Wyatt was sure she was lying. “So Rose did say something about Lily?”
“Hey, didn’t I just say no?” She set her mouth in a scowl.
“Had you ever seen Rose before she came here?”
“No, absolutely not.” Her teeth snapped together on that last word.
Wyatt stood. “Thank you, Zarah.”
She looked up at him. “That’s all?”
“Unless you know something else you aren’t telling me, yes.”
She uncrossed her arms and clamped the sides of the chair to push herself up. “Nope.”
When she left, Wyatt sighed and glanced at his watch. Tonight Maddie was going to a sleepover, so she would be gone again. Right now, he didn’t want to play games with his mom. She would be looking for her newest project, and he didn’t intend to become that project. Maybe he could see if Kate would grab something to eat with him, and they could talk about her work with the girls in the program. Today, he’d seen a handful of young teens with new perspectives on their prospects thanks to Beacon of Hope. Beth was 100 percent sold on what the program was trying to do to help her, while Zarah was just marking her time until something better came along.
“How did it go with Zarah?” Kate poked her head through the entrance into the classroom.
He noted the dark circles under her eyes, the dullness in her gaze, and the slower movements. What was happening was taking its toll on her more than she probably cared to admit. A few hours away from here would be good for Kate. “Not very communicative.”
“No. She doesn’t want to be here.”
“And that’s okay with you?”
Kate stepped through the threshold into the room. “No, but I don’t have a choice. I’ve had some who haven’t in the past. A few I managed to change their mind. A couple left and went back to their old life. I focus on the ones I can help.”
Like he did on his cases. If he didn’t, he might have given up long ago. “Are you hungry? Would you like to go grab something to eat? To talk about what the girls said,” he added the last hastily.
Smooth, he thought, when he saw her eyes widen. Obviously, he still needed lessons in asking a woman out—not that this was a date. He didn’t have much time to date with his job and family commitments.
“I’ve got a better suggestion. Let me fix something for us to eat in my apartment. I’d rather stay nearby, and besides, it gives me a chance to show off my cooking skills.”
His mother once said that to him when she came to stay with him and Maddie, and he’d been sick for two days with a stomach ailment he was sure had to do with the undercooked meat and questionable potato salad. “Are you sure? I don’t want you going to any trouble, especially after last night with Cynthia.”
“This is just what I need. I love to cook and don’t get to nearly enough. I took cooking lessons one summer in Paris.”
“French cuisine?”
She laughed. “I know how to do meat and potatoes too.”
Good, at least he hoped so. “How can I pass up a home-cooked meal? I’m not a cook.”
“Come on. I’ll even have you earn your food.”
“Maybe I should reconsider then.” Grinning, he slowed his pace.
“I thought a Texas Ranger was adventurous and daring.”
“What do you have in mind?”
She winked. “You’ll see.”
“I’d gladly help with the dishes anytime you want to ask me over to eat.” Wyatt captured her full attention at the sink and then gave her a wink. “I hope I’m not being too subtle.”
“Why, I think I understand perfectly what you want, Ranger Sheridan.” Kate passed him a wet plate to dry.
“I will admit this wasn’t what I was thinking I’d have to do. Most places have a dishwasher in the kitchen.”
“Oh, and what did you think I had in mind?”
“I had visions of having to peel tons of potatoes or dicing onions. It isn’t a pretty picture seeing a grown man crying buckets.”
“I’ll have to remember that in the future.” She scrubbed the pot, rinsed off the suds, and then handed it to him.
“You know we haven’t yet talked about what we were going to.”
The carefree, relaxed atmosphere that started when she and Wyatt had returned to her place came to a grinding halt. “No. I can put on some coffee, and we can talk then. Are you sure you don’t have to get home? I don’t want to be responsible for keeping you from your family two nights in a row.”
“You aren’t. Maddie is at a birthday sleepover.”
“How about your mom?”
“Probably at this moment she is plotting something with her girlfriends. She goes out every Friday night with three others for dinner, and I’m not sure I want to know what else. She’s been doing it for years and nothing has interfered with the four of them getting together, not even a man. That’s when I knew her third marriage wouldn’t last when her soon-to-be third husband never got to take her out on Friday night.”
“I’ll trade my mother for yours. Wait. I can’t do that. I need your help finding Rose, and if you got to know my mother, you’d keep your distance.”
He chuckled. “I’ve dealt with tough people before in my job. Your mother doesn’t scare me.”
Kate gave him the last dish to dry. “She should. Little stands in her way, including my father. Whereas your mother sounds like a sweet lady.”
“She is that, but I never know what to expect from her. Once I came home from a three-day conference and found the house totally redecorated. How she managed that I don’t know. She’d moved everything around. I couldn’t find anything of mine for months. It drove me crazy.”
“How do she and Maddie get along?” Kate hosed down the sink, ran her dishcloth around it, then hung it up to dry.
“Great. If you discard your sanity, there’s little not to love about Mom.”
