The Way of the Guilty Part 9

Unfolding the Love Motors newsletter, Edward shoved the photo in front of the storeowner. "Miguel Ramos recommended recommended you, bro. You trying to tell me he sent us to the wrong place?" Edward inserted an element of hostility into his tone and it came out sounding like a low growl. you, bro. You trying to tell me he sent us to the wrong place?" Edward inserted an element of hostility into his tone and it came out sounding like a low growl.

Without taking more than a brief glance at the photo, the man said, "You got hundred big ones, then you can go to the back. If not, go find ATM."

"I've got it," Cooper answered and strode through a set of pink bead curtains as though she'd shopped for a fake ID dozens of times before.

The back room of the video store was filled with scanners, printers, computers, and a camera on a tripod facing a blank screen.

"I'm Hector. You pay me first." A young man looked them over. "A license costs a hundred bucks. Social Security card will be another seventy-five. Both of you?"

"Just me." Cooper handed Hector the money and followed his instructions as he tinkered with the camera. Reaching behind him, the fingers of his right hand flew over a computer keyboard while he adjusted the camera lens with his left. Edward took an interest in a state-of-the-art laser scanner.

"Don't touch anything!" Hector ordered sternly.

Cooper tried to relax, to act like she belonged in the back room of a decrepit video store purchasing false doc.u.ments. "So, do you know Miguel?" she inquired. "He told me about this place."

"I know fifty Miguels," was Hector's neutral response.

"This one worked at a car dealership," Cooper elaborated.

A shadow crossed Hector's face and then quickly disappeared. "Haven't seen that little cabron cabron for a while. His for a while. His cojones cojones too big to hang out with his old posse. Miguel and his ..." he muttered something under his breath and Cooper thought he mentioned China and the word too big to hang out with his old posse. Miguel and his ..." he muttered something under his breath and Cooper thought he mentioned China and the word blanco blanco, but she couldn't be sure.

"Well, I'm looking for him, too," Cooper pressed on. "b.a.s.t.a.r.d owes me money." She put on her best indignant frown.

Snapping a few photos, Hector laughed. "Man, you look p.i.s.sed! They wouldn't let you look like such a she devil down at the DMV. I should know-mi tia works there. Give Hector a smile, works there. Give Hector a smile, mamacita mamacita."

Cooper did as she was told and within twenty minutes, she was handed a new driver's license and Social Security card for a woman by the name of Erica Rollins.

"You're good," she blurted in astonishment and Hector grinned.

"Top-of-the-line equipment," he said, his chest puffed out with pride. " 'Cept for the Social. I didn't have to make that one and Erica won't even know someone else is usin' it." He smirked.

So he's got stolen IDs, too, Cooper thought and did her best to look impressed by the variety of Hector's wares.

As she and Edward made to leave, Hector grabbed her by the coat sleeve. "You tell Miguel I'm ready to whip his a.s.s on the court again." His dark eyes met Cooper's and then he glanced back over his shoulder toward the beaded curtain. "You'll never see a single buck of what Miguel owes. Forget about the money. I'm telling you this because I like you. You try to get paid, you get snuffed. You hear me?"

Suddenly, there was a distinctive throat-clearing sound behind Miguel. The store clerk was giving Hector a ferocious stare.

"You come back if you need more of Hector's perfect papers, si si?" The young man gave her a little shove toward the front room.

It was clearly a dismissal.

Climbing into Edward's cab, Cooper suddenly felt exhausted. The press of bodies in The Flood Zone, the conversation with Rich Johnson, the harshness of the winter air as they'd walked to Edward's car, followed by an illegal transaction in the rear of a grimy store had left her drained.

"You did okay in there," Edward spoke to her for the first time since they'd entered Doc Buster's.

Cooper was warmed by his praise. "What's mica mica?"

