Page 100 of Fatal Strike
“Dylan was wounded.”
She felt nauseous. Dylan had gotten away, but he’d been shot.God, no. Please.This kept getting worse.
64
JON WALKED ON BOARDthe next ferry with Silvia. He considered requesting the woman join him and the other two agents in the car, but Silvia was suffering not only with physical pain but also emotional. She’d refused an ambulance or first aid, and her injuries required attention.
“If you want to talk, I’m here,” he said. He had already asked her to explain what led to her meeting with Dylan on the peninsula.
She held her right arm. “I’d rather be alone with my thoughts. Thanks anyway.”
“Sure?”
She nodded. “This is the most difficult ordeal of my life. I hope you never face the heartache of a child’s actions.” Her face tightened. “Dylan promised me he hadn’t killed anyone. Then he saw you and everything changed.”
“Silvia—” his tone rang with disbelief—“he tried to—”
“I know my son, and there’s more to this than what you saw or I experienced.”
“I’m sorry.” Life had no guarantees. “I need to check for updates.”
She looked out over the water. “Go right ahead, Agent Colbert.”
“Jon. The name’s Jon, short for Jonathan.”
“Like in the Bible.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He moved several feet away to a secluded spot. He pressed in Zachary Everson’s number and quickly briefed him about the last hour. “Appreciate it if you’d alert the local hospitals and clinics. Dylan has to get treatment somewhere.”
“On it,” Everson said. “So he had a backup plan in case the money transfer went south.”
Jon’s thoughts mirrored Everson’s. “I’ll ask Leah to escort Silvia for medical treatment before bringing her to your office. Based on what’s transpired, it’s clear Dylan did a 180 on his mother.” He glanced back at Silvia. Pity washed over him.
“See you at police headquarters,” Everson said.
Jon made arrangements with Leah, then phoned Rachel Mendez. He was convinced she was concealing information, but what would it take for her to open up? “We have reason to believe Dylan is working with those responsible for your husband’s death. Have you spoken to him?”
“No, sir,” Rachel said. “I’m having a difficult time accepting this. Is Silvia aware?”
“Yes, I’m with her.”
“What does she have to say about Dylan’s involvement?”
“She’s still in denial.” Jon took a harder tone with the widow.“Listen, Mrs. Mendez, the time’s come for you to tell us what you know.”
“I’m afraid I can’t say anything more, Agent Colbert.” Rachel sighed. “You can call off the agents guarding my house. I’m sending my mother and my children to California. But I’m staying here until my husband’s killer is found.”
While leaving town could be the best way for the Mendez family to remain safe until arrests were made, Jon still needed answers. And he heard another emotion besides control in her voice. “What are you afraid of?”
“Nothing, sir, except my son could be a murderer, and his victim was a man I loved. Excuse me. I have things to do.” She ended the call.
Frustrated, Jon dialed a number he’d memorized in the last few days.
“How can I help you?” Father Gabriel’s tone dripped with exhaustion and rightfully so. They all were tired.
Jon told Father Gabriel about the incident on Bolivar Peninsula, omitting the part about a surveillance team keeping an eye on Silvia. “As expected, she’s upset. May need your counsel.”
Father Gabriel groaned. “Poor woman. She’s always done her best for Dylan, believed in him when no one else did. I’ll wrap up things here and drive to the police department.”
