On Common Ground

by Jansen Schmidt

  “He shot your partner.”

  “It’s not that simple.” He tucked a loose tendril of hair behind her ear.

  She propped her elbows on a fence rail and rested her chin in her hands. “How much money do you suppose you’d have to pay a prison guard to protect someone?”

  “A lot.”

  “Like a million dollars? He’s been in there for a year and a half. That’s a lot of money.”

  Trevor envisioned the wheels spinning in her pretty head and he smiled. It would be fun discussing cases with her, her innocence provided a perspective he hadn’t considered in a very long time.

  “Denny’s checking bank records. Hamilton can hide large withdrawals easier than Sanchez can hide large deposits. We’re hoping Sanchez’s accounts will turn up some unexplainable discrepancies.”

  “Well, this Sanchez guy must be more than a little upset that Kyle got out early then. The Hamilton well ran dry sooner than expected.”

  Trevor eased his shoulders back and cocked his head. That’s it! That’s what he couldn’t put together last night in his mush-muddled brain. Sanchez knew he wouldn’t be getting any more bonus money after Kyle was paroled. He hadn’t expected early parole. Sanchez demanded one huge final pay-out. Hamilton’s best chance for fast cash on short notice came from Southwestern.

  He pulled her in for a quick kiss. “Early parole. That’s what we’re forgetting. I love you. I’ve got to call Denny.” He dialed Denny’s number as he jogged to his cabin, vaguely aware that he’d declared his love for her once again.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  “Holiwell,” Denny grunted after two rings.

  “Now a good time? I have some thoughts.”

  “Let’s hear them.”

  Trevor gazed out his front window, automatically searching for Ketra. “Can we prove that Hamilton’s been paying Sanchez to protect his kid?”

  “It looks that way.”

  “Can you prove it?’

  Denny sighed. “Not yet. But even if we can, there’s another thing to factor in.”

  “What?”

  “If Hamilton’s paying for protection, as we suspect, Sanchez wasn’t working alone. He can’t be at the prison twenty-four seven. The only way he can guarantee the kid’s safety is if he has at least one partner.”

  Trevor scrubbed a palm across his unshaven face.

  “We’re hoping to use what we have so far to garner a confession. Bank records are here and Hawkins has the payroll records. Evidence is stacking up against Mr. Sanchez.”

  “I think I know why this last payment had to be cash. And why it was so much more money.”

  “Go on.”

  “Early parole.” Through the window his eyes followed Ketra as she ran the sorrel around the barrel pattern without a single mishap. She’d changed up her training somehow and it was paying off. That same horse that landed her in the dirt not once but twice the day he’d arrived, seemed well accustomed to the cloverleaf pattern today. He snickered softly at the memory.

  “The kid only had two more nights behind bars,” Trevor said. “Sanchez isn’t going to be getting any more ‘bonus’ money when the kid is gone. He threatens Hamilton to pay half a mil or he’ll let the hounds have their way with the boy on this last night.”

  Denny was silent for a moment. “That’s a good theory. But it still doesn’t explain Glaskel.”

  “Has anyone found any connection between Glaskel and Hamilton or Sanchez?”

  “No. We’re talking to Clay Leland again. George Wemberly swears he’s never heard of Glaskel. There’s no reason not to believe him. He’s being cooperative.”

  Trevor sat on the couch and rested his feet on the coffee table. “Maybe Glaskel and Leland are working together. Maybe Leland never intended to give the money to Hamilton. Glaskel could’ve been stealing it. They were going to divvy it up and leave town.”

  “We’re looking at all options. This is hard for you. I get that. But we’re close. I’ll know more in a few hours. After we’ve looked at more records. I promise I’ll call you.”

  Trevor’s feet thumped on the floor. With elbows on his knees, he braced his forehead between his palms. “Where did Glaskel get his police training?”

  “Don’t know. Why?”

  “We’re missing a link. Go back farther. Dig deeper.”

  “I’ll have some answers when I talk to you later.”

