When I Knew You (22 page)

"Right to the point, Kat? But we have so much catching up to do." He laughed, then his voice changed from cheerful to the voice I heard in the church, threatening Father Vincent. "Fine. I need all those envelopes your mother scattered around town. It's the last of the loose ends. Then I'll tell you where you can find Antonia."

"I want to talk to her. I want to know she's okay."

"You don't want to talk to her. She doesn't even know who you are, Kat."

I felt lightheaded. It wasn't possible. She hadn't been gone that long. "I want to talk to her right now."

Eliah sighed heavily. "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you." The line was silent for a moment, then I heard muffled voices as if he'd covered the phone with his hand.
 

"Hello? Who is calling?" Antonia sounded confused.

"Mom? Mom! Are you all right? Where are you?"

"Ah'm fine, honey. Ah'm fine. Ah'm here with Joey, we have been doing some travelin'." She paused. "But ah think you have me mixed up with someone else." Her southern accent was strong as a Dixie belle. Thicker than I'd ever heard it.
 

"Mom! It's Kati, it's me!"

"All raight now, don't be upset. Ah'm just gonna hand you back to Joey here. You keep an eye on that pilot, okay?"

Pilot? My mind raced. Pilot was the name of our cat. He had died a year ago. Why did she bring up Pilot? Was she trying to tell me something? Or was she in the middle of some strange story Eliah had fed her?

"What did I tell you, Kat? She's put you out of her mind already. Not that she's had much of a mind in the last ten years or so." Eliah's voice was smug. "Mothers. I've always said the whole mythos was overblown."

"Look, Eliah, I'll do whatever you want. I've got all the stuff Antonia was working on. I just want her to back safe and sound."

"I know you do. You're a good kid, Kat. Tell you what we're going to do. We're going to meet you over at the church in San Elizario. I'm sure you know the one I'm talking about."

"I'm familiar."

"So I've heard. It should be pretty quiet there. And like they say in the movies, come alone. I'll see you in an hour."

"You're bringing Antonia?" I asked, my voice cracking.

He laughed. "She goes by Priscilla now. Or maybe it's Selena. I forget." His laughter cut off when he hung up.

No one answered the phone in the rectory. I'd called three times, hoping to reach Father Vincent, hoping to warn him. When I pulled into the plaza in front of the church I understood why. Half a dozen people were in the courtyard setting up lights, large electric fans, and sweeping the stone walkway. Off to the right a grouping of unusually tall women sat at a table under a large umbrella, each with an attendant fussing over their hair and makeup. Father Vincent was talking to a man with dreadlocks who had three large cameras hanging from his neck. The Father had one arm in a sling, but managed to be just as animated as if he had two functioning arms.

I grabbed my backpack along with my "insurance policy" and headed toward the church office.
 

"We can meet over here, Kat."
 

Eliah stepped out from behind a truck, startling me. He took a long drink from a water bottle, then offered it to me. The giant water bottles from my mother's accident flashed in my mind, rolling in the street. Beautiful Living Waters was the brand, the same as the one he handed me. "Not much left. Want some?"

"No thanks," I said. "Where's Antonia?"

He shrugged, then capped the water. "Come on over," he said, ignoring my question. "Let's sit down over there and talk."

We walked over to a bench in the plaza where we had a perfect view of the photo shoot in front of the church and sat down. Two of the models stood in the center of the bright lights, and someone turned on the fans. The buzzing sound echoed off the church walls and in seconds their long hair began to flow around their heads like snakes.

"Eliah," I said. "I brought everything. Where's Antonia? Why isn't she here?"

"Calm down. I had to make sure you came alone and I had to make sure you brought everything. You don't expect me to take your word for it, do you?" He held out his hand. "Let's see what you've got there."

I pulled away. "You think I'm an idiot?"

He grabbed at the shoulder strap on the backpack and pulled me close, way too close. "Actually I do."

"Think again." I flicked off the safety with my thumb and cocked the gun.
 

Even with the sound of the fan and clicking of the camera flashes across the street, the sound was unmistakeable. Since Eliah had pulled me close, I had the barrel of the gun deep in his belly. Pilar's gun, aka, my insurance policy.

