“Nah,” the man waved his hand, “I’ll just clock her out. I just felt sorry for her. She seems to be a nice lady.” He winked at Rogue and Zane. “And she’s good for business. Very easy on the eye.” Centering his attention on Rogue, he asked. “I couldn’t help but notice her last name. Any relation?”
“Nope, not that I know of.” Rogue answered. “Thanks, I appreciate it. We’ll have her back as soon as we can.”
Zane clapped his client and friend on the shoulder. “One day we’ll look back at all of this and laugh, I promise you.”
Rogue sighed. “God, I hope so.”
When they emerged from the office, Elijah was waiting, his hand at the woman’s back.
“Let’s take my rental.” Zane pointed toward the door. “Lead the way, Rogue.”
* * *
Kit stood in front of the sink and bathed her face in cold water. She’d just thrown up. Honestly, she didn’t know what to think. She was so confused. Her heart was torn. She wanted to believe her husband, but the evidence was so damning. The analytical part of her brain told her that she shouldn’t be surprised–like father, like son. Several people had just warned her of that fact. The other part of her, the emotional side, kept remembering what it felt like to kiss him, how he’d saved her…how he loved her.
“God, what do I do?”
She didn’t want to do anything too hasty. What she needed was space and a little time to think. Going into her living room, she sat down at the desk to write Rogue a note.
Rogue
I don’t really understand what’s going on. I do know things aren’t right. I’m going to take some time and travel around to the different auctions, do some investigating concerning my stolen horse. I might stay with my mother for a few days. I want to believe that what we have is real. I really do. Take care.
Kit
With a sigh, she propped it on the pillow in the bedroom they’d been sharing. An uneasy, uncertain feeling made her wonder if she was doing the right thing. They’d only been married a few days…if they were married. “Rogue!” She cried out his name and sat down on the bed to cry. Only the threat of Rogue coming home early gave her the energy to pack a bag and leave.
She couldn’t face him right now, not until she knew more–she just couldn’t.
* * *
Marliss greeted Rogue and the others with food and drink. It was just her way. “Come on in. Come on in. Make yourself at home. There are sandwiches, cookies, coffee and soft drinks.” She immediately noticed Lucia looked tired. “Would you like some tea?”
“Si, please.”
Rogue noticed that Lucia looked very grateful. He also noticed that Elijah stuck by her like fly paper. What the hell was going on?
Zane led the way into Dusty’s office suite, picking up a sandwich along the way. “Let’s set up in here.” Rogue followed while Elijah waited for Marliss to get Lucia her tea. He took a moment to look around. There was a fire in the fireplace, and carafes of scotch sat on the credenza. The large mahogany desk was clean, but a Mont Blanc fountain pen lay ready to be used. If Rogue hadn’t known better, he would’ve expected Dusty to come strolling in and start talking about some sure deal. An uncharacteristic twinge of regret shafted through Rogue’s heart. Did he miss his father?
That question was just one of many. First things first, he had to find out what was going on and who was out to destroy his life.
Setting down his briefcase, Zane unbuttoned the French cuffs on his shirt and rolled up his sleeves. It was obvious he was ready to get down to business. “All right. We have a lot to discuss, but I think we need to deal with Lucia first. Hold on.” He walked out to where the other pair were talking with Marliss. Rogue could hear him talking. “Give us a few minutes, Rogue will be glad to talk to you, Lucia. Don’t worry.” He gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder and a smile. “We’ll work all of this out.”
Returning to Dusty’s office, he shut the door. “All right. Something’s going on. Your accounts have been hacked, but let’s deal with Lucia first. I’m not sure if it’s connected or just some bizarre coincidence.” He sat down in one of the chairs in front of the desk and motioned for Rogue to take the other. “So, level with me. Have you been visiting any of those dating sites? Have you been flirting with this woman online, exchanging nude photos perhaps?”
At first Rogue didn’t say anything. Zane was his lawyer. Zane was his friend. Shouldn’t he be presuming his innocence, not questioning it? “No, I have never visited a dating site and I’ve never had any communications with Lucia Cordova. And I sure have never sent anyone a picture of my dick!”
