Deadly Texas Rose

Now Moria’s secrets about what she’d seen or heard that night were also hidden away, deeply embedded inside her child’s mind because no one, not the team of therapists or her own mother, could bring it all to the surface for Moria. She kept whatever she knew intact. That is, until she went to sleep at night.

Then, all the horrible scary things hidden in the dark seemed to come out to taunt the little girl.

No wonder her daughter never wanted to go to sleep.

And no wonder Julia was so worried that the secrets locked inside her daughter’s mind might bring harm to both of them. Not knowing was driving her crazy.

But finding out the truth might be even more dangerous.

He had to know the truth.

Eric stared at the yellow crime-scene tape slashing across the double doors of Cat’s Courthouse Café. He’d come here straight from the hospital, and although his arm was in a sling and he still felt woozy from all the pain medication, it felt good to be out in the bright springtime day with a fresh breeze blowing over his face. His shoulder still ached, but his mind was spinning like the whimsical metallic garden ornament Cat had hanging by the front door. He stood back, leaning against the old-fashioned hitching rail in front of the café, his mind reliving every minute of what had happened here two days ago.

“Got it figured out yet, buddy?” Adam asked as he came up and handed Eric a bottle of soda. “Thought you could use a drink.”

“Thanks,” Eric said, taking a long swig of the amber liquid. Then he glanced back through the windows of the restaurant. “He went in through the kitchen, and he brought Julia out through the swinging doors with him.”

“That’s odd,” Adam said, sipping his own drink. “I mean, going in through the kitchen I can understand. But why didn’t he just head right to the cash register?”

“Maybe he thought grabbing the first person he saw would give him more cover,” Eric replied. “But that notion didn’t exactly work out to his advantage. I just wonder where he went. If he bled out or even if he is alive somewhere, we’ll never find him now.”

Adam must have sensed his remorse. “Don’t beat yourself up, old man. You shot him in self-defense, and to protect Julia. We can only imagine what he would have done to her if he’d taken her with him.” Then he looked down the street where a few cars passed by now and then. “Besides, I’m the one who let him get away.”

Eric thought about that. “He must have had help, someone waiting for him.” He didn’t like the nasty scene playing inside his head. “I don’t want to think about that. I just hate—”

“You don’t like having to shoot someone. We’ve all had to deal with that at times.”

“What if he just needed some money? Maybe I should have tried to talk him down more.”

Adam shook his head. “You saw the man’s eyes. He was too far gone. For some strange reason, he picked a bad day to rob the place.” Then he shook his head. “And even though we let him get away, he left a trail of evidence—bloodstains on Julia’s blouse and fingerprints on both the outside door and the swinging door from the kitchen.”

“Got any leads?”

“As a matter of fact, I think we do,” Adam said, handing Eric a printout, then added, “Of course, officially, I’m not supposed to have this information. So, unofficially and just for your information, we had a sketch artist come over from Longview and talk to several of the witnesses, including Julia, Cat and me.”

Eric lifted his chin. “Yeah, I gave a description while I was in the hospital, the whole routine. Tell me something I don’t know.”

Adam tapped the papers he was holding. “Based on the sketch and the fingerprints we were able to lift, we’ve established his identity. We found some fresh prints on the back door, ran ’em through AFIS and came up with a positive match. We’ve narrowed it down, based on the eye witness descriptions and the sketch. When we hear from the DNA samples, we’ll have it confirmed. His name is Mingo Tolar, last known address a seedy hotel in El Paso. And he has a record as long as my arm.”

Eric read over the sheet, then glanced at the sketch. “Petty theft, drunk and disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, trespassing and resisting arrest, possession of narcotics. Why does that not surprise me?” Then he shook the rap sheet. “So if this is our man—and this looks exactly like him—how’d he wind up all the way across the state in a tiny town like Wildflower?”

“Maybe he was a mule,” Adam replied. “Just passing through on a drug run along the interstate. Maybe he needed some drug money. He might have sampled the goods, panicked, thought he’d better replace the merchandise. He was high when he hit us, so that means he was also careless. We’ll know more when the DNA results from the blood drops we found come back from the CODIS lab in Ft. Worth.”

“Did we locate a vehicle?”

“Not yet. He either had someone waiting in a getaway car, or he might have hidden until he could run. He was pretty strung out, best I can remember.”

“No wonder he was such a loose cannon.”

“All the more reason for us to get Julia away from him before he could take off with her.” Adam shrugged, shook out the tightness in his muscles. “I just wish I could have caught him. We searched every building around here and immediately sent out patrols. Amazing how he got away so quickly.”

