Champagne & Chaps (7 page)

In the morning Sabrina called Derrick and he said he’d swing by Carly’s house and drop off the package. She’d suggested meeting him in front of the same convenience store where they’d met, but he said it would be better this way.

Carly stayed in the house as Derrick drove up in his black truck and Sabrina went out to meet him. She could feel Carly’s disapproving frown and she knew her friend was standing at the window, her arms folded across her chest. She didn’t know why Derrick bothered Carly so much. She’d never even met the guy. She’d said it was a gut feeling, but that was silly as far as Sabrina was concerned.

The rain-washed air smelled clean and fresh as she went out to meet him at his truck.

“Hi.” She gave Derrick a smile.

“I appreciate you taking this to Izzy.” he handed her an oblong package wrapped in brown paper but no name or address on it. Before she could ask, he handed her a piece of paper with directions and an address scrawled on it.

“This looks easy enough to get to,” she said. She wasn’t really familiar with that part of town. South Tucson was rundown in most places so it probably wasn’t in a great neighborhood but she doubted Derrick would send her anywhere unsafe.

“I’m real grateful.” Derrick smiled. “Oh. Izzy has a package that she’s going to send back with you.”

“All right,” Sabrina said. She hadn’t expected to be an errand girl, but if she was going anyway, it really didn’t matter.

“I wanted to ask you something,” he said.

“What?” she asked.

He cleared his throat. “When you get back I was wondering if you’d go out to dinner with me.”

Mild surprise went through her. “On a date?”

“There’s a good Italian place in Sonoita,” he said. “I’d like to take you.”

Sabrina felt her skin go warm. “Thank you, Derrick, but I’m seeing someone so I don’t think it would be a good idea.”

A flash of something went through his eyes, but his expression stayed calm. “I’d better let you get going,” he said, “You did say you wanted to leave early.”

She held the package to her chest. “I just need to grab my purse and keys and I’ll be out of here.”

He gave a nod. “I’ll be seeing you around. Thanks again.”

“No problem.” She watched as he climbed in his truck then turned around and climbed up the stairs into Carly’s house then closed the door behind her. The house smelled of the chocolate chip cookies her friend had baked that morning for Sabrina’s mom.

Carly took the package from Sabrina and shook it.

“Hey, something might be fragile in there.” Sabrina retrieved the package.

“It’s just weird that he asked you to do this,” Carly said as she gave up the package.

Sabrina rolled her eyes. “Derrick asked me out to dinner,” she said.

Carly frowned. “You didn’t say yes, did you?”

“Of course not.” Sabrina grabbed her purse and keys in her free hand. “I told him I was seeing someone.”

“Good,” Carly said. “How did he take it?”

“He seemed fine.” Sabrina shrugged. “I gotta go.” She gave Carly a kiss on her cheek. “I’ll be back before dark.”

“Don’t forget to give this to Tessa.” Carly handed Sabrina a plastic container filled with cookies and she balanced it on top of Derrick’s package.

Carly stood on the porch while Sabrina climbed into her SUV and put the package and the cookies on the floorboard of the passenger seat. Just in case she had to make a sudden stop she didn’t want the stuff to go flying. She started the vehicle, waved to Carly, and headed out of Patagonia.

Outside Sonoita, Sabrina passed through a Border Patrol checkpoint. The agent waved her on after glancing through the window of her SUV to make sure she didn’t have anyone in the back seats. Checkpoints were set up on several main highways in the southwest to make sure undocumented aliens weren’t being taken through illegally. Often they even had dogs to sniff out drugs and human cargo.

The hour and fifteen-minute drive went by quick enough. When she was on the road alone she always listened to an audiobook, which helped to pass the time. This one was by Elizabeth Peters,
The Last Camel Died at Noon
, from the Amelia Peabody mysteries. The woman who narrated the book was absolutely amazing, the author incredible.

She kept losing her place, her mind wandering as she thought of yesterday and the amazing time she’d spent with Wyatt.

When she reached the Ajo Way exit off of the I-10, it didn’t take too long to head to Park Avenue and then south on Park to find the address. She’d expected apartments, but it was a trailer park. She turned off her audiobook as she drove through the park, the number on the address obviously a space number and not an apartment number like she’d thought. She found the rundown trailer with number eighty-one on a faded metal sign. The whole trailer park was in disrepair for that matter.

After she parked behind the trailer, she grabbed the package off of the floorboard. Even though she wasn’t going to be far from her SUV, she locked it. She didn’t like the look of the neighborhood at all.

