Before Sunrise

by Diana Palmer

Bennett got to his feet, looking oddly guilty. “Cortez, isn’t it?” he blurted out, extending his hand. It was cold and clammy when Cortez shook it. “Uh, how are you progressing on the case?”

  “We’ve got a new dead body,” Cortez replied. The blond woman, he noted, still sat in her chair, twisting her purse in her well-manicured hands.

  “Another…one?” Bennett exclaimed.

  “Yes. We found him in a cave with a number of artifacts which we believe are stolen property. I’ve got a member of my unit checking them out now,” Cortez said carefully.

  “It’s Thanksgiving,” Bennett laughed. “You’ll never get anybody to work today.”

  “I’ve already had a team checking and collecting forensic evidence at the primary crime scene,” Cortez said. “In fact, we had an anthropologist at the scene.”

  “Where did you get one of those on a holiday?” Bennett wanted to know.

  “She’s curator at the local museum,” he was told.

  The blond woman stifled a gasp.

  “In fact,” Cortez added slowly, “I’ve just come from her house. She made Thanksgiving dinner for us.”

  “You think the dead man might have stolen the artifacts?” Bennett asked.

  “Anybody’s guess, until the forensics are processed.”

  “What sort of artifacts?” the blond woman asked with deliberate carelessness.

  Cortez, who was a veteran of interrogation, noted that the woman was unusually nervous and that she wouldn’t meet his eyes. “There was a Neanderthal skeleton, for one thing,” he said. “And an effigy figure very much like the one in Phoebe Keller’s museum.” He hesitated. “You’re Bennett’s sister, aren’t you?”

  “That’s right,” Bennett confirmed. “This is Claudia Bennett…my sister. And Walks Far’s wife,” he added with visible reluctance. He noticed that Cortez didn’t seem surprised by the information. The man was in law enforcement, after all. It wouldn’t take much digging to turn up Walks Far’s criminal past, and his marriage to Claudia. He was suddenly recalling with anguish that he’d told Cortez earlier that he didn’t know much about Walks Far. Yet the man was married to his sister. He hadn’t mentioned that, either.

  “Yes,” Claudia replied at once. “My husband was attacked. Have there been any arrests so far?” she added with belligerence.

  “I don’t work assault cases,” Cortez told her. “My assignment is a murder on an Indian reservation. I’m assigned to the FBI’s new Indian Country Crime Unit. We assist in homicides and federal crimes on various reservations. We also teach local law enforcement how to use the latest investigative techniques.”

  Claudia swallowed, hard. “So that’s why the FBI was called in,” she said uneasily. “But they said the murder victim was on a dirt road just outside town!”

  “The reservation sign was knocked over. We’re speculating that the murderer dumped the anthropologist’s body after dark and didn’t realize where he was.”

  “Oh. I see.” She gave Cortez a cautious scrutiny. “There was an effigy figure, you said?”

  “Yes.” He pursed his lips. “Miss Keller had an odd visitor last week who mentioned the theft of similar relics at a museum in New York. She said she’d recognize not only the art dealer who sold her the effigy figure, but the woman who came to the museum later under a false identity.”

  “Would she?” The woman’s face paled. Her fingers clenched on her purse. “You mentioned an…art dealer?” she faltered.

  “A bogus one,” Cortez added. “We checked him out. He even hired on at one of the local construction sites. Maybe he was trying to keep an eye on his stash until he could find buyers for it. Now we’re looking for a black SUV which we speculate was used to move the first murder victim to another site.” He paused, eyeing both of them as they grew paler by the minute. His plan was working. By revealing what he knew about the case, they were shaking in their boots…just like he’d expected. Claudia was paler. “Now we have a second murder victim. Trace evidence links Walks Far to him.”

  Bennett looked as anxious as his sister. “But Walks Far is unconscious,” he pointed out. “He was a victim himself. He couldn’t have killed anyone!”

  “I didn’t say that he did,” Cortez replied.

  “The second murder victim, was it a man or a woman?” Bennett’s sister asked.

  “A man.”

  “Do you know who he is?” she persisted.

