Unlock the Truth

Chapter Fifteen

“I’ll run down to the casita and put on something more comfy,” Dena said, as Zeke pulled the car into the garage at the hacienda. “Be back in five.”

“Sure. I need to speak with Irma before she leaves. She’s working way too late. See you in the office, and thanks again for doing this.”

“Save the thanks until later. I might be of no help at all.”

She sprinted down the path. A pair of sweats would be the ticket. She saw the gleam of eyes in the bushes and shivered, a feral cat, no doubt.

Inside she changed clothes, prepared two bowls, one with cool water, the second with shreds of luncheon meat, put the bowls outside her door, locked it, and walked up the path. She stopped and watched for a moment. A black cat approached the food, its neck lengthened and it sniffed from a distance then it caught sight of her and dashed back into the shrubs.

“It’s okay, kitty,” she called out in a sing-song voice. “It’s time for din-dins.” The whole time she inched away to show the animal, if it was still around to see her, that she was aware of boundaries and would put space between them. By the time she reached the back verandah the cat had not reappeared.

Dena arrived in the office first. She’d hoped this was a ruse on Zeke’s part to spend private time alone with her. No such luck. The place was a mess. There were file boxes on the desk, a pile of large blue books—probably the ledgers—on the small coffee table in front of the couch.

The two chairs which faced the desk were stacked high with files. On the credenza were more papers. Each stack had a slip of white paper with the year written on it that showed Zeke had gone back almost ten years.

“Let’s sit on the couch,” Zeke said, from the doorway.

She turned and shook her head. Numbers were not her thing, ever. And with the nice little wine buzz she had going, definitely not tonight. “This is unbelievable,” she said, and found a path around the file boxes.

“Yeah,” Zeke said. “I should have done it a year ago.”

“At least you’re doing it now. Did you find anything good?”

“I wouldn’t necessarily say good, but interesting. Here, take a look at these entries.” He opened several ledgers where he’d marked pages. “What do you make of these?”

Dena sat and pulled a ledger toward her. “St. Matthews?” She scanned each of the entries in the book, turned to the second one. “This is a ton of money.”

“You’re telling me,” Zeke said, and sat close by her side. “Mom contributed over a hundred thousand dollars in the two years before she died. But here’s the kicker, I’ve gone through the tax records, you know the contributions, there’s nothing in there about St. Matthews, or any church for that matter.”

St. Matthews again, Dena straightened, what was the connection? Should she tell him everything she knew and had begun to piece together? It was still so flimsy.

“So, didn’t your mother have an accountant?” Dena asked.

Zeke shook his head. “She’d always handled the business side of things herself.”

“Even the filing of the taxes?”

“Far as I know.”

“Are there copies of the checks?” Dena asked. “I mean the entries say St. Matthews in the ledgers, but who was the check made out to, and who endorsed it?”

Zeke’s eyes widened. “I think we’re on the same page here. Your instinct says blackmail, doesn’t it?”

Dena grimaced, raised her eyebrows then slowly nodded.

“I’ll go to the bank tomorrow. They’ll have micro-fiche records.”

“Good idea.” Dena eyed the mess of paperwork. “How about we put all of this away? I know you trust your staff—but you never know—prying eyes and all that.”

His body tensed, and she knew he’d turned to look at her. She kept her head down. He was way too trusting. “If anyone here is guilty, it might be a good idea not to raise alarms.”

A few seconds passed before he sat back and shoved a hand through his hair, his expression worried. “You’re right.”

Dena’s heart pained for him. She knew he suspected someone in his house and yet, he cared for each one of them. Still, she had to maintain her focus and question him while she had the opportunity.

“Zeke, this is off the subject,” she said gently. “But who did you tell to cancel the phone in the casita when you locked it up?”

He frowned. “I’m not sure. I might have done it myself.”

“Well, see, that’s the thing. It wasn’t disconnected.”

Zeke scratched at the side of his neck and frowned even deeper. “What do you mean?”

“The ringer was turned off, but the jack still works.”

“Huh,” Zeke said. “So, Bob came out for nothing?”

“Yes. Um…another thing…the phone number is the same as the main house.”

“Yes. Is that a problem?”

“Not for me. I’m wondering about eavesdropping, your privacy.”

