Why indeed? Jesse McCloud wondered grimly.
The answer was money. Smugglers of illegal immigrants used the isolated washes and mesa country to hide their human cargo while waiting to arrange a pickup in drop points from Kingman and Flagstaff to Albuquerque and every direction from there. Jesse had seen federal law enforcement reports about an upswing in activity in this area for almost a year now.
It was an old problem, and there was no sign of any decrease. Now they were moving into this isolated area, it seemed.
Jesse studied the bag of cigarette butts, mulling over what Sara had told him. She had been the first to find this clue. It would be very helpful. He sat back, studying her. “Anytime you want a job in law enforcement, I think I could swing you a spot.”
She smiled, the first smile he had seen since he came in. “Crime scene photographer? I doubt I have the stomach for it. Thanks anyway.”
China rattled behind them. Charly put fresh bread in front of Jesse. The café owner brought a steaming bowl of chili topped with caramelized onions, fire-roasted chipotles and shaved cheese.
“Best chili I ever ate,” Jesse said.
“After all this time, I guess I ought to know what you like,” Emmett said.
After they walked away, Jesse began to eat, quietly and thoroughly, the same way he did everything.
“I have something else to show you.” Sara held out a larger bag with the muddy textile. “I found this in the wash not far from the footprints. It was shoved beneath a boulder. It looks expensive, with a lot of handmade detail. I doubt anyone would leave this on purpose.”
As she unrolled the small blanket on the table, the bright lights of the café touched the woven mountains and stylized birds. They seemed to shine, full of hope for a bright future.
Jesse doubted there would be a bright future for the people in that wash. If smugglers, known in the Southwest as coyotes, were truly working near the isolated cabin on Liz Stone’s land, the consequences could be very dangerous. The two women could have run afoul of people with a reputation for leaving no witnesses behind.
Jesse finished his chili. Like magic, a to-go cup of coffee and a piece of pecan pie appeared in a bag in front of him.
Just the way they always did. His effort to pay was waved off in short order.
“They wouldn’t let me pay, either,” Sara said quietly. “It doesn’t feel right. How can five dollars be enough for a whole dinner?”
“You’ll have to get used to it. Things get done differently here.” He picked up his food, the blanket and the plastic bag. “I’d better drive up to Navajo Ridge with you and take a look around. I won’t be able to see much in the dark, but Marlow isn’t bothered by that.”
“Marlow?”
“The brown Lab out in my cruiser. He’s not doing too well right now. Freshly retired from K-9 service and he’s taking it hard. A lot like a human, I guess. He was in a search-and-detection unit, and I’m fostering him for the moment, but I don’t know how long he can tag along with me. Rules are rules. Besides, he needs a place of his own.”
“I’ll take him. At least, as long as he needs a place.” Sara heard the words spill out of her mouth and realized just how much she wanted Marlow. If this was the same dog she had seen sitting by the road, she was already hooked. Something about those melting brown eyes had drilled through her defenses from the first moment she’d seen him, looking lost and unhappy.
“You mean it?”
Sara nodded. “You’ll have to give me some instructions. I’ve never had a pet before.”
“Marlow’s easy. Well behaved and good-tempered.” Jesse held the door open for her. “All you have to do is feed him and love him. I’ll get you a kennel for the evenings, along with his special leash and toys. Mainly he needs to have exercise and feel like he’s working again. Keep in mind that Labradors love to play. The best work is play for them.” Sara walked out as he held the door. When Jesse looked back, Charly was trying to hide a smile. Marie, the town vet, gave him a covert thumbs-up signal.
No secrets in this town, Jesse thought. By morning the news would be all over the county that he had driven up to Navajo Ridge with Sara Winslow. The story would probably be blown up to feverish proportions.
He slid into the cruiser and flipped his lights at Sara, motioning her to go in front of him. Marlow was curled up on the passenger seat, tail wagging. He looked out the window at Sara, sat up and barked noisily.
“I know just how you feel, boy.”
* * *
Jesse walked Sara to the door of the cabin and made sure she was safely inside. Then he checked the locks on all the windows and doors to be sure they hadn’t been tampered with. Once he was satisfied, he pulled out his heavy flashlight and clipped Marlow onto his service leash. Immediately the dog tensed with excitement. His leash meant that he was doing something important, following the careful tracking and detection rules he had been taught as a police dog.
Jesse pulled out the blanket that Sara had given him and put it on the ground in front of Marlow. He let the dog take his time, smelling the textile thoroughly. Then Jesse gave the order to search.
Almost immediately the big dog strained forward, heading toward the wash. Jesse’s flashlight beam cut back and forth over tall grass and boulders as Marlow led him straight to the spot that Sara had described, a rugged boulder in the curve of the wash downhill from the cabin. Marlow’s body quivered with excitement when he sniffed the base of the rock. Then he headed for the brush at the opposite slope.
Jesse wouldn’t take him any farther in the dark. But they’d be back here at dawn to pick up the trail.
“Heel, Marlow.”
Instantly the beautifully trained veteran sat down, looking intently at Jesse, who offered lavish praise along with two dog treats he kept in his pocket.
