The Last Mission of the Living (The Last Bastion #2)(34)

“Commandant Pierce asked me to bring Maria’s medals.”

Mariano grimaced. “Oh. Wow. I’m not too sure how my mother is going to take that.”

Digging the case of her pocket, Lindsey stared at the embossed velvet lid. “Maria would want her to have these, you know.”

“Yeah, I know. But my mother is still really angry with her. Furious, actually.”

“Even though she’s...” Lindsey hesitated. “Even though she’s missing?”

“You mean dead.” Mariano ran his hands over his hair, leaving it in uneven tufts.

With a sigh, Lindsey nodded. “I’m sorry.”

How could she lie like this when she knew there was hope? Of course, it was best if people believed Maria and Dwayne were dead. It was safer for them and the city as a whole.

“My mother is a very emotional woman. She loves very deeply and when Maria volunteered for that mission, Mama knew it was going to end with her daughter dead. So she has a lot of resentment not only toward the government, the SWD, and Constabulary, but at Maria herself.”

“Commandant Pierce requested I give these to Maria’s mother personally with her condolences.”

“I get it, Lindsey, but Mama is going to give you hell.”

Considering the secret she was keeping, Lindsey admitted to herself that maybe she did deserve some wrath directed at her. “I’ll deal with it.”

Mariano exhaled, swore in Spanish, then walked over to a door and jabbed the panel. “Mama, it’s Mariano. Maria’s friend, Lindsey, is here to see you.”

Several seconds later, the door opened to reveal a woman who looked startlingly like an older version of Maria. It never failed to amaze Lindsey how much Maria resembled her mother. She’d often teased her friend that Maria already knew exactly how she would look in thirty years, but now Lindsey wondered if Maria would age at all. Was Dr. Curran correct about the virus preserving Maria? Giving her immortality?

“Hello, Lindsey,” Lourdes said, her voice slightly clipped. Her long raven hair was streaked with more white than Lindsey remembered and was wrapped into an ornate bun at the back of her head. “How can I help you?”

Behind Lourdes was a small living room with a large painting of the Virgin Mary on one wall and portraits of the Martinez family. One photo was of Maria in her dress uniform. It was draped in black silk. A candle burned on the table beneath it.

“I just want you to know how sorry I am about Maria,” Lindsey started, fumbling for words.

“I got your messages. Thank you,” Lourdes said, her dark eyes regarding Lindsey suspiciously.

“I wanted to make the memorial service, but I was in surgery that day.” Lindsey had been furious over the scheduling, but had been at the mercy of the Med Center.

“I noticed. No cane this time.”

For some reason, the woman’s words made Lindsey feel guilty. Maria was missing in action and Lindsey had a new leg. It seemed unfair. “Yeah, they fixed my leg finally.”

“It took them long enough,” Lourdes said sourly. “Those *s.”

“Mama,” Mariano muttered.

“Well, they took my husband and my daughter. I don’t have anything kind to say about them.”

“Maria volunteered. She’s a hero,” Mariano protested.

Rage filled Lourdes eyes. “I will never forgive her.”

“Mrs. Martinez, Maria loved you so much—”

“But she didn’t listen to me and now she’s dead, Lindsey. Why else are you here?” Lourdes folded her arms across her chest and glowered at Lindsey.

“Commandant Pierce—”

“You can go now.” Lourdes moved to shut the door.

“Please, Maria earned these. She’d want you to have them.” Lindsey thrust out the velvet box.

Lourdes regarded Lindsey with contempt. “It’s not enough. Nothing the Constabulary or President Cabot do in her memory is enough! She’s dead. She’s gone. They killed her!”

“Mama, she gave her life for us.”

“They took her womb. They took her future. Then they took her life!”

Lindsey flinched when Lourdes slapped the box out of her hands. It struck the floor on one corner, popped open, and spewed the four medals onto the floor.

“Tell your Commandant Pierce I don’t want them. I want my daughter! I want her whole, alive, and living the life she deserved!” Lourdes shut the door and it audibly locked.

Squatting down, Lindsey collected the medals. Mariano crouched next to her to help.

“Sorry, Lindsey.”

“It’s okay.” Guilt was eating at her again. Lindsey wanted to open the door and tell Lourdes that Maria was alive, immune to the Inferi Scourge, and probably out in the world beyond the mountains with the man she loved. But Lindsey knew that if Lourdes was told the truth, she’d take that information to the authorities, and demand Maria’s return. That would put Maria and Dwayne in jeopardy. That knowledge didn’t help her feel any better.

Standing, Lindsey offered the box to Mariano. “Please take it. Let Maria’s nieces and nephews see what she earned through her service.”

With shaking hands, Mariano took the box. “My father and Maria both died to save this city. They were both turned into something terrible. Was it worth it, Lindsey? Did they save the city? Are we saved?”