Page 17 of Deadly Lies

Sure, we had been raised Catholic. But Joaquín was the least religious person I knew. He had always hated going to church, Sunday school, and catechism. He even disliked Christmas.

Had he become religious in prison?

He picked up the phone. “Hey, sis. What are you doing here? You didn’t tell me you were going to visit.”

Uh, yeah. I didn’t know you’d been on the base in Arizona the night I was raped.

“Yeah, it was a last-minute trip.” I paused. I had to tread lightly. No showing my hand yet. “Why are you carrying a bible?”

“Actually, it’s not my bible. It’s yours. I’m giving it to you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Okay, so now you’ve turned into Papa. Are you serious? You know that’s no longer my belief system. I’m now spiritual, not religious.”

His eyes twinkled, and I briefly saw that mischievous boy who I had loved, missed, and mourned. “I’ll pray for you.”

Who was this man? Enough of the proselytizing.

I needed to start asking the hard questions. And focus on his body language while he lied to me.

“I actually came by yesterday. You already had a visitor. And, I know I sound crazy, but she looked like Tiffany.”

His bottom lip trembled slightly, and he gave a nervous laugh.

“She’s just a groupie. Met her on a prison dating site. That’s funny—she does kind of look like Tiffany. But I’m behind bars, I can’t afford to be picky.”

Liar. He was lying to me. But I still wasn’t ready to believe that Tiffany was alive. I had more important fish to fry.

“So…Sienna is missing. She was kidnapped at Disneyland. Mitch is a fucking mess.”

Joaquín’s left brow lifted. “Yeah? I hope he finds her.”

What the fuck? How could he be so cold? “You hope he finds her? That’s what you have to say? His little girl is missing. Probably sex trafficked. What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Plenty. I’ll pray for her, too.”

If I could punch the Plexiglass separating us, I would. “Dammit, Joaquín. I’m not going to play your game anymore. Sienna’s disappeared. You loved that little girl. Do you know anything about this?”

“Me? This is suddenly my fault? I’m in prison, Mia. Now I’m responsible for kidnapping Sienna too?”

I shook my head. “No, Joaquín. No. I don’t think that.” I looked him dead in the eye. “And actually, I no longer think you kidnapped Julián.”

His jaw dropped open, and then he quickly shut it. “Really, sis. Why is that?”

I pressed my hand to the glass. “Because you didn’t rape me. You never thought Julián was yours. You were on the base in Yuma all night. You never left. You are innocent.”

Joaquín made a fist, and his skin flushed. “Angelita Mia, you fucking stop whatever it is you think you’re doing. You have no fucking clue what’s going on. Why can’t you ever leave well enough alone? I’m in here, and you and Julián are safe. That’s all that matters.”

And there it was. Tears welled in my eyes, and they were a mix of bitterness and despair. “Joaquín! What the fuck did you do? What do you know? Who are you protecting us from? Why did you ruin your life for us?”

The guard walked over to check on me, and I assured her I was fine.

Joaquín’s voice lowered, and he spoke softly into the phone. “Because I love you and my nephew. And you’re all I have. Now go home and enjoy that little boy of yours. Tell him that his tío loves him.”

And with that, he got up, handed the bible to the guard, and I watched him slip away.

I couldn’t prevent the tears. They just began to flow.

Joaquín was innocent. He hadn’t raped me. He loved me. He had sacrificed his life for me. For Julián.