Chapter Forty-three
While Sage drove, Honey’s mind spun wildly. Could Luke still be an FBI agent? Her Luke, the lead singer of Country Heaven? Remembering his past where according to the papers and social media he’d been fired from the Bureau, she tried to make sense of it all.
Sage interrupted her wondering, his tone filled with amazement. “That was the lead singer from tonight’s band, right? Luke Stone.”
“It was. I’m as shocked as you are.”
“He’s your boyfriend.”
“I think so. We haven’t gotten that far in our relationship.”
Sage grinned and turned her way. “You think so? Honey, that man is loco for you. I saw his face when he recognized his woman. Talk about wild.”
“Probably just surprised.”
“Oh, that too. But mostly terrified for you to be in danger. I know how he felt. I once had someone I loved that much.”
“What happened to her?”
“She crossed over the border with a group of others. I came here looking for her and got mixed up with the wrong crowd. Yesterday, my brother texted me saying she’d been deported back home to Honduras.”
“Honduras? Then why do you want to get to Mexico?”
“I can fly from there. Truth is, I’m here illegally. My fake passport won’t get accepted by the US border scrutiny.”
“Ahh. Now I understand.”
“Plus, I need to get away from the gang here. They have a reputation of not letting go of their recruits.”
“Don’t worry. The FBI will catch them and put them away where they belong. Let’s concentrate on you finding your girl.”
Sage’s face dropped, and Honey sensed his sadness. “When she left, we had bad words.”
“About her leaving you?”
“Guess so.” Sage’s attitude appeared confused. She’d heard that same tone in other teachers when faced with something they couldn’t grasp. “Angelina’s eyes were filled with stars for a future in the United States. I couldn’t talk sense into her. I tried telling her the trip wouldn’t be easy. That she had no idea what would be waiting for her on this side. But she refused to let me speak. Instead, she took the money her papa left her, plus her life’s savings working two and three jobs, and blew it all.”
Honey felt shame for what the girl might have suffered on that journey. “It’s become terribly hard to get into this country… never mind staying. I’ve seen too many horror stories on the news.” She remembered reading about the rapes and beatings some of the refugees faced just to get to the Rio Grande.
As if he read her mind, Sage continued. “Yeah… reaching the border is the first nightmare. Getting across is the second. Obviously, being allowed to stay is the third.” He shook his head sadly. “Can’t talk sense into a determined mind. We argued, I begged, and she left anyway. Snuck out in the night like a thief. One minute she was in my bed, and the next, she was gone.”
“I’m so sorry, Sage. I guess you meant it when you said people don’t keep their word to you.” Showing sincerity, she reached out a hand to touch his arm. “Dude… can I explain her side?”
“What do you mean… her side?”
“The side of a woman who’s thinking of better prospects for a family. She must have felt strongly, or she would never have left you. Once a person gets a dream, they can’t let it go. I imagine she planned her future around this opportunity to live in the promised land, knowing many immigrants end up finding a good life here.”
“It’s true. She talked about it all the time. Said she had visions of living here since she was a small ni?a. I tried to tell her what I believed, but she was in too much of a hurry. I said to her… we’ll apply legally and there might be a chance. But not trucked in with a load of others who couldn’t care less what happens to you. Besides being their meal ticket you mean nothing. She never listened… wouldn’t hear my words.”
Honey took out her phone and insisted he give her his info. “I’ll send you an email so we can keep in touch. If there’s ever anything you need from me, anything… a sponsor, or money to help you, a place to stay, whatever… you contact me. You’ve become important to me, Sage. I wouldn’t be alive without you. We’re family now.”
He pulled over to park the vehicle in front of the address Honey had given him earlier. His expression appeared shy. Tattoos on his face were prominent in the early morning light as were the ones on his hands.
He reached over to touch her cheek. Softly, he spoke a line of Spanish she didn’t understand but the emotion in his eyes told her the words had been sweet. She covered his hand and then kissed it. “Gracias my friend. I’m sorry we had to meet like this, and you have to leave. But it’s best if you go soon. I couldn’t stand the thought of you getting caught.”
“Don’t worry, Honey. By this time tomorrow, I’ll be on a bus and over the border.” He got out of the SUV and went around to her side to help her out, taking her weight when her legs threatened to give way. “Will you be okay? Want me to see you inside?”
“No. I’m fine. You need to go. Drive safe.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and hauled him in for a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you.”
“De Nada, Honey.” His arms held her close for seconds, then slowly let her go.
Knowing he wouldn’t leave until he saw she was safely inside, she put on an act of sprightly behavior. Once out of view, her body sagged, and she dragged herself into the apartment. With the door locked, she felt safe for the first time since all the shit started.
Tears pouring uncontrollably, she dropped onto the sofa, wailing in misery for the nightmare she’d survived. Like a spinning wheel, the gruesome events of the evening from the moment she’d knocked on Lori Jackson’s office door to witness the bloody body, to the impacted thud of purposely ramming her vehicle into a human being. Each event raced through her thoughts in a continuous cycle… always ending at the instant when she recognized Luke.
A good fifteen minutes later, aching all over her body, she slowly pushed herself up. Leaving behind the damp cushion, she stumbled to the bathroom, stripping as she made her way.
All she could think of now was the hot water in the shower. A need to wash off the stink from her earlier encounter with Naz became the most important task of her life.