Promise Her

by Mitzi Pool Bridges

  Lisa had to force herself not to overdo the giving. She didn’t want Patty’s parents to put up a howl. So far, there had been no interference from them. Every time Lisa saw Patty’s mother, the woman expressed her thanks.

  As tired and over-worked as she was, Lisa understood her gratitude.

  However, she didn’t think that held true for the dad. So she was careful.

  “I’m glad you remembered to bring your camera.” The digital point-and-shoot had been a recent birthday gift. Because it had been her birthday, Patty’s dad couldn’t object. He also didn’t say anything when Lisa gave Patty her old laptop after she bought herself a new one. Not only did the computer help with homework assignments, but Patty could take all the pictures she wanted with her new camera, enlarge, crop and print them. She was becoming quite proficient at it. The camera would get a good workout tonight.

  After parking at the stadium, they stopped at a food booth before making their way to their seats. Lisa spotted her pals immediately. “I’m going to talk to the guys. C’mon, we won’t be a minute.”

  “I’ll wait for you here.”

  “No.” The arena was filling up fast. Though most of the crowd consisted of family groups, there were plenty of guys out there with roving eyes. Lisa was well aware of her responsibility to keep Patty safe. “I’d rather you come with me.”

  Patty groaned.

  Lisa chuckled. “It won’t be that bad. Besides, you’ll get to meet a couple of real cowboys.”

  “Okay. Okay. You don’t have to get cranky.”

  Lisa bent and kissed the top of Patty’s dark hair. It was unbelievably hard to get a teen to do what you wanted and still keep the peace.

  “Hey, Cowgirl.” Mike smiled when he saw her. “Like always, you’re looking good.”

  Owen gave her a hug.

  “Hi, guys. I want you to meet my good friend, Patty Wells. Patty this is Mike, he’s a bull rider and Owen, who has retired the circuit. Now he keeps a lookout for trouble during the performance.”

  Patty juggled her food so she could shake hands. “Do you really ride bulls?”

  Mike laughed. “’Fraid so.”

  “Does it hurt?”

  “Sometimes.”

  For the moment, food was forgotten as Patty peppered the men with questions. Her inquisitive mind always amazed Lisa. Given half a chance, the girl could do anything she set her mind to.

  When she wound down, Owen turned to Lisa. “This place is a bee-hive of cops and forensics. Have you heard anything?”

  Lisa shook her head. “That’s what I was going to ask you guys.”

  “The show goes on. At least that hasn’t changed.”

  “What has?”

  Owen’s smile vanished. “There are a lot of questions being asked around about you.”

  “Me?”

  “Yeah! And I don’t like it,” Mike added. “I almost punched a nosy detective yesterday.”

  “What kind of questions?” After everything she’d told the cops earlier about Harold’s nervousness the night of the accident—about how AAF had been hired to check on him, she’d expected HPD to bring him in for questioning, not ask questions about her.

  Mike’s dark eyes turned toward her. She saw the worry in them. “It’ll be okay. They’re just doing their job.”

  Owen shook his head. “Not too sure about that since the questions are more about you than anyone else. Seems to me they should widen their net.”

  Understatement, Lisa thought. But she supposed all the regulars were being looked at. “What about Harold? Has he been around?”

  “Sure. But he’s keeping a low profile.”

  The crowd was growing. “We have to get to our seats. But if you hear anything you have my number.”

  “Will do.”

  The night’s performers were the latest boy band to top the teen charts. The place was filled with young adults, teens, and their parents.

  “Told you it wouldn’t be long.” Lisa smiled at Patty.

  “This is so cool.” Patty’s eyes gleamed with anticipation, her earlier surliness long forgotten. Like a kid, she twisted in her seat, trying to see everything at once.

  Lisa laughed as Patty chattered beside her. It was good to watch the young girl enjoy the show. But Tempest’s death lurked in the background. Lisa didn’t even know if Max and TJ would continue to investigate Harold and the missing trust money. She sighed. Not that she could blame them. AAF didn’t investigate murders. Of course HPD hadn’t called it murder. Yet. But Tempest was too young and healthy for her death to be anything else, unless it was something like an aneurism. The autopsy would answer a lot of questions.

