Bad Habit (7 page)

When she was buckled in, he started
the car and headed away from the convent and school. He checked his
rear view mirror, alert for a possible tail, and made a wide arc
that brought him back to the Alamo Motor Lodge. He invited her
inside and noted the maid had made up the king-size bed.

“
What are we doing here?” she
asked.

He tossed the blue bag on the bed
and switched on the television. “We’re chilling out. You can change
to your jeans if you want to be more comfortable.” A plan was
forming in his brain. The trace of a smile crossed his
lips.

Teri took the jeans and knit shirt
out of the bag and changed in the bathroom. When she emerged she
found he’d brought her a cold drink from the soda machine. “Thanks,
Angel.”

He always smiled when she said his name.

“
Now what?”

He popped the top on her soda and
handed it to her. “Sit down. I need some answers.” Angel watched a
series of emotions play across her face. “Don’t be afraid of me,
Teri. The whole reason I’m here is for you.”

She sat down on one of the chairs,
averting her eyes. “Why do I feel so scared of you?”

“
You’re the witness. I’m the cop.
What we’re both feeling has nothing to do with those
roles.”

She met his gaze briefly and then
looked away. “Yeah, I think you’re right. Somehow, being alone with
you in a motel room doesn’t make me feel any safer.”

“
My job is to protect you. We’d be
at the airport right now except, I think the men who killed your
boyfriend are here in San Antonio looking for you.”

She looked up sharply. “Here?”

He nodded. “I don’t intend to
endanger you, but I would like to hang around long enough to
identify them.”

“
And you can do it here in San
Antonio?”

“
This isn’t their home turf. It’s
mine. They can’t hide here as easily as they can in New York, and
we know where they’ll be looking for you.”

“
The convent.” She looked hopeful
for the first time.

He flashed a grin. “That’s where I
found you. Tell me who I’m looking for. Give me descriptions and
any details you can remember.”

He took notes while she described
the two men and retold the story of her grisly
discovery.

“
Now what?” she asked.

“
You’re going to relax and I’m
going to see who else has the convent and the nun’s apartment under
surveillance.”

“
You’re leaving me by
myself?”

“
It would be more dangerous to have
you with me.” He softened when he saw her expression. “Alright, you
can come along but you have to do exactly what I say.”

Angel bought their lunch from a
nearby taco stand, filling the vehicle with a tantalizing aroma. He
parked under a spill of dense shade from old oak trees that folded
the sidewalk into accordion pleats with their expanding
roots.

They ate in the car, sharing
packets of salsa and napkins.

Angel watched her lick the salsa
off her fingers before wiping them on a napkin. He wondered how he
could have thought her distant and untouchable. Touching her was
what he wanted to do most of all.

Angel took a deep breath and
returned his attention to the cars lining the street outside the
church, school and convent. He had parked strategically where he
could observe both sides of the street between the nun’s apartment
and the church.

“
What is it we’re looking for?” Teri
asked.

“
I’m trying to figure out how far
they are behind us. First there was the private investigator and I
don’t know who hired him. I’m hoping I scared him off and it may
take a little while for his replacement to arrive. I don’t notice
anything out of the ordinary. None of the vehicles are occupied and
I don’t see anyone lurking in the shadows.”

“
If so, they probably fainted in the
heat,” she said. It’s almost a hundred degrees out
there.”

“
Thankfully, we have A/C.” He put
away his binoculars and slipped the gear into reverse.

“
We’re going?”

“
I think you’re right. It’s too hot
for anyone to be watching for you. We can check back
later.”

“
Where are we going now?”

“
We’re going to stay cool.” He
drove her downtown and parked in a multi-story parking garage. He
took her to a movie matinee and they slouched down in their seats,
sharing a bucket of popcorn.

She leaned close to him and whispered, “Is this what
my tax dollars are paying for?”

Angel shot her a look and tried to
brush off the tingling sensation instigated by her breath against
his neck. The surge of desire he was experiencing had nothing to do
with the case he was working.
Nothing at
all.

When they emerged it was still
daylight and scorching hot. They cooled off the car and drove away
from downtown.

Angel turned onto a narrow road
running through an area darkened with the shade of old trees. The
San Antonio River wound around and the road meandered over it in
several places.

“
What is this place?” she
asked.

“
It’s Brackenridge Park,” he said.
“It’s one of my favorite places in the world.” He turned and gave
her a grin. “I hung out here a lot as a kid. I played baseball and
my family had picnics here. It was the place to celebrate
birthdays. There’s a kiddie park with rides, a miniature train and
the San Antonio Zoo is one of the finest.”

He turned off the road to park on a
section of pea gravel under a spill of dense shade from oaks
bordering the river. Cracking all the windows, he got out and
opened the passenger door.

“
Let’s sit on the bench and enjoy
the afternoon. You can have this to remember San Antonio by when
you’re rushing around New York City.” Angel held his hand out to
her.

Teri took it and, when he led her
to a wooden park bench, sat down looking around
nervously.

“
We weren’t followed,” he said. “I
wouldn’t put you in danger.”

She nodded, relaxing her shoulders.

He wished he could relieve her
burden but she was the witness. He was the cop. Why did he keep
forgetting that?

The sun dappled through the trees
as the silence grew. The muted traffic noise a few blocks away
blended with the sounds of the river running over a fallen tree and
the ducks swimming in a muddy little cove.

“
They’re so industrious,” she said.
“They’re like the nuns. They look a lot alike but they’re each
individuals. Look at the one with the red on his bill.”