"Spanish slang for IDs. I greased that guy's palm in the club bathroom and he told me about the video store. I've seen him around. He's kinda the go-to guy for this part of the city. You want something-he knows where you can get it. He gets paid by the customer and and the seller." the seller."

"Did he know Miguel?" Cooper asked hopefully. She hated to think that the evening's efforts were fruitless.

"Just that he remembered sending him to the same video store about six months back. Says he never forgets a face."

Edward pulled into the parking lot behind The Flood Zone. He kept the engine running but released his seatbelt. Cooper had been wondering how the night would end and what demands Edward might make on her for a.s.sisting with the investigation. Part of her wanted to bolt from the car, but her body betrayed her and she turned to him-fearful, uncomfortable, and yet filled with desire.

At that moment, there was a knock on Edward's window and Cooper let out an involuntary cry of alarm. A face appeared on the other side of the gla.s.s. It was Rich Johnson.

The undercover officer slipped into the backseat and popped a stick of gum into his mouth. He was as refreshed as Cooper was drained. "So what movie did you kids rent?" he questioned casually, as though it weren't after midnight and they weren't sitting in an idling car in the middle of a dark parking lot.

"Nothing looked good," Edward replied flatly, but Cooper's heart was in her throat.

Am I going to get arrested? she wondered and held her breath. she wondered and held her breath.

"n.o.body's made a decent movie since Forrest Gump Forrest Gump." The policeman leaned forward and handed Cooper a business card. "In case you ever need to reach me."

He clapped Edward on the shoulder. "Colonel. I'll spread the word about your cab service. I know some women who'd feel safer calling a stand-up taxi service late at night. I'm certain they'd be in good hands with you. Have a nice evening."

Cooper exhaled and dug her truck keys out of her purse. "That's it? He's just going to let us go?"

"It's how he works." Edward gazed out into the starless sky. "And he hasn't let us go. He's going to show up again without us even knowing. I told you, he's freaking Batman." He sighed. "And now the Dark Knight has got his eye on you."

9.

"He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pa.s.s away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed."

Daniel 7:14 (NIV) During worship service the next morning, Cooper could barely keep her eyes open. She'd arrived late, missing the first set of praise songs, and tried to sneak in as the music leader paused to introduce a new band member.

As Cooper peered around in search of a vacant seat, Jake stood up and waved her over to his row. The empty chair was situated between Jake and Quinton, but Quinton didn't even glance in her direction. His eyes were fixed upon the plus-sized woman onstage as she smiled at the congregation and accepted the microphone from the lead singer.

"Thank you so much for welcoming me to Hope Street. My goal is to integrate a few Spanish hymns into our eleven o'clock service so that our Spanish-speaking friends feel at home." She indicated a cl.u.s.ter of dark-haired worshippers seated in the first ten rows. "So let's start with one that you all know. 'How Great Is Our G.o.d,' which translates to 'Cuan Grande es Mi Dios.' Please stand and sing with me!"

Jake had to elbow Quinton in the side in order to bring the big man back to reality.

"She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen!" Quinton breathed in awe as he rose to his feet.

Cooper studied the woman. She had a large bosom and a full, high rump encased in a chestnut-colored skirt suit. When she turned to the side, moving forward with small, dainty steps, Cooper thought she bore a close resemblance to a hen. Her hair was full-bodied and glossy. It flew out around her face in rows of brown corkscrew curls. The most remarkable thing about her was the joy that seemed to fill her body and burst forth from her throat as she sang. Her dimpled cheeks and radiant smile were infectious and her voice rolled over the congregation like a river of milk and honey.

"You're right. She's beautiful," Cooper agreed and couldn't help but smile. The woman's rapture was contagious and the congregation sang the unfamiliar Spanish words with delight, grinning up at their music leader.

When the song finished and the congregation resumed their seats, Quinton followed the woman's every move as she walked off the stage. "She teaches Spanish in Church Hill," he informed his neighbors. "She even bought a house on one of the most rundown streets so she could truly be active in the community."

