The Way to Her Heart (17 page)

“Yeah, I don’t like to talk about it. Anyway, Diego said something was bothering Gabby and they were fighting a lot.” She tried to make the next part sound as nonchalant as possible. “He thought she was fighting with you and Natalia too.”

“Ugh, Diego! What a loser! She could have done so much better. We told her not to go out with him, but she wouldn’t listen.”

“Any idea what they were fighting about?”

“I don’t know for sure, but he was a manwhore. I know for a fact he was cheating on her with at least one other girl.” She stopped to take a sip of her coffee. “Did you know he was hooking up with Jackie Montoya?”

Bernie was appalled at the casual way Sofia spoke of how Diego had cheated on Gabby. She felt relationships should be taken seriously, no matter what age you were.

“I actually heard he was hooking up with you for a while too, until you dumped him for Josh Harris.” Sofia smirked at Bernie, a rather evil look on her face.

This time Bernie choked on her chai. “Oh my God! None of that is true!”

“You didn’t go out with Diego?”

“Well, I did, but—”

“And aren’t you going out with Josh Harris now?”

“No, definitely not.” She didn’t think Sofia needed to know about the kiss they’d shared a few days ago. “We’re friends. That’s it.”

“Sure. I’ll bet you are.” She slugged back the dregs of her coffee and gathered her shopping bags. “Well, this has been fun. We should do it again. Gotta go.” She was gone, leaving Bernie alone at the coffee shop, the overly sweet chai latte in front of her.

What a waste of time! I didn’t learn anything new, except Diego is a disgusting human being, which isn’t breaking news.
She sent Josh a text letting him know she was done and heading to the restaurant to have dinner with him, as they’d planned earlier.

***

“
So
, I have some great news.” Josh set a plate of pork medallions with a honey-balsamic glaze in front of her.

She should be used to such delicious food by now, but the flavor and tenderness of the meat still took her by surprise. “Mmm. This is so good. It must be selling really well, huh?” She forked another juicy bite into her mouth as he nodded with a smile that showcased those adorable dimples.
Why does he have to be so good-looking?
“What’s your news?”

“I may have found a place for you to live. Remember I told you Maurice owns a triplex not far from the university? Well, he says one of his tenants gave his notice last week, so he’ll have an opening in a couple months.”

The pork turned to sawdust in her mouth. He looked so happy about the thought of her moving out. Well, of course he’d be glad to get rid of her. Why wouldn’t he? He and his mom could finally get back to their normal lives. “Oh? Any idea of what he charges for rent? I can’t afford much, especially if I have to pay tuition. I hope I get the lottery scholarship, but it doesn’t cover everything. Maybe I should start at CNM instead of the university.” She didn’t want to attend the community college, but it was cheaper and she could transfer to the university in a couple years.

“Calm down! Breathe! He said he’d be willing to work with you on the rent because it would be worth it to have someone responsible there. I guess the last tenant threw some pretty wild parties and trashed the place. Maurice is going to have to do a lot of repairs when this guy moves out.” He paused to take a bite of his own dinner and looked thoughtful as he chewed. “What’s your GPA? I figured you were such a brain you’d get more than the lottery scholarship.”

She shrugged, embarrassed to talk about her grades. “I have a 4.3.”

He froze with his fork halfway to his mouth. “What? How is that possible?”

She took another bite and tried to wave him off. “I took some AP classes. They have weighted grades.”

“You mean you’ve never gotten a B in your whole high school career? I had no idea I was living with such a genius!” He smiled and winked at her, causing heat to flood her face. “What’d you get on your ACT?”

“It doesn’t matter.” She tried to change the subject. “Is this your recipe?”

“Your ACT?” He folded his arms and raised his eyebrows, clearly not willing to forget it.

She sighed and set her fork down. “Fine. I got a 31.”

He laughed. “I knew it! You’re a freaking genius! I was happy to eke out a 25.”