  He shook his head. “He’ll have to be identified through fingerprints and/or dental records,” he replied. “His face is missing. He was shot in the back of the head.”

  Bennett looked sick. His sister looked like she was going to faint.

  Cortez’s eyes narrowed. “If either of you know anything about this case, things will go better for you if you tell me now.”

  They looked at each other. Bennett’s sister composed herself and smiled vacantly. “What in the world would we know about murder?” she asked simply. She moved to her unconscious husband’s bedside and took his big hand in hers. “I hope you can find the person who did this to my husband,” she added. “I’m so glad he’s going to be all right!” She sniffed and wiped at her eyes. They were dry as bone, Cortez noticed.

  “We’ll certainly let you know if we can think of anything that will help the case,” Bennett said firmly. “Meanwhile, if you need anything, anything at all…”

  Cortez played his hole card. He wouldn’t have dared except he knew that Phoebe would be at the motel with Tina and perfectly safe from reprisals.

  “I want to talk with Miss Keller again, at her house. She spoke to the first murder victim. She said she’d remembered something about the art dealer that could help us. She also saw a black SUV at the end of her driveway, which we think is involved with the murders. She’ll be a material witness.”

  Bennett’s sister’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t say anything. She turned back to her husband and made a production of straightening the sheet over his broad chest.

  “Anything I can do, let me know,” Bennett repeated, forcing a smile.

  “I’ll do that,” Cortez told him. “But under the circumstances, I’m sure you’ll understand that I’m going to place a man here to keep watch over Walks Far. Until I find someone better, he’s a prime suspect in this case,” he added curtly, watching their reactions closely. Bennett looked worried. Claudia actually relaxed. Now he knew he was on to something.

  He went out to his car, feeling smug. He’d stake out Phoebe’s cabin, and with any luck at all, the perpetrator—or perpetrators—might fall right into his lap. He was certain that the Bennetts knew more than they wanted to tell him. Claudia Bennett might very well know who the killer was. Or Bennett might. And there was that matter of the blond hair they’d found on the body…He was going to keep an eye on both of them.

  PHOEBE FINISHED putting up the rest of dinner and then washed dishes, with Drake’s help. She was trying to be cheerful, but she had a bad feeling about Tina’s attitude. The woman had become an enemy for no reason that Phoebe could discern. Unless, Tina was really very distantly related to Cortez and she’d realized that she wanted him instead of Drake. Perhaps she saw Phoebe as a rival and meant to cut her out.

  It was a disturbing thought. Tina was young and pretty, but she was also Comanche. That would give her a definite edge with Cortez, especially if all he felt for Phoebe was physical.

  “We’d better get moving,” Drake reminded her. “I have to drop you off and get into my uniform. I go on duty pretty soon.”

  “I’ll just get my jacket and purse, and I’m ready,” she said with forced cheerfulness.

  She locked up and they rode back into town together in a pleasant silence.

  He pulled up in front of Tina’s motel room and cut off the engine, turning to Phoebe with one arm across the back of her seat.

  “If you get a chance, try to find out why Tina’s mad at me, could you?” Drake asked her quietly. “I’d like to know what I’ve done to upset her.”

 
; She smiled at him. “I’ll do what I can.”

  He touched her hair gently. “You’re a nice woman, Phoebe Keller,” he said quietly. He bent and kissed her forehead. “If you weren’t hung up on the FBI guy, I’d be in there swinging to get a chance with you.”

  “You’re a nice man,” she replied. “But it’s been Cortez for three years. I suppose he’s a habit I can’t break.”

  “Just my luck,” he said, chuckling. “Well, we’d better get out before we start more gossip. I see the curtains moving.” He indicated the room Tina was staying in.

  Phoebe got out and knocked at the door. Tina let her in, but she looked angry. Joseph was lying on the second of the two double beds, sound asleep. Tina’s eyes were red and swollen. She’d seen that tender kiss, and she was devastated.

  “It was a great dinner, Phoebe,” Drake said at the doorway, smiling at her. “Thanks.”

  “You’re very welcome.”

  “You went to a lot of trouble,” Drake added, staring pointedly at Tina. “But I’m the only person who even had the manners to say thanks.”

