Bloodline (Sue Thomas FBEye)

Bloodline - Chapter Thirteen

"Long stories are my favourite. Why don't you start at the beginning?"

"Señor Leland is curious hombre."

The battle of wits between Mistica and Myles fascinated D. He had no doubts as of her identity, but not even a DNA test could prove she was Alvarez's daughter.

"Yes, Maria, I'm a very curious man." But Myles wasn't known for his patience. "Feel free to add as many details as you wish."

"Start before Mistica is born. Señora Alvarez is nice woman. She love husband, but señor Alvarez want heir. Señora lose five babies, always third month. Señora is old, and baby Mistica is last chance. Señor say he kill her and take new wife if baby die."

Understanding dawned on D.

"When Mistica small, fire burn nursery. Doctor show señora Alvarez two babies. One dead, one burn. One has cross around neck, one not. Señora hide cross, take wrong niña. Señor Alvarez never know."

Fuelled by desperation and fear, Alvarez's wife had stolen the Thomas' daughter and raised her as her own.

"How did Mistica find out?"

"Three years before now, señora Alvarez is sick. Need new kidney. Mistica want to help madre and give kidney. Doctor run test. Blood say Mistica not daughter. Señora tell truth to Mistica."

Three years had given Mistica ample time to find out all the details about Sue's life.

"How did Mistica and her mother keep the doctor from telling Alvarez that Mistica isn't his daughter?"

Myles was right. The information would have been worth a fortune for the doctor.

"Doctor greedy. Want money. Mistica give him accident."

"What kind of accident?"

The kind of accident that killed someone, and the answer should have been obvious to Myles, unless he wanted to hear it from her mouth. It occurred to D that under different circumstances, Mistica might be the type of woman that would attract Myles.

"A bullet. It collided with his head." For the first time, she spoke in perfect English, though a Spanish accent still lingered in her voice.

"Really? Did you know it was that same kind of accident that killed Mico Alvarez?"

"Mistica like gun." She'd slipped back into her role. "Gun kill fast."

"And how many men has Mistica killed in her life?" The question slipped away from D before he could recall it.

"Not know. Me not Mistica, but me guess... 27 men? And 5 women?"

Nature against Nurture. The woman in front of him might not be genetically related to Alvarez, but she was still his daughter— and proud of her kills.

"Back to the long story. What happened after Mistica learned the truth?"

"Last year Christmas, madre die. At funeral, Mistica meet... she meet secret hombre."

The hesitation, and the change of grammar didn't escape D. Whoever that man was, he'd made an impression on Mistica.

"Who was the secret man?"

"Pedro. Not real name. Pedro promise Mistica new life if Mistica give information."

"You mean an undercover agent approached Mistica at her mother's funeral?" D shared Myles' disbelief. The agent must have had lots of guts and few brain cells. "Did he know about Mistica's real identity?"

"No, but señor Alvarez find Pedro real identity." A shadow crossed her eyes. "Take Pedro in ocean with cement block on feet. Mistica pregnant and heart broke."