Jason pressed the towel against his stinging eyes. He would not feel sorry for himself. His friend was dead, and that sucked, but it was nothing compared to what Ellie must be feeling.
Chris had talked about having kids even when they were in college. Teaching them to ride and surf. If anyone would have been a good father, Chris was the man. And now his kid would grow up without him.
Jason tried to think about something else.
Ell. Jason ran his conversation with her over in his mind. Something about the way she’d reacted felt off, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. He knew how close she and Beth had been. A slight to one was a slight to both, but Ellie’s anger seemed a little too personal. He was missing something.
THE STIFFNESS IN HER neck awakened Beth. It was almost three-thirty and she was still propped up on the headboard. She stretched cautiously, mindful of the deep bruises on her chest, then snuggled down under the sheet. Ell came. But as thankful as Beth felt, worry muted her relief. Her twin was getting more and more obsessed with finding their murderer—at any cost. Beth couldn’t blame her sister, and she did want to find the killer, if there was one. But she wished that just for a little while they could talk like they used to, about something else.
Beth took a slow calming breath, but it didn’t help much. She was wide awake. She might as well get up. Maybe a drink would settle her. She swung her legs out of bed.
The house was dark and quiet, so she didn’t bother covering her tank top and panties with a robe. The tile felt cool and comforting on her bare feet as she made her way down the hallway without turning on the lights. A moment later, Ollie padded after her, nails clicking.
In the library, Beth turned on the desk lamp and poured herself a stiff shot of cognac. The first sip burned its way down her throat as the aroma went straight to her head. She wasn’t much of a drinker, but even she could tell this was good stuff. She curled up on the sofa, tucking her feet beneath her. Ollie turned around three times, then sprawled on the rug in front of her.
Thanks to Ellie, Beth was sure now that Tom Hendricks had lied to them. He had been doing business with Chris. And from his comments, she suspected something had gone very wrong. Seven hundred thousand dollars wrong. And if he really had mortgaged the ranch, he could be in danger of losing everything. That could make a man pretty angry, especially if he thought Chris had cheated him. But angry enough to commit murder? Tom just didn’t seem the type. And why hurt Ellie?
She took another sip of the cognac. Now it tasted like it should, smooth and rich.
Ollie lifted his head.
“You shouldn’t be drinking,” Jason said from the doorway.
Beth choked and started coughing. Ollie barked a greeting. How the hell had he snuck up on her?
JASON CAME INTO THE room and hiked a jean-clad hip up to sit on the back of the couch. He looked down at Ellie as she coughed, then away. From the doorway he hadn’t realized that she was practically naked, wearing only a cropped spaghetti-strap tee and bikini panties. She wasn’t showing yet, and despite her bruises, she had the same hot bod as Beth. The same lean legs, the same pert breasts, the same—Shit! He shouldn’t be thinking this way. Shouldn’t be getting a hard-on looking at his best friend’s widow.
He waited until she caught her breath and cleared her throat. Jason cleared his throat too, then leaned over and took the glass from her. “I thought you knew better. It’s not good for the baby.” He took a swallow of the very fine brandy and closed his eyes to savor it—and so he wouldn’t stare at Ellie in her panties.
“I do. It’s just that with everything that’s happened …” She coughed again. “Sometimes I forget I’m pregnant. And I couldn’t sleep.”
Is that possible? Do women really forget they’re pregnant, even in the beginning? He opened his eyes and caught her looking at him. Was she checking him out? It wasn’t possible. Chris had only been dead a week. She wouldn’t do that. Still, he was glad he’d pulled on a tee-shirt. If she saw the still red scars from the shooting and surgery, she’d be horrified—and she’d ask questions he didn’t want to answer.
“Maybe you’ll remember when you start having morning sickness.” That’s it. Think of her tossing her cookies. That should cool me off.
She scowled at him. “Your concern is touching.”
“I am concerned.” He came around the sofa and held out a hand to her, trying not to stare. “Come on. You need your rest. I’ll make some warm milk for you. That should help you sleep, and it won’t put any premature hair on junior’s chest.”