  When the call ended, he huffed in frustration. Something new should’ve turned up by now. He opened his laptop and hit the power button. There must be something about Glaskel on the worldwide web. No one was internet-free these days. After the computer conducted its routine boot-up functions, he logged on to the internet, prepared to read every hit on Sean Glaskel. Nothing meaningful popped. Glaskel wasn’t married and didn’t stay at any precinct for very long. Trevor wondered if disciplinary issues invoked the changes or if he was just a roamer, not one to put down roots. His position in Oklahoma, prior to transferring to Glendale, offered nothing of obvious significance to the current investigation.

  The phone vibrated.

  “You need to come in,” Denny said without ceremony. “Looks like you’re off the hook. I haven’t been filled in on the details. IA said they’re pulling up shop after they clear you to come back to work.”

  Trevor looked out his front window again, at the petite blonde on horseback, racing around the barrels on the sorrel. Despite his best efforts, she’d become a necessary complication. And a very pleasant diversion. But, the gnawing in his gut suggested it was so much more than that. The moment he’d been waiting for presented itself. If he packed his gear now, he’d be in Phoenix before his usual shift ended. But what of Ketra? Could he walk away?

  He cleared his throat. “I need a couple of days to wrap some things up here.”

  “I’ll let IA know you’ll be here in two days.”

  Denny disconnected leaving Trevor conflicted. He’d quickly tired of being holed up in Flagstaff and was anxious to be back to detective work. However, he’d developed a promising relationship with a sexy, annoying, beautiful, stubborn little vixen who needed him as much as he needed her. He couldn’t wrap his brain around the possibility of never seeing her again.

  He set the phone on top of his laptop and let his head fall against the sofa. When he closed his eyes, a wave of relief crashed against his relaxed body. The prospect of losing his job had weighed heavily on his soul. But the question plaguing him now required far more contemplation. What was he going to do about Ketra Weston?

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Early the next morning Trevor knocked on Rocky’s door. He spent the better part of an hour during the night agonizing over his exact words to Ketra’s family. With a little persuasion and the help of her loved ones, he should be successful in his campaign to win the little lady’s heart. His idea had to work. He was running out of time.

  Oxygen exited his body in forceful bursts. He was sure Marco would support his efforts. But convincing Kennedy would require more patience and charm.

  Rocky ushered him inside where Trevor explained his plan over a plate of biscuits and gravy, bacon and scrambled eggs. As anticipated, Rocky and Marco liked his idea. It took some smooth talking, however, to assure Kennedy that his intentions toward her sister were sincere.

  After breakfast Trevor made his morning round of the ranch, checking that everyone was doing their jobs and no new problems needed tending. In the bunk kitchen, he shared a cup of coffee with Silas. “I’ll be leaving in a couple of days.”

  No outward sign of surprise crossed Silas’s face. “Rocky told me Dom’s coming back. Light duty for a while. I wondered how long you’d stick around.”

  “Dominic’s a better foreman than I’ll ever be. Even with crutches.”

  “Well, you did a right fine job.” Silas enjoyed the last of his coffee then asked, “Wh
ere you headed back to?”

  Trevor took a slow sip of coffee before answering. “I have a ranch in Sedona. I’m hoping to start spending a lot more time there. Before I came here I was staying at an apartment I rent in Phoenix.”

  “Well, it sure was a pleasure having you back here again. Maybe we’ll be seeing you around once in a while?”

  “Oh sure, I’ll get back this way from time to time.” Trevor rose and clasped the other man’s hand in a firm handshake. “You take care, Silas.”

  “You too, young man. You too.”

  A fuliginous sky, heavy with clouds, blanketed the landscape in gloom. Ket’s absence in the main barn meant she was working in the indoor arena. He was both relieved and nervous about that. At least there wouldn’t be anyone around to eavesdrop. He wished he weren’t so anxious about what he had to say though.