She squirmed, uncomfortable with the attention. “It’s not a big deal. Can we talk about something else?”

“Why does it bother you I know how smart you are? It’s something to be proud of, Bernie. Did you apply for academic scholarships?” He reached for her hand, holding it casually on the tabletop.

She gulped, enjoying the feel of his warm hand entirely too much. It was hard to ignore her attraction to him when he touched her. “Yeah, but it probably won’t amount to much.”

“You don’t know that.” He squeezed her hand and returned to his dinner. “All right. I’ll stop harassing you. Tell me about your trip to the mall with Sofia. Did you learn anything?”

“It was fairly disappointing. Sofia is addicted to gossip, but all I found out is Diego was cheating on Gabby, which doesn’t shock me. Ugh! High school drama sucks! How did you do this whole popularity thing for so long?”

“I have no idea!” They both laughed. Then Josh sobered. “This last year has made me rethink my priorities.”

“Oh God, Josh! I’m sorry.”

“No, that’s not what I meant.” He pushed his hand through his hair. “I mean, yeah, but it’s more than that. Look.” He took her hand again. “I will always miss my dad and my brother.” His eyes filled as he spoke. “But their deaths made me take a long, hard look at my life. Well, at least I have lately. I was pretty brain-dead for the last year.”

Now she comforted him, placing her other hand atop both theirs. “You’re an amazing guy, Josh.”

He smiled at her, a bit crookedly, and slowly withdrew his hand. “Hold that thought, okay?”

She had no idea what he was talking about but didn’t want to sound stupid. “Sure. Anyway, you’re still popular.”

“Whatever. It doesn’t matter anymore. You ready for dessert?” He removed her nearly empty plate, returning a moment later with a slice of chocolate caramel cake.

“Aww, no Ding Dongs?”

“Smartass.”

She giggled and dug into the rich cake, which was, of course, delicious.

***

“
Mike
? Miss Abeyta is here to see you. Again.”

Bernie stood at the reception desk in the police substation and narrowed her eyes as the receptionist added the unnecessary last word. It bordered on a snarkiness unwelcome in a public servant.

“Aw shit. Just what I needed this afternoon. Send her on back, but give me two minutes, okay?” He apparently didn’t realize he was on speaker. Or maybe he did and simply didn’t care.

She waited, impatiently tapping her foot, to be buzzed through to the back. Detective Garcia was finishing a sandwich and gestured for her to take the seat across from his desk. He finished chewing and took a swig from his soda before wrapping up his trash and brushing a few crumbs off his desk.

“I don’t think eating at your desk is very healthy.”

He chuckled and wiped his mouth. “Yeah, well, there’s a lot about being a homicide detective that isn’t exactly healthy. What can I do for you today, Bernie? You can’t find anything better to do on a Saturday afternoon than hang out in a police station?”

“I want to know if the autopsy results came in yet.”

“Bernie, why? Gabby is gone and you need to let it go.”

“Not until I know what happened to her! I need to know how she died.” She crossed her arms, prepared to wait him out.

He sighed and reached for a manila folder. “Fine. I’m not going to share any specific details with you, but yes, the autopsy results came in and this is officially a homicide investigation. Gabby was murdered, stabbed multiple times. I’m sorry, Bernie.”

She turned her head to avoid his penetrating stare, biting her lip to keep from crying. Detective Garcia said nothing but reached behind his desk for a box of tissues, which he handed to her. She took one and stood, pretending to examine the certificates on the wall while she wiped her nose and attempted to gather her composure. She wasn’t shocked; she’d known in her heart Gabby had been killed somehow. But
murder
was such a shocking word, and stabbing seemed so brutal; Gabby’s final moments must have been terrifying beyond belief. “So,” she said as she wiped a final time and threw the tissue in the trash. “Who do you think killed her? And why?”

He smiled gently. “I can’t discuss the details of the case with you, Bernie. I know you were really good friends, but you’re not family. I’m sorry.”

