“I hate to say this, but your uncle might have been involved in the illegal side of your husband’s business as well. Maybe he was trying to protect you from it.”
“We don’t even know what the illegal business is for sure. We haven’t found anything definite.”
Daniel dropped his gaze to his lap. “Not exactly. The Ranger who has been going through the books we got from the business found one of your husband’s suppliers has drug cartel connections. It isn’t obvious but after some digging we uncovered a company that ties the supplier to a lieutenant in a drug cartel in northern Mexico.”
“What are you saying? He was smuggling in drugs through food shipments?” The series of shocks inundating her made her want to curl up in a ball and hide.
“He’s running down some things and should have something for me in a couple of days. But yes, I think that might be it. We’ve had other indications that drugs are tied up in all of this. What we need to know now is where the drugs come from and where they go.”
She squeezed her hands so tightly that her fingernails dug into her palms. “I could believe that of Axle but my uncle…” Inhaling deeply, she fortified herself for what she had to face. “Is that why Uncle Tyler told me he was sorry? That he put me and Kaitlyn in danger with his illegal activities?”
“That’s a good possibility. Why else did he plead with you to stop working with us? To let him protect you? Maybe he’s been protecting you these past two years, and he couldn’t any longer. It’s obvious someone is going to great lengths to find Axle’s flash drive before we do.”
The pounding against her skull increased to a maddening tempo as though proclaiming her doom. She couldn’t deal with all of this now. Again, she came to her feet although her legs barely held her up. “I’d better check on Kaitlyn. I don’t want her to talk Gisella’s ear off.”
“I asked Gisella to keep her occupied while I talked to you. Kaitlyn is all right. But I’m not so sure about you.”
The softly spoken statement, full of concern, wrecked what composure she had. She barely felt Daniel take her hands in his and guide her to sit. What a sheltered life she had led! Axle and her uncle must have had a good laugh about how naive she was. “Maybe Uncle Tyler didn’t know what was going on? Maybe he began to suspect lately and…” A hysterical laugh escaped her throat. “Who am I kidding? My uncle would know about what was going on with any of his investments. He’s sharp. What am I going to do?”
“Nothing right now. When we get hard evidence, we’ll make a move. But to tell you the truth, I have a feeling that William Thompson shut down any drug operations once we carted off all the paperwork.”
“So you think William is part of it, too?”
“Maybe. I have to assume that until proven otherwise. Your uncle hired him to run the restaurant chain. It could all be connected.”
“I need to make arrangements to bury Uncle Tyler. I have to do something. He had it all set up so I don’t have to plan it, but I need to go. Is that possible?”
“I would like to say no, but I’d rather keep whoever is behind this guessing at what we know and are doing. I think we can manage protecting you. We do have some experience in that area with protecting the governor.”
“Who will likely come to the funeral.”
Daniel frowned. “Along with a lot of other important people. Maybe the very people behind all of this. Did you ever hear Axle talk about the Lions of Texas?”
Melora closed her eyes and thought back to the time Quin had come into the house when Axle and he had argued. A faint memory teased her—just out of her reach. “Maybe.”
“When? What did you hear?”
She kneaded her temples, the hammering of her headache intensifying until she couldn’t think straight. “I think Quin mentioned them when he talked to Axle right before he went missing.” Her eyes popped open. “But I can’t be sure. It sounds familiar, but I don’t remember exactly why.”
He replaced her hands with his and massaged slow circles on her forehead. “Don’t force it. It’ll come to you sooner or later.” His fingers combed through her hair and gently cradled her. “Right now you need to see to burying your uncle. I ask one thing. Please keep Kaitlyn here with Gisella.”
Her gaze glued to his, she nodded. His touch robbed her of any coherent thoughts. All she wanted to do was surrender to him, give her heart to him. She couldn’t, not with what was going on, but that didn’t squelch the need to be cherished that burned inside her. “I agree. She has gone through enough with Axle’s funeral. I’ll have to say something tonight, though, to her about Uncle Tyler. I just don’t know what.”
He settled his hands on her shoulders. “You’ll come up with the right thing to say. You and your daughter have a good relationship.”
“And so can you with your son. Remember, we’ll have dinner after the person who has been after me is caught.”
His eyes softened. “Thank you for caring. I don’t think it will help, but I appreciate the thought anyway.”
“Daniel Boone Riley, do I hear you giving up?”
His mouth fell open, his eyes round. “Never. That isn’t in my nature.”
“Good, because one day what you say to Clay will work. Just don’t give up on having a relationship with him. You are not your father.”
“And one day this will be over, and you’ll get on with your life. Safe. Free.”
His words were music to her ears. She wanted that so much. Didn’t quite understand why the Lord would put her—and especially Kaitlyn—through this nightmare in the first place. Her daughter was an innocent in all of this and could be hurt. I’m the one who married Axle. I’m the one who ignored the warning signs. Not Kaitlyn, Lord. Please keep her safe at least.
The sounds of Kaitlyn and Gisella coming back into the kitchen turned Melora away from Daniel to face the doorway. She plastered a smile on her face, determined to keep everything as normal as possible.
“She’s got quite a collection of stuffed animals. Enough for her own zoo,” Gisella said as they entered.
“Shh. Don’t say that too loud, or she’ll be wanting you to play zoo with her tonight.” Melora opened her arms for Kaitlyn.
“Yes! We need to.” Her daughter hugged her, beaming. “After dinner.”
“Speaking of dinner, Juanita wanted to be awakened in time to prepare it. Honey, can you go get her?”
“What are we having?” Kaitlyn stepped back.
“Spaghetti and meatball casserole is what she told me earlier.”
Her daughter ran from the room. She could hear her footfalls on the tiled floor as she hurried down the hall to Juanita’s room, then the sounds of her knocking on the door.
