Madrone’s eyes widened. “But she didn’t turn you in. Someone texted the sheriff’s office with a tip about the knife and they took Gabe in.”
He looked up. “You think it might have been Lorraine? So she knew already that I didn’t kill him when I knocked him out. She knew about the—”
“Knife. Yes. That woman knows a lot more about Everett’s death than she’s let on to anyone. What innocent spouse would not share facts with the police that might solve their loved one’s murder? Even if she was planning to leave him.” She had to talk to Gabe. She stood. “You should stop worrying about messing with her car. We’re both okay. We have worse things to consider. Lorraine won’t turn you in. And you, my friend and future partner, have eaten most of the pork rinds. I have made another convert.”
She patted his shoulder and left the room. As she headed down the stairs, she had a thought that spurred her into running downstairs and into the kitchen.
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE: Where's Kate?
M adrone burst into the kitchen, tumbling Gabe against Heather, who screeched, “Watch out!” She scowled at Madrone. “For heaven’s sake, surely you know better than to run in a kitchen where folks are cooking.”
“That’s not Shirley, it’s Madrone,” Ben quipped.
Madrone waved her hands out from her hips. “Quiet, everyone. Have you seen Kate? Or Frances?”
“Chill, Madrone. Frances is taking a nap,” Ben said, a pouty look on his face. “But she said she’d be down in time to make the soda bread.”
Madrone heaved a deep breath. “And Kate? Where’s Kate?”
Heather stopped, spoon held in the air like a baton. “Lorraine came by earlier and asked Kate to help her plan Everett’s memorial. Guess she’s convinced Kate’s his daughter.”
“Did she say where? At her house? Somewhere else?”
“Kate wasn’t very cordial to her. Said something like she had no clue what kind of memorial her asshole father would have wanted since she didn’t know him. Lorraine ignored Kate’s rudeness and said she thought Everett would want it at Mountain Shadows. Something like, ‘end it where he started it’? She told Kate to bring a jacket and put on shoes instead of her flip-flops, so I got the idea they were headed out to the development. The casita, maybe?”
Heather took in Madrone’s expression. “Is there some problem? I mean, the two of them aren’t BFFs, but I thought maybe Lorraine was putting out a—you know, like a palm branch? A white flag?”
Madrone’s obvious anguish froze Gabe’s blood. But it wouldn’t do to scare everyone, particularly if they were wrong about Lorraine. “That’s a good thing, I guess,” he said in an overly loud voice, moving as he spoke to place a calming hand on Madrone’s arm. “I’d just come in to volunteer my help setting the table, but it looks like we’ve got a while. Let’s you and me grab a beer,” he said to her. He squeezed her arm. “I need some ideas about the meals in Moab.” He walked in what he hoped was a casual way to the refrigerator, took out two Negra Modelos, and headed for the back door. “Shall we?”
Outside, he laid the beers on the table. Then he turned and gathered Madrone in his arms. Let the others think what they would, if they happened to look. She huddled in his arms, shivering as if it were forty instead of seventy-five degrees. After a moment, she pulled away.
“We’ve got to stop her,” she said.
“Stop who?”
She grabbed both his hands. “If I’m right, Kate’s in serious danger.”
“You got Jesse to talk.”
“I never thought . . . where could they be? Lorraine. Gabe, that woman wanted Jesse to kill Kate. She tried to blackmail him. But he refused. She won’t hesitate. If she killed Everett . . . ” She wrenched away from him and paced.
His eyes tracked her pacing. “She could have taken my knife that morning I hit Everett. He was nasty to her. But—”
“Where could she have gone with Kate? Her house?”
He eyed the beer with longing. “Not likely. If she’s really planning to harm Kate, why do it on her own turf?”
She stopped. “You’re right. Not when you’re surrounded by deserts and mountain ranges.”
“Heather heard her mention Mountain Shadows. Maybe she mentioned to Tripp where she planned to have the memorial. She might convince Kate to go there with her, scope it out.” Sounded far-fetched to him. “Naah,” he answered himself. “Lorraine’s more the memorial in an expensive, subdued funeral home, type.”
