Marion E Currier

by Linked (retail) (epub)

  I loved Santiago with all my heart, there was no doubt about that. Protecting him was not something I even had to contemplate. But I knew that my concern of him possibly losing his father was not the only reason I now sat shivering. It was also the fear of getting wrapped up in yet another impossible relationship in which I would be the one left on the outside. Annoyingly likeable Luz replaced with impossibly-heartwarming Santiago. And another generation of Guey's and Manuel's family with their unreasonably dedicated Samaritan at their side. The eternal sidekick. The good buddy who dies in the movies. The one who carries the clubs for the golf pro, the sword for the knight in shining armor, and the one who throws himself on the grenade to save the real hero. Hurrah for Melissa! The romantically challenged protector of those who live…a real life.

  I practically slapped the tears that my trembling shook loose. "Fine," I mumbled to myself, staring up at the ceiling as though I could see heaven this way. "If that's what you ask of me after everything we've been through together, so be it. But once this is behind me, we're done. I've got to let you go, you understand? I can't do this anymore. My heart can only take so much. There isn't much more left of it to be broken."

  By the time Tee and Santiago were done in the bathroom, I was dressed and packed. The phone was safely tucked into my pant pocket, and I was able to accept Santi's hand into mine without coming undone again. We ate a good breakfast and Tee informed me that he'd used the restaurant's phone to contact his cousin at the police station in San Juan, telling him in great detail what happened. The same cousin had already been informed via a phone the band of thieves knew nothing about and therefore hadn't tapped. So he played along and asked curious questions until both he and Tee were sure that Valentín and cohorts would be back on our trail. Although neither one of us realized then that the extra effort really wasn't necessary.

  Chapter 19

  The town of Mayagüez wasn't fully out of our rearview mirror yet when a police siren roared some distance behind us. Tee cursed under his breath. "We should've gotten another car this morning."

  "But we didn't," I said, glancing over my shoulder at the approaching car. "Now what? Looks like Valentín's group made the hunt for this one a priority with the police."

  "Unbuckle," Tee ordered. "You too, Santiago. Hurry up." He continued to drive, despite the siren. "I have a better chance to lose them if I don't have to worry about both of you being thrown around in the car. Here's what I need you to do. I'm going to pull over, long enough for both of you to open your doors as little as possible and throw yourselves out."

  "Come again?" My hands gripped deep into the seat cushion.

  Tee fixed the depth of his eyes on me. "Roll downhill and lay still in the brush," he continued. "Once the cops are out of their car, I'll take off and give them a good chase. As soon as they follow me, head back to Mayagüez and go to the Recreation and Sports Palace, near the Tropical Agricultural Research Station. Santi knows where it's at. I'll find you there." His gaze strayed to the backseat. "You'll do this for me?" I nodded, against my better judgment.

  Tee drove straight into the unruly grass and brush, almost skidding into the ditch before pulling the front end around enough so the car's angle provided protection for Santiago and me to drop out unnoticed. I reached for the boy's arm and yanked him deep into the ditch with me. Adrenaline's wild race through my veins prevented me from feeling the snagging of branches and roots as we made our way out of sight. Within seconds, the siren died down and the police vehicle came to a stop. I pressed Santiago tightly against me. Both car doors opened, steps scraped on the pavement, and I didn't dare breathe as they shouted for Tee to come out with his hands up. He gunned the engine, and I twitched at the sound of bullets breaking glass and striking metal. Santiago's body trembled by my side, and I pulled my arm closer around him. I don't know if it really was possible for my head to dig farther back into the ground, but I sure tried. It was the only thing I could do to stop myself from jumping up and making sure Tee got away unhurt. Would he be able to outrace a police cruiser with a family-style SUV? I looked down at Santi, whose dark eyes rested questioningly on mine.

  "Let's do what your Daddy said," I mumbled. We waited until the blare of the sirens grew into a faint whine, then staggered through the ditch in the direction we came from before crawling back up to the road.

