Our Red Hot Romance Is Leaving Me Blue (10 page)

In a flash, the officer grasped the man’s upper arm. “Come with me, sir. My cruiser’s just around the corner. You can sit in the backseat where it’s nice and cool while I run a check on you. If it comes back clean I’ll stay with you and make
sure you get on that bus back to El Paso.” He returned his attention to Sophia. “Miss, are you gonna be all right?”

“Yes sir, I’m going to be just fine. Thank you so much. And officer, regardless of what alias he gives you, his real name is Robert Alan Chandler.”

Sophia had no idea how she knew Bob Chandler’s real name or that of his parole officer and his police record. The information had just come to her. That’s the way her visions always were. Only in recent years had she learned to trust them.

In less than half an hour she drove a Chevy Aero from Enterprise’s parking lot. As she passed the officer’s police cruiser, the child molester was leaning against the car while the officer handcuffed him. This incident was definitely one where having the ability to see the future, and especially the past, had been beneficial.

Just as she had requested, the rental car was equipped with a GPS. Debbie Sue had told her the client had made a reservation for her at the Blue Mesa Inn. Leaving the rental car parking lot, she stopped at the
YIELD
sign and carefully entered the address of her destination into the computer. She followed the commands dutifully and couldn’t help but think how easy life would be if everyone was equipped with his own personal navigation device. Turn left, don’t turn left, stop ahead, keep going.

In time she found herself at the hotel. She had to laugh at the irony of a satellite in outer space giving her guidance. She had come here to help someone with voices from the
spirit world while relying on an object in space to guide her in the right direction.

The Blue Mesa Inn wasn’t the nicest hotel she had ever seen, but it wasn’t the worst, either. A room had been reserved for her, just as promised. Opening the door and seeing two double beds was a painful reminder that she was truly alone.

D
ebbie Sue pushed her body deep into the tangle of bedsheets. She sighed and moaned, languishing in the pleasure only Buddy and his nimble fingers could provide. He knew the right spots and wasn’t selfish with his time and attention. “I know you’re tired, sweetheart,” she purred, “but would you do that spot again?”

Smiling, Buddy reached for the squatty jar on the bedside table and scooped out a generous glob of soy body whip. He warmed the silky cream between his large palms, then began massaging her right foot again, squeezing and slowly manipulating her ankle.

“Man, after standing on my feet all day, you cannot imagine how good that feels,” she told him.

Buddy chuckled. “I sat on my ass in front of a computer for eight hours today. You willing to return the favor?”

Debbie Sue raised her head and gave him a seductive smile. “Anytime, sugarfoot. I’d rub soy body whip on your bottom anytime.”

“The Eyes of Texas” blared in a staccato beat from Debbie Sue’s cell phone, shattering the tranquility and intimacy of the moment. If the call had come on the house phone, she would’ve gladly let it go to the answering machine, but given the fact that she could count on less than two hands the number of people who had her cell number, she caved and dragged her purse from the bedside table. But not without firing off a string of expletives.

“Humph,” Buddy huffed. “Haven’t heard you use
those
words before. Where’d you learn ’em?”

“I made ’em up.” Debbie Sue plowed through the purse for the phone. Looking at caller ID, she didn’t recognize the number. She frowned and grumbled, “Damn telemarketers. How’d they get my cell number?” She flipped open the phone and slapped it against her ear. “Hello,” she snapped.

Silence. Good. Maybe her abrupt answer had dissuaded the caller. She was in no mood to hear about refinancing her home or signing up for termite inspection or investing in a burial plot.

“Uh, Debbie Sue?”

The hesitant voice wasn’t entirely unfamiliar, but Debbie Sue couldn’t quite place it. “Yeah, who’s this?”

“Uh, uh, this is Sophia Paredes. Did I call at a bad time?”

Oops
. Debbie Sue rolled her eyes. This wasn’t the first time she had jumped to the wrong conclusion. And if the past was a harbinger of the future, it wouldn’t be the last. Glancing at the clock on the bedside table, she said, “Oh, heavensake, no. You just caught me trying to sound tough.”

“You thought I was a telemarketer?” Sophia asked on a small laugh.

Debbie Sue felt her stomach knot up. How did Sophia Paredes know that? “Well, uh, yes. I have a tendency to sound mean when people I don’t know call me at suppertime.”

“I do the same thing,” Sophia said. “I think everyone does. My job as a first-grade schoolteacher can be hard at times, but I wouldn’t be a telemarketer for anything.” Sophia laughed another nervous laugh.

Debbie Sue laughed too, watching Buddy rise from the bed and pad barefooted into the bathroom. He had changed into old jeans and a T-shirt when he came home from work, clothing that showed off his perfect body. Eye candy, for sure. He would hate it if she called him that aloud. She giggled inwardly.

