The Body of Martin Aguilera (7 page)

“Your bathroom isn't dirty,” the sheriff said.

“Oh, I guess Gloria must have cleaned it,” Salvador said.

“You should see the one at the station. That's where I put suspects to make them confess.”

Salvador offered a weak chuckle.

Lewis was sweating profusely now, holding the boxes steady.

“Well, I can see you've got a lot of boots to unpack,” Manny said.
“Hasta luego, Salvador.”
The bell on the door sounded his leaving.

Lewis relaxed and the boxes spilled onto the floor. Salvador came running to the back.

“He's gone,” the merchant said.

“None too soon.” Lewis bent to collect the boxes.

“Forget those,” Salvador told him. “We have Martin's body.”

Lewis looked him in the eye.

“It's our religion,” the old man said.

“It's secret,” said Ignacio.

Lewis nodded.

“You have to promise you won't tell anyone,” Salvador said and quickly glanced out front.

“Just one person. Martin's grandson is in town.”

Salvador and Ignacio exchanged looks.

“He was with me in Fonda's.”

Ignacio hadn't liked any of the business and he liked this even less. “Martin never talked about no grandson.”

“He just showed up.”

“Okay,” Salvador agreed. “Tonight, you meet me and Ignacio beind the shop and we'll take you to see Martin. Some of our people are not going to like it.”

“Listen, all I want to do is examine the body. You won't even know I'm there.”

“We'll know,” Ignacio said.

“What time?” Lewis asked.

“Nine. It will be dark, then.” Salvador looked into the front of the store again. “You'd better leave out the back.”

Lewis did.

Lewis was hot, sticky, and breathing heavily in the alley. He leaned against the adobe wall of the shop in a shadow to try to cool off and calm down. He was in there hiding from the sheriff and it just didn't make sense to him. He wasn't a criminal. He stood up, straightened, and took deep breaths. He wasn't getting any cooler or drier. He walked to the end of the alley. At the street, he saw two men pushing a pickup into the Shell station. Thinking he might at any moment come across Manny, Lewis ran to help them. A young woman was behind the wheel and she smiled at him. He pushed and walked away once the vehicle was at the garage door. He went into the ice cream parlor where he knew it would be cool. He sat and nursed a vanilla cone slowly until it was gone. His shirt dry, he left.

Fat Leroi Hireles was behind the desk in the office of the Best Western. Lewis could see him through the window and was glad he didn't have to go in and talk to him. Leroi talked non-stop and was famous for not bathing. The blue, rental Camaro was parked in the lot.

Lewis knocked.

“Who is it?”

“Lewis Mason.”

Taylor opened the door and stepped away.

“How are you doing?” Lewis asked.

“I'm fine.” Taylor sat on the bed and looked at the television.

“What are you watching?”

“Some talk show. People on here would rather be with their pets than other people.” He wouldn't look at Lewis. “This guy wants to marry his cat.”

“Takes all kinds,” Lewis said.

“Listen, about last night. I'm sorry I got you into this.” Lewis looked at the people on television. “I'm going to see Martin's body tonight. Your grandfather was a Penitente. It's a religious group.”

“My grandfather was Catholic.”

“It's a Catholic group. I'll come by here just before nine.”

Taylor nodded.

Lewis felt awful, like a bad man trying to pull a scared man deeper into trouble. He got up and went to the door. “You don't have to go, you know.”

“I know.”

“See you later.”

Chapter Fourteen

Maggie and Laura arrived at the post office shortly after Lewis. Laura sat between the adults during the ride home. The child ate a chocolate bar. Lewis was quiet and Maggie asked no questions. Laura looked at her grandfather with candy on her lips. Lewis smiled and gave her his handkerchief.

“I had fun today, Papa.”

“I'm glad, honey.” He put his arm around her.

“Maggie and I have a surprise for you.”

“You do? What is it?”

“I can't tell.”

“I'll have to wait then, won't I?”

“Yep.”

“Did you get your business taken care of?” Maggie asked.

“Yes, some of it. I have to go into town and finish it up tonight.”

Silence.

