by Aimée Thurlo
Serious warning bells went off in her brain. No legitimate collector or merchant would advertise in a free pulp flyer of this sort. This practically screamed “fakes” or stolen merchandise.
Taking Chris, Eden dropped him off at Mrs. Chino’s again and drove straight to the police station. They’d know where she could find Nick.
Moments later, she went inside the building and, to her surprise, saw Nick at his desk.
Nick glanced up and walked over to meet her. “I’m caught up on my paperwork, and was about to go on a lunch break. What brings you here?”
She showed him the advertising newspaper and pointed out the ad. “I think we should look into this. It sounds strange.”
Nick read it quickly, then shook his head. “I know what you’re thinking. But the odds are astronomical that these will turn out to be the artifacts. What’s more likely is that someone is hoping to trick people into forking over some money.”
“You’re probably right. But don’t you think we should still look into it?”
Captain Mora came out of his office just then, and joined them. Nick filled him in on what Eden had found, and showed him the ad.
“Look into it, Deputy,” Mora said, his face suddenly hard. “The telephone number listed has a local prefix. If one of ours is trying to pull a scam, I want him hauled in. I’ll try and get a court order to get the name of the person who placed the ad or a reverse directory listing on that telephone number, but I doubt I’ll have much luck. We don’t have enough to go on. So the fastest way to get answers is for you to set up an appointment with this joker.”
“You’ve got it, Captain.” Nick nodded, then led Eden out of the station.
“Shall I call and arrange for a meeting?” Eden asked, eager to do anything that might advance her search.
“No. If it’s someone from the pueblo, chances are they’ll know you and me. I’ll get Rick—Martin’s nephew, who also works for Black Raven Ranch—to make the call,” he said, heading toward his police vehicle.
“Let me ride with you, then. That way, if the guy wants to meet right away, I’ll be ready.”
“No, Eden,” he said firmly. “I appreciate you bringing this to our attention, but now it’s official police business and you’ve got to trust me to follow through on it.”
“But you’ll at least let me know if you schedule a meet with this person, won’t you? Fair’s fair, Nick. I gave you the tip.”
“Okay. I’ll make sure to call you.”
Eden watched him go to his unit. Nick may not have wanted her along on this operation, but she had no intention of staying behind. This was her business, too, and she wouldn’t be brushed aside.
By the time he drove away, she was already busy making her own plans.
HOURS PASSED. Eden had just put Christopher to bed when the phone rang. The moment she picked up the receiver and heard Nick’s low, deep voice, desire stirred within her. With effort, Eden brushed the sensations firmly aside and concentrated on what he was saying.
“This seller’s got a line even a three-year-old wouldn’t buy,” Nick said. “He asked me to meet him by the Anasazi ruins outside the pueblo, across the highway on the west side.”
“That’s not a bad deal for you. He won’t be able to ambush you in open territory like that.”
“Yeah, but he’ll see me coming for miles. If he decides the meet is off, that’ll be it.”
“Nick, you need me on this. If his intent is to check out who he’s dealing with, he’ll recognize you for sure. I can at least wear a wig and disguise myself.”
“I’ll be out of uniform and wear a hat low on my face. Don’t worry.”
“You’re not going to use your own Jeep, are you?”
“No, I’m taking Rick’s truck. It’s already parked here at the bunkhouse. I’ll set out tomorrow at daybreak.”
“Good luck,” she said, trying to sound disappointed so he wouldn’t get suspicious. But the truth was she had all the information she needed to carry out her plan now. “And be careful.”
“I always am.”
Eden sensed he wanted to talk for a while longer, but there was nothing more to say. Wishing him good-night, she got to work. She had a lot to do before daybreak.