Eric nodded, letting the information settle in his gut. Letting a bad guy slip right through their fingers hadn’t gone over very well with the department. Reminding himself that he and Adam had at least saved Julia, he shifted on his feet. “Something just isn’t sitting right.”

“Maybe the fact that I’m stuck on a desk job until this is cleared up, and you’re on sick leave for a few more days, or that we’re not even supposed to be investigating this thing, period?”

Eric looked around, then shrugged. “We were involved. That tends to make a man curious. And…regardless of whether I’m the official investigating officer or not, I need some answers.”

Adam slanted a look at him. “Talk to me, brother.”

Eric closed his eyes, going over the details one more time in his mind. He thought about Julia’s expression, about the man’s skittishness, about how she’d silently appealed to Eric to help her. There had been something else there in her eyes, something Eric couldn’t quite pinpoint.

But Adam’s next words brought it all to the surface. “It’s like he went straight for Julia, know what I mean? Almost like the money was an afterthought.”

Eric glanced from his friend back into the restaurant. “Yeah, I do know what you mean. And you know what else? It’s like Julia Daniels had been expecting someone to do just that.”

She hadn’t expected all this attention. The publicity generated from both the newspapers and the television stations had Julia’s head throbbing. And had her even more worried that she’d somehow be discovered. It was bad enough, having to give detailed statements to the investigators, then having to describe the man to a sketch artist.

If she only knew what she’d been running from, she might be able to get a better grip on her sanity. Between the ringing phone and the network crews from both Longview to the west and Shreveport to the east in Louisiana, she hadn’t had a chance to even do her Saturday chores and errands. And Moria was asking more and more questions.

Julia glanced out the front window, glad to see the camera crews had left. She wasn’t giving any more statements. She was done with this.

But as she turned to go do the laundry, she heard a car door slam. Rushing back to the window, she peeked through the blinds to see who was out there now.

Eric Butler.

Julia’s heart went into overdrive. What was he doing here? And why hadn’t she combed her hair and put on some makeup this morning? Running her hands through her long tresses, Julia decided she didn’t care. She had too much to worry about. The good deputy was probably just checking on her out of a sense of duty.

And she did owe him a lot. At least a cup of coffee and a slice of pie.

But when she opened the door, Eric Butler didn’t look as if he were in the mood for either. “Hello,” Julia said, trying to give him a reassuring smile.

“Hi, yourself. Got a minute?”

“Of course.” She waved him into the room. “I’m glad you came by. I’ve been meaning to come and see you.”

He gave her one of his level, steady looks. “Oh, and why is that?”

Julia’s heart sent a warning jolt through her system. “Well, to thank you, of course. You most likely saved my life. I…appreciate it.”

He waved his good arm in the air. “Don’t worry about that.” Then he looked into her eyes, his expression as calm and centered as the still American flag hanging on her front porch. “We couldn’t let that man take you with him.”

“I didn’t want to go with him.” She turned toward the kitchen. “Want some coffee? Some of Cat’s famous apple pie? She brought a fresh one by just this morning.”

Silence.

Julia turned to look at him. “Deputy?”

“Call me Eric,” he said, lifting a shoulder off the porch post.

“Okay. Eric, would you like some coffee and pie?”

“What I want, Mrs. Daniels, is the truth.”

Swallowing back her surprise, she retorted, “Call me Julia.”

“Okay. Julia, we need to talk.”

Julia could understand how a criminal would be intimidated by this man. He stood almost six feet tall and right now he was all business. “I’m not sure I understand,” she said, wondering if he’d already found out about Alfonso’s mysterious death. Had he also found out something that would incriminate her? “I’ve talked to just about everyone in the sheriff’s department and the police department. What do we need to discuss?”

Eric took two long strides toward her. “I want you to tell me why that man would have come to Wildflower…. Looking for you?”

Julia gasped, then shrank back. “I don’t…I mean…I didn’t know he was looking for me.” She sank down on a chair, then stared up at him. “What are you talking about? Was he looking for me?”

“That’s what I’d like to know,” Eric replied, his tone gentle now, his expression relaxing. “I’m just trying to figure this thing out, so it can make some sense. I don’t believe this was a routine robbery. Got anything you’d like to share with me about all of this?”