“I put some gas in the car,” Maggie said.

“Thanks.” Lewis was looking out the window again. They had started up the mountain. Down on the flat, Lewis could see smoke rising from the dump. There was not supposed to be burning in the fill, but a fire always raged. He used to like going down there when the county could afford a guard, even if it was fat Leroi. Now, the smoke irritated his eyes and the heat was disturbing.

“Whose car is that?” Maggie asked.

Lewis looked at the strange car parked in front of his cabin. He didn't know anyone who owned a new, bright green Jeep. Maggie stopped beside it.

“Stay in the car,” Lewis said and got out. He closed the door and turned back. “Roll up the windows and lock the doors.”

Laura and Maggie did as he asked.

Lewis went to the door and tried the knob. It was still locked. He looked back at Maggie and Laura and shrugged. He came down the steps and walked along the side of the house, glancing in through the windows as he passed. He turned the corner. His heart stopped as he met another body.

Maggie pushed open her car door.

“Lewis.” It was Cyril Peabody.

Lewis let out a breath. “Christ, you nearly scared me to death.” He leaned against the house, waved back to the car. “It's all right.”

“I just came out to say hello,” Cyril said. “Didn't mean to startle you.”

“It's okay.”

Maggie and Laura joined them.

“Cyril,” Lewis said, “I'd like you to meet Maggie Okada and my granddaughter Laura.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Cyril said.

“Long way to drive just to say hello,” Maggie said.

Cyril smiled at her. “Well, actually, I was expecting Lewis to call.” He looked at Lewis. “When you didn't, I guess I started to worry. But now I can see that everything is fine.”

“Thanks for the concern.”

“Laura and I will start carrying in the groceries,” Maggie said.

Lewis nodded. “I'll be right there.” To Cyril, “Come in. Have some tea with us.”

Cyril looked at the full car. “I can see I've come at a bad time. I'm a bit rushed anyway.” He watched Maggie and Laura go into the house. “Cute kid.”

“Yes, she is.”

“How did everything turn out?”

“I suppose you heard they're calling Martin's death an accident.”

Cyril nodded.

“That's about it and I don't know what to make of it.”

Cyril looked like he didn't know what to say.

Lewis didn't want to go into detail about Fonda's and the Penitentes. He didn't really understand what was driving him and he was embarrassed and he didn't want to pull yet another person into the thick of the mess.

“Listen, I'd better get out of here and let you help with the unloading before you get into trouble. “He made a move toward his car.

“No, come on in, have tea and sit.”

“Sure.” Cyril helped carry in the groceries, then went back to the car.

“We'll get that other stuff later,” Lewis told him.

Cyril wanted coffee instead of tea. The men sat in the living room. Maggie and Laura went out for a walk.

“I guess I rubbed your friend the wrong way,” Cyril said.

“Maybe. It's a big step, her moving in here.”

“Oh, that's what's in the car. I didn't know. I really should leave and let you two get things squared away.”

“They've gone for a walk now.”

They sat quietly and looked out the front window at the view off the mountain.

“That really is some piece of real estate,” Cyril said of the plateau below. “That gorge is something.”

“Yeah,” Lewis agreed, sipping his tea.

“Again, I'm really sorry about your friend Martin.”

Lewis nodded. “He was a special fellow.”

“Were you very close?”

“Reasonably, I guess.” Lewis looked at Cyril. “What did you think of him?”

“He was really concerned about his dog. That's always a good sign to me.”

“Did he ever talk to you about anything?” Cyril asked.

Lewis chuckled. “That's a broad question.”

“I mean like his dog and what was wrong with it. Something seemed to be bothering him when he came to my office. More than just the dog.”

Lewis rubbed his chin. “I'm not recalling anything.”

The back door made a noise being opened.

“Thanks for the coffee, but I'd better let you, you know.”

Lewis smiled. “Yeah, Maggie can be tough, too.”

“I'll bet.”

“I'll be in touch,” Lewis said. “Thanks for coming out.”

Lewis walked the man outside where they shook hands. Cyril climbed into his Jeep. Lewis watched the car round the bend of the drive, then grabbed the first of Maggie's things to bring in. Maggie held the door for him.

