Her voice trembled as she asked the next question.
“He called?”
“Yes. He told the police where to find the bodies. I don’t think anybody took it seriously. We’ve gotten crank calls like that before. People who say they know who the Devil is and want the reward or people confessing to be the Devil because they’re crazy. But this … this was different.”
“How is Geraldo taking it?”
“How would you think he’s taking it? He came out to the site briefly, but that was it. I haven’t seen him since.”
His wife placed her hand to her mouth, shaking her head slowly. Her eyes turned glassy as she started to tear up.
“I’m so sorry for him.”
“Me too. I don’t expect he’ll be in tomorrow. But maybe he will be. You know how those two didn’t have the best relationship.”
“Ramon, that doesn’t matter. She was his daughter. So what if they hadn’t spoken to each other in years? So what if they were estranged? She was his daughter.”
He leaned forward and took her hands in his, squeezed them tight. Leaned forward even farther and kissed her on the lips.
“I know. I can’t imagine what he’s going through.”
She wiped at her eyes as she stood up from the chair.
“I’ve had a long day. And I need to be there first thing in the morning. I should go to bed.”
He helped her clean up the kitchen and then followed her to the bedroom. He paused and entered the nursery. His baby daughter was asleep in her crib. He studied her precious face for a moment before he turned and exited the room.
His wife was already undressing in the bedroom. He had barely walked in when the phone rang.
He frowned at his wife.
“Are you expecting a call?”
She shook her head.
“No. And even if it was work, they’d call my cell phone.”
The phone rang again. It was the landline, and the only extension was in the kitchen.
His wife said, “Answer it before it wakes the baby.”
He hurried out of the bedroom and down the hallway to the kitchen. The phone was about to ring a fourth time when he snatched it off the wall and placed it to his ear.
“Yes?”
Samantha Lu asked, “How does your face feel?”
Thirty
For a long moment there’s silence, and I think Ramon has hung up the phone. But no—I can hear him on his end, breathing quietly. I’m tempted to ask another question when he speaks.
“What do you want?”
“We need to talk.”
“About what?”
“About what happened tonight.”
“I think it’s pretty clear what happened. You assaulted law enforcement.”
“Sorry about that. But to be fair, I did warn you.”
“Who are you, really?”
“I told you—I’m a tourist.”
“I initially bought your story about driving along the road and seeing the smoke. It seemed plausible that’s how you ended up at the murder scene. Now, I know you were full of shit.”
“How so?”
“I’m not going to waste my time going over everything that happened today. Why did you call me?”
“Because I want to make it clear I’m not your enemy.”
This answer clearly isn’t what he had expected, causing him to chuckle.
“You certainly have an interesting way of showing it.”
“Again, Ramon, I am not the enemy. In fact, I’d like to think I could be your friend.”
“What does that mean?”
“From what I can tell we both have the same objective.”
He’s quiet for a long moment, letting this sink in, before he clears his throat.
“Are you talking about the Devil?”
“Right now I want to find this guy just as much as you do. You seem like a straight shooter, Ramon. Which makes me think you play by the rules. You want to catch this guy, but you also need to follow the law. But me … I don’t give a shit about that.”
Again he’s quiet for a long moment before he speaks.
“Why were you at La Miserias tonight?”
“From what I heard the shooting was retribution for Ernesto Diaz’s death.”
The mere mention of Ernesto Diaz causes him to pause.
“How do you know about Ernesto Diaz?”
“Word travels fast. Is it true?”
He’s quiet for another beat, and then sighs.
“As far as we can tell, yes.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean, why?”
“Why was the town targeted for retribution? They clearly had nothing to do with Diaz’s death.”
Ramon snorts a derisive laugh.
“Why is the sky blue? Why do bad things happen to good people? That’s just the way it is. Fernando Morales is a bully. He likes to pick on people weaker than him. For some reason he felt Diaz’s death needed payback, but he clearly didn’t know who was responsible. So he took it out on the town. Why do you care, anyway?”
I don’t answer. I’m picturing the town square. Those twenty-eight dead bodies. The bride’s dress soaked dark with blood.
Ramon says, “What were you looking for earlier today?”
I blink, the question catching me off guard.
“What?”
“At the murder scene. After we had spoken. Before I told you you could leave. What were you looking for down on the beach?”
“I wasn’t looking for anything.”
“Whatever it is you were looking for, we will find it.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. But just remember what I told you—I’m not the enemy.”
“That still doesn’t excuse what happened tonight.”
“I guess it doesn’t.”
“You took my partner’s gun.”
“Yes.”
“You need to give it back.”
“Maybe one of these days.”
“If my partner or I see you again, we’ll have no choice but to arrest you.”
“Then let’s hope you don’t see me again. Good night, Ramon.”
From where I am on the roof of the building across the street, I have a clear view of Ramon standing in his kitchen. He waits there for a moment, holding the phone away from his head like he isn’t sure the conversation we just had was real. Then he sets the phone in the receiver and wanders out of view.
I stay on the roof for another couple minutes. Until all the lights go out in the house. Until it’s clear that everybody is