She suddenly seemed to realize that she was barely clothed, and drew a light-weight throw from the back of the couch across her lap. “How about some chamomile tea instead?” She ignored his hand, stood, and tied the flowered cloth around her waist like a sarong. It looked unbelievably sexy.
He forced his mind back to her question. “I don’t know. There are some herbs pregnant women should avoid. Do you know which ones are okay?”
Ellie made a face. “No.”
“Then warm milk it is.”
In the kitchen, Jason busied himself pouring two mugs full and putting them in the microwave. Ellie leaned against the counter watching. At least while he was warming the milk he could distract himself from the way her breasts were stretching the thin fabric of her top.
“You’re having some too?”
“Yeah. Just like last time.” He’d sat at the table late at night with Ellie that one time he’d come out to visit before she and Chris were engaged.
“Last time?”
He looked at her sharply. Ellie hadn’t been able to sleep that night either. She’d admitted that she was nervous about wanting his approval, because she didn’t want to come between him and Chris as friends. He was surprised she didn’t recall confessing that. “That time I came out for a visit?”
She stared like the proverbial deer in the headlights, then she smiled. “How could I forget?”
Why don’t I believe her?
The microwave dinged and he stirred a spoonful of sugar into one. “Just the way you like it,” he said, setting the sweetened milk on the counter beside her so she could take the handle.
“Thanks.” She didn’t sound very enthusiastic.
Jason took a sip of his milk. “What was it you called this?”
Ellie frowned as if searching her memory, then smiled and said, “Mary Poppins milk. ‘A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down,’” she sang off-key.
“Right. But I guess even Mary Poppins would have had a hard time with Beth. At least as far as milk was concerned.”
Ellie looked startled. “You know about that?” She took another small sip of from her mug.
“You told me.”
“Oh yeah.” She stared into her mug. “I guess I’m just surprised you remembered.”
Jason gave her a steady look. “I remember everything.”
He’d had a lot of time to remember while he was in the hospital. He wished he could tell Beth why he hadn’t followed through with his promise of friendship. He wished he could tell Ellie, but that was looking for absolution in the wrong place. And Ell still thought he was an attorney, not an FBI agent. How could he tell her he’d been shot? She could probably be trusted with the information, but he hadn’t even told Chris. There was no need to burden her with the knowledge, especially not now.
Jason sipped his milk, while Ell turned the mug back and forth in her hands. Then he asked, “By the way, what did your doctor have to say?”
Again she had that startled, slightly confused look just for an instant before she assumed a more neutral expression. “My doctor?”
“You saw him after the accident, right?”
“Of course.” She took a sip of the milk and her nose wrinkled slightly in what looked like distaste.
“What’s the matter? Didn’t I put enough sugar in?”
“No. It’s okay. I think being pregnant is changing how things taste.”
He’d heard that coul
d happen. “So what did he say?”
“Who?”
“The doctor.”
“Oh yeah. I’m fine. No permanent damage.” She put down her nearly full mug and pushed away from the counter. “I think I can sleep now. Thanks for the milk.”
Jason watched her disappear around the corner. His instincts were telling him that something wasn’t quite right, and he’d learned over the years to trust his gut. He didn’t know yet what was wrong, but he would.
MARIA WAS BUSTLING, AND Ellie finishing the remains of a ham and cheese omelette as Jason came into the kitchen the next morning. “Sleep okay?” she asked.
She was dressed in jean shorts and a little yellow tee-shirt trimmed with lace. It didn’t cover much, but then it was the middle of the summer monsoons. He tried not to think about how little she’d had on last night. “Uh, yeah. That milk really did the trick. You?”
“Like the dead.” She winced, then continued. “I remembered something this morning. Chris did have a deal going with Hendricks about that mine. I think there may some maps of it somewhere. Maybe in the library closet. Tom used the equity in the ranch for his stake. He lied to us yesterday.”
