The Texas Ranger's Reward (Undercover Heroes)
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Later, when she’d dressed, she felt restless. For once she didn’t turn to her painting. Vaguely disturbed without knowing why, she phoned her brother and asked if he’d come over to her place. He told her it would have to be later that night, because he was up at the cabin right then having a look around.
She was surprised and relieved. John was the one person she felt she could talk to about Travis. Her brother might be able to give her insight into how to handle the fact that Travis resented her looking like his deceased wife.
Without a good talk, she feared that when she eventually went to bed, she would lie awake half the night waiting for tomorrow to come. It had been years since she’d found herself wanting to be with a man again. But he wasn’t just any man. Since the movie with Casey, she’d thought of his father as her own personal Texas Ranger.
Chapter Five
Travis drove away from the town house and headed downtown. He needed to run by the forensics lab to drop off the soil samples, fingerprint tapes and cast he’d taken.
En route he remembered what he’d wanted to ask Melissa before he’d received that phone call from the school, and everything else had gone out of his mind. He needed a list of any people who’d been in their cabin this year besides family.
Without wasting any time, he phoned her. When she didn’t answer, he realized she could be anywhere, doing anything. He left a message for her to call him back.
“Dad? Where are we going?”
“To Lacey and Chaz’s condo. They’ve invited us for dinner.”
“Is Zack going to be there?”
“I think so.”
“I wish I’d brought Captain America. Can we go home first and get it?”
“Afraid not. We’re late as it is.”
“But what about Dexter?”
“He’ll live till we get back.”
When they arrived a few minutes later, everyone noticed that Casey had come without his crutches, and high-fived him.
“Yup,” he responded. “Melissa told me my leg was all better and I didn’t need them anymore.”
“Who’s Melissa?” Mitch asked.
“She’s my or—” He looked at Travis for help. Everyone in the room cracked up.
“Orthopedic specialist,” Travis managed to say without laughing.
“She’s awesome and drives a red-and-black Jeep. She used to have a bulldog named Spike, but he’s dead now. She made my sore arm all better, too.” He extended his scraped elbow for everyone to have a good look.
“Ew!” Zack blurted.
“Does it hurt?” Abby was very worried. Since her bee sting, she was overly solicitous.
“Nope. She put this spray on it.”
“She does sound awesome,” Mitch murmured.
“She is! She gave me a leash for Dexter, and tickets for Spider-Man. Dad and I went to the movie with her. Oh, and she bought cupcakes for my whole room. It wasn’t really my birthday, but she said it was okay because everyone has a birthday party at school.”
Heidi smiled. “That’s pretty fantastic.”
“Was it a good movie?” Lacey asked him, but her eyes were on Travis.
“Dad thought it was boring, but Melissa and I loved it!”
In the midst of everything Travis’s phone rang. He saw the caller ID and said, “Excuse me for a minute.” He left the living room and walked down the hall where he could have some privacy.
“Melissa? Thanks for calling me back.”
“Sorry it took me so long. I went to my folks’ place for dinner. When I left, I couldn’t find my phone. After searching my car, I went back to their house and found it on the couch. It must have slipped right out of my purse.”
Her breathless explanation pleased him even more than the knowledge that she hadn’t been out with some guy. Travis wasn’t blind. She attracted every man in sight. Everywhere they’d been together, he’d seen men’s eyes light up the minute they caught sight of her. The traffic in Kamas had slowed several times because some guy was staring at her from his car as they’d walked along the main street.
“No problem. Earlier today I meant to ask you if you would compile a list of people who’ve been in your cabin this year. I’m talking friends, neighbors, workmen—anyone. Your siblings might be able to help with names, and your parents, too, of course. I’m trying to explore every possibility.”
“I’ll do it before I go to bed. One more thing, Travis. You’ll probably think I’m crazy, but maybe someone is looking for gold and using our cabin to hide at night.”
“Gold?”
“I’ve been thinking about something my grandfather told me when I was young. We were out hiking and he pointed out an old mine that wasn’t active anymore. He said that most people thought the gold rush started in California. But he said gold was mined in the western mountains in Utah well before the first white settlers arrived.
“Apparently, Indians first worked the mines here, ones enslaved by the Spanish explorers, who came in the l600s. In fact, what many originally thought were Indian hieroglyphics and pictographs are actually markers along the Spanish Trail. It led from Mexico to the Uinta Mountains and beyond.”
Travis blinked. “I had no idea.”
“If he hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known it, either. He said the trail was the main link between Mexico and Spanish outposts here. In the l800s, pack trains of Mexicans were seen heading out of the Uintas laden with gold.