Zane picked up his phone, scanning through his contacts. “She seems sincere. I’m going to give Presley a call, hold on.”
As his friend placed the call to his wife, Rogue let himself mull over the idea that Lucia believed what she was saying. But how was that possible? He steeled himself from feeling sorry for her.
“Hey, baby,” Zane began. “How are you feeling? Good. I miss you too.” He smiled. Rogue looked on, a bit of jealousy washed over him. He wanted to be able to call Kit like this. Right now, she probably wouldn’t answer the phone if he were to call her. Once the idea was there, he couldn’t turn loose of it. Taking his phone out, he hit the number one, which he had programmed in her name. It rang and rang–she didn’t pick up. “Hell.”
He guessed he had his answer.
Zane was still conversing with his wife and Rogue couldn’t help but overhear. “Presley, I need for you to see what information you can dig up on a Lucia Cordova from Juarez, Mexico.” He paused, his eyes meeting Rogue’s. “I realize info from that part of the world is hard to come by. I have a contact in the El Paso police department. Look in my rolodex, his name is Juan David Santiago. He’ll know who to call in Juarez to find out what we need to know.” Zane shifted in his seat, placing one booted foot on the opposite knee. “She could be a prostitute, we don’t know. Don’t leave any stone unturned.” He smiled big. “Yes, of course. I love you too.” He looked at Rogue. “Presley says ‘hi’.”
Rogue couldn’t help but grin. Presley was one talented lady lawyer. That she was also a sweet pretty lady made her a catch in anyone’s book. Zane Saucier was a lucky man. “Tell her ‘hi’ back and thank you.”
Soon Zane was off the phone, shifting his attention back to his client. “Okay, we’ll start our investigation on this lady. In the meantime, before we address your other issues. I think you need to listen to what she has to say. She obviously thinks she has some type of claim on you, let’s find out what it is.”
Rogue stood. “You’re right. There’s no harm in it now, Kit already thinks I’m my father’s son. I go from no wives to two wives in one week. That has to be a record.”
“Well, we’ll work to reduce that number back down to one again.” Zane knew the oilman’s weak attempt to make a joke was only a poor cover-up for how he was really feeling–like shit. “You stay here, I’ll send her in.”
Before Rogue was ready, Zane was out the door and Lucia was coming in. If Marian Lansing had done nothing else, she’d raised a gentleman. He stood.
Lucia felt like she was walking before a firing squad. This man was not her Rogue Walker. She had never felt so alone in her life. Even living with ever-present danger in Juarez, she’d never felt this hopeless. When she entered the room, the face she saw was familiar, but the eyes that looked back at her held no welcome, no friendship and certainly no love.
“Please sit.” Rogue gestured toward the chair across from him.
Lucia went to the leather armchair, tugging it backwards away from the man a couple of feet. Distance seemed preferable.
Rogue waited patiently while she took a seat. He couldn’t help but notice how worn her clothes appeared. They were clean, meticulously mended, but he could see places that were almost threadbare. It was obvious she’d worn the skirt and blouse many times.
“What can I say that I haven’t already said?” she began in a low despera
te voice. “You’ve refused to acknowledge our relationship. Why is this? Did you change your mind? Did you meet this other woman after we promised ourselves to one another?”
Her anguished expression touched something inside of Rogue. “Lucia, I’m so sorry. Whoever you spoke to on the internet or exchanged letters with–it wasn’t me.”
She lowered her head until her chin almost rested on her chest. Lucia was the picture of defeat.
Rogue stood. “Let me see the papers you have.”
Slowly she felt in her pocket and pulled them out. They’d been folded and refolded so many times that the papers wouldn’t lay straight anymore. She soothed them out with trembling hands and gave them to him.
Pulling his chair closer to the desk, he spread out the evidence. “How did you meet this guy? I mean, what was your first communication with him?”
Lucia blushed. “I’ve explained this to you…”
Rogue turned, faced her, leaned over and rested his elbows on his knees. “Listen, Lucia. I don’t know if you’re a religious person…”
“I have shared this also.” She wiped her cheek where a tear rested. “I am a good Catholic girl.” She looked down at the floor. “I have lived a virtuous life.”