  Tina glared at him. “I don’t need lessons in courtesy from you!”

  His eyebrows arched. “Did I say you did?”

  “I need to find my suitcase,” Phoebe murmured, looking around. “I’ve got some notes in it about that art dealer…” She hesitated when she saw all her things piled in a heap on the floor, including her clothes that had been hanging in the closet and all her toiletries. Her suitcase was there, too, askew.

  “This room is way too small for two grown women and a baby,” Tina muttered, without looking at Phoebe. “I’m going to ask Jeremiah to get another room for you. It’s too crowded in here.”

  Phoebe felt sick at the anger in Tina’s dark eyes. She flushed, feeling like an intruder. It was obvious that she wasn’t wanted here. She thought of her own little cabin, with her own things around her. At least she wouldn’t have to put up with this sort of treatment on her own. Apparently Tina really was crazy about Cortez and furious at the competition. Maybe Cortez felt the same way. Well, Phoebe wasn’t going to be used for a scapegoat.

  She knelt by her things. “Drake, would you help me carry these out to the car, please? Then I’ll get you to drop me by the museum to pick up my car.”

  Tina was remembering what Jeremiah had said about Phoebe being a potential target. It was why she was at the motel in the first place. Jealousy wasn’t enough of an excuse to risk the older woman’s life.

  “Listen, I didn’t…I didn’t mean that,” Tina said slowly.

  Phoebe didn’t look at her. She was quick and efficient. In a matter of minutes she transferred all her things to Drake’s car and climbed into the passenger seat.

  Drake glared at Tina. “Tell Cortez I’ll take care of her,” he said coldly. “She’ll be safer with me than she is with you, and that’s a fact, you heartless little brat!”

  He turned on his heel and went back to the car.

  Tina ran outside to the passenger side, her face frantic. “Phoebe, don’t go,” she began.

  Phoebe looked at her with furious blue eyes. “I’m going home. I’ve had it with you and your so-called cousin and your mood swings! I’ve got a pistol and I know how to shoot it. You tell Cortez I’ll take care of myself.” She glanced at Drake who was just getting in the car. “Let’s go,” she said curtly, snapping her seat belt into place.

  Tina was still calling to her when they drove away. Phoebe didn’t even glance her way. She didn’t want Tina to see how hurt she was.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  DRAKE PROTESTED all the way to the museum, but Phoebe was upset and refused to listen. She took out her car keys, unlocked her vehicle, and transferred her belongings to it in a tense silence.

  “This is nuts!” Drake fumed, waving his arms. “It’s getting dark. And it’s still threatening to snow! You can’t stay out there all alone with a murderer running loose. He’s already killed two people, Phoebe!”

  “You taught me to shoot a pistol,” she pointed out. “I can protect myself.”

  “Well, I can’t,” he bit off. “Cortez will skin me alive if anything happens to you! And Tina won’t survive me by five minutes!”

  “Something’s going on between him and Tina,” she said coldly. “And it’s obvious that she’s possessive of him,” she added. “They can’t be really related, or she wouldn’t be so anxious to get rid of me. Maybe he’s having second thoughts, too. He hardly spoke to me.”

  Drake grimaced. “Listen, I agree something’s going on here that we don’t understand. But it’s not worth your life.”

  She looked up at him. “I’ll be okay.”

  He drew in a long breath. He reached into his billfold and took out a card. “This is my number at work. You call and they’ll call me. I can have somebody at your place in minutes.”

  She smiled. “You’re a nice man. I really mean that.”

  “You just be careful. I don’t like the idea of your being out there alone. You could get a room at the motel…”

  “I don’t want to be anywhere near Tina or Jeremiah right now, thanks,” she bit off.

  “Look, maybe we could call Alice. She can shoot, too…”

  “Oh, no, you don’t. I’m not having Alice and her microscope in my house.” She laughed. “Anyway, I expect to get a good night’s sleep. I’m working tomorrow, myself. We have a tour group coming in from Highlands, elderly Floridians on a holiday.”

  “They may get snowed in on the way.”

