No One to Trust - Iris Johansen [71]
“Will I?” She wasn’t sure of anything. “I don’t want him to hurt like this. He’s so little. He doesn’t understand.”
“None of us understands death. It sucks.” Galen led her toward the cottage. “I’m calling Logan as soon as I get you settled and asking him to take care of arrangements for Dominic and your brother. The authorities probably won’t release the bodies for a while.”
“I know. It doesn’t matter. I guess we should give Dominic a Catholic burial, but I don’t think he’d really care what happened to his body. He knew his soul wouldn’t be there anymore.” She paused. “Luis? I don’t know. I can’t think of him right now. Dominic would call him a lost soul and forgive him. But I don’t believe I can. Not yet. Maybe never.”
“Neither can I.” He opened the front door. “Let’s get you to bed.”
“I can get myself to bed.”
“I know you can. I’ll just feel better helping you.”
She was too numb to argue as he led her to her room and helped her out of her clothes and into bed. He got a washcloth and wiped her face and hands before sitting in a chair beside the bed. “Want to talk?”
She shook her head. “There’s nothing to talk about. It’s done. They’re dead.”
He was silent for a moment. “Do you blame me?”
“No, it was Dominic’s call. He did what he wanted to do, what he felt he had to do. You just went along with him.”
“That’s not quite true. I jumped at the chance he offered me. I was looking for any way I could find to keep you out of that garden.”
“Like you did that night when I went after Chavez at the ranch?”
He nodded. “I … found something in you. It had never happened to me before. I didn’t want to lose it.”
“It was wrong of you to shut me out.”
“I’ll never do it again. I promise you.”
She looked away from him. “Please. Go away.”
“Let me stay. I won’t talk anymore.”
“Please,” she whispered. “I’m going to cry now. I … can’t keep it back. I want to remember Dominic and do my grieving for him. It’s a private thing.”
He stood up and gazed down at her. “I want to be with you.”
She shook her head. “You can’t share my sorrow. You didn’t love him like I did. I have to say my good-bye.”
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “I’ll look in on you later.” He turned out the lamp.
The tears were already running down her cheeks as he left the room.
Think of Dominic. Think of the good times. Think of the gifts he’d given her, the laughter, the care, the understanding. Crush down the agony, think of Dominic, and say good-bye.…
Galen found Judd on the porch. “The boy asleep?”
“Out like a light. How is she doing?”
“Hurting, of course. After all, she lost a brother and her best friend.”
Judd nodded.
“After you jumped in the bomb truck, you asked whether Dominic was dead. Why didn’t you ask about Luis?” Judd smiled.
Galen gazed out at the lake. “I would have thought you’d be able to get that sniper before he shot Luis. You must not be as good as I thought you were.”
“We all make mistakes.”
“If it was a mistake.”
“What are you getting at?”
“Of course the sniper could have had orders to kill Luis if he fouled up or if there was a chance of us saving him.” He paused. “On the other hand, what if he didn’t?”
“The eternal ‘what if,’ ” Judd murmured.
“What if you did get off a shot at that sniper before he had a chance to fire his weapon? What if you swung the rifle back and took out Luis yourself?”
“Now, why would I do that?”
“You tell me.”
Judd tilted his head. “Hmm. You want me to play your little game? Okay. Why would I want to take out Luis? Let’s see … He was a drug addict who had betrayed Elena. Whether we saved him or not, he would be a weak link who would constantly endanger her and us. He would probably be a torment to her for the rest of her life. We would never be able to trust him if Chavez beckoned. Clear cold logic would dictate that he should be eliminated. Is that enough reason?” He smiled faintly. “Not that I’m admitting anything, you understand.”
“I understand.”
“Then I’ll see you in the morning.