Chapter 46:
"Excuse me?" she said again, amazed.
"I know how that son of a bitch treated you. But he's dead now," the man smiled again. "You're gonna get all of his money. Smile."
"I don't want his money, but you're wrong. He didn't leave anything for my children," she said, just to get him to talk more.
"That's what you think. You'll be getting a surprise very soon."
Sharon squinted, but didn't respond to his last words. "Who did you say you were?"
"I didn't. Let's just say Richard and I worked together," the man smiled and started to walk away again. Sharon stayed in her spot, watching him as he merged with the people walking the street and disappeared among them. A second later, Blackburn came from the same direction she was looking at.
"What the hell, Raydor?" he said angrily.
"What?" she asked absent-mindedly.
"That was Carlos Reyes. Where did he go?" he was short of breath.
"The third cartel boss?" Sharon asked, shocked. "But he was completely different in the picture you've showed us!"
"Yeah, well, it was an old picture. What the hell did he say to you?"
"Nothing, really. He wouldn't tell me who he was, just that he worked with Richard. I thought he was a lawyer."
Blackburn examined her face, trying to determine if she was telling the truth. "If I find out he told you something else and you're holding back…"
"Goodbye," she said shortly, turning her back to him, and started walking back to the burial.
"Mom, where the hell have you been?" Cat asked when Sharon came back and realized that the ceremony was over, and people were starting to leave.
"Do not talk to your mother like that," Angela said firmly and Cat looked down, so they couldn't see her rolling her eyes.
"Captain, we should be heading back and resume the investigation," Provenza said.
"Yes, I'll be there shortly," Sharon said and watched the squad members walking away.
"You're not coming to the wake?" Karen asked in disappointment.
"Mom's busy, Grandma, but we're coming," Chris said kindly.
"Karen, I really want us to talk, but I can't today. Can we schedule something for the weekend?" Sharon said hastily.
"Sure, I'll call you," Karen smiled at her and Sharon started walking away, leaving her children with their grandmothers and Rusty.
Provenza and Flynn waited for her at a distance and she approached them on the way to her car, the wind mussing her hair.
"Who was that man, Captain?" Flynn asked.
"Apparently, Carlos Reyes. I didn't know until he left and Blackburn came, started accusing me again for holding things back."
"What a moron," Flynn muttered.
"I hate working with the FBI," Provenza said grumpily. "Your mother is coming," he added and pointed at a spot behind Sharon.
She sighed and rolled her eyes just as Angela reached them.
"Sherry, it's awfully impolite to go to work and not show your respect to Karen. Poor woman just lost her son," she said without a hint of a sentiment in her voice.
"Well, it's because of her son that I have to go back to work, Mother," Sharon muttered angrily. "And Karen knows I respect her. I'll see you later."
"When can I come and see your office?" Angela wasn't going to make it easier on her daughter.
Sharon was about to say 'never', but Provenza spoke before she even opened her mouth.
"Oh, you can come anytime, Mrs. Scott," he said kindly and Sharon turned to look at him with her eyes opened wide.
"That's very nice of you, Lieutenant…"
"Provenza," he completed her sentence with a smiled.
"How about now?" Angela asked and Sharon's lips created the word 'no' twice.
"Sure, why not?" Provenza said happily, even though he saw what Sharon was doing.
"We're very busy with that investigation, Lieutenant," Flynn said, trying to help Sharon.
"Nonsense! There's always time for visitors," Provenza said and started walking with Angela to his car.
"Thanks for trying," Sharon said quietly.
"Your mother seems… nice," he cleared his throat and Sharon chuckled bitterly.
"No she's not. She's cold and distant to most people. Like me."
"Well, then… I love her already," he whispered and started walking to his car, leaving Sharon behind, biting her bottom lip and fighting the desire to take him in her arms.