Trail of Lies (4 page)

Daniel donned his cowboy hat. “We'll do the best job possible. But we wouldn't be doing that job if we didn't propose a smaller celebration for safety reasons.”

“Son, I was good friends with your father. As you know, he loved this celebration. We'll miss him this year. He was looking forward to the event, had even pushed it before his death last year. He was passionate about anything to do with the Alamo. A true Texan to the core. We're dedicating this to your father and his memory.”

The color leaked from Daniel's tanned features. “I'd heard that.”

Daniel's father had been a big supporter of the Alamo, the committee and San Antonio. He'd given large sums of money to various events to promote the city and state.

Rodney slapped Daniel on the back. “It's going to be okay, son. Nothing has ever happened before.” The older man nodded toward Melora. “If there's anything I can do for you, please let me know. I'm sorry to hear about Axle, but at least now you have some closure.”

A lump formed in her throat. Closure? She didn't know if she ever would. As Rodney ambled toward the elevator, Melora glanced around and noticed the hallway was empty except for them. In Daniel's dark gray eyes she glimpsed a vulnerability that she could identify with. The mention of his father had changed his bearing. For a few seconds his expression reflected pain as Rodney had talked. But also something else? Hurt was something she knew about. That connected them in a way she couldn't afford. She needed to distance herself as far from the police as possible. She didn't want the people watching her to think she was cooperating with the authorities.

Daniel blew a breath out. “Mom is happy about the dedication.”

“But not you?”

“I don't know what I think.” That hurt she'd sensed a few minutes ago inched back into his voice. “Especially if something does go wrong at the celebration.”

“Rodney did spring it on you.”

“Yeah. I'm not big on surprises.”

“Neither am I,” Melora said.

“Would you like some coffee? There's a café downstairs that makes a good cup.”

“I probably need to—”

“Please.”

The appeal in his expression touched her heart. No one was around. If someone was watching the building, they wouldn't know she'd had coffee with Daniel. And she wanted to know if he knew anything about Axle's case. Talking with him in a public place would be better than him coming to the house. From what she knew about Ranger Daniel Riley, their conversation a couple of days ago wouldn't be their last. She got the feeling he would keep visiting her until he got what he was after and that worried her a lot. The intruder's warning about the police resounded in her mind.

“Sure. I have a little time before I need to be home.”

Daniel smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “That's great.”

His expression caused her heartbeat to increase. What would it feel like to have a normal life?

As she stepped up to the elevator, Daniel reached around her and punched the down button. Her stomach clenched at his nearness. A whiff of his fresh aftershave swirled around her. What she knew of him made her wish they'd met under different circumstances. For just a moment, she felt safe in his presence—a feeling she hadn't experienced in years.

They'd once moved in the same social circles, although Daniel hadn't attended many functions in the past five or six years. Rumor had it that he and his father, who died last year, had a falling out about his job in law enforcement. Was that what was behind the hurt and pain in his expression earlier?

The ding of the elevator pulled her away from her thoughts. She needed to keep her wits about her. She couldn't let him know what was going on and risk something happening to her daughter or uncle.

Inside the Java Hut, Melora ordered a chai latte while Daniel got a cup of black coffee. She sat at a table for four and decided it wasn't big enough. He was too close. Too commanding. Too appealing. Those thoughts stunned her. It had to be her exhaustion talking, what with the identification of Axle's body, his funeral, the break-in and new threats.

“Will the Rangers be able to secure the celebration?” she asked after taking a sip of her drink.

“We'll have to. We have no choice now. While the secret service will guard the vice president, our main concern will be the governor and lieutenant governor.” He set his mug on the placemat before him. “I'm glad you're here. I was going to pay you a visit to let you know about the progress on the break-in.”

The mention of the intruder stiffened her spine. She gripped her cup, relishing the warmth on her cold fingers. “You found him?”

“No, but we think Alicia Wells was the one responsible for giving him a key and the code.”

“Not Alicia. She's worked for me since I married Axle six years ago. She's never given me a reason to doubt her loyalty.”

“Well, she's gone. Her bank account was closed two days ago. She deposited several thousand dollars late last week into it. Do you know any reason she would be putting that kind of money into her account? From the looks of her apartment, I didn't get the impression she had a lot of money.”

“She works hard, but she's had some problems with her two kids.”

“Do you know where they live?”

“She told me her son, Nate, was going to move to Dallas. He should have by now. Her daughter lives in San Diego.
She was getting married, and Alicia didn't like the man. She said he was trouble.”

