by D'Ann Lindun
Jake bent to study footprints in the sand. Two people had walked around, one wearing what looked like cowboy boots, the other hiking boots. “What kind of shoes did Martin wear?”
“Tony Lamas.” At his bemused look, she explained. “Cowboy boots.”
“Do these look like his size?”
She nodded. “I’d say so.”
“Any idea who the other set belongs to?”
Castaña pushed to her feet. “No.”
“Looks like a man’s foot. Unless it’s a woman with really big feet.”
She moved away from him and walked around the interior of the cave. Small, only about twelve by twelve with a sandy floor, the cave was hidden from casual view by a wall of oak brush. A faint scent of animal feces hung in the air, but there were no tracks except a clear winding mark where a sidewinder had slithered its way across the sand. She shivered and Jake asked, “See something?”
“Just a rattlesnake track.” He grimaced and she had to smile. “You don’t like them either?”
“Not much.” He looked around. “I don’t see anything of interest here. What did your father and brother use this cave for anyway?”
“A hideout.” She didn’t say more. Sometimes they had disappeared for a few days when they had done something illegal and were hiding out until the heat died down. The only reason she knew where the cave was located was because she had tracked Martin here once. He had been furious and accused her of compromising his hiding place. She flinched, remembering how much it had stung when he called her a traitor.
“What?” Jake’s voice tone was that of a concerned friend, not a virtual stranger.
“Nothing.” She ignored the way her pulse leapt at the gentleness in his eyes. “Just a memory.”
“Not a good one?” He sounded so kind, so nice, she was tempted to share.
She forced herself to look away. “No.”
“I’m a good listener.”
“It’s okay. Nothing, really.” She rubbed her arms with her palms. “You wouldn’t think it could be so chilly in here when it must be ninety degrees outside.”
He stepped closer and before she realized what he intended, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Startled, she looked up into his light green eyes. His lips slid over hers, warm and soft. The kiss didn’t last long, only a moment, but it left her breathless and confused. She jerked out of his arms. “Why did you do that?”
He smiled thinly. “For the usual reasons.”
“Please don’t do it again.”
He raised his eyebrows a fraction. “Boyfriend might object?”
Heat flamed into her cheeks. She wasn’t about to tell him she hadn’t had a serious relationship in a year. And that being in his arms felt way too good. “No.”
He glanced at her bare left hand. “You’re not married?”
“No.”
“You don’t like guys?” His tone was teasing.
She pretended to glare at him. “I like men fine. But I can’t let myself be distracted right now. I have to concentrate on finding my brother.” It would be all too easy to lose herself in Jake’s kisses. But she was never going to let another man control her. Ever.
“I won’t keep you from what you have to do,” he said quietly, all joking gone from his voice. “Where should we look next?”
Her shoulders sagged in defeat. “I don’t know. I’ve checked Eagle’s ranch and here, the two places I thought he was most likely to be. Maybe he’s not even in the forest. For all I know he decided to go to Phoenix for a vacation.” But even as she spoke the words, Castaña’s heart told her differently. There was no way Martin would walk away from his horses. Castaña didn’t think Briar Rose had been a deciding factor in his decisions unless he had changed a great deal. A woman’s concerns had never affected Martin or their father before. Familiar anger began to boil in her stomach, and she fought it back.
“Maybe Eagle and Patty had some luck,” Jake said.
“I hope so.” Her tone said she wasn’t holding onto a lot of optimism. “Let’s head back. I think we need to talk to Briar Rose again and also Nascha Nizhoni. Maybe one of them can give us some insight.”
“Talking to Briar Rose is like talking to a cardboard box. I don’t know how much help she’ll be. Do you know the Navajo girl? What’s she like?”
“I’ve never met her.” Castaña led the way out of the cave, into the blinding sunlight. “My brother is a very private person.” She took a cleansing breath. “Especially with me.”
