Tracking Game

by Margaret Mizushima

  For the first time, Kasey squirmed before answering. Was that a tell that she had been lying? Or was she about to?

  “I’ll look,” Kasey said. “As you know, our office is a mess. I’ll see what I can find.”

  “Thank you,” McCoy said. “Was there any other debt owed that we should know about?”

  Kasey looked at him. “Not really.”

  Stella leaned forward, subtly shifting Kasey’s attention from McCoy to her. “Maybe a loan from your parents?”

  Kasey looked startled, and Mattie could tell Stella had dropped a bomb. She could read Kasey’s mind: How do they know about that?

  “Well … we owe Mom and Dad some money, but they won’t press me for it.”

  But Nate’s parents had indicated otherwise, making Mattie want to push for more. “They don’t need to be paid back?”

  Kasey shifted in her seat as she turned toward Mattie. “Well, eventually maybe, but they know I can’t pay them now.”

  Mattie pushed a bit more. Unlike Sheriff McCoy, she didn’t mind being the prickly one. “So you’ll pay when the insurance money comes in?”

  Kasey’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly, the only indication of her annoyance. “Yes, probably then.”

  “Speaking of your parents,” Stella said, taking the conversation in a different direction, “do they have plans to sell the ranch?”

  “Oh, gosh no,” Kasey said, looking relieved to turn away from Mattie and back to Stella.

  “It’s just that we found blueprints to the ranch in Wilson Nichol’s car.”

  “They plan to pass the ranch down to us kids. Why would Wilson have blueprints to our place in his car?”

  “We’d like to know the answer to that, too,” Stella said. “So there’s three of you kids, and one ranch. Do any of you kids want to sell the place?”

  “We love that place. It’s where we grew up. It’s our heritage. Selling it isn’t in the picture.” Kasey’s expression appeared sincere.

  Mattie decided to slip in again with a follow-up question. “How about Tyler? Does he feel that way, too?”

  When Kasey turned toward her, Mattie caught a glimpse of irritation on her face. “As far as I know.”

  “And can a ranch like that support four families in the future, when in the past it only needed to support one?”

  That appeared to strike a chord. Kasey straightened and didn’t try to hide her exasperation. “We’ll figure it out. That’s why Nate and I started our own business.”

  “Yes,” McCoy said, “and it underscores the importance of the fishing trip. Where is Tyler now with that party? Where do you camp?”

  Prior to the interview, they’d decided not to mention wildlife trafficking and their suspicions of a tiger hunt. If Kasey was involved, she could tip off Tyler, ruining any chance for surprising the hunting party.

  “I don’t know where they’ve camped this time,” Kasey said. “It’s summer, so they’re going to a higher elevation than usual. Tyler even talked about riding the peaks above the BLM, just to give our customers a taste of the wilderness area. They could be anywhere.”

  “One last thing, Kasey,” Stella said. “Have you thought of anything at all that might help us with our investigation of Nate’s death or the death of Wilson Nichol?”

  Kasey sat with her head lowered for a moment before swiping a tear from her cheek and looking up. From Mattie’s viewpoint, it appeared she was looking back and forth to take in both Stella and the sheriff. “I’ve racked my brain, but I can’t think of anything that might help. I promise to call you if I do.”

  “Good,” Stella said. “Could you open your cell phone to settings and show me its number, Kasey?”

  Her eyebrows arched, surprised. “I can tell you my number.”

  “I’d like to see it, please.”

  Kasey’s mouth puckered slightly as if in distaste, but she fished her cell phone from her handbag, made the swipes, and handed it to Stella. Stella read the number aloud as she jotted it down—probably for Mattie’s sake as well as the recording—and handed it back.

  The number did not match the last one called to Wilson’s cell phone prior to his death.

  “Sheriff?” Stella said, turning to him. “Anything else?”

  “That will do for now, Kasey,” he said, pushing back his chair to stand. “Please give my regards to your parents.”

