Coaster (12 page)

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Detective La Rosa sat in her car in the parking lot in the back of the station. She was worn out. She had cried last night for Lindy. She cried because this all took its toll on her and she had to release it somehow. When Roger Merit had asked her what was wrong, she'd lost it. His simple words and the caring in his voice had undone her and she'd started crying. This morning after talking to Lindy's dad she could hear he was shell shocked. The service was going to be this weekend and she told him she'd be there. This world sucked sometimes. She took a deep breath and got out of the car. Time to do her job.

"Hey, you okay?" K
incaid was sitting at his desk.

"Yeah, I'm fine. We get anything more?"
La Rosa sat down and began looking at her messages.

"Well, I gave that list to the Feds. They already had their own. But that head guy, what's his name, Gordon? He wants to talk to you."

"Okay. I'll give him a call. I want to get through the rest of that list today." La Rosa headed to the room they had taken over with their investigation and sat down. She began scanning the names and that's where she stayed till lunch.

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The forums were helping. He felt better when he vented and complained along with everyone else. The man could spew his hatred at big business and this government, even managing to slip in the corporation's name here and there. When he was feeling extremely bold he would drop a mention of the bombing into his writing. There were plenty of people who agreed with him. It helped the stress and gave him something to do. He made a chart for the sites he liked and the fake name he used on each site. He was being clever. He used different email accounts and names for every site he was on. Clever should be his middle name.

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Chapter Fifteen

Roger sat in the waiting room. It was one of those places that was appropriately and truthfully named. It seemed waiting for Fernando Diaz was part of his legal package. Still Roger felt this guy was going to help him. He heard the door open and light streamed into the room. Fernando strode forward with a briefcase in his hand.

"Hi, Roger."
Fernando was looking around the office.

"Fernando."

"They call you in yet?"

"No, I told them I was waiting for you."

Fernando looked at the secretary and nodded
at Roger. He set his briefcase down and headed to her desk. "Hello..." He looked at the plaque on her desk. "...Michelle. I'm Fernando Diaz and I'm here as counsel for Roger Merit. You can tell them that we're here."

"Have a seat, Mr. Diaz." Her tone was icy.

Fernando took this as a challenge. Having the secretary on his side was imperative because they knew everything. They were the gatekeepers. He had made cases based on what assistants had told him.

"Michelle, darling." He smiled. "Would you tell me where I can get some water? I have asthma and sometimes it flares up and I don't want to be rude and just sta
rt choking in your boss's face."

Michelle's face softened a bit
, but her tone was still cool. "Certainly. My niece has asthma. Would you prefer tea?"

Fernando's face never changed but inside he was grinning from ear to ear. "Oh, my gosh. Is she handling it okay?"

"Yes, she's on medicine." Michelle's iciness seemed to be thawing. "Do you have medicine?"

"I do. But it
doesn't always work. Thank you. You are so kind."

Michelle
smiled at him then got up from her desk and headed down the hall. Fernando turned and grinned at Roger.

"Are you okay?" Roger asked.

Fernando sat down and looked at Roger. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Roger looked down the hall where Michelle had gone.

"Oh that? Good to get the assistant on our side. If she thinks I have a weakness, well then I'm not just the bottom-sucking-lawyer. I'm a person with asthma. The fact that her niece has it too...just a bonus point."

Roger looked at him. It was
tacky, but he had to admit it was smart.

Michelle returned with tea handing it carefully to Fernando. Then she went back to her desk to answer the phone. "Mr. Diaz, you can go in now."

             
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Clara was tired. It had been a long day and she was now standing on the curb in front of her daughter's house. It was a pretty house on a street filled with pretty houses. The mountains in the distance were lit up as the sun set. She picked up her small bag and headed to the side entrance. The key was hidden in the same place Clara hid her house key at home. She opened the door and walked into the kitchen. The scent of Rachel hit her full force and she felt the tears immediately.

"Rachel." She spoke quietly.

Clara moved through the house. She walked through every room noticing the kids' stuff on the floor and the hectic mess that is left when a family leaves on vacation.

This heartbroken mother
went slowly up the stairs to the bedrooms. In each room she sat on the bed and looked around. Clara picked up things on the kids' desks and ran her fingers over their clothes in the closet. She left Rachel and Mitch's bedroom for last.

Finally
, she moved into the room smelling Rachel's perfume lingering. Clara looked at the red comforter and matching paint and remembered the discussions she and Rachel had about being bold enough to use red in the bedroom. Clara went into Rachel and Mitch's closet. She saw Rachel's clothes and had flashes of Rachel wearing them. She fell on her knees and sobbed. "I miss you honey, so much."

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Joseph was exhausted. It had been a horrific day made even worse by having to not only deal with it alone, but answer a thousand times where Clara was. He was livid with her for leaving him to deal with all of this by himself.

