Unlock the Truth

Chapter Sixteen

Five-thirty came too soon. Zeke shut off the alarm before it rang. Dena’s dark blond hair was in disarray, eyes shut tight, gorgeous lips parted. Thoughts of the night before flooded his mind. Desire stirred and he reached over, traced one finger down her forearm.

She grinned, opened her eyes. “Is it time to go?”

“Yep, I woke early, slept well though.” He kissed her forehead, then her cheek, her ear. “We have time. I’ll get you to the casita with your reputation intact.” He laughed and pulled her closer, and his mouth sought hers.

She ran a hand down his abdomen. Took him in her hand, stroked him. “Oh, yeah,” she said. “You’re definitely up early.”

He laughed again, turned her on her back and nuzzled her neck, kissed down her chest to those delectable breasts. He teased one nipple, then the other.

“Give me five seconds,” she said, and pulled out of his grasp. “Bathroom, morning breath.”

Who cared about that? He was ready for action and tried to pull her to him. She laughed, and then slid off the bed.

“Okay, there’s a new toothbrush in the cabinet. You’ve got five seconds.”

In five seconds she was back, totally naked and breath smelling peppermint fresh.

“If you’re going to be fussy, I’ll have to do the same,” he said, and sighed heavily. He sat and dangled his legs over the edge of the bed.

“I don’t mind,” she said, and kissed his lower back, right above his butt. Then she ran her tongue up his spine and blew on the spot.

“Five secs,” he said, his skin tingling He was harder than he’d been last night, if that was possible. He hurried into the bathroom. When he returned she was all smiles. They had twenty-five minutes before Irma arrived.

****

Dena stood under the shower with Zeke. She hated to leave him, but there was enough stuff going on at Three C’s that she couldn’t risk the ire of Irma or Manny. She’d already set off Rocky yesterday. God forbid he should see her leave the hacienda. A tiny shiver ran through her body. One night of lovemaking and she’d almost forgotten about him.

“What time does Rocky start work?” she asked, and soaped up Zeke’s chest. She slid against him, enjoying the sensuous feel of slippery bodies. Ready for more action, yet there was no time, she stepped away and brushed the wet hair off his forehead.

“Around seven,” he said. “Why?”

“Nothing.” She shook the water off her face and stepped out of the stream. “Just, you know…”

“Worried you’ll run into him?”

“Yep,” she said, and grimaced. “I wouldn’t want him to judge me. He’s done enough of that already.”

“Yeah, he’s a stickler for the Christian path.”

“Does he have a girlfriend?”

Zeke frowned then he kissed her forehead. “No. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him with a woman.”

“Is he gay?”

Zeke turned his back to the water, his beautiful shoulders rose in an exaggerated shrug. “I don’t know. He didn’t seem to be in high school. What made you ask that?”

“His fingernails are clean and neatly manicured. I want to say he even buffs them or has a clear lacquer on them.” She stood to the back of the shower out of the stream from the shower head.

Zeke stared at her, his mouth open.

“Don’t you think that’s odd for a man of the land?” she asked, and tilted her head.

He laughed loudly. “I have no idea. Maybe it’s just something he’s particular about. It doesn’t make him gay.”

“I know. I really didn’t mean that. But, think about his nails. What does that mean?”

Zeke pressed his lips tight for a moment. “Maybe that he’s not doing much work around here?”

“You could be right. I never see him during the day.”

Zeke reached up, turned off the faucet, and stepped out of the shower stall. He handed her a towel. She wrapped it tight for a few seconds then rubbed her body dry. Her hair was saturated. Not that it mattered. She sopped up some of the water with the towel and pulled her hair into a tiny ponytail.

“Five minutes,” Zeke said, and pointed to the clock. “Or your reputation will be in shreds.”

Dena laughed, leaned in, and kissed him. He still wore his towel tied around his waist. He spread foam on his face, ready to shave. She hurried back into the bedroom, pulled on her clothes, and stuck her head around the bathroom door.

“See you around noon?”

“Yeah,” he said, held the razor mid-air, the white foam scraped from one cheek. He rinsed the razor. “And don’t worry about Rocky. I’ll check on him.”

He’d never seemed more adorable. She gulped and prayed this could last forever, because it hit her hard, she’d fallen in love with Zeke and she wanted to spend the rest of her life sharing moments just like this one.

