“Jackson Lodge, Albuquerque. This is Belinda speaking.”
“Hi, Belinda, this is Gretchen from the Jackson, Santa Fe. I’m doing some paperwork and I’m looking up a specific tour that probably went through Albuquerque around three years ago. I need to cross-reference them with some names. I was wondering if I could give you a date and you could tell me whether or not the tour booked and who the guests were.”
“You’re new, huh?”
“Not so new but I’m only part-time.”
“There’s a way to access Albuquerque’s files remotely. Want me to walk you through it?”
Amazed by her luck, she said, “That would be terrific.” It involved closing windows, opening windows, and a password. A minute later she had total access to Jackson Lodge, Albuquerque. “I’m in. Thank you. This way I won’t be bothering you.”
“No bother. Bye.” She hung up.
She quickly entered the date of Katie Doogan’s disappearance and printed out that list. Went forward, went backward. Printed out those lists. She skimmed the tours, looking for the magic asterisk that indicated what group booked what and for what purpose. Within twenty minutes, she found the code for Sandia National Laboratory.
She thought to herself, Belinda, you’re the bomb.
Ben knew that Ro was okay: she was in a public place. But it was late and he was tired and he still had to drive back to Albuquerque.
He called her cell again.
Ro answered on the third ring. “I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
“It’s past twelve. Is the guy there yet?”
“Yeah, he came in five minutes ago.”
“Then leave.”
“I’m just finishing up some paperwork. Just go home. I’m fine!”
“I waited this long. I’m not going to crap out now.”
“Where are you?”
“By my car in the parking lot.”
“Just stay there. I’ll be out in a second.”
“What’s taking so long?”
“Right now, it’s talking to you.” She hung up.
That’s it, Ben told himself. He was going inside, approaching the front door just as his phone rang.
“I see you, Vicksburg. Go back to your car. I’ll be out very, very soon.”
“If you’re not out in five minutes, I’m coming in.”
But she had already hung up. Ben was antsy. He whipped around and knocked into a body. “Sorry.”
The man jumped, obviously surprised by another person crashing into him—especially at this late hour—but then he quickly averted his eyes, fast-walking to the entrance of the Jackson. He turned around and gave Ben another glance before ducking inside the hotel. He was around six feet but doughy . . . soft around the middle. And he was acting odd although Ben knew he had startled the guy. Ro came out a minute later. She waved and he jogged up to her and squeezed her tightly.
“That was nice.” She kissed his cheek. “It is officially the day after the vernal equinox. You can go home now.”
“I’m going to follow you home.”
“Fine. Follow me home. I’m done arguing with you.”
“Did you know that guy who just walked into the hotel?”
“What guy?”
“I bumped into him in the parking lot. He scurried into the hotel.”
“Scurried?”
“Yeah . . . scurried. What’s he doing out this late?”
“Businessmen work late. I didn’t see anyone. Your imagination is getting the better of you.”
“No, he was a real guy. He just came into the hotel.”
“Maybe I was in the back room. Do you want me to go back in and find out who he was?”
“No.” Vicks shook his head. “Can you do it tomorrow?”
“Sure. We get clicks every time a room door opens and closes. I’m beat. Shall we go?”
Ben walked her to her car and waited until she pulled out. Then he got into his car, following behind her until she was home. When she pulled into her driveway, she parked and got out. She opened the front door and gave him a friendly wave good-bye.
He waved back.
He made it to Albuquerque in forty-five minutes.
He was speeding, going way too fast. But not as fast as his racing heart.
After the equinox passed, Ro could finally relax. She would never admit it to Vicks, but she was happy to be looked after. It meant he cared, but more important, she was a tad nervous. She hadn’t signed up for espionage when she moved to New Mexico, but some part of it was exciting—there was a little thrill when she cracked open a surreptitious file.
But just as Vicks had to let go, it was time for her to say good-bye to sleuthing. After April Fools’ Day on the Saturday evening of the spring fling, she showed up at Vicks’s house, ostensibly to drop off Griff and Ezra so they could go to the dance with the little girls. But she had other plans besides carpooling. She had dressed in a tight pink sweater set and a black pencil skirt, patent leather pumps on her feet.
Ben’s mom said, “Thanks for dropping off the kids.”
“Not a problem. Are you sure you don’t mind doing cab duty? I’d be happy to pitch in.”
“If not me, Ben will do it.” His mom gave her a forced smile. “Ro, I know you two aren’t together anymore, but you know everyone. Maybe you could find a date for him next time . . . you know, fix him up?”
“Laura, I could make some phone calls and fix him up with at least three really cute girls within five minutes. It’s him. He’s beyond fix-up-able.”
“What is wrong with him?”
“He has his own tempo that only he can dance to.”
“You know he wasn’t always like this. Once he was much more social than Ellen.” Her eyes moistened. “Sometimes I feel like I lost them both.”
Ro gave her a hug. “This is my opinion . . . and it’s only my opinion, but here it is for what it’s worth. Ben is obsessive. We see it as a problem, but it’s not. It’s who he is. His brain was just designed to figure out the great mysteries of life. If it wasn’t Ellen, it would be something else.”
Laura nodded. “He’s like my father. And I never really got him either.”
“There you go.” Ro smiled. “Is he in his room? I’d like to say hi.”
“Sure, go ahead.”
She knocked on the door. A few moments later he stuck his head out, then stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind him. “Hi.”
Their romantic encounter two weeks ago was still fresh in her mind. It was weird to be with JD and to be thinking about Vicks. By the look in Ben’s eyes, it was on his mind as well. He said, “Wow! You look nice.”
“Thanks, Vicks. You’re taking the kids to the dance, right?”
“Yep.”
“Just get them home before eleven or my mother will call the cops.”
“No problem.” A pause. “How’s JD?”
“This is our first official date.”
“Have fun.”
“Yeah, JD is a lot of fun.” She mussed up his hair. “Better than you, Mr. Dour.”
“Yeah, but can he figure out murder cases?”
“No.”
“Neither can I.” His smile was sad. “Have a great time.”
“Oh, I will. You don’t look this good and not have a great time.” Ro flashed him white teeth. “I need your help, Vicks. I have some heavy boxes in my car. Could you carry them in for me?”