A Flower for Angela (20 page)

His reassurance eased some of her anxiety. They talked for a few more minutes about nothing in particular. Angela had the feeling he didn't want the conversation to end any more than she did. The knowledge heartened her.

"DID YOU FIND OUT anything about those two teachers?" Ricardo looked up from his notes as Ken came into his cubicle. In frustration, he rubbed his fingers against his temples. He was tired. He'd investigated the story in Nogales in record time and then driven back Wednesday night. Two late nights in a row, the long drive and concern for Angela were taking their toll.

"Maria helped me out. We didn't find much." Ken tossed a single sheet of paper onto his desk. "These women aren't too active."

"Another dead end." Ricardo rocked his chair back on two legs in disgust.

"What did you discover at the university?"

“Plenty.” Ricardo snorted as he brought his chair down with a bang. "But none of it pertains to Angela. We ought to do a story someday about the political intrigue that goes on over there."

Ken laughed. "And spoil everyone's belief in the purity of the ivory halls of wisdom?"

"Yeah.” Ricardo grinned, loving the idea. Intrigue was his kind of story. But not now. A frown replaced his grin.

"You look tired,” Ken remarked. "Why don't you ease up a bit and get some rest? You've been working all day—and that’s after pulling the long drive last night."

"I know." Ricardo rubbed the stubble on his chin. A soak in the Jacuzzi sounded good, but Angela's situation took precedence. He had to find out who was out to get her.

Looking at his cameraman, he noticed the lines of fatigue around Ken's eyes. "You look tired yourself." Appreciation welled up inside him for his friend. Ken didn't have to work on the investigation, but he had fallen under Angela's spell, too. He admired and wanted to help the dedicated teacher. Plus, Ricardo had a sneaking suspicion that Ken hadn't minded the extra opportunity to see Maria again.

"Let's go have a beer,” Ricardo suggested on impulse. He shoved back his chair as he rose and picked up Ken’s report to take with them.

"You buying?"

"You bet." Ricardo slapped Ken on the back.

As they headed out the door and down the block to a nearby bar, Ricardo eyed Ken. They had been through it all together, climbing through the ranks of television news, exposing more corruption with each investigative story.

They had met in Los Angeles, but when Ricardo had accepted the offer to report for Channel Four in Phoenix, he'd demanded that Ken be hired, too. To his knowledge, the station had never regretted the decision. Both men had won awards over the course of their careers.

In fact, it was their growing popularity that had prompted Ricardo's editor to recommend that Ricardo
not
run again for the school board. His name was becoming too big and his stories too controversial for him to remain in public office. Ricardo wanted to serve the community but had to make a choice about his course of action. Ken understood Ricardo's frustration surrounding that decision.

After seating themselves in their usual booth, Ken again demonstrated his astute understanding of his friend. "There're some rumblings at the station about your personal involvement in this case,” he commented after taking a large swig of beer.

"I know." Ricardo sipped on the ice-cold brew. "You know my motto. ‘You Can't Hide the Truth.’"

"Then there definitely is something personal going on between you?" Ken quirked one rusty red eyebrow.

"You might put it that way." Ricardo grinned wryly, knowing there was more to it than that. Unwilling to admit it, even to himself, he changed the subject. "So what did you find out about those two teachers?"

"They were hired the same day as Angela."

"What has that got to do with anything?" Ricardo sipped his beer. Maybe, if he drank enough, he could drown his disappointment. So far, they had found nothing, and this angle didn't look any more promising.

"Maria thinks it has a lot to do with the letter. Did you know the district is considering a R.I.F.?"

"No. Since when?"

"The teachers were notified last Monday, but I asked some questions in the district office. It's been under consideration for six weeks, ever since they got notice from the Department of Education. Evidently, Valley of the Sun isn't in compliance with certain regulations."

Ricardo knew about the noncompliance. He'd warned the board three years ago that the program would be coming up for evaluation. Obviously, they hadn't followed his advice.

"So, how does this affect Angela?"

"Lupe, Cathy and Angela are all close to the cutoff line, seniority-wise. Maybe they think they can bump off some of the competition and insure their own place on the list."

"That's it!" Ricardo slammed his fist on the table. For the first time since this ugly business had started, he felt as if he had a clue. "I knew those letters I received back at the beginning of all this sounded too premeditated to be crank complaints about a teacher."

"What do you mean?" Ken asked, his curiosity aroused.

"Charges about a teacher aren’t usually sent to a board member (or in my case, former board member). They go to the administration." Ricardo jotted down notes as he talked.

"So?"

"Angela's administration supports her; her test scores are high, parents like her; so why did I get the complaints?" Ricardo raked his fingers through his hair as he explained the letters that had spurred him to investigate Angela in the first place. "I thought they were in response to the special we aired. From parents. But they could have been a setup. This last letter to the board about our ‘affair’ was also designed to get her fired."

Ken finished his beer. "What are you going to do about it?"

"Nothing… yet. I'll check on a couple of other possibilities just to make sure, and then Angela and I will confront Cathy and Lupe."

Ricardo stood and tossed some bills on the table. Now that he finally had direction, he was impatient to get moving.

"Whoever is threatening Angela,” Ken strode with Ricardo to the door, “I feel sorry for them. You aren't a man to cross."

"Don't waste your sympathy." Ricardo’s brow lowered menacingly. No one would hurt Angela. He'd see to that.