NICK SET OUT in Rick’s truck the following morning. The air was brisk, and that helped him stay alert. He’d need to stay sharp today, too. He was on his own out here. Mora couldn’t back him up because the sting was taking place just outside their jurisdiction. The state police had been notified, but the patrolman assigned to this sector was responding to a traffic accident and would be indefinitely delayed. Although Mora had wanted to call everything off, Nick had insisted on seeing it through. He owed Eden, the tribe he served, and himself that much.
He drove slowly, aware of everything around him. He was really surprised that Eden hadn’t been more insistent about coming along with him. He half expected to see her car somewhere behind him, but he’d looked in his rearview mirror several times and there had been no signs of anyone tailing him.
Arriving at the crossroads that led to the ruins a short time later, he slowed down, and parked. From here, he’d have to go on foot. The ruins were ahead, but only a motorcycle or horse could make it across the rutted, boulder-strewn ground.
He’d just stepped out of the truck when he heard the camper shell’s door swing open. Spotting a mass of red hair out of the corner of his eye, he drew his weapon and pressed against the side of the truck, using it for cover.
“Come around to my side of the truck. Slowly, and with your hands empty.”
Eden stepped into view, smiling. “See? Even you didn’t recognize me with this wig. Now put that gun away before anyone else sees it.”
Nick glared at her, trying to process what he was seeing. The flaming red hair looked like a prop from a hair dye commercial. “What the hell do you think you’re doing here? I could have shot you.”
“I knew you wouldn’t. You’d make sure of your target first.” She smiled. “You didn’t want me to come on my own so I went to your bunkhouse before daybreak, broke the camper’s lock, and stowed away.”
“Don’t you have to teach this morning?”
“I took the day off.”
“You still can’t come with me,” he growled. “I’m on duty.”
“So I’ll stay behind you and be your backup.”
Until that very second, he hadn’t thought that the situation could possibly get worse. He muttered a curse under his breath. “I can’t leave you behind. He may have already seen you and you’d be an easy mark, unarmed.” He looked at the wig pensively and winced. “You’re right about one thing, though. No one would recognize you in that. Why did you ever get something so…bright?”
“It was for a skit I was in during college. I was playing a Hollywood starlet. Since then, I’ve only used it for Halloween dress-up days at the school where I taught before coming here.”
He remained lost in thought for a moment, considering everything that had happened. “This may yet work to our advantage,” Nick said at last. “Let’s go. The seller’s eyes will certainly be on you, so maybe that’ll cut me some slack,” he said, pulling his black felt cowboy hat down low over his eyes. Reaching back into the truck cab, he brought out an envelope filled with phoney money he’d run off on a color copier. “Here’s the fake money for the payoff. You get to carry it so I can free up my hands. Just stay sharp. If you spot anything that doesn’t look right, let me know.”
They started walking toward the ruined adobe structure ahead. It had been a two-story multifamily dwelling several hundred years ago, but now all that remained was the remnants of a high wall. Beyond that were a series of trenches and pits where archaeologists had unearthed anything they could find, then carted it off to museums. It wasn’t exactly a tourist attraction anymore, and the historical marker had been vandalized beyond recognition.
“This place is deserted,” she said, disappointed. “Unless he’s hiding in one of the holes tha
t the university people dug, there’s no one around except us.”
“He’s here. Listen to what the land’s telling you.”
“I don’t hear anything.”
“Exactly. You can’t even hear birds. It’s deathly quiet and that’s not natural.”
They stood at their agreed upon meeting spot on the north side of the adobe wall for a full ten minutes, looking and listening, but no one approached. Nothing moved except the insects. Then, Nick heard the faint sound of footsteps along the opposite side of the wall, on the south side.
“Don’t move. And don’t try to look over the wall,” a harsh muffled voice said through a small crack in the adobes. “We are going to do this my way. The objects are close by, but first I want to know if you have the money to deal.”
Nick signaled for Eden to answer. There was something vaguely familiar about the voice, though he couldn’t place it.
“It’s here.” She held up the envelope with the copied fifty dollar bills inside. “But we’re not handing even a dollar over until we see the goods.”