She leaned back against the pillow, returning her attention to the call. “I hope the trip wasn’t too much for your grandmother.”

“Oh, uh, no, not too much at all. She’s resting just fine. Thanks so much for asking.”

An awkward silence. Debbie Sue still wasn’t sure if she was supposed to play the role of hostess or facilitator. Should
she make an attempt toward friendship or just keep things on a business level? She asked a question she would have asked anyone. “Is your room all right? I’m sorry to say I don’t know much about the Blue Mesa Inn.”

“The room is fine. It’s very clean and they offer a complimentary breakfast in the morning.”

Debbie Sue slapped the side of her forehead.
Food
. Of course. The ultimate icebreaker. “I haven’t even asked if you and your grandmother have had supper yet.” She glanced again at the clock on the bedside table. “If your grandmother’s on a special diet, I could recommend—”

“Thanks, but we’re really just fine. I noticed several fast-food places around the hotel. I’ll run out and get something. I only wanted to check in with you and tell you I, uh, we’ve arrived and see what the plan is. Justin is the client’s name?

“Yes. Justin Sadler.”

“I assume Mr. Sadler wants to meet tomorrow and not tonight?”

Mr. Sadler.
Not once since Debbie Sue had met Justin had she thought of him as
Mr. Sadler
. “I told him we’d come out to his place tomorrow morning around ten o’clock, if that’s all right with you. He’s located between Salt Lick and Odessa. Did you rent a car with GPS?”

“Absolutely. I’ve never been in the area before. I don’t think even psychic help could keep me from getting lost. There are so few landmarks.”

“I know. Just lots of blue sky. The GPS will help you get to Salt Lick, but I doubt it’ll find an unmarked country road.
Got some paper handy? You need to write these directions down.”

Debbie Sue spoke slowly, allowing Sophia to write and read back the instructions. “You can’t miss the turnoff. Coming from Odessa, it’ll be on your left. The cattle guard has a rock stanchion on each side. One has an American flag on top of it and the other has a Texas flag. Like I said, you can’t miss it. The house is a ways back from the gate.”

“Super. Will you and Edwina be meeting me, er, us at the gate?”

“We hadn’t planned on it. Do you want us to meet you there?”

“If you don’t mind I’d rather talk to the two of you first…alone.”

Uh-oh
. Why had she added the last word as an afterthought? “Uh, sure, we can do that. Nine thirty?”

“Nine thirty is perfect. See you then.”

Sophia disconnected. Debbie Sue glanced up at Buddy as he re-entered the room.

“You look confused,” he said. “Is something wrong?”

“That was the granddaughter of the woman who’s gonna meet with Justin Sadler. She wants to talk to Edwina and me first. Alone. I’ve got a funny feeling.”

“Really?” He slid toward her atop the bed covers, encircled her in his arms and pulled her close to him. “Maybe you’ve developed ESP yourself.”

Debbie Sue giggled and combed her fingers through his thick black hair. “Maybe I have. For example, right now, I
can’t explain it, but I can tell you what you’re up to.” She pressed her body against his.

“You can?”

“You’re gonna have your way with me, aren’t you?”

“That’s amazing. I thought I was gonna keep rubbing your feet, but now that I think about it, you’re right. You’re just amazing, my sweet girl.” He nuzzled her neck and said softly, “Amazing.”

The gray of dawn lightened Sophia’s hotel room. All night, every one hundred and twenty minutes, she had awakened worrying over what it would mean for her if this Justin Sadler decided to send her packing. She had no contract with him, real or implied. She hadn’t even spoken directly to him. When he discovered she was not her grandmother, he could easily tell her to take a hike.

And if he did, hike was frightfully close to what she would have to do—right back to El Paso. She had no guarantee of the support of the Domestic Equalizers either, once they discovered she was an imposter. She could only hope Mr. Sadler, or someone, would reimburse her the expenses she had incurred to date.

This trip could have a grim outcome, very grim indeed.

She surrendered the fight for sleep. It wasn’t going to happen. She feared if she let herself finally doze, she would sink into the deep sleep she had wished for all night and miss her appointment with the two detectives. The green digital number in the clock radio showed 6:00
A.M
. Close enough
to her meeting time to give in and just get up. Frustrated, she threw back the covers.

With the luxury of extra time and no worry about the cost of utilities, she pressed the down arrow on the air conditioner even further and moved to the shower. A long, warm luxurious shower with complimentary soaps and shampoos was just what she needed.

Twenty minutes later she emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towel. She pawed through her makeup bag and found a bottle of after-shower lotion, then sat on the edge of the bed, slathering the rich cream on her brown arms, legs and feet.

She was lucky, so her girlfriends at home told her repeatedly. She had an effortless year-round tan, courtesy of her father’s genes. Even on the rare occasions when she sunburned, the discomfort was gone the next day and she had an even deeper golden color to her skin. Though her friends told her they envied her, she viewed the ivory-skinned princesses with the same envy.