"YOU'RE CERTAIN NO ONE on your staff has anything to gain by discrediting me?" Angela cast a hopeful glance at Dr. Wheeler as she sat on the other bed in their shared hotel room, her feet stretched out in front of her.

"There're plenty of professors who would gain from the abandonment of the whole language program, but I don't see how hurting you will do them any good. Attacking me or one of the others from the university is more their style."

"But my program proves your theories."

"Which is why you need to be at your best for the presentation today. Forget the letter and pull yourself together."

"It's no use, I can't concentrate."

"Our presentation is in two hours." Exasperation etched Dr. Wheeler's voice as she continued to try to encourage Angela. "I want you to verify in your own words the results you've seen. Use the samples of the children's work you brought."

"I know what to say,” Angela sighed. She didn't want to let the professors down. "I just can't get charged up for our presentation when I'm so worried about Ricardo’s and my job."

"He's more than capable of taking care of himself."

“But the damage to his reputation if that report goes out—”

"
His
reputation? What about
yours
?" Dr. Wheeler finally lost patience and tossed her papers aside. "You're the one under attack here."

"Because of me, Ricardo—and even the entire district—could be harmed."

"Nonsense. A scandal would only up his ratings. Besides, what if this has nothing to do with you at all? What if you're being used to get to Ricardo?"

Angela's eyes widened as the doctor’s statement sunk in. Of course. Why hadn't she thought of it sooner? Someone wanted to attack Ricardo. In his line of work, he'd no doubt made plenty of enemies. Now she understood why his editor had recommended that he not run for the board a second term. Ricardo was becoming too newsworthy.

"I must get in touch with him and warn him." She jumped up and began gathering papers, forgetting about her own situation, now that she thought Ricardo might be in trouble.

"Be sensible." Dr. Wheeler grabbed Angela's hands to still her. "You're getting too emotional and losing your perspective."

Angela fought back her tears and blurted, “But I love him.”

"I know,” Dr. Wheeler sighed. "And you're letting that endanger your career, not to mention you’re on the verge of leaving us high and dry when we need you most for this presentation. Until all this blows over, you're better off staying away from the man. That way, no one can use you to get at him. Nor can they harm you."

Angela's heart sank. Not see Ricardo? What about their weekend together? However, Dr. Wheeler had a point. If she continued this relationship, she and Ricardo would both lose.

"You're right. The best thing I can do is stop seeing him until this is settled."

"And the conference? Are you still with us?"

Angela nodded.

"You rest for an hour,” Dr. Wheeler ordered. "Think about what's at stake here. We're talking about revolutionizing the education system. We need your testimony. Remember your priorities."

Angela groaned as Dr. Wheeler left the room. She owed the professors so much. Too much to let them down.

As she lay there, she ran through the previous day's presentations. The educators who had attended their workshops had been impressed and eager for more information. The whole language staff had a huge chore ahead of them to publicize and implement their holistic approach. At least the work would help her to forget Ricardo.

Their weekend had to be called off. Resolute, she phoned Ken. "Will you be in touch with Ricardo this morning?"

"Sure. He just stepped out to run an errand before he heads for Tucson."

What was Ricardo doing in Phoenix already? Maybe he'd learned something.

"Tell him not to come down. We have to cancel the weekend." With a streak of uncharacteristic cowardice she added, "Tell him not to call me, either. We're through, Ken."

"Angela…"

"Please, Ken. It's what’s best for both of us. Will you tell him?"

"All right. But he's not going to like it. He'll be calling to hear it himself."

"Just tell him,” she reiterated before she hung up the phone.

So much for being a martyr. She felt awful. He probably would call, too. Maybe she should go to Nogales and spend the weekend shopping in the Mexican border town. The thought failed to lift her spirits, but, somehow, she'd better get a grip—she had to finish the presentations.

How she managed to present that morning, Angela never knew. Showing off her students' work inspired her, as did the enthusiasm of her listeners. Dr. Wheeler was right. She had to continue to fight for change in the educational system.

She placed another transparency on the glass over the lens of the overhead projector. "When Carlos entered my class midyear, he was ashamed of his poor English and refused to work." Angela went on to relate how Carlos's attitude and work habits had improved immeasurably during the course of the year. She glanced up at his poem on the screen, her heart swelling with pride at his accomplishments.

Turning to continue to address the crowd, Angela surveyed the packed conference room. Her throat tightened.
Ricardo
. He was here.

With effort, she concluded her speech, which received a loud round of applause.

While gathering her papers, she saw Ricardo’s approach out of the corner of her eye. She physically forced herself to stand still and not throw herself into his arms.

"Are you finished here?"

"That was my last presentation."

"Good. You're coming with me."

CHAPTER 13

ANGELA JUST LOOKED at Ricardo in silence. He'd never ordered her around like this before. He appeared edgy and determined.

"Did Ken get hold of you? I left a…"

"I got the message. Let's go."

Obviously, he intended to ignore the breakup. She had to make him understand that a relationship with her could harm him. She loved him. She must explain how she felt before telling him to leave without her. "Come with me to my room." Her voice quavered with emotion. With shaking fingers, she gathered her belongings before leading him upstairs.

Once they were behind closed doors, she expected the inquisition to begin. But not a word escaped his lips. He just stood, hands in the pleated pockets of his white linen pants.

He scanned the interior. Thank goodness she had packed everything away. It left the room neutral, with no personal signs of her exposed.

"I want to explain,” she began, approaching him with hesitant steps.