Unrepentant, he smiled and took her burden from her. “Nothing better than pre-scrambled scrambled eggs,” he said. He placed the egg carton and the sausage on the island with exaggerated care. “See? Everything’s back to normal.”
“Except my blood pressure.” She gazed at him for a moment, obviously trying to glare, but her lips twitching. “Sleep well?”
“Feeling almost human. Is it sick to be in love with a mattress?”
“If so, I have the same malady.” She withdrew a large bowl from the cupboard beneath the island. “Since you’re here, you can help. Coffee’s made. Set the table.”
He moved to the drawer that held the utensils. “Happy to help, but I’d hoped you and I could discuss this so-called investigation. Compare notes.” He transferred forks, knives and spoons and to the huge pine table in the nook area off the kitchen. “Before the rest of the crew gets here.”
“Of course.” She poured coffee for both of them. “No telling when they’ll drag themselves in here. They can wait for me to cook.” They sat on the stools that flanked the island, facing the kitchen door so they’d see anyone entering before that person could overhear their conversation. Madrone took a long drag on her coffee. “Okay. You find out anything significant?”
Gabe ran his fingers through his curls. He grimaced. What a curse, curly hair that grew like crabgrass. Haircut due. Least of his problems. “I have no idea of the significance of anything I’ve heard. Not feeling a bit like a detective.”
“You just need to let those little gray cells percolate. Now that we’ve both had a good night’s sleep, I’m sure we’ll come up with something.”
“That’s what I love about you. Ever the optimist.” He tensed at his use of the “l” word, but Madrone replied as if she hadn’t noticed.
“I didn’t find out much about Jesse except that he’s not as reserved when there’s just two people.” When Gabe peered at her over his coffee mug, she blushed. “I mean he actually talked to me. You know how quiet he’s been. I’m guessing we’ll be working together once all this is settled. I like him.”
“Unless of course he’s arrested for murder. We need to know more about his past.”
“Maybe I can sneak a look at his personnel files and find out if he has any relatives nearby. Then we could talk to them.”
“Or I could just ask Tripp for the files. I am his partner.”
“Wouldn’t he wonder why your sudden interest?”
“They’re going to be my employees, too. He’d better not question me. It’s a lot less dangerous than your snooping in his office.”
She lowered her brows. “I’m well aware of that. I’m also aware that you may soon become the prime suspect. We have to do something.” She stood and paced over to snatch up the coffee pot, pouring more for each of them when she returned. “I also realized that Heather wears running shoes instead of boots. Something I should have noticed earlier. That’s how she can outrun all of us. Maybe there were prints around Everett’s body.”
“I’m sure the sheriff will be happy to let us look at the crime scene photos.”
“No need for sarcasm. Do you think we could FOIA it?”
“The Freedom of Information Act excludes most law enforcement investigations. Besides, even if we could get it, it would take way too long to do us any good.”
“Okay. One of those deputies, Weston, seemed pretty friendly. I’ll take that one on.” She winked.
“Poor guy doesn’t stand a chance.” Gabe finished his coffee. “I found out that Ben grew up on a ranch out there. Ben’s sister made the decision to sell it, possibly to Poulsen.”
Madrone’s cup stopped halfway to her mouth. “Very interesting. We need to find out more.”
“I’m hoping to track down his sister. Ben says it didn’t matter to him because he was into rodeo in a big way.”
“Oh, really? Then why is he going to be a guide for ACT? I don’t recall many rodeo tours in the brochures.”
“Injuries are usually what kills the rodeo bug, but it’s worth exploring.”
“Always the entomologist. Even know about the infamous rodeo bug. There’s bound to be a rodeo somewhere nearby soon. We should go see if any of Ben’s old buddies are there. I’ll check out the schedule.” She began a new pot of coffee. “I wish I knew more about what brought Jesse here. I don’t think it was entirely voluntary. He told me he had a record, but I didn’t want to pry.”
