by Regina Duke
Russ was wary, but he let the boy go and pressed him down into a chair. “If I’m not calling the rangers, who do I call?”
“Hey, look, I’m sorry, okay? It’s my sister’s birthday and I needed money for a present.”
“Oh, right. Play me another sad song,” said Russ. “What’s your name?”
Silence.
Terri set her tote bag on the table and began to gather her clothes off the floor. Tony sat sullenly, refusing to speak. Terri had an idea. She went for her tote bag, took a deep breath and concentrated on keeping a straight face.
“This might help.” She reached in and held up the syringe case. She pinned the boy with a stern glare. “Dr. Kay says this stuff acts instantly. It’s sodium pentothal. You know, truth serum.”
The boy’s pupils shrank. “Hey, you can’t be poking me with drugs!”
“Why not?” Terri sounded cavalier. “You tried to rob me, and now you won’t talk to us.”
Suspicion replaced his fear. “I don’t believe you. You’re lying. Old people don’t carry drugs around.”
“Old? Thanks a lot.” Terri made a face. “At times like this, I’m really glad I’m a vet tech. We have access to drugs you wouldn’t believe. Sodium pentothal is the stuff they use to euthanize dogs and cats.” She opened the case and took out the syringe and the ampoule of dextrose. “This will have you spilling your guts in less than thirty seconds.” She aimed the needle at the ampoule.
“Be careful with the dosage.” Russ played along. “Those drugs are dangerous. We don’t want to put him to sleep.”
The boy looked from one to the other. “You guys are messing with my head!” But there was an edge of fear to his voice.
Russ tossed a glance at the syringe. “That’s a pretty big needle.”
The boys pupils were pin pricks now.
“Well, the patients we use it on don’t hang around to complain about the poke.” She loaded the syringe with dextrose. “Hold his arm steady.”
“No!” The boy put up a hand. “Wait, I’ll talk, okay?”
“What’s your name?” asked Russ.
The boy slumped in the chair. “Tony. Tony Vega.”
Terri bit the inside of her mouth to keep from smiling.
“What were you really after?” Russ continued.
“I told you. A present for my sister. Honest.”
Terri tried to look hard and unforgiving. “That word doesn’t mean much coming from a thief.”
“Okay, maybe I wanted some money for a mule ride, too. But I ain’t a thief if I didn’t take anything yet,” he flared in brief defiance.
“Good point,” said Russ. “How old are you?”
He hung his head. “Thirteen.”
“What cabin are your folks in?”
“Don’t have no folks.”
Terri rolled her eyes. “Okay, we do it the hard way.” She waved the syringe in the air.
“It’s the truth! I live with my sister. We’re camping out up the road.”
“I guess we’d better go talk to her, hadn’t we?” said Russ.
Terri strode to the bathroom and emptied the syringe in the sink. It took her a few seconds to stifle the nervous laughter that bubbled up inside her. First, the trauma of discovering the break-in, and then the look on Tony’s face as she loaded the syringe combined to give her a fit of the giggles. At last she sobered her expression and joined Russ and Tony. She made a point of putting the nefarious syringe back in its case in Tony’s presence before they left the cabin.
It was very dark once they stepped away from the populated part of the park, so they took the car. Russ controlled the door locks, so he wasn’t worried about Tony making a dramatic escape from the passenger side. Terri sat in the back.
Tony guided them down the road by the camp store to a site at the point farthest from the entry road.
“That’s our tent.” It was a ten-by-ten blue square with rain flaps and a zipper closing. Next to it was parked a late model minivan. A figure emerged from the vehicle as they pulled up behind it.
Russ rolled down his window.
A young woman with Tony’s coloring held a flashlight before her and peered into the car. “Tony? Is that you?”
Russ looked at Tony. “Shall I tell her? Or will you?”
The young woman looked miserable. “Oh, no, what now?”
Russ turned off the engine. “Is this young man your brother?”
