by Alexa Verde
“What if it doesn’t?” He turned to the street leading to her place, then stopped at the red light.
“I’ll deal with it then.”
“We’ll deal with it then.” The firmness of his voice indicated it wasn’t a question.
Her first impulse was to argue. Her second one, to her surprise, was to smile. It felt good to have a man at her side. To rely on somebody strong. Even temporarily. “Okay, we’ll deal with it then.”
While you’re still in town.
The sooner they found the killer, the sooner Luke could return to his life in Dallas. Her heart squeezed painfully. It wasn’t going be easy to let him go.
* * *
Mari gestured for Luke to come inside her home office. They’d decided it would be relatively safe to meet with James at her place in daytime. And it was much more private than the dining room of the Rios Azules B&B.
She caught his curious glance at the reproduction of Two Fridas by Frida Kahlo and a shelf filled with painted clay pottery that had come from across the border.
“A small tribute to my heritage,” she said.
She disappeared into the kitchen and came back with a tray. It held a pitcher with iced tea and three tall glasses with ice, as well as an assortment of appetizers: fried calamari, jalapenos stuffed with cheese, and crab cakes. “Lydia dropped this off.”
A knock on the door announced the arrival of their guest.
Soon Mari studied a tall man in a black T-shirt and jeans. Five o’clock shadow, black hair reaching the collar of his T-shirt, and stealthy movements reminded her of a panther. She sensed a fellow adventurer with an affinity for adrenaline and risk. Unlike Luke, the newcomer seemed to belong to her world. But there was no spark of attraction whatsoever.
Luke met his friend with a firm handshake and a quick tap on the back. “Mari, I’d like you to meet my best friend, James O’Hara. James, please meet Mari Del Lobo, the most infuriating and fascinating woman I’ve ever seen.”
The eye color, the last name, a slightly roguish sway to his gait, and a shamrock embroidered on his T-shirt hinted at some Irish blood in his veins. Unless, of course, all of it was just for show.
“You’ve made me sound boring.” Amusement flashed in James’ emerald-green eyes. “A pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” With a slight bow, he reached for her hand and brushed it with his lips.
“No kidding.” Mari gestured for Luke and James to sit down and to help themselves to the food. “I mean, the pleasure is all mine, Mr. O’Hara.”
“Call me James.”
“Sure, James. Call me Mari.” She dropped herself onto the sofa.
Luke joined her. “Let’s go straight to business. Did they identify the body? Was it really Josie Smith?”
James nodded and leaned in for a crab cake. Apparently, talking about murder didn’t influence his appetite. He seemed to be her kind of guy. “Yes. Her name was Josie Smith. Twenty-eight-year-old. Worked as a waitress in Austin.” He was about to eat the crab cake when Luke cleared his throat.
They bowed their heads, and Luke said grace.
“Austin, huh? Long way from here.” Luke helped himself to a stuffed jalapeno.
Mari raised her hand to warn him that the dish could make his eyes pop out. Luke took a bite and froze. She hurried to add tea from the pitcher, and he downed the entire glass in several seconds.
James sent him a curious glance, took a stuffed jalapeno, and ate it. It had no effect on him whatsoever. “What’s also interesting, the last time Josie Smith was seen, she had long hair. The body found near the river had very short hair, cut somewhat unevenly.”
“So the killer gave her a haircut after killing her? Sounds creepy.” Mari suppressed a shudder.
“Looks like that. To make her resemble you.” Luke moved closer to her, as if wanting to offer comfort.
James nodded and forked a calamari. “Not just the haircut. Josie Smith wasn’t known for wearing cowboy boots. She liked open-toe shoes, especially in summer heat. And the T-shirt with the wolf picture? Doesn’t look like it was hers, either. No relatives or friends remember it among her belongings. Besides, both the T-shirt and the cowboy boots were a size too large.”
Mari chewed on her lower lip in thought. “So he took a young woman remotely resembling me? And then changed her into somebody like me?”