“I trust my employees,” he said, and visibly stiffened. “And I think they trust me.”

He scratched his eyebrow then stood and went to the telephone. “There’s one number and a recording for when a person calls in. It says something like for Three C’s business press one. If you wish to speak to a member of the Cabrera family press two, for the staff press three—”

“And the fourth extension…was it the casita?”

“Yeah, it used to be mine when I lived here. Zeke’s line,” he said and smiled. “When I moved out, Mom used line four for the casita, but she never listed it on the recording.”

“Like a private line.”

“Exactly. Only those who knew pressed line four.”

“So why did you think of getting rid of that extension?”

“I didn’t intend to re-open the casita. I figured just shut it off in case people called it not knowing Mom had passed away.” Zeke grimaced. “Why the sudden interest in the phone line?”

“Well, this is just an idea…a thought really, but I think it’s a clue. Both of the victims had your telephone number on their person, or in their purse, as was Carli’s case.”

“Yes,” he said softly.

“Well, Susie already knew your number, so I always thought that was odd. What if someone used the casita for trysts? What if they gave that number out as their own private number and said when you hear the recording press line four and—”

“But I would have picked up the phone at the house if the light had flashed,” Zeke said.

“If you were at home,” Dena said. “What if those trysts happened while you were away, after your staff had left for the day? Did you go out of town often?”

“I’d escape and go up to L.A. whenever I could.”

“Did you go up there the night you and Susie argued at the Sandbar?”

Zeke shook his head. “Not that night. I left the next morning, around six. I went up for a few days.”

“Did the police ask you that same question?”

“Yes.”

“What did they think about it?”

“They thought I could have killed Susie then taken off.” He pulled in a deep breath and blew it out. “They intimated it would be a natural thing. Remove myself as far from the situation as possible.”

“But think about it? It could have happened this way and—”

“Nope, no way, I’m the only one with both keys, or was.” Zeke took out his key chain from his pocket. “See, this is where I put both the key for the padlock on the gate and the one to the house. You are now the only person with keys to the place.”

“How do you know that for sure?” Dena asked.

“Mom said so. I asked her for a key when her health started to fail. I told her it was dangerous to be down there alone. She gave me the keys and told me to guard them well, that they were the only ones. So I put them on my key ring and they’ve been there ever since, or were, until yesterday.”

“And that’s why nobody went in to clean the casita?”

“They couldn’t. I let Irma in there to clean out Mom’s personal effects. We gave everything to charity. I told her to leave the paintings. I figured sometime in the future I’d go back, clean it all up—”

“Nobody else had a key…not even Rocky, or Irma, or Manny? I mean Manny said he was invited to go there to paint.”

Zeke shook his head. “Mom was security conscious—as you pointed out the other day—gates were always locked.”

Were those locks to keep people out because of Isabella’s need for privacy, or for her security? But she was thankful for Zeke’s explanation. She couldn’t bear the thought of women being raped and strangled in that lovely place.

“Rocky is the only one with a key to the old house,” she said. “Don’t you think that’s odd? You don’t have one, do you?”

Zeke sat for a while in thought. “Nope. Maybe there’s one in the safe.” He stood, paced around the room, shuffled papers and rearranged books. “There’s a lot here I don’t understand. When you said I was an ostrich, you were right. I hadn’t wanted to look too closely. Then you came along and now…” He raised his hands in defeat.

She walked over and put her arms around him. “Bit by bit we’ll uncover all of the secrets that surround Three C’s.”

He held her close and kissed her forehead. “Secrets?” he asked, and pulled back to peer into her eyes. “What secrets? Oh, you mean all of this?” He stared at the stacks of paper.

“Yes.” She kissed his mouth, a gentle brush of lips. The money issues were enough for him to contend with for one night. Her feelings about other secrets she’d keep to herself, for the time being.

“Don’t worry, we’ll figure it out.”

****

Zeke prowled the room. He picked up papers, scanned them, put them down, stacked and restacked ledgers. Dena had mentioned secrets. What kind of secrets? He’d seen the quick flash that crossed her face, like she was aware she’d said too much.

What had she uncovered, or what did she suspect? Not him, he hoped. Not now, when he’d become aware of her interest. He knew it wasn’t just him that had felt a tremendous bond, a chemistry that had to be tested. He sat beside her, slipped an arm around her shoulders.