Kate made the coffee. “I’m not looking forward to tomorrow’s luncheon. I’ll try one last time to convince her not to pull the funding, but I might as well hit my head against a wall for all the good it will do. I’d hoped to approach some people at the luncheon who support different charities, but I’ve gotten the impression my mother has said something to them. I called some today, and from what they said, I don’t think they’ll go against her wishes.”
“I’m sorry that’s happening. After talking with some of the girls, I understand what you’re doing and how valuable it is. If you can get even half of these teens off the street permanently, you’re doing better than most. Beth has such plans for herself. You’ve given her a chance to think about that future.”
His comment sparked an idea in Kate. She moved to the coffeepot and poured two mugs. It could work. Right now, anything was better than doing nothing. When she gave Wyatt his drink, she asked, “What do you think about having an open house and inviting people to see and hear from the girls what kind of effect this program can have on changing lives? I have several who have left here and are functioning well who I think would talk to others about Beacon of Hope.”
“You could get the media involved too.”
“If I can broaden my sources of financial support that will be better than depending on one major funding source.” Kate sank into the chair at the table in the kitchen, the long day finally catching up with her. “I was wrong to do that. I took the easiest way out when Mother agreed to support the program. She thought she could control me and has found out she can’t. In fact, today that was exactly what I was trying to do again. I need to change my game plan.”
“Like the old saying goes, don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”
“Yes. In the past, I’ve played this low-key for the girls’ sakes. I’ve worked behind the scene with the police, courts, and on the streets. Not anymore. This is a problem that the public needs to know about. The more I let the public know about the problem, maybe the more support I can get financially and with professionals volunteering.”
“I could help you. I hav
e a few connections in the media that I think would jump at the chance to cover something like this.”
The smile and warmth in his eyes flowed over her in comforting waves. “I’ll take any help I can get. I’m finding out I can’t do this alone. The more involved the better.”
“Then I’ll make some calls tomorrow and get back to you.”
“There’ll be press at the luncheon. Mom always has some attend these functions. I can talk to them and see if they’re interested. Now all I have to do is plan a big open house, look for Rose and—”
“What do you mean look for Rose?”
“You said you weren’t successful at the parks. Probably because you are a Texas Ranger. They might not talk to you, but they might talk to me. I know a few people who frequent Oiler Park who wouldn’t talk to the police but will me.”
“Homeless?”
“A couple are.”
“I don’t like you going out alone and trying to find Rose.”
“Then you come with me, but you can’t dress as you are now.” She let her gaze roam down, then up him—he was dressed in brown boots, tan slacks, white long sleeve shirt, a striped tie in different shades of brown and his silver star. “You’ll have to dress down—way down.”
“Where are you planning to go?”
“Into the areas my mother couldn’t imagine existed in Dallas. Did the interviews with the girls help you any? I’ve talked with them and Rose’s disappearance has shocked them. They don’t think she’s staying away willingly because she was happy to be here.”
“That’s the impression I got. But I think Zarah knows something. She lied to me about not knowing anything.”
“Zarah isn’t sold on the idea of being here, but why do you think she would know something about Rose’s disappearance?”
“Her body language when I asked certain direct questions.”
“She might have just been intimidated by you.”
“I didn’t get the impression Zarah gets intimidated that easily. I’ve been around people like Zarah. She’s used to looking out for herself. She’s street smart.”
“I’ll talk to her again after you leave. Maybe I can find out what’s going on.”
Wyatt finished the last of his coffee. “Let me know what you find out. I’m going to check into Zarah. Talk to the officer who brought her in.” He stood and grabbed his mug. “I’d better be heading home. Thanks for dinner. I especially like the steak, baked potato, and salad. My kind of food.”
“That’s what I figured. Plus, it’s easy to throw together fast. I’ll have to have you back one evening when I have time to plan a real meal.”
“Oh, that was real to me. I don’t know what you put on the steak, but it was delicious.”
“A secret spice blend I came up with.”
Wyatt set his mug in the sink. “Don’t forget. I’m coming with you when you go talk to the people you know on the street.” Pausing in front of her, he took her hands. “Promise me you won’t go and do anything without talking to me first. Rose is caught up with some very dangerous people who won’t hesitate to murder.”
His touch spurred her heart to beat faster. His concern washed over her and gave her hope that things would be all right. “I won’t. I don’t fancy myself a detective, but I do know some people who are aware of what’s happening on the streets. It’s taken me over three years to develop these contacts, and they might know something to help us.”
“Us?”
“Okay, you. But I’m involved whether you want to acknowledge it or not.”
He brushed her hair back from her face, his fingers lingering on her cheek a few extra heartbeats. “I don’t want to have to search for you, too.”
She smiled, feeling not so alone. “I don’t want that either.”
He gently squeezed her hands then released them. “Good night. I can find my own way out.”
“I’ll walk down with you partway. I’m going to have a talk with Zarah now.”
On the second floor landing, Kate watched Wyatt continue on downstairs. At the bottom, he turned around and waved at her. As she made her way to Zarah’s room, the sensations his touch had produced in her—a quickening of her pulse, a super awareness of her surroundings, an expectancy in the pit of her stomach—clung to her. If her life wasn’t so complicated right now, she could see herself falling for him.
