by Julie Kenner
“I have to have this one.” Margo pointed at the center piece in the second case. “You’ve never designed anything quite like it before.”
“No sense in bringing the same old, same old to a show,” Jordan said.
“You haven’t sold it. Tell me you haven’t.”
Jordan beamed Margo a smile. “I’ve sold three of them, as a matter of fact.”
Margo’s face registered disappointment. “But then they won’t be unique. My customers don’t want to see themselves coming and going.”
“But each one will be unique. The colors of the turquoise stones will vary. Look at the color variations in this other necklace.” She gestured to the other case. “So will the color of the beads in the necklace. And the shape of the pendant will vary also. I’ve made some sketches. See.”
Margo studied the sketches Jordan placed on the case. Then she turned her attention back to the necklace. Finally, she met Jordan’s eyes. “Yes, I can see. Brilliant. When did you come up with that marketing strategy?”
Jordan shrugged. “When three different dealers asked for a unique necklace.”
“Make that four.”
Cash bet it was Jordan who’d come up with the strategy and not Maddie.
Pearson had begun to fan himself with his catalog. Bored to tears, Cash thought.
D.C. was closing in. Cash bet that Pearson wouldn’t be fanning himself much longer.
“Ms. Farrell?”
The drawl was unmistakably Texas. The charm, Cash was beginning to suspect, was D. C. Campbell.
Jordan shook D.C.’s extended hand.
“I’m Greg Majors.” D.C.’s grin was apologetic. “Of course, you don’t know me from Adam, but I have a business card.” He fished it out of a pocket and passed it to her. “I’m here representing Majors Limited. My daddy owns a bunch of oil wells in Texas, and he’s always looking for ways to invest his excess cash flow.”
Jordan looked a little confused. “Does he want to invest in my jewelry business?”
D.C. glanced down at the display cases. “I could certainly suggest that to him.” Then he met Jordan’s eyes. “But I’m here to talk to you about your ranch.”
Every bone in Pearson’s body stiffened. Good, Cash thought.
“Now wait just a minute,” Pearson said.
D.C.’s good ol’ boy charm didn’t falter for a second. “And you are?”
“Daniel Pearson of Montgomery Real Estate.”
D.C. nodded. “Good to meet you. Are you representing Ms. Farrell’s interests here?”
“Yes.”
D.C. pulled out his notebook, flipped it open. “I’m sorry. Has she listed her ranch with you? I don’t see that in my notes.”
“No. She hasn’t. But—”
D.C. cut him off with a raised palm and turned back to Jordan. “Ms. Farrell, my daddy is interested in investing in a string of select properties and turning them into an elite group of vacation destinations. In your case, we’re thinking of a dude ranch. It wouldn’t interfere with the running of the ranch, nor would it change the landscape in any significant way. My daddy started out as a rancher, and that’s where his heart still is. But if it hadn’t been for the black gold that he discovered on his land…well, the Majors family wouldn’t be where it is today. We’ve done our research on you.”
And Pearson was doing research, too. His fingers were busy on the BlackBerry he’d pulled out of his pocket. Taking two easy steps forward, Cash was able to see that he’d pulled up the Majors Limited Web site. If Pearson decided to dig deeper, D.C.’s cover story would check out. He’d seen to it by contacting his old buddy on their way into town.
“You want to buy my ranch?” Jordan asked, doing her best to look confused.
“No, not at all.
We want to invest in your ranch and in you.”
As D.C. elaborated on his plan, Cash began to relax. Her modification of D.C.’s initial plan was working. Not only was it driving Pearson into panic mode, but what D.C. was describing to her were all her ideas. Cash was beginning to think that she was serious about turning the Farrell Ranch into a working dude ranch. One thing he was certain of. She and D.C. should be nominated for some award. The Daytime Emmys?
“We’ll provide advice, financial support, advertising and marketing help,” D.C. was explaining. “We think that offering vacations on a working ranch will have great appeal.”
Jordan pressed hands to her temples. “Wait. I get to keep the ranch, run cattle, do everything I’m doing now?”
