Deadly Sanctuary (38 page)

It still bothered me greatly that I’d almost fallen prey to Eric’s evil charms. The job offer and declarations of love had all been part of a masterful ploy to lure me away from the house. Claudia had confessed her role in playing the “ghost” outside my bedroom that had easily frightened away the former tenants. When that and the spider episode failed, she had arranged for Roy to ambush me in the darkroom. Eric had ordered her to stop, but because of her obsession for him, she hadn’t been able to resist leaving the threatening message on my recorder.

Her confession also contained other fascinating information that filled in some of the gaps.

Eric’s affair with Claudia had brought him into contact with Charles after he’d been released from prison. Broke and minus his medical license, Charles had fallen deeply into debt. It was during that period that Thena asked for Eric’s help, and the real Dr. Price, who’d been little known in the community, had died in a Phoenix hospital. Because Eric was executor of his estate, and Dr. Price had no relatives, he was the only one aware of his passing. The realization of just how lucrative the adoption business could be, and the idea to increase the supply of babies, led to the demise of poor Violet Mendoza, who’d been coldbloodedly run down by Claudia. Roy had altered the eyewitness report and a week later Claudia slipped into the dead woman’s position at the shelter.

Meanwhile, Eric was secretly funneling the real mental patients to other institutions, and then Charles, in full disguise, was installed as the new Dr. Price. That certainly explained why Thena Rodenborn hadn’t recognized his voice the second time she spoke to him about exploring the old monastery. And it was also crystal clear why he’d left the table so suddenly the night of the fund-raiser and hadn’t stopped the day he’d run me off the road.

The sharp ringing of Tugg’s phone interrupted my thoughts. He announced he’d just arrived home from the hospital and wanted to know how things were going. It had been a zoo without him and Tally, but we’d all worked long hours to get the paper out. “I’m proofing my article for Wednesday’s edition, now,” I informed him.

“I feel like I’ve been on the moon for two weeks,” he complained. “What other evidence has turned up?”

“Deputy Potts called me a while ago. They found another body yesterday. Charles has confirmed that it’s the Hispanic girl who first contacted Dexter.”

“No kidding? The one who wanted to exchange information for money and the ticket to Nogales?”

“Right. That’s why I never heard from her again.”

“Jee-zuss! What else?”

“This is hard to believe, but Caesarean sections were performed on several of the girls before their due dates. Eric apparently needed the extra cash to cover land payments.”

“Un-friggin’-believable.”

“He would have collected almost two hundred thousand by the end of the month with the births of four babies, enough to pay the note due on the tennis ranch.”

Tugg groaned. “This is the sickest thing I have ever heard.”

We talked a while longer about work and then Tugg told me the real reason for his call. As I listened to his intriguing proposal, a delicious surge of anticipation warmed my cheeks. His news, coupled with the call from his wife earlier in the week, added another dimension to my growing list of options.

By the time I reached home, the evening sky was a celebration of color, the bright amber rays transforming the spires of Castle Rock into a golden crown.

I was fishing for the keys to the front door when I heard a vehicle approaching. My skin tingled with delight as Tally’s truck rolled into the driveway.

Jake waved at me from the driver’s seat and I saw Tally’s warm smile. I got a memory flash of the first time I’d seen the two of them at the top of Yarnell Hill last spring, how frightened I’d been of the javelinas, how much Tally’s surly attitude had enraged me. Time had changed a lot of things.

I crossed to the truck and opened Tally’s door. The white sling around his arm contrasted with his brick-red shirt.

“He’s not supposed to be up and out yet, is he, Jake?” I chided. Tally had a look of pained concentration as he stepped from the truck.

“I tried to stop him, miss, but, he’d have none of it.” His tanned face wrinkled in a cheery smile.

“Aren’t you glad to see me?” Tally’s eyes reflected mock indignation and the hint of a question.

“Of course I am.” The mere sight of him had my pulse racing, and I wished I could forget that he’d gone to Colorado with Lucinda.

