More Than Eyes Alone Can See
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Well, that would
certainly explain why she speaks English so well.
wasn’t shocked. When she spoke English,
some of her words had a distinct American accent to them instead of a Spanish
one, or the more cultured European one that would have been taught by tutors in
upper-class Spanish homes. “So what, you
spent the school year in
and spent the summer in
forth without warning?”
The last situation
would have been the most accurate had her father not felt the need to keep all
those around him under this thumb. He
certainly hadn’t cared for her, and had he not found a need, a role for her to
fill, cer certainly would have been thrown out.
But that was none of this man’s concern, and he wouldn’t feel sympathy
for her if he did know. “I didn’t go to
until I was seventeen, and that was only to go to university.
house.” Not his home – home implies family.
Family implies some sort of caring for one another.
they chose to pick on. A virtual slave,
being raised to be a subservient nonentity to my sister.
up-to-date. The ones required he
government and the Mexican government.
And that’s all you should need to know.”
Sands heard the
sound of a stool or chair being dragged across the floor to a position near the
bed. He listened as his hostess took a
seat, a knee or some odd joint popping.
“Now, if I have laid any and all objections to rest, can I take a look
at those stitches I spent so much time putting in last night?”
“Smart ass.”
“Takes one to know
one.” There was a clink of metal against
a hard surface. “I’m going to cut the
gauze off, so don’t get jumpy on me.
These may be medical scissors, but there’s still the risk that I could
cut you, and I t wat want to run it. I
think we’ve both dealt with enough blood for the time being.”
Sands tried to keep
still as Tess sliced away the bandages, but the feeling of cool metal against
his skin made him tense. It was too much
like a medical procedure for him to be able to actually relax.
to comfort him. “It’s okay.”
That irritated him
beyond explanation for some reason. He
wasn’t a gun-shy dog that needed a steadying hand to keep from bolting or a
high stung thoroughbred that needed a firm hand on the rein.
a madman left two gaping vacancies in my face.
Yeah, everything is just peachy-keen.
And if you believe t the then you can kiss my scrawny American a–”
-
The sound of a ringing cell phone cut him off before he could get
suitably crude. Both adults froze – Tess
wondering whose phone it was and where it was, and Sands silently cursing
Ramirez for throwing the phone back to him.
Damn interagency cooperation.
*********************************************
Tess wondered if she had managed to overlook a phone in ‘Giovanni’s’
belongings. Her cell phone never played
a basic ringtone. She had too much time
on her hands at times to allow that. She
froze when she saw her patient do the same.
Either he was still incredibly jumpy (which was entirely
understandable), or he had some idea of who was calling.
She got up.
irritation of the man on the bed she was sure.
Where is it?
couldn’t seem to locate it. Not that the
room was messy – Tess kept things compulsively neat.
phone, she couldn’t seem to see it anywhere.
-Ring-
many belts and holsters, and when she had put them on the floor the night
before, it must have slid under it.
Tess got down on her hands and knees.
“What are you
doing?” She would have responded with a
rather snarky comeback if she hadn’t felt some sympathy for this man who had
been on the wrong end of the Barillos’ wrath.
“I’m getting the
phone.” She stuck her head under the
bed. There it was, sitting like a
legless scarab beetle halfway between her and the wall.
out and grabbed it.
The display was lit up, a number flashing slowly on it.
much, but she didn’t recognize the area code.
Vaguely she thought that it was from somewhere on the East coast.
trying to get a hold of her patient, and he (though he might deny it) was
distinctly nervous about that.
was a cross between cautiousness and fear, //Hello?\
“Who is this?”
demanded a man’s voice. “Who’s using
this line? This is an official line, and
anyone who uses it without permission will be subjected to the penalties laid
out by the
belongs to?”
What kind of agent? //I don’t
speak English, sir. I am sorry.
sounded as if he didn’t have anyone nearby who did.
In a nearly hysterical voice she started spouting nonsense, rambling
drivel as fast as she could, trying to soundif sif she were afraid for her
life. Or paranoid.
Two out of three isn’t bad.
icebergs in front of fancy garages? And
the raining sun falls down on arrogant know-it-alls who can’t speak the native
language, which is why I get get away with saying nonsense like this.
their pants backwards and speak in a foreign tongue to stupid Mexican
señoritas. Or perhaps people who get off
from that sort of thing, but that is just sick in the same way that an anteater
picking its nose is sick.\
“Hold on,
señora. Calm down.”
voice came on asking, //Señora, what’s wrong?