She put on her underwear, then took a wide-tooth comb to her thick mane. It would be hours drying on its own, but she decided to let it do that. She had forgotten to pack her Sedu hair dryer, an expensive accessory someone with her thick, coarse hair couldn’t afford to be without. The alternate choice was the hotel’s wall-mounted dryer, which would leave her with not only a tired arm for her effort, but hair that expanded in volume to the point of being comical.

Besides jeans, she had brought a blue denim skirt and a
simple white scoop-neck T-shirt with her. The skirt hit just above the knees. Not too short, but short enough to be cooler than long pants. A few swipes and brushes of cosmetics and her makeup was done. She hooked thong sandals between her toes and studied herself in the mirror. A half-Mexican, half-Anglo, demure, non-threatening young woman was what she saw, which was what she strived for, for that was what she was.

Last, she put on her jewelry, something she loved and took great pride in wearing. Gran Bella, in her youth, had acquired wonderful antique sterling-silver pieces from the Mexican mining town of Taxco. Upon Sophia’s graduation from college, Gran Bella had given her the jewelry.

A well-meaning friend, upon hearing Sophia lament the desperate state of her finances, had suggested she sell the jewelry. The Southwest style was high fashion and some of the jewelry pieces were originals signed by the artist. No doubt they would bring a premium price. But Sophia would never sell her grandmother’s jewelry, no matter how desperate things became.

Shiny, hammered silver hoops hung from her earlobes. Two large silver-and-turquoise rings circled the ring fingers of each of her hands, and half a dozen silver bracelets with textures from rough hewn to smooth as glass ringed her left wrist. A silver Virgin Mary dangled from a thread-thin chain of tiny turquoise stones around her neck. The details of the pendant had been worn almost smooth by years of Gran Bella’s fingers rubbing it.

Everything in place, she looked again at the clock on the
bedside table and groaned. Not much more than an hour had passed. She thought she had surely drawn out the morning routine beyond that.

Her room reeked of Mexican spices and onions, thanks to her run to Taco Bell the evening before. The sack of food had met her hunger needs last night and this morning the smell aroused her appetite again. Her thoughts turned to breakfast. She would take advantage of the free meal off the hotel’s tiny lobby. Maybe she would find a newspaper someone had left behind with an unfinished crossword or a sudoku puzzle. She could spend time on that, then she would drive slowly and take in the city of Odessa. And if worse came to worse, she would simply go to the meeting place and wait at the gate for the Domestic Equalizers.

See, querida?
a voice said inside her head.
There is a solution for even the smallest of problems.

Sophia left the hotel room in good spirits. The breakfast was passable, but there was no newspaper. Even driving slowly she figured she could kill maybe half an hour. Accepting that she would just have to arrive early and wait, she again read the directions Debbie Sue had given her and turned the car southwest toward Salt Lick.

Before she knew it the two stanchions with the flags mounted on top came into her sight. The drive on a sunny morning in virtually no traffic had relaxed her and after having little sleep she began to nod. She came to a stop on the side of the road, buzzed down the windows and turned the engine off. She leaned her head against the driver’s seat headrest and drifted to sleep in seconds.

Justin hurried from the convenience store a couple of miles from his house with the coffee filters he had bought in case Debbie Sue and Edwina and the psychic wanted coffee. A tiny white car he didn’t recognize was parked near his gate on the shoulder of the county road.

He could see the silhouette of a person inside.

He came to a stop behind the car, but the person didn’t move. He stepped out of his truck and walked up to the door. The window was open and he saw a woman asleep behind the wheel…And she was young and beautiful.

She appeared to be Hispanic, just what his captain had suggested he seek on the sunny beaches of Mexico. But what was she doing here, parked on the side of the county road? Maybe she had run out of gas, but then why would she be sleeping?

He leaned closer to assure that she was breathing and took a few more seconds to just look at her. Then he stopped himself. What was wrong with him? Less than twenty-four hours ago he had been crying out to his departed wife to reenter his life and make him whole again. This woman being parked here and annoyance at his own thoughts turned his mood to downright surly.

A rapping against her car door and a male voice startled Sophia awake. “Hey, lady? Miss, are you all right? Ma’am?”

Raising her head from its resting spot, Sophia peered at dark sunglasses on the face of a man. Her first impression was that he was handsome. “I’m waiting for someone—”

“Parking here like this is dangerous,” he said sternly.

“What if I’d been a hitchhiker and liked the looks of your, uh…your, uh, car?…Have you been drinking?”

His attitude brought her defenses forward. “Excuse me? You are
not
the law, are you?”

“Indirectly, yeah. I’m a firefighter and EMT.”

“I haven’t broken any laws. I don’t think you have any right to ask me questions.”