Sabotage Operation, page 15
“I understand, Officer Vega. Any information would be of assistance,” he said, and the young officer walked away.
But as she headed to the entrance to the ER where the police car with her partner had just pulled up, Trey marched through the door and joined them in the waiting room.
Trey stroked a hand down Teresa’s arm. “Are you okay?”
* * *
AM I OKAY? she wondered and looked away toward the exam rooms. With a shrug, she said, “As well as can be expected.”
Trey offered her a sympathetic smile and skimmed his hand down her arm again. “Esquivel owes you his life. Hopefully once he’s conscious he’ll realize that and help us with this investigation.”
She tilted her chin up a determined inch. “And if he doesn’t survive?”
“Let’s hope that’s not the outcome,” Trey said.
Matt blew out a disgusted sigh. “Not much of a plan.”
Trey nailed him with his gaze. “You’re right. It’s not. But I’ve got Sophie and Robbie working on the security feeds from the supermarket. Hopefully they will help identify Walker and once we get the DNA results later, it’ll be enough for the district attorney to get a judge to issue an arrest warrant.”
Trey gripped Matt’s shoulder and squeezed as if to reassure him. “This has been a rough few days. Why don’t you take the rest of the day off and go get some rest.”
Matt glanced at her from the corner of his eye, and she shook her head.
“We’ll just stay a little longer if you don’t mind,” Matt said, understanding that Teresa needed to be here more than she needed rest.
With a toss of his hands, Trey said, “I guess we wait.”
“No need for you to stay,” Matt said, but Trey was insistent.
“I want to talk to Esquivel as much as you and the police do. Let’s head to the surgical waiting room,” Trey suggested, and they walked out of the ER and made their way to the waiting area.
Trey plopped into one of the cushioned chairs and the fake plastic leather groaned with his weight.
Matt slipped an arm around her waist and guided her to a small sofa next to Trey’s chair.
She gingerly eased onto the sofa. Matt took the spot beside her and laid his arm across her shoulders.
The movement didn’t go unnoticed by Trey, but he said nothing. She was grateful for that. What she was unexpectedly feeling for Matt was all caught up in the maelstrom of emotions surrounding the attacks and what had happened barely an hour earlier.
In her mind’s eye she could still picture Esquivel lying there in a pool of blood. Him begging her as he’d seen her and realized the woman he was trying to kill might be his only salvation.
For a hot second she had been tempted to do nothing. To just let him die in the hope that the threat would die with him. But she couldn’t and not just because she wanted to know why Esquivel wanted her dead.
She just couldn’t let another human being die.
Matt must have sensed her upset since he rubbed her shoulder and drew her closer. “You’ve got to stop thinking about it.”
Maybe in his world that was how you learned to deal with things. You acted when needed and then you stopped thinking about it. But as she met Matt’s caring blue gaze, it was clear he was thinking about it. About her and all that had happened.
She offered him a tender smile and cupped his jaw. “Gracias.”
His brow furrowed and his gaze narrowed in puzzlement. “For what?”
“For understanding. For having my back.”
“Always. I’ll always have your back,” Matt said. Relief swamped her and when he pulled her closer, she nestled into his side.
Trey eyeballed the gesture once again and his lips thinned with worry. Because she didn’t want to cause any problems for Matt at work, she straightened slightly and created a little space from him.
* * *
MATT GAZED AT Teresa as she put some distance between them. Puzzled, he looked upward, and realizing Trey’s interest, he moved his arm away, clasped his hands and hung them between his legs. Needing to dispel the nervous energy in his system, he bounced his legs up and down, mentally counting down the long minutes until a doctor walked out of the staff area.
The doctor wore pale blue scrubs and appeared to be in his early thirties, with short-cropped, black hair. Handsome if those preppy-looking types were your thing.
They rose and the doctor approached, his hazel-eyed gaze guarded beneath a furrowed brow. “I’m Dr. Halston. I’m the surgeon who operated on Mr. Esquivel. Are you here for him?”
“We are. South Beach Security Agents Gonzalez and Perez,” Matt said and then gestured to Teresa. “Ms. Rodriguez was a former employer.”
The doctor’s eyebrows flew upward. “No family?”
Matt glanced at Trey, who said, “Police are trying to track down his daughter. For now, we’re here since Mr. Esquivel is involved in a case we’re investigating. How is he?”
The doctor hesitated, clearly worried about the breach in normal protocols, but then, with a slow tilt of his head he said, “Mr. Esquivel came through the surgery but there was substantial damage to several internal organs. He’s unconscious right now and should survive, although his recovery will be slow.”
Matt nodded. “When can we speak to him?”
A weary shrug lifted the doctor’s shoulders before he said, “He may be unconscious for hours, but unless you’re family, hospital policy won’t permit you to visit.”
Frustrated, Matt ran a hand through his hair and said, “Esquivel is involved in several attacks against Ms. Rodriguez. We need to speak to him about those attacks.”
The doctor tossed his hands up in the air. “And I need to follow hospital policy. I’ve already told you too much as it is. If you need anything else, contact the hospital administrator or better yet, have Miami PD interview Mr. Esquivel.”
