by Liz Adair
“Of course, Spider.” Karam looked at Toby. “Please go on.”
“As I was saying, we think the two incidents are linked. I’m going to show you six photos, and I want you to tell me if one of them is the man that attacked you.” He touched the screen and held it so Karam could see. “Here’s the first.”
Karam shook his head.
“Here’s the second.”
Karam shook his head at the third and fourth photos, but at number five, he jabbed a finger at the screen. “That is the one. I have still got the marks on my throat.” He pulled off Laurie’s scarf and pointed to the purple bruises.
“Take a look at the last picture just to be sure.” Toby held up the screen again.
Karam shook his head. “I am sure. The picture before this one is the man who knocked me out.”
Toby showed the screen to Laurie too. “That is Aldo De Pra. He’s the one that set the bomb. He’s also the person who assaulted Karam.”
Leaning over to catch a glimpse, Spider scratched his head. “I’m sure I’ve heard that name. I just can’t remember where.”
“He gave Karam a message about the Red Pueblo,” Laurie said. “That should tie him to Austin Lee, shouldn’t it?”
Spider raised his arms above his head and shouted, “Bingo!”
All heads turned toward him.
“I remember where I’ve heard that name. Guess the name of the woman who sued the Red Pueblo about the accident in the bathroom.”
Laurie looked mystified. “I don’t think I ever heard her name.”
“Her name was Fabiola De Pra. What are the odds of finding two unrelated people with that same last name? There’s got to be a connection.”
Karam’s brow furrowed. “I do not understand.”
“Me neither.” Deputy Flint stowed his phone in his pocket and took his notebook back out.
“You both know about the lawsuit about ownership of the cache.” Spider nodded toward Karam. “You helped us show that it was a fraudulent suit with Austin Lee behind it. He was trying to put Martin Taylor in a position that he’d have to sell his property for whatever he could get out of it.”
“I understand that,” said Karam.
Spider went on. “The lawsuit about the cache was Austin’s second try. The first try was someone who said she fell in the bathroom and was hurt. Martin settled out of court for a quarter million dollars.”
Toby whistled. “And the woman in the bathroom was Fabiola De Pra?”
Spider nodded. “I was going to go see her tomorrow and talk to her about that suit, but I imagine Deputy Flint will be going there instead.”
“I’m interested in finding out who Aldo is,” Laurie said. “Is he Fabiola’s father?” Her cell phone rang, and she stood and went to the corner of the room to answer it.
Karam picked up the thread. “Or her brother?”
Toby put an emphatic period on the sentence he had been writing. “Or her husband? We’ll know tomorrow.”
“Just a suggestion,” Spider said to the deputy. “Talk to Martin and Neva before you head over to St. George. They can fill you in on that first lawsuit.”
Laurie rejoined them, pocketing her cell. “That was Neva calling just now. They wanted to know if they could come see how Spider’s doing.”
“What did you tell them?” Spider asked.
A knock sounded at the door, and Laurie pointed to it. “They were in the lobby. I told them to come on up.”
She opened the door and ushered in Neva, Martin, Linda and Matt. Toby greeted them and gave up his seat, hunkering cowboy-style next to Spider’s chair. Karam moved from the bed to the floor. As soon as everyone had a place to perch, Laurie sat in the chair Toby had vacated. She patted Spider’s arm.
He took the cue. “I’m glad you all came. There have been some developments in the Red Pueblo affair that you all need to know about.” He looked at Neva and Martin, holding hands as they sat at the end of the bed. He looked at Linda, sitting cross-legged on the floor by Karam and at Matt, hugging his knees as he sat by Toby.
“This has moved from the area of a civil affair to a criminal one,” he went on. “Toby’s now in charge. He can explain where we’re at and where the investigation is going.”
Toby took out his notebook and repeated what he had gone over with Spider and Laurie, leaving out the FBI’s commentary on the Yugo. When he was finished, Neva and Martin told him details of the first suit, pausing at intervals for him to jot down his notes.