He continued to scrape off the foam, rinsed the razor under the vanity faucet again. “You’d better get going. I might get a chance to have lunch with you.”

“Good.” She tossed him a smile and hurried out of the room, grabbed her keys and shoes, and took off down the hall.

On the verandah, she stood for a moment. Everything was still. She took several long breaths, let them out slowly. Life was good. Better than good, it was exquisite.

The mountains shimmered in browns and golds; the sky was already blue with thin threads of orange that heralded the sun’s rise. She wondered again at the Santa Rosa Mountains, how they changed color at least a dozen times a day. Then she remembered Irma would turn into the private road any minute.

She let go of her daydream, slipped her shoes on, and sprinted toward the casita. Halfway there, she slowed and moved carefully. Something wasn’t right. Once inside the casita there was nothing distinctively out of place, but little things were not exactly the way she’d left them. Her heart pounded as she quickly pushed open the bedroom door.

Nothing. It was empty.

Her imagination working overtime, that was all. About to turn away, she saw a bit of black lace peeking out the edge of a dresser drawer. She opened it slowly.

Someone had rifled through her underwear.

****

Later that morning, Dena’s heart pumped like crazy as she pulled up on the reins. She patted Nancy’s neck and took a couple of deep breaths. It wouldn’t do to arrive all sweaty and nervous. If she was going to do this she’d do it right. But still, that had been one heck of a nerve-racking ride.

She hadn’t told Manny or Zeke that she was going to visit Cyril Johnston and knew that both would be angry with her when they found out.

Cyril’s farmland spread below her for miles. Manny had told her how the property lines ran. There was one small section where fencing had been difficult, because of the rockiness of the mountain base, so they’d left a trail up and through the rocks. It was the one she’d just ridden along.

But she was only halfway. Thoughts of being shot at crossed her mind but she brushed them aside. Zeke had mentioned he and Cyril had access to each other’s property, so she imagined visitors came and went through this shortcut on a fairly regular basis. The sand was packed down hard with horses’ hoof marks.

“Okay, let’s do it, Nancy,” she said, and gave her a little nudge. It was narrow but with a good horse it was do-able. She wasn’t at all worried about Nancy; it was the rider she questioned.

They only slipped once, just a few loose rocks that got underfoot. Nancy was superb and Dena told her that, and prayed. She kept her eyes straight ahead. If she didn’t look down, she’d be fine.

Ten minutes later she pulled up at Cyril’s palatial ranch house, but wasn’t quite sure where to tether Nancy. That proved to be no problem, because Cyril burst out of his front door and strode right up to her and yanked on the reins.

“Ms. Roman,” he said, smirked and patted Nancy. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

She felt like smacking him. He was so smarmy. And that creepy black hair didn’t help much. Or the diamond pinky ring that flashed in the sun.

“I wanted to ask you a couple of questions, if you don’t mind.”

“About?”

Dena figured she wouldn’t be invited inside—not that she’d accept such an invitation—so she remained seated in the saddle. In the doorway stood the same young man she’d seen at Starbucks her first day in town. A flutter of warning skimmed through her stomach. She cleared her throat and sat taller. “You reported to Rancho Almagro P.D. that you’d had some kids out here being a nuisance.”

“True.”

“My car was shot at on Saturday.”

“Yes, so I heard.”

“Oh? And how exactly would you know that?”

He stared up at her and his eyes narrowed for a split second. “Rocky told me, why?”

“Just interested to know how stories circulate in small towns.”

The young man walked outside. Cyril stroked Nancy’s neck again. “So, how can I help you?”

“The shots were fired from your lower citrus grove. Would that be a normal place for rabbit hunters?” She watched his eyes narrow again but didn’t wait for an answer. “Those mountains are rocky.” She waved a hand to the mountain base that circled his property. “Full of crevices and small caves, I’ll bet. Lovely hiding places for rabbits and other wild life. Don’t you think?”

“Perfect,” he said. “What is it you want, exactly?”

“I could imagine kids being up there, but not in amongst your fruit trees.” She watched him closely, aware of how his annoyance showed in his stance.

“Again, what do you want?” he asked.