"What's her name?" Cooper asked.

"Gloria May." Quinton spoke the name with relish, as though each letter melted on his tongue like a piece of fine chocolate. "Sounds like poetry, doesn't it?"

Cooper waited to respond until Pastor Matthews finished his opening prayer and began reviewing the morning's announcements. "How did you know she was a teacher?"

Quinton pointed at the back of the program. "Her bio's listed here. No mention of a husband, either," he added brightly and then finally tore his gaze away from the back of Gloria's head and looked at Cooper. "Did you have a rough night?"

"Yes, and I didn't have time to put cuc.u.mbers on my eyes, so you're stuck sitting next to a zombie." She yawned widely. "Not that I have any cuc.u.mbers."

"Did you stay up 'til midnight painting painting with Nathan?" Quinton nudged her playfully in the side. with Nathan?" Quinton nudged her playfully in the side.

Cooper dropped her eyes. She'd barely thought about Nathan until she heard his voice on her answering machine earlier that morning. "No, I was doing something much much more interesting." She yawned again. "Tell you about it later. And Nathan won't be joining us for Bible study. He decided to spend the whole weekend with his friend." more interesting." She yawned again. "Tell you about it later. And Nathan won't be joining us for Bible study. He decided to spend the whole weekend with his friend."

Both Jake and Quinton yawned shortly afterward. "Stop that!" Jake hissed. "Don't you know yawns are contagious? The whole row'll be doin' it in a minute. 'Cept for Savannah."

"You can make people react just by saying the word," Quinton informed Jake. All three friends leaned over to watch Savannah as Jake described how tired Cooper looked and mentioned that she'd been yawning over and over again since her arrival. Sure enough, Savannah's hand rose up to cover her mouth as it stretched into an elongated oval.

"Where's Bryant?" Cooper inquired as she stifled a giggle.

"On the far side by the door." Quinton subtly pointed in that direction. "He brought his coworker-that single mom he's mentioned a few times. I think they're officially dating now."

Cooper clapped silently. "I remember him talking about her in the fall. Her name's Jane, right? She's in her thirties and and has two children. Quite a difference from that grad student he was dating before. Maybe Bryant's growing up." has two children. Quite a difference from that grad student he was dating before. Maybe Bryant's growing up."

At that moment, the band returned to the stage to lead the congregation in the offering hymn and Quinton's focus was again entirely on Gloria. He sang without taking his eyes from her face, as though willing her to see only him. At one point, Cooper was certain their gazes met and Gloria's sunny smile shone a fraction brighter.

The four friends paid careful attention to the sermon, which was t.i.tled "Nothing Is Impossible for G.o.d." Twenty-five minutes later, Pastor Matthews issued a benediction and the service was over, but Cooper longed to remain, to hold fast to the feeling that her prayers could be answered if she only had enough faith. To walk outside meant rejoining a world filled with uncertainty. Cooper wanted to carry the sermon's theme inside her where she could use it like a weapon against whoever had hurt Miguel Ramos.

Trish had insisted on having lunch prepared for them since they were meeting at her house for the second Sunday. Once again, she'd sent her husband and children on an excursion, but when she described the outing they'd planned, her voice was stronger and more energized than it had been the week before.

Over a salad of mixed greens with cranberries and goat cheese, and sandwiches made with grilled chicken, red roasted peppers, and a cilantro mayonnaise (courtesy of a local cafe that catered), Trish explained the changes she'd experienced since the group had seen her last.

"The homework reading for this week couldn't have been timelier," she began. "The second book of Corinthians begins by describing the G.o.d of All Comfort. After I was done with Thursday's chemo treatment, I went to a Breast Cancer Support Group meeting. One of the women told how she'd recently written letters to her husband and her three sons. She called them 'just in case' letters and read one aloud to us."

Savannah knit her hands together. "Oh, my goodness. There couldn't have been a dry eye in the room."

