“So what happens now, Frank?”
“Happens? Well, I leave this evening for Phoenix.”
“Is your daughter going with you?”
“No, she said she couldn’t on short notice, although her husband said he could watch the kids, but…she’s still not sure about me…the police and all that.”
She waited.
“Would you…?”
She turned and searched his face. “Would I what?”
“Well, since I lost my traveling companion….”
“Are you suggesting—?”
“There are almost no bugs in the Valley of the Sun.”
“Just scorpions, snakes, and rabbits eating your lantana.”
“That’s pretty much it.”
“And coyotes.”
“Yes, and coyotes.” She waited.
“Come with me, Rosemary. I can’t promise you anything. I may be in jail five minutes after we get there and need a bail bond—”
“I’m a very rich woman, Frank. I can raise the bail.”
***
Rosemary had to hurry to keep up with Frank, but she nearly ran him over as they cleared the security area and entered the main lobby of Sky Harbor’s Terminal Four. He stood frozen in place, his gaze directed across the seats set aside for people waiting to greet arrivals.
“Why are we stopping?” she asked, then followed his gaze toward two men who slouched uncomfortably against the wall.
“Wait here.” He walked toward the men. She followed anyway. “Sergeant Ledezma, what a surprise, and you, too, Pastorella. Is this a social call or are you here on official business?”
Rosemary’s heart went to her throat. This is it, she thought. The one she thought must be Ledezma looked at the floor and then at Frank.
“Mr. Smith, we came to offer an apology.”
“A what?” Frank’s expression shifted from anxious to unbelieving.
“Ah, you probably know we found your wife’s body—”
“Yes, I got your call. A little late, I’m afraid. I came back as quickly as I could.”
“Yeah, we, that is to say…since Pastorella here called about that, we’ve been looking at the evidence at the scene, where they found her…remains, and other things we uncovered just recently, indicates your wife was probably killed by coyotes. We think she must have witnessed something and they couldn’t let her live. Sorry. We don’t have anybody in custody, but we do have some DNA samples and a possible match. I’m sorry.”
“How did she die?”
Ledezma shook his head. “She never knew what hit her.”
He’s lying, Rosemary thought. He’s lying because he’s feeling stupid about all the time he wasted harassing Frank and not looking for real killers. And he’s lying because she must have died a terrible death and they don’t want him to know, because he’s had enough.
“You can tell me the details later. You’re done with me, right?”
“Yes, sir. This envelope sort of spells it out, there’s the death certificate…and all. We’ve notified the insurance company and told them to release the benefits.” The three men stood staring at each other. Finally, Ledezma shrugged his shoulders.
“So, we’re okay? Sorry.”
She stepped away from Frank as the two policemen walked away. What kind of night would she have now? He would need her eventually, but maybe not right away. She’d wait as long as it took.
You were right, kiddo. Congratulations.
“I won’t need you anymore,” she said, this time very softly, and knew she was done with her voices forever. He turned to her and she took his hand.
“Let’s go,” he said. “I want to show you the desert.”
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