Chapter 1

by Ann Whitaker

  Officer Ecks evidently didn’t understand that messing with my purse ranked right up there with someone threatening to kill me. He sighed and shook out his hand, cramped from all the writing.

  “Can I go now?” I asked.

  Before he could answer, another policeman appeared at the window and knocked on the glass. Officer Ecks rolled down his window, and the other policeman whispered something I couldn’t hear. When Officer Ecks whistled under his breath, I gathered the news wasn’t good. He turned toward me and gave me a hard stare I couldn’t decipher. “I’ve just been informed of the identity of the victim.”

  “The victim! I’m the victim here. He almost killed me.”

  Officer Ecks took a breath and let it out slowly through rounded lips. “Are you aware that Officer Justice is a member of the Waco PD?”

  “Yes, sir, I am fully aware of that fact. I told you he was a policeman. That’s one reason I trusted him enough to come out here in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night to help an injured dog!”

  “Of course. The injured dog. And I thought I’d heard it all.”

  “You don’t believe me?”

  “It’s not my place to believe or not believe. But Officer Justice claims you pushed him down the cliff. If that’s true, you could be in big trouble. Assaulting an officer of the law.”

  “I did not push him.”

  “We’re going to need you to take a breathalyzer test.”

  “Fine! You won’t detect anything on my breath but the scent of fear with a hint of loathing. Your upstanding upholder of the law could have killed me. He’s the one who should be taking a breathalyzer test.”

  “Well now, that’s just your word against his, isn’t it?”

  After I proved I could touch my fingers to my nose with my eyes closed—a feat I found difficult even when stone sober—and passed the breathalyzer test, they said I could go. Nick whisked me into the Lexus, leaving Berto to drive the BMW, and we headed back to Casa del Lago, leaving Lovers Leap and its unpleasantness behind. As we neared the house, Nick reached over and patted my leg. “You okay?”

  Even after the harrowing events of the evening, I still felt a surge of pleasure at his touch. With Nick, just a look could send me reeling, though I’d be the last to admit that to anyone, least of all to him.

  “I’m okay. I feel like a fool, but I bounce back pretty fast. I still can’t believe he said I pushed him. What a jerk. I was trying to help him.”

  “Worse than a jerk. He’s also a—”

  I waited for him to finish, but he stopped.

  “A what?” I asked.

  But Nick had shut down. “Nothing,” he said, his lips tight.

  What did he know that I didn’t? And why so reluctant to tell me? I pondered my fate. Would I be arrested for attempted murder?

  “Surely they won’t believe the ravings of a crazy person,” I said quietly.

  Nick gave a wry laugh. “Let’s hope not, and no need to feel like a fool. You don’t know him like we do.”

  “How do you know him? What is it I don’t know?”

  Nick didn’t answer. Even more frustrating, he didn’t say anything. My mother always said I had the tenacity of a bulldog, and I wasn’t giving up this time. I’d try another tack, hoping to throw him off guard. “So what’s the connection between Butch and Babe?”

  “Not my place to talk about that. And I don’t advise asking Berto or Carmen. It’s a sensitive subject.”

  “Don’t I have a right to know? I mean, the guy almost shoved me down the side of a cliff because of her.”

  “Sorry, babe. Can’t talk about it.”

  “My name’s not Babe!” I sputtered. “Why all the secrecy? What could be so bad you can’t tell me?”

  “You’re the one who’s been dating him. You tell me.”

  “Ohhhh!” Now I was infuriated. “I have not been dating him. I went out with him once. The only reason I met him tonight was because he said a dog was injured, and I had no reason not to believe him. You could have warned me about him.”

  He clapped a hand to his forehead. “I tried. I told you to stay away from him.”

  “You could have told me he was crazy! And dangerous.”

  “For all I knew, you two had hit it off great.”

  I gave Nick my best evil eye, but he didn’t take his own eyes off the road. “You actually think Butch Justice is my type?”

  A corner of Nick’s lip turned up. “You have a type?”

  “Maybe.” I turned away from him and faced the road ahead.

