MemoriesErasedTreachery (8 page)

"Of course." Ewyn walked Patterson to the door. "Pepperdine is my Alma Mater. I know a few people still on staff. I'll ask around."

"Could help. I'll keep in touch." Patterson nodded and left.

Ewyn closed the door and leaned back against it. His mind a jumble of thoughts, he couldn't take it all in. Could it have been an attempted carjacking? Or maybe Kiera's father had something to do with it. Who was the bastard? Considering he hadn't come forward to acknowledge Kiera or accept responsibility--wait a minute. If he attends school back east, he might not know. More importantly, what made the girls leave school?

Damn. Patterson left him with a lot to think about.

He'd had a moment of disquiet when the man had asked about Cecilia, adding an entirely new aspect to the girls' deaths, which needed serious consideration. Was it possible Cecilia had survived? If so, Patterson might be on to something, because it would be typical of her twisted mind to have her daughters die in the same manner her death had been purported. Hell. Was he giving the woman too much credit?

Then there had been Patterson's question about the beneficiary of Kiera's estate. Surely, the detective didn't think…but she's a baby, someone wouldn't… Goosebumps sidled up Ewyn's arms and he shivered.

Shaking his head, he pulled himself together and pushed away from the door. He went into the living room, gathered up the empty beer bottles along with the used coasters, and took them into the kitchen. While he rinsed the beer bottles and disposed of them, then washed and dried the coasters, his mind remained a jumble of chaotic thoughts.

If Cecilia were alive and involved in the girls' deaths, wouldn't she have come after him first? As far as Cecilia knew, the girls' money came to him if their deaths preceded his own. Besides, how would she expect to collect any money? She killed his mother. Hmm. What if it wasn't about money anymore? The woman was certifiable. Maybe she only wanted revenge. What better way to hurt Gregorio than to destroy the two people he loved most.

Ewyn returned to the living room and replaced the coasters in their case, then stood staring down at the box with Nicole and Carolyn's belongings. Feeling an oppressive sense of loss, he knew he wasn't ready to deal with the anguish of handling their things. He grabbed the box, took it into the bedroom, and put it in his closet. He checked on Kiera before heading to the shower.

Ewyn turned on the water, and once it was hot and steamy, he shucked out of his clothes and stepped into the enclosure. He picked up a washcloth and the body wash, then made no move to use them. Instead, he backed up and dropped down on the seat. He couldn't shake the feeling all of the speculation was just smoke, leading in the wrong direction.

The pivotal issues were the reason for the girls' disappearances for six months, and what someone tried to force the girls to do, which required holding them at gunpoint. Where had they gone and what or who could make Nicole go into hiding? She was like her father. If she had been a boy, she would have been the perfect fit for head of the family business. The answers to all other questions hinged on the response to that one.

Then there was Calabria.

As much as Ewyn hated to agree with Patterson, Calabria probably knew more than he had let on. If the kid had known Nicole since freshman year, and they had been as tight as he had claimed, why did it seem as if he knew so little about her? Was he trying to protect the identity of Kiera's father? Or maybe he just didn't like talking to cops. Patterson's social interactive skills did fall way short of warm and fuzzy. He needed to talk to Calabria.

The cooling water jarred Ewyn to attention. He hurriedly washed up, grabbed a towel and blotted most of the water from his hair, then wrapped the towel around his waist as he exited the shower. Standing at the vanity, he stared at his reflection while he flossed, brushed, and gargled. He felt as puzzled as he looked. After towel drying his hair, he tossed clothes and used towels into the hamper, and left the room. He slipped on his sweat pants and checked on Kiera once more before climbing into bed.

Tomorrow, he'd get hold of Mick and Taggart, run Patterson's information and his own suppositions by them to get their perspectives on everything. Taggart could find out if Calabria's name had any connection to the crime families. Hell. He was a damn Calderone, yet he knew very little about the inner workings of the syndicate or the families involved. He'd told Patterson the mob didn't do family members, especially the women, but he really didn't know, and
he
needed to check.

On Monday, he'd make some calls to Pepperdine. Something wasn't right, and he didn't trust Patterson to follow through, knowing the detective's mind-set regarding the Calderones. Devin and Timothy needed to get involved with the investigation when they returned.

