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“Yes, and I’m still grateful to him to this day. He told me that I wasn’t to blame for the things my ex-husband had done. And so we never discussed Clive or that dreadful business again.” She gave Odelia a weak smile. “It’s very rare to get a second chance, and I still thank my lucky stars that I was offered the opportunity to start over—and this time do it right.”

“It wasn’t your fault that your husband turned out to be a liar and a thief, Rosa.”

“I know, but you can’t help wonder, you know—wonder if somehow you’re to blame for what happened. But Tilton was so wonderful about it. He said that our relationship was a way for me start over, and frankly I never looked back—until that phone call.”

“Well, that’s all over now,” said Odelia, taking Rosa’s hand and pressing it gently. “The man is dead, and his partner arrested. And as soon as the investigation is concluded, you will get that money back.”

“It’s not so much the money I’m worried about than the scandal that might follow if people in this town found out about Clive. And I’m not even concerned about myself,” said Rosa, tenderly stroking a lock of angel hair on her baby’s head. “I really don’t care what happens to me. It’s my children’s future that would be jeopardized. And Todd and Aisha already went through so much. Even though they were young, they remember, you know.”

“They still remember their dad?”

“Oh, yes, they do. You’d be surprised how much kids pick up, even when they’re as young as Todd and Aisha were at the time.” She gave Odelia a grateful look. “I can’t thank you enough, Odelia.”

“That’s all right. I’m glad it all turned out well.”

“Now if only Todd would come home,” said Rosa, and that pained look was back. “I just hope he doesn’t do anything stupid.”

“You’re afraid he takes after his dad, aren’t you?”

Rosa nodded, and her eyes grew moist.“Yes, I am. I’m afraid he might do something really foolish—just like Clive.”

Chapter 16

We were on our way back into town, and frankly Dooley and I were too upset for speech. Odelia was going to have a baby! Now of all the shocking things that could have been laid at our paws, this was probably the most life-changing one to date—even more life-changing than the insertion into our lives of Chase, and with him, Brutus.

But since we didn’t want to give vent to our shock and dismay in front of Odelia, we wisely kept our tongue, though the looks we gave each other spoke volumes. Good thing Odelia had to keep her eyes on the road, and didn’t catch the wordless communication that was carried out between us.

“So what do you think, you guys?” she asked finally, once she’d had time to put all her ducks in a row after the long talk she had with Rosa. “Did Todd go off to Mexico to look for his dad, you think?”

“I doubt it,” I said. “He’s only sixteen, Odelia. Where would he get the money?”

“Yeah, and how would he hope to find his dad?” Odelia added. “It is a big country. Unless he already knew where he was going, of course,” she added.

“You mean he might have been planning this for a while?”

“It is possible. It’s been nine years, so maybe he’s been digging into the mystery of his dad’s disappearance for years now, and finally thinks he knows where to find him.”

“Or maybe his dad got in touch with him,” Dooley suggested. “And invited him over for a holiday.”

“Oh, Dooley,” said Odelia. “Now why would Clive sneak behind his ex-wife’s back and invite his son over to his hideout?”

“Because he’s a wanted man? And he doesn’t want the police to find him?”

“He is a fugitive from justice,” I agreed.

“Even so. Why invite his son, and not his daughter?” asked Odelia.

“Maybe he did invite Aisha,” said Dooley. “She was acting really strange, wasn’t she?”

“She was,” I said. “So maybe she knows more than she’s letting on.”

“I did get the impression she was hiding something,” Odelia agreed. “So maybe she does know where her brother is, but is refusing to tell her mom, or us.”

“I still think that if the kid took off for Mexico, he would have left a trace,” I said. “He’d need a passport, wouldn’t he? And he’d need money. He’d also need a car. Or if he took a flight, there would be checks done at the airport. I really don’t think a sixteen-year-old kid can just up and leave and cross the border without his parents being notified.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” said Odelia. “If he did go off to Mexico in search of his dad, sooner or later we’re bound to find out about it.”

“I just hope he won’t get shot ,” said Dooley.

I gave him a look of concern, and so did Odelia through the rearview mirror.

“Well, Mexico is a dangerous country,” Dooley argued. “People get shot or buried in unmarked graves all the time.”

And with rising concern over young Todd’s fate, Odelia parked her car across the street from a modern office building, and as she glanced over, she said, “Let’s hope Todd’s stepdad will be able to tell us more.” She consulted her notes. “Tilton Bond. Started an internet business in 2011, sold it in 2016.”

“What internet business was he in?” I asked.