by DiAnn Mills
“At first we lived with my brother, then we found an apartment at Pine Grove. I worked painting houses, making more money than in Mexico. Benita was born here. Delores gave birth two months early, and Benita was a sick baby. She needed a feeding tube.” He pointed to his neck and abdomen where the autopsy pictures had indicated scars. “She started to gain weight and grow stronger. I felt Dios was going to make her well. I always said the rosary and lit candles for her … and Delores.” He took a sip of coffee, then his hands grasped the cup again. A tear fell over his cheek.
Gilberto tightened his grip on Xavier’s shoulder. So much love and comfort between brothers reminded Kariss of her own siblings. She glanced away and blinked.
“You don’t have to tell me this,” she said.
“It’s important to me. I’m okay.” He offered a grim smile. “The authorities learned I was not a citizen and sent me back to Mexico. So I had to leave my wife and five-year-old daughter here. I didn’t want to go, but I’d broken this country’s laws. At first my wife called me once a week and told me how Benita was doing. She also learned she was having another baby. Every week I sent money to take care of my family.”
Gilberto clenched his fist. “Delores had it sent to a post office box.”
Xavier took another sip of coffee. “I sent money these past five years. Delores called me less and less until she stopped. But I thought she was busy working. And although I had no way of contacting her, I never thought she’d let my baby girl die.” He breathed in deeply. “She starved my Benita to death. Good parents don’t treat their babies this way.” The bitterness in his words cut through Kariss’s heart.
“Are you sure your wife is responsible?” Tigo said.
He nodded. “I’ve been thinking about all she said. She complained often about taking care of our daughter. My brother and his wife would have welcomed Benita into their home. They have no children. I know … my wife let her die so she wouldn’t have to take her to the doctor or buy medicine. Then she could use the money for herself.”
Tigo turned to Gilberto. “You mentioned that you’d seen Delores three years ago. I didn’t question you earlier, but this information could possibly help us find her.”
Gilberto reached inside his shirt pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. He handed it to Tigo. “I wrote down all I could remember since my brother was deported. And I signed my name. From what I remember, Delores moved from their apartment two months after Xavier left. I tried to find her, but none of her neighbors or friends knew where she’d gone. Then three years ago, I saw her at a Fiesta grocery store. She was with another man — not a good man from what I could see. I asked her about Benita. She said the little girl was in a hospital. I asked to see her, but I was told no one could visit Benita but Delores. She told me the doctors said other people could bring germs, make her sicker. I told her my niece needed to know other members of her family loved her. I offered to wear scrubs like the doctors and nurses wore in surgery. She ignored me and left with the man.”
Xavier stiffened. “Did she have the new baby with her?”
“She was alone.”
Xavier buried his face in his hands and sobbed. Kariss wanted to cry with him. Instead she drank the bitter coffee. He raised his head. “I apologize. My life and my joy was Benita and the child I’ve never seen. I pray for them every day.”
Gilberto sucked in a breath. “My brother often went without food to send money.” He looked into Tigo’s face as if the agent had an answer for his brother’s plight.
“I understand. But we can’t blame Delores until we hear her story. She could be innocent in all of this. She might not be alive either.”
Gilberto lunged forward. “I’ve seen the pictures of Benita. She lied to my brother and stole his money. I saw her with another man. When you find Delores, you’d better keep her away from me.”
Tigo thanked the Olvera brothers for their cooperation and promised to keep them informed about the case. The next few days for them would be spent in a flurry of media interviews. Stressful for the two grieving men.
He hoped the FBI found Delores Olvera before Gilberto or Xavier did, or he was positive he’d have another murder on his hands. Both men would kill her without thinking twice.
The Olvera brothers’ testimony indicated Delores Olvera had allowed her daughter to die — a selfish woman who loved money more than her child. Tigo should stuff his own opinion, but he was convinced of the woman’s guilt.
He grimaced and rubbed his jaw. His tooth was bothering him again. Great. He’d pop a few Tylenol and hope it went away.
His thoughts turned to Kariss and he walked to her work area. She sat at her desk and stared blankly at the wall. For once she wasn’t writing. The pained expression on her face revealed more about her inner workings than any verbalizations would have.
He lingered in the doorway. “Are you all right?”
She nodded but didn’t acknowledge him with eye contact. “Writing women’s fiction was never easy emotionally. Sometimes the situations in my characters’s lives were heartbreaking, but I never expected to feel this amount of agony when confronted with the facts about Cherished Doe.”
He pulled a chair next to her. “But you dealt with this reality when you worked for Channel 5.”
“Right. I had sit-down meetings with victims and got involved with their problems. Followed my instincts when I felt there was more behind a story than what was on a piece of paper. Studied the facts and deliberated the aftermath. I investigated events and allowed my emotions to create a passion for reporting the stories, but Cherished Doe ripped at my heart.” She ran her fingers through her curly hair. “I seem to have this protective nature for children.”
He knew the truth about what drove her, but he’d wait for her to tell him. “Is that why you encourage others to learn the facts about child abuse and neglect? I saw the links on your website, and I read the online article about how you mentor kids at women’s shelters.”