  The first horse and riders entered the arena to thunderous applause. The Grand Entry was underway.

  Patty’s camera was out and ready.

  Lisa, however, wasn’t enjoying the spectacle as she normally did. Her thoughts kept going back to Tempest. Grief was a terrible thing. It had taken a very long year after her parents died to even mention their names without crying. Just thinking of Tempest, at how beautiful she was, how bright and cheerful, brought tears to Lisa’s eyes.

  What if the authorities ruled her death an accident? What if Harold got off scot-free? The idea of Harold being free to pursue other women with his wife’s money was maddening.

  Alternating her attention between the show and Patty, Lisa didn’t know which held her attention more, Patty’s awe or the sizzle of another stirring performance.

  When Mike pulled the meanest bull in the pen and rode him until the buzzer sounded, Lisa shouted, waved and stomped with the rest of the crowd. Mike was always complaining that bull riding was a young man’s game.

  If her dad were still here, he’d probably be right down there with Mike.

  The thought gave her pause.

  Her parents had been gone for ten years now. They’d left her their friends, a love for the rodeo and a love for family, but little else. Lisa considered herself wealthy. Especially since the Callahans had taken her in and all but legally adopted her as their second daughter.

  She couldn’t wait to see them Friday night. Donovan would come in from the ranch. He’d bring his mother, his wife Phyl with their children, Mark and Suzy. Mark was Phyl’s son from her first marriage. But you would never know he wasn’t blood kin. Father and adopted son were inseparable. Suzy, at six months, was the apple of her parents’ eye. The entire family spoiled the child. Max and TJ would hire a sitter for their eighteen-month-old son, Duncan, and for Suzy. The rest of the clan would attend the rodeo. Dugan would probably hitch a ride with them since he was sheriff of Rainhart County and didn’t live far from the ranch.

  Darin would come. Perhaps he’d have some information to share. By then, the lab should have weeded out Tempest’s glass and determined if anything in it could have hurt her.

  Douglas would be here, too. Sometimes, his lawyer duties made him run late. At least that was his excuse. Lisa was of the opinion it was a woman who held him up. The thought made her stomach churn. He had a reputation for loving and leaving women. Lisa wanted the loving part, not the rest. Once Douglas realized Lisa was the woman for him, she’d make sure it was a forever thing.

  After all this time though, it hadn’t happened. There were times when she wondered if it ever would.

  This was Wednesday; far too long before she would see Douglas. She was going to have to do something soon. It was past time he realized she wanted to be more than his adopted little sister. She just might have to take that particular bull by the horns and wrestle him in the right direction. She wondered if she could. Perhaps Douglas liked flitting from one woman to another so much he didn’t want anything different.

  What a terrible thought.

  It would happen. Soon, she hoped. She wanted to have a couple of babies. His babies.

  Lisa sighed. She was good at making ambitious plans about Douglas, but when she saw him, her knees went weak and her mind blank.

  Turning her attention back to the pe
rformance, she used her binoculars to scan the young performers on stage. You could hardly hear them sing, ‘Gotta find you, gotta love you’ above the excited screams of the audience. Patty was on her feet clapping to the beat one minute, taking pictures the next.

  Lisa systematically searched the crowd for Owen. There he was, on horseback by the wide doors through which the performers came and went.

  He didn’t look happy. An event of this size had all manner of undercurrents.

  Her gaze swept the arena. It didn’t take long to find Harold. Not in the president’s skybox tonight, but leaning against the railing that surrounded the arena. Who was that with him?

  Lisa adjusted her binoculars once more. A woman she’d never seen before: tall, blond, small in the waist, and though Lisa couldn’t see her face, she had to be pretty or Harold wouldn’t be quite so close. Was she the woman Tempest had suspected was her husband’s latest squeeze?

  If so, why would Harold flaunt her the day after his wife died? It was downright indecent. And it made Lisa madder than hell.

  She nudged Patty. “Hand me your camera.”

  Patty did as she was told, her eyes not leaving the stage.