“Why, your opinion of course.” Dena smiled down at him. “I’d like to find out who shot at me. Did you recognize any of the youths?”

“No.” He laughed, but it didn’t sound friendly. “But, if I hear mention of anyone suspicious in the neighborhood I’ll let you know. How is that?”

“That would be fine,” Dena said. “I’m sure you have Zeke’s number. We should stay in touch.”

He stood, balled fists thrust against his hips. “And you’ll be there for how long?”

Dena smiled again. “I’m not sure. That depends on our campaign, and how much work I’ll need to do on Zeke’s promotional plans.”

He nodded. “It could get expensive for you, living at the Resort.”

“I’m not anymore. I’m staying in the casita at Three C’s.”

Cyril’s eyes flew wide open, his body jerked forward but he recovered quickly. She supposed he also had religious views on single women in the homes of single men. Even though she lived in separate quarters.

It pleased her though, and warmed her insides that she’d surprised him on one count. Cyril remained silent for a moment then worked his mouth into a surly half smile.

“The other reason I came to visit,” Dena said sweetly. “We’re having a chili cook-off on Saturday. Everyone from Three C’s, and the farmhands and their families will be there. We’d love to have you join us. It’ll be good old-fashioned fun.”

Cyril’s face hardened. “Thank you. I’ll think about it.”

“Good. We’ll look forward to your response. Hope to see you Saturday.”

She nudged Nancy and trotted away, but then turned to look over her shoulder. Cyril and the young man stood side by side, staring after her.

Dena urged Nancy on toward the mountain trail. Part of her wanted to gallop away to get as far away from that nasty man as possible, but she knew not to do that. How Cyril had ever been voted into public office she had no idea.

Okay, so she hadn’t exactly found out anything, but she’d achieved one thing. She’d let him know that although she had nothing she could pin on him, she was aware of his unsavory character.

She didn’t want to push Nancy too hard, or make her skittish because of her tension, so she eased up. She thought over Debbie’s conversation from this morning. Like she’d promised, Debbie had gone in to work and checked her books. She’d never treated Carli at the spa. She also suggested that the necklace had been bought at the Christmas fair at St. Matthews because Isabella had told her she wasn’t placing them for sale with anyone other than Debbie.

Dena forced a calm she didn’t feel, and spoke to Nancy the whole way along the trail. She pulled in a couple of deep breaths then wriggled her shoulders to loosen the tension. She was sweating but more from nervousness than the mountain trail, even though she knew the worst part was around the next bend.

They made it past the steep drop and finally rounded the last bend. In the midst of congratulating herself and the horse for a job well done, Dena saw Zeke riding across the flatland, coming fast from Three C’s.

Uh, oh, I’m in serious trouble now. She approached with caution.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he yelled from astride José, horse and rider a short distance from her, sandy clouds billowing behind him.

Dena pulled Nancy to a halt and waited until Zeke was alongside her.

“I was talking with Cyril,” she said, and felt the tiniest disturbance in her stomach at the sight of the rifle across his lap. “How did you know I was there?”

“Rocky called me, said he saw you from the old place.”

“Spies, eh?” She laughed. “Was he afraid I’d get shot at?”

“It’s no laughing matter. You were shot at, remember? You can’t go traipsing around on your own.”

“Calm down, Zeke. It’s fine.”

“No, it isn’t. You promised me last night that you’d—”

“I invited Cyril to the chili cook-off,” she said. “It’s neighborly and good PR. Besides, I thought you only meant don’t ride alone when you were away from Three C’s.”

Zeke glared at her. “Yeah, right, why didn’t you invite him by phone? You went over there to stir up trouble.”

“Not really.” Dena shrugged. “Okay, so I did want to check out the trail and his property, and I wanted the element of surprise. None of that could be done by phone.”

“Look Dena, you’ve got to let this investigation into your friend’s death go. Leave it for the police. It could put you in danger if you start rattling someone’s cage.”

Dena stared hard at him for a moment. Definitely not the time to mention her underwear. Or the young man at Cyril’s house. Besides, she did have a security chain on her door. She took a long breath and let it out. “You have to do what you think is right in that respect, Zeke. I have to follow my instincts.”

Zeke glared at her, a muscle in his jaw working. “I’ll lead,” he said, and turned José around.

And once again, they rode home in silence.