Jason accepted a cup of coffee from Maria and sat down opposite Ellie. That was a lot for her to ‘just remember.’ “I thought so.”
“I hate to think it, but I guess we have to add him to our list of suspects.”
“Señor Hendricks? No. He is a good man.” Maria put a plate full of eggs and homefries in front of Jason.
“But if the deal went bad, and he thought Chris was to blame, he’d have a powerful motive,” Jason said before taking a bite. “This is great, Maria. Thanks.”
Maria made a dismissive sound. “Desire is not action.”
“What about the accident? He wouldn’t have any reason to hurt me and Beth,” Ellie said.
“I know. But the only person who would have a reason to hurt you is Palmer, and we’ve pretty much ruled him out. It would be a horrible coincidence, but maybe the truck blowing a tire and rolling was just that—an accident.”
“Maybe.” Ell looked down at her plate. “Isn’t there anyone else who might have a reason to kill me too?”
Jason thought about one of the other names on that phone list he’d found. He hadn’t wanted to trouble Ellie with it, but as he’d said, they ought to have all their cards on the table. He took another swallow of Maria’s good strong coffee to fortify himself, but as opened his mouth the doorbell rang. Maria went to answer it. A moment later she was back.
It was Montgomery again.
“I won’t take much of your time, Mrs. Pontifore,” the insurance agent said when they’d gathered in the parlor. “I should have had you do this yesterday, but I’m afraid we got off on the wrong foot together. I just have a few papers for you to sign.”
“Papers?” Ellie looked nervous.
“Yes. The claim forms. It’s just a formality.”
“I thought I needed a death certificate to make a claim.”
“You do. But this way, when you do get the death certificate, everything will be expedited.” He put the forms in front of Ellie on the coffee table and held a pen out to her.
She stared at the proffered pen as if it were a snake.
That’s odd.
Then she abruptly came to her feet. “No.”
“But Mrs. Pontifore—”
“I’m not in any hurry.”
Jason stood and put a hand on her shoulder. “It’s not complicated, Ell. I’ll look over the forms first if you want, and make sure everything is in order.”
She turned on him, with a look of near panic on her face. “No! I’m not going to sign anything!” Then she put a hand over her mouth and ran from the room.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Beth lay on top of the yellow coverlet in Ellie’s room with an arm over her eyes. I could have handled that better. She should have handled a lot of things better. She’d been making too many mistakes. Like last night. It had taken her a couple minutes to remember that as Ellie she would be more modest around Jason. Instead she’d let him look at what he’d thrown away. And she’d looked too. He was a little thinner than she remembered, but that hadn’t kept her from enjoying the sight of his tee shirt stretched tight across his broad chest and shoulders, while wishing she didn’t want to reach out and touch him. And if that wasn’t enough, there was the milk that she hated, and the doctor she was supposed to visit, and the conversations he’d had with Ellie that she didn’t know about. Why hadn’t Ell told her?
She’d been insane to think she could pull this off. Jason was too sharp. He saw too much, too clearly.
She should ask him to leave.
The thought brought an ache to her chest. Even though she couldn’t be herself around him, even though his presence was a kind of torture, she liked having him near.
I must be a masochist. She ought to be over Jason by now. Instead, she still wanted a man who had made it very clear that he didn’t want her. She ought to thank him for coming and send him back home. But she couldn’t do it.
God, she was pitiful. The man had screwed her and dumped her. She should want him gone. She’d worked for four months to extinguish the warm feelings she’d had for him. They shouldn’t all come rushing back at his first smile. It didn’t help that he was being a kind and considerate friend. To Ellie, she reminded herself. All his concern was for Ell, not her. And even that concern was because of his friendship with Chris.
She should send him packing. He was a complication she didn’t need. But she knew she wouldn’t. She would just have to be more careful around him.
Someone tapped at the door of Ellie’s room and Beth jumped.
“Are you all right?” Jason asked from the other side of the door. “Montgomery’s gone. Can I come in?”
“ I’m not up to talking right now.”
“Do you still want to go to the bank today?”
