Chapter 23
Sam arranged for Cal to take Rosa home and remain near her house for the rest of the night in case she decided to take a sudden trip. He would remain there until it was time for him to take her to Lee’s office the following morning. Of course, Sam didn’t mention the surveillance part to Rosa.
“I hope she doesn’t climb out the window,” Jill said. “Though I am convinced she thinks she saw Joel. I don’t understand, but if she did see the . . . bodies, then this could be her way of coping. People are unique in finding ways to cope when they have been traumatized. It’s my professional opinion this is what Rosa has been doing all these years to cope with her guilt.”
“She seems so damned sure of what she saw. We all know it’s impossible. I don’t know if we, Lee and his team, will be able to convince her that she could not have seen what she says she saw. Sam,” Tessa asked, “what do you make of her story?”
He rubbed the dark stubble on his cheeks. “She’s convinced she saw what she says she did. She thinks she saw Joel, so it might be something worth checking into.”
“You’re not serious, I hope,” Tessa barked.
“I am very serious, Tess. Tomorrow, we’ll have more to work with. Harry’s put the rush on the DNA, so we will have physical evidence if we can get a match on the bones. And remember the watch. Harry was able to get DNA from that as well.”
“And we all know Joel’s DNA will be on his watch. I can’t see how that is going to prove anything other than that the watch belonged to him.”
“It’s not the DNA so much but the time the watch stopped, the date. And where and when the watch was located. I packed that myself, so I can testify to that if it comes down to it, but personally, neither Lee nor I think this will ever hit the courtroom a second time. Michael Chen is an ass, but for an ass, he’s actually pretty smart. If his big, history-making case turns out to be a disaster, as it will since the victims were still alive after you had arrived in San Maribel, he’ll find a way to use it to his advantage. Lee seems to believe he’s going to make a run for governor.”
“Sam, do you think Rosa is telling the truth? You said you packed Joel’s watch yourself. It was in his desk. This was after his death. How do you explain that?”
Sam took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I can’t.”
“So what exactly does this mean? I know I’m wiped out, and you are as well, but I don’t think any of us actually believes that Joel put that watch in his desk for you or anyone else to find. Given the significance of the date and time, it’s impossible.”
Tessa was so mentally drained, it was becoming hard for her to apply reason and logic to the facts as they were becoming available to them.
“You’re probably right, Tess. But right now, I’m virtually certain that Lee can get your case tossed out; meanwhile, we will continue to dig deeper into what we find. I don’t want to be a bummer, but I’m calling it a night. I have got to get up with the chickens, and that’s not that much longer.”
Sam stood and stretched. His shirt was untucked, and when he stretched, he revealed a muscular waist. Tessa tore her eyes away before he caught her looking.
“I need to get out of here myself. I’ve got a client early, and I can’t reschedule, but I will cancel the rest of the week. I want to be here with you, this time, every step of the way,” Jill said.
“You can stay here; there’s plenty of room,” Tessa said, hating to see her leave. Their friendship had picked up right where it left off, and despite the years, and Tessa’s refusal of her letters and visits, it was just like old times. Easy and relaxed, with each knowing what the other thought before the words came out of her mouth.
“I know, and I will another time. Maybe tomorrow. I have a bit of reading to do when I get home, so I’ll call it a night. I’ll call you tomorrow as soon as I finish with my patient.” She leaned in and gave Tessa a hug.
“Watch yourself when you leave. Those media whores are still hanging out by the gates,” Tessa reminded her.
Jill laughed. “I’ll watch for them, and if they give me any crap, I’ll flip them the bird. That should give them something for tomorrow’s front page.”
Tessa laughed, too, and for the first time in a very, very long time, she felt just a moment’s happiness. “I don’t know if I’d go that far,” she added.
“Of course I would never do that, but I did get a smile out of you,” Jill said. “Are you okay? Seriously, do you think you’re going to be able to deal with . . . everything?”