“It appears so.” James single-handedly finished half of the appetizers. “The police are in the process of checking the stores where he might have bought the boots and the T-shirt. The label on the T-shirt is cut off neatly.”
“Did she have any bracelets, earrings, stuff like that?” Besides metal chains, Mari hadn’t seen any, but it didn’t mean Josie hadn’t had some stuffed in her pockets.
“Metal chains on her wrists. No earrings. No rings. A small keychain in her pocket. Shaped like a little wolf. The police are trying to trace the keychain. But there’s not much hope there.”
“Wolf keychain. Figures. The hint about ‘Del Lobo’ again. ‘Lobo’ means ‘wolf’ in Spanish,” she explained for James’ sake. “I didn’t see any makeup on the victim, but I imagine Josie used to wear lots of it. Same goes for nail polish.”
James nodded as he devoured several more stuffed jalapenos. “You’re right. Looks like he washed her face. Josie was known to wear heavy make-up. Also, her hair smelled like coconut shampoo. Looks like he washed her hair, too. There was no nail polish, either. Her fingernails were cut short. But not carefully, as if somebody was in a hurry.”
Both Luke and James looked at Mari’s hands. She didn’t have any nail polish and her fingernails were cut short. After all, she worked in a restaurant. Used to work in a restaurant.
“However, according to her friends, Josie used to have a beautiful, salon-made pedicure. Bright pink polish,” James added.
Luke and James looked at her feet.
“I’m not taking off my boots,” Mari said. “But I don’t have any pedicure. We already know about the note in her pocket. Was there anything else, maybe in her boot?”
“A small picture with a seascape. The police are trying to identify the place now.” James polished off the rest of the calamari on the plate.
Mari drummed her fingertips against the desk. “Might not matter. What matters is that it is a seascape. Remember, ‘Mar,’ as many of my friends call me, means ‘sea’ in Spanish.”
“So the message is clear. Mari is next.” Luke’s jaw set tight.
“That’s the thing, the message is too clear.” Her hand froze mid-air.
“Any sign of a fight?” Luke moved closer to Mari, as if wanting to protect her.
“Surprisingly, no. That shows she might have known her attacker.” James finished the rest of the appetizers and looked at an empty plate with longing.
Mari got up and returned with a plate with fried onion rings heaped high on it, courtesy of Lydia’s grandmother.
“Did the police have any suspects?” Luke asked.
“First, an ex-boyfriend.” James munched on the onion rings which were disappearing rather quickly. “But apparently he has a strong alibi. Right now, they are running with a version of her hitchhiking her way to south Texas. Maybe she was picked up by the wrong person. If we believe her relatives in Austin, she was a very cheerful, easygoing girl. Not an enemy in the world.”
“Time of death?” Mari grabbed a couple of onion rings before all of them were gone.
“Don’t have that one yet. Looks like the previous night.”
“For a person who’s not on the police force and not part of the investigation, you know a lot.” Mari ate the rings and took several quick sips of iced tea to flush down the food.
James gave her a mock salute with the last onion ring from the plate. “Ma’am, I’m very efficient. I have to warn you, though. There’s some talk that Antonio Del Lobo might be back.”
She put her glass aside. “I’ll need to get out of town before reporters come knocking on my door. Or the door of the B&B. Maybe we should visit
the place where Josie used to work.”
“That might be a good idea.” Luke looked into her eyes, worry for her engraved deeply in his features. “We’ll head to Austin tonight. If we find out who killed Josie, we might find who’s after you.”
Mari rose to her feet. “Thank you, James.”
“You’re very welcome.” He wiped his hands and mouth with napkins—it took a few—and lifted her hand to his lips in a gallant gesture. “Please let me know if I can help with The Café. I hope to visit Rios Azules again.”
“Thank you.” She gave the smile of a polite hostess. “I hope you do come back. This town has a lot to offer.”
James’ gaze shifted to the pictures on the wall, in particular, to the photo that showed their clique: River, Lydia, Soledad, Julia, and her. He smiled back at her. “It sure does.”
