With every cell in his body, Abundio still believed this wassomehowa crime.That Jacinta never would have killed herself of her own volition.Someone—something—must have tainted her mind, driven her insane.
He stood, swaying on his feet, and screamed for his man.He didn’t even know his name at this point.
“I want to go to the office.Immediately.”
“Sir?”
“You heard me!”He lobbed the glass at the fireplace, noting with fleeting satisfaction that the man reflexively flinched.“Get the car!”he screamed.“Now!”
The man raced out of the room.
Over the past few months, between dealing with the cartel and his—okay, yes,excitement—over becoming a father again, andfinallyto a son this time, he’d let Manuel and Miranda’s fever dream fade into the shadows.
Nothing else had come of it, and why waste his time and money—and energy—on something when he had more than enough to keep him occupied.
Including looking forward to raising hisson.
But even that was taken from him, and heneededto know why.
When they were in the car, he called his computer and office security people, as well as Jacinta’s administrative assistant, and ordered them all to the office.
The news had not yet reached them about her death, and they all sounded appropriately horrified and confounded, but only seeing them in person would tell him for sure if there was anyone who might be involved.
Emilita was dressed in a T-shirt and PJs, her hair up and messy, and still crying when she rushed into the office about four minutes after his arrival.
“Sir, please tell me this isn’t true!”
He studied her and immediately drew her in for a hug.Emilita had worked for him for over ten years, and she was never anything but dedicated to them and the company.That’s why he’d assigned her to work with Jacinta, because he knew she’d keep a close eye on his bride.
“Is there anything you can tell me about the day today?”he quietly asked, barely hanging on to his sanity.“Anything at all?”
She blew her nose and shook her head.“She seemed happy!She was smiling and chatted with us all at lunchtime.We were even talking about plans for her baby shower!”She viciously shook her head.“There isnoway I can believe she did this to herself.I’m sorry, but something must have happened.Is it possible the priest did it?”
He braced his hands on Jacinta’s desk, still not able to bring himself to walk around it and sit in her chair.“No,” he quietly said.“It is not possible.There were dozens of witnesses in the church.Was there nothing unusual about her day?”
She pulled another wad of tissues from her pocket and blew her nose.“No, sir.She arrived at her usual time.She was in a very good mood, too, because a friend of hers from university stopped by for a visit.”
He turned.“A friend?Who?”
She looked clueless.“When Jacinta arrived this morning, she said she ran into her here in the building and invited her up for a quick chat.The friend was here to see a dentist, I believe.She was also noticeably pregnant.”
“But you don’t have a name?”
“No, sir.Jacinta breezed right through, all smiles, and told me to show her back immediately as soon as she arrived.”
“How long did she stay?”
She started to answer, then scowled.“I… I don’t know, sir.”She blinked, distressed.“I can’t remember!”Horrified, she looked at him.“Do you think she did this to Jacinta?”
He snapped his fingers at the security and computer techs.“I want security video immediately from today for the whole building.And I don’t care who you have to wake up, I want people from every dentist office in this building called to find out who that woman saw.”
Emilita’s hands twisted, shredding the tissue.“I-I don’t understand why I can’t remember!”She turned to him.“It’s like the morning passed in the blink of an eye!I should be able to remember!She would’ve passed me when she left!”
He rounded the desk and sank into Jacinta’s chair, immediately lowering it because she was—had been—shorter than him.“Is it possible she could’ve left while you were in the restroom?”
“But I had Katrina watch the desk, as I always do.And she would’ve told me if anyone arrived or left.”
He leaned back in the chair.This had been his office; Miranda had not yet ascended into it, but he gave it to Jacinta because he didn’t want even the slightest association with his daughter to taint her aura.