  I was still in the dark in more ways than one. The Espositos and Nick had a secret I wasn’t privy to, and no one wanted to clue me in. I was tired of the intrigue, tired of the secrecy, tired of Nick’s hot and cold behavior. I tried to convince myself I didn’t care but had little luck.

  We drove the rest of the way in a silence so thick you couldn’t have cut it with a Texas chainsaw.

  The next morning, Nick sat under an umbrella by the pool, wearing a navy T-shirt and crisp khakis. I pretended not to see him as I walked past, headed for the big house to get the dogs for their training.

  “Julie. Hold up.”

  When I kept walking, he reached out and grabbed my arm. “I know you heard me.”

  I lowered my sunglasses, peered over them, and looked him straight in the eye. Then I turned on my best fakey smile and sweetest voice. “Nick. So sorry. Didn’t realize that was you.”

  “Yeah, sure you didn’t. Thought you’d want to know. Berto called one of his connections at the hospital. Seems your friend Butch has a couple of broken ribs and a broken leg. And more good news. He’s been suspended without pay, pending further investigation.”

  “He’s not my friend.”

  “Then you’ll press charges?”

  “What? No! Believe it or not, I’d prefer to terminate any association with him now, if not sooner.”

  Nick’s brows drew together, and he didn’t smile. “After what he did to you?”

  “He didn’t exactly do anything. I’m okay. He’s the one in the hospital.”

  Nick banged a hand on the table so hard I jumped. “Dammit, Julie. Carmen and Berto are counting on you.”

  “What do you mean?” It was my turn to frown. “This has nothing to do with Carmen and Berto. I was the one stupid enough to end up at Lovers Leap with a crazy policeman.”

  “It has a lot to do with Carmen and Berto.”

  “Care to explain?” I asked, knowing he wouldn’t. “Look, I admire your loyalty, though I don’t understand any of this. And I’d like to help, but Officer Ecks said it was Butch’s word against mine. For all I know, he’s going to file charges against me.”

  “Not very likely.”

  “What’s this all about?”

  Nick’s face hardened. “Sorry, not at liberty to say.”

  I pulled away from him and took off for the big house, his words echoing in my mind. Nick said Berto had called one of his “connections.” Berto, Hispanic Godfather of Waco. Don Esposito. I shuddered. Would I find a horse head on my bedpost in the morning? Would Berto himself call me in, make me an offer I couldn’t refuse?

  Back in my apartment after working the dogs, I paced from room to room. Why was Butch such a sensitive topic? Philip, who’d been sleeping peacefully on the sofa when I came in, sat up and looked at me, his eyes questioning. His head pivoted each time I walked past. I finally gave up trying to figure out the situation with Butch. Maybe a nap would help. It seemed to work for dogs. I changed into some lightweight yoga pants and a T-shirt, plucked Philip off the sofa, and placed him on the bed. Then I plopped down, and he curled up next to me.

  Just as I dozed off, I heard a light knock on the door. Philip’s bark jolted me fully awake, and I grabbed him before he could jump off the bed and hurt his leg.

  Stumbling into the living room, I looked out the window. Babe stood outside, nervously shifting from one foot to the other. She wore white cropped pants with a sleeveless, crimson
top that set off her tan skin. Around her neck on a silver chain hung a large silver cross. Her complexion, with no trace of makeup, was flawless.

  As she lifted her hand to knock again, I opened the door and smiled weakly. Her face was solemn.

  “Come in.” I swung open the door to the apartment built for her. “Mi casa es su casa,” I muttered awkwardly. In this case, it was literally true.

  Babe glanced warily behind her, but seeing no one, slipped inside.

  I pointed to the sofa. “Have a seat. Want some iced tea? It’s already made.”

  She nodded, her eyes darting around the apartment, taking it all in, then saying something I didn’t quite catch about the colors.

  “I’m sorry?”

  “My colors,” she repeated. “Mamá chose these colors because they were my favorites—ruby, gold, emerald. But this is the first time I’ve been inside in years.”

  I wasn’t sure what to say so said nothing and went into the kitchen to pour the tea. When I returned she was still standing in the middle of the room, her eyes glistening with tears. I handed her the cold glass, and she took a gulp, looking up at me thankfully.