  She was unsaddling the bay when he entered. Music blared and periodic flashes of fluorescent light bounced around the room. Dust motes glittered in the bright arena. An earthy combination of sweaty horse and fresh wood shavings filled his nostrils. He calmed his breathing but couldn’t moderate the speed at which blood coursed through his veins. She smiled. He tried to act nonchalant.

  “Good morning.” He raised his voice to be audible over the music.

  “Morning.”

  “Can I talk to you?”

  “Hang on.”

  She led the horse to a stall then mounted several steps to a platform housing electronic equipment. She turned off the strobe and muted the music. Trevor met her at the bottom of the stairs, grateful for the quiet.

  “You got a minute?”

  Ketra glanced at a clock on the wall behind him before nodding.

  He cleared his throat, hooked his thumbs in his belt loops then unhooked them and leaned against the side of the platform. Her brows puckered across the bridge of her nose. He cleared his throat again and removed his hat, twirling it in front of him with both hands.

  “Is this charades or…what?”

  Clearing his throat a third time, he managed to say, “Here’s the thing.” His eyes made a complete circle of the interior of the arena before returning to her face. “I’m going back to work. I’ve been taken off admin leave so…I’ll be going back to Phoenix.”

  Ketra stuffed her hands into her back pockets. “They got the bad guys then?”

  “I’m guessing so. I don’t know all the details yet. I have to go in tomorrow and get my official okay to go back on duty. Denny’s supposed to tell me everything when I get there.”

  “But you’re off the hook?”

  “Looks that way. Maybe.”

  She took a deep breath and repositioned her hat. “Well, that’s good. I guess.”

  “Listen,” he pushed away from the wall. Hooking a finger under her chin, he lifted her face to his. “You gonna be okay here when I’m gone?”

  “I was okay before you got here?”

  “No you weren’t.” He ran the backs of his fingers down her arm. “But you’re healing.”

  “This is where I live, where I work.” Sadness clouded her eyes when she looked at him. “This is where I want to be.”

  “Will you come with me?”

  “I have—”

  “Just one day, Ket. That’s all I’m asking. There’s someplace I want to show you.”

  She hesitated. “I don’t like to leave the ranch.”

  “I know. But you’ll be with me.”

  “I need to work with the horses every day or they’ll—”

  “Will you at least think about it?” Trevor removed his hands and sighed. “I’d really like to spend one day with you before….”

  She ground the toe of her worn boots on the concrete as if squashing a bug. “Will you be back?”

  A ray of hope burst inside Trevor’s heart. “Do you want me to come back?”

  She opened her mouth then closed it, shrugging instead.

  “It wouldn’t spoil my day too much if I ran into you again.”

  “Gee, thanks.” She swatted him on the arm.

  “I could come up here on my days off and we could have a mind-boggling, blow-your-boots-off, sex marathon.”

  She wrinkled up her face and walked away from him.

  He was about to follow when Kennedy and Marco ran into the arena. “When it rains here, it’s torrential,” Marco said.

  “Welcome to northern Arizona,” Trevor said.

  “How’s it going?” Kennedy whispered.

  Trevor shook his head. “See what you can do.”

  “Hey, Ket. Come here. I have a wonderful idea.”

  Ketra joined them. “Judging by that look on your face, I am not going to like it.”

  “Marco and I have to head home tomorrow, but we thought we’d stop in Phoenix and do a little shopping for the wedding on our way. We want you to come with us. You need to pick out your dress and shoes. And you can help me decide on flowers. You can design your own bouquet.”

  “Oh joy.”

  “It’ll be fun. We’ll have a nice lunch, do some shopping, like we used to do.”

  “You know I don’t like to leave the ranch.” Ketra repeated the same lame excuse she’d given Trevor.

  “Alone. You don’t like to leave the ranch alone. You won’t be alone. You’ll be with us.” “I’ll have to drive back by myself. It’s a long way.”

  Trevor cleared his throat in a melodramatic fashion meant to draw attention. “You could ride back with me.”