“I’m just grateful for the chance,” Tessa said. “It was never going to be easy, I have realized that all along, but I want to do whatever I can to find . . . the person responsible.” She wanted to say Liam, not the wishy-washy “person responsible,” but she didn’t for fear she would actually slip up and tell Jill what she was planning to do when she found the bastard. Even though she had no formal plans, they had to find him first. Then she would seriously begin to plan his death.
“I’ll be here every step of the way,” Jill said. “Now, I’m going to sneak out the back.” She grabbed her giant tote bag, and Sam waited by the door.
“I’ll walk you to your car,” he said to Jill, then to Tessa, “Wait here.”
She sat down on the sofa, totally exhausted. It was almost midnight. Another long day tomorrow, but she didn’t care. She thought about Rosa and her absolute certainty that she had seen Joel running from the house. Covered in blood. It was so absurd, she couldn’t believe Sam was actually considering looking into her claims.
Tessa felt sure the watch found in Joel’s desk was . . . was what? Suddenly, she didn’t know what she felt so sure of anymore. Granted, none of this made any sense whatsoever, but she remembered that day. Horrified hardly described her reaction to what she had seen, but she clearly remembered that when she had seen Joel’s body by the pool’s skimmer, something about it hadn’t seemed right. It was Joel, she knew that, but she had always had a nagging thought that the man that was Joel, the bloated, decomposing Joel, had not been . . . Joel. Of course, scientifically, she knew why the body didn’t appear to be her husband’s body. The face was gone. Slashed so badly with the box cutter that the medical examiner’s office had needed DNA to make an accurate identification. And, of course, the DNA was an exact match, so what was it about his body that had bothered her all these years?
Everything, of course—he was her husband, the father of her children. Their twin daughters. As though jarred by a jolt of lightning, Tessa had a flashback from a conversation she and Joel had had years ago. They’d been having dinner at a fancy restaurant. She was pregnant with the girls.
Tessa asked Joel if there were identical twins on his side of the family. Joel had seemed angry at her inquiry, but then he’d brushed it aside, telling her he personally didn’t know of any twins, but she remembered he had said something about once having heard that there was a set a few generations before him.
Had she imagined his reaction to her question? Had he actually been angry? She didn’t remember the exact tone of the conversation, so it’s possible she was reading more into an old memory than she should.
But hadn’t he acted strangely when they learned that they were having twins? Yes, she was sure he had, but then he had explained it away by telling her it was scary enough being a parent to one child, even more so to two at once. Those might not have been his exact words, but they were close. And he had been rattled when she asked him about it later. She didn’t recall where the conversation had ended, but the discussion of twins had provoked Joel for some odd reason. Of course, once the girls were born, Joel was truly a devoted father. He changed diapers, helped with the 2:00 A.M. feedings, helped her bathe them.
Dear God, had he . . . No! She wouldn’t even allow her thoughts to travel down that sick road. Joel had his faults, but he was a good father.
Sam opened the sliding door, and Tessa jumped. She placed her hand on her heart. “I am definitely jumpy tonight,” she said, her voice sounding fake to her own ears. There was no way she would even consider sharing her thoughts about Joel with Sam.
“I think you’re just tired. Let’s call it a night, and tomorrow, we’ll get a fresh start.” Sam stretched again, and she looked away.
“Yes, I am bushed.”
“I’ll lock up and see you in the morning,” Sam said.
“Thanks, Sam. For everything,” Tessa said. “Night.”
“Good night,” he called out.
Tessa had planned to take a hot soak in the Jacuzzi tub, but she was too tired after the emotionally strenuous evening she had just been put through. She had showered earlier, and that would have to suffice. So she quickly washed her face. She brushed her teeth, reveling in the real toothbrush, not that flimsy excuse for one she had to use in prison, though she had to remind herself not to get too used to these things as there was no guarantee that she wasn’t going to return to FCI, although the chances that she would seemed to be vanishing since Rosa’s account of what had happened on Saturday, when her family was still alive.