“I’ll stay here while you go drop the money through the small break in the wall, halfway down.”
“Not until I see what you’ve got for sale.”
Nick glanced at the spot the man had mentioned. The opening, where an adobe had been moved, was twenty or so feet away, and about three feet above the ground. It would be safe enough for Eden as long as the guy didn’t follow her.
“The things you want are right in front of you. They’re in a hole underneath that knocked-over No Trespassing sign. Put the money where I told you as your partner goes to take a look. I’ll stay here until we finish.”
Nick nodded to Eden. As soon as she’d placed the phony money where the man had instructed, Nick moved off to check out the merchandise.
Cautious for traps, he walked over and picked up the sign slowly. Underneath, in a scooped out hollow, was a mask and a small paper bag. Nick studied the mask first. If it was a fake, it was a good one.
Suddenly a shot rang out from behind him. The bullet struck metal somewhere with a clang. A quick, second shot struck one of the top adobes, showering Eden with chunks of hardened earth.
Nick ran back and yanked Eden down to the ground against the wall. Shielding her with his body, he drew his weapon and fired back over the top of the wall. He suspected that the shots had come from behind an outcropping of rocks a few hundred yards from their position. Nick fired six times in rapid succession, hoping only to force the sniper back. Scoring a direct hit with a pistol was all but impossible at this range and he knew it.
An uneasy silence descended as the shooting stopped. Then, over the stillness, they heard a soft groan.
Nick dove over the wall and into a shallow trench scientists had dug while examining the foundation. As he rolled to one side, he nearly hit his uncle, who was lying face up in the ditch, contorted in pain.
Nick didn’t bother hiding his surprise. No wonder the voice had sounded familiar.
Thomas stared at him for a moment. “I was hoping to flush out the real thieves with my ad. I never expected you to show up.”
“You flushed them out, all right, but it nearly cost you your life.”
“Go after him, nephew. I’ll just lay here, safe and out of sight. I’m fine,” he said, trying to catch his breath. “I was prepared. When you make yourself a target by letting desperate thieves know you’ve got what they want, precautions like wearing a vest are necessary. The bullet still caused a considerable impact, but it didn’t penetrate.”
Nick studied Thomas for a moment. There were no signs of blood and that left him free to act. “I’ll be back.”
Eden scrambled over as he finished speaking, and crouched down in the trench beside the men. She took in the situation with one glance. “I’ll take care of your uncle,” she assured, taking off her wig and shaking her hair free.
With a nod, Nick ran down the shallow ditch, then leaped out and found cover farther away.
Eden watched him disappear from view, then looked down at Thomas. “This is a very dangerous game you’ve chosen to involve yourself in.”
“I can look after myself,” he said, finally managing to sit up. Opening his shirt, Thomas revealed two heavy makeshift armor plates he’d worn in the front and back beneath his shirt. The one in front was actually two layers thick. “An aluminum griddle and cast iron from an old wood stove. They’re not exactly bullet proof vest material, and they really slowed me down, but they did the job today.” He showed her a bullet still imbedded in the cast iron after passing through the aluminum griddle completely.
A few minutes later Nick returned. “The sniper’s long gone.”
Eden and Thomas stood up, climbing out of the trench. Seeing his uncle on his feet, Nick came closer, trying to figure out exactly what had happened.
“Did you see who it was?” Thomas asked before Nick could speak.
“No. He had a partner waiting and they were gone before I was able to catch up to them.” He looked at the bullet flattened into the cast iron, and the penetrated aluminum plate. “Having two layers was the only thing that saved your life. What exactly were you trying to do here today? Cheat somebody out of their money?” Nick demanded.