  “Please. Sit.” This time she did. “You don’t stay here when you come back to visit?”

  She hesitated, a pained look crossing her face. Her words came haltingly. “I stayed here for a short time right after it was built. But after what happened—”

  She clutched at the cross around her neck, as if calling on a higher power.

  “Mamá understands, but she was disappointed. She really hoped I’d come back and stay here. I do come back, but never here. The memories are too painful.” The hand holding her glass of tea trembled.

  I carefully lowered myself onto the couch beside her, reached out and boosted Philip up, and watched him settle between us. Babe patted his head.

  “You’d think I’d be over it by now, but I sometimes wonder if I’ll ever get over it. Even in LA, when I’m feeling really good about myself and what I’m accomplishing, I think back to that night, and I feel so stupid, and so…ashamed. I really thought I was in love.” Then she surprised me by changing the subject. “I just talked to Nick. He said you weren’t going to press charges against him, against Butch.” When she spoke his name, she grimaced as if she’d just tasted something bitter.

  “You do know him then?”

  She let out a rueful laugh. “Oh yes, I know him. Knew him. That’s why I need to talk to you.”

  I gave a short, embarrassed laugh. “Pardon my French, but I never want to see his sorry-ass face again. Guess I’m not a very good judge of character.”

  “Don’t blame yourself,” she said, her eyes sympathetic. “He fools a lot of people at first. He’s also gotten crazier over the years. He seemed like a pretty nice guy back when I met him.”

  I waited for her to go on, but she just stared into her glass of iced tea, as if reading her fortune in the stray leaves floating in the bottom. Or her past.

  I finally broke the silence. “Well, like the policeman last night said, it would only be my word against his. So if that’s what you’re worried about. I mean, if he’s your friend—”

  “No, you don’t understand. It’s more than that. About six years ago, just as I was about to graduate from high school, we dated. My family hadn’t lived here long and I didn’t know anyone, so when he asked me out I said yes. I admit I was more than a little starry-eyed. He was older, a policeman. My parents thought I’d be safe with him.” Her hand went once more to the cross around her neck. “I’d dated only young guys before, and he was a man. I didn’t have much experience and was naïve, to say the least. But I thought he really cared about me. And I believed him when he said he loved me and couldn’t live without me.”

  “So he broke your heart.” And now he wants you back. Nothing like a little competition to whet the appetite. “Look, Babe. I’ve dated my share of jackasses, but there are lots of men out there who’ll treat you better than Butch Justice. I—”

  “No, it wasn’t like that.” Her eyes pled with me to understand.

  “I think I know where you’re going with this. And to be honest, I just don’t want to get involved.”

  I started to get up, but she reached over and put a hand on my arm to stop me. “Wait. You haven’t heard the rest of the story. Not many people know everything. My parents. Nick. The police know some of it…but that came later. My brother and I had both been accepted to the University of Texas, and Mamá wanted us to have a place of our own to stay when we came back.”

  Babe seemed calmer now. She placed her glass on the coffee table and folded her hands gracefully in her lap. Then the words poured out. “One night after Butch and I had been to a movie, we came back here so I could show him the apartment. I’d just moved in and was excited about having my own place and was trying to play grown-up. Mamá didn’t know—she would not have approved of my being here alone with him. She and Papá were always strict about those kinds of things.” She gave a wry laugh. “Papá thinks I’m still a little girl. At twenty-four. Anyway, that night I was excited about showing Butch my Cielo…ha. It was far from heaven for me.”

  She sank deeper and deeper into the sofa, as if trying to lose herself among the cushions. “It was a moonlit night in the spring. You know the kind. When you’re young and the air seems thick with romance. I’d just turned eighteen. He was twenty-five. We kissed. Things started heating up. I was ready to prove my love. And that’s when it happened.”

  I interrupted, hoping to make her feel better. “It’s like that for a lot of girls. I know the first time is supposed to be special, but if the guy turns out to be a loser, it makes it even worse.” I did feel sorry for her. I reached over and placed my hand on her shoulder. “There are nice guys out there.”

