Killer Cupid (The Redemption Series: Book 1) (16 page)

David looked overwhelmed. “I never even remembered the date this year. Not till that moment, and I sat there in the middle of the mess and relived the whole thing. The day before and that day. And I remembered Cat – trying to get her out of there, and all the blood. She was so tiny, and there was so much blood…” His breathing was more difficult, and Eduardo regretted getting him started on the topic.

But David insisted on wheezing through the memory. “Danny was already dead. I knew it. I knew it. I wouldn’t let myself believe it. And she didn’t want to go with me. She kept pointing, kept saying, ‘Jesus. Jesus. Let the little children come to Jesus. Beautiful Jesus.”

Tears rolled down his face, and Eduardo wiped them, afraid David was losing his breath and his mind. David had never confided all those details before. Maybe he never remembered them until now.

He heaved, and Eduardo grabbed him to steady him.

“Why didn’t He show himself to me? Why?”

Eduardo felt his gut twisting as he tried to steady him. “I … I don’t know… David… I don’t know.”

And he realized what must have happened in David’s head when he saw that painting. “But He did show himself to you! In Debbie’s painting. Wow. She painted that campground, and you show up in her hospital room to see it. Wow. That’s no coincidence.”

David’s voice cracked through the congestion in his lungs. “I sat there on that boat, and I said if you’re real, then show yourself to me. Show yourself to me. Show yourself! And then three days later I heard Debbie telling some minister – Cat the Prayer Warrior has a job for her to do.”

“Whoa.” Eduardo gulped.

“I walked into her room and the painting was right there in front of me. Right there. And I knew God was real. Right then I knew God was real.”

“Wow.” This was the craziest story he’d heard with Cat at the center. But he’d sure seen enough over the years to know God was real. And David had to have known too. But he was hard-headed.

He watched David gasp for air. Before he could summon the doctor, David found his voice. “I was going to kill myself after South America. Fuckin’ end it. I was so sick of all the sewers of the world. So sick of all this shit.” He collapsed in a coughing fit.

“David! You can’t even think that.” His gut twisted tighter. “You don’t have to do this job anymore. Not if you don’t want to.”

He took a cotton towel and wiped David’s face. His breathing improved, and tears subsided.

He held David by the shoulders and looked him in the eye. “You gotta remember – those assholes deserved everything they got. You know that.”

“I told myself that. But how do I know? I didn’t know those bodyguards. And maybe they were all rotten. But maybe they had a family that wasn’t.”

“You can’t go there.” Eduardo tossed the cloth into the linen cart. “You can’t.”

“I guess not.”

“And you sat there for two days thinking all this shit?”

“Maybe a day and a half.”

Eduardo laughed.
Yeah, David was still in there.
He slammed back to reality. “Don’t… don’t dwell on it.”

“There was a lot to think about. I’ve wreaked a lot of havoc. A lot of death and destruction. The only good thing I’ve ever done was get Cat out of that plane. And who knows if that was even the right thing to do. She suffered. She suffered so much. But she’s made a difference in the world. So I think it was a good thing.”

Eduardo watched his eyes closing and gripped him by the shoulders before he could drift off. “David, listen to me. You’re making a difference – whether you know it or not. You’re here for a reason.”

Debbie

It was a few days later, and David was much improved. I stayed with him every minute I could. When he opened his eyes after his nap, he’d hold my hand and call me Sweetheart, and my heart would flutter every time. His voice was stronger, and the congestion was going away.

He was much less foggy. He noticed Cat’s engagement ring, and was thrilled when she told him she planned to marry Cisco. He told her Cisco loved her forever, and I thought that was so romantic.

But I almost fell off the edge of the bed when my parents came in to meet David.

His eyes widened, like he never would have believed they could be my parents. Mama and I were as tall as Daddy. Both my parents were heavy-set and much older looking than anyone would expect. Daddy’s thinning hair was white. Mama had graying dark hair conservatively pulled back from her face in an up-do. Everyone had always asked if I was adopted because I didn’t look anything like my parents.

“George Aldridge.” Daddy said as he shook David’s hand, and Mama said a tentative “Hello, dear,” from behind Daddy.

David tried to pull himself up in the bed, grimacing in pain. He had limited success. “I’m so pleased to meet you.” He managed to get the words out as he struggled to get up. We automatically reached for him to assist. “I’m okay, I’m okay.” He had to take a deep breath, and then he was silent for a few moments, mustering his energy.

My parents were at a loss for words, which was good because I knew if I held his hand quietly it would help him gather his strength.

“I am so grateful to have Debbie here with me,” he said with a sincerity that astounded me, and Daddy, too, I think. “I want you to know how much I appreciate you taking so much time.” He was beginning to exhaust himself. “Debbie told me you’ve been here for weeks. I can’t tell you how much that means to me.” He was quiet again.

“Yes, Yes.” Daddy looked like he popped out of a trance. “You just need to rest now, and we can talk more later.”

I think Daddy didn’t want to admit he was impressed with David.

***

When Dr. Earle came to examine David I had to leave the room. So I headed down the hall toward the deck to find Cat and Nita. General Pearson appeared with Jimmy, and I stopped them.

After the General’s brief chit chat, I told him the doctors agreed with me that David could use a sunny, cheerier room. They had the whole third floor to choose from. There must be an empty room that would fit the bill. The General looked surprised at my boldness. “You’ve got to understand General Pearson, David will feel much better, much faster, if he has a nice sunny room, painted in a healing color.”

“A healing color?” Pearson clearly didn’t want to understand. “Debbie, that sounds wonderful. If and when we repaint the hospital we’ll consider some more healing colors. Thank you for alerting me. In the meantime, maybe you could hang some of your paintings on the wall? I know David really liked that snow scene.”