“I didn’t know that man, if that’s what you’re asking,” Julia replied, praying Moria would stay in her room a little while longer. She didn’t want her daughter to hear this conversation. “I’m telling you the truth. I’d never seen him before. Maybe you need to be honest with me, too, Deputy. If I’m in danger. If my daughter is—”

“I didn’t say that.” He let out a breath. “We’re still investigating. We’ve put out an APB based on eyewitness descriptions and our findings, and we have a rap sheet and a positive ID on someone who fits the robber’s description. He’s a dangerous man, which is why I’m trying—on my own time—to do a more detailed investigation into his background.”

“So I don’t have to talk to you, since you’re not even supposed to be here, right?”

His gaze swept over her face, then back down. “No, you don’t have to tell me anything. But…I’m trying to help you here.” He glanced at the picture of Moria sitting on the coffee table. “For your daughter’s sake, at least.”

Julia couldn’t tell him to go away after that. “What do you need to know?”

Satisfied that they understood each other, he said, “His name was Mingo Tolar. Ring a bell?”

She shook her head. “No, I’m sorry, it doesn’t.”

Eric nodded, then pinned her with another level look. “But, did that man happen to know you? That’s what I’m wondering. And I’m not giving up on this until I find out what’s going on. Because if he did know you…if he did come here looking for you, then yes, you and your daughter might still be in danger.”

Julia gulped back her fear, her gaze meeting his. He gave her the same steady, reassuring look he’d given her in the restaurant the other day. Then he looked past her into the hallway, his eyes full of surprise.

Julia turned around to find Moria standing there with Rosa clutched to her chest. And a brilliant fear shattering her big brown eyes.

FOUR

Julia rushed to Moria. “Hey, honey. I didn’t see you there.” Bringing her daughter into the room, she pulled Moria close as she sat down on the couch. “This is my friend Mr. Butler.”

Moria sent a big-eyed look toward Eric. “Are we in trouble, Mommy?”

“Now why would you think that?” Julia asked, trying to keep her tone calm. She glanced over at Eric, hoping he hadn’t noticed the fear in her child’s eyes. Or her own, for that matter.

Moria leaned close, her hands going around Julia’s neck. “The policemen came yesterday, just like they did when Daddy went away.”

Julia’s gaze slammed into Eric’s. She could see the questions burning there inside his eyes. Pulling at Moria’s long hair with her fingers, she tried to laugh. “Oh, that. Well, it’s just that something happened at my work the other day and the police are trying to get information. But you and I haven’t done anything wrong. We’re okay, honey. It’s okay. And Mr. Butler is…he’s a sheriff’s deputy. That’s like a policeman, sorta. And he’s just trying to help out.”

Moria didn’t look convinced. “He scares me. I don’t like policemen and I don’t like strangers.”

Eric’s smile was short and quick. “I’m a friend of your mother’s. But you’re smart to be careful around strangers. Has anyone besides the policemen come by to see you or your mother?”

“No.”

“Has anyone who scares you tried to bother you at school or anywhere else, like when you’re playing outside?”

Moria shook her head but refused to say anything else.

Julia sent Eric a pleading look. “Can we finish this later?”

His nod was so subtle she almost missed it, but his eyes were on Moria. “You know, I’ve sure heard a lot about you from your mother. She loves you a lot.”

Moria didn’t reply, instead she clung to Julia even more. Afraid for her daughter, Julia gently lifted Moria up onto the couch. “Honey, stay right here while I show Mr. Butler out, okay? You can color in that new book I bought you at the grocery store yesterday.”

“Okay,” Moria said, taking Rosa in her lap. She stared up at Eric with obvious distrust, then went to the small kitchen table where her crayons and coloring book lay.

Julia motioned for him to follow her out onto the porch. After she’d shut the door, she said, “I appreciate your concern, but…Moria doesn’t understand what’s going on, and I don’t know anything about this man. I only know that I was scared, very scared, when he had that gun aimed at my head. And I am so thankful that you helped to get me away from him.” Then a new fear penetrated her already frazzled mind. “You don’t think he’d come back, do you?”

Eric’s gaze moved over her, glassy and unreadable. “That depends. He’s wounded and he’s wanted for attempted armed robbery, and somehow he managed to get away. He’d need a mighty good reason to come back to Wildflower, don’t you think?”

She thought he was fishing again, and Julia refused to give him any more information than necessary. “I think he’d be crazy to do that, but…I want to feel safe. I did feel safe here until this happened.”

He leaned back against the porch railing, his quiet gaze moving over her face. “Want to tell me about…your past? Where’d you come from?”

“I don’t have to answer that.”

“Anyone in your past who might want to do you harm?”

She glanced away, then back. Should she tell him the truth? But what purpose would that serve? Until they found this man, if this was the right man, who knew why he’d come to the diner? Maybe it had just been a random robbery and maybe she was just imagining things because of her husband’s horrible death. She didn’t want to relive all of that unless she had to.