At eight o’clock Laurie finally called a halt. “Spider thinks he’s going to St. George tomorrow to see Karam off, so we need to let him get to bed.”
That caused a flurry of good-byes. Toby shook hands all around and left first. Neva hugged Karam, telling him thank you again for his work on the Goodman suit. Martin told him to come back next summer, promising to take him out in the hills and canyons and show him aboriginal wonders. Linda and Matt filed out last, eyes on the floor, both saying a subdued farewell.
Laurie closed the door behind their guests and leaned against it. “Are you worn out?”
Spider held out his hand to her. “Not bad. Come sit a minute. Tell me what you think.”
She crossed the room and sat in the chair, taking the hand he offered. “About what?”
“About the whole affair.”
“Well, I think you need to call Brick Tremain and tell him about the Yugo.”
Spider grinned. “He’ll likely give me a bonus for getting rid of it so spectacularly.”
“And, he’d probably appreciate an update.”
“I’ll do that tomorrow before we leave.”
Laurie squeezed his hand. “And—” She paused, brow furrowed and lips pursed.
Spider chuckled. “Now that’s a face! What were you going to say?”
Laurie shook her head “I can’t put it in words, but something is dreadfully wrong between Linda and Matt. Did you watch them while they were here?”
Spider absently stroked the fingers of the hand he held with his thumb. “Yeah. Her eyes kept wandering over to him, but he wouldn’t look at her. Not once.”
“But it wasn’t a look of desire she was sending out. It was more like when someone has a fever, and you’re worried about them.”
“Or if they’ve been victims of a bombing? Like that?”
“Yes.” She stood and pulled him to his feet. “Not desire. Just concern. Let’s get you to bed.”
He put his arms around her, drawing her close and kissing her. “You sure about that?” he murmured, nuzzling into her neck.
“Mmm. About what?” She put her hands on his hips. “You must be feeling better.”
“Must be.” He wound the fingers of one hand through her auburn mane. As the other hand slid to the small of her back, holding her close, he felt her arms encircle him.
Her mouth found his again and then she pulled away, letting her fingernails scrape across the back of his pajamas as she did so. “I was talking about concern,” she said. “Look into my eyes. You’ll see I’m concerned about getting you to bed.”
He cupped her cheek, stroking the high cheekbone with his thumb. “Was that to bed or in bed?”
She started unbuttoning her shirt. “Don’t get hung up on semantics.”
AT TWO THE following afternoon, after dropping off Karam at the airport and going by Frank and Annie Defrain’s to give them a report, Spider and Laurie walked out of the Maverick station on the south side of St. George carrying large soft drinks.
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” Laurie said. “Thirty-two ounces is a quart. I’m going to be floating by the time we get to Colorado City.”
“I put a bit of cherry Coke in it. I know you like that.”
“Well, yes, but not in such quantity.” She handed him her drink to hold while she got in the pickup.
Spider gave her back her cup and then walked around and got in, setting his own drink in the cup holder and fastening his seatbelt.
“I’v
e been meaning to ask you,” Laurie said. “What did Karam mean last night when we were talking about the car trade? He said something about—” She paused to think about it. “—there was more to the bargain than transportation.”
Spider checked the rearview mirror before pulling out of his parking space. “Well, there are a couple of things that make it about more than transportation. First, when he was younger and wanting his first car, he tried to get his dad to get him an E-type Jaguar.”
“A new one? What did his father say?”
“Well, by then they had quit making them. The car would have been at least twenty years old. His father bought him a brand new Yugo instead.”
“So, buying this Jaguar was the accomplishment of a dream?”
“That’s what he thought when he bought it. Turned out to be more of a nightmare. He said it was qadar. Kind of Allah-directed fate.”
“So his logic was, if you traded him the Yugo, it would be like he was acknowledging the wisdom of his father?” Laurie took a long drink of her soda.