Then the two headed back to the cabin. Twice Marlow turned, staring into the darkness. Jesse felt his muscles lock. He ran his hand along the dog’s back, murmuring softly.
Sara threw open the door at his first knock, her face pale. “Did you find anything?”
“We can talk inside,” Jesse said quietly.
“But—”
“Inside.” The word was gentle, but an order just the same.
* * *
As Marlow lay curled up near her feet, Sara blurted out the whole story of her sister’s disappearance. When Sara hadn’t heard from her sister for five days, she had decided to push up her vacation and head out to Arizona earlier than planned. Hannah was known to take spontaneous road trips, but not without letting Sara know. This was different. Sara was certain her sister was in some kind of trouble.
Jesse had checked and knew that neither woman had any criminal record, and he was inclined to rule them out as suspects. But for the moment he was drawing no conclusions. He had already put in a request for Liz Stone’s cell phone and recent credit card usage. The information was being processed, and the delay was frustrating. He made a decision to pack some supplies and take Marlow into the rugged backcountry first thing in the morning, following whatever trail the dog could pick up.
When Jesse looked down, he saw Marlow was draped across Sara’s feet, wagging his tail as she scratched a spot behind his ear. Jesse knelt beside the dog and laughed when Marlow licked his hands. “You be good to Ms. Winslow tonight, Marlow. Don’t cause her any trouble.”
The big dog barked once, his tail thumping on the floor.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Jesse stood up. “I feel a lot better with Marlow here. For safety I think you should move into town tomorrow, until we get things sorted out.”
Sara looked undecided. Then her mouth set in a firm line. “No. I don’t need—”
“I don’t know what’s going on up here, Sara. Until I do, you need to be someplace safe. Rosa has an apartment in town for short-te
rm rentals. I happen to know that it’s free right now. Since you’re about to become a material witness in a criminal investigation, there would be no fee for you to stay there.”
“Material witness.” Sara repeated the phrase slowly. Then she squared her shoulders. “Whatever you need me to do, I’m available.” She didn’t give way to panic or nervous questions, and that was one of the things Jesse liked about her. Her mouth was another.
It was getting harder to curb his impulse to see how her soft mouth would taste.
But instead of doing what he wanted, he walked to the door.
A hand touched his shoulder. He turned and his breath caught as Sara stood on her toes. Her hands slid around his shoulders. She brushed a kiss lightly across his mouth.
Once.
Twice.
Jesse felt a little dizzy when she finished. He cleared his throat. “Should I ask what that was for?”
“No,” she said softly. “Not yet.”
Jesse nodded. He had always liked a good mystery. But now he had to concentrate on finding her sister and Liz Stone. As a seasoned officer, he knew the first twenty-four hours were key to locating a missing person. With every hour that passed, the chance for a safe recovery faded.
He would have many things to do before morning, and he would have to be very fast. Meanwhile, he did not want to leave Sara alone here in this cabin.
He needed to pack a few things and come back. Tonight he would sleep in his cruiser parked down the road, out of sight behind a big mesquite tree.
* * *
Sara stood in the darkened living room after Jesse left.
For a long time she listened to the sounds of the night. An owl hoooed somewhere nearby and distant thunder rumbled out over the mesa. Every hiss of the wind and stirring in the long grass made her conjure images of shadowy figures waiting in the darkness.
Marlow’s head rose. He stared at the front door, suddenly tense, his head cocked. His nose worked, pulling scent from the air as he focused intently on something outside.
Sara held her breath, listening but hearing nothing.
Only the wind, swaying the trees near the driveway.
Marlow huffed out a little breath, then turned in a circle and settled at Sara’s feet.
Whatever had been bothering him was gone. Some of Sara’s uneasiness faded as she ran her fingers over Marlow’s soft fur, remembering Hannah and her spunky laugh. The little games they had played as lonely girls growing up.
Her fingers tightened. Marlow looked up, licking her hand.
Sara felt a tug of sad memories. “I have to find her, Marlow. She needs me, just like when we were kids.” Something continued to bother her. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but it had to do with the woven baby blanket shoved under the rock in the wash. There had been something else....
The image of the blanket continued to gnaw at Sara all the way to dawn.
CHAPTER
FIVE
After a restless night, Sara pulled out her sister’s notebook and began working through every page, looking for any detail that might be useful. A number of times she came across references to a volunteer organization in Maryland called Partners In Care. The group offered unique resources to help the elderly who were alone or isolated. Volunteers gave arm-in-arm service, escorting members to medical appointments, picking up medications, helping with handyman jobs or buying groceries. Sara was intrigued at the way all the volunteer services were banked via a service exchange. Volunteers could draw on their service hours as needed or donate them to the organization. With 2,600 members, Partners In Care had become a lifesaving support network for overwhelmed seniors and overtaxed families.
Sara found a brochure for the organization tucked into the back of her sister’s notebook, and the more she read, the more she could understand how crucial a volunteer organization like this would be. She had seen her grandparents’ friends struggle with ill health and arthritis, challenged by the smallest daily tasks. An organization like this would have gone far toward improving their quality of life.
