Shattered Silence: Men of the Texas Rangers Series #2

by Margaret Daley

  Cody opened and closed the hand that didn’t hold a tape recorder. “Maybe I should teach him self-defense.”

  “From what I gathered, Kyle threw some good punches but was just outnumbered.” She gestured toward the machine. “Is that the recording cleaned up?”

  “Yes, the lab guy did a pretty good job. I think I know who it is, but I want your opinion.”

  “Okay.”

  Cody sat on the couch, put the recorder on the coffee table, and punched the button. “Get rid of the cattle. I don’t want Carlos snooping around. If you have to, you can poison his whole herd. They won’t stay where they should. I’ll send Miguel out there to have a talk with his cousin. This arrangement isn’t working out.”

  The distinctive gravelly voice grated against her nerves. “It’s Bart Collins. This confirms what I discovered today. Right before he retired, Alfredo saw Collins and Cruz talking together at the ranch. Collins did know one of the guys in the pictures we showed him. When I talked with Cruz at the hospital, I got a reaction out of him, but he wouldn’t say anything. I have the chief looking into Collins. This recording should be enough with what we have to get his financial records. We have a judge who is easy to work with.”

  “Like Miguel, there may not be much of a money trail. But maybe his phone records will help us. Have your chief see if he can get those records too. I got the lab guys to promise to run the DNA and have the results sent to me in the next day or so.”

  “It looks like you’ve had the kind of day I have. Long.”

  “Yeah, but I’m starting to feel like we’re making headway for a change.”

  “Do you think Miguel killed Carlos? That El Jefe ordered him to?”

  “Maybe. We’ll bring Collins in tomorrow.”

  “I don’t see him having the brain power to think of the elaborate plan he had going with the cave system. Maybe he is really a middleman like Miguel was.”

  Cody shoved to a standing position. “He would know Álvarez’s ranch. From what I’ve heard from the Border Patrol and the Mexican authorities the pipeline had been open for a while. The person receiving the guns could be running it on both sides. Either way we’ll figure it out. Put some pressure on our guests in jail tomorrow.”

  Liliana made her way toward the front door. “With that said, I’m going home and crashing.”

  Cody captured her hand and tugged her around toward him. “Not without me properly thanking you for helping me with Kyle.”

  “But you already did.” His nearness triggered a reaction in her—the beating of her heart accelerating, her palms dampening.

  “No, ma’am. Not nearly enough.” He dropped her hand and cupped her face.

  When his lips settled over hers, her knees went weak. She clutched his shoulders to keep herself upright. His arms wound around her and flattened her against him. She gave in to the heady sensations he created in her. Her emotional barriers crumbled some more.

  Someone clearing his throat behind Cody ended the kiss. He broke away and glanced over his shoulder at the same time Liliana opened her eyes to find Kyle standing a few feet away, all expression wiped from his face.

  “See you tomorrow,” Liliana murmured and spun around to leave.

  Kyle plowed ahead of her. “I’m going to Serena’s. She needs to make sure I’m all right. Be back in a while.”

  Cody’s son was out on the second floor landing and down the steps before Liliana moved forward. “Will he be okay?”

  Cody watched Kyle stomp away. “I don’t know. Which is my usual answer when it comes to my son.”

  The frustrated pain on his face enticed her to stay and comfort him. She couldn’t. If she did, every obstacle she’d erected between herself and a man would vanish. It wouldn’t take much with Cody. “Good night.”

  Out in the cool evening air, she paused at the railing, gripping it. Remember Papa. Remember Samuel. I don’t want to end up like Mama and Elena. Yet, as she thought of her usual reason not to get serious with a man, she knew Cody wasn’t anything like Papa or Samuel. Which scared her even more because her barriers, in place for years, were crumbling.

  14

  Dad was kissing her!” Out on Serena’s patio, Kyle paced from one end to the other. “How could he? Mom died three months ago.”