Jake didn’t respond as they mounted their horses, and Castaña wondered if he was thinking about his sister. He hadn’t said much about Nikki, but Castaña would bet he understood a sibling who kept their life private. Most drug users were tightlipped, wanting to keep their habit a deep, dark secret. Nikki had probably been no different. Martin’s drug had always been adrenaline. Staying one step ahead of the BLM and others who wanted to take his beloved mustangs away had been a rush for him. Had it, like any other illegal drug, cost him his life?
~*~
Jake rode behind Castaña, lost in thought. How had he been so stupid as to compromise his investigation by kissing a witness? He knew better. As if a reminder, his shoulder throbbed and he rubbed it. Big doe eyes and a killer body couldn’t take his mind off business. He absolutely could not, would not let it affect him when her eyes filled with tears or when those delectable lips trembled. A woman played him for a fool once. He wouldn’t let it happen ever again.
Jake refused to listen when Kelso told him Linda Navarone appeared suspicious. He was sick to death of Kelso’s barbs and put-downs. “I’d know if she were dirty. Besides, I met her before I ever went undercover.”
“Kingston has spies everywhere.” For months, they’d built their case, working every angle until they were dead sure they had enough evidence on the drug dealer to put him away for life. They’d marked every dealer, every mule, and every connection. When the arrests went down, they were going to be career-making busts. All they needed to put the ringleader out of business was to catch him with drugs on his person. Jake had worked undercover for months to get close to Kingston and had finally earned his trust. Dozens of agents from various law enforcement agencies were in place, ready to move on the rest of the ring as soon as Kingston was arrested.
“I’m telling you there’s no connection.” Jake refused to believe the dainty blonde had nefarious motives. Right before he went undercover, they’d met at a supermarket. Linda bumped into him in the produce aisle, asked his opinion of Arizona tangerines, and they ended up at Bill’s Bar and Grille for a dinner of tangerine almond chicken. To his surprise, it turned out she was a beat cop, but they’d never crossed paths.
In a moment of passion, he told her what he was doing. She begged him to be careful, not to get hurt . . .
Everything seemed normal that day, about a month later. Kingston had been his usual affable self, even smiling in understanding when Jake took a phone call from Linda. She wanted him to meet her at Bill’s. No, she couldn’t wait. It was urgent. Like a lamb to slaughter, he’d walked into her deadly trap.
Had Linda watched him gunned down in the street like Billy Clanton and the McLaury boys were at the O.K. Corral? Had she cared at all that he’d escaped death by a fraction of an inch, when a bullet sped through his shoulder instead of burying inside his heart? Had she and Kingston shared a good laugh when months of work went down the toilet in a matter of hours? He had no way to know. She’d vanished faster than ice in the Arizona sun.
Kelso and the others had fought to salvage the investigation, but most of the ring escaped. Jake lay in the hospital for a month, did physical therapy for another three, and now, six months later was barely on his first case.
Jake shook off the bad memories.
He’d never let a woman make a fool out of him again.
CHAPTER TEN
Castaña and Jake returned to the cabin in Dead Horse Canyon around 6 p.m. Meeting Castaña’s eyes, Eagle gave a lit
tle shake of her head. With sagging shoulders, Castaña sat on the bunk and took the cup of hot coffee Patty offered.
Jake sat beside her and also accepted a mug. “Nothing?”
Eagle shook her head again. “Not a sign.”
Curling her hands into fists, Castaña said, “Double damn.”
No one answered. There didn’t seem to be anything to say.
Finally, Jake spoke. “I think it might be a good idea to talk to this Nascha Nizhoni and see if she remembers anything important. For all we know we’re going in circles out here.”
Castaña hesitated for a moment. Her first instinct was to refuse. But he was right. There were thousands upon thousands of acres of wilderness where Martin could be hidden. If Nascha could give them a lead, it might be worthwhile to take time to go visit with her. “Maybe you’re right. I’ll start out here again tomorrow. I think a good night’s rest at the ranch is a good idea, too.”
“Count me in for morning,” Eagle said. “Name the time and place.