Where are you? Weike ike to send
someone to help you.\
I have to start making sense.
//Señora? Are you still there?\
Thinking fast, Tess
let out a small despairing shriek. //The
sun! The sun!
Black Death with no eyes! Where
are they? My husband, my children?!
Lost. Taken from me.\
No!\ The person on the phone was
trying to get her to talk to him, but she ignored that.
Leave me alone!
She let out a strangled sound, then cut it short.
the phone on the wooden floor and grabbed the stool she had been sitting on.
with the floor, she brought it down on the phone, smashing it and terminating
the connection. With a sense of
satisfaction she had not had in some time, she raised the stool so she could
survey the damage.
“Amusing ourselves
were we?” Turning to look at the room’s
other occupant who she had momentarily forgot, she blushed, embarrassed to be
caught letting some of her madness out.
“You almost had me believing you were crazy.
theater instead of medicine. You
certainly aren’t doing much to make me feel any better.”
“It’s not my fault
that real life insists upon intruding on my schedule.”
bits and plastic crumbs off the seat.
on the floor and sat back down, acting as if nothing had just happened.
fairly entertaining, more so than me reciting poems about death.”
taking the wrappings off the flesh she had labored over the previous night.
*********************************************
Sands was mentally
kicking himself for not getting rid of that phone when he had had the
chance. Inuddeudden reversal of his luck
in finding dependable people, this woman seemed to genuinely want to help
him. But it was a slim piece of luck at
best, and who knew how long it would last.
I thought that Cucuy, Ajedrez, and
‘El’ were dependable too. Cucuy left me
for more money, Ajedrez was lying the whole time, and the guitar player . . . I
really don’t know if he managed to complete his mission or not.
Probably got all loyal and angst ridden at the last moment.
failure was not tolerated.
this girl who says she wants to help you.
What about her? She seems to be
rather mysterious. What has she told you
beyond her name? If that’s even her
name. Nothing.
of what happened today, nothing. Sure
you may get a tidbit here and there; her name is ‘Tess,’ she’s a bastard with
American citizenship, she attended medical school in
she seems to know what drugs the cartel prefers to use.
randomly or fr han hand out.
sudden flare of pain stopped the voice in his head.
“I thought you were
checking up on the state of your blue ribbon stitches, not tearing them out
with your bare hands. I’ve had enough
experience to know that the customarocerocedure is to use scissors, not
pliers.”
thought. “This one has broken open again,
señor.
the third is about to. The dried blood
from the wound is making the fibers of the bandage stick unnecessarily.
truth is I wouldn’t need to be careful had you resisted the urge to go
exploring.”
“What can I
say? The sound of your siren-like
singing drove me to measures that I normally wouldn’t have taken.
such an inane and painfully drawn out manner unless he’s otherwise compelled
to.”
The mockery she
heard in his voice pricked her temper.
Under normal circumstances she could have easily ignored him, but at the
moment she was faced with caring for four children and an irritable stranger,
she had gotten little sleep the previous night and she was tired from donating a pint of blood to the man before
her who was doing his best to imitate a sieve, plus her dopamine suppressant
was fraying her control over even simple emotions.
her lifetime that had been more hurtful, but this one was the card that caused
her frail emotional balance to collapse.
Under her breath she muttered, //At least Odysseus was able to blind his
monster instead of things happening the other way around.\
“You know, they say that when a person loses one sense their others
become more honed to make up for it.”
The hands on his thigh froze. “In
other words, niña, not only did I
hear that, but I understood it as well.”
A wave of guilt
wiped out Tess’ anger. This man had been
through a lot in a short amount of time.
She should understand that and keep her temper in check, or at least her
tongue. He had every right to be angry
and bitter – just as she was the last rightful target for those feelings.
That was cruel.”