  When Serena didn’t say anything, he halted and faced her. He couldn’t read her expression, part of it hidden in the shadow where the patio light didn’t reach.

  “Can you believe that?” he asked her, needing a response from her.

  “Didn’t you tell me your father and mother were divorced for years?”

  “Yes, but . . .” Kyle plopped into a lounge chair and at that level he got a better view of Serena’s face, composure and calmness emanating from her. “He hasn’t known her long. We’ve only been here two weeks. How could . . .” His rampage sputtered to a stop. “Say something.”

  “Is this the first time you’ve seen your dad with a woman?”

  Kyle thought back to all the weekends he spent with his dad. “Yeah. When I stayed with him, the only thing that interfered with our time was an emergency at work. Otherwise, he had things planned for us.”

  “It sounds like he put his life on hold for you a lot of the time.”

  “Not all the time. He worked a lot.”

  “Crime doesn’t occur between nine and five, weekdays only.”

  Kyle stared at her then a chuckle burst forward. “If only it would. It would be so much easier.”

  Serena laughed. “I don’t think criminals want to make it easier. What are you going to do about Aaron and his friends?”

  The question she’d asked, that he’d known she would, lingered in the cool air between them, taunting him to answer. “I don’t know. Both Dad and Liliana want me to press charges against them. I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I think all it would do is rile them. Not make a point or put them in their place. There’s got to be something to do that will. They need to face what they’re doing to others.”

  “Going before a judge would do that.”

  “I don’t know if it would. I’ve got to think about this. I don’t want them to get away with what they’ve been doing to me, to you, to others.” His own guilt surfaced. He had been so wrong in Houston. How many had he hurt?

  “The Lord wants us to turn the other cheek.”

  “I’m not ready to do that exactly. This beating hurt. But there’s got to be something that will make them back off.”

  “Do unto others what you want them to do unto you.”

  “Hmm. You might have something there, Serena.” In the back of his mind an idea began to bubble and form. “Did you work out today?”

  “No, too worried about you.”

  He rose. “Then we can now. You’ve got a schedule to hold to. A race next Saturday. No time for slacking.” Going behind her wheelchair, he took the handles and headed toward the sliding glass doors.

  Cody hung up from talking to a contact in the Border Patrol and giving the man the latest information gathered from his end. Cody suspected a Chihuahua cartel was the recipient of the guns being smuggled across the border. He gave him the names of the people they caught in the cavern for his counterpart to check in Mexico.

  The sound of the front door opening directed his attention toward the hallway. Kyle came into the living room. He couldn’t gauge his son’s mood with his face so messed up. Seeing it sent a flash of anger through him that he fought to contain. But if the ones who were responsible had walked inside behind Kyle, he could have beaten them up without a second thought. Which would not have solved the situation his son was in with the bullies.

  “We should talk, Kyle.”

  “I’m not telling you who did this.”

  “You don’t have to deal with this by yourself. I’m here to help.”

  “Dad, there are some things a guy has to handle himself.”

  “But you aren’t alone.”

  “I know. I promise I
’ll ask for help when I need it. This incident has made me think about some of the things I did in the past. I’ve done some things I’m not too proud of.”

  “We all do. It’s what we learn from our mistakes that is important.”

  Kyle prowled the living room, his brows crunched. “Do you like Liliana?”

  His son’s question threw him off kilter. Where was Kyle going with this? How did he answer him when he was confused about the feelings he had for Liliana? “Yes, she’s a good detective.”

  “That’s not what I mean.”

  “I know. Not sure how to answer you.”

  “You two were kissing. That must mean something.”

  “It does. I’m attracted to her. She is an exceptional woman.”

  “Are you two dating?”

  Cody moved further into the room, watching his son pace from the hallway to the window and back. “When have we had time?”

  “Do you want to date her?”

  For years, Cody had kept that part of his life private. He’d never had women to the house in Houston when Kyle was there nor have a date go on outings with him and his son. “Yes.” After admitting it out loud, Cody held his breath, waiting for Kyle’s reaction.