  McCoy escorted Kasey to the lobby, while Mattie and Stella sat looking at each other.

  “She looked like she was lying when we asked her about Nate’s trips to California,” Mattie said.

  “Oh, yeah. She knows more about this trafficking thing than she’s saying.”

  Mattie paused a moment to think. “But what about the murders? So far the evidence just doesn’t support her as the shooter.”

  Sheriff McCoy entered the room as Mattie spoke. “All our evidence points to a male shooter, but I wouldn’t cross Kasey off the list for conspiracy yet.”

  “I’ll look for connections tomorrow when I search Wilson’s office and home,” Stella said. “Maybe his receptionist can give me information about who’s been to his office and who might have stolen his revolver. We have to keep digging for some hard evidence before we can make any arrests.”

  “We’ll keep at it.” McCoy looked at Mattie. “Now go home and get some sleep. You and Deputy Brody have an early start in the morning to go track down a tiger. You might even lead us to solving this thing.”

  Mattie was going on thirty-six hours with very little sleep, and she figured Sheriff McCoy could see it. But before she went to bed tonight, she needed to talk things over with Cole. Much as she hated conflict and intimate conversation, her peace of mind—and a good night’s sleep—depended on going through with it.

  Her duty as a law enforcement officer required it.

  TWENTY-TWO

  Out on the back patio, Cole opened the grill to flip burgers and glanced at Sophie, sitting at the picnic table with her sketch pad and crayons. She seemed much happier than she’d been yesterday, settled back into home life and no longer tearful. The resilience of childhood.

  After closing the grill, he went to peer over her shoulder. “What are you drawing, Sophie-bug?”

  “Flowers.” She showed him a picture of a florist’s bouquet she’d pulled up on her tablet, which she was trying to duplicate on her sketch pad—sort of a technological still life. “I’m making a picture for Mom. I hope she’ll like it.”

  Okay then, so she hadn’t moved on quite yet. “I’m sure she will. You’re doing a great job.”

  He went back into the kitchen to finish the salad he’d started, enjoying the solitude after such a hectic day. Angela was up in her room and Jessie had decided to eat supper with their parents so he could have time alone with his kids. Tomorrow Jessie planned to take the girls out to the ranch to visit their grandparents in the afternoon and then spend the night. It would work out great, since he planned to leave home before sunrise to try to track down that tiger.

  A tiger … it was still hard to wrap his head around. And to think, Mattie had been in the forest within yards of it while it was protecting its meal. The thought made him shudder.

  Someone needed to capture this animal, and despite misgivings about leaving his kids alone for the whole day, he knew he was the person to help do it. His kids would be with family and well taken care of. Jessie and his parents would be a great distraction for them, and his dad planned to take them all horseback riding. Angela and Sophie always loved that.

  His cell phone was on its charger on the kitchen counter, and he glanced at it to see if he’d missed a call or a text from Mattie. Before he’d left the station earlier, she’d promised to call when she got off work, and he couldn’t spend another sleepless night without talking things over with her. But no message had come in while he’d been outside.

  Cole washed and chopped a stalk of celery, thinking how confusing relationships could be. He felt like he’d contributed to his ex-wife’s depression an
d ultimately driven her away because he’d spent so much time at work and lost touch with her. And yet he feared he’d said too much to Mattie last night. Too much, or he’d chosen the wrong moment.

  Sometimes he couldn’t win for losing.

  He remembered the days—not quite twenty years ago—when things got serious with Olivia. He’d been a young buck then, driven by hormones, but falling in love was different this time around. Sure, he wanted a physical relationship with Mattie, but that type of intimacy was something he would never push on her. In fact, knowing what he did about her childhood, the thought of it made him kind of nervous. And it made him worry—could he give her the happiness in life that she deserved?

  Angie drifted into the kitchen, saving him from his thoughts. “Hey, Dad,” she said, going to the cutting board to snag a baby carrot. “Do you need some help with dinner?”