“We’ll talk to Nascha tonight,” Castaña told her. “So, let’s meet at the ranch by 8 a.m.”
“I’ll be there,” Eagle promised over her shoulder as she exited the cabin.
They stood and Patty poured the remainder of the coffee over the campfire. “I have a few more days off and I want to help, so I’ll be there, too.”
“I appreciate that,” Castaña said. “Be careful going home.”
“Do you think Eagle’s safe alone?” Concern filled Jake’s voice.
“I’ll go with her,” Patty offered. “There’s no reason for me to go to your place tonight.”
“It’s probably a good idea.” Castaña’s eyes brimmed with tears and she blinked them back. These were good people, hanging in there for Martin like they were.
“See you then,” Patty said.
“Thanks.” Castaña glanced at Jake. He looked done in. How was he enduring all this? He didn’t have any reason to help her, other than out of the goodness out his heart. “Ready?”
“Yeah.” He tossed the last of his coffee on the coals. “Anytime.”
~*~
Briar Rose wasn’t at the ranch when they arrived. Neither was Martin’s old pickup.
Jake was more troubled than he wanted to admit, especially when Castaña asked, “Do you think she had trouble with the baby? Maybe went into labor?”
“I hope not.”
“She probably ran to Payson for groceries or something.” Castaña didn’t sound convinced. “Martin should be here. Briar Rose is too close to delivery to be alone. Even if it’s not his baby—”
“You have doubt?”
“I’ve never known Eagle to lie.”
Her unsaid words hung between them. But Briar Rose might.
“I’m going to take a shower,” Castaña told Jake. “I’ll save you some hot water.”
He nodded. “I need to call about my truck. Triple A was supposed to tow it to a body shop in Payson.”
“How many more days on your vacation?” Castaña’s voice sounded tremulous, and he shot a searching glance over her face. The strain of Martin’s absence showed in the tiny lines around her eyes and mouth.
“A few.”
“Good.” She laid a hand on his arm and heat shot through him. “Thank you, Jake.”
He managed a quick reply then turned and headed outside. He shouldn’t feel guilty for doing his job. Why then did his gut churn at the thought of what she’d do when she found out he was a cop? He couldn’t let his personal feelings get in the way of the job, no matter how much he was beginning to dislike the deception. Digging his cell phone out of his pocket, he walked outside and dialed.
Kelso answered with his usual gruff “Yeah?”
“It’s Jake.”
“Found Castillo yet?”
“No,” Jake admitted. “You got anything for me?”
“Some.” Jake heard the rustling of papers. “That girl you asked about? I found her in a runaway database. Real name is Rose Marie Davidson, age twenty-one now. Originally from San Diego. She started out as a runaway who ended up in a little-known cult called Family of the Sun, run by a dropout turned lunatic named Jackson Wiley. Her parents hired an expensive PI who traced her there. They tried everything to get her out, but she was stuck like a tick on a dog.
“I talked to the investigator who told me this esteemed leader sexually abuses these girls, all in the name of love and light, until he tires of them and sends them out to work in the fields, moving on to the next child bride. He favors blue eyed blondes. Something about them being children of the sun, or some crap like that. He has ties to Aryan Nations leaders. A racist on top of being a pervert.”
“Would this creep hurt a pregnant woman?”
“Other than make them that way?” Kelso snorted. “I don’t know. He claims they’re just one big, happy family.”
“How and why did Briar Rose escape?” The poor kid. Jake wanted to hit something. Badly. “And when?”
Kelso coughed. “I don’t know. The guy I talked to didn’t know anything about her being out. Said he was going to call her folks. They’ll probably fly out here faster than Superman to try and talk her into going home.”
“So the baby Briar Rose is carrying could be Wiley’s?” Why was she claiming Martin as the father if he wasn’t? As a way to steer clear of Family of the Sun’s leader? If he only wanted blue eyed blondes in his family, he probably wouldn’t be too anxious to bring back a girl pregnant by a minority. “Why haven’t we busted up this cult?”
