My Baby’s Gone, Chapter 29

 

Luis sat in his cell, looking up at the ceiling. It had been several days since the FBI had interrogated, or attempted to interrogate him last.  He wondered why they hadn’t been back to see him.


“ Luis?”

 

Luis looked up to see his mother.


“ Mama.”

 

Luis came to the bars; Pilar took his hands.


“ Are you ok? Have they hurt you? “


“ I’m fine, Mama.”


“ Oh Luis, they’ve been to the house. They’ve turned everything upside down. They did show a warrant, but they really tore up the house.”


“ It was the FBI?”

 

“ Yes. And Alistair’s men.”


“ Did they hurt you?”


“ No. They didn’t touch me. They didn’t find anything.”, Pilar said with a smile.


“ Of course, they didn’t.”


“ I’m not supposed to be here. They’ve cut you off from all visitors, but Sam had pity on me, and the FBI men are eating at Sally Chow’s. Sam said I don’t have a lot of time.”


“ Mama, I’m fine.”


“ Luis, do you know where Sheridan is?”

 

“ Mama, I can’t involve you in such matters.”

 

Pilar looked at her son, and looked into his eyes. They were pleading with her to go along.


“ Fine.  I will not ask you anymore. I want you to be ok, Luis. The FBI is determined to send you to jail.”


“ As long as Sheridan is away from that place, she is safe, Mama. That’s all I care about. That’s all that matters.”


“ Your brother doesn’t share your opinion.”


“ Antonio is the SOB that put her in that hellhole. To say that I don’t give a damn what he thinks would be an understatement. How is Marty?”


“ He misses his Daddy. Luis, he needs his father.”


“ I know, but I’m in here.You’re helping, right?”


“ Of course, I am. Beth is still overprotective, but she’s been appreciative of the afternoons and nights I’ve been babysitting. “


“ Thanks, Mama. And, Theresa? Paloma?”


“ They are both fine. Theresa is furious with Antonio. She’s barely speaking to him, and Paloma is angry too. “


“ I don’t want them to hate him, Mama. His beef is with me, and I know them being mad at him hurts you.”


“ Luis, I’ve bent over backwards, because I blamed myself for Antonio leaving. But, I realize now that Antonio, though a child when he left, is now a man. And, he’s been a man for a long time. And, he had a choice. He could have called me. He could have written me. He could have telegraphed me. Anything to tell me  - his mother – that he was still alive. I am hurt by what that says about Antonio’s feelings towards me, but I accept it. I love all my children. I love Antonio. But, I’m through with sacrificing the son who stayed and worked for the family, through the good, bad, and awful. Never again shall I make you think otherwise, Luis. I’ll be here for you.”


“ Mama, thank you.” Luis kissed Pilar’s hands. “ Pray for me, Mama. Pray for Sheridan. Light a candle for her that she’ll find her way home.”


“ I will.”


Just then Sam came down. “ Pilar, Sally Chow’s called. The Agents just paid their bill.”


“ Luis, keep the faith.”


“ Yes, Mama.”




As they walked up the stairs from the holding cells, Pilar turned to Sam.


“ Sam, do you think Luis did it?”


“ No. I honestly don’t. But, I think Luis suspects who did, and he obviously believes that they’re helping Sheridan. Why don’t we talk outside?”


Sam and Pilar went to the small park across the street from the station.


“ Sam, who do you think is doing this?”


“ At first, I thought it was Alistair, trying to frame Luis. But, he’s too unsettled. Too unnerved. He’s throwing around way too much weight in an obvious way for it to be an Alistair maneuver. Then, my mind came to Julian.”


“ Julian? He and Sheridan have never been close.”


“ Yeah, I know that. But, this is a high end operation, Pilar. Took a lot of planning and skill to get Sheridan out. And, THAT took a lot of money. Crane-ish money. And, if not Alistair, then Julian. I’ve had men follow Julian. “


“ And?”


“ Well, I know that Alistair must suspect him too, because he has his own men following Julian too. But, in the days that we followed Julian, nothing happened. Nothing happened that was odd. No leads at all.”


“ Could it be a kidnapping for money?”


“ Thought about that too, but if that was the case, then a ransom not would have sent by now. “


“ But, what if..”


“ I’ve thought of that too. Even if she was kidnapped, and something went wrong, kidnappers with that kind of skill would have STILL called for a ransom. And then dumped the body. So, I believe Sheridan’s still alive.”


“ Good. What can I do about Luis?”


“ Luis has refused counsel, Pilar. It’s hard for me to help him, when he won’t get a lawyer.”


“ My oldest son hates my other son.”


“ Pilar, I know you try to be neutral.”


“ Sam, I understand. Sides have to be taken, and I’m on Luis’ side.”


“ So am I.”

 
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