  “Oh, that’s right,” Kennedy rushed on, “Uncle Rocky said you had to go to Phoenix. Are you going tomorrow?”

  Trevor almost laughed out loud at the sweet sincerity in her voice. If Ketra knew they had hatched this plan together, she’d no doubt do them all serious bodily harm. “Yup. Tomorrow.” He did his best to sound as if the simultaneous trips to Phoenix were coincidental.

  “Perfect. It’s settled then.” Kennedy was on a roll. “We’ll leave around seven. That should get us there in time to have breakfast before the malls open. Come on, Marco, we need to pack.”

  “Wait,” Ketra called after them, but they didn’t stop.

  Trevor hoped he looked as shocked and befuddled as Ketra did. She fisted her hands on her hips. He shrugged. “You will need a dress for the wedding. Good news is, she’s letting you pick it out. She could just put you in orange ruffles or something God awful.”

  “Damn.” She crossed her arms under her breasts. “Damn, damn, damn.”

  “You might want to work on controlling that mouth a little bit. That kind of language isn’t very lady-like and you’ll want to be ladylike in front of all those good-looking Italian painters.” He winked at her before jogging out into the rain.

  Inside his cabin, he removed his hat and leaned his back against the door. So far, so good. By this time tomorrow, he’d be one step closer to sealing the deal. One more hurdle to overcome and his life would be back on track.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Ketra brooded in the backseat. Kennedy and Marco chatted away in the front, pointing out landmarks as they traveled through Oak Creek Canyon, holding hands and exchanging saccharine terms of endearment. She ignored them, focusing out the window at the red rocks and spindly evergreens whizzing by. Kennedy tried several times to engage her in conversation. She refused to respond with anything requiring more than two syllables.

  Intermittent red sandstone formations rose from the Sonoran Desert floor.

  Gray-green creosote and mesquite bushes interfused with occasional clusters of evergreens. Pinions and salt cedars cast shadows on the rust colored sandy soil.

  “Trevor’s going to meet us for lunch at The Hacienda, near the mall,” Kennedy said over her shoulder.

  “Whatever.”

  “Enough with the bad attitude. Geez.”

  A twinge of remorse a
t her unenthusiastic churlish responses pinched her conscience. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t talk herself into a good mood. “You know I’m just not comfortable leaving the ranch.”

  Kennedy turned around in her seat. “You need to get out, Ket. Think of this as therapy.”

  She let her gaze drift out the window. “Goody. Retail therapy. My favorite.”

  “Speaking of shopping,” Kennedy said as if the snide comment hadn’t been said, “remember Laura at Parker’s Western Store? She asked about you a couple of times. Wonders how you’re doing.”

  A veil of sadness settled over her at the reminder of her home town. She missed her parents and longed to see them. Her eyelids worked overtime to subdue the tears threatening to spill.

  “And I saw Sara one day when I was at the practice arena. She said she misses you.”

  “I’ll bet,” Ketra sniffed.

  “Not everyone was on Kyle’s side. Most of them were too afraid of his dad to stick up for you.”

  “Yeah. Those are exactly the kinds of friends I’m looking for, too.”

  “Some of them truly regret not coming forward at the trial. You’d know that if you ever came for a visit.”

  “I couldn’t bear the pity in their eyes.”

  After a tense moment of silence, Marco interjected, “So where’s a good place for breakfast? I’m starving.”

  The girls exchanged ideas about possible restaurants. Since neither of them were familiar enough with Phoenix, Kennedy told Ketra to call Trevor for a recommendation.

  “I don’t have his number,” Ketra lied.

  “Well, it just so happens, he gave it to me.” Kennedy fished in her purse and handed Ketra her phone.

  Ketra punched in Trevor’s number. After two rings, he answered.

  “Kennedy wants to know a good place for breakfast.”

  “There’s a great coffee shop right next to my office. Tell Marco to follow me. I’ll go by him when we get to the four-lane highway.”

  “Okay.” She clicked the phone shut without saying good-bye.