Sands was going to
make some kind of snide remark when he was interrupted by an unfamiliar
voice. //Señora Tessa?\
*********************************************
Tess gave a short
prayer of thanks as she turned from her patient to the boy standing uncertainly
in the doorway to the bedroom. She
pretended not to notice as Sands turned his face in the same direction,
although her voice was screaming at her for being an unfeeling bitch, a
worthless doctor, and a bastard with the I.Q. of r sor so for not explaining
what had happened since the man had awoken that morning.
up. //Yes, René?\
would drown out the voice. //What is
it?\
//Lena woke
upan pan style='mso-spacerun:yes'> I think she’s hungry.\
//Thank you,
René. I’ll make sure that I go check on
her as soon as I’m done here.\
//I don’t think you
need to do that.\ Tess was about to ask
what he meant, when she saw a small head capped in flyaway dark hair appear
around the corner. Little
seemed to have mastered the art of crawling sometime in her short life.
//Well.
turned back to her patient, slowly pulling more of the bandage off.
//Who’s
that?\ Looking over her shoulder
towards the door, she saw that the young boy had gathered the courage in walk
farther into the room, braving the company of a strange man.
It was an innocent
question, one asked simply to gain information, not to cause hurt or to show
horrified fascination. But when she saw
her patient freeze, Tess was afraid of how he would react to the boy, of how he
would answer that question. He’d
undoubtedly answer in English, but anger and aggression could still be
transmitted, and that was something the boy didn’t deserve.
stumbled into the midst of this mess.
Before the man could say anything she said, //This is –\
“Giovanni
Tirado.” Tess looked at him in
surprise. She hadn’t thought he had
taken her seriously when she had mentioned the name.
//Why do you have
bandages around your eyes, Señor Tirado?\
“They got
hurt.” The answer was short and curt, as
if admitting such a thing out loud pained him.
And since it was in English the boy didn’t understand it.
//What did he say,
señora?\ When Sands didn’t offer to do
the job himself, Tess translated slowly, hoping she wasn’t starting something
that she would come to regret. Once he
understood Sands’ answer, René asked another question.
help you too? My brother Marcos said
that’s why we had to come here, so she could help us.\
“No, I came here
because I was looking for my own personal angel of death.”
to translate that, so she merely said, //Yes, I brought señor Tirado here so I
could help him. Why don’t you go see if
you can find a banana for me so I can give Lena something to eat?\
of Tessa’s shirts, but was having a hard time finding a hole to put her head
in.
The boy left on his
mission, and Tess turned back to hers.
As she placed a hand on Sands’ wounded leg again, she nearly jumped in
surprise as the man grabbed her wrist in a tight grip.
until she had to bite her lip to keep from crying out.
All she got for her pains was a sharp twist to her wrist.
something.
In a low
conversational tone he said, “Let’s get one thing straight,
I want some answers from you.
Mainly to the questions of what the hell happened yesterday, just how
many people are in this house, and how did they come to be here, and just what
are you trying to do?” Bringing his free
hand up to his chin he tapped it, as if trying to remember something.
about the cartel and Barillo and his pet medic?
And how is it that you just happened to be in this miserable excuse for
civilization just in time for yesterday’s slaughter?”
“
finish–” the hand imprisoning her wrist tightened yet again, and this time Tess
swore she could feel the bones of her arm bending in towards each other.
need to replace those stitches if weto kto keep as much of your blood in you as
possible.”
“You’re stalling
for time and I am not a patient man.”
“No, I’m not.
The pressure rose another fraction; Sands’ arm was trembling from the
prolonged force he was exerting. “Please, you’re hurting me.”
*********************************************
As soon as the
words had left her mouth, Tess felt a deep loathing for herself.
for anything. And even more years since
she had been stupid enough to plead for someone to stop what was obviously
meant to be a lesson. How had she
managed to forget that begging was weakness, and weakness was punished?
long ago punishments, even if
her mind had not, and it was her mind screaming now for her to run as far and
fast as she could. Her inner voice was
screaming that if she didn’t want to really get it, she had better stay where she was.
an
and she found herself pulling as far away from the man on the bed as she could
holding her arm in a death grip.
me take over – I’ll keep us safe.
Tess knew what that
safety was; it was being locked in the prison of her mind.
she would lose all control over herself, and there were too many people
depending on her right now for her to give in.
Maybe when this is all over.
realized that she was talking to
another person. Or perhaps I can just make sure I take my medications tonight.
doing a poor job. “I’ll answer your
questions, señor, but first you have
to let me go. I won’t be much use to
anyone if I can’t use both hands.”