Oh God. It’s Friday. If they wanted to talk to any of the bank officers, it had to be done today. This couldn’t be put off. “Yes. Give me a couple of minutes.”
“No rush. I’ll be in the library.” She listened to his footsteps recede down the hall.
No rush. If only that were true. She didn’t have time to waste worrying about her feelings for Jason. She had to find out everything she could before the inquest next Tuesday, when Maria would be forced to tell the truth. She couldn’t just sit around wringing her hands. She rolled to sit on the edge of the bed. She’d call Chris’s lawyers, to find out who the other investors in the Carlton mine were, and what kind of contract, if any, they’d drawn up between Chris and Tom Hendricks.
AT THE BANK, JASON waited for Ellie to take a seat across the desk from Gloria Muñoz, then sat next to her, turning his chair a little so he could watch her face. He told himself he wasn’t really treating her like a suspect. He was just concerned about her emotional state. He truly didn’t believe she’d done anything wrong, but his gut kept telling him to keep his eyes open. And his gut hadn’t failed him yet.
When I listen to it. His gut had tried to tell him that Beth was the real deal, but his head had overruled that fantasy.
“Please accept my condolences on your loss, Mrs. Pontifore,” Ms. Muñoz said. “How can I help you?”
Ellie sat rigidly in a conservative navy blue sleeveless dress. “Thank you. I’m having trouble locating some of Chris’s financial records.”
“We can help with that. If you want, I can have copies of his statements made and sent to you.”
“How soon can I get them?”
“I’ll put the request in today. You should receive them by next Friday.”
Ellie leaned forward and gripped the edge of the desk. “I need them sooner than that. I’d like to get them today, if I can.”
Why is she in such a hurry? Oh yeah. The inquest. He wished she hadn’t pushed the sheriff into that. It didn’t give them much time to discover any evidence—if there was any to find. If the judge found insu
fficient grounds to open an investigation, it would make it that much harder to get the sheriff’s attention later, even if they found a smoking gun.
Gloria shook her head. “They’ll have to dig the data out of the computers at the central office. If I put a rush on it, I might be able to get them for you by Monday.”
Ell slumped. “I guess that will have to do.” Then she looked Gloria sharply in the eye. “But I need them by Monday.”
“You’ll have them,” Ms. Muñoz promised. “I’ll need to see some I.D.”
“I don’t have to sign anything?”
What is it about signing things that she hates so much?
Gloria smiled. “No, not since you’re on the account. But I will need your social.”
Ellie stiffened again. “Uh, I don’t have it memorized.”
“Okay. How about your date of birth, and your mother’s maiden name? I’ll need a picture I.D. too.”
Ellie visibly relaxed, and gave the information. Then she dug into her purse. “God, what a mess,” she muttered. “Sorry.” She dug a little longer, then produced a wallet. “Here we go.” She handed her driver’s license over.
The bank officer copied some numbers into the computer, then nodded and returned the card. “Is there anything else I can help you with?”
“Actually, I do have one question. I talked to the lawyers this morning and got a list of the investors in the Carlton mine.”
She did? Why hadn’t she mentioned it? “I would have done that for you,” Jason said. What had she found out?
Ell smiled and said, “That’s okay. It wasn’t a problem.” Then she turned back to Ms. Muñoz. “The only one I’m wondering about is Tom Hendricks.”
“Oh you’re so kind. Just like your husband.” Gloria paused to blink away tears. “Don’t worry, Mr. Pontifore arranged for the debt to be repaid just before he died.”
“He did?”
“Does Tom know?” Jason asked.
“They sat right here together and signed the paper.” Gloria reached across the desk to touch Ellie’s fingers. “Don’t be angry at him for not telling you. I’m pretty sure Mr. Hendricks didn’t tell his wife either. No one could know ahead of time about the arsenic, but your husband felt bad about drawing a neighbor into a bad investment, and Mr. Hendricks was embarrassed about risking his ranch. It’s hard for some of these older gentlemen to admit a mistake, and your husband was trying to help him save face.”
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