“We had planned to do just that. In the interim, you should know that the man who stabbed Mr. Esquivel is armed and dangerous and may try to finish the job. You should arrange for extra protection for your patient,” Trey said and jerked his head in the direction of the elevators.
Matt took the hint and laid his hand against Teresa’s back to urge her there, and Trey followed them. At the elevator, Trey pushed the button and said, “We’ll ask the PD to work with us to interview Esquivel and put a uniform at his door but that may take some time.”
As they boarded the elevator, Trey’s phone rang, and he answered. He listened quietly, a grim look on his face that slowly relaxed as his lips tipped up in a smile. “That’s good news, Roni. I’ll let them know.”
He ended the call and faced them. “The PD’s DNA results are in and confirm Walker was the one who shot at you. Sophie and Robbie have been able to do screen grabs from the video that show a man who looks like Walker in the supermarket.”
“That should be enough to secure an arrest warrant,” Matt said as the elevator stopped, and they walked out into the hospital lobby.
“Combined with your testimony it should be. The detectives on the case have finished processing the scene and have asked that you meet them at headquarters so they can interview you,” Trey said.
Against his hand, Teresa’s body was shaking badly despite the brave face she had put on so far. It hurt his heart to know she was hurting so badly and that he could do so little right now to make her feel better. So he did the only thing he could think to do.
Chapter Seventeen
“I think it’s time Teresa went home and got some rest,” Matt said, ignoring his boss’s request.
Teresa’s body trembled with fatigue and nervousness despite Trey’s good news about the DNA and video evidence. With a bob of her head, she said, “No, that’s okay. I’ll go. Anything that will help end this nightmare.”
“Detectives Mattson and Cross will be waiting for you. I think you know them, Matt,” Trey said with a sharp look in Matt’s direction.
“I do. They’re good guys, Teresa.” He took hold of her hand and twined his fingers with hers.
“I guess we should go,” she said, and after bidding goodbye to Trey, they walked out to their car and made the half-hour drive along Miami streets to police headquarters.
Matt parked and they hurried across the brick-and-cement paths in the plaza in front of the building, a low-rise modern structure with dark red columns and mirrored tile. A multistory, rounded tower with more mirrored tile sat like a guard to the left of the entrance with its floor-to-ceiling glass. They pushed through the entrance and to the receptionist desk where Matt asked for the two detectives.
“I’ll let them know you’re here. Have a seat,” the receptionist said but Teresa was too anxious to sit. Instead, they walked to one side of the waiting area and stood by the windows.
“Relax,” Matt said as she wrapped her arms around herself and looked away from the waiting room filled with people and out to the plaza area. A white police car emblazoned with green and gold stripes and the police department emblem in gold pulled up in front of the building and parked. Two uniformed officers exited the car, and she recognized them as the officers who had interviewed them earlier.
It was Officer Vega who saw them standing by the windows and walked over as soon as she entered the headquarters.
“I assume you’re here to see the detectives?” she asked and when Teresa nodded, she added, “We’re headed there as well and can take you.”
She and Matt followed the officers, clearing security and riding up to the floor where two detectives were waiting for them. The first detective, an older gentleman, introduced himself. “Detective Dante Mattson. This is my partner, Detective Alicia Cross.” He gestured to the younger blonde woman next to him.
“Good to see you again, Perez. Private life seems to agree with you,” Detective Cross said with a too friendly smile.
Jealously flared through Teresa and she thrust her hand out. “Nice to meet you. Teresa Rodriguez.”
Cross’s upturned smile dimmed a bit, and she shook Teresa’s hand, not that she had much choice since she’d almost stuck it in the detective’s face.
“If you don’t mind, we’d like to get your statements on today’s incident,” Mattson said, a kindly look on the warm brown skin of his face. He motioned them toward a nearby interview room with a sweep of his arm.
Teresa hurried to that room, Matt and the two detectives close behind her. When she sat, Matt took a spot beside her while the detectives positioned themselves across the way.
She told herself it wasn’t “us” against “them” since there was no doubt that she and Matt had nothing to do with Esquivel’s stabbing, but somehow it felt that way to her. As Matt twined his fingers with hers and tenderly squeezed, it was almost as if he was reading her mind and trying to quiet her unease.
Detective Mattson spoke first, his voice deep and soothing as if he, too, sensed her anxiety. “We understand there have been a series of incidents directed at you and your business.”
“It’s why I reached out to SBS,” she admitted and glanced at Matt from the corner of her eye.
“And you believe Mr. Esquivel is behind these attacks?” Cross said, her probing gaze drifting between her and Matt.
“Mr. Esquivel and a Finn Walker. I believe you have DNA evidence and a partial print that connects him to the case,” Matt clarified.
Mattson and Cross shared a quick, almost disbelieving, look before Cross said, “And this Walker is the individual you saw leaving Esquivel’s hotel room?”
Teresa quickly nodded. “Butter—Matt’s dog—picked up Walker’s scent in the courtyard between the casino and the hotel. We followed Butter and as we reached the second floor, we saw a man walking out of the room. It looked like Walker.”