Madrone pulled her phone from her rear jeans pocket. “I’m calling Tripp.” After a moment, she said, “Hi, boss. Any idea where Lorraine is?” Pause. “No reason. Just thought she might have mentioned it when she came by looking for Kate today. You’re friends, right?” She wriggled her eyebrows at Gabe. “Okay. Well, then, has she mentioned to you where she’ll be having his memorial? Maybe on the site of Mountain Shadows?” Another pause. “No reason. We were all just chatting about it, trying to think of something nice we could do.” Gabe heard laughter through her speaker. “No, really. It’s not her fault she has bad taste in men. I mean, recently.” Gabe bit his lips together. “Of course not, Tripp.” She rolled her eyes at Gabe. “Okay, well, it was worth a shot.” After a moment, she added, “No, nothing’s wrong, far as I know.” She covered the phone and mouthed to Gabe, “Should I tell him?”
He shook his head.
Madrone ended the call. “Talk about foot in mouth disease. For a moment there I forgot she was Tripp’s ex, not to mention current.”
“It might have distracted him from the terror in your voice.”
“You’re right.” She heaved three more big breaths. “I need to pull myself together.”
“I’m trying to put myself into Lorraine’s shoes, but I don’t know her at all, except that she had weird taste in men.”
“She has an eye for you. I’d call that good taste. But you’re right, neither of us knows her.” She paused. “And Tripp had no clue, but then he might not hear her if she announced it with a bullhorn. He can be oblivious.”
Gabe half-smiled. “I’ve noticed. Still, when you asked him about the memorial being out there, maybe where they plan to break ground for Mountain Shadows, something clicked with me. Maybe. . . stage some sort of ‘accident,’ implying that Kate went there to take a look at the land her father was developing, and had an accident? It makes as much sense as anything and it’s somewhere to start.”
“Good idea. But does that help us?”
He slapped his forehead. “Duh. The plot plans for Mountain Shadows. They’re in my truck, along with some other stuff I found in Bisbee.” He headed for the gate to the driveway, but turned back. “‘End it where he started it.’ We can’t do this alone, much as I might like to. Ben knows that area. He can help us find them if anyone can. If that’s where they’ve headed. While I get the papers, you get Ben and Heather. We are, after all, a team.”
He turned toward the gate but was stopped when Madrone engulfed him from the rear in a hug. “Woo hoo! Together we will vanquish her. I know it. Good thinking, Gabe.” She kissed his neck.
He reached back to rub his neck, smiled broadly and continued to his truck.
CHAPTER FIFTY: Under the Ironwood Tree
W ith Madrone riding shotgun, Gabe sat in the back of Ben’s crew cab beside Heather.
“Holy crap, Ben,” Heather said. “Do you race cars as well as horses?”
Ben merely laughed and drove on, pushing the speed to the point of squealing tires.
“He rode bulls and broncs,” Madrone said. “Two distinctions: no racing and past tense.”
“I keep my hand in,” Ben said. “And I’m a safe driver. Thought we were in a hurry. I barely had time to throw on my sneakers.”
“We are,” Gabe said. “I still can’t believe you offered to drive. We might have to go off road.”
“Exactly why I offered. This way we’re all together and can go where we need to. I bought this baby to use it.”
“Seems like a big expense fo
r someone who’s saving his money for a ranch,” Madrone said, echoing Gabe’s thoughts.
“Got it used from a bull rider who needed cash for hospital bills. It’s a good place to sleep when I’m on the road and whenever I brought along other cowboys they’d all chip in for gas.” He paused. “That was a hint, boss.”
“We get Kate out of this safe and sound and catch Lorraine, I’ll spring for a full tank. And I know that won’t be chump change. Are you sure you’re up for this, Ben? I don’t mean your truck, I mean you. You’re still recovering from the great scorpion bite.”
Ben waved his hand. “I’m fine. Rested and ready. You couldn’t stop me from helping Kate, or any of our team.”