“I guess. Anyway, he thought there was some kind of cosmic balance that could be restored if I let him have the Yugo.”
“I like this with the hint of cherry in it. Thanks.”
Spider merged onto the freeway. “No problem.”
“So what was the second thing that made it more than transportation?”
“Karam wants to be able to spend part of his summers with us.”
“No, really?” Laurie’s smile was huge. “I would love to have him visit. You could take him up to the mines. You could show him how the farmers irrigate. Take him to the square dance. We could do lots of things that would help him with American History.”
Spider’s phone rang, and he checked his rearview mirror before taking it out of his pocket.
Laurie swallowed the Pepsi in her mouth. “You’re not supposed to drive and talk.”
Spider didn’t pay any attention to her. “Hello. Oh, Hi, Toby.” He listened for a moment, his face becoming grim. “Five minutes, max,” he said and pocketed the phone.
“What was that about?
“It was Toby. He’s at Austin Lee’s house, and he wants us to come by.”
“Oh? Why?”
“He’s dead. Has been since some time yesterday morning.” Spider checked lanes and moved over to the exit lane.
“I presume you mean Austin’s dead, not Toby. Did he say anything else?”
Spider shook his head. “He said he’d fill us in when we got there. We’re only about a mile from Defrain Estates.”
They made it through the only stop light on green and were soon turning on the road to the top of the mesa. The gate attendant was an extremely obese senior citizen. Spider gave him Austin’s address.
The attendant spent several moments staring at the dimpled roof of Spider’s pickup. “You coming in to do yard work?” he asked.
Spider showed his deputy’s badge. “I’ve been asked to come by the local police.”
The attendant winked. “You’re in deep cover. I get it.” He logged in the information. “I suppose the bandage and black eye are part of the disguise. What’s going on up there, anyway? There’s been a whole slew of police up and down for the last couple hours.”
“It’s top secret,” Spider said. “They’d have my job if I said anything.”
“Mum’s the word.” The rotund attendant waved him on.
Spider drove the rest of the way up the hill and easily found his way to Austin Lee’s house. A half-dozen official cars were parked nearby, including an aid car and a Kane County sheriff’s pickup. Spider parked in the same place as his first visit and looked at Laurie. “Coming in?”
She shook her head. “They don’t need me tripping around, contaminating the crime scene. Or is it a crime scene? I just assumed someone had murdered him.”
“I’m not sure. I’ll know in a minute. There’s Toby. He must have been watching for us.”
“Don’t be too long,” she warned. “That quart of Pepsi you gave me is a ticking time bomb.”
Spider’s eyes twinkled. “Um, I’m a little sensitive about the mention of bombs.”
“I guess you would be,” Laurie said. “Roll down the windows, will you? There’s a bit of a breeze coming up over the mesa.”
Spider did as she asked and then got out and headed for the house. Toby walked to meet him and handed him a pair of paper covers for his boots. As soon as those were on, he took Spider inside and introduced him to the St. George Police team.
“So this wasn’t suicide?” Spider asked as he followed the deputy into the living room.
“Not unless he had the power to beat himself in the back of the head after he was already unconscious,” Toby said grimly. “They’re just about ready to take the body away, but I wanted you to see it.”
“Why me?”
“You’re the one who’s been aware of Austin Lee’s activities. You know more about him than anyone else. The St. George Police want you in the loop.”
The body was on a gurney with uniformed people standing by. One of them raised the sheet, and Spider sucked in a breath. Austin Lee’s handsome, broad forehead had a wound similar to Spider’s above his right eye. A dark maroon circle marked where blood had pooled and coated his brow as it rested against the floor.
Toby pointed to the scar on the temple. “That’s the one that felled him, but this is what killed him.” Leaning over, Toby shone a flashlight on the back of Austin’s head.
