Ring of Lies (56 page)

‘
Hello, Jack.
Brought the little ‘un for a visit?
’

‘
Not exactly.
I’ll come straight out and say it.
I need you to look after Emilia for a few days.
Please.
’

‘
Where’s Rosa?
’
Maisie asked.

‘
She left
.
That’s because
I
threw
her out.
’

Maisie’s smile faded.
‘
Oh. I’m sorry, Jack.
I thought the two of you were trying to
make a go of things
.
’

‘
Not any more.
Look, I haven’t got time to
explain
. I’m sorry, guys.
I need your help like I’ve never needed it before.
’

‘
What about your friend, Grace?
She seems like a nice lady, c
an’t she help?
’
asked Frank.

Jack
grit his teeth as he
lifted Emilia out of the
carrier
and cradled her in his arms.
‘
Grace is part of an
on-going
investigation into her late husband’s affairs.
Two people
connected to him
have died already.
Grace
is in danger.
I can’t put my daughter at risk too.
’

Maisie looked at Frank.
‘
I don’t know, Jack.
We’ve got the inn and we’re getting
a little old for this kind of thing
.
Maybe we could
c
all your
sister
—
’

‘
I don’t have
time to take Emilia to Buffalo
,
’
said Jack.

‘
Now
,
Maisie, can’t you see the boy needs our help.
We’ve never let him down and we’
re not about to start now.
’
Frank said, taking Emilia from Jack.
‘
Don’t you
worry
.
Maisie and I’ll take good care of Emilia while you finish up your investigation.
’

‘
I really appreciate all you’ve done for me.
But I
need one more
favour
.
In case
anything happens to me,
I
’d like t
o
name you as
Emilia’s
guardians along with Charlotte.
I don’t want Rosa to have access
to her
under any circumstances.
I know that’s a lot to ask.
’

Maisie took a quick, sharp breath
.
‘
But Rosa’s her mother.
Besides, n
othing is going to happen to you
, Jack.
’

‘
Promise me, Maisie. Promise me you won’t let Rosa near Emilia.
’

‘
But—
’

‘
We’ll do as you say, Jack
,
’
said Frank.
‘
You’re
right to make provision for Emilia.
Cops and agents
face death every day.
Why, ju
st last month,
I saw on TV that the number
of cops being shot on duty was up twenty-four
per cent
from
last year.
’

‘
Thanks, Frank,
’
said Jack.
‘
I feel loads better knowing that.
’

Maisie nodded.
‘
You don’t need to remind
me
of the risks
Jack takes.
I worry about him all the time.
Jack, w
e’d be honoured to be
Emilia’s guardians.
’

Jack hugged
her
.
‘
Thanks.
I feel happier knowing she’s with people who love her.
’
He took out his wallet and removed a wad of bills.
‘
I packed
what clean clothes I could find
, but she’ll need formula and diapers.
This should
cover it
.
’

Maisie
pushed his hand away.
‘
No need for that
, Jack.
I’ll see she
gets
everything she needs
.
’

‘
Take it, please.
’

‘
All right,
’
Maisie said, tucking the bills into her apron pocket.
Now, how about a cup of coffee
and a slice of pie before you leave?
’

‘
I’m sorry, Maisie,
gotta go
.
’
He kissed her cheek.
‘
I
have to pick Grace up from headquarters and drive back to Boca Grande this evening.
’

‘
Here, Maisie,
’
Frank said, and carefully handed the sleeping infant to his wife.
‘
You take
our little sweetheart
while
I
walk Jack to his car.
’

Frank put an arm round Jack’s shoulders as they walked down the drive.
‘
Is Rosa likely to turn up with an attorney?
’

‘
That’d be the last thing she’d turn up with.
She couldn’t get away from Emilia fast enough.
She’ll be back though. For me
.
With reinforcements.
She’s just that kind of girl.
’

‘
In that case,
do your best to sleep with one eye open and never lose sight of your weapon.
’

‘
I’ll do my best.
’

Rosa paced the living room of her brother’s home, chain smoking as her mind raced through the events of the previous day. She wasn’t cut out for motherhood, so what? Jack could afford to employ a nanny to look after the child, so there was no reason why she couldn’t enjoy life as she had before the birth, seeing friends, shopping,
and
dancing until midnight.

She poured a measure of tequila into a shot glass and downed it one, then snorted a line of cocaine, just enough to give her a little buzz.

Maybe she was too hasty in giving into Jack’s demands that she move out of the condo. He had the child, which was what he wanted, but what about her?  Surely she was due some recompense for all the pain and discomfort she went through carrying the brat and giving birth. She refilled the glass, and sipped the contents. A familiar voice snapped her out of her semi-trance.

‘
What in
h
ell’s name are you doing here?
’

Rosa regarded her brother Ramon with impassive coldness. Short and thin, with
jet-black
hair and dark brooding eyes, he was the baby of the family and the most handsome.

‘
If you must know, Jack threw me out.
’

‘
You stupid bitch!
Jorge
will be furious. Why couldn’t you do as you were told for once?
’

Rosa whirled round to face him, walking calmly toward him.
‘
I’m sick of
Jorge
giving me orders. I had the brat, didn’t I?
’

Ramon stepped back.
‘
Jack gave you a home, money. You must really have pissed him off. Where’s the baby?
’

‘
I left the screaming brat on her own for a while,
okay? Jack found out, we argued
and he threw me out. The baby’s with him. End of story.
’

‘
The
cousins are
going to be real upset when they learn they won’t be getting green cards.
’

Rosa ground out her cigarette and took another out of the packet on the table, but didn’t light it.

‘
This isn’t about the family, money or green cards. This is about me!
’

Ramon ran a hand through his hair. Rosa had a volatile nature and arguing with her was getting him nowhere.