Winning Texas (32 page)

Wurzbach
’
s proposal for German Texas would earmark millions of dollars for a cultural and tourist center to recognize the contributions of hundreds of thousands of Texans who emigrated from Germany in the 1800s. He envisioned German language teaching in the schools, German signage on streets and highways, and a program to attract German industries to job-starved areas of the Hill Country.

Texas Ranger Mark Ingram said Wurzbach
’
s attacker apparently hid in the hills behind the restaurant and waited to strike in the darkness as the state senator was preparing to speak to the gathering. Ingram said authorities believe that whoever hit Wurzbach once in the chest with a high-powered rifle was a skilled marksman.

“
There will be a significant reward offered through the German-Texas community for details leading to an arrest,
”
Ingram noted.

More than 700 partygoers had filled the Grey Moss Inn to raise money for the German-Texas cause. Much of the activity, including a band and dancing, took place on the patio area behind the legendary restaurant. Police said Wurzbach
’
s assailant must have gotten details of the event in advance because he or she was able to escape undetected.

Emergency workers rushed to the scene, but attempts by paramedics to revive Wurzbach were unsuccessful. He died soon after arriving at the San Antonio Medical Center, authorities said.

The killing of Wurzbach could be a crippling blow for the German-Texas movement, Satterfield said. The Fredericksburg politician had raised awareness for his initiatives, but hadn
’
t consolidated enough legislative support and was raising money for a long-term campaign.

Wurzbach was a graduate of the University of Texas, who majored in business before returning to Fredericksburg and starting the bakery business. He leaves a wife, Marie, and three daughters at home. Two brothers, two sisters and three uncles in Fredericksburg also survive him. He
’
ll be buried Tuesday in the town
’
s German cemetery after a 2 p.m. service at the German Lutheran Church in Austin.

CHAPTER 34

Travis dropped off Annie at her house late afternoon Sunday. They hadn
’
t talked much on the way back from Austin to Houston. She reckoned that Travis still felt shell-shocked. She was worried about the complexity of reporting that awaited them on Monday.

Annie really wanted to talk to Matt Sharpe. Spending time with Jake before and after the shooting had been emotionally exhausting. She was eager to visit Matt at his peaceful apartment, get the detective
’
s take on the shooting and perhaps go out for a relaxing dinner. She
’
d texted him about her return and suggested getting together. He
’
d said he wasn
’
t working and would love to see her. She thought she
’
d surprise him, so she drove quickly to his Montrose apartment, ran up the stairs and used a key he
’
d given her recently to unlock the door.

She opened it and immediately realized she
’
d made a mistake. The view from the door of his studio apartment left no doubt that he was entertaining a female visitor and they
’
d probably just had sex. She almost slammed the door and left, but curiosity took over. Matt was sitting up shirtless in his bed, his arm encircling an attractive woman with dark curly hair and distinctive eyebrows. She leaned casually on his shoulder in what looked like a contented post-coital languor. Both appeared to be naked, though they were partly covered with a sheet. Annie thought with a pang that they seemed very comfortable together. Matt looked surprised, but not terribly bothered, by Annie
’
s appearance. She couldn
’
t immediately place the woman, though she looked familiar. Something about her shocked expression at Annie
’
s appearance also held an element of triumph.

“
Annie, come in and we
’
ll talk. Why didn
’
t you call?
”
Matt said.
“
You probably remember Monica Gardiner, the officer I introduced you to that night at the Texas Girls Club.
”

“
Hi, Annie,
”
Monica said.
“
I know this is extremely awkward. Sorry. I
’
ll be out of here as soon as I get dressed.
”
She grabbed clothes from the floor and padded to the bathroom, carrying them in a bundle in front to cover her nudity.

Annie realized she felt regretful, but wasn
’
t really surprised, to see the two police officers in bed together. She
’
d sensed a connection at the strip club, watching them talk across the room. With a reporter
’
s instincts, she could usually detect when a man and a woman were lovers just by observing their behavior. She blamed herself for refusing to acknowledge the electricity between Matt and Monica when she met the policewoman. Since she
’
d gotten to know Matt, she
’
d let her guard down. He got out of bed, looking resigned to a confrontation.

