Read Online No One Heard Her Scream by Jordan Dane - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jordan Dane
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The conversation had turned personal again.
"I came in for my sister's birthday. It was yesterday." He couldn't look her in the eye. Instead, Victor stared at Isabel's shrine, his eyes mesmerized by the flickering candles. "We still celebrate her special day. My mother even wraps a gift, saving each one for when Isabel . . ." He steepled his fingers and pinched the bridge of his nose, slouching back in his chair with eyes closed. "It's been hard for all of us. I stayed with my mother today after I drove my brother to work early this morning."
Danielle's birthday wasn't for another couple of months. Becca wondered what she and her mother would do to mark the occasion. The thought twisted her gut into a knot until she replayed what he had said in her mind.
"Out of curiosity, what kind of work does Rudy do?"
"He's a mason, works for various subcontractors. The construction business in San Antonio is quite healthy. He does okay."
"Those guys work hard. He must have a pretty long day. What are his usual hours?"
"Dawn to dusk this time of year."
If Rudy was at work by dawn and without his truck, who had been outside the Imperial Theatre midmorning? Was Victor telling the truth about his hours, or protecting his brother once again?
Okay, she had to admit it. The brothers looked so much alike that Becca didn't know if she'd made a mistake in assuming the crime-scene videotape had been of Rudy in front of the theater. But maybe the DMV records influenced that decision. Thinking back, she recalled a man stood by the truck in worn jeans, a sweatshirt, and a jacket, sans the white collar of a priest in uniform. She would have remembered a priest. Doubts leached into her brain.
Which one had been outside the Imperial?
"Well, I won't take up any more of your time, Father." Becca stood. "The sooner we get things resolved, the better. Maybe you and I can find our answers, bring Isabel home once and for all."
"And maybe some questions are better left unanswered." Before she replied, he gestured for the door and walked her out. "See you tomorrow, Detective."
Becca walked down the short sidewalk to the gate, resisting the urge to look over her shoulder. She felt the priest's eyes at her back. All she wanted was to shed light on a despicable crime, but this interview drilled another point home. She needed to learn much more about Isabel and Rudy. And after meeting Victor, new questions stirred in her mind. The priest knew more than he said.
Her investigation had taken a 180-degree turn.
Paseo Del Rio (The Riverwalk)
Downtown San Antonio
Staring out the window of her small condo on the Riverwalk, Becca took a swig of lukewarm beer, ignoring the flat taste. Her eyes took in every detail, yet nothing registered in her mind. The trip to the Marquez house had struck a personal chord, setting her into a deep funk. Becca ran fingers through her dark hair and pulled down the sleeves to her SAPD sweats.
Even though Father Victor Marquez looked anything but happy, the priest still had his family to protect. He ran interference for both his brother Rudy and their mother, a tight bond.
In sharp contrast, Becca had closed down to deal with her grief, shutting herself off from anyone who got too close—especially after Momma did the same. Before the abduction that ended Danielle's life, Becca would have bet good money on the underlying strength of her family. But in the end, the tie to her grieving mother had been as fragile as glass. Maybe they were too much alike. She remembered her last visit with Momma, hearing the words that broke her heart.
"Get out. Leave me alone, damn it!" Her mother screamed, her face red and swollen with rage, her breath bitter from alcohol. "Who are you to preach to me about needin' anyone but yourself? My baby is dead. I got nothing."
Like a sucker punch to the belly, Momma's words struck deep, even as Becca stared out her window, reliving the past.
"You got me, Momma," she whispered. "For what it's worth, you
"I came in for my sister's birthday. It was yesterday." He couldn't look her in the eye. Instead, Victor stared at Isabel's shrine, his eyes mesmerized by the flickering candles. "We still celebrate her special day. My mother even wraps a gift, saving each one for when Isabel . . ." He steepled his fingers and pinched the bridge of his nose, slouching back in his chair with eyes closed. "It's been hard for all of us. I stayed with my mother today after I drove my brother to work early this morning."
Danielle's birthday wasn't for another couple of months. Becca wondered what she and her mother would do to mark the occasion. The thought twisted her gut into a knot until she replayed what he had said in her mind.
"Out of curiosity, what kind of work does Rudy do?"
"He's a mason, works for various subcontractors. The construction business in San Antonio is quite healthy. He does okay."
"Those guys work hard. He must have a pretty long day. What are his usual hours?"
"Dawn to dusk this time of year."
If Rudy was at work by dawn and without his truck, who had been outside the Imperial Theatre midmorning? Was Victor telling the truth about his hours, or protecting his brother once again?
Okay, she had to admit it. The brothers looked so much alike that Becca didn't know if she'd made a mistake in assuming the crime-scene videotape had been of Rudy in front of the theater. But maybe the DMV records influenced that decision. Thinking back, she recalled a man stood by the truck in worn jeans, a sweatshirt, and a jacket, sans the white collar of a priest in uniform. She would have remembered a priest. Doubts leached into her brain.
Which one had been outside the Imperial?
"Well, I won't take up any more of your time, Father." Becca stood. "The sooner we get things resolved, the better. Maybe you and I can find our answers, bring Isabel home once and for all."
"And maybe some questions are better left unanswered." Before she replied, he gestured for the door and walked her out. "See you tomorrow, Detective."
Becca walked down the short sidewalk to the gate, resisting the urge to look over her shoulder. She felt the priest's eyes at her back. All she wanted was to shed light on a despicable crime, but this interview drilled another point home. She needed to learn much more about Isabel and Rudy. And after meeting Victor, new questions stirred in her mind. The priest knew more than he said.
Her investigation had taken a 180-degree turn.
Paseo Del Rio (The Riverwalk)
Downtown San Antonio
Staring out the window of her small condo on the Riverwalk, Becca took a swig of lukewarm beer, ignoring the flat taste. Her eyes took in every detail, yet nothing registered in her mind. The trip to the Marquez house had struck a personal chord, setting her into a deep funk. Becca ran fingers through her dark hair and pulled down the sleeves to her SAPD sweats.
Even though Father Victor Marquez looked anything but happy, the priest still had his family to protect. He ran interference for both his brother Rudy and their mother, a tight bond.
In sharp contrast, Becca had closed down to deal with her grief, shutting herself off from anyone who got too close—especially after Momma did the same. Before the abduction that ended Danielle's life, Becca would have bet good money on the underlying strength of her family. But in the end, the tie to her grieving mother had been as fragile as glass. Maybe they were too much alike. She remembered her last visit with Momma, hearing the words that broke her heart.
"Get out. Leave me alone, damn it!" Her mother screamed, her face red and swollen with rage, her breath bitter from alcohol. "Who are you to preach to me about needin' anyone but yourself? My baby is dead. I got nothing."
Like a sucker punch to the belly, Momma's words struck deep, even as Becca stared out her window, reliving the past.
"You got me, Momma," she whispered. "For what it's worth, you
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