She walked under a porch shade, around rusted chairs and junk stacked everywhere. Nerves twisted in her belly. She felt a tingling up and down her spine, as if she was being watched. Then she noticed curtains fluttering at the window by the door and realized someone had been looking out it.

By the time she reached the bottom of the shaky wooden steps, the door was open. A stick-thin man with a scraggly shadow of a beard stood in the doorway. He had a glazed look to his blue eyes. “What do you want?”

Taken aback, she paused for a moment. “I’m looking for Izzy.”

“Ain’t no such person here.” The man slammed the door shut.

For one moment she stood there. A creepy feeling ran up and down her spine. She was sure she being watched and she shivered. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling.

She hurried back to her SUV, unlocked the vehicle, climbed in, and locked the doors again. After she put the package back on the floorboard, she looked at the slip of paper with the address and frowned. It said eighty-one, the same as the number on the sign. Maybe Derrick had written down the wrong number. She pulled out her cell phone and looked at the recent calls screen and pressed the one for Derrick. She held her phone up to her ear. Rather than hearing a dial tone, she heard a beeping sound, like there was a bad connection.

After trying three times, she stuffed her cell phone into her purse and started her SUV. She didn’t feel safe until she was out of the trailer park, back on Ajo Way, and headed out of there.

It took her another twenty minutes to get to her mom’s home just off of Ina Road and La Cholla. She lived in an area where she knew her neighbors and was close to shopping.

When she reached the house, she pulled her SUV up to the brick house and parked under the shade of a tall mesquite trees. She grabbed her purse and picked the container of cookies up off the floorboard, climbed out, and locked the doors.

It had apparently rained in Tucson last night, too. The air was sweet and the ground beneath the trees still damp. She loved the smell of rain in the desert. There was nothing quite like it. She held the cookies as she walked up the stone path to the front door and rang the doorbell.

In moments the door opened and her mother stood in the doorway. She was wearing one of her many pretty scarfs around her head, baggy jeans, a loose blue cotton blouse, and brown moccasins.

“Hi, Mom.” Sabrina hugged her.

“Rina.” Her mom hugged her back, the plastic container between them. “What do you have here?” Tessa asked as she laughed and stepped back.

“Carly made you her fantastic chocolate chip cookies.” Sabrina handed Tessa the container.

“She just wants to fatten me up.” Tessa carried the cookies into the kitchen.

“You could use a few, you know.” Sabrina followed and set her purse down on one of the stools at the breakfast bar. Her mother had gotten way too thin.

“Do you want one?” Tessa held up a cookie.

“I snuck a couple before I left.” Sabrina grinned as she sat on a stool and rested her elbow on the breakfast bar. “Don’t tell Carly.”

“Promise.” Tessa took the milk out of the fridge, raised it in a gesture that asked if Sabrina wanted some. She shook her head and her mom poured herself a glass before putting the milk back and taking a cookie. “How was your drive here?”

“Not bad.” Sabrina didn’t bother mentioning the detour to Derrick’s sister’s house. “How are you doing, Mom?”

“Great.” Tessa smiled but Sabrina still saw a hint of pain in her mother’s smile. Tessa didn’t believe in complaining or even admitting she was ill.

“How are you really doing?” Sabrina asked quietly.

Tessa took off the scarf on her head. Her head was smooth, no trace of hair. “The days are gone when I was able to keep most of my hair like you did when you went through radiation.”

“For not having any hair, you still look pretty sexy.” Sabrina kept her tone light. “A lot of guys think bald is hot.”

Tessa laughed and wrapped the scarf back around her head. “You were smart to get the mastectomies instead of just lumpectomies,” she said. “If I’d made that choice I probably wouldn’t have gone through all of this again.”

Sabrina swallowed down the ball that had formed in her throat. The return of her mother’s breast cancer was the reason Sabrina had chosen to get the mastectomies when the cancer was discovered during a routine mammogram. Her entire family history wasn’t good and even though the doctors thought they could more than likely get all of the cancer out, the “more than likely” was something she hadn’t want to take chances with.

“Do they think they can get rid of it all?” Sabrina found herself holding her breath.

Tessa set her cookie down, went to where Sabrina was sitting at the breakfast bar, and took her hands. “I’m doing fine. It’s gone into remission.”

“Oh, Mom.” Sabrina hugged Tessa. “I’m so glad. I’ve been praying.”

Tessa smiled as she drew away. “Now you can stop worrying about being out of town for the summer. I know that’s been bothering you.”

