by Carly Winter
“What's happening, Bernie?” Jack shouted once again.
“Nothing! I'm sorry. I shouldn't have screamed. I'm afraid of heights and didn't realize how high we'd come.”
He stared at me for a moment, then sat next to me. “Are you okay? I thought you saw a rattlesnake or some other critter.”
“No,” I replied, then removed my helmet. “I'm okay. The ledge caught me off guard.” Dang Ruby and her stupid jokes. She bounced around the edge and my heart thundered, but I turned to Jack and ignored her.
“I've never found garbage up here before,” Jack said. “I was just here a couple of days ago.”
Glancing around, I noted footprints and an indentation in the red dirt that looked like the outline of a human body. Who would come up here to take a nap? Talk about truly getting away from it all for a rest.
“I know you're afraid of heights, but you should look over the edge,” Jack continued. “You can see Sedona and the desert for miles around. It's really pretty.”
Standing, I walked over and looked. Yes, the whole town was visible, as was my house. I could clearly see the dirt lot out in back and my SUV sitting next to the black car I wasn't supposed to go near.
Had someone been lying in the dirt, watching my house? I slowly turned and glanced around, suddenly very uncomfortable and feeling like I was being watched.
Then I remembered Jack's dirty pants the day I'd gone in to rent the ATV. He'd said not too many people knew about this spot, and the trail had recently been cut. Had he been up here surveilling my house? Was he somehow involved in this murder?
“What's wrong?” Ruby asked. “You look like you just saw Satan himself.”
And as I turned and smiled at Jack, perhaps I was staring directly at Satan himself. Why had Jack brought me out to the middle of nowhere, up onto this peak? To push me off and end my involvement in his scheme, never to be found again? Or was he letting me know that he was studying every move I made, and this was a non-verbal threat?
“You were right—this is nice,” I said, moving against the wall of rock and taking a seat in the dirt. I'd be a lot harder to move as deadweight on the ground. “I'm glad we came up here.”
“Me, too,” he said, stretching out next to me. “I love the quiet. I can't believe someone else knows about this place and they actually leave their garbage here. That really gets me. What if an animal were to try to eat that cup? A bobcat or an elk? It could kill them.”
With a nod, I tried to relax. If he was up to something nefarious, I couldn't let him know I was aware of it. I had to play it cool for a bit, then when we headed back, I'd leave him behind and find my way to safety.
Or maybe my imagination had gone into overdrive and he simply wanted to bring me up to see the magnificent view. I'd remain on guard but try to enjoy myself.
“Do you want some water?” he asked, reaching into his bag and pulling out two bottles.
Even though I was absolutely parched and my tongue felt like it had a layer of dirt coating it, I shook my head. If he was involved, he knew about the poison Mr. Gonzalez had ingested. What if he was trying to poison me and leave my body for the vultures? Nope. He wouldn't get me that easily. I'd go down with a fight and stay one step ahead of him.
“Water?” Ruby said, curling her lip in disgust. “I would think a beer would be a far better way to celebrate such a magnificent view.”
Jack talked for another half-hour about Las Vegas, Nevada, where he'd grown up. I didn't hear much of what he said because my mind was preoccupied with not being murdered. Well, that and watching Ruby dance around the edge of the drop-off like she didn't have a care in the world. She seemed absolutely clueless to my stress while my heart thundered, sweat formed on my brow despite the breeze, and I felt like I would vibrate right out of my skin at any moment.
I had to get off this ledge.
Part of me wanted to run down to the ATV, hop on, and speed away. However, if Jack was involved in the murder, I was afraid he'd overtake me and hurt or kill me.
“Have you ever been there?” Jack asked.
I hadn't heard the question. “No,” I said, hoping he was asking about maybe the moon or Paris—somewhere far away and not some local joint that I most likely was very familiar with.
“Are you okay, Bernie?” he asked. “I feel like you're somewhere else.”
Just attempting to stay alive and wondering how to get out of the situation.