“What's his name? The daughter's?” Daniel pulled out his notepad.

Seeing him write something on the paper, Melora glimpsed the patrons in the café. Two others were in the restaurant and had been there since they had come in. The couple's attention remained on each other. “Pedro something. I don't know his last name. Her daughter is Bella. You think Alicia went to one of her children?”

“Possibly. I need to check everything out.”

“It was just a break-in—nothing taken,” Melora said without thinking, reliving the terror she'd experienced with the intruder on Monday. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. Her breathing became shallow.

“But what if the break-in is tied to your husband's murder?”

“Why? That's what you keep asking. He was killed two years ago.” She had to remain calm and in control or Daniel would know she was hiding something for sure.

“Call it a hunch if you want.”

The ever-present fear boiled in Melora's stomach. How could she get him to drop the investigation? “This past month has been very difficult, and I don't want any more grief. I just want to live in peace.” That last sentence felt wrenched from her as though if she said it enough, it might happen. Peace. She longed for it.

“What if it's connected to Axle's murder and the intruder was looking for something now that your husband has turned up dead?”

“Why would you say that?” As much as she tried, panic laced each word. She knew what the intruder was searching for—the flash drive.

“Because it looks like the intruder went to some lengths
to break into your place. If it was an ordinary robber, why would he possibly pay your maid for your key and code? Wouldn't he just find an easier target?”

Melora was in over her head and she didn't know what to do. These people meant business. How could she say anything to Daniel and keep her family safe? She didn't know where the flash drive was or anything about Axle's business. “You don't know that for sure. Maybe Alicia just decided to live with one of her children, or maybe she's somewhere else. She isn't due at my house until tomorrow. Maybe she'll show up.” Although she knew that wasn't the case. Alicia wouldn't have left without telling her.

Daniel scribbled a note on his paper. When his eyes connected with hers, a storm brewed in their depths. “What are you really afraid of, Melora?”

“S
houldn't I be afraid? Someone murdered my husband. That's not something that happens to most people. I have a daughter to think about. Who knows what they were after or wanted? What will finding my husband's body do to the person who killed him?” That was as close to the truth she would tell Daniel Riley, and she realized by the glimmer that sparked his eyes it had been too much. But she was so tired of doing this alone, and frankly, she didn't know what to do anymore.

He leaned close, his gaze diamond hard. “So you do know something?”

“I didn't say that.” She cradled her mug between her palms and hoped she didn't slosh her chai latte as she brought it to her lips. She sipped, but the tea's warmth did nothing to heat her cold insides.

“If you're in danger, I can help.”

Your presence puts me in danger. What if they think I'm helping you?
“I'm fine. I just want to get back to a normal life with Kaitlyn.” That had to be her total focus. She took another swallow of her latte, then set the mug on the table, keeping her hands around it. “You don't have any clue who broke into my house?”

“Not yet. Alicia is missing. No one has seen her in two
days and some blood was found at her place. It has been confirmed by the lab that it was human.”

Alicia's blood? Was she dead, too?
The thud of Melora's heart echoed through her, drowning out the sounds around her. She saw Daniel's mouth moving, but she didn't hear his words. His concern finally pierced through her veil of disbelief and fear. “She's dead?” she asked in a whisper.

“Don't know. No bodies at the morgue fit her description. I've checked the hospitals, and she hasn't been admitted.”

“But you said her blood was found at her apartment?”

“It was her blood type but not enough to indicate a mortal wound. If it was hers, she didn't bleed out at her place.”

“But she might have somewhere else?” The very thought scared her even more. If she said anything, that could be her blood, her daughter's, Juanita's or her uncle's.

“We don't know, but it doesn't look good. That several thousand dollars she received right before the break-in is definitely a red flag to me. Would her children give her that kind of money?”

Melora shook her head. “They wouldn't have it. They're struggling. She was trying to help them. Not the other way around.” Is that why Alicia might have given someone her key and code?
Oh, Alicia, I would have helped you if you had asked me.
“Do you know anything else?”

“The car the intruder used was stolen. The owner reported it stolen. It doesn't look like he's involved in any way.”

“Have you found the car?”

“No, but it'll probably turn up abandoned somewhere.”

“Is there a chance you can get any evidence from it?”

He shrugged. “It's possible, but the man was wearing gloves, so unless he took them off to drive, it's doubtful
we'll find prints. But why should you care? You said you didn't want to press charges even if we found him.”

“I said I want this to be over with. Besides, nothing was taken, and I didn't see the man's face. I don't see how you could get a conviction.”