Finally, she said, “I don’t think so.”

His harsh gaze made her edgy. “But you’re not sure?”

Dropping her hands to her sides, she asked, “How can I be sure? I’ve tried to live a quiet, normal life. I don’t have anything to hide. I just need to protect my daughter.”

“From what?”

Impatient, she said, “From the press, from the police asking too many questions. I don’t want Moria to worry about me. She’s been through enough.”

He latched on to that. “Because?”

Letting out a sigh, Julia said, “Her father died last year, okay? Surely you’ve heard I’m a widow and she’s lost her father. We’re both still trying to cope with that, but Moria is having a very hard time. I moved here to start over and to help her get through her grief. I just didn’t need this on top of everything else. So could you just go, please?”

He stepped back, palms up. “I understand and I’m sorry. Did you tell—”

“I told the sheriff’s investigators, the police officer who questioned me yesterday, and…Cat knows, of course. I didn’t tell the newspapers and television crews that my daughter has horrible nightmares about losing her father, because it’s none of their business. Can we just leave it at that?”

“They’ll keep digging.”

“I’m afraid of that.” She ran her hands through her hair. “And I know you can keep digging. You are a lawman, after all. You can find out anything you want about me. Which means I’ll probably have to pack up and move again.”

He went on full alert now. “Why would you do that?”

Wishing he hadn’t pushed her so much, she let out a bitter laugh. “I just want to get on with my life, and I thought I’d be able to do that here. But I won’t have my daughter being harassed because I happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

He lifted off the railing then, his eyes moving over her with suspicion and concern. “Or…maybe you were the right person in the right place at precisely the right time. Maybe that robber knew exactly where you were and how to get to you. Which is why, if you have anything else you’d like to tell either me—off the record—or the official investigators for the record, you’d better do it, and quick. Or you won’t be able to protect yourself or your daughter.”

With that he turned to leave. But he stopped on the steps to look back at her, then pulled a card out of his shirt pocket to shove toward her. “Take this. And call me if you need anything. Anything at all, okay?”

Julia took the card, her fingers moving over the etched lettering that included his name and work number. “Thank you.”

“My home number and cell are written on the back,” he added. “Again, off the record since technically I’m off the case.”

She turned it over to scan the scrawled numbers. “Are you always this prepared?”

“I do my homework, yeah.”

That sounded like a warning. As in, he wasn’t going to give up on this. And how could she expect him to? The authorities were trying to find a man who had tried to commit armed robbery. And she was caught right in the middle. It only made sense that every area of her life would be scrutinized and analyzed until they found some answers. But…she wasn’t the criminal, she reminded herself. She just prayed they’d find the man and this would end before she had to bare her past to all of them.

“I hope you find that man,” she said as he headed down the steps. “And I’m sorry I couldn’t help you more.”

He turned one last time, his fingers on the door of his car. “And I hope you learn to trust me, so I can help you.”

Julia watched as he got in a big black truck and drove away. Could she trust him? She remembered how she’d looked toward him the day of the robbery. His strength had given her courage. The connection she’d felt that day as their eyes had locked had stayed with her, making her think she had found a champion. But she was still afraid to tell him the truth. What should I do, Lord?

It was just too dangerous, too risky. Or was she afraid of more than her past? If she poured out her heart to Eric Butler, she could lose a part of herself all over again, the way she had with Alfonso. And she refused to give control of her life to another person ever again. She wanted to be the one in charge this time around. And that meant protecting her child.

Julia went inside where Moria had her coloring book and crayons out on the kitchen table. “Want a snack, honey?”

Moria bobbed her head. “Is that big man gone?”

Julia had to smile at that description. Eric Butler did cast a tall shadow. “Yes, he’s gone.” She sat down across from Moria. “Mr. Butler is one of the good guys, Moria. He’s very nice and he works hard to help people every day. You don’t have to be afraid of him, okay?”

“Okay.” Moria’s dark eyes looked solemn and unsure. “I wish he could have helped Daddy.”

“Me, too, honey,” Julia said. “Me, too.”

“Will that nice man keep them away?”

Julia’s heart went still at her daughter’s innocent question. “Keep who away, darling?”

“You know, the mean people.”

Wondering if Moria was beginning to remember something, Julia tried not to show the terror holding her heart like a vise. “What mean people, Moria?”

Moria kept right on coloring the picture of flowers in a big basket. “The ones I heard that night Daddy and I played hide and seek. They were shouting.”

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