D.C. beamed a smile at her. “That’s the plan. And it will be just the attraction that draws your guests. Lots of dude ranches around. Very few offer a true ranch experience. Add quality accommodations and gourmet food…” He raised both hands and dropped them. “Daddy and I think it’s a win-win idea. Good for a small rancher trying to make ends meet. Good for us.”
“Maddie, we need to talk about this. You don’t know this man.” Pearson’s knuckles had turned white where he was gripping his BlackBerry, and there was a thread of panic in his voice.
Jordan gave him a distracted glance. “Of course. But not now.” Then she refocused her attention on D.C.
“My daddy and I have already opened a few. Our plan is to have a chain of them operating across the Southwest—Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado. But this isn’t the place to go into details. How about we meet after the show is over—say around six or six-thirty? I have a suite on the top floor. We can grab a bite to eat.”
Pearson nearly choked. “Maddie, we have dinner plans at six-thirty.”
Jordan’s eyes, her voice, were apologetic. “Daniel, I have to hear more about this. You know I don’t want to have to sell the ranch. I have to see if this could be a possibility for me.”
“Fine. But you’re making a mistake.” Pearson stalked away, and with an apologetic smile, Margo hurried after him. He was punching in numbers on his BlackBerry even as he detoured to the cluster of sofas at the far corner of the room.
Cash put some effort into staying right where he was. It would have been too bad to destroy their little charade now. But he’d been the only one looking at Pearson when Jordan had put their dinner meeting on hold. For one instant, the real estate broker’s smooth facade had cracked. Cash had caught a glimpse of the fury and panic, and it hit home that they might have put Jordan in even more danger.
“I’ll see you around six,” D.C. said, staying in his role. Cash noted that there were a few dealers around who’d become interested once Pearson had raised his voice.
“I’ll give you my suite number.” After scribbling something on a card, he handed it to her.
When Cash stepped forward, he read the two words D.C. had written. Be careful. He met the other man’s eyes for a moment and nodded. They were on the same page where Pearson was concerned. That was the problem with stirring up a hornet’s nest, Cash thought. There was always a chance that you’d get more trouble than you wanted.
With a final nod, D.C. moved slowly toward the door as if slowed down by his cane. He timed it perfectly, reaching the exit and turning back just as Pearson bolted toward it. The collision looked perfect. A man with a cane was knocked on his backside. Pearson made a hurried apology and with Margo following, he left the exhibition hall.
Since several people, a few of them security, had clustered around D.C., Cash stayed where he was. A moment later, D.C. had settled himself on one of the sofas and appeared to be making a call on his cell.
“Hopefully, we’ll have a clue.” Cash spoke softly to Jordan. “It would be too bad to waste a performance like that.”
Her eyes were on the display case, but her lips curved slightly. “I agree. In any case, I think I just canceled my date with Danny Boy Pearson.”
“And he’s furious,” Cash commented. “What I saw in his eyes was bordering on the irrational.” He took her hand in his and squeezed. “He may try to take his temper out on you.”
“Then we’ll have to be very careful.”
CASH SPENT the next half hour switching his attention between Jordan, whose business had once more picked up, and D.C., who spent the time alternating between his laptop and his cell phone.
At one point, shortly after he’d had his collision with Daniel Pearson, D.C. had signaled one of the guards and gestured to a space under one of the couches. The guard dutifully retrieved a BlackBerry and carried it out of the exhibition room. When Pearson missed it, Cash was betting he’d locate it in the hotel’s Lost and Found.
Jordan was writing up yet another order when D.C. tucked his laptop under his arm, rose from the couch, and made his way back to the booth.
When he reached them, D.C. spoke in his Greg Majors voice. “Ms. Farrell, I know I said I’d wait until later, but I’ve got some preliminary figures for you.”
Opening his laptop, he set it on one of the cases and angled it toward Jordan. Then he spoke in a voice that didn’t carry. “Good news and bad news. The number Pearson called belongs to Rainbow Enterprises Limited. I even retrieved the extension number. But when I dialed it, all I got was a series of automated responses and invites to leave a message.”