She nodded.
“Tigo, I’m not as strong as you are. The truth about Benita makes me physically ill.”
“It should upset all of us. You did well today.”
“I was crumbling.”
He tilted his head. A strong woman sat before him, and he knew she wouldn’t mention the fire. At least not today. “Why did you quit TV work?”
She gave him a pressed-lip smile. “I couldn’t keep up with the pressure.”
“Station politics?”
She rubbed her palms. “Sort of. Competition is incredible in that field. The need to look youthful, fashionable, sophisticated—”
“Looks to me like you filled those qualifications just fine.”
A faint blush crept up her cheeks, and he liked it. Very much. “Thanks. I tried, but I got tired of what I felt was a show. How long before my age stood in the way of my career? Anyway, I longed to write.”
“You’ve had success there too.”
She tucked her hair behind her ears. “Are you being a therapist today? Because you were wonderful with Xavier and Gilberto. Now me.”
“Don’t think so.” He should tell her that his probing was more his means of processing life, the need to have all the facts about any given situation laid out before him. But her psyche looked delicate at the moment. Not that he could blame her. “Are you giving up on this project?”
“Absolutely not. I’m simply going to take all of this emotion and pour it into my story. The pros say that a writer’s best work comes from personal pain. I always believed that concept and have even taught it to fledging writers. Experience earned through personal stress and grief will always make a better book, no matter how difficult the process.” She straightened and reached for a tissue to dab her nose. “No, Tigo. You’re not rid of me yet. I have miles to go.”
He wasn’t surprised. She stood in the way of his work, yet he admired her tenacity. “You know, I had a feeling you were ready to stick this out. Nothing about you says ‘quitter.’ �
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“But I quit Channel 5.”
Or did the inability to solve Cherished Doe move her to resign? “I’d call your decision a career choice … weighing the options and making an intelligent move. Writing definitely looks more lucrative.”
She stretched her neck. “Writing a book is a bit of a gamble. There isn’t a formula for a bestseller. It’s a mix of skill, luck, the publisher, publicist, and a fabulous platform. I thought I’d take a real cut in pay when I started writing. The stats were not good and book advances are determined by how many books the sales staff projects the book will sell. My first book did poorly, and I failed to earn out my advance. Then the second shocked me when sales skyrocketed. Still not sure why. The publisher went back to my first book and piggybacked on the success of the second one. The sales rose and pulled me out of the hole. But …”
“What?”
“I wrote what the publishing house dictated, not what I wanted to write. Things have changed. I’m willing to take a risk to write the book of my heart.”
“You’ve got guts.”
“Do I, Tigo? I’m not sure. The future’s unpredictable.”
“The question is how far are you willing to go to reach your goals?”
“I want to say I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“Be careful and keep your head up.”
CHAPTER 15
Saturday afternoon, Kariss realized a need to talk to another woman, and that meant her sister Vicki, who listened and responded with wisdom. Their two older sisters were busy with kids and careers, but Vicki always found the time to talk to Kariss. They were best friends too — a rarity that Kariss didn’t take lightly. Vicki had recently experienced an unfaithful husband and a painful divorce. Kariss realized she’d shirked her commitment to help her sister work through the many stages of an ended relationship. Much of the lack of interaction had to do with Vicki’s lingering hope that her ex-husband would leave his current live-in and patch up their marriage. What Kariss wanted to do to him wasn’t repeatable.
She dug through her purse for her cell to call Vicki and grabbed a note from last week’s meeting with Gilberto and Xavier Olvera. The anger and frustration sweeping through her were of tsunami proportions. How could she help Vicki when thoughts about finding Benita’s mother consumed her? She wanted to be with the investigators who were looking for Delores Olvera, and when they found her, she wanted to find out why. A part of Kariss wanted to believe a mother would never allow her child to die.
She eased onto the sofa and curled her feet under her. Rain trickled against the windows, putting her into think mode. She wanted to head back to Pine Grove Apartments, but the teens who’d stolen her purse last time might not be lenient this time.
The moment Vicki answered, Kariss knew she was in her car. Wiper blades swished in rhythm.
“I’m checking in on you.” Actually, that was a lie, since Kariss needed to talk to her.
“I’m good. And I was going to call you today. See how you were doing with the new book and the FBI research.”
“Slow progress, but it’s coming.”
“Any more news about Cherished Doe? Haven’t heard or seen anything since the media report. Of course I haven’t read the paper or switched on the TV in two days. Worked two doubles at the hospital.”
Just hearing Vicki’s voice had a calming effect. Kariss drew in a deep breath and told her about the Olvera brothers and the FBI’s search for Delores.
“How could a woman do such a thing?” Vicki’s voice broke. “I can’t even imagine.”
“I hope the mother has an explanation, and I hope she’s innocent. But I keep wondering where she is.”
“Be careful, Kariss. The whole scenario sounds dangerous.”
“Not at all. Once Delores is found, the ink will dry on the investigation.”
“And you can finish your book.”
With no literary agent and no publisher. But she’d already determined she was going to find new ones. “Yeah. Sure.”