“Yes. I’m Rafaela Vega. You can call me Raffi. I hope he didn’t do anything stupid.”
“Will he run if I let him out of the car?”
“No, he will not run.” She spoke it like a command and aimed it at Tony. He sagged in the front seat.
Russ took her at her word and they all got out of the car. The rain had let up a bit, but it was still drizzling. “Is there anywhere we can talk?” he asked. “I mean, with more light than this?” He gestured at the flashlight.
Raffi looked uncomfortable. “We don’t have much equipment. The batteries in the lantern died.”
“Hang on,” said Russ. He went to the trunk and pulled out an emergency lantern. “This will help.”
Raffi nodded. “Okay. Tony, in the tent.” Russ and Terri followed.
The interior of the tent was small but it was evident that Raffi had made some efforts to organize the chaos. They sat cross-legged on sleeping bags and blankets.
Raffi turned sad eyes on Tony. “What did you do, Tony?”
But it was beyond Tony’s ability to tell his sister what he’d done.
Russ said, “Technically all he did was break and enter. But he was looking for something to steal, I think.”
“Oh, my God.” Raffi rubbed her face with her hands and looked ready to explode. “How can you do this to me?! Tony, I’m doing the best I can, and off you go, getting into trouble left and right!”
Russ and Terri exchanged glances. Terri spoke.
“Raffi, do you two need some help?”
Raffi sighed heavily. Tony glued his eyes to the zipper of the sleeping bag he was sitting on and didn’t move. Raffi said, “Our parents died, and ever since I’ve been trying to take care of both of us. I don’t want Tony to go to strangers. I’m twenty-two. I can provide for both of us. But he keeps doing crazy things!” The last was meant for Tony. She calmed herself again. “I’m out of work right now. My last job didn’t pay much, but we had been saving up for a vacation. And we never get to do anything fun. So I thought maybe a camping trip would help. You know, a cheap vacation. But Tony isn’t having any fun.” Again to Tony, “And he’s worrying me sick by staying out late and complaining all the time!”
Russ cleared his throat. “It sounds to me like you both need work. Have you talked to the people at the lodge? They may have an opening.”
Raffi blinked at him. “I tried that,” she said, looking defeated. “They said I have to apply to the central hiring place, you know, the one that runs all the big parks. They said they already have a waiting list of people who want to work here, people who applied for it months ago.”
“We’ll keep our ears open,” said Russ. “Maybe something else will come up. But meanwhile, I could use Tony for a few hours a day while we’re here. It would be helpful to have someone who can run errands, that sort of thing. Unless, of course, he would rather I turn him in to the rangers for breaking and entering.”
Tony perked up. “What kind of help do you need?”
Russ explained their situation. Tony’s eyes got bigger and bigger as Russ told them what he did for a living. He only gave a few details about DaSilva. “Of course, I wouldn’t want Tony in any danger. But he could keep an eye open and maybe watch our cabin when we’re not there. From a distance,” he added meaningfully.
Tony was definitely interested. “Wow! Are you really a bounty hunter?”
Raffi was unsure. “Gosh, I don’t know. I mean, what if this guy actually shows up? Tony’s just a kid.”
“That’s why he has to promise not to do anything stup
id. If he sees something suspicious, he has to come tell me, not take action on his own. And of course, it’s only part time. I don’t want to cut into his hiking and other park activities.”
“Can I, Raffi? Please? I might earn enough for the mule rides.” Tony was eager and ready to start.
Raffi still looked doubtful. “Well… I guess it would earn you some pocket money. Lord knows we’re short on that.”
“Yes!” Tony raised his fists triumphantly in the air.
“Great,” said Russ. “Come by the cabin around nine a.m.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
RAFFI WALKED Russ and Terri back to the Mercedes. “That was really nice of you,” she said, her voice full of gratitude. “It’s been really hard on Tony since our folks died.”
“It’s a tough age, even when life is going well,” said Russ.