  Was Bailey still on the job? If so, he might get a shot of them together. But this wouldn’t hurt. She adjusted the zoom lens and took several shots. Not that being with this woman necessarily meant anything. There were thousands of people around. It could be an innocent meeting with a friend. Yeah, right! Like Harold wouldn’t screw anything in skirts if given half a chance. But now? Lisa wanted to hit him.

  Patty pulled on the sleeve of her jacket. “Look! Did you see that?”

  Lisa looked in the direction Patty pointed.

  “Pretty neat, Huh?”

  When Lisa looked back to find Harold, he and the woman were gone.

  Lisa became as intrigued as Patty with the performance. Neither noticed when two men came up and stood next to them.

  “Lisa Kane?” one of them asked.

  Lisa turned to look at them. Cops. “Can I help you?”

  “You need to come with us,” the older one said, flashing his credentials.

  “Sorry. I can’t leave now.”

  They exchanged glances. “This isn’t a request ma’am.”

  “What’s going on, Lisa?” Patty asked, her voice filling with alarm.

  “It’s all right,” Lisa said. But she didn’t like the look in the cop’s eyes. Something wasn’t right.

  The older cop leaned in close. “I don’t think you want to make a scene in front of the kid.”

  What was this about? If they wanted to talk to her, why didn’t they just ask her to come in again? They didn’t have to use strong-arm techniques.

  “Surely it can wait until morning. I have to get my friend from the Big Sister program home after the show.”

  “You’re wanted in connection with Tempest Wheatley’s murder. If you don’t come willingly, we’ll have to arrest you.”

  Lisa gasped.

  When Mike and Owen appeared out of nowhere she could have kissed them.

  “You all right, Cowgirl?” Owen asked.

  She shook her head, too stunned to answer.

  “We’re taking her downtown,” the tall, thin cop said.

  “That okay with you, Cowgirl?” Mike wanted to know.

  “I don’t think I have a choice,” she said, her voice weak. What the hell was going on? Why would the cops threaten to arrest her? It was Harold they should pick up. Not her. She tried to stay calm, but her heart was trip hammering in her chest. “Mike, would you take Patty home?” She dug in her purse with trembling hands. “Here’s my parking ticket. Can one of you drive my car to Patty’s? I’ll pick it up there later. It looks as if I’ll be tied up for a while.”

  “I can come with you in case you need me,” Mike said, edging closer.

  “No. I’d rather you make sure Patty gets home safely. But you can make a call for me.” She handed him her cell phone and queued up Douglas’ number. “Tell him I need him, and where I’ll be.” He had asked her to call if she needed anything. She needed him now. Needed him to tell the cops they were making a mistake. Who would have thought she’d ever need a lawyer? It was surreal.

  Her legs trembling, she followed them out.

  By now they were in the hall. Mike and Owen, with Patty between them following.

  Patty started to cry.

  “You’ve ruined this for her,” Lisa hissed to the cop on her right. “Does that make you feel like a big macho man?”

  “Maybe you should think about what kind of role model you are instead of getting tangled up with Wheatley?”

  “What? Tangled up…I was working for Tempest. That’s it,” Lisa whispered low so Patty wouldn’t hear.

  Did they think she killed Tempest? Ludicrous. But the look in their eyes said she was right. How could that be? Nothing she’d ever done would dredge up that kind of accusation. The more she thought about it the angrier she became.

  This was totally nuts.

  Lisa glanced around as the cops ushered her out of the arena. Where was Harold? Or the woman he was with?

  The cops should be arresting and dragging him out of here instead of her.

  Something was very wrong.

  She needed Douglas. Now.

  Chapter Four

  Douglas Callahan leaned across the table, took Melissa’s hand. It was as soft and smooth as he expected. Melissa Hanady smiled. Their first date was going just as he planned. He’d chosen the restaurant because the food was good and the atmosphere cozy.

  He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb, caressing and stroking. Melissa, a lawyer herself, almost purred her approval. He was intrigued by her response as much as their conversation. Both were attorneys, though not on the same cases.

  His cell phone rang.

