Red Man Down(38)

Sarah was surprised. ‘If she was so intelligent why did he find her working in a used clothing store? And what was he doing in that store, by the way?’

‘Well, you know, that’s another family story that’s not quite accurate. I mean, it’s true she was making her living selling used clothes. But they met at one of those do-gooder events that Frank was always dragging Eddie to. Poor Eddie, I don’t think he ever did anything for fun, as an adult, until he found Angela. She gave him a life at last, and he loved her for it.’

‘But why didn’t she have a better job?’

‘I have often wondered. All I can say is there must have been a story there but she did not choose to share it with me. But then, you know, I was the mother who let Eddie go, so … Angela never talked to me much about anything.’

Sarah looked at her list. ‘Well, of the two I haven’t talked to yet, Pilar and Joey … sounds like Pilar will be the easiest to find.’

‘Yes, she will. Not forthcoming, I’m afraid, but reliably there at that same address.’

‘Your relationship is not warm?’

Luz chuckled. ‘Our relationship would curdle milk. Pilar disapproves of me.’

‘And if I find Joey, will he have anything to say about Angela? Did they get along?’

‘I doubt if they ever met. Joey does not usually show up at family parties. People might want some of their things returned. Joey is not a credit to the family, we all agree to that. He was the youngest of ten children and I think Papi was getting too tired by then to dust him off. That’s what Papi called it when the boys needed a touch of the belt.’

She held up her glass. Sarah got up and poured water into it and Luz took a long drink, sighed, and put it down. She was getting tired, Sarah saw, so she asked quickly, ‘Can you think of anyone who had a reason to want Angela out of the way?’

‘Oh, well, Detective, speculation is always amusing, but you know, from where I sit now …’ she waved a languid hand, ‘… I don’t see much.’

After you just showed me you see everything from here. Surprised to find herself feeling friendly toward this shrewd woman whose life seemed to have been one long folly, she smiled into the ruined old face and thanked her. ‘You’ve been very helpful. I hope I haven’t taken too much of your time.’

Luz wiggled her fingers dismissively. ‘I have nothing else to do. Which, believe me, is not as bad a situation as everybody seems to think.’

Pilar’s married name was Campion. She lived in a tidy tract house in Marana, with a vest-pocket pool shaded by desert willows. Her eyes were dark and beautiful like Cecelia’s, but her glossy black hair was cut short and her body had been to the gym. Lithe in jeans and an untucked shirt, she led Sarah to a pair of facing couches in a dim, cool living room. A couple of middle-school girls in braids, doing homework in the study, smiled politely.

‘My high-school boys have practice today,’ Pilar said. ‘Basketball and soccer – they both made the team they wanted this year. So we have some time to talk before the house gets noisy. Soon as you finish that,’ she told the two little girls, closing the study door, ‘you can watch your game show.’ A flat-screen TV beckoned from the console – Pilar’s house was old-school American Dream.

‘Good. I won’t take too much of your time,’ Sarah said. ‘First, let me say I’m sorry for all your losses. Your family has had one calamity after another, hasn’t it?’

‘What? Oh, you mean Ed and Frank? Well, I think some members of the family took those things pretty hard. But we … my husband and I … are quite occupied with our own family …’

‘I suppose. Four children, is it? Plenty to do.’

‘Yes. And we both have mothers to look after now too, so … we try to get together with the clan for big events like weddings and funerals but, otherwise, we pretty much go our own way.’

‘Oh … your mother is … forgive me, I guess because everybody spoke of your father’s old age and death … but your mother is still with you?’

‘Yes, actually Mom is still in her early sixties. A little younger than Luz and Chico – and in good health, fortunately. But because she was always a homemaker and left decisions to my father, she has had a hard time establishing an independent life. So we try to help her with that.’

‘I see. Was she as fond of Frank Martin as all the rest of you?’

‘Well … she felt sorry for him when his wife died, I suppose. I was a child then, I don’t remember much about that time.’ Pilar seemed cool about many things the other Garcías were passionate about. In this volatile family her manner was surprisingly circumspect. Sarah had come into her house expecting a nun-like woman with modestly downcast eyes who strung rosaries around pictures of a crucified Savior. But everything about Pilar’s surroundings and demeanor bespoke a modern woman cherry-picking her influences to suit herself. The pictures on the piano included one of Pilar radiant in a white wedding dress and veil, on the arm of a grinning young man who looked decidedly mainstream Anglo.