She nestled against him. “You okay?”

“Yeah. Fine, worried I suppose, but this can all wait,” he said, and drew her closer. “Thank you for everything.”

She buried her head in the crook of his neck.

“You’re welcome,” she murmured.

The warmth of her breath on his neck, her scent, the softness of her skin all overpowered him. He trailed tiny kisses down the side of her face, met her mouth, traced her top lip with his tongue, then captured her bottom lip with his teeth and nibbled gently. She sighed against his mouth and parted her lips. He teased and explored.

She sat back, patted at her hair. He liked the way her lips plumped with kissing, noticed the flush to her neck and cheeks. He leaned in closer but she slipped out of his arms.

“We’d better get these files and ledgers put away,” she said. “Before we go to bed.”

“Bed sounds good,” he murmured against her lips. She laughed and whacked him on the arm. He knew she hadn’t meant together, but you couldn’t blame a guy for trying.

“I don’t do casual,” she said.

“Me neither.” He kissed and nipped along her jaw bone, capturing her earlobe. She shivered and a tiny moan escaped her as she pressed hard against him. Then she caught his lower lip and tugged and sucked on it until he thought he’d go crazy. He slipped a hand up underneath her t-shirt, felt the silky warmth of her skin beneath his hand.

She pulled his shirt out of his pants and ran her hands all over him. He pulled in a breath when her hand smoothed over the bulge that throbbed against the fly of his pants.

“I don’t…you know, generally act like this with someone I hardly know—”

“You know me,” he murmured against her mouth.

She laughed. “Funny, but you know, I sort of do.”

“We’ve gotten to know each other well in a short time.”

“We have spent a lot of time together.” She kissed him again, her tongue doing a dance with his.

Commonsense tried to get through his fog of lust. He never mixed business and pleasure, a rule he abided by in L.A. But this was not L.A. This was not the law firm. Besides, if she made love to him then he’d know she didn’t suspect him of any foul play. Knowing what he knew of Dena she wouldn’t get involved casually, without trust.

His entire body ached with longing. He pulled away from her and stood, smiled, offered his hand.

“Let’s go to my room,” he said, and jiggled his key ring. “I’ll lock this door. I can clean up the mess in the morning.”

She stared at him through eyes hazy with desire, and nodded.

****

Dena lay on Zeke’s bed. She loved the slippery feel of her naked body against his, belly to belly. Her desire had reached breaking point and a feverish heat swirled in her abdomen. She was wet and hot and about to come like a teenager fooling around in the back seat of a car.

“Now, Zeke.” She pulled in a quick breath. “I need you now.”

He shook his head and grinned, traced a path down her chest with his tongue and stopped to tease each nipple. She strained to get closer.

“We’ll take this slow,” he murmured against her abdomen, and sent shivers up her spine. She raised her hips...

“More,” she said and silently, more, more. He moved further south. Ah, that’s the spot.

“You taste good,” he murmured. His tongue found all of her sensitive places.

She ached to feel him now, inside of her, filling her. She thrust against him, moved her hands from his shoulders to bury them in his hair. About to yank hard on that hair and demand he quit fooling around, his mouth started to do things that had every nerve cell awake and alert. The skin on her entire body prickled, heat rushed through her.

“Oh,” she said, and the word came out on a quick rush of air. “Oh, yes.”

He obliged and lingered on that spot.

He teased and licked and murmured against her hot wet flesh. Then he licked the inner flesh of her thighs and breathed on them. Waves of pleasure swept through her, and her abdomen heated from the center outward. She tensed, resisting the release.

“Let go,” he murmured. “Stop thinking, just let go.”

Her eyes glazed over and her hips raised higher all of their own accord and met his mouth again. This was Zeke, it was okay. She trusted him.

“Oh, yes,” she said. Then her voice rose even higher. “Oh yes, oh God, oh—”

The first shudder swept through her as his tongue worked magic. Waves of exquisite tension rose to a crescendo and fell away, followed by another set, then another. Her entire body continued to pulse and convulse. She’d never experienced anything so pleasurable.

“I want you, Dena,” he said, and kissed his way back up her body. The hoarse passion in his voice cut through her haze and she ran a hand down his body and held him. He was so full, hot and full, and knowing his arousal was for her, she began to stroke him in earnest.