Terri added, “We’re serious about helping you find work, too. As soon as we hear of an opening, we’ll let you know. What kind of work were you doing on your last job?”
“Clerical mostly,” said Raffi. “You know, word processing and phones. But I’ll do anything.”
Terri smiled. “Hang in there, and if you need anything, we’re in cabin thirty-six.”
“I really appreciate this,” said Raffi. “Good night. Oh, wait! Your lantern.”
“Why don’t you use it for a while,” said Russ. “We’re in a cabin. You need a reliable light out here.”
“Thanks again,” said Raffi.
In the car, heading back to the parking lot near the cabins, Terri fell silent and stared at the darkness outside.
“What’s wrong?” asked Russ.
“Hmmm? Oh, I was feeling sorry for Raffi, and sympathizing with her. It must be rough to be raising a kid brother when you’re only twenty-two.” She looked toward him, but it was hard to see his face. “What were you thinking about?”
“Me? Oh, I was wondering when DaSilva’s going to show up again and what kind of vehicle he’ll be in this time.”
“Oh. That. Gee, thanks for reminding me.”
“Sorry.”
Terri shrugged. “Well, you’ve got to admit, I know how to have an exciting vacation. Other people go to Disney World. I get threatened by a money-hungry ex with a temper, get chased by a crazy man who’s trying to kill me, and end up traveling with a bounty hunter.” She grew serious again and chewed her bottom lip. “You don’t think Tony will be in any danger, do you?”
“Not really. He’s a stranger to DaSilva. But just to be sure, I’ll send him on errands that keep him away from us.”
Terri nodded. “That sounds wise. You do plan to bring that gun into the cabin, don’t you? In case… you know.”
“Yes, I do.” Russ maneuvered the Mercedes into a space between a minivan and an SUV, turned off the engine, then rummaged in the glove compartment for his gun. It was wrapped in a canvas bag. Russ opened the bag and let her peek inside.
“It doesn’t look like the Lone Ranger’s pistol,” said Terri.
Russ grinned. “It was my dad’s service revolver. M-1911. And a shoulder holster so I can wear it under a hoodie. Before you ask, yes, of course I have a permit. Shall we go inside?”
Russ checked the dressing area and the bathroom while Terri closed the windows and drew the blinds. “It may get stuffy in here tonight,” she said, “but I won’t be able to close my eyes if the windows are open.”
“I understand,” said Russ.
Terri felt awkward all of a sudden. “So. Well, here we are. How are we going to work this? Put up a bed sheet like in the movies?”
“No need,” said Russ. “I’m going to sit in that chair by the fireplace and do guard duty.”
“All night?!”
“For as long as I can. When I get too sleepy, I’ll stretch out on the second bed, fully clothed, and snooze with one eye open. You can relax and get some rest.”
Terri nodded. “Okay. I am pretty tired. It’s only a little after ten. I shouldn’t be this worn out.”
Russ started to speak, but Terri held up a hand. “I know. Altitude.” She still felt a little awkward. She wanted Russ to stay, especially as a body guard, but she didn’t really know him all that well, and she wondered if she was ready to have him in her cabin all night. “I guess I’ll shower.” She gathered up her toiletries and her baggy cotton pajamas and headed into the bathroom.
In the shower, she found herself thinking about Russ. Was he all that handsome? Or had her mind turned him into something special because he had saved her life that afternoon? And twice the day before. She did a mental inventory of Russ’s best features. The square jaw was real enough, and the thick, wavy dark hair was all his. And his smile definitely made her feel weak in the knees. Not to mention his muscles. The memory of his tanned, masculine arms and that blue vein that ran along the top of his bicep made her flush hotly. She wondered what it would be like to have him there with her in the shower, both of them naked and wet, his torso pressed against hers. The thought of it started a crazy tickle between her legs.
Don’t go there, Terri, she thought. You have to share a cabin with this guy. She turned her face into the stream of water and rinsed herself hurriedly. Those kinds of thoughts were not what she’d come to the Canyon for. She was trying to simplify her life, not add a new man to the mix.