Rogue began to feel like he was kicking a puppy. “I believe you. I don’t go to church often, but my mom raised me to have faith. So, you’ll understand when I say that I swear on a stack of Bibles and on my mother’s grave that I am not the man you’ve been talking to.”
Lucia sat up, her spine as stiff and straight as a steel rod. “All right. I still have questions, but I’ll answer yours. I met my Rogue Walker on LatinLove.com, a dating website where men find…women like me.” She wouldn’t meet his eyes. “It might not be the most honorable way to find a husband, but I have no family. My only sister became one of the lost ones a few months ago and I felt desperate to make a new life…elsewhere. It probably goes against your beliefs on the fairness of immigration, but I was hoping to find someone to love in America so I would be safe.”
Putting his own concerns aside, he could sense her hopelessness…her helplessness. Picking up the papers, he began to read the exchanges between them. “Why did you bring these?” His suspicious nature made him wonder at her motivation.
Lucia’s naturally tanned cheeks blazed red. “I saved them so I could reread them.” Almost shamefully she added, “I fancied myself in love.”
“So you had my name, my address…”
“Yes.” She rose, coming to him, going through the papers until she pulled out a note from her ‘admirer’ giving him all of Rogue’s personal information. Next she showed him photographs of Rogue. Some were taken from industry publications, but some–Rogue picked those up and stared–some were candid shots made in Austin and some even in Red Creek.
“What the…” Rogue toned down his language for Lucia. Whoever this was…the bastard was close. Was he being followed?
Lucia still stood next to this man in whom she’d wrapped up all of her hopes and dreams. Now that she knew none of her fantasies would be coming true, she just felt cold. Leaning forward, she pulled a paper from the bottom. “And here is our marriage certificate.” She handled the paper like it was made of fragile glass. “You…he sent me papers to be notarized in my country of my identity and I mailed them to him. He sent me this certificate as proof so I could be admitted to your country, married to an American citizen.” Lucia crumpled in front of him. “I’m going to have to go home. I have made enemies…” She began to cry.
Rogue stood, lifting her up. “Don’t cry. We’ll figure this out, I promise. And until then, I’ll make damn sure Zane finds a way to keep you in the country.”
* * *
Kit checked her phone. Rogue’s name showed up in missed calls. She hadn’t answered. At the time she’d been moving her horses to the barn, having left her phone in the truck. Whether or not she would’ve answered, Kit didn’t know. As she worked, she’d spent time thinking. Like a movie reel she’d replayed her time with Rogue. She closed her eyes and recalled their wedding, the times they’d made love. If she hugged herself, she could remember his arms around her, his lips on hers.
Shutting the barn door, Kit resolved to go talk to him. Surely this was all a mistake. Her love for him was stronger than her doubt.
Hurrying back into the house, she grabbed the note from the pillow, wadded it up and threw it into the trash.
Rogue Walker was worth fighting for.
Back at Osprey House… Marliss brought everyone a piece of Rogue’s favorite chocolate pie. “Here, this will make everything easier.”
Rogue knew she was right. He got up to hug her. “Thanks, Marliss. Could you wrap up Kit a piece for me to take her when we’re through?”
“You’ve got it, baby.” She shuffled around and picked up empty dishes, bringing in fresh ones. While she was working, Lucia walked up to whisper in her ear. Marliss listened, then hugged her. “Come with me, I’ll show you where it is.”
Rogue realized he was a poor host, the woman had needed to use the restroom and didn’t feel comfortable enough to ask him. Zane’s phone rang and he walked to the window to answer it. Elijah took the opportunity to come sit by Rogue. “Hey, this is crazy, isn’t it?”
“Yea, it is. And I still don’t know what the hell is going on.” Rogue admitted. “What happened that caused you and Zane to fly up?” He hadn’t had a chance to get an answer.
