time. He was wearing jeans and athletic shoes today, which didn’t make him appear as cheesy as the first time they’d met.
“Have you started planning yet? Pombo’s being moved sooner than we thought, so don’t screw this up,” Walter said as soon as his ass hit the seat. “Are you ready to go?”
“Would you like to share anything else with me?”
“Like what?”
“Putting this guy’s brains on the wall seems important to you. Why is that?”
“In the past, did your superiors have to give you a long explanation?” Walter’s voice kept getting louder. “I don’t fucking think so, so this won’t be any different. Pombo has to go, and you need to get going.”
“I’ll be ready, but I’ll need a contact to collect my shopping list before I get there.” She stayed on her feet and leaned against the back of the couch. “That’ll take me a few days. If you want anything more, call Don, and he’ll pass along the information.”
“I’ll set up whatever you need, and your contact will be one of my people.” He leaned forward and reached behind him as he spoke, his gun lying across his lap when he was done. “Do we understand each other?”