  “I like her. She tells it like it is.”

  “Yes, that she does.”

  “I was just surprised earlier. I’d never seen you with a woman like that except Mom.”

  “Even though your mom and I were divorced, I cared about her and grieved when she died. I want you to know you can talk to me about her.”

  “But you don’t like Nate.”

  “No.”

  “Because he’s a bigot?”

  Cody nodded. “I’ve seen how he’s tried to mold you into a man like him.”

  Kyle stopped his prowling and plopped into the chair behind him, his shoulders hunched. “Why did you and Mom divorce?”

  “Ultimately, it was because we grew apart. We wanted different things in life. We stopped talking to each other. I’m a cop. I’ve always wanted to be one. I was one when we married, but she couldn’t accept that. She wanted me to change and I couldn’t.”

  “She wanted you to quit the police force?”

  “I thought about it and couldn’t bring myself to do it because I would be denying a large part of me. It’s not easy being a police officer, but it gives me a purpose. I’m helping to make this world a better place. Or, at least I’m trying to. Right now, I’m not so sure.”

  “How can you say that? Look what you’ve accomplished since coming to Durango.”

  “Still have a long way to go. We have a killer or killers out there that need to be caught.”

  “You’ll find them.”

  Hearing his son say that gave Cody a rush. He might have a chance to repair their relationship. “Your mom was a special lady.” He felt that, even though her choice of her second husband hadn’t been what he wanted. “She loved you.”

  “I miss her every day. I still can’t believe she’s gone. There are some mornings I get up thinking about something I want to tell her. Then she’s not there. I get so depressed. Will that ever change?”

  “Time will help some. But I suspect there will always be a small part of you that will miss her. She was an important part of your life. Remember I’m here to listen when you need to talk.”

  Cody released a long breath and rose. “Thanks, Dad. I’m going to bed. Got school tomorrow and I won’t miss it.”

  “You aren’t going to do anything crazy?”

  “I’m gonna make a statement with my appearance. Those guys can’t keep me down. Good night.” He shuffled toward the hall.

  Hope grew in Cody’s heart. For the first time in years he felt as though he’d reached Kyle and they had communicated as a father and son.

  “We didn’t miss Bart Collins by more than an hour.” Liliana entered the police station with Cody following behind her.

  “Hopefully he won’t get far with a BOLO out on him and his truck. I made sure to alert the Border Patrol in case he decides to cross into Mexico.”

  Liliana pulled out her bottom desk drawer and dropped her purse into it. “That might not be in his best interest since the last shipment was confiscated and the smuggling ring was caught. Whoever his client is could be unhappy with him.”

  “ATF is working with the Mexicans. With Roberto Cruz being an illegal alien, they’re tracking down where he came from.”

  The front door to the police station opened, and Mrs. Martinez and Maria came inside. The child’s mother saw Liliana and started back toward her. The chief’s secretary stepped in her way to ask her what she wanted.

  “Did you get her to come down here?” Cody whispered to Liliana.

  “She’s always told me no. I don’t know why she’s here, but I intend to find out.” She covered the distance to the counter and said, “I’ll take care of this, Nancy. Come this way.” Liliana pushed open the half door to let Maria and Mrs. Martinez come back to her desk.

  Mrs. Martinez panned the large room, her mouth turning down. “Can we talk in private?”

  “Sure. We can use the same interview room we did before. Is it all right if Ranger Jackson joins us?” She didn’t want to spook the woman and have Mrs. Martinez leave before she told them why she came into the station.

  “Yes, but no one else.”

  Liliana signaled to Cody to follow them.

  In the room, he hung back by the door while Liliana sat at the table across from Mrs. Martinez and Maria. Liliana smiled at the young girl. “How are you, Maria?”

  The child threw a glance at her mother, who nodded. “Scared.”

  “Why?”

  “I remember.”