  “There are scrapers and sand trucks standing by, even this early in the season,” she reminded him. “Thanks again, Drake.” She opened the door.

  “What do I tell Cortez when he comes after me with a skinning knife?” he wondered miserably.

  “Tell him I held a gun on you and forced my way out of your car.”

  He shook his head. He had a bad feeling as he watched her drive away. On a whim, he took out his cell phone and tried to call Cortez. But the man must be in a dead spot, or had his phone turned off. He couldn’t reach him and his voice mail wasn’t working either. Defeatedly, he got into his own car and went toward his apartment to change for work.

  But the minute he got into his uniform, he drove to the sheriff’s office to have a word with his boss.

  PHOEBE DROVE UP at her cabin, carefully checking around before she even opened the door. She wondered if the killer was going to be after her next, but even danger was preferable to any more of Tina’s cold shoulder.

  The first thing she did, after locking all the doors and checking the windows, was to strip her bed and throw all the linen into the washing machine. She hated her bedroom for the memories that haunted her now.

  It was crazy. She and Cortez had been closer than she’d ever dreamed they would be one day, yet in a matter of hours they were enemies. He’d said he cared about her, or at least he’d made her believe he did. But why was Tina so antagonistic? Tina had been going around with Drake and Marie had even seen a hot kiss between them. So why was Tina suddenly drawn to her cousin Cortez and treating Drake like dirt? Could Drake be right? Was Tina not closely related to Cortez, and now she decided that she wanted him? It was a puzzle she couldn’t quite solve.

  Her heart was breaking. Three years ago it hadn’t been quite this bad, because she and Cortez hadn’t been intimate. Her memories tormented her. Worst of all of them was Cortez walking away from her without a single word or a backward glance.

  She went into the living room and turned on the television just as the phone rang. She went to answer it, hoping it would be Cortez with an explanation.

  “It’s Drake,” came the immediate reply. “I’ve just spoken with my boss. I’m going to sleep on your sofa at night and work during the day when you’re at the museum,” he said firmly. “The sheriff and I agree that you’re going to be the person most at risk with a murderer on the loose. He’s agreed to change my schedule so that I can look out for you.”

  “That’s very kind of you
both, Drake,” she said, and meant it. Now she wouldn’t have to go back to the motel, which Cortez would certainly have tried to make her do. His sense of responsibility was enormous, even if he was full of regrets for becoming intimate with her.

  “Since we’re both out of favor with our respective partners,” he murmured dryly, “I figure we can look out for each other.”

  She smiled. “That suits me. I have a guest room that you can use. Thanks, Drake.”

  “What are friends for?” he replied. “I’ll see you about seven,” he added.

  “I’ll fix the guest room for you.”

  She hung up and went to work.

  CORTEZ DIDN’T LIKE THE LOOK of Bennett’s sister, or her wide-eyed innocent appearance. Why had Bennett hidden her relationship to Walks Far? And who had attacked Walks Far? Was there yet another person involved in the murders? Did Claudia Bennett know who it was?

  There were a lot of unanswered questions here. The anthropologist who’d found the Neanderthal skeleton was dead. So was another, unidentified man. Was Walks Far involved in some museum theft, and the loot in that cave? Or had Walks Far discovered the man with the loot in the cave and someone had knocked him out and killed the other man? But why take Walks Far back to the work trailer—why not kill him? Surely he would be a material witness against the perpetrator. On the other hand, who was the other man? What was his connection to the hidden relics?

  It was going to take a lot of forensic work to answer those questions, and meanwhile, Phoebe would be in more danger than ever before. He’d already asked the local police department to assign a man to keep watch outside Walks Far’s room, to insure that nothing happened to him until he could be questioned. He’d keep Phoebe close at the motel, where she’d be out of danger.

  Phoebe. He was still fuming about her little tête-à-tête with Drake at her house. The two of them were too cozy. He didn’t like it. Neither did Tina, who was obviously jealous of Phoebe over Drake. It wasn’t going to be a pleasant evening.

  He pulled up in front of the motel. Before he could get out of the car, Tina had her door open and was motioning him inside.