“I’m offended by that suggestion, nephew. Actually, I was hoping the real thieves would come after me. I wanted them to assume that Isabel had given the artifacts to me, and I was finally willing to make a deal to raise some much needed cash. Most people at the pueblo know that I’m in a jam with the casinos, so I had a good chance of pulling it off. If I’d have been able to complete a deal, I could have given you a good lead as to who you should look for. In the meantime, I’d have scored a handful of cash.”
“Not to mention getting shot. The real thief would have probably taken you out of the picture completely. He must have been able to see the artifacts from his vantage point when I removed the sign. He was using a rifle scope. I guess he figured he didn’t need you anymore.”
“No one followed us here,” Eden said, then seeing the surprised look on Nick’s face added, “I kept watch from the camper shell on the way here.” She looked at Thomas. “The sniper must have tailed you.”
He gave her a weary half smile. “It was a calculated risk.”
“I’m bringing you in,” Nick said. “But first I want to take another look at that mask you brought. I expected a fake, but if that’s what it is, it’s a good one.” Seeing hope flicker in Eden’s eyes, he shook his head. “It’s not the one we’re after. I didn’t recognize it. My guess is that it belongs to one of our secret religious societies.”
“That’s exactly right. But it’s just a practice mask, not the real thing. My group made it so that we could work out certain ceremonial steps without giving offense to the gods.” Thomas looked at Eden then explained. “It’s really difficult to keep from bumping into each other when we’re all wearing masks that only have tiny slits for eyes.”
“And they gave you permission to sell it?” Disbelief was etched clearly on Nick’s face.
“Not exactly, but I didn’t steal it, either. They asked me to burn it, along with two others, years ago. I kept them because I suspected I might find a better use for them someday.”
Nick glowered at his uncle. “We’ll sort this out at the station. I’m through giving you any breaks.”
“You have no case against me. Nothing was stolen and my religious society won’t press charges.”
Nick scowled, knowing his uncle had a valid point.
“Whether you believe me or not, I really am on your side. I’ve been doing everything in my power to get information you can use. I’ve even tried to talk to Rita Korman a few times, hoping to find out a little more about the theft,” Thomas said.
As Nick glanced at Eden, he knew she remembered having seen Thomas with Rita. That answered one question at least—providing his uncle wasn’t playing mind games again. Knowing that taking Thomas to the station was a waste of time, Nick recanted.
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“Let’s head back. I’ll follow you home and make sure you stay out of trouble,” he said. “But I’m going to take that,” he added, indicating the makeshift armor Thomas still wore. “That’s evidence I intend to log in and follow up on. We’ll try to get a caliber and weight on that bullet.”
They were underway several minutes later. Nick could feel Eden’s gaze on him as keenly as he felt the breeze blowing in through his open window. “Nothing is ever simple these days. Have you noticed?” he commented.
She nodded and gave him a tiny smile. “But that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Whenever you and I get together, life always becomes very complicated.”
“True. But some things are worth the price,” he said, his voice low, but loud enough for her to hear.
She didn’t reply, and maybe that was for the best. There wasn’t anything more either of them could say. He’d always been a realist, and he knew that this case could blow up in their faces at any given moment. Yet, despite that, he couldn’t seem to let go of the one hope that kept him going—that compelled him to fight to hold on to what they had together even when logic cautioned against it.
Maybe that was what made love one of the strongest forces in the universe. It gave a man the power to believe in a dream, despite the odds against him.
Chapter Seventeen
Nick followed Thomas home, staying about five car lengths behind. There wasn’t much traffic at this hour on the highway that led back to the pueblo, and it would be difficult for anyone to tail them without giving themselves away.
Silence stretched out between him and Eden. He saw the worried frown on her face and had to fight the urge to reach for her hand and hold it like he had so often as a teen. But they weren’t kids anymore, and what he wanted seldom stopped with holding her hand.
He took a deep breath and forced himself to think of what he had to do next as they crossed into pueblo land. Ten minutes later they pulled up in front of his uncle’s house. Thomas, who’d arrived just before them, got out of his car, and waved for them to come inside.