  “I do. You’d be an Angel if you finished this salad.” He grinned, extending the knife handle toward her with a flourish.

  Angie grimaced as she took it. “Sometimes you’re so ridiculous.”

  “That hurts,” he said, tapping his chest over his heart. “I’ll go check those burgers and be right back.”

  He grabbed a plate on his way out the door, checked the burgers to find them fully cooked, and moved them off the grill. “Dinner’s ready, Sophie. We’ll eat out here on the picnic table, but come inside to fix your plate.”

  Sophie banged the storm door behind her as she followed him into the kitchen, smeared ketchup on her burger, grabbed salad and chips, and hurried back outside, evidently eager to get back to her drawing. Cole and Angie filled their plates at a more sedate pace.

  After turning the assembly of burger, bun, and toppings into a delicate art form, Angie lifted her plate and headed for the door. “You coming, Dad?”

  “I’m right behind you.” He went to the counter to take his phone with him, but it rang just as he got there. He checked caller ID. “This is Aunt Jessie,” he said to Angie. “Just a minute, I’ll be right out.”

  “City zoo,” he said, connecting the call.

  “Ha-ha, that’s so funny I forgot to laugh. Some things never change,” she said, a smile in her voice. “I’m just calling to tell you I’m going for drinks with Ginger and won’t be home until late.”

  Ginger was one of Jessie’s high school friends who still lived in town. “Did you already have supper?”

  “Sure did. Mom had it on the table by six sharp. You?”

  “Just about to eat.”

  “Ah … it’s getting late,” Jessie said. “I should’ve made you guys something before I left.”

  “Not at all. The kids and I made burgers. Have a good time.”

  “I will.” Jessie paused. “Cole, I need to ask you something.”

  Oh boy, now what? “Okay.”

  “Are you in love with Mattie?”

  He wasn’t expecting that. He looked over his shoulder to see if either of the girls had come back inside, but he was still alone. “That’s kind of a personal question, don’t you think?”

  “Yes, but it’s necessary. The consensus out on the ranch is that you are.”

  “What? You’ve been talking about me with Mom and Dad?”

  “There’s not much else we have to talk about.”

  “You could talk about your work, the kids, your own love life.”

  Jessie scoffed. “Yeah, like that even exists. Oh never mind, I already know the answer. Just so you know, Dad’s all for it, but Mom doesn’t like the idea of you getting married to a cop.”

  “She didn’t like the idea of me being married to a housewife either,” Cole said, before doing a double take. “Wait a minute. You guys have us married now?”

  “You’re the marrying type, Cole. And I guess the whole town is buzzing about you two. I’ll have to see what Ginger has to say.”

  There was no way to reply to that.

  But Jessie wasn’t done yet. “What do the girls think?”

  “The girls haven’t mentioned it. I don’t think they know.”

  “Don’t be so sure. Especially with Angela. She’s not a kid anymore, and she’s probably completely aware of what’s going on. You should talk to them about it.”

  “Jessie! Look, this isn’t your business, but maybe Mattie and I aren’t totally clear about what’s going on yet ourselves. Besides, now isn’t the time to bring this up with the kids.”

  “Of course not now,” Jessie said, using a tone reminiscent of their mother’s. “I’m just saying you should address it soon. Don’t let things go on forever. That’s all I’m saying.”

  “You sound like Mom, Jessie. Look, I’ve got to go. The kids are outside waiting for me.”

  Cole stuffed his cell phone into his pocket and headed outside, muttering to himself, “Sheesh.” He knew he had to talk to his kids about Mattie, but he had no idea what to say. Or when. Especially now.

  For Pete’s sake, things were getting complicated.

  The girls had a head start on him and were just finishing up when his cell phone rang again. This time caller ID surprised him. It was Olivia, and she’d never initiated a call before; he was the one who always had to chase her down.

  Hoping she was all right, he hurried to connect the call. “Hi, Liv.”