  I couldn’t believe I, of all people, was lecturing her on nice guys, when I’d given up ever finding one for myself. After all, she did have Nick. With her youthful beauty, her fine skin—much as I hated to admit it, she was drop-dead gorgeous, way out of my league.

  Her hair, dark and thick as kahlúa, tumbled over her shoulders as she spoke. “I’d been protected by my parents...and my brother. I didn’t know anything about men.” Hesitantly, she continued. “Then Butch tried to get in my pants.”

  I was confused. Hadn’t she just said she wanted to prove her love?

  “Babe…he’s a guy. Guys do that sometimes. It doesn’t mean he didn’t respect you…well, not necessarily.” I fudged to make her feel better. Knowing Butch, I doubted he respected any woman.

  “You don’t understand. I mean he tried to fit into my panties. He’s a big guy. I’m a size four.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Envisioning Butch in women’s underwear was a bigger stretch than Spanx Power Panties on Oprah’s butt. Of all the negative thoughts I’d had about him, macho Butch as a cross-dresser wasn’t on my list.

  My face must have shown my disbelief. Babe grasped the silver cross hanging around her neck and held it toward me. “I swear to you on this cross—”

  I held up my hands in surrender. “I believe you. I’m just having a hard time wrapping my mind around that picture.”

  Babe averted her eyes as she continued. “I was probably the last eighteen-year-old virgin in Waco. Since I was leaving for school at the end of the summer, I’d decided it was time for me to become a woman. I went into the bathroom to slip into a nightgown, and when I came out, he was standing by the chest of drawers, his back to me, buck naked.”

  Normal behavior for a man about to have sex.

  “He was bent over, with my panties wrapped around his ankles.”

  She leaned over and put her head in her hands, her shoulders shaking.

  I tried to comfort her. “Don’t feel bad. It wasn’t your fault.”

  When she raised her head, tears ran down her face, but she wasn’t crying from sadness, she was laughing. “It wasn’t funny at the time.”

  I smiled, trying to relate. I’d dated some creeps
but never a cross-dresser. I had, however, seen Rocky Horror Picture Show and had loved Johnny Depp in Ed Wood so much I’d bought the movie. But I could cut Johnny a lot of slack. Butch was no Johnny Depp.

  I reached over for my tea and took a big swig, not sure what to say. “I’ve read most cross-dressers are harmless.”

  Babe gave a wry laugh. “Try telling my father that. Besides, you know better now.”

  I turned sideways, tucked my feet under me, and leaned my head against the sofa cushions. “So what did you do?”

  “Screamed. Loud. So loud he fell over backwards trying to get his feet loose, but they were tangled in my panties.” She giggled. “I was so shocked I just stood there, watching him squirm on the floor, trying to get out of them.” She pressed her knees together. “They were my favorite pair, red…from Victoria’s Secret. When I heard them rip, I yelled louder. Told him to get out and never come back.”

  “Wow.”

  Babe took a deep breath and let it out, her bee-stung lips full and seductive like her mother’s. “He claimed it was a mistake. That he’d accidentally twisted them around his feet and tripped.”

  “He’s more creative than I thought.”

  “Nick and Papá think he’s a pervert, but I’ve lived in LA for six years. He’d seem fairly normal there. Lots of wackos. But Waco? And a policeman?”

  “Go figure. Who would have guessed?”

  “It’s all beside the point now. What came later was worse. That’s why I’m telling you.”

  I lifted my brows and blinked. “Worse?”

  “Oh, yes. When Mamá and Papá found out I’d broken up with him, they wanted to know why. Butch’s manners were never great, but he’d always been on his best behavior around them. I thought Papá would kill him if he found out, and I didn’t want either of them to know he’d been in my apartment.”

  Babe nervously picked at a thread in the ornate fabric of the sofa. When it came loose, she rolled it between her fingers and flicked it on the floor. My thoughts churned. If only ridding ourselves of the threads of our past were that easy.

  She reached up and in a fluid movement pulled her dark hair away from her face. I watched, fascinated, thinking how she must look to Nick. The thought made me ache with jealousy and pain.