*********************************************
Sands heard the
suppressed panic in his captive’s voice, but unfortunately he was in no shape to enjoy it.
send shivers of pain down his spine . . . or if he had any belief that he had
any control over this situatat aat all.
But he wasn’t able to delude himself into thinking that.
because an illusion of control is what got you into this in the first place.
asking, Are you planning on holding her hand all day?
you, but I really don’t think you’re going to be able to keep that grip up for
much longer, my friend.
true; his arm was already
starting to shake with fatigue.
“What?”
to be loco if he thought she was going to give him a weapon with which he
could threaten her. She did have more
sense than that – perhaps not much more at the time, but some.
Sands heard this
opinion in her voice, and this time he very nearly did smile no matter how much
it would have hurt. “Let me rephrase
that,” he said while tightening his grip and eliciting a gasp of pain from the
woman. “Either you can give me a gun, or
I can break your wrist. It’s up to you.”
Tess didn’t doubt
that he would do as he threatened.
weapon. If he doesn’t like what I have
to say, what’s to keep him from shooting me?
Just make sure that you don’t say anything that will upset him,
nitwit.
least I’ll die, and that means you’ll be dead too.
Perhaps, or perhaps I’ll find someone else to drive mad.
“You’re going to need
to sit up, señor.
from here.” Slowly leaning down as her
“patient” leaned forward, she grasped the handle of one of the semi-automatics
on the floor. Sitting back up, she held
it out. “Here, take it.” The man took it
in hist hat hand, not releasing his grip on her arm until he was satisfied that
she had given him one of his own guns.
When he did release her, her hand tingled painfully as blood rushed back
into it. She grimaced, thankful that it
would go unnoticed.
//Señora Tessa, I
found a banana for
What do you want me to do with it?\
had found a pen and was scribbling harmlessly on the walls.
take the child and leave the room, but decided against it.
or admitting that she believed that he was capable of the cold-blooded murder
of children. She refused to believe that
of him. s'> //Bring it here.
Tirado.\
As the boy brought
her the piece of fruit she thought, It’s
a good thing that these children are so obedient, otherwise I’d be in big
trouble right about now. I don’t think I
could handle having to keep order among them when I can barely keep it within
myself at the moment. //Thank you,
René. Now will you go play in the living
room or something until I come out to start dinner?\
the far corner of the room – he clearly wanted to stay.
“What’s wrong,
Afraid I’m going to take a shot at your young charges?”
fears.
“No.”
that this was exactly what she was thinking, and she knew it.
risking the man’s ridicule and making it appear as if she thought him a
monster, but she didn’t feel comfortable with letting the boy stay in the room
either. Too bad you’re backed into a
corner and the three of us know it.
//Fine. You may stay if you want,
but I need you stay out from underfoot, and you have to promise to leave if I
ask you to, okay?\
//Sí,
señora.\ She watched as he ran from the
room and came back with several picture books.
He settled into the armchair and the quiet sound of turning pages filled
the silence of the afternoon air.
“I’m still waiting,
niña.
And while I can entertain myself for some time with all sorts of
thoughts that I doubt you’d fully appreciate, I would find it ever so much more
amusing if you’d open your mouth and share some answers to my earlier
questions.”
This sudden
monologue started Tess back to reality.
“Do you want any Novocain salve?”
“What?
“Yes, I heard
you. I just thought it might be
distracting to feel my needle as I stitch you up again,” she answered
innocently. She was stalling for more
time and they both knew it. “Or would
you rather do without?” She doubted
it. He had to be in enough pain as it
was without having this added to it.
“Fuck you.”
“I’ll take that as
a yes.” She reached for the cream she
had left out on her nightstand. “This is
going to be a bit cold.” As she applied
the balm, she started talking, unable to put things off for any longer.
causes behind that than I am.”
“Why do you say
that?” Sands’ voice was tense as he
wondered what exactly she had learned from the earlier conversation she had had
on the phone. He really hoped that she
hadn’t discovered too much . . . it would be difficult for him to find another
doctor at the moment.
“It’s not every day
that a person sees a blind and severely injured gunfighter take out several
members of a rather powerful cartel.