“What's wrong with you?” Ruby asked, settling down on the other side of me. “You're acting like this handsome specimen of a man has a plan to kill you or something.”
“He might,” I said under my breath.
“Really?” she said, glaring at him. “Why do you think that?”
“Bernie?” Jack said. “Are you okay?”
I nodded and turned to him. “I've got a bit of a stomachache.” And I wasn't lying. My stress levels had my stomach in knots while bile rose in my throat. If I didn't remove myself from the situation, I feared I might vomit.
“Should we leave right now?” he asked, his brow pinched in concern.
I grabbed my helmet. “I think that may be a good idea.”
Both of us stood and he motioned for me to head down the pathway before him. I glanced at the trail and quickly decided I wouldn't be going first. He could push me over the ledge too easily if my back was to him. “You go ahead,” I said. “I'll follow.”
Jack shrugged and started down the hill.
“What's going on with you?” Ruby asked, but I ignored her as I carefully watched my footing and Jack while keeping a good fifteen feet away. I'd already decided I'd knock him in the head with my helmet if he even glanced at me strangely. “I wasn't ready to leave!”
“Race you back?” Jack asked, smiling as we reached the ATVs.
I slipped on my helmet but didn't lock the strap. If I needed to beat him with it, immediate access was crucial. “Sure.”
He started up his ATV and took off. I sighed in relief as I straddled mine. “You probably didn't notice, but that ledge directly overlooked our house,” I said. “There was an indentation in the dirt, as though someone had been lying down right there. And Jack did say the trail had recently been cut. What if he's involved? What if he brought me up here—”
“I get it, Bernie,” Ruby said, her voice grave. “I didn't put it all together that you could be in danger. Let's ride, girl. Get you back to safety.”
Finally, she understood.
We followed Jack for a half-mile, then he pulled over. I swore under my breath as I stopped about six feet away, still trying to maintain the façade of normalcy.
“You still up for that race?” he asked, his grin in place. At one time, I'd found it charming. Now, not so much. With the dimples, he gave the impression of a murderer in a pretty disguise, like most serial killers.
“Sure.” Act normal. Nothing is wrong.
I figured we had about a mile left before we'd hit city streets. The trail was wide enough for both of us to ride, so we took off, neck and neck.
“The faster we get you back to civilization, the better off you'll be!” Ruby yelled into my ear.
I nodded and hit the gas, pulling ahead. Jack kept up. I felt like I was in a race for my life. Like he'd allow me to live if I won. A little dramatic, I know, but I'd become so worked up and convinced Jack had something to do with Mr. Gonzalez dying.
Jack approached, his ATV mere inches from my leg. As I tried to veer to the left a little, he moved over again.
“Is this jerk trying to push you off the trail?” Ruby asked.
With my full concentration on controlling the machine beneath me, I couldn't answer. But yes, I would have to agree. If I moved off the trail now, I'd hit a cactus or brush and end up eating dirt.
“Slow down!” Ruby yelled. “Let him win!”
But I couldn't. If I slowed down, he still had me trapped out in the desert. As long as I kept moving toward town, he wouldn't be able to hurt me.
When he inc
hed toward me again, I wondered if he was truly trying to run me off the trail in hopes of finishing me off or if he just wanted to claim victory.
The trail began to narrow and our ATVs drew closer together. We were headed for a crash, but I could also see the road that led to civilization and my safety. I focused on it and amped up the gas one more time.
Going way too fast, I pulled in front of Jack just as the trail narrowed further. There was nothing for him to do to win but to off-road, which would be dangerous with the shrubs and cacti.
“That's my girl,” Ruby said as we pulled up to the main street leading back to town. “Way to show him who's boss.”
I didn't bother to stop and gloat over my win, but instead drove into traffic, which garnered me a honk from the car I cut off.
Safety. Finally. I sighed and realized I'd been holding my breath. My heart still galloped and my hand ached from holding the handlebars so tightly, but at least I knew I would live to see another day.