Sabrina nodded. “It has. I still feel like I need to be closer.”

“Don’t forget your three sisters are here and my sisters are here so I’m getting my fill of women.” Tessa had had four sisters before one had passed on from breast cancer. Fortunately Sabrina’s sisters and Tessa’s other sisters hadn’t developed it and were getting checked regularly and doing self-exams.

Sabrina smiled at her mother’s teasing. “Are you sure you don’t need me here?”

With a nod, Tessa said, “If you do come back, I’m going to kick your butt. Besides, you’re not much over an hour away.”

Sabrina put her hands on her hips. “Well, I’m still visiting you once a week no matter what.”

“You know I look forward to our day together.” Tessa smiled. “Between you and your three sisters and my three sisters, I think I’m covered.”

“Good.” Sabrina kissed her mom’s cheek and couldn’t help hugging her again. “Want to go shopping now?”

“Let me grab my purse and change into another blouse.” Tessa left the kitchen and disappeared into her bedroom.

When Tessa returned, now wearing a bright pink shirt, pink and white athletic shoes, another pretty scarf on her head, and pink lipstick, they headed out together into the sunshine-bright day.

It was late afternoon by the time Sabrina and her mom had returned from shopping and Sabrina was ready to head back to Patagonia. Before she backed out of the driveway, she pulled her cell phone out of her purse to call Carly to tell her she was on her way. There were six missed calls from Derrick’s number.

Darn. He’d probably been calling about the package, although six calls seemed excessive. She hadn’t realized her phone was on vibrate.

Before she had a chance to return his call, his number appeared on the screen as an incoming call.

She answered, “Hi, Derrick.”

“Where are you?” His words were sharp. “Where’s the package? Why didn’t you drop it off and pick up my package?”

“I’m in Tucson.” She was taken aback by his harsh tone. “I did go there to drop it off but the guy told me he didn’t know an Izzy. I tried calling you but the call wouldn’t go through.”

“Wouldn’t take the package?” He had a frown in his voice. “Where did you go?”

She gave him the address and added, “I went straight to space eighty-one.”

“It’s eighty-seven.” Derrick had a “dumb bitch” edge to his words. “I need you to get that package dropped off now and get the other package.”

Anger made Sabrina’s temperature rise. She’d gone out of her way to help him and he was treating her like she’d done something wrong. Maybe Wyatt was right about the guy.

“I’m on my way home from north Tucson,” she said. “I’ll be there in about twenty minutes.”

It sounded like Derrick was taking a deep breath. “It’s really important it gets there and that I get the other one.”

“It will.” She did her best to keep a snap out of her voice as she started backing out of the driveway. “Heading there now.”

“Good,” he said and disconnected the call.

Who did he think he was? She set her jaw and headed back to the trailer park with dread in her belly. She so did not want to go back into that neighborhood. It hadn’t felt safe at all.

When she arrived in the trailer park the unsettled feeling grew even stronger. This time she went three spaces past eighty-one and reached eighty-seven. Gravel crunched beneath her tires as she parked next to an older model blue truck. Again she locked her SUV before she walked toward this trailer and again she felt as if she was being watched.

This trailer was blue and white with a good dose of rust in places where sheets of metal had been added. A couple of old lawn chairs sat outside the front porch steps with a small table and an ashtray filled with cigarette butts and ashes.

She climbed up the steps and rapped on the door with her knuckles, the door rattling as she knocked.

It jerked open and a man stood in the doorway. He had on worn jeans and a sleeveless T-shirt, and he had a barbed wire tattoo around his right bicep. He had a dark look in his brown eyes and she had the urge to turn around and leave.

“That the package for Izzy?” he said without any preamble.

“Yes.” Another twist in her belly. She was desperately wishing for Carly to be with her right now.

“You’re late.” The man snorted and held out his hand. “I’ll give it to the old lady.”

Sabrina held back a frown. She’d expected to hand the package directly to Derrick’s sister, but apparently the guy had been expecting it. Maybe this man was Izzy’s husband or boyfriend.

All she wanted to do was get out of this place. She handed the package to the man. When it was in his hands, he said, “I’ll get your package after I check this one.” He closed the door, leaving her on the porch steps. She looked around her, rubbing her arms as if she was cold even though it was summer. Something about this whole thing was giving her the chills.

The door opened again and the man thrust out a manila envelope folded around whatever it was so that it was about the size of a brick. She took the package and the man shut the door in her face.