“You make that sound like good news.”

The drill of his gaze bore through her. For a few seconds she wanted to tell him everything. But the intruder's threat replayed through her mind and the words stuck in her throat. “I think I'm just trying to be a realist and not get my hopes up,” she finally said.

She needed to get out of here. How did she think she could have a conversation with the Texas Ranger and leave unscathed? He already thought she was lying to him. She wished she knew where the flash drive was hidden. If she found it, she might have a bargaining chip—something she could give to the police and hopefully end this nightmare.

“The Rangers at Company D are dedicated to getting to the truth. Our captain was murdered, too. We take care of our own.” His stare, if it were possible, hardened even more.

Melora swallowed with difficulty, leaving a dryness in her throat. “And I take care of my own.” She shot to her feet. “I need to go. My daughter went to kindergarten today and will be home soon.” Looping her purse strap over her shoulder, she clutched the handbag to her. “Thanks for the latte.”

When she started for the exit, Daniel quickly followed her. The urge to put some distance between them almost overruled her common sense. Running away from him would only send up more red flags.

“Where's your car?” He fell into step next to her.

She scanned the street. Was that man across the street
watching her? When the person in question turned, put some money into a newspaper stand, withdrew the latest edition then entered the building three feet away, she released a long breath. But then she spied another young man lounging against a brick wall, his gaze on her. She hurried her pace. The faster she could get out of here the better off she would be.

A few yards from her silver Lexus, one of her three-inch high heels got caught in a hole in the concrete. She stumbled, flailing her arms to stop herself from falling. Daniel grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her middle to steady her, her back pressed against his chest.

“Okay,” he said against the side of her neck.

His hot breath scorched her flesh, making her vividly aware of the man behind her. She wanted to melt into the safety of his arms. Then she remembered the other man across the street and wrenched herself from his loose embrace, whirling about to face him. “I'm fine. I don't need your help.”

One eyebrow arched. “You don't? I should have let you fall then?”

Yes. You should have stayed inside,
she wanted to shout at him.
What if they're watching? What if they think there's something between us?
Those questions tumbled through her mind. She funneled her trembling fingers through her hair.

His nostrils flared at the sight of her shaking hands. He seized them and moved closer. “I can protect you, Melora. What are you afraid of? What do you know?”

She wanted to believe he could protect her and Kaitlyn—the rest of the people she cared about, but Axle had been so capable of taking care of himself, even had a bodyguard who protected him. And someone had gotten to him. Murdered him. “I'm fine. Good day, Ranger Riley.”

She pivoted toward her car, fumbled in her purse for her keys and then slipped behind the steering wheel. When she switched on her engine, Daniel knocked on her window and motioned for her to roll it down. She wanted to press her foot on the accelerator and speed out of the parking lot, but his hand was on the door handle.

She pressed the button. The window slid down, and she got a whiff of his clean lime scent. “I don't want to be late.”

“Just in case you lost my card, here's another one with my home and cell numbers on the back. Call me any time of the day if you need me or want to talk.” He offered the card to her.

She snatched it and started to roll the window back up but paused. “I do have a question for you. What happened to Axle's bodyguard, Gordon Johnson? When Axle disappeared, he did, too. I never heard from him or saw him again. I mentioned that to the sheriff. They looked for him, but I never heard about him.”

“You think Gordon Johnson killed your husband?”

“It's a possibility. Or…” She shuddered at the other likelihood—that another man was dead besides Axle.

He cocked one corner of his mouth upward, but his eyes remained cold. “Are you throwing me a bone so I won't bother you anymore?”

“I kind of think of you as a pit bull. I don't see you getting swayed by a mere bone. But you deal with that bit of information any way you want. I hadn't thought about Gordon in a while. I figured he left town when the man he was supposed to guard disappeared.”

He straightened and tipped his cowboy hat. “Good day, Melora. I'll be speaking to you soon.”

She rolled the window up and pulled out of the parking space with Daniel watching her drive away. The young
man across the street still leaned against the building, scanning the street, his arms and legs crossed while he smoked a cigarette. As she turned into the flow of traffic, the young man grinned. A grin that reached into her chest and squeezed her heart in terror.

 

Later that evening Melora stood in the entrance to Axle's office, surveying the territory that he'd made clear she wasn't to disturb. Was the information in here somewhere? She looked right after the first break-in but found nothing. Although those first intruders had told her that Axle was dead, she hadn't done anything to the office in case the men had been wrong. For months after that, she'd imagined Axle showing up one day, wanting to reclaim everything.