Heather shifted nervously in the seat beside Gabe. “I can’t believe I just waved Kate goodbye. Didn’t suspect a thing when Lorraine dropped in. I don’t know why you brought me along.”
“We all have our talents. Let’s hope we won’t need them.”
“Yeah. If we only had a blacklight, and we waited until dark, Gabe could round up scorpions and throw them at Lorraine,” Ben said.
“Concentrate on your driving, kid,” Gabe growled. Although Ben had a point. He should have called in the sheriff and his men.
“We don’t know what we’ll find out there. Too early to call the sheriff,” Madrone said, as if Gabe had spoken aloud. So was her talent mind-reading?
“If you’re so good at knowing what I’m thinking, tell me what’s on Lorraine’s mind,” Gabe said.
“Simple,” Madrone said. “She’s hoping to get off easy-peasy, with a dead woman who makes a perfect suspect. Maybe she’ll force her to sign a confession before she . . . ” What started out as a flip statement trailed off.
When the traffic outside Tucson thinned, Ben stomped on the gas.
“We’ll find them,” Gabe said. “I remember what Ben said when we were trying to find Kate. She’s strong and resourceful. She won’t give up without a fight.” If she’d had a chance to fight. If Lorraine had indeed killed her husband, she had no reason not to kill Kate. Except it would be easier to transport her out to the desert alive than dead. Grim thought. “You did bring the SAT phone, right?”
“I did.” Madrone turned around from the front seat. “But it will take them a while to get here. This one’s on us.”
“Yeah, but there’s four of us,” Gabe reminded her. “And we’re a resourceful bunch.”
“Madrone and I can distract her with food while you and Ben sneak up from behind,” Heather suggested.
“Go light on the irony,” Ben said. “Gabe will think of something. He’s got a doctorate.”
They stayed silent until Ben took the turnoff toward the land that Everett Poulsen planned to be Mountain Shadows. As dusk settled in, it became more difficult to see their surroundings. After a mile or so on blacktop, the truck made a sharp right turn onto a well-maintained gravel road. Ben pumped his fist in the air. “Yes. If he’s keeping the road up, then my guess is likely right. He planned the entrance to be at the ironwood tree.” He slowed to a stop. “I’m thinking that it’s about a mile to a place where there’s a huge ironwood tree. In fact, I don’t know why Poulsen didn’t name his development Ironwood. It’s a honkin’ tree, tallest kind in the desert. Sounds carry are out here, so I don’t know how much farther we should drive.” He turned to face Gabe. “What do you say, boss?”
Having not a clue, Gabe said, “Let’s drive closer. Time’s more important right now than stealth. She might think it’s freeway noise. I hear some. Turn off your lights.”
“Good idea. It’s hard to pinpoint the source of noises out here.” Ben started the engine and turned off the inside lights. “Open your doors to see if I got that right,” he said. The truck occupants opened all four doors and no lights went on. “Coolness.”
Ben moved the truck forward, for once proceeding at a slow pace. When he again stopped, he pulled to the side of the road. “Just in case we decide to call in the cavalry, I don’t want anyone to ding my sweet truck.”
“True love,” Heather said.
They donned the dark sweatshirts and jackets they’d agreed upon while planning their mission. Each of them held a small flashlight and had stowed the obligatory water bottles in their packs. Ben led the way, sticking to the road.
After about ten minutes, they heard voices. Gabe nudged past Ben. They crept closer. “I told you before. I don’t want his money,” Kate said. “It’s dirty.”
Sheez. Always the firebrand. Didn’t Kate realize she was in danger? Or was she? Was the threat all in his imagination?
“You’re insane. Or too young to realize that money isn’t dirty. It’s people. And yes, Everett was a dirty rat, and a serial adulterer, who deserved to die. I have no doubt he fathered you. You have his eyes and his ridiculous single-mindedness. Which got him killed and is going to get you the same.”
“There’s no reason to kill me, Lorraine. I don’t give a fig if you or someone else killed him. But I’d rather my grandmother didn’t go to her death thinking I did it. I’ll sign papers releasing everything to you.”