“I’ll get it Sir,” Jimmy volunteered. And with Pearson’s nod he turned on his heal and disappeared down the hall.

Pearson tried to get by me.

“Well, what about a sunny room?”

He stopped. “I’ll look into it, Debbie. Thank you. Jimmy will get that painting to David’s room ASAP.” He left down the hall, and I went to the deck.

Mama was alone out there and summoned me before I could leave. I sat down and accepted some iced tea. I noticed Glori was on the cover of her magazine. Then I asked her about getting some of my paintings from home.

“Marion, this is incredible, you won’t believe this!” Daddy raced out to our table and barely noticed I was there.

“What is it George?”

“I tell you who Debbie should be marrying – that kid, Cisco. He’s a genius. He just doubled my money in two days!” Daddy was smiling ear to ear.

And I was thinking Cisco was even older than David. So much for this big age barrier. Plus I loved David and Cisco loved Cat.

“What?” Mama sounded confused.

“That’s right, Marion. He does currency trading. I gave him a little money to see what he could do with it – doubled in two days!”

“Really? Well, do you think he can do that all the time, dear?”

“I suppose that’s a little unrealistic, but this sure was a sweet deal.”

“Well George, I’m happy about that, dear. I think these people are really very nice. And even though they’re Europeans, they do seem well-to-do. Camellia told me her son Cisco has advanced degrees in math and economics. And they all went to that prestigious British university, you know. Did you hear back from Douggy? I’m sure he can help their boy Paulo. That would be nice.”

“I suppose we can at least return the favor by helping out the younger brother. And he seems to be quite talented. I’ve enjoyed listening to his guitar music. Anyway I do need to call Douggy back and make sure he listened to the CD we sent him.” Daddy rubbed his chin.

“Yes dear, that would be nice.” Mama smiled at their thoughtfulness. “Also, George, we need to speak with General Pearson. Debbie wants her paintings sent from home.”

“What
—
are we moving in here Marion?” Daddy was raising his voice.

“George, it’s a good sign she’s taking an interest in her art again. And I think we need to make things as normal as possible, under the circumstances.”

“Normal? I can’t imagine anything is ever going to be
normal
again!”

Glori

It was a Sunday afternoon when Alain came by with Raphael. Dottie and Bud had invited them to join us all for one of his barbeque extravaganzas. Cindy took Raphael by the hand and dragged him around the house and grounds to meet every last one of her family. By the time they arrived on the terrace, you’d think he’d be overcome with too many relatives. But the guy looked positively enthused and energized by all the chaos of kids and family. Go figure.

Alain and I had found a quiet spot in the calm before the party storm. I kept him entertained with all my latest success stories as a model looking for work as an actress. I had a few irons in the fire. There were just a couple of comments from the peanut gallery. Cin’s brother, Doug, had found the relative quiet of the terrace, and mostly ignored us listening to his music and playing with his phone. Cin introduced him to Raphael, as his cousin’s CD played.

Bud showed up wiping his hands on a towel.

“Dad, I’m really glad you reminded me about George’s CD.” Doug barely looked up from the phone.

“Oh good. I take it you found it?”

“Yeah it fell under the car seat, got buried under a bunch of junk mail and fast food wrappers. But I’ve got it on, and it’s unbelievable!”

Bud shook his head. “Is that good or bad?” He didn’t look too sure.

“It’s good!”

Bud listened closer. “Sounds great to me. Not the elevator music you told me to expect.” He gave a thumb’s up to Raphael.

“Who is the guy anyway? How’d George meet him?” Doug stared at his phone.

Cindy gave me a look, as her Dad shook his head, pointing to Raphael.

Bud raised his voice. “He’s at that military hospital with the Aldridges. George just called me for the second time this morning to tell me about some great new investment guy. The first time, of course, he wanted to find out if you listened to that tape. Or CD, or whatever it is.”

“Yeah.” Doug paid no attention to his Dad’s motioning. “So anyway Dad, how do I get hold of this guy Paulo Clemente?”

Eduardo

General Pearson and Colonel Johnson seemed reasonably pleased with the progress of the investigation and David’s recovery. Eduardo had told them a modified version of David’s story. Knowing his history of post traumatic stress, Pearson didn’t question David’s flashback episodes. Eduardo thought it best to delete his mention of suicide and second thoughts over his job. And there was no need to discuss Cat’s superpowers or debate the reality of God. Nothing good could come of that.

Although the pulmonologist was concerned, he told the family David seemed to be avoiding a syndrome they called ARDS. He had needed a special mask that blew oxygen into him, but they felt he could make a full recovery. Nita had a big sigh of relief. She never let on to the family that “Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome” was her major worry until David had turned the corner.

With this revelation, General Pearson decided to summon Eduardo, Jimmy and Alain to the room for a brief meeting.  He leaned over David. “Do you know a Kendra Cole, also known as KC to her friends?”

David responded almost immediately. “She was a friend of Everett’s daughter, and I saw them out partying together. Other than that, I didn’t know her.”

“Hmm. Looks like someone’s trying to frame you for her murder. Her body was found in the water at the marina, right near your boat. She’d been shot, and cause of death was drowning.” Pearson shook his head. “Apparently she was also a friend of Glori Coulson, and Cindy Bainbridge. Dusseault delivered the news to them. Not a good scene. Any ideas who might want her dead?”

“No, Sir.”

“According to Glori, she dated Dr. Payne a couple of times and dumped him. He also has a boat at that marina.”

“Payne’s not your guy. He wouldn’t do that. He just liked the money and got in over his head.”

“We still haven’t caught up with Santoro yet. You think he’s involved?”

“It’s possible. And if he didn’t do it, he probably knows who did.”