At that moment, Ranger Levi McDonnell came into the kitchen from the other part of the house. “I’ll be heading out now that you’re here. There will be two men outside.”
“I’ll meet with you tomorrow about security at the funeral,” Daniel said.
“Mommy!” Kaitlyn yelled from the back hallway.
Melora jerked around and started toward the hallway off the kitchen when Kaitlyn rushed back into the room. Melora’s heartbeat accelerated.
“Juanita isn’t in her room.”
“What?” Melora passed her daughter to go back to the housekeeper’s suite.
“She left earlier to go to the store to pick up some items for dinner tonight.”
Levi’s words stopped Melora in her tracks. She swiveled around. “What items? She already has it made and only has to put it in the oven and make a salad.”
“She didn’t say. I let her go since she isn’t…” The Ranger glanced at Kaitlyn and paused, inhaling a breath.
Gisella approached Kaitlyn. “Let’s leave them to figure out dinner.” Taking the little girl’s hand, she led her toward the doorway. “We could set up the zoo, so we can play after dinner.”
“What about Juanita?” Kaitlyn asked.
After the pair was out of earshot, Melora faced both Daniel and Levi. “
Yeah, what about Juanita? There wasn’t any reason for her to leave. What if she is in danger? She’s like a member of my family.” Her fear spiked at the thought of something happening to Juanita, too. “Do you think she is scared and has run?”
“Does she carry a cell?” Daniel headed down the hallway to Juanita’s room.
“Yes.” Melora stepped into her housekeeper’s living quarters and realized she rarely came into the suite.
Daniel made a beeline for the dresser where a note and a cell sat. Lifting up the note by the corner, he read, “I can’t stay, Melora. Too much has happened. Don’t try to find me. I’ll be fine. Keep safe, Juanita.” He swung around and looked at Melora then Levi. “She must realize a cell has a GPS that can track her.”
“And she doesn’t want to be tracked? Why does she think she’s in danger?” Levi crossed the bedroom and checked her calls on the phone. “The last person she talked with was Carmen Perez.”
“That’s her sister. The one who works for Tyler Madison. She received a call as I was finishing up going through Tyler’s house. It must have been Juanita.”
“I’ll take Oliver and go question the sister. We’ll do another look around the house, too.”
“You think Juanita went to Uncle Tyler’s?” Heartache gripped her and wouldn’t let go. With each bit of news Melora got, it pounded even more as though someone was knocking urgently on a door.
Levi shook his head. “No, probably not.”
“But your uncle’s house is a big one. I couldn’t cover the whole place. I focused on his office, bedroom and den where Carmen said he spent most of his time.”
“Also out in the greenhouse. He raised orchids and was out there every day he was in town.” Melora backed up until she sat on her housekeeper’s bed, untouched as if she’d never had any intention of resting when she came to her room. All the people around her weren’t who she had thought they were. Everything was a lie. Where would this trail of lies lead to? Death or salvation?
“Did he have a safe or any place he kept important papers besides his office?” Daniel asked as Levi took the cell and note then left the room.
“No safe that I knew of, but he did have a safety deposit box at his bank.”
“We can get a court order to open the box. Maybe there’s something in it. Did you ever check and see if Axle had one other than the one you and your uncle opened?”
“No. I never found evidence of another one. As I told you earlier, the one Axle and I shared didn’t have anything relevant to this in it. The deed to the house—some other papers like that. I figured if there was anything, it was here. Like Uncle Tyler, Axle rarely worked from his office at his company headquarters.”
“I’ll have someone run that down. There might be a safety deposit box in another bank you don’t know about.”
“With Axle anything is possible. He was a very private man.” As was her uncle. Melora clutched the edge of the bed, her fingernails digging into the soft coverlet. How could she trust any feelings for Daniel that were developing when she’d been so totally wrong about others?
Kaitlyn ran into the room with Gisella a few steps behind her. “Mommy, did you find Juanita?”
“She’s gone to visit a friend for a while. You, young lady, can help me make a salad for dinner.” Melora shoved herself off the bed and grasped her daughter’s hand. “I don’t know about you but I’m starving.” As Melora left, she threw a look back at Daniel and Gisella, their heads bent toward each other. They talked quietly.
In that moment, Melora realized if it hadn’t been for Daniel’s persistence with her, she and possibly Kaitlyn would be dead by now. A cold wave flooded her, and she quaked.
Later that night, Melora tucked Kaitlyn into the bed. “We’re going to put up the Christmas tree in a few days and guess who said he would come help us?”
“Who?” Kaitlyn yawned.
“Daniel.”
Kaitlyn clapped, suddenly wide awake. “Yippee. Can we go see the Nutcracker this year? Cara’s going with her mom.”
“I don’t know, honey. We need to stay close to home for the time being.”
“Why, Mommy?”
“Lots of things are happening. Uncle Tyler went home to Jesus today.”
“Like Daddy?”
Melora nodded.
Kaitlyn frowned. “When? He was here earlier and left without saying goodbye. Was that why all those people were here today?”
“Yes. It was sudden or he would have said goodbye to you. He loved you very much. We need to say a prayer for him.”
“And Daddy.” Kaitlyn folded her hands together. “God, tell Daddy and Uncle Tyler I love them. Amen.” She peered at Melora. “When will I get to see them again?”
Tears closed her throat. She didn’t know what to say to Kaitlyn. When Axle had died, she’d had a long talk about people dying and going to live with God. That one day Kaitlyn would see her loved ones again.
“Only God knows when, honey.”
“I’m gonna draw Uncle Tyler and Daddy, too, a picture. I can give it to them when I see them again.”
“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.”
&nbs
p; “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.”
Trail of Lies Page 13