GRINGA (96 page)

             
We sit around the table and talk in hushed tones about everything except my husband. Bullet,
Troy
and Isabella join us. Maria makes more coffee. 

             
When Diago’s name is mentioned,
Troy
suddenly gets up and hurries out the room. Isabella stands up then sits down again. 

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

10 PM. Restless and irritable, I venture out of my bedroom to take a walk. To my surprise, I see Depp and
Troy
deep in conversation. I walk up to them, curious to know what they are talking about.

             
‘Hey Payton,’ Depp says and pats the seat next to him. ‘Just talking to
Troy
about refugee status in
America
. As you can imagine, Mexican police have frozen Diablo’s assets and you guys have to vacate Tana-Mera soon.

             
I nod. 

             
‘I got some contacts in immigration and we’re just trying to see what we can come up with for
Troy
.’

             
‘Why you doing this?’ I ask, as I sit next to him.

             
‘Why? Cos I promised Diablo I would.’ 

             
‘You promised …?’ I peer at Depp. ‘Whe
n
?’

             
‘The night before he died. He called me round midnight. We talked about him surrendering. The deal was: he surrenders and I get
Troy
to
America
.’

             
My jaw drops. ‘He
called
you?’

             
‘Yeah.’

             
‘So … so …so that’s how the cops knew where to find him!’ Rage overcomes me and I spring to my feet. ‘And you sold him out? You fucking asshole! He came to you for help and you …you…get the fuck out of my sight, you weasel!’

             
He jerks out of his chair and slowly straightens his lanky frame, his face turning red. ‘Payton …’

             
‘Don’t try to worm your way out with an explanation, motherfucker!’

             
‘Gringa!’
Troy
says. ‘Stop!’

             
‘Stay out of this,
Troy
. This is between me and this cunt here.’

             
‘Gringa!’

             
I whirl around to look at Depp. ‘You got the reward money? Huh?
One
fucking million?’

             
‘No,’ Depp says in a granite voice, ‘your loser boyfriend got it.’

             
‘Boy …?’
I glare
at him. ‘What the fuck you …?’

             
‘
That
cunt got it,’ Depp says, the cords in his neck starting to show.

             
I’m stunned. ‘Aus …?’

             
‘Yes,
Austin
,’ Depp sneers.

             
‘No.’ I place both my hands over my head. ‘No
!
Impossible
! You’re lying
.’

             
The look on Depp’s face tells me he’s not

             
‘I … he …he…he had my back.’

             
Depp snorts. ‘The fuck he did!’

             
I look at
Troy
. His expression is blank, his eyes suddenly vacant.

             
‘He …the money… remember
,
Troy
? H
e gave me
money
cos he thought I ...’

             
‘Yeah, that’s when he placed the GPS tracking device in your bag,’ Depp says.

             
‘It can’t be,’ I whisper, as I remember
Austin
shoving the wad of notes deep into my handbag.

             
Depp’s chortle is mirthless. ‘You actually bought that?’

             
I slowly sink into my chair, shaking my head hard to clear my disbelief and confusion. ‘How could he?’ I whisper. I look at Depp. ‘Why?’

             
‘The
money
, of course. You should see his yacht.’ He looks at
Troy
. ‘Well, I’m off. Talk to you another time, ok?’

             
Troy
looks at me, eyebrows raised. 

             
I look away feeling more sheepish than sorry.   

             
Depp walk
s
towards his car.

             
‘Gringa!’
Troy
says. ‘He
bribed
people to get you out. He refused to at first. But I begged him and he did.’

             
I stare at
Troy
. So that’s why
Troy
was thanking him earlier on.

             
‘Depp wait!’ I call as I sprint after him.

             
He ignores me and continues walking.

             
‘Depp, I’m sorry!’

             
‘Stay the fuck away from me, Payton,’ he shouts over his shoulders. ‘I’m sick of you and your temper. I’m going back to LA. Now!’

             
‘Just because of me?’

             
‘Yes!’

             
‘Alright then, run. Run away from this mess, Depp. Run!’

             
He stops walking.

             
Encouraged by this,
I reach him and place myself between him and the car. For a few moments he glares at me in silence. 

             
‘I’m sorry,’ I finally say.

             
He doesn’t answer.

             
‘Depp, cut me some slack. Not only did I lose my husband; I also was in jail for
twenty
days. Of course I’m a fucking psycho
tic
.’

             
His frown disappears. 

             
I take his arm. ‘Please tell me ’bout your conversation with Diago, Austin, everything.’

             
He allows me to steer him back to
Troy
.

             
‘Okay, Diablo called me. We arranged to meet at the police station the next morning at 10 AM. Unfortunately, while I was making arrangements to meet with him without incident, the police got a call from a
concerned
citizen notifying them of Diablo’s hiding place.
Austin
.’

             
I squeeze my eyes shut. ‘The bastard!’

             
‘That meeting with your father that day before Diablo was shot – orchestrated by
Austin
. He planted that GPS device in your bag which led them to Diablo.’

             
I groan and cover my face with my hands.

             
‘As arranged, I was waiting at the prison at 09:59. Grey was on his way to meet me when he got the call about Diablo. He was worried about a shootout between Diablo and the police so he called me. I wasn’t going to make it there on time. Since he was closer, he turned his car around, raced over and got there just in time to see them …’

             
I shake my head.

             
‘Payton, Grey knew Diablo was turning himself in and he really tried to stop them but …’

             
I nod slowly and look at
Troy
. His face is blank again.

             
‘I’m sorry,’ Depp says.

             
If only I didn’t take the money. If only I didn’t accept his lift. If only I didn’t trust
Austin
.
             
‘Yeah, I’m sorry too,’ I say as I sink deep into a chair. ‘For trusting
Austin
. God, I’m so sorry!’

             
‘Well, let’s focus on getting
Troy
to LA,’ Depp says. ‘Diablo’s wishes remember?’

             
I nod and look at
Troy
. ‘You game for it,
Troy
?’ 

             
Troy
gives a curt nod then gets up and walks off.

             
Depp looks at me, eyebrows raised.

             
‘Leave him,’ I say. ‘He’s probably pissed off with me. I don’t blame him.’

             
‘It’s not your fault, Payton. You did your best.’

             
No I didn’t.

2 AM. I’m restless. My bed is way too soft and the place is far too quiet. I’ve becomes used to prison and its har
sh
environment - the constant chatting between the wardens, the bright lights, the coarse bed linen
..

             
Clutching a blanket
around me
, I sit on the dark patio and post-mortem my conversation with
Austin
, my love for him, the way I worshipped him all these years.

             
He never loved me. If he did, he wouldn’t have
ditched me for
my sister. Stupid me – I hankered after him and he just fed off my silent but naked adoration. I built him up in my mind, put him on a pedestal and convinced myself that he still loved me, that he cared, that he would
always
love me; because I couldn’t take the reality of life – he chose my sister over me. He was a fucking dirtbag and I was a gullible, naïve, half-witted fool. I saw only what I was desperate to see and it cost me
plenty
.