At Zarah’s room, she knocked on the door. She waited a minute and repeated the knock. Where were Zarah and her roommate? She placed her hand on the knob when the door opened to reveal Zarah’s roommate, her eyes red from crying, wet tracks still on her cheeks.
“What’s wrong, Audrey?”
“Zarah packed her things and left a little while ago.”
7
When?” Kate asked Audrey as she moved into the room and looked around.
“Half an hour ago.”
The closet was wide open and revealed one side empty except for hangers on the rod. Everything else seemed as it was because there had never been any of Zarah’s personal touches. Most girls slowly added them as the months passed and they remained. Not for Zarah, even after seven months. “You should have come and gotten me.”
“I wasn’t sure she left until I came up here. I saw her leave by the side door. She goes outside sometimes at dusk. Told me once she likes to watch the sunsets. I thought that was strange, but then Zarah is. When I looked out the window of the rec room a few minutes later, I saw her getting into a white Chevy.”
White Chevy like the one seen at the dumpsite for Lillian Harris? “Did she have a bag with her when she left by the side door?”
“No. She was empty-handed when I saw her going outside, but when she got into the car, she had a bag with her.”
“So she must have hid a bag outside earlier?”
Audrey lifted her shoulders, her palms facing upward toward the ceiling. “I haven’t been up here since breakfast. I guess she could have packed earlier and snuck the bag out. She didn’t have too much. She left some things.”
“Did you see who was driving the car?”
“The windows were too dark.”
“So you didn’t see anyone in the Chevy when she got in?”
“Nope. She went around to the other side.”
Kate felt her front pants pocket for her cell. It wasn’t there. She’d left it on the counter in her apartment. “Did she look upset? Frightened?”
“Not much was different than usual. Not happy. Not sad. Not much on her face. I started to go outside to catch her before the car drove off, but the second she slipped inside, it sped away.”
“Thanks, Audrey. You did all you could.” Kate hurried from the room and took the stairs to the third floor two at a time. She needed to call Wyatt and get him back to Beacon of Hope. Even if Zarah went willingly, something didn’t feel right.
Inside her apartment, she snatched up her cell and quickly punched in Wyatt’s number. When he answered, she said, “Zarah’s gone. Please come back. I think the same car that was spotted near where that girl was dumped picked Zarah up about thirty-five minutes ago.” The last sentence rushed from her mouth in a single breath. All she could think about was Lily/Lillian being found in the field buried in a shallow grave.
“I’m turning around. I should be there in ten minutes. I’ll call the police and report it. I’ll go through my contact on the task force, Detective Finch.”
Someone knocked on her door. “See you soon.”
With her cell still in her hand, she went to the door and let Audrey into her apartment.
“I forgot to mention something.” She took several steps inside then whirled to face Kate. “Because the car sped away so fast, I didn’t get all the license plate, but I wrote down on my hand most of it.” Audrey showed Kate her palm.
The letters H-O-T S-T were written on her skin in blue ink. A definite connection to the vehicle sighted near Lillian’s dumpsite. The implication heightened Kate’s fear for Zarah. “Thanks. I’ll let Ranger Sheridan know.”
After Audrey left, Kate called Wyatt again. “It’s the same car. I’m sure of it. Audrey wrote most of the license plate down. HOT ST.”
“Great. I’ll pass this along. We’re short one letter or number but having five out of the six will narrow our search even more. I’ll have Detective Finch put out a BOLO on the car.”
“I’ll meet you downstairs,” Kate said right before she disconnected.
As she made her way to the ground floor, she felt as though she were being attacked from all sides. First, Rose vanishing, then Cynthia’s suicide attempt followed by her mother pulling the funding, and now Zarah leaving. The girls weren’t guarded, but how was Zarah able to plan all this? Someone purposely came to pick her up at a certain time. She must have snuck her clothes out earlier, which meant it wasn’t a spur of the moment decision. Zarah didn’t have a job, so as far as she knew she didn’t have a cell. The phone the students used who didn’t have their own was in the rec room. Not a lot of privacy. When they needed it, they came to her office and used hers. Zarah hadn’t done that in the past few days.
Zarah wasn’t the first girl to leave the program. She’d had four others in the three and a half years Beacon of Hope had been opened. They had been older and on their own longer than Zarah. She was barely fifteen with a lot of anger issues that she’d started to reveal lately in bits and pieces during her group therapy session.
Kate had thought with time she could reach the teen. Now her time had run out. It appeared as though Zarah had chosen to return to her old life. Why, Lord? Why couldn’t I help her?
Those questions weighed on her as she waited for Wyatt to show up. She paced the foyer, aware that several girls paused near the staircase, observing her. News of Zarah’s disappearance would spread quickly, and she would have to deal with the fallout. She jumped when the buzzer on the intercom sounded behind her. She quickly answered it, the screen showing Wyatt standing out front. She punched the button to open the door.
The sight of him brought immediate ease to her. He’d know what to do about Zarah. The connection to Rose and Lily made finding Zarah all the more important.
Saving Hope: Men of the Texas Rangers Book 1 Page 9