Unable to stop thinking and speculating about the night's conversation, it was quite a while before Ewyn dozed off.

Three and a half weeks after the funeral, a somber atmosphere of hushed anticipation hovered over the vestibule of the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church. Once again, the Calderone family, along with the household staff and a few close friends had gathered at the church. This time, they had come together to witness the rites of Baptism for the newest member of the family. The last to arrive were Mick and Taggart, the proud godparents.

Ewyn stared down at Kiera dressed in a white satin gown with hand-embroidered smocking and matching satin booties. Her mother, her aunt, and her great-grandmother had worn the same gown before her. With her mixed genetic background becoming more obvious every day, tiny corkscrew tendrils of jet-black hair peeked out from beneath the white satin bonnet on her head. Ewyn's heart swelled with love for the beautiful child who remained asleep and unaware of the momentous occasion occurring in her life.

Father Teodore Casale appeared and greeted Gemma, then Ewyn, before motioning for everyone to follow him into the church. Gemma, leaning heavily on Mycelia, the godparents, the staff, and family formed a procession line behind Ewyn and trailed him inside, moving toward the small alcove housing the baptismal fount. Looking around in wonder, Ewyn couldn't remember the last time he'd been inside a church.
Some Catholic he had become.

Gemma, along with the family and staff filed into the pews. With Gemma settled, Mycelia followed Ewyn, Mick, Taggart, and Father Casale into the alcove. She removed a video camera from its bag and began filming the proceedings.

Ewyn eased the cotton batiste blanket from beneath Kiera and handed it to Taggart and then transferred the sleeping child into Taggart's arms. Smiling, he glanced at Gemma and shook his head. It had amazed him at how quickly Gemma had arranged Kiera's baptism, on such short notice, and truthfully, he didn't
even
want to know the details.

Besides bypassing the usual pre-baptism classes required for parents and sponsors, Father Casale had agreed to let Mick and Taggart stand up as the godparents. Until Gemma had started the preparations for the baptism, Ewyn hadn't known Mick and Taggart were Catholic. Father Casale made the sign of the cross, everyone followed suit, and the liturgy began. Everything progressed smoothly until the priest used his finger to place the blessed salt in Kiera's mouth, rubbing it across the inside of her bottom lip.

Startled awake, Kiera's little hands flailed, her legs stiffened, and for a split second, her eyes widened. Then her little brow puckered and her gaze seemed directed at the priest when she burped loudly and a spit bubble shot out of her mouth. Little lips pursed, her face screwed up into a look of disgust before she closed her eyes again. She snuggled into her blanket and the crook of Taggart's arm.

Mick looked at Taggart. The corners of their mouths twitching, both men looked at Ewyn. He quickly averted his eyes, lips compressed to keep from laughing. Shit. Should Kiera be able to do that--at five weeks? It seemed as if she did it intentionally, and directed it toward the priest. That wasn't possible, was it? No, it had to be reflexive. Hell. If it was deliberate, he didn't know if he should be proud of her development skills, or afraid her action was the precursor of inherent personality traits.

Ewyn's efforts to keep from laughing were short-lived when he glanced at Gemma, who sat there, one eyebrow arched, and openly grinning. He coughed to mask his amusement then glanced at the priest who appeared just as stunned, his hand raised in preparation for the Sign of the Cross, frozen in the position of the Father. Then the priest shook his head, chuckled, and continued the baptism.

Father Casale placed his stole over Kiera. Mick and Taggart made the profession of faith on Kiera's behalf. The priest continued to pray as he touched Kiera's ears and nostrils with spittle and moved up to the baptismal fount. There, Father Casale asked Taggart and Mitch to make the triple renunciation of Satan for Kiera while he anointed her chest then moved to anoint her shoulders. Mick and Taggart made the declaration of faith, asking for baptism on Kiera's behalf while Father Casale changed his violet stole for a white one.

The priest administered the threefold ablution, made the sign of the cross three times with the stream of water he poured on Kiera's head. "Kiera Alana Teresa Calderone, I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Father Casale placed a white veil on Kiera's head, espousing the words: "Receive this white garment, which mayest thou carry without stain before the judgment seat of Our Lord Jesus Christ, that thou mayest have eternal life. Amen."