“
Let
’
s go talk on the balcony, Annie,
”
he said, pulling on his pants and a shirt.
“
Want me to get you a beer?
”

She shook her head and walked out the balcony
’
s sliding door, settling herself in a plastic chair facing the backyard trees. It was better than looking toward the apartment where she knew Monica would be scrambling to dress and make herself presentable before leaving. Matt came out carrying a cold beer and took his time to settle into the chair beside her. He wore an appropriately serious expression, but she didn
’
t detect any remorse. If she interpreted his reaction correctly, it was one of irritation with her for barging in unannounced. His next words confirmed that impression.

“
I
’
m sorry that you didn
’
t at least let me know that you were on your way,
”
he said.
“
I would have gotten Monica out of here.
”

“
I
’
m just surprised that she
’
s here, since you knew I was coming this afternoon,
”
Annie said, trying for an even tone.
“
What
’
s your relationship with her?
”

“
We
’
ve seen each other on and off since I separated from Sue,
”
Matt said.
“
Well, to be perfectly honest, I was seeing her during the last year of my marriage. Sue found out about it and threw me out.
”

“
Is she single?
”

“
She
’
s married to another cop. He
’
s a nice guy in the robbery division,
”
he said with no trace of irony.
“
They have a couple of kids.
”

“
What
’
re your intentions?
”
Annie thought without humor that she probably sounded like the gun-toting father of a pregnant teenager.

“
She
’
s not going to leave her husband or family to be with me, if that
’
s what you mean.
”

“
Her behavior seems incredibly stupid,
”
Annie said.
“
Why would she endanger her marriage to be with you?
”

“
It
’
s just a sex thing,
”
Matt said quickly.
“
And we look out for each other on the job. She
’
s a good police buddy.
”

“
You mean a good fuck-buddy?
”
Annie didn
’
t like that crude term, but in this case, it seemed to fit.

“
Call it whatever you want. Monica
’
s not a bad person.
”

Annie knew she
’
d made her share of mistakes but wondered about the policewoman. Why would someone lucky enough to find a good husband and father for her children jeopardize something that precious? How many single women wasted their fertile years searching for a decent man?

“
Is she the only woman you
’
re sleeping with besides me?
”
Annie asked.

“
Well, to be honest, no,
”
Matt said.
“
I
’
ve been seeing another woman who
’
s a little older than me.
”

“
Is she married too?
”

“
Yeah, her husband travels a lot,
”
he said.
“
She
’
s a librarian and she gets lonely when he
’
s away. She says I
’
m good for her because she
’
s more interested in sex than her husband.
”

“
At the risk of sounding judgmental, that
’
s sad and wrong,
”
Annie said.

“
There
’
s a lot of that going around these days,
”
Matt said.
“
Women want what they want.
”

“
That may be,
”
Annie said.
“
But what about you? Don
’
t you want something better for yourself? Why would you want to waste your limited time with married women who
’
re just using you for sex?
”

“
Is that so bad?
”
he said.
“
What
’
s wrong with playing the field?
”

“
Where does that leave us?
”
She knew she probably wouldn
’
t like the answer.

She could see him hesitate, perhaps trying to spare her feelings.

“
I
’
ve enjoyed getting to know you, Annie,
”
he said.
“
You
’
re a wonderful girl, but I
’
m not ready for a relationship now, or maybe ever again. I stayed married way too long.
”

“
I
’
m not saying that I
’
m looking for marriage, or even a long-term relationship with you,
”
Annie said.
“
But I don
’
t want to be part of someone
’
s harem.
”

“
That
’
s a little harsh. Three women is hardly a harem,
”
Matt said.
“
I never asked you to be exclusive.
”

“
I know. Wish I hadn
’
t seen you and Monica together,
”
she said.
“
It just spoils it for me. I
’
m guessing you
’
re not going to give her up.
”

“
I
’
m not leaning in that direction,
”
he said.
“
But why give me up?
”

“
It
’
s obvious we don
’
t see this in the same way,
”
she said.
“
Let
’
s just say goodbye, Matt.
”

She stood up, sorry she couldn
’
t stay. The view at dusk on Matt
’
s balcony was one of the best she
’
d found in Houston. She
’
d enjoy sitting there for another hour, drinking more of the Scotch that burned her throat, and making love as the lights flicked on across the city. Monica had slipped out while she and Matt were talking. It was time for her to leave, too. Better to do it fast, like pulling off a scab. She walked back through the apartment, glancing at the crumpled sheets on the bed and leaving her key on the kitchen counter. She opened the door and shut it gently behind her.