  Silently, he cursed himself for not turning it off tonight of all nights. He’d asked Melissa out a half-dozen times, had always been turned down. Until now.

  The phone kept up its incessant ring. “Excuse me, Melissa. I’ll make this short.”

  “Callahan.” Although he spoke as low as possible the other patrons glared their disapproval.

  He stood and stepped away from the table, walked to the entry to get a better connection.

  He was back at the table in seconds. “I’m terribly sorry, Melissa,” he said, holding up the phone as if it were to blame. “Family emergency. Would you mind taking a cab home?” He tossed a hand full of bills on the table, barely able to hide his impatience.

  “I am perfectly capable of finding my own way, thank you,” she said coolly, as she stood and swept out.

  He bolted past her, grabbed his keys from the box by the valet attendant and sprinted to his car.

  The phone call had stunned him. Lisa was in trouble. He couldn’t wrap his head around it. This wasn’t the kind of trouble from earlier. This was real trouble. The kind where you asked for a lawyer and prayed he or she was a good one.

  His first call was to Max, who was just as outraged as he was. “I’ll meet you there,” he promised.

  The next call to Darin.

  “Are you serious? I’m on my way.”

  Callahans took care of their own. They would take care of Lisa.

  By the time he entered the familiar doors at HPD’s central station, his temper was at the boiling point. Lisa questioned in a murder? Someone needed to be sued. Were they crazy? Lisa would no more hurt anyone than TJ would.

  Stalking into the station, Douglas demanded to see his sister immediately. Most of the officers knew him and instead of asking questions, a young cop took him to a room and asked him to wait.

  Though he was intimately familiar with the police station, he hated being here. The faded paint and the lingering odor of fear and guilt gave him chills. No wonder those who worked here looked as miserable as those passing through.

  Thankfully, he didn’t wait long before Lisa was brought in.

  Something moved inside his chest. S
he looked the same. Same silky blond hair, same big blue eyes, same figure that made a man’s mouth water. But he’d never seen fear in her eyes before. Lisa Kane wasn’t afraid of the devil himself. But she was afraid now. Who could blame her?

  She ran to him, wrapped her arms around his waist, dropped her head on his chest.

  He pulled her into a hug, just as he’d been doing since the day TJ brought her to the ranch years ago. But for some reason it felt different. “What’s going on?”

  “I don’t know.” She pulled back, looked at him with teary eyes. “At first, I thought they wanted to question me because we, AAF that is, were investigating Harold. I thought HPD wanted to know what we’d found. It didn’t take long to realize they might arrest me.” Her voice was barely a whisper. She trembled, then grabbed him again in a tight embrace.

  His breath hitched as he let out a hiss. “No way.”

  When she looked up at him again, he felt that tug in his chest again. Why? It had never happened before.

  “Let’s sit down.” He took her hand and led her to the table. Pulling a chair up close, he held her trembling hands in his. “Tell me what happened.”

  “You know most of it already. Cops showed up at the performance tonight. Patty was with me.” Her voice wobbled. “I don’t know what she must think. Or her parents. They’ll be all over her for this and try to keep her from me. The Big Sister program will take her away.”

  “Calm down, Lisa. Stop thinking of Patty and tell me what happened.”

  “The cops forced me to come with them. I still don’t know what they want. I think they might arrest me. I haven’t done a thing, Douglas. Nothing.”

  He patted her shoulder. “Of course you haven’t.” The local news media were all over the situation at the rodeo. Nothing like it had ever happened there before. Speculation kept the talk-show hosts babbling and the hard-copy editors busy. But why did the cops think Lisa was involved?

  “I didn’t get a chance to tell you everything after the night I called you. But I think someone killed Tempest. I think that someone is her husband. He had motive. Tempest wanted a divorce. But before she filed, she wanted proof of infidelity, and proof he was stealing from her trust fund. Yet, instead of bringing him in, they’re trying to implicate me.” She raised those cornflower-blue eyes, looked deep into his. He swallowed hard. “The cops threw questions at me that had no bearing on our investigation. I told them I wanted you here before I said anything.”