Under The Western Sky. Laurie Paige
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ride with me.” It was time for him to take charge. “I have authority in this case,” he told the elder and the two older women lined up beside him. “I was planning on releasing her this morning. She’s cooperating in the investigation.”
“Of course she is,” one of the women said. “She’s a wonderful person. She saved my grandson’s life when he stopped breathing shortly after he was born.” Her glare dared him to contradict her statement.
He sighed and turned to the desk sergeant. “Give me the custody papers. I’m taking charge of her.” He doggedly filled out the papers in spite of protests from the NAWAC. “She’ll be free to go home as long as she doesn’t leave the state,” he told them.
“It’s okay,” Julianne spoke up when the women looked as if they might attack. “He and I are working together on this. Thank you so much for coming down and helping me out. I really appreciate it.”
Tony watched as she hugged the elder and his two primary sidekicks. After promising to kick butt if there was more trouble, the elder and the NAWAC departed.
“Are you ready?” he asked sardonically.
“Yes. Is it okay if I drop my car at my house?”
He nodded, feeling very gracious considering she was in his custody and had nearly gotten him staked out on an anthill by her defenders. He followed her out of town and onto Highway 666, which was where her house was located.
Hmm, 666. Wasn’t that the symbol of the devil?
Yeah, and it suited her to a tee.
He would have laughed but it hurt his nose to move his facial muscles that much.
Outside, Julianne flinched at the brightness of the sun on the eastern horizon. She was aware of the park service vehicle that stayed on her tail as she drove out of town.
Two miles up the highway, she turned into the driveway of an adobe two-bedroom cottage that was part of her work compensation. She was thinking of buying it if the council extended her contract. She parked under the lean-to carport and hopped out.
The morning air was like a magic elixir as she inhaled deeply. Freedom. She’d never take it for granted again. Although she felt like laughing and running before the breeze like a bird, she approached the SUV sedately. “Would you mind if I showered and changed clothes before we left?”
The chill of the night lingered on the desert. She rubbed the goose bumps from her arms while she waited for his decision. “I’ll make you breakfast,” she added when he didn’t answer right away.
“I’ve eaten. But I could use a cup of coffee while I wait.”
Her eyes widened with pleasure when she realized he’d given his approval. “Sure. Coming right up.” She rushed to the front door. “Uh, you can come in.”
After putting on a pot of coffee and showing him where the cups were, she dashed into her bedroom and closed the door. She took the fastest shower in history and returned to the kitchen in fresh slacks and a tank top with a matching overshirt. He stood at the back door that opened onto a covered patio and drank from a coffee mug, his eyes on the arroyo, dry now because there’d been no rain in over two weeks, that wended its way along the edge of the property.
“I’m ready to go, Special Investigator Aquilon,” she said, smiling.
He gave her a wary glance. “My name’s Anthony. Everyone calls me Tony.”
“I’m Julianne, Jules, rhymes with mules, to my smart-mouth brothers.” She hadn’t a clue as to why she’d added this bit of family information.
“One of those smart-mouth brothers got you out of jail.”
“Calhoon,” she told him. “Cal’s the oldest, I’m the middle and Sam’s the youngest in our family. Dad used to tease the boys, saying we three kids were like an Oreo and I was the sweet in the middle.”
Her guest carefully touched his nose, which she thought looked much better, hardly any swelling at all. “Yeah,” he said, “real sweet.”
When she laughed, he shook his head, but the corners of his mouth turned up a bit.
“Where does your family live?” he asked.
“Albuquerque, which is where I was born and raised. My brothers live there, too.” She filled a travel mug with coffee. “Well, I’m ready for the great adventure.”
He looked heavenward as if asking for patience.
“I’ve never arrested anyone before,” she explained.
“You’re not now. I’m the arresting officer.”
“Whatever,” she said blithely. Nothing could ruin her exuberance at being out of jail.
He led the way to the SUV and saw her inside before climbing in the driver’s side. “Which way?”
“North.” She watched his hands as he put the truck in gear and backed out.
She’d thought of him last night before she fell asleep, of the strength in his hands and how his body had felt against hers, pinning her in place against the dusty car. The long, hard ridge in his jeans had been unmistakable.
Like yesterday, a strange clamoring rose in her, as if a dormant part of her had awakened and demanded attention. She’d always been cautious, though, so this internal heat was surprising.
After they were on their way, she asked, “Are you still pressing charges against me? I was told I would have to report to a judge for a hearing.”
He flicked her a probing glance. The man had a way of looking a person over as if he could dig out the truth no matter how much she tried to hide it.
“If your alibi holds up, then we’ll see,” he said.
“What alibi?”
“If Josiah Pareo confirms your story, then the onus will be on him to come up with a good explanation for having those artifacts.”
“He will,” she said. “He and his wife. They were a nice young couple, very concerned about their new baby and its welfare. I’m sure he’ll straighten this out.”
“Hmm,” the special investigator said.
It was a cop’s duty to be skeptical, so she decided to forgive him for his doubts.
“How far up this way?” he asked, once they were on the highway heading toward Ship Rock.
“Take a right when you get to the Coyote Canyon Road. Go almost to the turnoff to Standing Rock. Turn left—”
“Okay, alert me when we get to the left turn,” he interrupted, a frown line creasing his forehead.
She missed his smile, she realized, as he reverted to the stern investigator of yesterday. Yesterday! Less than twenty-four hours, yet she felt as if she’d lived an eon since then. Studying his handsome profile, it seemed odd that she’d only just met this man.
“What’s funny?” he asked.
“I was wondering if we’d met in another life. You seem awfully familiar.”
“Yeah, right.”
She laughed at his sardonic tone, then concentrated on the road so she wouldn’t miss the dirt track to the couple’s trailer after he made the correct right turn. “It’s coming up. Here. Turn left here.”
He made the turn. A dust trail rose behind them. It was slow going for the next two miles due to the ruts. They rounded the last curve. The coyote fence was there, but the yard was empty.
“It’s gone,” she said. “The trailer is gone.”
Julianne went inside the gate, which had been left open, and walked around the rectangle of yard. A dry creek bed and two rows of stacked rocks