Red Man Down(46)

‘The youngest in such a large family, I suppose …’

‘Yes. They get so much love when they’re small … maybe it gives them unrealistic expectations. He has always believed that everything should come to him easily – he’s never worked hard for anything.’

‘Does he still come home? Would I find him sometimes in your house?’

‘No, now that he’s not so pretty and often smells bad, I find I can resist him. He’s an impossible house guest – he can reduce a nice clean room to a pile of trash faster than anyone I’ve ever seen. Anyway, he won’t be visiting anybody for a while, because as of yesterday afternoon he’s back in the Pima County Jail.’

‘Oh?’ Sarah picked up her pen. ‘Has he been arraigned yet?’

‘Yes. You know, they do it right there in the jail now, on an electronic hook-up. Very sophisticated.’ She made a face. ‘Thanks to my son I know a lot about how Pima County Jail works.’

‘What’s the charge?’

‘Several charges this time – and rather severe, I’m afraid. Criminal trespass and home invasion … he inadvertently broke an expensive dish so they are charging him with, I don’t know, is it willful destruction? And several other property crimes. Then he tried to run, so there’s one about resisting arrest. This is his third arrest in three years and he drew Judge Mary Kahler, who is determined, they say, to teach recidivists a lesson.’

‘What was he trying to do?’

‘Somehow he became convinced there was no one home at a certain house in El Encanto. But the owner was right there, in his studio, painting. When he glanced out and saw a poorly dressed stranger breaking the lock on his back door he went into a bathroom with his cell phone and called the police. Joey walked out with an armload of electronic gadgets and met the patrolmen who were waiting for him.’

‘Do you know the name of the arresting officer?’

‘I suppose they told me but I forgot. Joey always makes light of what he calls his “brushes with the law.” And you know, till about three years ago, that’s all it was – some loitering, and once he got in a fight. He never could seem to keep a job, so he got in the kind of trouble young men find when they’re idle. But lately … he’s done more serious property crimes. We hired lawyers before, got his sentence suspended the first time and shortened the second. But this time I think the judge is determined to show him the law is no joke. She set the bail very high.’

‘Are you going to bail him out anyway?’

‘Well … not right away. He expects me to, of course. But I think we would all be best served if he sat still in there for a while.’

‘Then you will?’

‘I don’t know. They have all the evidence they need to convict him, so I think he will serve some serious time over this. And I’m thinking, why spend a lot of money for a few days on the outside? In the end he has to go back and face the music anyway, so he might as well get used to it.’

‘That’s very sensible. Does all the family agree?’

‘Yes. I told my other children, and Luz and Chico too, not to put up the money. They said, “Don’t worry.” So if you want to interview Joey,’ Teresa’s smile was sadder than tears, ‘I have made it easy for you.’

‘I’m so very sorry you had to make that hard decision.’

‘It wasn’t all bad,’ Teresa said with a new note in her voice. ‘Pilar was thrilled when she heard that I had decided on my own to refuse him. She said, “You see, it’s like riding a bicycle – it will come back to you.”’

‘Well, hey, a silver lining.’

‘About time, too. Sitting here talking to you has made me think back to what a strong and brave person I used to be. I’m going to take a refresher course in driving now. Why have I been putting it off? Maybe if I get my driver’s license back I can stop being such a … what’s that word my grandchildren use? A weenie.’

‘Good luck with that. Will you do me a favor, Teresa?’

‘If I can. What?’

‘If you do decide to put up bail for Joey, will you let me know?’ Seeing Teresa hesitate, she decided to lock it in. ‘Three other people are dead. Till we know where the credit union   money is, he might be best off in there where he’s safe.’

‘Oh,’ Teresa said, round-eyed with shock. ‘I never thought … Yes, of course. I’ll keep you advised.’

Rolling along I-10 on her way back into the city, Sarah put on her Bluetooth and called her friend, Greta Wahl, a guard at Pima County Adult Detention. She verified that José García was in pre-sentencing detention there. He had been brought in shortly after five the afternoon before, been fingerprinted and strip-searched, and was far enough along in his initial processing to have a visitor.