“
He must have come from a different
order.” Angel observed her as she slowly lowered her
guard.

“
My sister Bernie has always been my
beacon. She sticks up for me and keeps me on the right
track.”

“
How did she let you get so far off
track this time?”

She looked up at him, her face a
picture of misery. “It wasn’t her fault. She wanted to keep me safe
and the convent seemed like the safest place on earth. She was only
thinking of me.”

“
Helping you to masquerade as a
nun? That only delayed the investigation.”

“
Don’t talk about Bernie. My sister
was trying to protect me.”

“
I know. Sorry,” he said. I hope
she doesn’t get in trouble.”

“
She said she wasn’t likely to get
fired over it.”

He cleared his throat. “I was
thinking about the bad guys. I hope they don’t connect her with you
and take any actions against her to try to locate you.”

“
I hadn’t thought of that.” Teri
stared off into the distance. “I don’t want Bernie to get
hurt.”

Angel placed his hand on her
shoulder. “Let’s not borrow trouble.”

#

CHAPTER SEVEN

Angel drove her back to the Alamo
Motor Lodge as the sun was setting. Teri had to admit that he had
been charming and she had been able to relax a little. He made her
feel safe.

Suddenly shy, she ducked her chin.
“Am I going to sleep here tonight?”

“
Don’t worry, Teri,” he said. “I’m
not one for making unwanted advances.” He got out and unlocked the
door.

Teri sat in the car for a moment before joining him.
When she entered the room he was taking off his jacket and slipping
the knot on his tie.

“
You need to go shopping for some
warm weather clothes,” she said. “Only a few stodgy old lawyers in
air conditioned offices wear suits and ties in San Antonio in the
summertime.

“
Duly noted.”

They sat on opposite sides of the
king-sized bed and watched television until the news came
on.

“
I’ll let you take the first
shower,” he said.

Without a word she took the
carry-on bag with her and went into the bathroom. She locked the
door behind her, imagining Angel grinning on the other
side.

Teri turned on the shower and
watched as the mirror immediately fogged up. She dropped her
clothes and stepped into the warm water. Leaning her head against
the glossy white tile, she allowed the water to flow over her. The
pressure was high and the water felt like needles on her
shoulders.

She lathered her hair with shampoo
and massaged her scalp before stepping back into the stream.
Unwrapping the small bar of soap provided by the motel, she washed
her body with the rough white washcloth.

All the time she bathed, she
thought about the mess she’d made of things. If she’d gone straight
to the police in New York she might have avoided the ensuing
problems. Perhaps the police could have protected her and she might
have been able to identify the man who killed Colin. She wouldn’t
have brought Bernie into it and her sister would be safe. Most of
all, she wouldn’t be here in San Antonio, in a motel room with the
disturbing Detective Angel Garcia.

Or, it was possible that her first
instincts were right and that she’d be dead if she’d stayed in New
York City. The police might not have believed her if she’d told
them there was a cop involved in Colin’s death. She hadn’t seen his
face, only his badge and the scar on his hand. She had the
impression that he was tall, but it could have been in comparison
to the other man who was so short and stocky. But she would
remember his raspy voice as long as she lived.

Teri dried off and wrapped a towel around her head.
She dabbed moisture lotion on her face and body and used the hair
dryer attached to the bathroom wall. When she stepped out she was
wearing her cotton nightgown and terry cloth robe with the belt
tied firmly around her waist.

#

Angel had turned off the television
and was scanning through a batch of papers. He glanced up when she
entered the room and felt his jaw fall as he lost whatever
composure he may have had. Staring, he was uncomfortably aware of
what was under the white cotton gown and robe.

He hoped it was armor.

“
What’s the matter?” she
asked.

“
Nothing at all.” He managed to drop
some of his papers and used the act of retrieving them to recover.
“You take the bed.” He shuffled the papers and stuffed them back
into his briefcase. “I’ll sleep here.”

“
In the chair?”

“
There are two of them. I’ll push
them together.”

“
If you’re sure you can sleep like
that.” Teri looked at him doubtfully. “There’s plenty of hot water
and I didn’t use all the towels.”

“
Okay. Right.” He edged his way
toward the bathroom. “I’ll just be a few minutes.”

“
Take your time,” she
said.

Angel did take his time, letting
the steamy water clear his head. He gave himself a pep-talk about
the proper procedure for guarding a witness in a homicide
investigation.

By the time he emerged he had
resumed his professionally detached demeanor. The lamp on the desk
was the only illumination in the room and Teri was curled up under
the covers with her eyes closed.

He smiled when he noticed that she
had pushed the two armchairs together and arranged a pillow and
blanket for him. He turned to her and she opened her
eyes.

“
Thanks,” he said. “That was very
thoughtful.”

“
No problem. I’ve been enough
trouble for you.”

He had never had a conversation with a woman in bed
when he hadn’t been beside her. “Well, goodnight.”

“
Goodnight.” Teri closed her
eyes.

Angel climbed into the makeshift bed and tried to
find a comfortable way to sleep. After writhing around for a while
he fell into a half-sleep, still aware of his surroundings but too
exhausted to stay awake. He turned over and the chairs slid apart,
dumping him on the floor with a loud thud.

“
Oh, for heavens sake!” Teri sat up
and turned on the light. “Just come on and get in the
bed.”

He stood up and looked at her, still in a fog.

“
Come on,” she instructed, pulling
the covers down on the side of the bed closest to him. “Bring your
pillow and go to sleep.”