“Cyril's the vet I told you about,” Lewis said. He put his load down on the table.

“What did he want?” Maggie asked. There was an edge to her voice.

“What's wrong, Maggie?”

“All this stuff is scary,” she said softly, mindful of Laura who was rinsing off a plum to eat.

“I know. It's okay though.” He hugged her.

“Mushy, mushy,” Laura said.

“The plum?” Lewis asked.

“No, you two.”

“Caught in the kitchen,” Lewis said and pulled away. “Oh, my God.”

“Let's get the rest of this junk out of the car and strewn about the house,” Maggie said. She continued to talk as she stepped outside, “Where it will remain for many years to come and when I'm asked…” She was outside and Lewis couldn't hear the rest.

“I think she's crazy,” Lewis said to Laura.

After unloading the car, Lewis stood in the living room and observed the disorder. “You weren't kidding,” he said to Maggie.

“I'm serious about my clutter.”

He looked at Laura. “Do I recall hearing something about a surprise?”

“You're not allowed in the kitchen,” Maggie said. “We're making you a special meal.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Laura said, her hands on hips in tough pose.

“I guess I'll see if I can't find the sofa and take myself a nap.” He looked at a pile of clothes on the sofa. “Where do you want me to put these things, Maggie?”

“Just dump them on the floor. I don't care.” With that, she and the child were gone into the kitchen.

Dinner was special. Maggie prepared ham, black-eyed peas, wild rice, a spinach salad and a sweet potato pie. Lewis sat back and put his hands on his belly.

“Ladies, that was the best meal I think I've eaten.”

“It wasn't bad,” Maggie said.

Lewis got up and started clearing the table. While Laura ate a second small wedge of pie, Maggie carried some things into the kitchen after Lewis.

“That was really something, Maggie. Thank you.”

She stood close to him. “I love you, Lewis.”

He smiled. “I love you, too. I have for some time. I don't know what's taken me so long to realize it.”

“Age,” Maggie said. “It's made you stupid.”

Lewis kissed her.

“Is it going to be dangerous tonight?” she asked.

“No, not at all. I think Salvador and Ignacio Nunez are going to take me to their
morada
. I'm going to look at the body and I'm going to leave. That's all.”

“I'm scared.”

Lewis felt badly for worrying her. He thought that if he had held off on this involvement of theirs, this stuff would be easier. But he had denied this woman and his feelings for as long as he could and perhaps it was this business that allowed him to take the step.

“I'll be back before you know it.”

Chapter Fifteen

Lewis drove into town wondering what he would see and what might happen. He turned into the lot of the Best Western and saw that the blue Camaro was not there. He found Ernesto in the office.

“Did Taylor say anything about when he'd be back?” Lewis asked before he was completely through the door.

Ernesto looked him over closely, then swung his feet off the desk to the floor and stood. “Checked out.”

“When?”

“Couple of hours ago.” Ernesto turned to the key boxes and grabbed an envelope. “He told me to give you this.”

Lewis opened it and unfolded the note. It said:

Dear Mr. Mason
,

Please don't get me wrong. I really appreciate how much you must have cared about my grandfather. I can't do this stuff. I'm just a truck driver. I'm going back to Seattle. The sheriff talked to me. I believe he died in the river. He was an old man. I'm sorry you lost a friend. I've got to get back to my job. I hope you find what you ‘re looking for.

Joseph Taylor

“Everything okay?” Ernesto asked.

Lewis balled up the note and stuffed it into his jacket pocket. “Yeah, fine.” He waved goodbye to Ernesto and stepped out into the night air. He looked up and tried to make out a couple of constellations. He found Cassiopeia low in the sky, then just the cap of Cepheus.

He got into his car. He looked back into the office as he waited to pull into the street and saw Ernesto using the phone. He drove downtown and parked in front of De la Peña's Restaurant, a few blocks from Salvador's shop. He walked past the ice cream parlor, crossed the street and went down the alley to the back of the House of Boots. Ignacio and Salvador were waiting beside a pickup.