“So we still don’t know who Pearson called or who his client might be?” Cash asked.
“Working on it,” D.C. said. “I tried Jase and got his voice mail, but I was able to reach his partner, Dino Angelis. According to Dino, Jase and Maddie are currently out of cell-phone reach while they’re tracking down a lead they picked up at Eva Ware Designs. Fortunately, Dino knows just about as much as my brother does about hacking into records.” He patted the laptop before tucking it back under his arm. “I’ll be working on it, too. It’s only a matter of time before we find out who’s behind Rainbow Enterprises.”
Cash put some effort into controlling his frustration as he watched D.C. walk away. What he couldn’t entirely rid himself of was the feeling in his gut that time was running out on them.
12
IT WAS NEARLY SIX when Jordan and Cash stood outside Pete Blackthorn’s hospital room. Since the floor didn’t allow cell phones, D.C. had stayed outside the main entrance to check in with Jase’s partner again. They still hadn’t been able to find out who owned Rainbow Enterprises Limited. Jordan figured the position also gave him a chance to see if anyone had followed them from the hotel. They’d used two cars again, and the police cruiser following them had made it a parade.
Lea had stepped out as soon as they’d arrived to announce the good news. “The surgery took a long time, but his hands are going to be fine. You’ll be able to see him as soon as Detective Alvarez is through.”
Jordan watched through the window of Pete’s room as Lea rejoined her grandfather. Shay was in the process of showing Pete some photos, and the old man was studying each one intently.
Now that the jewelry show was over, she should be feeling relieved. During the closing rush, she’d rung up several impressive sales, some with dealers who’d never bought Maddie’s designs before. And she’d taken at least a dozen orders for each of the centerpiece necklaces.
She should want to celebrate. But the nerves in her stomach were still jumping. She’d tried to contact Maddie to tell her the good news, but all she’d gotten was voice mail.
Sensing her tension, Cash ran his hands down her arms, then up again to settle on her shoulders.
“You’re just as worried as I am,” she said.
“I’ll relax once Pearson is behind bars. Whatever or whoever is driving him to take your ranch off your hands has pushed him pretty close to the edge.”
“If Pete can identify Daniel’s picture, will Shay be able to arrest him?”
“Hopefully. But I’m not sure that will get us all the answers we need.”
A man in green scrubs stepped into Pete’s room, and a moment later Shay joined them in the hall. His timing perfect, D.C. stepped out of the elevator and walked toward them.
“Time to powwow,” he said. “I’ve got some news from the other coast.”
“Are Maddie and Jase all right?” Jordan asked.
D.C. sent her a reassuring smile. “I got everything secondhand from his partner since Jase is currently in an emergency room. Nothing serious. And Maddie’s fine.” He glanced around. “Anyone mind if we continue this conversation in the hospital cafeteria? I’m starved.”
No one objected.
FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, the four of them were seated at an isolated table in the semicrowded cafeteria. A couple of potted trees blocked them from view on one side, and the scents of hot food and old coffee hung in the air.
Cash and Shay had procured loaded trays, offering a cornucopia of selections—everything from pizza to burgers and tacos. Jordan hadn’t realized until she caught the scent of it that she, too, was starved. After she’d downed her pizza, she looked at Shay. “Was Pete able to identify Daniel Pearson?”
“He was.”
“You’re going to arrest him, then?”
“When I do, I want to be able to hold him. The man who tried to run you off the road yesterday still hasn’t regained consciousness, but I’ve been able to trace his prints. Angelo Ricci. He’s a professional from the East Coast—New York, New Jersey.”
“I can have Campbell and Angelis Security check into it,” D.C. offered. “Jase has a good friend in the NYPD, Detective Dave Stanton. Jase will give him your name.”
“I’m obliged. In the meantime, I’m checking out Pearson’s alibi for yesterday. Pete claims that he was attacked just as soon as he climbed up that cliff—maybe nine a.m. or so.”