It’s not every day that one sees a severely injured blind
gunfighter. It wasn’t hard to guess that
somehow you strayed onto Barillo’s bad side, and knowledge is often the cause
for suchsticstic retribution.” She
shrugged, sitting back until the Novocain could take effect.
cartel member who played the odds and lost, do-gooder, or government.
against the cartel.”
“And how would you
recognize this job as their work . . . or more specifically, how did you become
acquainted with Dr. Guevera’s handiwork?”
This is where she
stepped into dangerous waters. If she
wasn’t careful, she might very well get herself shot.
that Barillo ruined my life?” She waited
for him to acknowledge this reminder.
“The cartel took an interest in me at a young age, and when they take an
interest in you, you don’t refuse without severe consequences.
to be a doctor . . . Ajedrez’s personal medical slave if you will.
I was summoned back home. I was told to
do an internship with the good doctor – I didn’t argue.
a thing or two.” She laughed
bitterly. “And he did – it just cost me
whatever innocence I had left by that time.
I left soon after, always managing to stay one step ahead of Barillo
loyalty to Barillo than he did to the memory of a slaughtered brother.
fact – but he hated Barillo more. And
incidentally, that’s how I managed to show up here in time for yesterday’s
slaughter.” The memory of some of the
things she had learned, saw, and even done while under the thumb of Barillo and
Guevera made her skin crawl and her stomach turn.
has no eyes. You’re a doctor, not
God. Just be content with doing all you
can.
“You know, dragging
any information out of you is like pulling teeth.”
Startled, Tess
looked up from the needle she had started threading to distract herself.
if you’re next words will earn you a bullet between the eyes.
deal with the feeling, but sadly, it’s been a few years since I’ve had to
practice. prolong my life.” Sands flipped her off,
but he did lower the weapon to his side.
Ignoring the man’s silent statement, Tess reached out and laid a gentle
finger on the area surrounding the open bullet wound.
“Feel what?” Sands
asked irritably.
“Feel me touching
you. I wanted to make sure you were numb
before I stitched you up again.”
Concentrating on her task, she pierced his skin, wincing as she
did. This was her least favorite part of
medicine – sewing people together like they were rag dolls.
know? I can’t tell you what has happened
today, what news of the army and the cartel there is to be had.
listen to the radio. If you wish, I can
turn it on for you once I’m done.” Tying
off the first stitch, she checked again on
René.
taken to scribbling in one of the old, battered picture books that Tess had in
her possession. No matter, she would be
leaving soon anyway.
the children? What of them?
Or an orphanage?
let‘s leave them in the caring hands of the Mexican welfare system.
street?
“Time for what?”
“I’m sorry. I was just thinking
out loud.”
“I noticed.”
so sure the ‘intellectual’ gig is working out for you.”
“If you don’t have
your health, you don’t have anything,” Tess murmurndernder her breath.
“What are you talking
about now?” How many times had he asked
that in the last hour? This woman
clearly was not all there.
“Sorry.
thing to do.”
as crazy as you are. Or perhaps they’re
as crazy as we are.
The sounds of
childish whimpers reached his ears. “How
many people are here, niña?
alone. What changed?”
“Can you hold that
thought? I need to go see what’s wrong.”
running about.”
“May I ask you
something?” There was an odd note in
Tess’ voice. She hated hearing a child
in distress left uncomforted. It
reminded her too much of her own childhood.
“Have I ever given you reason not to trust me?
stay here. . . .”
“And what would
that quote be from?”
“A movie.
frightened and alone.”
comfort. “Truthfully, I will come
back and finish answering your questions.
I just want to run across the hall.”
“Oh god, will you
stop groveling? I’m not going to blow your
head off.” He was pissed to find it was
true. Pissed that he was in a foreign
country with no one to trust but a woman he knew nothing about
a wide variety of subjects and a love of quoting literature.
As he heard her
footsteps migrate across the room, the voice in his head observed,
like the mad leading the blind, isn’t it?
have no problem using her in the same way you used the kid.
What makes you think I’m going soft?
he’d find himself begging for painkillers without a second thought.
that it warped reality.
you told to kid to run before you initiated that shoot out with the two cartel
flunkies, and then actually waited to
make sure he listened to you. You
haven’t told this woman off; just made vague threats about what might
lastly, you’re listening to me. And
talking back, I might add.
Damn, he hated it
when he was right.