“Tough luck, cupcake. Be thankful I have a gun. Gabe’s knife made a real mess of Everett. Not sure how long he took to die. This will be fast and easy, if you cooperate.”
“Not much choice, since you have me tied up.”
Madrone leaned close to Gabe. “How can Kate speak so rationally?” she whispered. “The woman’s planning to kill her.”
“Not going to happen,” Gabe said.
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE: We All Have Our Skills
S ometimes you just have to wing it and hope for the best. That philosophy worked fined for teaching a class you hadn’t prepared for, but today a young woman’s life depended on Gabe. Winging it wouldn’t cut it. His plan had to work. If only he had one.
Gabe pointed in the direction they came to Madrone, Heather, and Ben and they all pivoted and walked silently back the way they’d come.
As they moved, Gabe’s eyes scoured the earth for what he wanted. About fifty yards back, he stopped, stooped and picked up two good-sized stones. The others circled around him. Even at a distance, he kept his voice low. “Heather, you’re the fastest one here. Run back to the truck and use the SAT phone to call 911. There might be a sheriff or a state trooper patrolling the highway.”
Ben handed her the keys. “You might have to drive to higher ground.”
“Take care of yourselves,” Heather said. “And get that bee-itch.” She took off running.
“Here’s the plan. We need to make enough noise to distract her. If I can get within 60-70 feet, I can knock the gun out of her hand.”
“Why not just bean her?” Ben asked. “She deserves worse.”
“The gun could go off and hit Kate. If I miss, I’m hoping she’ll turn and fire in my direction. Meanwhile, Ben, you’ll roll in and get the gun, once she drops it.”
“I’ll be the distraction,” Madrone offered. “I’ll sneak to another direction and make a lot of noise. She won’t know where to fire.”
Gabe swallowed. Maybe she won’t. Maybe she will. “Good idea. Stay behind some brush. I will too. Once we get back there, we’ll use hand signals, if it’s still light enough to see them. If I can get close enough, I can hit the target. If I miss, you raise hell, Madrone, and I’ll try again. It shouldn’t take you more than three minutes to get around the clearing. If I can see you, I’ll raise my arm. If not, I’ll go ahead anyway.”
Ben squatted at the side of the road and picked up several stones. He handed three to Gabe and stuffed a few in his pockets. “The more ammunition, the better, especially when your enemy has a more powerful weapon.”
“Don’t forget me,” Madrone said. “I’ll feel better going in armed.” She squatted down the road from Ben and gathered some stones.
Before they started off, Madrone gestured for them to huddle and high five.
Careful, my friend. This is no game. They were about to engage in armed combat against a seriously off-ba
lance woman.
As they walked toward the place where Lorraine held Kate captive, Gabe rolled his shoulders and cracked his knuckles, an old ritual from the ballgames he’d played in Afghanistan and college. In high school he’d had no need for stretching or warming up. Today he didn’t have nearly enough time to prepare. He’d just do it. He looked over at Ben and noticed the young man doing similar warm-up moves.
They reached the clearing, the tall ironwood tree a quiet sentinel above them. They crept closer, keeping behind the jojoba and creosote bushes.
“You wouldn’t have inherited as much as you hoped, anyway,” they heard Lorraine say, her voice pitched higher, her words coming faster than earlier. “The prick sunk way too much into getting some additional property, even though the parcel he’d tricked that foolish woman into selling him years ago would have been plenty to build on. He had some ridiculous notion that they’d set aside more land than any existing development in southeastern Arizona for open space.”
Gabe glanced at Ben beside him. The young man’s face twisted with an unidentifiable emotion. Rage? Regret? Madrone rubbed Ben’s back.
“Interesting,” Kate said, her voice faint.
“Stupid.”
“Why not just divorce him? Why kill your husband?”
“I told you already. You really are a dumb blonde. Divorces stretch out way too long. By then, he’d have wasted all our money on this piece of dirt. Mountain Shadows, ha. Mountain Sham, I call it.”
“But you told us you’d carry on with the development.”
Gabe deduced that Kate, like so many who face death, sought to postpone her time as long as possible. Thank God for that.
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