"This is a .38 caliber, just like what I shot in my marksmanship class in college, Eliah," I said languidly. "You know, it's moments like this when I think, God Bless Texas and its liberal gun laws. How about you?"

We sat there for a minute, staring at each other. Eliah's eyes had narrowed and the skin at his temples glistened. Across the street from the plaza the clicking sounds continued as the photographer barked encouragement.

"Eliah, my
friend
," I said sweetly, measuring out every word as if it were a honey laced poison. "My dear friend. You know, I figured something out. If I shoot you, chances are good I'll find Antonia anyway. So you might as well tell me where she is."

His grin looked forced, his lips stretched tight across teeth as white as the paint on the plaza's tree trunks. "It takes a lot more than a gun to shoot someone, Kat."
 

I'd seen that kind of false bravado before, right before a client chose to pass on the leap of faith on the ropes course. I suspected that no one had turned the tables on Eliah before, that he always had the element of surprise with his gentle giant routine. Fortunately the element of surprise worked both ways.

He looked into my eyes, and must have seen something that gave him pause. He loosened his grip on my shoulder gradually.
 

"Good move," I said evenly. "It takes less than you think to shoot someone, Eliah. Remember, I jump off cliffs for a living."
 

I got up slowly, keeping the gun trained on him and backing out of his reach.
 

"New plan," I said. "Meet me at Julio's Cafe Corona in an hour. And this time, don't come alone. If you don't have Antonia, all bets are off." I reached over and grabbed his water bottle. "Oh yeah. Thanks for the water."

Chapter 25

I pulled out the zip-lock plastic bag I'd bought and sealed the water bottle in it. I took a sharpie and wrote the date, Eliah Trevino's and our location on the bag. Granted, I wasn't an official entity, but if the DNA did show a link to Caleb, I might be able to convince someone else to get a legal sample.

I grabbed my phone from the passenger seat. Willie Alacon had finally called back. I'd left her several messages trying to find out if she had a number for the Detective Mora or had any leads. Then I left her one last message as a precaution. I figured it would be a good idea to let someone know that I'd heard from Eliah and where I was meeting him, in case something happened. I wasn't sure if it was wise to trust her after meeting only once, but I didn't have much choice. Pilar was still recovering and Abuela's phone was off limits.

"Are you a lunatic?" Willie shouted in the phone message. I had to pause it and turn down the volume.

"What the hell are you doing going to meet him by yourself?" she continued yelling. "Do you think he's going to actually bring her? She's probably tied up somewhere! You think you're some kind of hero or something? Call me back if you're still alive."

The phone didn't even finish ringing when she answered. "Thank GOD. My father would have killed me. I've never lost anybody and I'll be damned if I'm starting with
you
."

"Hi, Willie," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
 

"Hi, Willie? Hi, Willie? That's the best you've got after you tell me you are going to meet with a dangerous felon?"

"Wait. What? Eliah?"
 

"Yeah. Eliah Coronado also known as Eliah Trevino, former inmate in Our Lady of Huntsville, aka, the Walls Unit." Willie paused and I heard a slurping sound. "Sorry, last of my coffee. Anyway, your Eliah was serving time for running some shady land deal. Also brought up on half a dozen assault charges over the years before that, but the cases were mysteriously dropped. Friends in high places."

More likely relatives, I thought. "Look, Willie, at this point all I want is to get Antonia back. I told Eliah I'd give him everything, I just want to get her back and get out of here." I lied. I knew I needed to do a lot more than just get back Antonia. I told her a little about my meeting with Eliah and the meeting in an hour.

"And what are you going to do if he doesn't bring her?" she asked.
 

My sore rib ached and my stomached clenched. "I don't know!" I said, snapping. "Maybe I'll beat the hell out of him."

There was silence on the phone for a second. "That could work," she said slowly. "He's a big guy, but you've got this fury thing going."

"You noticed."
 

Before we hung up Willie said she would meet me at the restaurant and would bring a few friends, in case I needed help with the beating. I thanked her, then sped up to get to Julio's.

