Page 65 of Fatal Strike
“I’m on Dylan’s side. Always have been. Silvia and Rachel are fine women who love God. Silvia believes in Dylan, loves him unconditionally. I do too. He’s the son I never had. With Rachel ... she built a life without him, but experience is a wonderful teacher. Rachel serves the community, often guiding women to counseling and contributing to charities that help single mothers and their children.” She rose to her feet. “I’m finished. I hope my information helps.”
Adoption came full circle when Leah considered her parents, Terri, and now Silvia. She saw the struggles from all three scenarios. Why had these adoptions rolled into her life now? Dad used to say people grew to become productive members of society when they made mistakes, recovered, and moved forward.
Leah watched the Serranos walk away. She pulled up the Mendezes’ phone records and turned to Jon. “We need to talk to Rachel.”
“Now,” he said, his tone flat in a way Leah had come to recognize as no more games. “You stand a better chance of making headway.”
Rachel stood with her mother and children talking to Ross Kempler. Jon and Leah approached her.
“Can we talk privately?” Leah said.
Rachel’s cheeks were stained with tears. “Tonight?”
“Yes, please.” Leah gestured to the front pew.
Rachel made arrangements for her mother to take the children to the nursery area. She joined Leah and Jon at the front of the church. She dabbed at her eyes. “I’m sorry. This isincredibly difficult for me. Did you encounter any suspicious people tonight?”
“We learned new information that impacts the case.”
“What kind of information?”
“Dylan Ortega’s relationship to you.” Leah offered compassion in her words.
“I see,” Rachel said. “Lucinda must have told you. I suspected as much when I saw you talking to her. For the record, my husband knew the truth.”
“Was he told before your marriage?”
“No. We had a discussion Sunday afternoon.”
Why had Rachel waited so long? “How did he take the news?”
“Surprisingly well. He wanted to bring Dylan into our lives. We invited him to our house that evening and told him we were interested in being part of his life. Neither Nicolás nor I wanted to exclude Silvia. She was his mother.”
“How did Dylan respond?”
“He wanted time to think about it and discuss things with Silvia. He’d never hurt her. She has his heart, gave him what he needed when I was too selfish.”
“Then you talked to Dylan at 8:05 on Monday night.”
“I was checking on him after Sunday’s discussion, to find out if he’d made any decisions.”
“Rachel, did Dylan in any way indicate he was angry with you or the judge? Would he have retaliated against your family for hurting him?”
“I can’t imagine Dylan betraying our family in that way. My husband wouldn’t have initiated a relationship with Dylan if he believed my son was a criminal.” Rachel paused. “Neither my husband nor I would be foolish enough to risk our children’s lives.”
“I know Dylan is your son. I’ve seen your grief, and I understand you’re confused and shaken about him and the tragedies this week. But if you know where he is, we need that information.”
Rachel broke into a sob. “I wish I could help you, but I can’t.”
44
ALONE WITH FATHER GABRIELin the huge sanctuary, the atmosphere felt spooky, as though the three of them were sharing the space with a paranormal being. Leah stifled the urge to shudder.
“The prayer service would have pleased the judge.” Father Gabriel broke the spell and glanced at Jon. “Is there something you needed? I have preparations to make for tomorrow’s funeral Mass and that list of names to finish compiling for you.”
“We’ll keep this brief,” Jon said. He got straight to the heart of the matter. “Mrs. Serrano shared a bit of history with us tonight.”
Father Gabriel gazed up at the statue of the suffering Jesus. “What kind of history?”