  “Cole.” Her voice sounded stronger than when he’d talked to her yesterday. “I’ve been worried about the girls. How are they?”

  He decided it was a good sign—she was reaching out about the kids and not just about herself. “They’re doing all right. Getting back into their routine.”

  Both girls were frozen in place, examining him closely. He put his game face on and gave them a slight smile that said, All is well. Holding up a hand, he mouthed, “I’ll be right back,” and rose to go into the house. As he closed the storm door, he looked over his shoulder to see that neither of them looked very happy—Sophie looked sad and Angie was scowling—but it couldn’t be helped. He had no idea how this conversation was going to go, and he didn’t want the girls privy to it if it headed south.

  “I hate to wait too long to schedule the visit you mentioned,” Olivia was saying. “I think it would be best to see the girls again soon.”

  “That sounds fine, Liv.” As long as he could convince Angie to cooperate, but he’d cross that bridge when he came to it. “Do you feel up to it?”

  “I will.” She sighed. “I got overwhelmed, Cole. I’ve been thinking of what you said about small steps.”

  Small steps, that’s what Mattie had told him. “And?”

  “I’d like to start talking to the kids on the phone, if that’s all right. If it doesn’t upset them, I mean.”

  Cole could see Sophie watching him through the glass door. “I think that would be good. We could try it and see.”

  “And when you bring the kids here, maybe we could go to the Museum of Natural History. It’s got something of interest for everyone. And … and could you come with us, too?”

  She was tiptoeing along, and he felt how hard this was for her. He appreciated her effort. “Sure. Sounds like fun, and I’ve got nothing else to do in Denver to pass the time. When shall we do this?”

  “Is two weeks all right, on Saturday?”

  He glanced at the calendar. “Looks like we could do it then.”

  “Thanks, Cole.” She sounded relieved. “I really want to make this work.”

  “Me too. The kids do, too.”

  She drew in a deep breath and released it, and he could tell this call had taken a lot out of her. “Do you think the kids would talk to me now?”

  He had no doubt their younger daughter would want to, but he’d have to work on the older. “Let me give the phone to Sophie; she’s right outside at the picnic table. Then I’ll see what Angie’s up to.”

  “She might not want to talk to me, huh? She was pretty angry when she left.”

  Olivia wasn’t born yesterday; she knew the score. “Let me talk to her while you visit with Sophie. I’m sure she’ll co
me around, but she might need more of a cooling-off period.”

  “Okay.” Olivia hesitated. “You’re a good dad, Cole.”

  She must be feeling charitable this evening, and it was in the kids’ best interest for him to respond in kind. “I try to be. I’ve always thought you were a good mom, Liv. You’ll get back in the swing of things. Just give it time.”

  “Thank you,” she said in a hushed voice.

  “Are you ready for Sophie now?”

  Another deep breath. “I am.”

  Cole went outside, placing his thumb over the speaker on his phone. The kids were watching his every step. “You guys know this is your mom. She wants to talk to you.”

  Sophie leapt to her feet and reached for the phone. “Mommy!” she said into the speaker, sounding years younger than her nine-year-old self. But Angela was still frowning. Cole gestured for her to follow him inside, leaving Sophie alone on the deck, happily talking to her mother. “Mom wants to talk to you, too.”

  Angie was shaking her head.

  “I’m not gonna force you, Angela, but I want you to reconsider. This is the very first time your mom has reached out to you girls, and it took a lot for her to do it.”

  Angie looked sulky. “She gets to talk to Sophie.”

  “You’re being stubborn.” Cole struggled to maintain an even keel. “We’ve discussed what your mom’s dealing with. You’re not a child anymore, and I know you must understand. It will hurt if you walk away. Not just your mom—it’ll hurt all of us. Even you. Maybe especially you.”

  Angie’s face clouded, her eyes misty.

  “Your mother’s sorry for what happened, and she couldn’t help it when it did. You need to forgive her and move on. She loves you, and if you’re honest with yourself, you know you love her, too.”