Luke stepped forward. “James, thank you for coming through for us.”
“That’s what friends are for. Besides, I’m happy to help such an incredibly beautiful lady.” James gave her a bright smile, which probably usually made women fall at his feet.
“And your help is appreciated very much.” Luke moved closer to her, his voice as firm as steel.
Mari tensed. The last thing she wanted was to come between two friends. Of course, James probably flirted out of habit, but Luke seemed to be genuinely irritated. Could he be jealous?
She shook her head. “Cut it out, James. I’m anything but beautiful. And I’m far from being a lady. Though I’m pretty incredible.”
“I agree on the latter.” Curiosity flashed in his green eyes.
If the circumstances had been different, she’d chuckle at his roguish charm. She imagined his ancestors had been pirates, and if he’d been born centuries ago, he’d have been one, too.
Hiding a smile, she picked up an empty tray and left for the kitchen. When she returned to the office, she found Luke and James in a heated debate, apparently concerning her safety.
“What’s going on?” She closed the door behind her.
“I think you should ask for police protection. James is offering his services as a bodyguard.” Luke sent a frustrated glance his friend’s way.
James was silent, but a hint of a teasing smile played on his lips.
Mari dropped in her comfortable, ergonomic chair. Did that mean Luke didn’t want to continue the investigation at her side? But she couldn’t accept either of options. “No. Remember that text? The killer said no police or another girl will die. I can’t let that happen.”
“Then we’ll go to the second option.” That hint of a teasing smile became more prominent on James’ handsome face.
She shook her head again. “No. I appreciate the offer. I really do. But you’re much more useful getting the information we need. Because we can’t go to the police, you’re our best source.”
“I can hire a bodyguard,” Luke volunteered.
Mari considered the option but decided against it. “No. As soon as I get a bodyguard, the killer will probably text me to remove him or her. Frankly I’m surprised I didn’t get a text asking for Luke to leave.”
Luke’s eyes narrowed. “I wouldn’t leave.”
Her heart warmed. Did she mean that much to him? Or did he just want revenge for Cynthia that badly? “I’m grateful. But the perp has a great method of persuasion. He doesn’t have a problem killing another girl to prove his point.”
Luke walked around the massive table and placed his hand on her shoulder. “We’ll stop him.”
“What if I’m not the next victim?”
“What if you are?” Luke looked into her eyes, great concern showing in his.
“Why? Why did he choose me? What are we missing here?” She rubbed her forehead.
“I hate to remind you. But it would make perfect sense if your brother were alive.” Luke squeezed her shoulders. “He would have a motive and the monstrous capability to carry out multiple murders.”
She lifted her chin. “He can’t be alive. Besides, dental records couldn’t lie, could they? Or could they have been the wrong records?”
Luke glanced at her then at James. “This is a small town. Antonio Del Lobo probably went to the same dentist all his life here. Could he have paid an employee at the dentist’s office to switch the records? Let’s say, with somebody who was already dead. And then place that person’s body in the log cabin? If he felt he was about to get caught, he could’ve staged his own death.”
As far-fetched as it was, for a moment, she tried to consider the possibility. Could Tony have escaped the fire, after all? And if so, who’d been helping him all along?
“I can check out the dentist angle,” James volunteered.
“Thanks.” Mari provided the name of the dentist Tony used to frequent, and the address for the dentist’s office.
A glimmer of an idea flashed in her mind, but it was too odd, too scary to consider. She had to make it to the restaurant where Josie used to work and show her co-workers several pictures she’d stored in her e-mail. Maybe Mari would luck out.
A touch on her shoulder jerked her out of her musings.
She looked at James. “Okay, you do that. There’s also another angle. My father.”
She hesitated then punched in his cell phone number. It went straight to his voice mail. “Dad, I need to talk to you. Please give me a call as soon as you can. It’s important.”
She called her father’s office. It was late, but her Dad was known for working long hours.
“Could I speak to my father, please? This is Mari Del Lobo,” she said when the secretary answered.