  "We should cross to the other side," Santiago said, while I brushed the dirt off our clothes. "That way we can wave and see if someone will take us into Mayagüez."

  Someone did, and I was grateful for Rodrigo and his tow truck. Santiago was already in the cab and I was just pulling myself up when I heard the unnatural grumble of a modified race engine in the oncoming lane. A blood-red Toyota passed us, the unknown faces of the driver and passenger pinched and intense. Hunters on a trail. A midnight blue Mustang followed at a short distance. There was only one person in the car. Instinctively, I moved, covering Santiago with my body. But the driver's eyes locked on mine, leaving me paralyzed at the recognition. Valentín turned his head as much as the speed of the car allowed, and I fully expected to hear the screeching of brakes and turning tires. Yet as quickly as he had come into view, he disappeared.

  "You okay?"

  Rodrigo's voice restarted my breathing, and I unfroze enough to lean back in the seat.

  "Yes," I managed to say. "Thanks for saving us from having to make one heck of a hike."

  I tried my best to appear interested in the conversation the man tried to make. He was 35, not seeing anyone right now, so he was spending way too much time working, but willing to change that if the right person came along. The words tumbled forth with such speed that I ventured a guess that it'd been quite some time since he had a conversation with someone of the opposite sex. Or anyone at all, really. I invented single motherhood, a longer-than-anticipated walk back from a friend's house, an unexpected tumble into the ditch, polite smiles and nods as Rodrigo shared too much personal information, all while my mind was somewhere northbound on Highway Two.

  Had Tee been quick enough to lose the cops? He'd said there were at least eight guys in Valentín's group of thieves, and there was no doubt in my mind that the Type O colored Toyota carried two of them. With access to police radio, they knew the stolen SUV had been spotted. It surprised me that they hadn't placed anyone in Valentín's car after his screw up with Santiago and with all three of us at Walmart. Losing us twice must not look very good.

  Maybe they really didn't care if he could hang with the lot of them at this point. He had just as much to lose as any one of them, but if Tee was right and he'd joined the band later, maybe they kept him purposely at a distance. Close enough to make sure he wasn't chickening out, but far enough away to keep him in the dark about the full extent of what Tee had on file against them.

  With all eyes on Santiago's father, I should have been able to relax more. After all, Santi and I were headed in the opposite direction. But what if the jewelry maker was getting cuffs slapped on him for grand theft auto while I sat here listening to this lonely tow truck Romeo? I was not ready yet to use the number Tee had programmed into my phone.

  Rodrigo turned into the parking lot by the sports stadium. "Well, here we are," Rodrigo said with a smile, handing me his business card after we came to a stop. "Next time you don't take enough cash for the bus ride with you, give me a call. Or just whenever."

  "You bet," I replied.

  His phone rang, but I felt funny just walking off without saying something else. I mouthed a semi-silent thank you, waved up at him and started to walk away once he waved back.

  "Yes I did," I heard him say as he started to turn the truck toward the exit. "But now I'm free to assist you if you need help. No, they didn't have a car. I just dropped them off."

  Frozen fingertips seemed to glide over the nape of my neck and I spun around, staring after Rodrigo's truck. Of course. The towing company's name was painted big as blazes on the side of the door. Big enough that one could read and memorize it even
while speeding at sixty-five miles in the opposite direction.

  "What do we do until my dad comes?" Santiago interrupted my thoughts.

  I managed something akin to a smile. "We don't want to be standing around here for all the world to see us, that's for sure."

  "We could walk to the Tropical Research Station," he suggested.

  I looked around. "The Research Station?"

  Santiago nodded. "We go there sometimes." He shifted, looking down at his shoes. "My mom always liked how it smelled."

  I choked. "Of course we can go," I replied, unable to deny him the visit, even if it would be only a short one as we had to be back here where Tee wanted to meet us. Since it was also where Rodrigo confirmed he'd dropped us off, being anywhere else right now seemed like a good idea. Santiago's hand slipped into mine, a move that had become very natural for him during the past few days, and I marveled at the child's trust. We'd just have to watch our backs.