“Easy does it or this will be over in a second,” he murmured. He tore the foil package he’d grabbed off the bedside table and sheathed himself. When he sank deep within her, her entire body flushed with warmth and need all over again.

She took all of him and gripped with her inner muscles. He’d already given her an orgasm of major proportions, and she wanted this to be good for him.

“Hey, slow down,” Zeke said, and laughed.

She smiled at him through hazy eyes then relaxed, feeling her breathing returning to normal, she matched his pace, let him take the lead. She wrapped her legs up and around his body, felt his hands grip her buttocks as he rode her and she took from his hardness, his heat, his energy, and let it fill every part of her empty body.

Heat rose and enveloped her. Tiny tremors spread through her and built and built and built, until she thought she’d shatter into a million pieces. How could she possibly come again? But she was once again on the precipice, anticipating the pleasure, seeking it out.

“Zeke, ohhhhh…I—”

Then she was freefalling, the last time she called his name it was on an uninhibited scream, and passion gave way to complete release. She heard his groan, felt his final rapid thrusts, and his release. Then they collapsed against each other and lay back on the bed. The weight of his body on top of her felt wonderful, warm, sweaty, and she moved to feel him inside her again.

“Wait,” he said softly. “Don’t move, please.”

She lay still until their breathing relaxed and heartbeats slowed. Her thoughts cleared from the hazy otherworld she’d visited. If she’d known sex could be this good she wouldn’t have been such a goody-two-shoes all of her life.

“That was incredible,” he said. “Amazing.”

“I know,” she whispered, because for some reason she couldn’t find her voice. She ran a hand down his back, caressed his spine. He rolled off her and slung one arm across her chest. He lay like that, totally spent, for a few more moments.

“Be right back,” he said finally, and went into the bathroom.

She stretched out and grinned up at the ceiling.

“Want water or anything?” he asked, from the doorway.

“Nope, I’m fine.”

He climbed back into bed, reached for her, and she curled up against him. “Should we get some sleep?” he asked, and stroked the top of her arm.

“You want me to stay here for the night?”

“Sure.”

“What time does Irma arrive?” she asked, rolled toward him and kissed his mouth.

“Around six,” he said. He pulled away from her a bit and gave her a smoldering look. “Don’t start me up again. I’m exhausted.”

She laughed and whacked his upper arm. “What a wuss.”

He pushed her back against the bed and straddled her. “Okay, let’s see who can go the distance.”

Seriously, she was exhausted, too. It had been a long day. “Okay, you’re off the hook. Can you set the alarm for five-thirty? I’ll go back to the casita before Irma gets here.”

“She wouldn’t care.”

“I know, but still—”

“Fine.” He rolled his eyes, set the alarm and reached for her again. He kissed her twice, long leisurely kisses. Then he pulled her up against him, stroked her back and let one hand splay over one butt cheek, claiming it as his own.

“Sleep,” he murmured.

She grinned and snuggled close, not quite ready for sleep but it would come soon. She was beyond satisfied, but wanted to savor the calm and peace that flowed through her body.

Patterns played on the wall from the partially opened window shutters, and she realized she’d often wondered if she was sexually frigid or aloof. Nothing tonight gave her that feeling.

She’d always had this weird idea that you needed to know your partner mentally before physically, had never had a one-night stand, never slept with a married guy and prided herself on that. Old-fashioned perhaps, but it was how she’d conducted her life, and it had never failed her.

Well, except for the lack-luster marriage. Then sex had taken a lesser role. She’d known Zeke for four days. And she’d lied to him. That didn’t sit well with her, she should have told him before they made love but it had all happened so fast. She grimaced, held him a little tighter. He’d understand when she explained. He would.

Thinking of her reasons for being at Three C’s made her think of Carli. Her sister had never hesitated about stealing a moment. She’d lived a short but full life, and never got hung up on sex, and she hadn’t had that same belief that you only had sex with someone you hoped to spend your life with. To her it was a biological need that had to be satisfied.

She hardly knew Zeke, and winced at the thought. Zeke is different. This wasn’t a one-night stand. This was like the equivalent of ten dates when you considered the time they’d spent together. She grinned, maybe even twenty.