“Grandpa said all kinds of Spanish cannons and swords were found in our ‘killer mountains,’ as they called them. One cannon was found in Kamas. They had gold mines that few of the later European arrivals knew about. The ruins of rock homes, forts, tree carvings and various artifacts were clues that pointed the way to the gold ore. Silver, too.
“The Indians knew where the mines were because they’d been forced to work in them by the Spanish. After years of oppression they revolted, killing most of their captors, and returned the gold to the earth, leaving it in the mines. Grandpa told me that from time to time, men have come to Kamas in search of gold, and have checked out that mine right behind our cabin. I know it’s a stretch, but since this has been going on most of the summer, it has caused me to wonder.”
It was a stretch, but he wouldn’t dismiss it out of hand. “Thanks for the Utah history lesson, Melissa. Anything’s possible. I’ll keep it in mind while I look around.”
“Uh-oh. I’ve got another call coming in, and better hang up. Good night, Travis.”
There was a click. He’d wanted to keep on talking. Since that wasn’t possible, he turned off his cell phone and returned to the living room. The guys eyed him speculatively, but it was Chaz who asked, “Talking to your latest client?” His friend knew about Melissa’s resemblance to Valerie and the shock Travis had received because of it.
Travis nodded. And shouldn’t have been surprised when Casey picked up on it immediately. Running over to him, he blurted, “Was it Melissa?” With that question, the guys’ wives were looking at him, too.
“As a matter of fact, it was,” he admitted.
“I love her! Didn’t she want to talk to me?”
Out of the mouths of babes, honest and unabridged. “She had only a minute to answer a question for me,” Travis replied.
“Oh.”
He didn’t know how much of Casey’s exclamation had to do with his memory of Valerie, but one thing was certain. His son was hooked on Melissa, and everyone in the room knew it.
Casey did so, adding, “It was really yummy. Bye, Zack. Bye, Abby.”
Mitch walked over to Travis with a gleam in his eye. “I’ve yet to hear about all this. Expect a call from me if we don’t see each other in the office tomorrow morning.”
Travis’s friend would be relentless in wanting to find out the details.
Once they arrived home, Casey played with Dexter for a few minutes and took him for a walk on his leash. Finally, it was time for bed. “Come on, bud. Under the covers,” Travis said.
As soon as Casey crawled in, the dog jumped up and lay at his feet. Travis kissed his son on the forehead. “Sleep tight. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Are you going to take me to the clinic tomorrow to visit Melissa?”
“No. You’re fine now.”
“But you brought her to school to see me.”
“That was different.”
“How come?”
He had hoped to avoid the subject, but Casey wouldn’t let it go. Since Travis didn’t know how long this case for Melissa’s family might go on, he realized he needed to tell his son a few facts.
With a resigned sigh, he sank onto the side of his bed. “The reason she was with me today was because I’ve been hired by her father to do some investigative work. I understand you told Melissa I’m a P.I.”
“Yup. At the movie.”
“Well, she told her dad. He asked me to look around their mountain cabin up in Kamas and find out who’s been living in it without their permission.”
Casey gasped. “You mean someone has been sneaking inside?”
“It looks like it. I took Melissa with me today so she could show me where it is and let me in.”
“Is it far away?” His son’s voice had a mournful note.
“No. Only forty-five minutes. It’s up by Park City. Do you remember we went up there skiing?”
“Yes.” But Casey looked unhappy.
“Melissa and I were on the way down the canyon when someone from your school called me.”
“Is her cabin big?”
“Sort of. It has an upstairs and is made of logs because it’s old.”
“Cool. Can I see it sometime with you and Melissa?”
“I think it’s a possibility.” After fighting his conflicted feelings for Melissa from day one, Travis was surprised he’d conceded that much to Casey. Something was happening to him. Today, with Melissa, he’d had moments he wished could have gone on.
“Are you going to go up with her tomorrow?”
“Probably.” She wanted to paint. Travis couldn’t very well tell her she couldn’t come, but the scenario was starting to get complicated in ways he didn’t feel like examining.
“Why can’t I go with you?”
“You know why. You have school.”
“No, I don’t. Tomorrow is teachers’ work day.”
Travis blinked. He’d forgotten about that.
“I don’t want to go to Aunt Pat’s. I want to be with you. What if you don’t come back?”
Travis knew that deep-seated fear was always lurking beneath the surface. He pulled his son into his arms. “Tell you what. I’ll phone her. Maybe we can all go up for part of the day. How does that sound?”
“Hooray!” In an instant, his boy became a happy child again. They high-fived. “I can’t wait till tomorrow. Night, Daddy.”
Travis discovered he couldn’t wait, either, and reached for his phone to call Melissa for a second time. Hopefully, whatever she was doing, she’d pick up.
She answered on the third ring.
He liked her well-modulated voice. “Hi. I know it’s getting late, but there’s one more thing I wanted to talk to you about before you’re in bed. Are you free to talk?”