Trish shook her head. "No, there wasn't, but the loudest sobs came from me. I never cry! And I didn't even realize I was until the woman stopped reading, got up, and put her arms around me." Trish picked up her Bible. "When Paul refers to the pressure he and the other Christians were under in Asia, he says, 'Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on G.o.d, who raises the dead.' " She tapped on the page. "After reading that, I realized I've been praying all wrong."

"What do you mean?" Jake asked.

"I've been asking G.o.d to deliver me from this cancer, when what I should be doing is trusting in Him and praying to enjoy my life in the present in the present. Right after I adjusted my prayers, I looked around and saw my husband and my girls so clearly. I knew that I'd been given such riches in them, yet I couldn't remember the last time I'd told them how precious they are to me."

Bryant nodded. "Our study reminds us to be aware of the gifts we've already received. Paul also says that no matter what we ask, the answer, given through Christ, is 'yes.' I love that!" He smirked. "Pray big, right? I wouldn't mind taking Al Roker's spot on The Today Show The Today Show."

Everyone laughed.

Quinton held out Hope Street's worship program and pointed at Gloria's name. "I'm going to be praying to meet her her."

Savannah turned toward Jake. "Let's move on to the next homework question. Trish already touched on the first point, but what about the author's discussion on scent? Why do we smell like death to non-believers while giving off the sweet perfume of life among ourselves?"

"I don't think there's a soul on this earth who'd describe a plumber as sweet-smellin'!" Jake stated with a grin and then consulted his workbook. "I guess I do some things that make my scent kinda rotten. Paul would tell me that if I could forgive my dad for leaving us when I was a kid, I'd smell sweet to the Lord above. I keep tryin', but I'm not there yet." He shrugged. "Reckon I'm gonna be smellin' like a regular workin' man for a bit longer."

Smiling indulgently, Savannah said, "Perhaps Paul was saying that some people will find us unattractive because of what we believe, but to those who have similar faith, we emit a heavenly, life-giving fragrance. I'd like to think that we all smelled like that Clinique perfume, Happy."

Bryant scribbled a note in his workbook. "Happy, huh? That would make a nice present for Jane, the woman I brought to church today." His cheeks turned a bit pink. "First lady I've ever sung in front of. I think that's a good sign. She didn't flee the building, anyway."

The friends shared a few more of their homework answers and then Cooper requested they spend their remaining time figuring out what action to take in the Miguel Ramos investigation. She told them about her adventurous evening and then opened her Bible to a pa.s.sage she had circled earlier in the week.

"Ever since I was a little girl, I've heard this verse in chapter four, but it never meant so much to me as it does now. Paul says, 'But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpa.s.sing power is from G.o.d and not from us.' " She traced the verse with her fingertip. "Here we are-these fragile, breakable vessels, and yet we're filled with G.o.d's power." She glanced at her friends, her mismatched blue and green eyes afire with intensity. "Pastor Matthews reminded us that nothing is impossible through Him. Until this morning, I felt pretty certain we'd reached a dead-end over Miguel, but maybe we can tap into that power, pray for something impossible, and sincerely believe that it will happen."

Savannah leaned forward in her seat. "Tell us what you'd like to pray for."

"Guidance!" Cooper answered pa.s.sionately. "If it's His will for us to solve this case, we need direction! We need to be shown a path to travel down, because I I sure don't know the way." sure don't know the way."

Trish moved closer to Cooper's spot on the couch and touched her on the arm. "We all seem to be learning something about what happens to the plans we make for ourselves compared to those G.o.d has for us." She removed her hand and fussed with her indigo turban. "He sure changed my my direction." direction."

"Well spoken, Trish," Savannah stated enthusiastically. "Now let's pray together. And we won't forget to include Nathan, who we've missed today." The friends took one another by the hand and bowed their heads in unison. As always, Savannah began the prayer with thanksgiving and then spoke of the needs expressed by the Sunrise members.