“Can’t.” Kelso sounded like he was talking with a full mouth. “We’ve tried, but when we show up the little girls disappear, and everyone else claims it’s just a communal farm. Nothing more sinister going on than growing fruit.”
“Check out the two girls I ran into in the forest.” Heather and Lacey looked so much like Briar Rose he’d been sure there was some relation between them.
“I need a little more to go on though than first names.”
“You found Briar Rose,” Jake reminded him. “I think they’re Briar Rose’s sisters. I’d bet money on it.” Jake changed the subject. “What about the guy who died? Got anything on him?”
“No I.D. yet, but the coroner’s preliminary report says that he died of heart failure.” Kelso snickered. “Guess having a herd of horses run over him was more than his ticker could take.”
“Let me know when you I.D. him,” Jake said.
“Yeah, no problem.” Kelso hung on the line like he wanted to say something else.
“What?”
After a long pause, Kelso said, “Staton’s blowing a lot of hot air. He’s saying you’re screwing up the case. Don’t prove him right.”
“I don’t plan to,” Jake said tightly and hung up. Staton was a jerk. For all his talk, he hadn’t brought in Martin either. His resolve strengthened, Jake turned toward the house. He’d find Castillo, arrest him and leave here with a clear conscience. No matter if Castaña was an innocent bystander. He didn’t want to hurt her, but he had a job to do.
A few minutes later with her standing in front of him, smelling like a field of flowers, a strand of her long, wet hair stuck to her cheek, full, pink lips slightly parted, Jake wasn’t so sure he could keep up his charade. All he wanted was to kiss her again. What would happen if he told her the truth? He forced back a derisive laugh. Stupid, stupid idea.
She tipped her head to the side, like a bird. “Something wrong?”
“No.”
His gaze locked on her hand as she reached for the hair stuck to her face. “What did the body shop say?”
He couldn’t look away as her long, slender fingers smoothed the errant strand back. “What?”
“The body shop? What did the mechanics say about your truck?”
He forced himself to focus on her words, not how he’d like that hand wrapped around him, stroking . . . pleasing. “Uh, they said it’s going to be a couple more days. They have to order the tires. They’re a special size.
”
“I see.” She picked up a brush and began to drag it through her hair. “The shower’s yours.”
He needed a cold one.
He crawled into the icy water, hoping the icy spray would cool him down, but the sweet scent of Castaña’s watermelon shampoo or body wash or whatever beauty product she’d recently used surrounded him, bringing a picture of her full breasts and long legs to mind. His body responded by growing hard. He rested his head against the tile wall and willed his thoughts toward the Arizona Diamondback’s dismal season. It took a while, but eventually the combination of cold water and baseball stats worked their dubious magic.
After a glance in the mirror, Jake decided he could wait until morning for a shave. This wasn’t a date after all. Tugging on a polo shirt and a pair of jeans, he then ran a hand through his hair. He left the bathroom feeling much cleaner and a hell of a lot more frustrated. Castaña stood in the living room, in front of a bay window, the setting sun sending sparks shooting off her waist-length hair. When he entered the room, she turned toward him and he was struck by the sadness in her honey-colored eyes. He wished he had the power to erase her hurt. Instead, he was going to add to more pain. “Ready?”
“Yes.” She reached for her purse. “I thought we could eat in town. After we talk to Nascha, maybe?”
“Okay.”
She picked up on the reluctance in his voice. “If you don’t want to—”
“No, dinner sounds good.” He didn’t want to spend any more time socializing with her than he already had. He was way too attracted to her as it was. Growing closer to her could only lead to another disaster. He rubbed his shoulder.
~*~
The gift shop was filled with Arizona and Navajo memorabilia—maps, kachina dolls, dream catchers, turquoise jewelry. The faint scent of sage hung in the air. A petite Navajo girl with a curtain of black hair sat behind the counter reading a Tony Hillerman mystery. She placed the paperback upside down on her lap as Castaña and Jake entered the store. “Welcome. May I help you?”