“I’m sorry, Miss Del Lobo. Mr. Del Lobo left for a business meeting in New York. He’ll be back in two days.”
“Thank you. Please ask him to call me when you see him. Or if you hear from him.” Deflated, Mari disconnected. Slowly she rose to her feet.
“Ready?” Luke took her hand.
“Yep.” She enjoyed the simple gesture far more than she had the right to. She picked up her purse and gave her office a long glance. Who knew when she’d be back? She refused to think if she’d be back.
James got up. “Thanks for the food and tea. And for the pleasure of your company. I’ll let you know when I find out anything else.”
“I’d like to pay you for your work,” Luke said.
“No.” James shook his head. “You’ve done much more for me.”
What exactly had Luke done? Mari’s curiosity was getting the best of her, but she didn’t ask.
After she’d locked up the house, James headed to the hotel while Luke and Mari picked up her motorcycle. She dropped it off at River’s while Luke followed. After that, Luke and Mari spent an hour in their respective rooms at the Rios Azules B&B catching up on their phone calls, e-mails, messages, files, thoughts and ponderings. They met in the dining room for a quick dinner.
Luke bowed his head. “Dear Lord, thank You for this food that we are about to eat. Please keep Mari safe in Your care. Please soften her father’s heart and help him see what a wonderful daughter he has. Thank You for all Your blessings. Amen.”
The prayer touched her soul. “Amen.”
Dinner featured beef stroganoff with pasta and peach cobbler for dessert.
“From what I’ve gathered from social media, Josie was a person who liked to have fun. Lots of pictures, too, taken at different locations. Looks like she liked to travel. I’m figuring out most of the locations. New York, Chicago, Houston. Also, a friend of a friend knows the owner of the restaurant where Josie worked. I had a brief talk with the owner and got scheduled for a job interview tomorrow. I can wait tables with the best of them. And that way I’ll be able to learn much more about Josie from her former co-workers and customers,” Mari said.
“Not bad for such a short period of time.”
His praise stroked her ego, and the corners of her mouth kicked up. “Thanks. I’ll have to change my appearance as soon as possible.” Once the story hit the news, she’d become highly recognizable. And sh
e hadn’t been much in the shadows after Tony’s murders in the first place.
Luke reached across the table and brushed her bangs away from her eyes. “That’s a pity. I like the way you look.”
“Me, too. And thanks.” Warmness spread inside her. She wanted him to like her. She didn’t want to think of the reasons. “But I still can’t understand it… how someone could kill an innocent woman just to give a message to me.” She hesitated. “Will you please pray with me?”
Luke sent her a surprised glance but quickly took her hand and bowed his head.
She swallowed hard.
“Take your time. Speak from your heart,” Luke said.
She took a deep breath.
“Dear Lord, please help us find a way to stop the killings. Please help the victims’ families heal. And please keep our loved ones safe in Your care.”
“Amen,” Luke said.
They sat in silence for several moments. She felt a sense of peace. Maybe, one day she’d be able to pray for her own forgiveness as well.
After dinner, Luke paid for the rooms at the B&B, and they headed north in his car. Mari shifted in her seat.
Luke glanced at her.
“Okay, I already talked to River and Lydia. They’ll spread the word I went on a trip.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
She sighed. She hated good-byes. River didn’t seem to like them, either. River.
Mari turned to Luke. “Can we stop at the place near the bridge? Something just occurred to me.”
Luke nodded, and several minutes later, they were looking down at the river bank. The sun was setting, and the golden reflection in the water was strikingly beautiful. She breathed in the air filled with the scents of leaves, grass, and the river. The birds singing and a low murmur of wind in the trees gave the place a sense of serenity. A cool breeze was coming from the river.
“It’s beautiful here,” Luke said. “Hard to believe a dead body was found so close.”
She winced. She used to love this place. But right now, she had to shut down her emotions. “The killer didn’t shoot at me. I didn’t realize it then. Strange, considering that in the open space, I was an easier target.”