Gabe wanted to share what he knew about Jesse’s stint in detox, but Madrone was, after all, an employee. He’d see if he could discover more and then decide what he could share with her. “I’ll see what I can find out.” Hands clasped behind his head, he leaned back. “The relationship between Tripp and Everett is whacked, if you ask me. Everett marries Tripp’s ex-wife, Tripp’s girlfriend obviously had some kind of relationship with Everett, and something tells me it wasn’t platonic. Tripp pretends they’re buddies, then assigns all of his crew the task of stabbing the guy in the back.” He paused. “Not literally.”
“Someone took it that way. Tripp’s behavior is strange, even for him, you’re right.”
“He and I need to plan the next bunch of tours. I’ll see what I can find out.” He moved to the cupboard for a stack of plates. “Next is Heather. Why did she stop school right now and go to work for us? You’d think she’d be moving on to graduate school.”
“Yeah. Who for heaven’s sake would want a job like this one? Doh. Money seems the obvious answer. Graduate school costs, even with fellowships and grants. Speaking of odd, though. Why would someone with a Ph.D. in entomology become a tour guide?”
“Partner. Boss. Not only a guide. The reason, however, is totally understandable to anyone who’s faced campus politics. Although it appears I’ve gone from the ashes of that job to a sizzling hot skillet here. What else do you need me to do?” Lame excuse, but best he had for now. Very soon he needed to tell Madrone the truth.
Madrone looked at the clock. “Someone should be down by now. Guess everyone was wiped out. You could start the toast, but I don’t want it to get soggy. I’ll start the sausage. The aroma should lure them down here.”
“If not, I’ll eat it all. I’m starving.” He moved the cupboard where glasses were kept and pulled several out and began to fill them.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: His Legacy Will Go On
G abe had four slices of toast warming in the oven when Tripp and Jesse walked into the kitchen. Jesse gave several exaggerated sniffs. “Something smells good,” he growled. “Me need food.”
“I didn’t know you hired a Neanderthal,” Madrone said to Tripp.
“Nah, Tripp’s our ancient man,” Jesse said, straight-faced.
They all laughed, even Tripp. “Give the boy a good night’s sleep and he gets spunky,” Madrone said.
“Spunky?” Tripp said. “I’d call it smart-ass. Thought you were the silent type.” His light tone belied the judgment in his words.
Madrone threw her arm around Jesse. “My new partner’s strong, silent and smart,” she said. “And a little bit sassy. Just the way I like my boys.”
“Boys?” Gabe said. “Isn’t that sexist or something?”
“When you’re as good a cook as I am, you get some leeway with your language,” Madrone said.
Tripp laid a notebook on the dining table at the head chair seat. “Woman makes a point,” he said. “Breakfast smells inviting and I’m ready. Stayed up late, got up early. Talked to the sheriff this morning. Tell you all when the rest of our crew straggles in.” He picked up a plate and headed toward the stove. “Those eggs ready?”
Madrone swatted at him with her spatula. “Soon. Grab some coffee and toast and I’ll bring the rest to the table. Oh, rats. Gabe, I forgot fruit. Pull some oranges out of the fridge and slice them. If you don’t mind.”
Gabe did as she commanded. He pondered the situation: Tripp sits at the head of the table, Madrone uses Gabe as a kitchen drone. Was he really a partner in this business? Eh. Bigger thin
gs to worry about today.
Tripp had already poured his coffee and seated himself. “This,” he waved in the general direction of the rest of the house, “wasn’t exactly how I envisioned our break time.”
Madrone deposited a plate of sausage in the center of the table with a loud clunk. “I don’t imagine it’s exactly what Everett planned, either.”
“Saint Madrone speaks,” Tripp said. “It’s horrible, I know that. It also wreaked havoc with our plans. That’s the simple truth.”
“Guess that eliminates you as a suspect, then,” she said. “Tripp couldn’t kill Everett. It would cause a disruption in his plans.”
“For God’s sake, Madrone, why would I kill Everett? He was letting me conduct our training on his property. We were friends. Have been for years.”
Gabe finished slicing the oranges and laid them on the table. He was getting faster with kitchen chores and didn’t slice a digit. Whoop, whoop. “I wonder if Everett would have considered it an act of friendship to set your entire crew to finding things that could stop Mountain Shadows.”