“We met up with Daniel Pearson and Margo Lawson in Santa Fe around noon. That would give him plenty of time,” Jordan said.
“He didn’t check in with Montgomery Real Estate until after that,” Shay said around a mouthful of burger. “Still, he impresses me as a careful man. He may very well have established an alibi for himself. And he’s socially well-connected. Either he or his lawyers are going to claim that Pete’s a confused old man. The sun was probably in his eyes. While we’re waiting for the DNA on those cigarette butts to come in, it’d be good if we could establish motive.”
Setting his coffee down, Cash turned to D.C. “You got anything yet on that cell phone call he made?”
D.C.’s grin was wide as he pulled his notebook out of his pocket. “As a matter of fact, I do. Rainbow Enterprises Limited is one of many, many small companies owned or at least partially owned by Ware Bank.”
“Ware Bank is run by my uncle Carleton,” Jordan stated.
“Yep. And your Aunt Dorothy currently heads up Rainbow.”
“Aunt Dorothy? As far as I know she’s never been involved in Ware Bank—other than to host the annual Christmas party at Ware House.”
“Pearson called her?” Cash asked.
“Whether or not he talked directly to her is a question. As far as I could tell, there’s no human being on the other end of that line. But he definitely called a company she owns and he could have left a message.”
“So Daniel Pearson might have a connection to my Aunt Dorothy?” Jordan asked.
D.C. nodded. “Which is very interesting when you consider that your Aunt Dorothy has just been arrested for killing your mother and attempting to kill Jase and Maddie.”
Jordan reached for Cash’s hand. “Aunt Dorothy killed my mother?”
“So she says,” D.C. said. “She confessed to Maddie right after she took my brother out with a fireplace poker.”
Jordan’s throat constricted and Cash’s grip on her hand tightened. “Jase and Maddie—are they—”
“They’re fine. Jase is getting patched up in an emergency room. Maddie came out of their confrontation with Dorothy Ware unscathed.”
“But why would Aunt Dorothy kill my mother?”
“Details are sketchy at this point. Both she and Adam Ware have been arrested and are still being questioned by the NYPD.”
“Adam’s been arrested, too? For what?”
“I can only give you a bare bones version. But about a month
ago, Adam robbed Eva Ware Designs of one hundred thousand dollars’ worth of jewels in order to cover some gambling debts. When your mother figured that out, she told your cousin that he had to leave Eva Ware Designs, and your aunt didn’t believe that failure should be in the cards for a Ware.”
“But that’s insane.” Jordan pressed her free hand to her temple as she watched D.C. and Shay exchange a look.
“I’ve come across worse excuses for murder,” Shay murmured.
“What about Uncle Carleton?” Jordan asked.
“Adam and Dorothy both claim that he knew nothing about their activities,” D.C. said.
“So Dorothy Ware killed Eva to protect the Ware name,” Cash said. “But why in the world has she been in contact with a real estate agent in Santa Fe for the past six months? And what does she have to do with the attacks on Maddie’s ranch and Jordan’s life?”
“Ah,” D.C. said. “That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?”
THROUGH THE WINDOW, Cash watched as Jordan went in to Pete Blackthorn’s room. Lea had come while they were still in the cafeteria to tell Jordan that the old man wanted to speak to her alone. As soon as Jordan finished with Pete, he was going to take her back to the ranch.
D.C.’s news had been a lot to absorb. He imagined Maddie must be struggling with it, too. But Dorothy and Adam Ware were strangers to her. To Jordan, they’d been part of a family she’d known all her life. And because of the two of them, her mother was dead.
When they’d left the cafeteria, D.C. and Shay were making plans to return to his office and contact Jase’s friend Detective Stanton directly for the latest update on the investigation there. And Shay intended to get an arrest warrant for Daniel Pearson.
Cash tucked his hands in his pockets and tried to relax. They were in the home stretch. As soon as Shay and D.C. nailed down a motive and a definite connection and between Dorothy Ware and Pearson, the threat to Jordan should be over.
Right?