Page 65 of Embedded
“We did that yesterday,” the girl reminded her, and I immediately knew she’d emphasized that word for me.
Without drawing too much attention to myself, I scanned the room looking for anything to do with succulents. I checked the bookshelf first, but Bruno apparently had more of a taste for classic cars than gardening. Then I looked through the coffee-table books and entertainment center but found nothing. I moved into another room and came up empty there as well. That was when I noticed teeth was watching me, so I strolled into the kitchen, snagged a bright red apple from the top of a bowl, and headed to the sink to wash it. It was there I spotted three succulents sitting on a shelf near the sink.
I washed my apple slowly and studied the little pots. I had to try to find the connection as to why she steered me to them. I wasn’t getting it until I saw the way the plants were sitting. There was space for one more. In fact, there was a small water ring that proved there’d been four pots, not three.
I leaned back against the counter and tried to look casual as my mind started to spin. I spotted some loose soil that had fallen near the faucet. More soil could be seen on the counter. I bit into the apple and made a face when an awful taste hit my tongue. “Gross.” I flipped open the trash lid to toss it in and saw a battered succulent inside. On top of it was a receipt. I bent over the trash, and as I pretended to gag, I reached out and pulled a tissue from a box on the counter. I took the moment to glance at the American standing there with a grin on his face.
“Next time, choose a better one.” He slapped his leg and laughed like a hyena.
“Jerk,” I spat back and wiped my mouth.
I leaned toward the can again and studied the receipt. It was placed face up, and I could read yesterday’s date and saw a time stamp with a mountain time zone. I used the tip of my finger to move it and could make out the word Smith’s.
Huh.
I looked at the apple where it lay beside the succulent and noticed a sticker on it. A half a lemon sitting in a grocery cart stared back at me, and I immediately connected the dots. Smith’s Food and Drug store was a chain of stores in New Mexico. Had Bruno been there? I remembered the red stain on the bottom part of his cane and on his shoes. New Mexico had reddish brown dirt. Though so did a few other places in the US. My gaze moved back to the receipt; it must be something significant, or the maid wouldn’t have drawn my attention to it.
Had I just found my starting point?
FIFTEEN
BRUNO
“Tell me what you know.” I grew excited as one of my men filled me in on what he had discovered in North Carolina.
“It led to a dead end, but then how could a car just vanish like that? It’s in the middle of the woods. One second, I was following taillights, and the next they were gone. I’m close to finding the house. I can taste it.”
Heat surged like fire beneath my skin and awakened parts of me that I had suppressed for years.
But as fast as the joy went through, me it was replaced by a call from Mama.
Fuck.
“I’ll call you back.” I hung up and accepted the call. I tightly closed my eyes and wondered what in the world she wanted to yell at me for now.
“Mama—”
“I’m twenty minutes out. You better be at your place when I get there.”
The call ended, and I whirled to Armondo. “Get everything out. Get Nicole out of here.”
He pulled in his chin. “Where to?”
I thought for a moment. Mama was unpredictable, and I didn't trust she wouldn't leave someone to stay with me - to watch over me. She sounded very angry. No, I needed to play this out right. “Take her to the farm.”
His face dropped. “Are you sure that’s a wise idea?” I raised my head and shot him a careful look. “I just mean that’s your headquarters for everything you have going on,” he sputtered in Spanish. He saw my look and switched back to English. He held up his hands in apology. “It’s just that it’s your space now that your mother moved her business out of there. What if Nicole sees something she shouldn’t?”
“She won’t.” I didn’t have time to think everything through; I just knew Mama never went to the farm anymore. Since my uncle was killed, she said it held so many memories of her brother that it was too painful to return. “It’s the last place Mama would ever think I’d take someone.”
He hesitated, and I fought not to lose control. How dared he question my actions? “What?” I snapped. “You are very close to having your throat slit, Armondo, so speak carefully.”
“I have only your best interests at heart.” His earnest expression delayed his death. “Every time that woman is involved, situations seem to go sideways. Maybe you should kill the bitch. Look what she’s done already.” He glanced at my foot. “And now she’s back? You’ve killed for much less.”
I licked my lips as anger swept through me again, but I pushed it down and forced myself to think. Against my better judgement, I decided to reveal my plan. “If I kill the bitch now, she won’t live to see the one thing I want her to see. I have hurt her before, but it’s not enough. I want the satisfaction of seeing her bleed.”
“I understand, and that’s what I’m trying to say. The bitch needs to?—”
I held up my hand to stop him. Suddenly, I wanted him to see, as I did, my vision for her, for all she’d done. “I want her to see everything she cares about slip through her fingers. She sees herself as a savior to help the people and save Mexico. All those years of pain and sacrifice, I want her to see it gone.” I snapped my fingers. “Like sand in the wind, her life’s work will crumble and fall to nothing at her feet.” I paused to let my words sink in. “I want her to stand next to me and watch the soldiers fall, the so-called saviors of the north, and then she’ll see me rise from the ashes and claim my place at the top. All of Mexico will kneel to me, as she will. After I finish using her body, then I’ll kill her.” I could see it so clearly, and a thrill went through me. Then I focused on Armondo’s open mouth and made a motion for him to speak.