There was a pause, then she said, “Is there a new development in the case?”
He frowned when she answered his question with a question. Something was definitely off. She wasn’t the same warm woman from earlier, and she didn’t mention Casey in the conversation, which wasn’t like her. “I can tell you’re not alone.”
“My brother’s here, helping me with that list. He just got down from the cabin.”
Travis’s blood turned cold. “Did he go alone?”
“Yes.” She paused for a second. “Are you saying it wasn’t a good idea? I thought it would be okay for him. He wanted to look around.”
“After today I’m concerned, because I suspect that more than one person has been using your place to sleep. I don’t like the implications, and feel it won’t be safe for you or anyone in your family to go up there unless I’m with you.”
He heard her quiet gasp. “You’re not telling me everything you know, are you?”
“I’m operating on instinct right now, Melissa.” He grimaced. “It’s too soon to give you facts. What’s important is that you and your family will come to no harm if you stay strictly away. If it’s necessary for one of you to go up, and I can’t be there, then I’ll send some of my backup crew to protect you. Be sure you tell your brother how serious this is. I’m sorry it has to be this way.”
“So am I. But if you say it’s dangerous, I believe you. John’s totally impressed with all your surveillance gadgets. He’s fascinated by the work you do and can’t wait to meet you.”
“I look forward to meeting him. In the meantime, all is not lost. Casey’s school is taking a teacher work day tomorrow, so he’ll be free. We’ll pick you up around ten and drive to the cabin. While I’m busy checking around the area, you can paint to your heart’s content, as long as you and Casey stay within fifty feet of the cabin. Two of my crew will already be around to keep everyone safe.”
“You mean it?” The excitement was back in her voice—the sound that had been missing. The one he’d wanted to hear. “You don’t know how I long to take advantage of this weather. I love the mountains this time of year.”
“I’m aware you took a week off from work to paint, Melissa. Even though your father hired me, and I need to be up there to do the job he’s paying me to do, there’s nothing to prevent you from being with me. Under the circumstances it will be best if we take your Jeep, so anyone keeping a lookout will know you’re in residence and won’t come around while we’re there.”
“No problem. Casey told me he wanted to ride in it.”
“Now he’s going to get his chance. On the way up the canyon we’ll pick up pizza to take with us. There’s a place in the Bell Canyon Plaza.”
“I know the one.”
“Since Casey learned you have a cabin, he’s dying to see it. Is it all right if we bring Dexter?”
“Oh, yes!” Clearly, she adored animals. “He’ll love it up there. I want to draw him. Terriers are so darling.”
Melissa had Travis smiling. “Then it’s settled. See you tomorrow.” He hung up, excited to know he’d be with her soon. He was also pleased at the idea of taking their Scottie along. Besides being fun for Casey, Dexter made an excellent watchdog.
Too wired to go to bed yet, Travis went to his study. He needed to write up notes on the case and email them to Roman, to keep him abreast of his progress. Travis had no idea what he’d find up there tomorrow, but he planned to hike around and look for signs of people camping in an undesignated area.
Melissa’s suggestion that people might be up there trying to find a lost gold mine might not be
so far-fetched. She was a regular treasure trove of information. It was one more facet of her personality that drew him.
Next, he phoned Jose and asked him to drive up to Grampy’s in the morning. Travis wanted photos of the employees who showed up for work. He gave Jose a description of the man who’d leered at Melissa.
“If he drives a car to work, I want you to get his license plate number. But whether in a car or on foot, follow him after he gets off work. I’d like to know what he does in his spare time. Find out if he has friends in the area. See if he lives alone or with someone.”
The man might not have anything to do with the case, but Travis was curious about him and intended to check him out. Oftentimes evidence turned up that was helpful for an entirely different case the police were investigating.
“I’d also like you to find out who’s the new owner of Grampy’s. Melissa said the place changed hands in July.”
“Okay. Anything else?”
“Will you check the water and electricity bills for their cabin? Let’s monitor the usage and compare this last month’s activity to the bills for last year. I’m looking for any disparities or an unexpected spike.”
“I’ll get on it first thing tomorrow.”
After they got off the phone he contacted Adam and asked him to set up surveillance while he was up there with his son and Melissa tomorrow.
Finally, Travis had done everything he could for the moment, and left the study. A shower sounded good. He headed for the bathroom, full of anticipation for tomorrow.
He could see why Melissa loved the cabin so much. Salt Lake was unique. Within a half hour you could be in a remote mountain wilderness, thousands of feet above the valley floor. He’d hated leaving the Davis Mountains in Texas, which he loved, but today’s outing with Melissa, in a more primitive setting, where the peaks knifed the rarified air, called to the deepest part of him.