Tripp scowled. “Given your lack of success, it might have amused him.”
Should he share his discovery of the petroglyphs? Not right now. Since Everett was dead, most likely so was his cherished development.
“Get a chance yet to look at our reports from the scavenger hunt?” Jesse asked.
Tripp sent Jesse a foul look. “I haven’t had a lot of spare time.”
Heather strode into the kitchen, wiping her face with a towel. “Just got back from a run. It’s glorious out there.” She hesitated at the table, looked first at Madrone standing at the stove and at Tripp, seated at the head of the table. “Should I go shower first or is casual okay?”
Gabe smiled at her, appreciating her courtesy. Most people Heather’s age had little respect for what their grandparents called “the niceties.” Somewhere Heather had picked up excellent manners.
Madrone, finishing up the scrambling of eggs at the stove, chuckled. “I think casual’s in order today.” She paused. “But it’s Tripp’s house. Tripp’s call.”
Tripp waved Heather to a chair. “Of course. Sit. Relax. Enjoy.”
“While it lasts,” added Ben, who had walked into the room during the exchange. “Who knows what the sheriff has planned?”
Tripp shot him a mild frown. “Actually, I do. Once Frances and Kate are here, I’ll fill you all in.”
Madrone came to the table bearing a platter of scrambled eggs and another of link sausages. “Might as well fill yourselves up before then,” she said.
Frances and Kate straggled into the room, minutes apart, while the others were finishing their breakfasts. The two women served themselves coffee and sat. Madrone popped up to cook more eggs, but Gabe intervened. “Hang on. You eat. I’ll scramble a few more eggs.” He looked to Frances and her granddaughter. “I can warm up the sausage if you don’t relish lukewarm.”
Kate cast a quick glance at her grandmother and Frances spoke up. “Lukewarm sausage is a favorite of mine. But eggs sound good.”
“Scrambled eggs coming up,” Gabe said. He moved to the cooking area and began the preparations.
Tripp stood. “Now that you’re all here, I have a few announcements.” Pregnant pause. “I spoke to the sheriff this morning and he said any of you can leave for a while, as long as he knows where you’ll be. As far as I’m concerned, you can stay here or take off, so long as you’re ready for your next assignment. Keep it quiet and sober and don’t bother Flicker or make too much of a mess for my housekeeper.” After another weighty pause, he continued. “I haven’t had time to review your reports, but I plan to do so today. Gabe or I will be speaking with each of you alone this evening. Each of you who chooses to remain here. Otherwise, leave me your contact information and I’ll be in touch.” He glanced down at a file folder on the table beside his plate. “If anyone wants to meet with me, I’m in all day. You’re welcome to stay here. Madrone, with the help of Gabe, has agreed to cook and do some housekeeping chores.” He clapped and the others joined in. “If you want to do laundry, you know where the laundry room is. I’m hoping this is all cleared up soon and we’ll be off on our next tour.”
Gabe had served the eggs while Tripp spoke and now he seated himself next to Madrone and across from Ben. “So Ben, you plan to hang out here or bunk with your sister? Didn’t you tell me she lived around here?”
“She lives in Tucson. But I’ll hang here.”
Gabe forced a smile. “I promised Madrone I’d share in the cooking. Your sister’s might be better than mine.”
Ben’s expression tightened. “We’ve drifted apart over the years. You know how it goes.” He paused. “You got family nearby?”
Gabe tensed. “Most of my family’s in Colorado.” He didn’t enjoy being on this side of the questions. “My mother and two sisters live in France.” TMI, but he’d read that a little self-disclosure led others to share. He didn’t share. Didn’t want anyone to know that his mother had left him with his harsh father and rowdy brothers, left Colorado and never looked back. Didn’t want anyone to wonder, as he so often did, what he’d done to chase her halfway across the world. Wonder if she missed him as much as he missed her.
Ben raised his eyebrows but said nothing. He shoved his chair back and nodded to the group as he strode toward the door.
Before Ben left the room, the doorbell sounded. Frances started and yelped. “Loud enough?” she asked Tripp.
Tripp ignored her and strode out of the room.