The service had been beautiful. Mitch's parents and sister had been very cordial. He hadn't been able to drink anything because everyone had been talking to him non-stop. Now everyone was gone and
he sat down with a bottle and a glass. No more hiding since she wasn't here. He took a sandwich off the platter and took a bite. He poured a full glass of whiskey and took a long sip. The liquid burned and he coughed. He finished that glass and poured another.

The phone rang and he cursed. "That better be her."

Another woman's voice filled the line. "Joseph, it's Lydia down the street. Is Clara feeling better?"

Damn, it wasn't her. Joseph set the phone on the cradle never saying a word.

             
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Diana's eyes were swollen from all the tears she'd cried today. The service had been beautiful. The cathedral had been filled. The rector had done a lovely job with the eulogies. The luncheon afterwards had just the right amount of food while the calm buzz of people had kept Diana busy all day.

The pictu
res of Anne and Christopher that had graced the altar, now were sitting in her bedroom. They were much bigger in her room than they had been at the cathedral. She sat on the couch at the end of her bed and looked at her beautiful children. Anne had that smile that decried mischief. Christopher's eyes were solid and warm. Diana just stared at them both. It seemed they stared back.

"Anne. Christopher. I'm so sorry I was such a bad mother." Diana's words caught in her throat. "I'm sorry I wasn't
here for you more. Be happy, wherever you are." She stopped as a cold breeze blew past her. At the same moment she felt Anne there. It was odd, but she could even smell her. Diana took a deep breath and smiled.

"I'
m going to be better. I promise you both. I'll see the world. Do things, like you always wanted. No more pampered pooch, Anne." 

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James sat at his desk. He had been sitting there for a good hour and hadn't moved. He had drunk four glasses of brandy and was thoroughly pissed. The service had been hard. He had not lost his composure, but he'd felt the sadness permeate him. Regina wasn't there. He didn't think it was fair to Diana to bring her. If he was honest, he didn't want Regina there. This was for Diana and him. It was their children that died. While he didn't plan on it, he hoped this might help heal their marriage. He was stupid enough to believe that sorrow could bring reconciliation. He took another sip of the brandy, then bent over and threw up into the garbage can.

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La Rosa sat across from Lindy's father. He was bleary-eyed and pale. He pushed the cup of coffee towards her and she softly touched his hand. "Are you doing okay? I mean, I know you can't be doing okay, but are you..." She stopped talking.

He looked at her with eyes lost in dark circles.
"I know what you mean. I'm handling it. At least I think I am. The service is Saturday. Can you come?"

La Rosa nodded.
"Of course. I planned to be there. Is there anything else I can do?"

Lindy's father let out a long breath. "No, my ex-wife and
I handled everything today. It's going to be a short service. It's what Lindy would've wanted. You know, she didn't like a lot of fuss." He began to cry and put his hands over his face. "I'm sorry."

La Rosa went to him and put an arm around his shoulder. He leaned into her and continued crying. She rubbed his shoulder and said, "
No, it's okay. I completely understand. Look, I'm sorry, but I have to get going, I just wanted to stop by and make sure you were..."

"I know. You wanted to make sure I hadn't killed myself
, too. No, I won't do that. I can't."

La Ro
sa heard the subtext. "I'll see you at the service. You have my number, please call if I can help in any way."

"Thanks. J
ust stopping by is really kind of you."

La Rosa stood and quickly walked to the front door. She paused and looked back at Lindy's father sitting there in a stupor. She hoped he made it.

             
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Roger dialed La Rosa's number. It rang and then he heard a click. He hoped it wasn't going to be her voicemail and he felt happy when he heard her voice.

"Detective La Rosa."

"Hi, it's Roger. Merit."

"
Oh, hi."

"Hi.
I was just calling because I wondered if you knew when Lindy's service was going to be. I'd really like to come and pay my respects but I didn't know...."

She cut him off.
"It's Saturday. At Lady of Grace church."

Roger nodded. "Okay
. What time?"

"One."

"I see. Thanks. And Detective La Rosa..."

"Yes?
"

"Thanks for Fernando. We met with corporate today and he was great. He didn't get me off, but he definitely made an impact."

La Rosa smiled. "I've seen that before."

Roger paused.
"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"How did you meet him?"

La Rosa didn't answer
.

Roger filled in the silence.
"I mean, sorry for asking 'cause it's none of my business. But I was wondering how you knew him. Not that you have to tell me if you don't want."

"No, it's okay. I used to date him."

"Ah."

"We just...."

Roger hurried to say, "You don't have to say. Listen, I'll see you Saturday at the service, okay?"

La Rosa tried to ignore the
way her heart leapt a bit. "I'll see you there." She hung up.

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The man turned on his computer and saw a reference to the bombing. The article was about a teenage girl whose friends had been on the ride and she'd killed herself. There was a picture of her smiling and she was so pretty and young. This made him pause for a moment and he felt sadness nudging at him. He shook his head.
No, he couldn't feel anything about that situation. Ever
. He quickly clicked on to another story, but the girl's eyes stayed with him.