Spider squatted down and looked where Toby was pointing the light. At first, all he could see was dried blood caking the artfully-cut blond hair. Then he saw the multiple lines where the scalp had parted, revealing what looked like jerky underneath. “So that’s what a blunt instrument injury looks like,” he muttered.
“You’re only seeing part of ‘em,” Toby said. “The back of his head looks like hamburger. This was a crime of passion.” Toby stared at Spider a moment. “You all right? You look a little green around the gills.”
“I could do with some fresh air,” Spider admitted.
“Come this way.” Toby led him out through the kitchen and open garage and around the corner where they could stand in the shade and catch the breeze.
“Doing better?” Toby asked.
Spider nodded. He leaned his back against the rockwork on the garage, rested his heel on the stem wall, and hooked his thumbs in his pockets. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement, and he looked toward the edge of the mesa. Laurie was walking back toward the pickup. She must have gone over for a look-see.
Toby followed where Spider was looking. “Mrs. Latham didn’t want to come in?”
“Not her thing,” Spider said. “So, when do they think ol’ Austin died? Do they know yet?”
“Preliminary guess is yesterday morning.”
“Huh.”
“You got any ideas who might have done this?”
Spider considered the question. “I’ve met several with motive but none that I can picture doing the deed.”
“Yeah.” Toby scratched the back of his head. “They’re going over the records from the gatehouse. The city has surveillance on the stop light at the intersection, too, and they’re going to try and get that footage. They may ask you to come and look at some of it, since you’re familiar with lots of the players.”
“I can do that.” Spider watched as they wheeled the stretcher out to the aid truck. “So, who found him?”
Toby kicked a rock off the driveway. “I did.” He shrugged. “Well, me and a St. George officer.”
“Yeah? How’d that happen?”
“I talked with the local folks about Aldo De Pra, and we had a joint force go pick him up and bring him in. Me and some St. George guys. We no more than got him down to the police station than he started singing like a canary. Told about the scam with the accident in the bathroom. That was his wife, by the way.” Toby joined Spider with his back against the wall, his hands in his pockets. “De Pra told how Austin h
ired him to intimidate you and how he was supposed to put you out of commission. Austin didn’t tell him to use a bomb, but he made it plain he wanted you hurt.”
“Well, De Pra wasn’t a complete washout,” Spider said. “Any chance he was the one that did this?” He indicated the house with his thumb.
“Maybe.” Toby scratched the back of his head. “Maybe the tune he was singing was to cover his tracks.” He grimaced. “Somehow I don’t think so.”
Spider glanced toward the pickup and was surprised to see Laurie hanging her soft drink cup out the window, waving it gently back and forth. He cleared his throat and pushed away from the wall. “I need to be on my way, Toby. Thanks for keeping me in the loop.” He offered his hand. “Anything you want me to do, just call.”
Toby shook hands with Spider. “It’s a pleasure to work with you. Say hi to Mrs. Latham.”
Backing away, Spider said, “I’m sure she’d rather you call her Laurie.”
Toby smiled. “All right. Say hi to Laurie, then.”
“I will.” Spider turned and trotted back to the pickup, asking as he climbed in, “Is the bomb about ready to detonate?”
“Pretty soon. I was getting ready to call you on the phone.”
Spider started the truck and pulled away from the curb. “Your semaphore with the cup worked pretty well.”
“After about five minutes.”
“There’s a gas station just around the corner. Hang on. We’ll get there.” Spider slowed and waved at the gatehouse attendant. “What were you doing over at the edge of the mesa?”
“I was looking for a clump of trees. There was a scrub juniper just over the top of the mesa, but nothing else all the way down.”
“That’s a pretty high-class area to be squatting in the woods. Are you aiming to embarrass me?”
“Me embarrass you? You’re the one wearing little paper bootees.” She laughed as Spider leaned over and glanced at his feet. “And besides, you’re the one that fed me a thirty-two ounce soda.” Laurie unlatched her door as he turned into the station parking lot. As soon as he pulled into a parking space, she was out and sprinting for the restroom.