Elijah looked at Zane. “Well, he’s the expert. But I got a phone call from one of the banks day before yesterday. Somebody’s taken out several loans in your name.” Even though Rogue’s eyes widened and his face blanched white, Elijah kept talking. “They couldn’t touch Lone Wolf, but your ranch is up as collateral. The loans are huge and short term. When the bank VP called the office to talk to you about them, I got suspicious and called you. I finally found out you were out of the country, so I called Zane.”
“Son-of-a-bitch!” Rogue slouched in his chair. “I’m the victim of damn identity theft.” The reality coalesced in his mind.
“Well…” Elijah dragged out the word. “It can’t be that simple, not if you consider Lucia.”
“You’re saying I’m being specifically targeted.” Rogue spoke up.
Zane spoke from behind them, having apparently heard the bulk of their conversation. “Yes, I think this is personal and I’m not sure it’s over. I can’t prove it yet, but I have a feeling the same person that fucked up your finances, tied you in the bonds of unholy matrimony.”
The ramifications were baffling. “Is it binding?”
“We’ll get it nullified at the County Clerk’s Office, but we’ll have to find the notaries and also provide enough information to convince the court that you’re you and…he’s not.”
“Surely that won’t be hard to do,” Rogue stated. “I hope we can keep this quiet. I don’t want it to get out in Red Creek and I’d rather my brothers didn’t know anything about it.” He rested his elbows on his knees and hung his head. “I’ll have to tell Marliss and her husband a little of it, so they’ll know what to say and what not to say.”
Zane smiled, crossing his arms over his chest. “They seem like nice people.”
“They are,” Rogue assured him.
“Right now, she has Lucia in the kitchen. They’re swapping recipes.” Zane pointed behind him.
“I want all three of you to stay here as my guests until we get to the bottom of this. My brothers won’t mind and there’s plenty of room. We’re thinking about turning this monstrosity into a Bed and Breakfast sometimes, but for now it’s a good place for us to put up our friends and family.”
“Thank you, I’ll talk to the others. What came out of your talk with Lucia?”
“Well, I looked at the papers she carried around and she explained how she met ‘me’.” He put an emphasis on the word ‘me’. “After listening to her, I know she’s not to blame. She came here in good faith, thinking she was married.”
“I did some
research on proxy marriages. They’re legal in Kansas, Colorado, Texas, Montana and Alabama.” Zane went on to explain the ins and outs, more than Rogue wanted to hear.
“Bottom line,” Rogue growled. “I’m screwed.”
“Not while I’m your lawyer, you’re not,” Zane assured me. “It won’t be easy and it won’t be quick, but we’ll straighten this mess out. I’ll get you right back where you are in every respect.”
“I hope so,” Rogue muttered. The main thing he had to straighten out was Kit’s perception of the situation.
Elijah moved his chair closer, so he didn’t have to talk so loud. “I talked to Lucia. This guy really did a number on her. He knew just what to say and how to say it.” He stared at Rogue. “I’m trying to figure out who hates you this much. Any ideas?”
“Not a one, I mean I’ve beat a lot of folks in card games and I’ve pulled off a lot of oil deals but I don’t know anyone who thinks I took advantage of them to the degree that they’d do something like this.” Rogue looked at the floor deep in thought.
“Lucia, she told me about the murders in Juarez.” Elijah commented softly.
Rogue looked up. “She said something about the ‘lost girls’ and that she was afraid.”
Zane pulled a chair close and they sat as if they were huddled around a campfire. “I know what she’s talking about, there have been hundreds of young women abducted or murdered in Juarez in the last few years. No one knows who’s doing it or why. Some say its human trafficking, others say it’s related to the cartels and then there’s the belief that a serial killer is to blame. The bodies are found mutilated and pink crosses dot the city where the girls’ remains are found.”
“Yea.” Elijah breathed out a long breath. “Her sister was one of those girls and Lucia made a lot of noise about it, she’s afraid she’ll be one of the next to go missing. That’s one of the reasons she’s so desperate, the reason she fell for this scam.”
“Good grief.” Now, Rogue felt guilty. Not that he wanted to be married to anyone but Kit, but he felt a strong desire to help this woman. “Well, I’m already married and bigamy isn’t legal.”
Kit & Rogue (The Sons of Dusty Walker) Page 8