A strong feeling, like she was in danger, came rushing over her. A part of her knew it was irrational, but all she wanted to do was get out of there.

Gripping the package, she practically ran past the blue truck to her SUV, unlocking it before she reached it. She opened the door, jumped in, slamming the door behind her and locking it again. She threw the package on the floorboard, started the truck, and put it into reverse. The tires spun in the gravel and she took off, going faster than the posted fifteen mile per hour trailer park speed limit.

As soon as she got onto the freeway from Ajo Way, she headed east. She relaxed and her chest didn’t feel as constricted as it had.

Her phone rang and she looked at the caller identification screen and saw Derrick’s number. Anger shot through her. He’d just put her in a situation that she didn’t like. Maybe she hadn’t really been in danger, but she’d been in a place she hadn’t belonged.

When she answered, Derrick immediately said, “Do you have the package from Izzy?”

“Yes.” She opened her mouth to say more but he kept going.

“Good,” he said. “I’ll meet you at your friend’s house again.”

“I’d rather meet you at the convenience store,” she said then realized he’d disconnected the call. He hadn’t even thanked her. She saw it all clearly now. Wyatt had been right about Derrick.

She glanced at the gas gage—only a quarter tank left, so she needed to get fuel. She pulled off the freeway and into one of the last gas stations she’d come across before turning south off the Interstate.

As she pumped fuel into her SUV, she still had a residual feeling of being watched and hair on the nape of her neck prickled. She glanced around but saw nothing and blew out her breath. The whole thing had upset her more than she’d thought. Nothing had happened, so why was it all bothering her so much?

When she was finished putting fuel in her SUV, she pulled the vehicle up to the convenience store then went inside to use the ladies room. When she finished, she started to feel a little more relaxed as she walked back through the store. She smiled at the clerk and then stepped outside. The sun was getting low and she wanted to get back on the road before it got dark.

She started to head to her SUV when she came to a complete stop. Two men were next to her vehicle. A chill swept through her. Were they trying to break in or just standing close to it? One of the men looked up, right at her. He said something to the other man and they turned and walked away, almost too casually. In moments they climbed into a dark green metallic truck parked on the far end of the convenience store. The windows were dark tinted and she couldn’t see the men.

For a moment she didn’t know what to do. Had the men been messing with her vehicle? Or was it her imagination?

She thought about running back inside but instead she ran to the driver’s side door and found it was still locked. She looked over her shoulder and didn’t see the men.

At that moment all she wanted to do was get home. She unlocked the door and climbed in and locked the doors again. With one more glance in the direction the men had gone, she started the vehicle, backed out of the parking space, and headed onto the freeway.

Thoughts of the men kept churning in her mind as she drove, as well as thoughts of the experience in the trailer park. She was ready to lay into Derrick Harper for putting her into that situation. He could forget her every being his delivery girl again.

Just what had been in that package she’d delivered? She glanced at the package on the floorboard. What was in that one?

Eventually she turned her SUV off of I-10 and went south onto Highway 83 toward Sonoita. As she drove, she glanced into her rearview mirror and saw that an older model dark truck was behind her. She looked ahead into the twilight and her headlights shown on the asphalt.

A slow chill rolled up her spine. Was that the same truck she’d seen the men get into at the truck stop? The men who’d been standing by her SUV?

Her heart started pounding faster and she reached for her purse. She needed to call someone—the county sheriff’s office, the Highway Patrol, Wyatt,
someone
. Her hand shook as she pulled out her cell phone. It slipped out of her hand and fell between the console and the seat.

Panic filled her as headlights filled her rearview mirror. She flinched at the glare. The truck was practically on her bumper. And then the headlights weren’t filling her mirror anymore because the truck was now too close to see them.

Her throat grew tight and dry and she clenched the steering wheel as she looked in the mirror again. Her heart pounded so hard her chest hurt. If it was the same men, what were they doing? She was out in the middle of nowhere and she couldn’t reach her phone.

The truck came around to pass and her fear ratcheted up another notch.

Just as it drew up to her, the truck swerved in her direction.

It rammed her SUV and she screamed.

Terror ripped through her as she almost lost control. Before she could react, the truck slammed into her vehicle again.

The wheel jerked out of her hands as her tires slid off the road. She tried to grab the wheel again but suddenly the SUV was rolling.

She screamed again and again as the SUV flipped over and over, her world spinning. Metal crunched, glass shattered. The vehicle came to a harsh stop on the driver’s side. It rocked but settled.

Everything went black.