Jake pulled a brown paper bag from the truck, thrust it into Tally’s hand, and then waved good-bye, saying he’d return after running errands in town.

We stood close together, facing each other, our eyes locked. I hoped I wasn’t reading too much into his intent expression. The silence stretched between us until he finally said, “Do me a favor, would you? The next time you decide to do white-water rafting, I suggest you get something a little more seaworthy than a Mercedes.”

“I was up for something different that day. But, I will take your advice.”

He paused again. I knew that wasn’t what he’d planned to say, but it was an easy conversation opener.

“How’s your arm?” I asked.

“I won’t be doing any roping for a while.”

“I feel awful about that. Would you like to come in and sit down?”

“In a minute. Right now I’m enjoying being up and outside again. I’m not a very good hospital patient, I’m afraid.”

I grinned. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

He returned my smile. “When I wasn’t drugged on pain killers, I read your articles. I guess I’m going to have to eat my words.” His eyes glinted with humor. “Not only are you anything but a delicate damsel, you’re also quite a cunning detective.”

“Thank you.”

His expression grew serious. “What’s going to happen to those girls?” He nodded toward Serenity House.

“It’s going to be an awful mess to untangle, if that’s even possible. Some couples paid for babies they’ll never get, and a few of the girls want their babies back. The problem is, the adoption records were lost in the flooded wash.”

“I told you Heisler was a slime.”

“He was more than that. He was a psychopath.”

He cleared his throat and shifted his weight. His discomfort was obvious. Clearly, he had something more to say.

I broke the silence. “So, how was Colorado?”

He faced me squarely. “Just so you’ll know, Lucy came along to buy another mare. She shared a room with Ronda, not me.”

It was hard to hide my elation.

He extended the package to me. “This is for you.”

Puzzled, I opened the bag and pulled out a cream-colored western hat. Running my hand over the smooth felt, I marveled, “It’s beautiful. But, you already gave me one the day…”

He placed one finger gently against my lips, silencing me. “Shhhh. This one didn’t belong to someone else. It’s a small thing for saving my life.”

I blurted out, “But, you saved mine first.”

“I think we’re even now in the rescue department, but it’s more than that. I feel like you saved me twice over.” His finger slid from my lips to caress my cheek. “I’ve been among the walking wounded for two years, carrying that load of guilt, thinking my mother was responsible for Stephanie’s death. You’ll never know what a relief it was to find out it was Claudia.”

“I think I have a pretty good idea.”

“Let me help you,” he said, positioning the hat on my head. “It looks good on you. Natural.”

“Thank you.”

“Kendall…”

My heartbeat quickened with wild anticipation. “Yes?”

“I heard about your job offer in Phoenix, and Ginger told me a national magazine is interested in you as well…so, I guess that means you’ll be leaving soon?”

I glanced at the full moon pushing its way over the mountain and took a deep breath of clear, desert air. “Well, it just so happens that a third option has presented itself.”

“And, what would that be?”

“Tugg just informed me that Thena Rodenborn has acquired the
Sun
and he’s decided to resign and do the traveling he’s always dreamed about. That leaves the position of editor open.”

“Interesting.”

“The other thing is that Tess Delgado has decided to move into one of those retirement properties, so…I’m thinking about making an offer on this place.”

“Is that so?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Does this mean you might consider staying on?”

“I’m giving it careful thought.”

He leaned closer, slipping his free arm around my waist. When his lips pressed against mine, gently this time, the stars seemed to explode and shower down from the sky.

Breathless, we pulled apart. He tipped the brim of his hat back from his face in that familiar, endearing gesture.

“Well, now, ma’am,” he said in his best western drawl, “you reckon there’s any way I could convince you to think about putting the O’Dell Ranch under the Starfire brand?”

I looked up at him, pushing back the brim of my hat. “Well, sir, I reckon you could try.”

 

SYLVIA NOBEL CURRENTLY RESIDES IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA WITH HER HUSBAND AND SIX CATS. SHE IS A MEMBER OF MYSTERY WRITERS OF AMERICA.