Page 66 of Fatal Strike
“Before Rachel left tonight, she confirmed Silvia Ortega’s adoption of Dylan.”
“His adoption has nothing to do with his alleged involvement with the judge’s murder.”
Jon frowned. “He was seen carrying the body of a man who’s married to his biological mother!”
“Look,” Father Gabriel said, “neither Rachel nor Silvia asked me to keep the adoption secret. I believe they assumed I would, but I kept the matter confidential for Dylan’s sake.”
Leah recalled his words at their first meeting.“Dylan needs someone to champion him.”
“What concerns me are a few important issues. Did he despise the judge because he was a father to Dylan’s half brother and sister? Did he loathe Rachel and want to destroy what she loved? Either of those scenarios implicate him in murder.”
“Agent Colbert, I’m finished discussing Dylan Ortega tonight.”
“Are you covering for him?”
“No. Emphatically. My desire is for all to come to love Jesus Christ. No sacrifice is too great. None.”
Leah could practically feel the heat of Jon’s simmering anger. She wasn’t going to rescue him. If he lost his temper with the priest, she’d stand by and listen.
“Are you sure? When you’re saying tonight’s prayers, ask God if you’re obeying His commands or nursing your pride.”
Jon drove toward Houston with Leah while his mind focused on a stubborn priest. Trying to get information out of Father Gabriel was like stumbling through a cornfield blindfolded. Once the funeral was over in the morning, he’d talk to the priest again and attempt to be civil. God might have shaken Father Gabriel into cooperating with law enforcement.
Calm down.
A statement from Hanson rolled through Jon’s mind.“Let God have His way with us. Choose to surrender.”
Father Gabriel said he was willing to sacrifice everything to bring others to Jesus Christ. Jon appreciated the priest’s commitment and passion, but not his foolhardiness. The priest shoved caution aside, putting his life in danger so others might find faith. But Jon saw the similarities in his own life in how he felt about keeping people safe from crime. As strange as it sounded, watching Father Gabriel respond to the turmoil around him was inching Jon closer to allowing God to rule his life—the sovereignty thing, as Hanson called it. Jon wanted a God who knew everything—the good, the bad, the ugly ... and all the secret stuff in between.
“Are you okay?” Leah said.
“Will be. Analyzing Father Gabriel’s beliefs with my own. Respecting his faith in God is not the same as agreeing with him.”
“Do you think a lot about God?”
He thought more about Hanson and why his friend believed right up to his last breath. “I want to find out where I fit in the universe.”
“I grew up with morals, not about God but about the value of contributing positively to society. My grandmother took me to the Brooklyn Tabernacle, a church in New York, a few times, but it never really took for me. When I think about Silvia’s faith and what Father Gabriel hasn’t told us, I have to wonder if these people just like to think they’re good.”
“People aren’t perfect. Just because they have faith doesn’t mean they don’t make mistakes.” He shrugged. “But since I’m not sure about the God thing either, I’m only quoting an old friend.”
“Let’s talk again when we’re finished with this case. I sound like I’m putting you off, but honestly Rachel has me analyzing everything she’s said. Do you suppose something happened between the judge and his wife after she revealed this information?”
“That would definitely be a motive if Judge Mendez refused to allow him to be a part of his own children’s lives. Was Rachel forced to choose between her son and her husband, and Dylan just cleaned up his mother’s mess?” He considered the complexity of the relationships involved. “What about Silvia Ortega? She never indicated friendship with Rachel Mendez. Would she be angry enough to retaliate against the judge for violating the adoption agreement?”
“Find Dylan and we can fill in the blanks.”
In the darkness, he shook his head. “You make this sound easy.”
“I’m doing the encourage-my-partner thing. We keep bumping against those who offer half-truths, those who value their feelings and priorities above solving three murder cases.”
Jon needed a break to clear his head. “Want to stop for dinner? I’m hungry.”
“If it’s quick. I’m exhausted with no resolution in sight.”
“What will it be? Burger and fries? Pizza?”
“Not pizza unless it’s authentic New York style. I’m terribly picky about hometown foods. But a grilled cheese from Sonic with tater tots is pure comfort food.”