It appeared that Hannah was deeply involved in planning how to bring similar services to elderly residents of the area. She had made notes of conversations with those who would be willing to contribute their services. Hannah also listed a Web site for the Partners In Care network in Maryland. As she scanned the warm-house and ride-partners programs on her sister’s computer, Sara understood why her sister had been so excited, and how many lives would be touched by a caring local network like this.
The phone rang.
Emmett from the Red Rock Café was calling to see if she needed any groceries delivered. Sara assured him it wasn’t necessary because she would definitely be back for dinner. Then Charly called, alerting her that he was on his way up to her cabin to check on her. When Sara tried to argue that it was too much trouble, he simply laughed and hung up. She was bewildered at the kindness shown to her by near strangers. It had to be because of her sister, but Hannah had never been known for her long-term sense of responsibility or community attachments. She had a good heart, but acted on whim and the moment, never tied down. Clearly she had changed since arriving in Sedona.
Sara opened a drawer on her sister’s desk and pulled out a thick file filled with records. Flipping through the papers, she began to understand Hannah’s abbreviations. Comp indicated computer work. Trans indicated transportation. Hand meant handyman work. All of those services were recorded in Hannah’s neat and careful notations on a homemade ledger page. The entries dated back three months, and Sara was stunned to see that almost a hundred people were listed with address, date of birth and phone number. When she scanned the birth dates, Sara saw that all the recipients were older than sixty-five, with several in their nineties.
After years of restlessness, Hannah had finally found a worthy goal.
Sara closed her eyes, feeling another stab of worry.
The sharp rapping at the front door, coupled with Marlow’s excited barking, made her stiffen. Then Charly called out from the front porch.
“Bread delivery. Hope I’m not too early.”
Sara caught a breath, staring down at her rumpled pink flannel pajamas.
As she turned to change, the banging at the door came again. “Hello? Sara, are you okay in there?” This time Charly sounded worried.
She tugged on her robe, crossed to open the door and was immediately assaulted by mouthwatering smells of fresh bread, sun-dried tomatoes and smoked chilis. Charly was carrying a paper bag under one arm. “Everything okay here?”
“Just fine.”
Charly glanced around the room and nodded. “Good. I thought I’d bring you a few things, since I was coming up.” His mouth curved. “I put in what Jesse likes.”
Sara flushed a little, looking away. “You shouldn’t have. But this is one of the nicest things anyone’s ever done for me.”
After he put the packages on the table, Charly frowned at her. “I’m sorry to hear that, Sara. People are meant to take care of each other. Liz Stone sets a high example in this county. We all owe her a lot for the ways she has helped us.”
“She sounds very special.” Sara poured him a cup of coffee. “No wonder my sister likes her work here.”
Charly eyed her over the rim, then grinned. “Nice pajamas. Hello Kitty, aren’t they? My granddaughter’s favorite.”
Sara frowned. She wasn’t used to worrying about what she wore to sleep in. It had been a long time since she had been involved with a man.
But that thought brought a picture of the steady, cool deputy sheriff with the smoky-blue eyes. Suddenly getting involved seemed like a wonderful possibility.
Sara shoved away the thought. “They’re comfortable. That’s all that matters.”
Another car pulled up, and boots crossed gravel. “Sara, are you up? Jes
se asked me to drop by and see how things were going.”
When she opened the door. Sara found Rosa Harrington carrying a dog bed, grooming tools and a big bag of dog food. “For Marlow,” she explained, patting the excited dog pressed against her knee. “I remembered the kind of food he likes. When Jesse said he was bringing Marlow to you, I figured you could take the bag and the bed along when you come down to town.” She set down the dog bed and raised an eyebrow as she looked at Sara. “Nice pajamas.”
Charly coughed in what might have been a stifled laugh.
Sara ignored him. “It gets cold up here. The flannel was the only thing that helped last night.” She didn’t add that uneasiness had made the temperature seem worse. Or that she had slept sitting up in the rocker near the door, yanked awake by every suspicious noise outside. There had been too many for her to sleep well.
“What you need is a fire in that fireplace. Charly, don’t just stand there. Show the young woman where the logs are and put out some kindling for her. I’ll show her how to set everything up.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Charly bustled off, and Sara poured Rosa a cup of coffee. “You sure that everything’s okay?” The older woman sent a casual but thorough glance around the kitchen and neighboring room. “Jesse said he was going to keep an eye on things. Slept outside in his cruiser all night, just down the hill.”
Sara felt tendrils of heat curl up to her face. He had been outside all night, and he hadn’t said a word to her? The gesture was all the more touching because he had done it without fuss or comment.
“He didn’t need to do that. I was fine.”
“Good to know. But his being parked in that cruiser all night might be the reason you were fine. He told me that you were coming down to stay in town until he finds out what happened to Liz and your sister.” Rosa peeked into the bag Charly had brought and nodded. “Good choice. You can have breakfast before you leave—burritos with fried new potatoes, Hatch green chilis and
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