Even though it was early in the lunch rush, Julio's was busy. I had driven straight there so I was thirty minutes ahead of schedule and was able to pick a table in the middle of the dining room. I scanned the lunch menu, ordered something to eat and kept an eye on the door.

Willie walked in a few minutes later, laughing and calling out to the owner. At her side was a guy the size of a semi truck. Despite his size, he moved with an athlete's grace. He had dark hair streaked with gray pulled back in a ponytail. They both shook hands with one of the waiters, then headed toward the back of the room.
 

The waiter brought me a steaming plate of enchiladas, fresh tortillas, and a giant glass of water, told me not to touch the plate because it was hot, then rushed off. The dining room was filling up fast and I knew from my college years of waiting tables, he'd want me out of there so he could turn the table at least once. I picked at my food. I hadn't eaten anything since last night, but still couldn't eat.

When Eliah walked in a few minutes later, he was not alone. I recognized the man at his side, despite his baseball hat and glasses - Trent Bonita, his brother and candidate for Governor. There was no sign of Antonia.

Eliah spotted me quickly and they both came over to the table.

"Sorry we were running behind," Eliah said as he sat down across from me. His brother sat at my left.
 

Trent Bonita was handsome in that 'elect this man, he's a good guy' kind of way, dark hair with a little wave in it, blue eyes, a strong line to his jaw. He was nowhere near as tall as Eliah, who's Ichabod Crane looks were a sharp contrast to Trent's compact build. Hard to believe they were related, if Abuela's letter was right.

"Where is Antonia?" I said flatly, looking at Eliah and ignoring Trent. "And who the hell is this guy?"

"All in due time, Kati," Eliah said, perusing the menu. "I told you she wasn't going to be happy, brother."

Trent visibly stiffened. "I told you, don't call me that in public," he said under his breath. "Ever."

Eliah laughed, then called over a waiter. The two placed their orders and the waiter rushed off again.
 

"Antonia is very safe, Kati. My brother," he smiled broadly, "I mean, of course, my
associate
, he wanted to meet with you, personally." Eliah leaned over the table, reaching for the chips and salsa. "He wasn't convinced you were sincere in your offer. You see, unlike you and me, he never really cared for his mother much."

Trent looked like he was ready to strangle Eliah. I empathized, but he'd have to get in line once this was over.

"Eliah, I don't care about your 'family' issues. I don't care about whatever issues my mom was looking into. I just want to get Antonia back," I said.

"See?" Eliah turned to Trent. "I told you. She takes after her grandmother, like I told you. Kati isn't anything like her mother. She isn't a crusader."

I bristled but bit my tongue.

Trent looked around the room. "Fine. Let's get out of here and do the exchange."

"I agree." I said.

"Nonsense," Eliah said, sipping from his water glass. "We just ordered. I'm starving."

"Damn it, Eliah," Trent began, but was interrupted by the waiter bringing drinks. The waiter assured them their order would be right out and dove back into the flow of bus boys, waiters, and restaurant patrons walking back and forth.

"Where is Antonia?" I said.

"She's safe," Trent snapped. "Jesus. Who do you think we are?"

"I know who you are," I said, my voice rising. "You're thugs who would kidnap a woman with a brain trauma. Sound accurate?"
 

Trent almost coughed up his water and looked around the room frantically.
 

Eliah, on the other hand, grinned with pride as if I was a trained dog in a circus and he was the ringmaster. It took all I had to not leap across the table at him and throttle his skinny neck.

"See? Brother, she's nothing like the kind of sorority girls you're used to. She's a tough woman." Eliah turned to me, reaching out with his hand to pat mine. "Kati, here's how it's going to go. You're going to give us the documents your mother had so we can look them over, and if we're satisfied, we're going to have a friend of ours bring in Antonia."

"Screw you, Eliah. I'm not giving you anything until I see Antonia." I rose to my feet. "We're done here."

"Whoa, hang on, hang on," Trent said, reaching for my arm. "Be reasonable. We all have interests here, and we have to..."

"Interests?" I shook off his arm. "You have my mother, you freaking asshole." I hissed at him.

I could feel the attention of patrons at surrounding tables shift toward us. Trent paled.