However, I still had to play it cool with Jack when we returned to his business.
As I pulled into the parking lot, I glanced behind me and found him a couple of cars back. I forced a grin as he parked next to me.
“You're crazy!” he yelled with a chuckle. “I thought we were going to crash back there!”
“Thanks for taking me out today,” I said, yanking off my helmet. “I appreciate it.”
And I did, even though I'd felt my life was in danger. At least I could say I had a pretty good idea of the spot from where the killer watched my house.
“Sure! It was fun. I'm glad we did this. Are you feeling better?”
“A little. I think I just need to lay down for a while. Maybe take an antacid.”
Just then, a car pulled in and four people emerged. They headed for the office.
“Duty calls,” Jack said. “Can I take the helmet and keys and I'll go help those customers?”
I handed him both. “Thanks again, Jack.”
He waved as he strolled over to the building and my shoulders sagged in relief. I'd made it out of the desert alive.
“Let's get out of here,” I mumbled to Ruby.
“I don't think that's going to happen,” she replied. “Looks like Darla has something to say to you.”
Turning around, I found my friend marching toward me, a look of determination on her face.
“That is one unhappy lady there,” Ruby said. “She's got words for you.”
“What do you think you're doing?” Darla said, her cheeks crimson.
“I'm not sure what you mean,” I replied. “What am I doing with what?”
“Are you dating him?”
“Who?”
“Jack!” Darla yelled. “Are you dating Jack?! Because I didn't think that's something you would do, but I never imagined you telling the police I could be a murderer either!”
“Wait a minute,” I said, holding my hands up between us. “First, no, I'm not dating Jack. Second, I had to tell the police that you were in contact with Mr. Gonzalez.”
“What are you doing with Jack then? Just out in the desert riding around?”
“Exactly. We're friends, Darla. You know that.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her gaze on me. “I thought we were friends. First you throw my name out to the police, and if you're trying to steal Jack from me, I swear...”
Well, hit me over the head with a two-by-four of shock. I had no idea Darla and Jack were dating. He'd always been the playboy of the town and I'd never known him to date anyone exclusively.
“No,” I said. “I'm not seeing Jack and I have no interest in him whatsoever. But frankly, I'm surprised you do.”
Darla stared at me for a moment, then turned on her heel and marched back to the diner.
I felt like I'd just walked into another dimension of my life, one I didn't fully understand where no one acted as they were supposed to. Darla and Jack? When had that happened? Before or after the murder?
“Looks like she was a sucker and fell for the dimples,” Ruby said.
I nodded, wondering if my brain was about to explode. I needed to get back to my place to think things through, but I was absolutely parched from our ride and my own nerves.
What if Jack and Darla had been working together and they were the killers?
Chapter 15
On the way back to my house I stopped at the grocery store. I caught a glimpse of myself in the window and almost didn't recognize my reflection. My windblown hair hung in matted, crazy waves around my face, while my bangs had been plastered to my forehead. Red dirt covered me from head to toe. I definitely resembled a rat that had just crawled out of the desert.
I had wanted to immediately head home, but I needed food. My stomach howled with hunger and the sleeve of crackers in my pantry wasn't going to cut it. The police had taken almost everything from my refrigerator, not even leaving my soy milk for my coffee that morning. I needed a restock.
As I pushed my cart around, I sucked down a bottle of water. Ruby trailed behind me, surprisingly quiet. She didn't even hum. I glanced back a few times to make sure she was still with me, and she didn't meet my gaze. Something preoccupied her.
I stopped before turning down the cookie aisle. Ruby ghosted right through me, causing goosebumps to cascade over my skin. It didn't bother me as much as the two people I now stared at.
The Thompsons stood at the end of the aisle.
“Oh! Are we getting cookies?!” Ruby said excitedly. “I love chocolate chip!”
“Look,” I whispered. “Didn't they say they were leaving town?”