  After a short walk, we entered into a hacienda-style building. A bespectacled woman handed us a walking map, instructed us that we were not to touch any of the fruits as they were part of a variety of research projects and to keep in mind that while open to the public, this was a working station. With map clutched in hand, Santiago led me past the bamboos toward the green houses.

  "Smells like my abuela's kitchen," Santiago said as we stood amidst cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, cocoa and citronella plants. His dramatic sniffing made me smile, one that went as quickly as it came as I twisted at the sound of footsteps. A research staffer, followed by some camera-carrying tourists. I relaxed my automatic grip on his shoulders.

  "You don't have to be scared, Mel. My dad will come soon."

  I looked down at those big trusting eyes, half hidden behind wild curls. "You're right," I said, wanting to believe him. "Everything will be fine. Let's see if we can find the lemongrass and coconuts." Yet all sounds continued to make me jump, and I had to identify their source before I could compose myself again.

  "It smells nice over here," Santiago shouted from a few steps away. "My dad says your nose works even better if you close your eyes. Try it."

  I joined my little sidekick, standing as calmly as my closed lids would allow. We both inhaled deeply, and I had to admit he was right. The aroma was scintillating.

  The closing of the green house door made my eyes fly open. I felt my heart race until I saw the pink sneakers with blinking lights in their heels, followed by some heeled pumps.

  "How about we head back to the stadium and find something to eat?" I offered.

  I scanned every car in the sports palace's parking lot, looked at every vehicle visible in the side streets, but there was no sign of the Mustang or the Toyota. Being outside made me nervous and I steered Santiago into the first corner eatery I saw. They served surullitos. I questioned my mothering skills as I watched the shiny, plump sweet cornmeal finger in Santiago's hand. A deep-fried, artery-clogging time bomb. I should've looked a little harder and found a fruit stand or a place where they offered green salads and grilled fish.

  Santi closed his eyes again, inhaling long and slow. "Smells nice here too, Mel," he said.

  I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. He was right once more. The place did have a nice aroma. Hadn't really noticed it when we first walked in, but instead of carrying the odor of heated cooking oil as one would expect, there was a soft hint of spring breeze that reached my nostrils. It was a scent I could have sworn brushed against my skin before. While I got a kiss on the cheek. And another on my lips. In the depth of the forest. My eyes flew open, but it was too late.

  "Hello Melissa." Strong hands pressed down on my shoulders. "I had no idea you like playing cat and mouse so much." Valentín's voice was low and too friendly. "What say you and me and the brat take a walk."

  Santiago jumped out of his seat, but I grabbed him firmly by the arm and pulled him against me before he could get away. "It'll be alright," I whispered. "We have to stay calm and together."

  I cried out as Valentín grabbed a fistful of my hair to pull me up. It earned us some concerned looks from other diners, but before anyone could say anything, I felt the blunt end of his weapon in my side. He wrapped his other arm around me and kissed the side of my head.

  "Nice and easy," he breathed into my ear, smiling reassuringly at a passing waitress, then leading us through the front door. "Your little stunts are starting to cost me credibility. So I expect a bit more cooperation this time, understood?"

  I nodded as the nozzle pressed harder against my rib cage.

  Santiago's steps slowed down as he spied the midnight blue Mustang. But it wasn't the only thing he saw. I felt him tugging on my sleeve and followed his glance across the street to the stadium's parking lot. I bit my lip to stop myself from shouting Tee's name. Something was wrong with his face, but I knew he'd seen us, and I was elated to see him. My eyes widened as I watched him make a mildly obscene hand gesture by his crotch. What the heck was he trying to…

  "Mel, I need to pee," Santiago announced loudly, his feet coming to an abrupt standstill as though he planned on taking care of this problem right here in the middle of the sidewalk. Smart boy.

  "Tough. You'll have to hold it," Valentín snapped.

  "I can't." Santiago shot back, lowering his zipper.

  "Come on," I said to Valentín, "let me take him back to the restaurant so he can use the bathroom."