“Think it’s the coppers again?” Jesse asked no one in particular.
Ben returned to the table and seated himself. “Whatever or whoever it is, I can’t miss the next big event.”
“It’s a little early for anyone else,” Frances said. She stood up. “I need coffee if there’s to be another grilling.”
Madrone rose as well. “I’ll see if there’s enough for our guests and us.”
Tripp came back, accompanied not by Sheriff Idle or one of his minions, but by Lorraine Poulsen. Her scooped-neck dark gray blouse revealed a lot of skin. Sketchy for a recent widow.
Tripp returned to the head of the table, looking out-of-sorts. “Folks,” he said, “You met Lorraine at the party here, when she and Everett were our guests. I’m sure we all wish her our very best in this difficult time.”
Gabe nodded and heard low murmurs of condolence from the other guides. Beside Tripp, Lorraine smiled a stiff, solemn smile, moving her gaze deliberately from one person to the next. “Thank you. I won’t take much of your time. I have a couple of things to say to you, but I also brought some things over. Everett and I were planning a party and I have some food I won’t need. I need someone to help bring it in.” She looked across at Jesse. “Could you help bring it in? You look to be finishing up your meal.”
Jesse flushed, obviously not accustomed to attention from women. “Sure.”
He trailed her out of the kitchen like a puppy that has peed off the newspaper.
Madrone and Frances, who’d lingered in the kitchen while Lorraine shanghaied Jesse, came back to the table. Frances snorted. “She could have had you bring the stuff in,” she said to Tripp.
“She didn’t ask. However, I’m sure we’re all anxious to do whatever we can to help her out. That’s the kind of team I’ve built and that Gabe and I will continue to build with Adventure Calls.”
Ben, seated next to Tripp and across from Gabe, rolled his eyes, somehow including his entire face in the gesture.
Beside Gabe, Kate coughed. Frances leaned forward and reached for the sugar bowl. “We’re some cohesive team all right. Don’t forget one of us probably killed that woman’s husband.”
Heather made a clicking sound with her tongue. “You don’t know that, Frances. Maybe someone else was squatting on his land. Or followed him from town. We all know developers make enemies.”
They heard the front door close and not long afterward Jesse walked into the room, followed by Lorra
ine. He took his former seat, and focused his gaze on the table. To Gabe, he looked pale, his blond hair damp with sweat. The kid needed to get out more.
Lorraine returned to stand behind Tripp’s chair. She moved her gaze with the slow precision of a metronome from the face of one team member to the next. “I’ll let you know when the memorial service for Everett will be. Since I’m pretty sure one of you killed my husband, I hope you’re caught before then so he won’t have to bear your presence at his service.” She cleared her throat. “I want you to know that Mountain Shadows was a long-held dream of my husband’s. It will not die with him. I intend to carry on with his work. I have great hopes of keeping to his planned schedule. Within eighteen months, families will be walking the nature paths at Mountain Shadows and swimming in the community pool. Residents will be enjoying and learning about the surrounding desert lands.” She paused and let her gaze travel around the table again. “So if you thought Mountain Shadows died with Everett, you were wrong. I will make his dream reality.”
Tripp let out a sigh. The exhaustion he’d tried to hide earlier now showed plain on his face. No one else spoke for several moments. Madrone took Gabe’s hand in hers and squeezed it under the table. He looked around the table. Kate’s face had frozen into an angry mask and beside her, Frances looked profoundly sad. Jesse, Ben, and Heather avoided eye contact with anyone and ended up appearing fascinated by the remains of their breakfasts.
After a lengthy and silence-laden pause, Lorraine asked, “Any questions?”
Frances sipped some water. “Aren’t you a bit nervous about continuing with a project that got your husband killed?”
Beside him, Madrone inhaled sharply. “We don’t know that’s true.”
Kate giggled. “Yeah. Who knows for sure? Maybe he was offed by some crazy old miner wandering the hills.”
Tripp rose. “Lorraine, I don’t think you should make a decision like this while you’re in shock, grieving Everett. There’s plenty of time later.” He pushed back his chair and moved toward her.
Murder, Sonoran Style Page 13