“What are you not saying? Is the FBI agent helping you a jerk? ‘Cause if he is, I’ll camp on his doorstep and give him a piece of my mind.”
Kariss laughed. “That’s what I threatened when you found Wyatt with his girlfriend.”
“Then we’re even. Seriously, is the agent giving you a rough time?”
“Not any more than I expected. He’s a good guy. Hard to figure out, but I’m trying. I have to understand his position. He was in the middle of an important case involving gangs and gun smugglers, and suddenly I come along.”
“What’s he like? A seasoned agent? A Sean Connery sort of guy?”
Kariss giggled and paused to form a description of Tigo. “He’s of South American descent with a macho feel. But definitely not my type. He has a reputation for being a rogue. Shake it down with a problem-solving mastermind who zeros in on any inefficiency, and you have Tigo Harris.”
“Sounds like an antibiotic.”
Kariss laughed, and it felt good. “That’s a perfect description. I enjoy teasing him, and he does the same to me. His partner is friendlier, but not as much fun.”
“Can you request a female agent?”
Kariss immediately thought of Hillary. “I’m good. Really.”
“When is the Gulf Coast Writers Conference? Sounds like you need a break from your research.”
Another sore spot. “Soon. First time in years that I won’t be attending.”
“And here I thought about tagging along like I did two years ago. When is it?”
“July in New Orleans. Hmm, I can only imagine how great it would be to spend the time with you. But the situation can’t be helped. This book means so much more.”
“But you loved last year’s conference in Miami.”
“I did, but this year’s different. Unless you want to go in my place?”
“Right. Me who hates crowds and knows nothing about the publishing business. Let’s go back to what you said earlier. I want to know more about the FBI agent. I have a feeling there’s something you aren’t telling me. Sparks flying?”
“Oh, sparks are flying all right, but not the kind you’re thinking.” Kariss shuddered at the thought. “He has a few good points, and he’ll make an intriguing hero. Nothing else. Now tell me what’s going on with you?”
“You’re changing the subject, but I’ll give you a break. On Tuesday I’ll be officially divorced for three months, and like an idiot, I keep expecting Wyatt to call.”
“Even though he’s re-married?”
“He could realize he’s made a mistake. We did have eight years together.”
Kariss squeezed her eyes shut. “You had an eight-year marital relationship, during which you shared him with other women for over seven years. And he and his current live-in have a baby together.”
“That doesn’t make me feel any better when I’m missing him. Wishing things were different.”
“Just give yourself a reality check.” All Kariss had to do was look at her sister’s life and she realized her troubles were nothing.
“Another reality check was he took her and their baby to our church a few weeks ago.”
Kariss groaned. “Don’t tell me that was the Sunday Mom wanted me to go.”
“The same.”
“I’m the world’s worst sister. But then I would have made a horrible scene and humiliated the whole family.”
“It was sorta hard to see God in the middle of his show of piety.”
Kariss didn’t plan to dive into the God thing. “What are you doing this very minute?”
“Driving to Walmart. Do you need something? I used the last of my makeup.”
“I have a great idea. Why don’t you head my direction, and let’s spend the rest of the day together? We can do the Walmart thing. Rent some movies. Dinner. Whatever you want.”
“Would love it. But no dinner. Tummy is a little upset.”
Kariss’s own stomach did a jig. “Please tell me you’ve had a period.”
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br /> “Can’t. Haven’t experienced a tampon since Wyatt spent the night here before the divorce. Four months ago.”
Vicki’s situation appeared to be growing steadily worse. “I’m here, you know. Have you been to the doctor?”
“Saw my ob-gyn five weeks ago. Confirmed my suspicions.”
“You didn’t tell me? How can I help you if you keep things from me? Is everything okay?”
“Yes. No one knows, and I’m not telling Mom and Dad they’re going to be grandparents again until I’m busting out of my jeans. Which won’t be long.”
Kariss wanted to scream at Vicki. She was a nurse. Didn’t she know what caused babies?
“I want this baby, sis. I have a good job, and I’ll make it work.”
“We’ll both make this happen. You know I have plenty of room in this huge condo. You and the baby could have two of the bedrooms and give up your tiny one-bedroom apartment. I’ve never liked the area. Totally unsafe. When’s your lease up?”
“It’s on a month-by-month basis. Like my life. Anyway, you’re sweet, but I refuse to be a burden. Oh, Kariss, you know how long I’ve wanted a baby.”
Except the timing was all out of whack. “Yeah.” She remembered the tearful calls during Vicki’s marriage when each month her period arrived on time and Vicki was devastated.
“I believe God had this happen for a reason. Being a single mom is not how I planned my life, but I took a risk when Wyatt came to see me. Dad’s a great role model, and Mom’s walking wisdom. I’ll do my best to love and raise this child.”
“Think about moving in with me. I could use the company. Remember all those years I worked in day care? This gal’s great with kids, especially babies.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“We’d have such fun fixing up a nursery.”
“You’re tempting me. And I do want a good home for my baby.”
Now why hadn’t Delores Olvera felt the same way?
Cheeky demanded allegiance from every person who worked for him, from his lead man to his mules. Or he got rid of them.