She turned off the water and reached for the towel folded neatly on the wall rack. When she shook it open, a piece of paper fluttered to the floor. Puzzled, she wrapped the towel around her hair, and shook out a second one to cover her body. Then she stepped from the shower and picked up the paper.
It was a note.
“Give me what I want or meet the same fate as your tires.”
There was no signature, but Terri recognized the handwriting. Gavin had been inside the cabin! He had made good on his threat to follow her and now he was at the Canyon, making threats of a more physical nature.
The warmth of her shower was gone in an instant. Terri shivered. Suddenly she felt exposed. The window was high in the wall but had no curtain. She felt like an animal in a trap.
Then she thought of Russ in the next room, on guard with a gun. She dried off and put on her pajamas. She ran a comb through her hair and used her blow dryer. Her body was on automatic pilot. Her mind was racing. Gavin had been at the Vegas motel, watching her. He had slashed her tires. He knew she was traveling with Russ. He was probably watching their every move.
By the time she dried her hair and emerged from the bathroom, she was shaking with anger and fear.
“Everything okay?” asked Russ.
“Sure. Fine.” Her words were clipped and brusque. “What’s not to love? Wondering if I’ll wake up alive in the morning.” She thrust the note at him as if it were all his fault. “Gavin was in this cabin.”
Russ took the paper and read it. “You recognized his handwriting?”
Terri nodded. “It’s him.” She curled her hands into fists. “I hate that man! What’s wrong with him? Why is he doing this to me? I’ve done nothing but try to help him out, and all he does is torment me!”
“You said he has a gambling problem.”
“Yes, but addiction doesn’t make a person violent, does it?”
Russ’s brow was furrowed in thought. “Not necessarily. But drug addicts will do almost anything for a fix. The two addictions are not that different. Plus, if he is desperate enough for money, there’s no telling how far he’ll go.”
Terri took hold of the bed covers and ripped them loose as if she were tearing Gavin’s heart out of his chest. “He didn’t even tell me what to do so I could get it over with and be rid of him! He just makes that stupid threat.”
“He wants to terrify you. It’s psychological warfare.”
Terri began punching the pillows. “I never thought he could be such a jerk. How could I fall for someone like that? It’s not like I carry a safe full of cash around with me. Am I supposed to write him a freaking check?!”
“Hey, hey, calm down.”
Terri looked up into his serious brown eyes. He stole her breath away, and when she spoke, there was precious little air behind the words. “You’ll guard me with your life?”
Russ could smell her shampoo and the fresh, clean scent of her skin. He inhaled deeply. He wanted to tell her how beautiful she was, how he wanted to sweep her into his arms and protect her from all harm. He wanted to memorize every line of that freckled little face and perfect nose and practice painting it in his mind forever. But he was working. He couldn’t get involved now. He just couldn’t. He ordered his arms to release her, but they disobeyed. A moment later, he was kissing her.
Terri closed her eyes and leaned into the kiss. Russ’s lips were hot against her mouth, and his embrace made her feel so safe. Her knees wobbled beneath the passion of the kiss, and she was forced to put her arms around his neck to keep from sliding to the floor. Her nipples rubbed against his chest and sent tickles all the way to her toes. She struggled to break off the kiss. If she didn’t, he would be spending the night in bed next to her, and that was not the plan.
She turned her face to the side and groaned, “Stop.”
Russ was breathing hard, but he released her.
“Sorry,” he said huskily. “Your shampoo. I really like the smell of it.”
Terri pushed him gently away. She needed to put some space between them. She was a little short of breath herself.
“Shampoo, huh? And here I’ve been wasting money on perfume.” She tried to smile but it slid away into a grimace. “I guess I’m more scared than I thought. What do we do about Gavin?”
He wants you to give him money, so he’ll contact you again. I don’t want you going anywhere alone.”