  “Remember what?”

  “About the man. He talked funny.”

  “How?”

  “Funny.”

  Interviewing children was an art form. They told you things in their own time, in their frame of reference. “Can you describe why it was funny sounding to you?”

  Maria lifted one shoulder. “I didn’t think it was that funny. The lady did. She laughed at him.”

  “What did it sound like to you?”

  “Like a character on one of Papa’s shows he watched.”

  “Which show?”

  “Love Gone to the Dogs.”

  Not familiar with the show, Liliana looked from Cody who shook his head to Mrs. Martinez.

  “At the end of the show a bunch of guys are sitting around a bar or at one of their houses, drinking beers and talking about what happened that day.” Mrs. Martinez screwed her mouth up in a pinched expression. “They drink one too many beers sometimes.”

  “I see. Maria, did the man slur his words together?”

  “I guess. I was scared. He was angry.”

  “Do you remember which hand he held the gun in?”

  Maria squeezed her eyes closed for a minute. When they popped open again, she said, “Left,” the little girl shook her head, “no, I’m not sure.”

  “That’s okay. If you think about it later, let me know.”

  “Did that help you about the man talking funny?”

  “Yes,” Liliana shifted her attention to Mrs. Martinez. “If you think of anything else, please let us know.”

  The woman rose. “Maria, why don’t you go with Ranger Jackson out into the main room?”

  “But, Mama—”

  “I’ll be right there. I want to talk to Detective Rodriguez for a second. Okay?”

  The child flounced out of the chair and stalked to the door, peering back at her mother before vanishing into the hallway.

  Dressed in black as though she were going to a funeral, Mrs. Martinez folded her hands on the table and sat so straight, Liliana could imagine the tension running through the woman’s body. “What did you need to talk about?”

  “I’ll let you know if Maria remembers anything else, but only if you don’t say anything to my husband. He’s against this, but my daughter’s having nightmares over this. Also, we nee
d to meet at my house when my husband is at work. I don’t want anyone seeing us come to the police station anymore. I think she needs to have some kind of resolution to this murder so she can start sleeping better. Okay?”

  “Agreed.”

  “Very well. I’ll encourage Maria to talk about what happened that day. Unlike my husband, I think she does better when she does. Holding it in doesn’t make it go away.”

  “I know a good children’s counselor who might be able to help Maria.”

  Mrs. Martinez rose, her posture still stiff. “I don’t know if my husband will agree to counseling. He thinks time will take care of this. If it doesn’t, I’ll get that name from you.”

  Liliana left the interview room behind Maria’s mother and trailed her into the main part of the station. The little girl sat in a chair near the counter with Cody in one next to her, talking on his cell.

  She jumped up when her mother appeared and rushed toward her. Throwing herself against her mom, Maria encircled her arms around her. “Let’s go.” Maria took her mother’s hand and tugged her toward the front entrance.

  She hoped Mrs. Martinez would get help for her daughter. When the child had told her about being scared, Liliana could remember the time when she would hide from her papa and hear him looking for her. Even today, the fear welled up inside her and nearly choked off her breath.

  “Is everything all right?” Juan asked as he emptied the trash can at the desk nearby.

  Liliana blinked and rotated toward the janitor. “Yes. How about you? And José?”

  Juan grinned although his eyes were dull as if he hadn’t gotten a good night’s sleep for the past several days. “He called my sister last night. I think he’ll come back in time for his court appearance.”

  “Did he tell her where he was?”

  “No, but he said he would think about it. He isn’t a stupid kid, just impulsive.”

  “Rafael says the team misses him.”

  “He’s blown that chance for this year. Maybe next year.” Juan moved to the next trashcan, dragging his left foot.

  She, of all people, knew what worries concerning family could do to a person. Last night she probably didn’t get more than a few hours sleep. Juan’s physical problems always heightened when he was tired. And yet, he kept at his job until he was finished even if he had to stay longer than his normal workday.