Now she needed to do something with the office. Box up the items. Get them out of her house. Erase Axle's presence from her life.

“Mommy, where are you?”

Melora backed into the hallway. “I'm here in your daddy's office.”

Kaitlyn's footsteps pattered on the tile as she ran from the kitchen and across the wide foyer. She skidded to a stop, frowning. “I can't find Patches. I've looked everywhere.”

“All his hiding places?”

Her daughter nodded.

“Maybe he's still outside.” They had a small pet door he used when he wanted to go out, but usually he stayed in the house. “Sometimes he likes to go exploring in the neighborhood.”

“It's dinnertime. He never misses that.”

Melora checked her watch, surprised that it was already six o'clock. “It's later than I thought.” She spent the afternoon thinking about Daniel and the man across the street watching her. She couldn't shake the grin of malice she'd
glimpsed from the young man nor the warm feel of Daniel's hands on her.

“Mommy, we have to find Patches. He'll be hungry.”

Melora settled her hand on Kaitlyn's shoulder. “Honey, he'll come home when he's hungry enough. Leave the food. We'll see him shortly, I'm sure.” In all the time they'd had the cat, he'd always found his way home. He was probably in the backyard stalking a bird or squirrel. Thankfully, she'd never seen him catch one.

“Let's go see when dinner is going to be tonight. Remember Uncle Tyler is coming over to eat with us?”

“Oh, good. I can show him my new book. Maybe he'll read it to me.” Kaitlyn took Melora's hand and tugged her toward the kitchen.

Stepping into the room, Melora drew in a deep breath. The prime rib smelled wonderful. Coupled with the aroma of Juanita's delicious homemade biscuits, Melora's taste buds were actually tempted, something that hadn't happened in weeks—ever since the body had been found.

“When will Señor Madison be here?” Juanita turned the stove on to steam her vegetables.

“Any minute. Can you hold dinner for a while? I want to talk to him before we eat.”

The doorbell chimed. Kaitlyn whirled about and yelled as she raced toward the foyer, “I'll get it.”

“Wait, honey, let—” But her daughter was at the door, thrusting it open before Melora could finish her sentence. “You're
finally
here.” Kaitlyn launched herself into her great uncle's arms.

Melora slowed her pace when she heard her uncle greet Kaitlyn, but she would have to talk with her daughter about opening the door like that. What if that hadn't been Uncle
Tyler but that man watching her earlier? He could have snatched…

“Good evening, Melora.”

She blinked, suddenly realizing her uncle was standing in front of her, holding her daughter in his arms. The sight of him brought relief to her. She was safe with him here this evening. But she knew that feeling would only be fleeting. After all he'd done for her, taking her in and raising her, she wouldn't endanger his life.

“Kaitlyn, Juanita could use some help with the dessert. Can you give her a hand? There'll be time later to talk to Uncle Tyler.”

Her uncle placed her daughter on the floor. “Don't forget I get to read that new book to you tonight before you go to bed.”

Kaitlyn raced for the kitchen, saying, “I won't.”

The second she was gone her uncle's sharp gaze zeroed in on Melora. “What's wrong? Still not sleeping?”

She shook her head. “So much has been happening with Axle's funeral, the reading of the will, the…” A knot formed in her throat. Tears jammed behind it.

Cradling her hands between his, Uncle Tyler moved close. “I'm here for you. What do you need?”

Moisture misted her eyes. “I need to get rid of Axle's things. I want to sell the restaurant chain, too. Can you help me?”

“Of course, but are you sure you want to get rid of the business? It's making good money.”

She didn't want to tell her uncle the reason why she needed to sell the restaurants. She didn't want to drag him into anything that could be dangerous. “I need to invest the money, with your help, in something I can understand. I don't know the first thing about running a chain like Axle's.”

“You don't have to. That's why I hired William Thompson to run the business for you.”

She drew herself up straighter, to stress she wasn't going to let Uncle Tyler talk her into anything she knew she shouldn't do. “I want to be able to comprehend what's going on. Weren't you the one who said know what you're getting into before you take the plunge?”

He laughed. “Yeah, but that was the time you dove into the lake from the bluff. You could have hurt yourself if it hadn't been deep enough or there had been rocks under the water.”

“The same principle applies.” She hooked her arm through his and headed for Axle's office.

At the door, Uncle Tyler stopped and angled toward her. “Look, I can buy the restaurant chain from you. It would be a good investment for me.”