*********************************************
The rest of the
afternoon had passed uneventfully. She
had employed Marcos in keeping the three younger children busy while she
finished talking with Sands. She told
him that she was looking after Marcos and his younger siblings at the moment,
knowing that Marcos would tell the man when he was ready.
if he’d find any empathy within himself to comfort the boy, but she prayed that
somehow he would be able to help the boy.
Sure, she could comfort, but Marcos was reaching the age where he was
going to start relying less on the comfort of women and more on the models set for him by men.
voice how much he felt for the other man.
Respect, compassion, belief, and a smidgen of reverence.
person to hang such hopes on, but it was all she had, and other matters
concerned her more at the moment.
The only tense part
of the afternoon had come when Tess had mentioned her planned outing that
evening to run a few errands. “I need
more food if I’m to keep six people fed, and
definitely going to need some more diapers.”
“And you are
telling me this why?”
“Because I wanted
to let you know that I’m going to be out of the house for an unspecified amount
of time leaving you with four children, and I was wondering if you wanted me to
a) pick something up for you while I’m out, b) run by where ever it was you
were staying to get you a change of clothes, or c) simply put you under before
I leave and tell the kids to stay out of here.”
“What, you’re a multiple
choice test now?” Silence.
“Get me a pack of cigarettes.”
“No clothing?
ones I patched up earlier. Something
easier to get on over all those lovely stitches of yours?”
“You want to know
where I was staying.” It was a
statement, one that cast doubts on her level of intelligence.
keep her other plans for the night to herself.
“Don’t be an idiot. You have no
idea whether or not someone is watching my place.
What makes you think you would possibly . . . .?”
“foolhardy” – pan>stunts in
his day (heck, he’d done so yesterday), he couldn’t comprehend what this woman
was thinking. If she truly had a high
level of experience with the cartel, she should know better.
It’s too dangerous.”
“You’re touched in
the head. Don’t get me mistaken – I
don’t want you caught by anyone. One
good torture session and they’ll know where I am.”
injuries. If you think they hurt now,
just wait until they’re encased in a denim prison.”
Buy me what ever you think –”
“Which are you
trying to hide from; the cartel or former employers?”
telephone conversation, niña?”
“Nothing, other
than the phone in your possession had a government line.
government. And the people at the other
end weren’t too happy I was on it.
That’s why I was asking for more information.
for you though. How else can I keep
everyone currently under my roof safe?”
“Just because I’m
under your roof doesn’t mean that I’m your responsibility.
door. I of all people wouldn’t blame you
for looking out for number one.”
listen, Tessa. We both know you carry
more responsibility for this than you care to admit.
the third and forth generation . . . .”
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
that same mistake.
Wistfully she
sighed. '> “One is the loneliest
number.” Shaking her head she continued,
“No, you are my responsibility, but if you don’t want to tell me, fine.
somewhere.”
Satisfied that she
was going to let the matter drop, Sands asked, “You said something about a
radio?”
*********************************************
It wasn’t as easy
to sneak out of the house as Tess had expected it to be.
asleep, or at least close enough to it that they wouldn’t seek her out.
the beginnings of a fever. She dosed him
with aspirin and hoped that would hold things off until she was able to look
into what might be causing it. She
sincerely hoped that it wasn’t infection.
“Here, take
this.” She had given the man another
gun. “I don’t anticipate being gone for
more than two or three hours. I’m going
to have to drive across town and find a store that’s open late.
and would know that I don’t usually buy enough food for six or purchase many
diapers. I’d rather avoid as much
suspicion as possible until I’ve figured out what I’m going to do with the
kids. They at least deserve a happy
ending out of all this.” There had been
a minimum of argument from the man, which had worried Tess more than the
fever. “Are you sure you don’t want a
stronger painkiller?” Surely he was
running low on obstinacy or whatever it was that was keeping him from caving to
the pain. She understood that he didn’t
want to lose consciousness, to be vulnerable, to be locked in his dreams
without escape, but he shouldn’t needlessly suffer either.
But he had refused
on the grounds that if he became too doped up on meds, he’d likely end up
shooting someone accidentally. It was a
good argument to use when there were small children in the house, so she had
let him be.