  The police detective stepped in front of me, making sure both Santi and I could see the drawn weapon under his jacket. "If he's gonna pee, I'm gonna watch."

  "Fine," I replied. "Then let me take him around the corner and he can relieve himself in the alley."

  Valentín looked around. Beyond us. To the parking lot. I didn't exhale, watched as he squinted. With my back toward the sports palace, I had no idea if Tee was still by the tree. But after what seemed like an eternity, Valentín's eyes returned to their normal shape, and I let out my held breath in a hopeful puff.

  Santiago started dancing from foot to foot. "I really need to pee-ee."

  Valentín's face transformed into an ugly grimace as he snapped the u-shape of his hand like a vice around the boy's neck. He moved him so quickly around the corner that Santi stumbled along. "Hurry up." Valentin's fingers dug painfully into my arm as he moved me like a shield toward the open area.

  Buying time. I know that's what we were doing. It was the only reason I bit my tongue and didn't congratulate Valentín for having gone way past the point of where heaven and hell combust. There wasn't a shred of good pavement left under his feet, the realization of which made me feel almost sorry for him. But instead of saying so, I concentrated on the urine running down the side of the building. Wishing Santi would have more in him, but he was done.

  As we turned out of the alley, I fully expected to see Tee, ready to defend us, but there was no sign of him. I shuffled Santiago along ahead of me. His head moved from side to side, and I know he was also hoping to spot his father somewhere. Anywhere. Even still across the street would've been something. Had whatever happened to his face been so much that he'd passed out? I re-scanned the parking lot. Nothing.

  "Get in," Valentín ordered, holding open the Mustang's door.

  Santiago's skinny arms braced themselves against being shoved inside, but Valentín was out of patience. Before I could do anything, his weapon crashed into the side of the boy's head, and I barely managed to catch him as he doubled over like a bag of rice. A thin trickle of blood made its way through Santi's curls. I wanted to scream, but the sound of the safety coming off Valentín's gun choked the sound off in my throat.

  He nodded his head sharply toward the seat and I slumped down in it, pulling Santiago onto my lap. With a screech we entered traffic, but the Mustang didn't race so much as it hobbled. At least one of the tires was out of air. And not by accident, of that I was sure. Valentín let out a scream. He pulled over and as soon as he did, we both saw Tee coming from across the street, his hands wrapped around a coconut. I reached
for the door with one hand, holding onto Santiago with the other. Valentín fumbled for his weapon, but before he could even face it in the right direction, the coconut crashed like a cannon ball through the side window and into his forehead.

  I fell out of the passenger door, with Santiago in my arms, landing squarely on my knees. Tee came around the car. A long gash from his knee to his ankle dripped red. His breathing was labored, but he managed to pull his son into his arms. I scrambled to my feet and followed him into the alley where Santi had marked his territory. Neither one of us looked back. A few people had come out of the restaurant at the sound of the shattering window, but despite a limp, Tee was quick and we were gone before anyone tried to stop us. If anyone even tried. Maybe they recalled how Valentín had pulled me up by my hair and they were secretly glad he got his…thanks to the coconut. I knew I was. Although not so much for me, but for how brutally he'd knocked out Santiago.

  We continued running, disappearing from anyone's view into another street. There was nobody but us. Tee slumped against a tree, leaning his own bloody face against that of his unconscious son. "I'm here, m'hijo," he huffed. "You're safe."

  Although every breath felt like acid burning in my lungs and a sharp stabbing pain nagged at my side, I was more concerned about Tee. If he was in bad shape, all three of us were in trouble.

  "You need to get fixed up," I said, trying to look braver than I felt as I got a closer look at the gash in his hairline. "This is still bleeding. And your leg doesn't look too good either."

  Tee blinked as blood dripped from his brow into his eye. I reached up and wiped the red trail away with the back of my hand.

  "Thanks," he mumbled. "What we need is a car. Then you can do the fixing." He passed Santiago into my arms and wobbled off to the nearest parked vehicle.