Matt jumped in with, “Butter signaled he was the source of the scent. Butter and I gave chase.”
An uneasy silence followed, and Mattson skewered her with his gaze before flipping through his notepad. When he stopped on a page, he paused as if to read it and then said, “When Mr. Perez was chasing the unsub—”
“Unsub?” Teresa asked, not understanding the term.
Matt gently squeezed her hand and said, “Unknown subject, only we know who he is.” Matt glared at Mattson and said, “It’s Finn Walker. I’m certain you’ll be able to pull fingerprints and DNA from whatever was used to stab Esquivel.”
“No weapon was found at the location. Where was Esquivel when you entered the room, Ms. Rodriguez?” Mattson said and scrutinized her again, his voice now direct and almost accusing.
Her heart stopped beating for a long second before it started hammering furiously and so loudly she almost didn’t hear the detective as he pressed her for an answer. “Ms. Rodriguez?”
“You can’t possibly be suggesting that Teresa—”
Cross jumped to her feet and jabbed her finger in the direction of the door. “Mr. Perez. Maybe it’s better that you step outside while we speak to Ms. Rodriguez.”
Her tone made it clear that it wasn’t a suggestion.
Matt slowly rose, but then leaned close and whispered in her ear, “You can do this.”
Teresa met his gaze, offered him a strained smile and nodded. “I’ll be okay.”
With that, Matt left the room and the questioning continued.
“Where was Esquivel when you entered the room?” Mattson repeated.
Teresa splayed her hands on the table, inhaled slowly and then answered. “He was on the floor and there was a lot of blood. I got some towels and tried to do what I could to stop the bleeding. Then I called 911.”
Cross leaned forward, closing the distance between them, and challenged, “You helped Esquivel even though you thought he was behind the attacks against you?”
Teresa held her hands up in a “you’re kidding” gesture and parried with, “If you found an...unsub...who was injured, wouldn’t you help them even though you thought they’d committed a crime?”
That seemed to set Cross back, since the other woman sank into her chair and said, “Are you willing to provide us with a DNA swab and fingerprints?”
“I have nothing to hide. I did not stab Warner Esquivel,” she said with total conviction.
“Great. I’ll go get the swab kit and fingerprint scanner.” Cross shot to her feet and left the room.
* * *
MATT WAS PACING outside the interview room when Detective Cross came storming out and nearly tripped over Butter, who was sitting by the door to the room.
He reached for her arm and stopped her. “You can’t possibly think that Teresa had anything to do with Esquivel’s stabbing.”
Cross glared at his hand, and he shifted away and held his hands up in apology. “Sorry, Alicia.”
The apology softened her attitude, but only slightly. “As a former officer, you of all people should know we have to investigate every lead,” Cross said.
“Teresa is the victim here. Esquivel is involved in the attacks against her,” Matt urged, hands held out in pleading.
“Which gives her a motive to hurt him. She had the opportunity as well since you were off chasing Walker,” Cross pointed out and continued, “You might remember that from when you were a cop. We have to investigate every possibility.”
She didn’t wait for Matt’s reply, hurrying down the hall and leaving Matt to pace back and forth again until she returned with a swab kit and fingerprint scanner. With an angry glare in his direction, Cross swept past him and, avoiding Butter who stood by the door, pushed into the room.
It seemed like hours before Teresa exited the room, pale and shaken, followed by the detectives.
He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. Her body trembled against his and he tried to soothe her. “They just have to investigate every angle.”
“I know,” she said but her voice lacked conviction.
“Let’s head home. Check on Alejandro and his mama,” he said and her body visibly relaxed.
“That sounds like heaven.” She smiled, only this time the smile reached up into her eyes, turning them a deep green.
“I’m glad it does. Come, Butter,” he said, and the dog rushed to Teresa’s side as if aware she needed the support.
“Good girl,” Teresa said and rubbed the top of her head.
Normally Matt wouldn’t want someone petting his K-9 partner, but he suspected Teresa might be a more permanent part of his life in the future. If she was, bonding with Butter would be a good thing.
With that thought, he hurried them out of police headquarters and to Teresa’s SUV. As a precaution, he had Butter check the area around the vehicle, but she didn’t pick up on any scent. He hadn’t thought Walker would be so bold as to come near police headquarters what with all the CCTVs in the area, but he wasn’t willing to take any chances.
Once they were in the car and driving to the stables, Teresa said, “Why do you think Walker tried to kill Esquivel?”
That question had been bouncing around in Matt’s head since he’d lost Walker in the supermarket and returned to find that Esquivel had been attacked. But all the answers were troubling and would only worry Teresa.
“I really don’t know,” he said with a reluctant shrug.
Teresa hesitated for a long second. “You do know but you won’t say. I can handle it, Matt.”
He blew out a harsh breath and shook his head. “I’m sorry. I just don’t want to worry you,” he admitted.
“Because you think Hollywood sent Walker to tie up loose ends?” she said, voicing his worst fears.
With a nod, he said, “If Hollywood is behind this—”
“It’s the worst possible scenario. No one crosses a mobster like Hollywood,” she said and inhaled shakily.