Ruby glanced over. “Well, well, well. Liar one and Liar two continue their stampede of fabrications and falsehoods.”
I narrowed my gaze on the couple. “W-we've decided we don't feel safe here,” Bobbie had said. “We're going to leave town.”
So what were they doing here looking at cookies in the supermarket?
“Get closer and I'll see if I can hear what they're saying,” Ruby said. “Keep your back to them and they won't notice you.”
I pushed the cart toward them as instructed while Ruby walked ahead. When she'd reached the end of the connection we shared, she was forced to take a few steps back. I stopped about fifteen feet away, which put Ruby right behind them. Turning around, I studied the assortment of chocolate chip choices. The ones with marshmallows and nuts looked particularly tasty, so I grabbed two packages. Stress and my grandmother's bad habits had me making all sorts of poor decisions.
Moments later, the Thompsons walked off without noticing me and Ruby sauntered over.
“Oh, those are good!” she said, glancing in my cart. “I did prefer the ones without the nuts, though. You may like them better.”
“What did they say?” I whispered, putting one of the packages back and grabbing the one without nuts.
“Well, they enjoy lemon cookies, which explains why I didn't like them. Rule four-hundred-and fifty-two of life: People who like lemon cookies aren't to be trusted.”
“Why is that?”
“I don't know,” Ruby said with a shrug. “I've never met anyone decent who likes them. It's really quite a strange thing. For instance, I found out during our brief dating stint that Sheriff Walker can eat them by the dozen. He's as close to a dictator as you can get.”
I rolled my eyes. “He's not that bad. He just didn't want you partaking in things that were illegal.”
Ruby shrugged and crossed her arms over her chest. “I don't appreciate people telling me what to do.”
“What did the Thompsons say?” I whispered, hoping to get the conversation back on track.
“That they'd get the package tomorrow, and then they'd leave town.”
Interesting. But what did it mean?
“Did they elaborate on what they were getting?”
“Nope. Just what I said and then they debated on whether to get two boxes of lemon cookies or just one, but Bobbie said the cookies would give her gas, so they
should only get the smaller box.”
I ignored the information on Bobbie's gastrointestinal issues and considered the rest of the conversation.
The package could refer to anything—a specialized set of essential oils from Elizabeth's Essentials, some custom-made cowboy boots from Boots n' Bags, a handcrafted piece of jewelry... or something else. Maybe the car parked in back of my place? Or whatever was in the car? Perhaps they used the term package instead of car in case anyone overheard them?
The two had been lying from the start. They’d never gone hiking or practiced yoga out at Cathedral Rock, and they'd never left town.
Perhaps they had been responsible for Mr. Gonzalez's death, checked in like they'd never been inside my house to keep an eye on the car, and then when the police came, they scattered, afraid their involvement would be discovered.
I continued up the cookie aisle, ruminating. After a moment, I found myself in the wine section.
“Get a nice red to go with the cookies,” Ruby said. “Is there anything better a pairing of chocolate and red wine?”
It had been so long since I had any sugar, I couldn't agree or disagree. Instead, I trusted her judgment and grabbed a bottle of Cabernet. If anyone knew cookies and wine, it was Ruby. Or in her case, probably cookies and tequila. Or bourbon. Or beer. I couldn't imagine her being picky on which alcohol to consume.
As I set the bottle in my cart, I glanced up to see one of the stockers staring at me. Probably making sure I wasn't stealing anything. In my current state, I could definitely be labeled as suspicious. But in the vegetable aisle, a couple of locals glared at me as if I'd somehow wronged them.
“Why is everyone staring at me?” I whispered as I grabbed a bag of spinach.
“Well, you do look like something dead a bobcat dragged in from the desert,” Ruby said. “Saying you appear a little rough around the edges right now is being kind.”
“I was busy running for my life,” I grumbled, trying to run my fingers through my hair.
“You think you were running for your life, Bernie. At no time were you threatened, either physically or verbally. You obviously get your flair for the dramatics from me.”