Page 66 of Look for Me

From Pilar, Martin found out that Flavian had passed away at the hospital. Martin wanted to be there for Corinne, but Agent Tanaka said she wasn’t available. The only way Martin could see her was if Corinne herself asked for him.

He prayed that she would.

Her job done, Pilar had driven back to Key Largo to pack up her things and check out of her hotel. Before she left Florida for good, she wanted to have coffee with Martin.

Martin was in no mood for coffee, but he met her anyway at a beach restaurant near their hotel. He had returned to Key Largo with Pete and Angelina.

It was Saturday afternoon, hot as can be, and yet there were sunbathers on the beach, roasting their skin—and their children’s skin.

Speaking of children, Martin wondered how Dahlia was doing. The poor child was now fatherless, although something else could be said about having a criminal for a father. A father was a father, regardless.

Thoughts of Dahlia led Martin back to Corinne.

And he lost his appetite for the soup in front of him.

Across their outdoor table, Pilar seemed to be studying him. “I talked to Tanaka. Corinne is grieving. Give her time.”

“She said, ‘You never lost me.’ I thought she was talking to me, but now I wonder if she meant Flavian.” Martin turned away from Pilar, embarrassed at having spoken his mind.

“Fog of battle.” Pilar finished her salad. “The next time you see Corinne, ask her to clarify her statement.”

“I wanted it to be me, but…”

“It must be awful to be in such a circumstance.” Pilar asked the server for a refill of her lemon water.

“Have you ever been in love?” Martin asked, trying to take his own mind off Corinne.

“Well…” Pilar seemed to be thinking about the question. “Yes and no. Yes, when I was sure he was the one, but no, when he was clearly not the one.”

“Are we talking about the same person here?” Martin chuckled.

“Yes, unfortunately.”

“How long ago was it?”

“Six months ago.”

“I’m sorry. Must have hurt.”

“Worse than a gunshot wound, I can tell you.”

“That bad?” Martin had no idea what that meant since he had never been shot before.

The last time they tried to shoot Martin, Flavian had taken the bullets in his spine, and lost his life the next day.

“I tell myself that God is sovereign,” Martin said. “I couldn’t leave Flavian behind. I had to carry him out. His legs were broken, you know? I couldn’t leave him behind.”

“You said that twice.”

“I know, but I couldn’t leave him behind.” Martin blinked. “The only way to get him out of there was to put him on my back.”

“He became a shield for you.” Pilar leaned back in her chair. “Like you said, God is sovereign. When God protects you—or provides for you—in unexpected ways, don’t question it. Accept that God is sovereign over life on earth. It is His to give life and take away life.”

“But Flavian might not be saved.”

“I would caution you not to saybut. That could mean that somewhere in your heart, you’re judging what God allows.”

“He allowed it. I agree with that.”

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