Picking up a lit candle, he placed it in Mick's hand and said, "Receive this burning light, and keep thy baptism so as to be without blame. Observe the commandments of God that, when Our Lord shall come to His nuptials, thou mayest meet Him together with all the Saints and mayest have life everlasting, and live forever and ever. Amen." The entire gathering echoed the word.
Amen
. Father Casale made the Sign of the Cross and said, "Go in peace."

Taggart returned Kiera to Ewyn's arms and whispered, "I hope Myce captured all of Kiera's performance."

"Damn right." Mick chuckled. "No one will believe what our baby-girl did without proof."

Eyebrow arched, Taggart stared down at Ewyn. "Reminded me of another Calderone when he's pissed off."

"Oh yeah. You'd better believe I have
that
part on tape." Mycelia laughed. "Our baby-girl is a Calderone, to the bone. For a moment there, I expected her to roll her eyes, jump down, and stomp away."

Heat strafing his cheeks, Ewyn refused to rise to their bait. Ignoring them, he strode down the aisle, his heart bursting with pride as he stared down at the littlest Calderone snuggled securely in his arms.

* * * *

The phone rang twice. "Were you able to film it?"

"Hid in the choir loft. I have great shots of the doting uncle with the baby."

"Were you able to get close-ups of everyone in attendance?"

"Yeah. There was police surveillance, just as you suspected."

Silence for several seconds, then… "I'll be out of town for a while. Don't call me. I'll touch base with you, if necessary. See what else you can find out, and watch your back."

The connection ended.

* * * *

Police stations. If it hadn't been necessary to check Nicole's personal belongings, wouldn't have gone within a mile of one. What a waste of time. "Damn it!"

Talked to some dumbass receptionist over the phone, and she said any member of the immediate family could retrieve personal effects, with proper identification. All the trouble--driving to San Bernardino, filling out paperwork until my fingers cramped, and waited an hour, only to have some detective show up and retrieve Nicole's stuff.

Bad move. Had to haul ass out of there. Good thing I didn't mention the girls' names, and had the prescience of mind to take the paperwork with me. Okay, the personal belongings are a no-go. Been flying blind, not thinking this through. All right. Pills, deep breaths, not going to panic. Need to back up, let everything settle, and re-evaluate.

I can do this. They are not sending me back to that place.

Chapter 6

Three months later

Damn--two
AM

Devin quietly closed the front door, tossed his keys on the credenza, and headed for the bathroom. He clipped his weapon to the waistband of his jeans and stripped off his shirt as he went. Out for a little over four months, to be home with Ewyn again…he needed Ewyn in the worst way. Even being bone-tired couldn't diminish the depth of his body's need. He intended spending the entire day in bed with Ewyn, making up for lost time. Good thing it was Saturday.

He entered the bedroom, glanced at the bed, and smiled. Ewyn lay on Devin's side of the bed with an arm flung across a pillow on the other side, something Ewyn did whenever Devin wasn't home. The enticement to touch Ewyn was intense, but he refused to wake him until he had the stink of death cleansed from body and mind.

He moved to the dresser, pausing long enough to put his weapon away, then strode into the bathroom and eased the door closed. After starting the shower, he unstrapped his ankle holster, laid it on the vanity, removed the last of his clothes, and walked into the shower. Standing under the cascade of hot water, he closed his eyes, sighed and relaxed for the first time in months.

This time out had been a bitch. One Op dead, two wounded…
shit
. For a time, he and Timothy had lost track of each other, and when he'd heard the gunfire, he thought Timothy had gone down. Thoughts of Gemma had flashed across his mind, wondering if she could survive a setback of such enormity, at this time of her life.

Hell.

Devin opened his eyes, grabbed the shampoo, then washed and conditioned his hair.
He needed a haircut
. He lathered body wash over every inch of himself, scrubbed his skin until it tingled, rinsed and towel-dried most of the moisture from his hair, before stepping out of the enclosure. Grabbing a bath sheet from the rack, he draped it around his hips and strolled to the vanity. He did a quick blow-dry, brushed his hair into some semblance of order, then stood poised in front of the mirror staring at his reflection. He ran his fingers along a jaw line desperate for a serious trim, but his need for Ewyn's sexy ass outweighed grooming issues.