Now, an hour after
she had left the house, she was sitting in her car two blocks from where
Marcos’ parents had been found. She had
bought her groceries with a minimum of effort, thankful that she always kept a
supply of cash on her for times when it was unwise to leave an identity.
suppose I could have a fake ID made. I
do know people who could do that for me.
It’s just that I’m already struggling to maintain my own identity.
She looked out her
windshield. There were a surprising
amount of people out for a city that just last night had been rocked by riots
and an attempted coup d’etat.
goes on . . . for some people. Others
just watch and smile and wait like wallflowers at a high school dance.
rest of us.
All evidence of blood had been washed from the sidewalk and brick of the
surrounding buildings. There were no
bullets lying around.
alleyway. I’ve come this far. It’d be a
pity to go home now. Making sure
that her small handgun was easily accessible in her pocket, she walked to the
alley, checking it thoroughly before chancing to go inside.
For this part of
town she was pleasantly surprised. There
were no piles of garbage, no trashcans to supply cover for anyone who might
wish to lurk. There weren’t even an
goes nothing. Pulling out the
penlight that was attached to her keychain, Tess took a few steps into the
alley, cautiously looking around her as she did.
to catch sight of the dim light reflecting off a spare shell casing.
and there . . . there. Quickly she
gathered her evidence, holding the casings to five bullets in her hand.
to her second-to
*********************************************
Going to the
apartment where Marcos’ family had lived had been useless.
for someone – anyone – to
show up. No one had.
before had apparently giup.
bigger th to to worry about than a hapless boy that played tour guide to a
blind man. Things like forming factions
to choose a new leader. After that, then
there might be danger, to Marcos and ‘Tirado.’
The bloody head of someone who had messed in cartel business would be a
good trophy for a new leader. A good way
to gather support. It wouldn’t matter if
that person were affiliated with the cartel or not – just that they opposed
them.
By that line of logic, your own head is in danger.
Are you just now figuring that out?
Why do you think I’ve been so careful to remain a step ahead of
Barillo? Because I like the
exercise? No, it’s because I happen to
be rather attached to my head, even if it is often too crowded.
inside my head, rather than outside ringing y eay ears.
press your luck. We both know that could
change in a moment. We both know that’s
what I’m hoping for.
Don’t hold your breath.
not. Look, are we going to sit out here
all night, or are we going to go into the man’s room sometime and fetch him
some clothes?
careful wording of her concession, she had never actually said that she
wouldn’t go to her patient’s place of temporary housing.
the worn matchbook in one of his pockets.
After that she had known exactly what hotel he was staying in, a rundown
place that was more used to renting by the hour than by the night.
his kid up after the boy had decided to stop dealing for Barillo.
room and keep his mouth shut about it.
Her car was the The door to the Fine minutes later Quickly dropping
only one in the parking, an, and in dark jeans and her denim jacket, she
wouldn’t look too out of place in the setting.
would had blended in better, but she did have some standards, and dressing as
if vinyl was a natural byproduct of her body was crossing the line.
would better shade her face, she once again got out of her car.
“lobby” let out a brassy and despondent ‘ding’ when she opened it.
bulletproof glass shield, she called, //Nicholas Garcia, you have
business!\ From the back room came a
balding man wearing coke-bottle glasses and a stained t-shirt.
pay to get it.\
she was standing outside a motel door, trying to get the key to turn in the
knob. It was a procedure that required
tact and patience, and she was running out of both.
and down her spine, and she had learned to trust her instincts.
looked out for her to keep its host.
What good was madness to a dead person?
Stepping into the room with a sigh of relief as the door opened, she
once again pulled out her trusty keychain.
The light from the bulb was dim enough to keep from being noticed from
the street, or at least she hoped it was.
The last thing she needed to deal with now was someone who might be
looking for her patient.
in the corner. She looked more
closely and realized that she was indeed looking at a suitcase.
enough. Let’s get out of here.
she heard cru crunch of some kind of insect underfoot, she picked up the
suitcase and left the room, making sure to lock it behind her.
ounce of determination from getting in . . . unless they used the key.
the key off in the night drop, she jogged back to her car
As she opened the door to the backseat, she felt a path of fire trace
it’s way over the underside of her arm, quick as lightning.
later, Tess realized what was going on.
Cursing because the man had been right, she threw herself into the open
driver’s side door, pulling it closed behind her.
and raced out of the parking lot at
a speed she otherwise would have avoided.