When Savannah was finished, Cooper said a hearty "Amen!" and then exhaled in relief. She felt buoyed by hope. Her confusing feelings for Edward, the possible troubles in her sister's marriage, Nathan's odd behavior, Trish's illness, and Miguel's murder were nearly impossible for her to handle alone. To have lifted them up to a higher power allowed her an incredible sense of calm.

"Since there's no tellin' if we're gonna be detecting next weekend, let's do somethin' else to change our world." Jake began to dig around in his coat pocket.

Bryant watched him with keen eyes. "What did you have in mind?"

Jake answered by showing them a flyer announcing a community clean-up in the East End, the area of the city that had seen such an outburst of violence over the past month. "They need a paintin' crew to freshen up the elementary school on Sat.u.r.day. Who's in?"

Everyone volunteered but Trish. "Sorry, but I'm going to be selfish next weekend. Phil and I are going to read the paper in bed like we did when we were first married and then my girls and I are planning to work on our sc.r.a.pbooks and watch our favorite Disney movies while eating all the junk food we can stand."

"It's not selfish to take that time," Cooper replied. "It's a gift to your family. Would you like to adopt me for a day? I love pajamas and junk food."

"Don't worry about us, Trish." Quinton rose and collected his coat and books. "There's a certain new member of Hope Street I could ask to help out." His hands ran over the text of Gloria's name in the worship program. "I wonder what kind of cake is her favorite. I could bake something to take to her as a welcome gift."

Jake shook his head. "You got it bad, boy. Real bad."

Cooper looked closely at Jake, speculating whether he and Savannah were still close friends or had progressed to something more romantic. He continued to gaze at Savannah with pure adoration, fetched her food and coffee, and chauffeured her wherever she needed to go, but nothing else in their behavior toward one another seemed markedly different.

As though reading her mind, Quinton slung an arm around Jake and laughed. "Looks like we all have it bad! Trish and Phil, Cooper and Nathan, Bryant and Jane, and hopefully, me and Gloria ..." he trailed off, his cheeks flushed with antic.i.p.ation. "I just have this feeling feeling about her, like my prayers are being answered this very day! I'm going to call her the second I get home." about her, like my prayers are being answered this very day! I'm going to call her the second I get home."

Quinton waved good-bye and hastened out to his car. Cooper watched his jaunty gait and laughed when he turned to blow a kiss over his shoulder. As the rest of the Sunrise members departed, she collected her purse from its hook on the hall tree. Spying an unopened package of Valentine's Day cards featuring Miley Cyrus, she groaned inwardly. Sooner or later, she was going to have to sort out what she felt for Edward. In the meantime, she owed Nathan a confession that she was feeling tempted by another man.

We need to talk, she thought. she thought. V-Day is creeping up and that'll only put more pressure on. V-Day is creeping up and that'll only put more pressure on.

She inserted the demo CD that Quinton and Jake had recently completed and allowed the first song on their Songs of Our Father Songs of Our Father collection to wash over her. Quinton sang back-up and plunked out some simple chords on the piano. Jake had taken over the role of lead singer. His gravelly speaking voice was utterly transformed by devotion-made smoother and deeper like a rock softened by the power of flowing water. His cla.s.sical guitar echoed the melodies while a Mr. Faucet coworker handled the percussion. collection to wash over her. Quinton sang back-up and plunked out some simple chords on the piano. Jake had taken over the role of lead singer. His gravelly speaking voice was utterly transformed by devotion-made smoother and deeper like a rock softened by the power of flowing water. His cla.s.sical guitar echoed the melodies while a Mr. Faucet coworker handled the percussion.

Cooper sang along to the t.i.tle track, her heart swelling with pride as her voice joined in with those of her friends.

Songs of Our Father, Lift high on the wind, To the edge of the oceans, And where the rivers begin.