She was disappointed but not surprised. He’d never been very forthcoming with her about Gabby’s case. “Isn’t there anything you can tell me?”

“I can tell you I’m giving top priority to this case.” He waited until she resumed her seat. “What about you? Where are you staying? I stopped by your house the other day, and it’s clear you haven’t been there in a while.”

Great. I definitely don’t want the police butting in and getting me sent to foster care for the next three months. If I can just hang on until April!
“I’m staying with a friend for a while. My mom’s going through some stuff right now, and I thought it best if I cleared out for a few weeks.”

“Your mother’s a drug addict and an alcoholic. Your father’s in prison on an assault charge, and you haven’t lived in that run-down trailer since Gabby disappeared. Where are you staying?” He crossed his arms and stared her down. “You can either tell me or I can find out in a much more official manner.”

“Fine. Calm down. I’m staying with a friend. They have a really nice house, and they’re letting me stay there until I turn eighteen and can get an apartment. I’m fine. Really.”

“What’s this friend’s name?”

She sighed as she realized he wasn’t about to let it go. “Josh.”

He looked at her sharply. “You’re living with your boyfriend? You’re too young for that.”

“He’s not my boyfriend! I swear!” She panicked, fearing he would pack her off to foster care then and there. “He’s a friend from school. Please.” She leaned forward and placed her hands on his desk. “That’s all he is. We’re just friends.”

“Last name?” The detective turned to his computer.

“Harris.”

Detective Garcia began clicking away on his keyboard. “Joshua Dane Harris. Mother’s name Claire Harris. Father and younger brother deceased October of last year.” He grimaced. “Shit, that’s rough,” he whispered, then cleared his throat. “Looks like he’s an honor student. Are you safe there, Bernie?”

A heck of a lot safer than I was sleeping in my car.
“Yeah. Josh and his mom are good people.”

“He doesn’t expect sexual favors in return?”

“No, of course not! Josh isn’t like that!” She jumped to her feet and shouldered her bag. “I’ve got to go.” She
so
needed to get out of there before he butted in any further and she found herself navigating the New Mexico foster care system.

She stopped by the Rodriguez trailer on the way home to check on Gabby’s dad. He’d taken the news of his daughter’s death hard, and Bernie was worried about him. She picked up a burger and fries on her way, fairly certain he wasn’t eating regularly and probably didn’t have any decent food on hand.

He answered the door and Bernie’s fears were confirmed. He was unshaven, his shirt dirty and untucked, and his eyes were bruised and tired-looking. “Oh, hey, Bernie. Come in.” He pushed the screen door open and left her to follow or not. It was such a heartbreaking difference from the last time she’d visited with Josh when Mr. Rodriguez had been so positive, certain Gabby would be home soon.

She followed him to the tiny kitchen, where he poured himself a cup of foul-smelling coffee, not bothering to offer any to Bernie, for which she was grateful. “I brought you a burger.” She found a plate and unpacked the fast-food meal she’d brought.

“Aw, thanks, but I’m not hungry,” he murmured.

“You need to eat. Come sit down.” She gently took the coffee cup out of his hand and led him to the table, pulling out the chair for him.

He shrugged and sat. He stared at the food for a few moments before raising the burger to his mouth. He ate mechanically, probably not tasting the food, but he finished, washing it down with the coffee. “Somebody killed my baby.” He spoke the words suddenly, taking Bernie by surprise.

“I know. I’m so sorry. The police are going to figure out who did it.” She wasn’t sure she believed it, but she felt the need to offer some sort of comfort.

He didn’t seem to hear her. “They stabbed her. They stabbed my little girl to death. So many times.” Tears streaked down his face.

“You need to sleep, Mr. Rodriguez. Why don’t you go lie down on the couch while I clean up in here?”

He didn’t answer, but he followed her suggestion and rose from the table, disappearing into the living room. Bernie finished cleaning up the kitchen and went to find him. He was sound asleep on the couch, so she covered him with an afghan and left, locking the door behind her.