Page 27 of Fatal Strike
Mrs. Mendez peered at them. “If I were you, I’d be looking for who’s in attendance.”
“We will,” Leah said. Sometimes criminals returned to the scene of the crime—to gloat, satisfy some morbid curiosity, or make themselves look innocent.
Jon continued. “I have a question for you, a theory, but you may be able to confirm it.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Did Judge Mendez ever indicate the Veneno gang and thereconquistacry might be a facade for something else?”
Rachel fisted her hands. “I know he was determined to find out their means of making money, but he didn’t tell me if he learned anything. He claimed the cartels from Mexico would not take over Galveston. But that’s all.”
18
SILVIA GREETED HERfirst dental cleaning of the day with a fake smile and kind words. Her heart ached, and her stomach rolled as though she’d be ill. Dylan must have lost his phone again because he still hadn’t contacted her. She’d lain awake for two nights, thinking and praying while listening for the phone to ring.
Richard James asked her not to bother him or his wife again—Silvia was mistaken about his daughter and Dylan dating. Silvia wanted to scream at him. Mr. James thought Dylan wasn’t good enough for his daughter, but Elena didn’t look at Dylan’s troubled past. She cared about his gentle heart, and she inspired him to be a better man.
Had Dylan and Elena run off together? They were in love, a sweet relationship made in heaven. Would they have gotten married? Dylan deserved happiness after all he’d been through. Although Elena wasn’t Catholic, that mattered little at the moment.
But Dylan had been accused of a horrible crime. Where was he? What was stopping her son from contacting his mother, the woman who’d nurtured and loved him?
Silvia returned her attention to the dental patient and bade him good-bye. She had nearly twenty minutes until her next cleaning. Warren knew Dylan, and he didn’t need to be at his store until 9:30. He’d pray with her, help her cope with the unknown. Sometimes he helped her understand the male side of life, totally foreign to her.
Warren answered on the first ring. “Silvia, has Dylan come home?”
“Not yet. I was hoping you might have heard from him.”
“Not a thing. You and I have had our differences about Dylan’s behavior, but I never saw any of this coming.”
Such a dear man. “We can’t expect to agree on everything.”
“Have you contacted Elena?”
“She’s not picking up, and her father doesn’t appreciate my calls. He denies Elena even knows Dylan. Father Gabriel told me to pray, and I have. But I feel so helpless. I want to do something.”
“Do you work all day?”
“Yes.” And that was a good thing since her mind was consumed with the whole nightmare. “I did request Saturday off for Judge Mendez’s funeral. Let’s pray this will be straightened out by then.”
“We can go to the funeral Mass together. I’ll get someone to run the store for the day.” He breathed in deeply, and she closed her eyes to envision his blue eyes and long lashes. “Honey, Dylan is a smart young man. No matter what’s going on with him, he’s resourceful and has a good head on his shoulders.”
She treasured how Warren subtly kept her attention away from the police and FBI. “If he contacts you, will you persuadehim to go to the police? I think it’s the only way to prove his innocence.”
“I’ll do my best. How about dinner tonight? You don’t need to be alone.”
“I should stay home in case Dylan shows up.” What if he was hurt or upset?
“Let me pick up dinner, and we can eat there. If Dylan arrives, I’ll leave.”
How thoughtful. “Then, yes, I’d love to share dinner with you.”
“Be thinking about what you’d like. I’ll search for some ideas, although no one can cook as well as you do,” Warren said. “I’ll text later. Keep praying for good to come of this. Ilove you, and I’m here for you.”
Her heart warmed. “I love you, too.” She ended the call and sank into a chair in the break room. Her phone rang, but the number was unfamiliar. Her pulse sped and she answered.
“Ms. Ortega, this is Agent Leah Riesel.”
Silvia stiffened. “I’m at work.”
