by David Keith
“I think we could use one of these,” he said, holding up a bottle of Pinot Noir.
“You read my mind.”
Mia opened the refrigerator. “How old are these green beans?”
“I don’t know, a month maybe.”
“Eww, green on top, fuzzy gray on the bottom. That’s disgusting. You bought steaks and potatoes but no vegetables? You need vegetables to be big and strong, Mick.”
“I think there’s broccoli in the freezer.”
“Ah, you mean the box of melted cheese with three pieces of green stuff?”
“Tastes better that way.”
“I give up. Cheesy broccoli it is,” she said as Mick surprised her with a kiss and handed over a glass of pinot.
“Mmm. That’s a nice pairing. Especially after the last three days.”
They were interrupted by Mick’s cell phone. The DA was calling.
“Hey, Dave. You see the show Kramer put on today?”
“You bet I did. Made my week. That little accident took away his chance to crucify us on live television.”
“Yeah, no kidding,” Mick said.
“I don’t want to ruin the moment, but the media will get back on track before long.”
“I know.”
“That’s what I called about. Mick, I don’t think I need to remind you how important it is we have a good outcome on this case. I’m up for re-election, and the word on the street is that you are running for sheriff. Let me know what I can do to help when the time comes for you to declare.”
“I will do that, and I certainly appreciate your support. It means a lot.”
“Now, do you need anything at all from my office to help in the search for the woman? If it’s a staffing issue, I can provide you with some of my investigators.”
“No, I think we’re good for right now, but I appreciate it.”
“We can offer her a deal for her testimony, but only if we find her. I’m not trying to beat a dead horse here; I just want to make sure we’re on the same page. We both have a lot to gain and a lot to lose.”
“We’re on the same page, and we’ll find her. I appreciate your support, and I’ll keep you posted on Sullivan and my candidacy.”
“Very good. I don’t know about you, but I’m planning on fixing myself a drink and watching the clip of Kramer losing his teeth again. They tell me it’s already got 300,000 hits on YouTube.”
“I’m with you, Dave. Thanks.”
Mick hung up, turned to Mia, and offered a toast.
“Actually, I’m way ahead you.”
The ‘beep, beep, beep,’ of the microwave echoed through Keller’s duplex. Armed with an old potholder, Jack dropped the tray on the kitchen table.
Jack didn’t say grace out loud before meals at restaurants or at work, but he always did at home. He made the sign of the cross and whispered “Bless us, O Lord, and these, Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.”
That night’s bountiful gifts included, as they did most nights Keller ate at home, a Salisbury steak patty, some corn, and mashed potatoes. He peeled back the plastic and watched the steam billow from the tray. For a good sized man, it wasn’t much of a meal, but Jack had a dozen more if he was still hungry.
As the Salisbury steak cooled, he popped open his personal laptop and studied a map. It showed Castle Springs on the top right and Puerto Peñasco at the bottom left. Keller couldn’t wait to cover the distance and see his daughter again. He was confident that Natalie was safe for the time being, but he knew the search for his daughter wouldn’t end anytime soon, and as a wanted suspect, she’d never be out of danger.
Jack’s worries took away his appetite. He dumped the rest of the Salisbury steak in the trash and reached for his burner phone. He wanted to fill her in on the bloody drama outside the courthouse, unaware she’d already seen it. Mostly, he just wanted to hear her voice. But she didn’t pick up, so Keller left a message.
“I miss you,” he said as he ended the call.
Jack stretched out on the sofa and quickly faded off to sleep.
“Wow, you’re amazing. How do you cook these steaks perfectly, every time?” Mick asked Mia.
“Sheer brilliance.”
After dinner, they agreed not to talk about work and just relax in front of the TV. The plan was a good one, but proved impossible. During every commercial break, teasers for the ten o’clock news showed video clips of a bloody Branch Kramer battling with reporters. It was like zoo animals turning on their keeper, they joked.
Finally, Mick suggested they go to bed.
“To sleep?” Mia asked playfully.
Mick answered quickly, “I’m open to suggestions.”
Mick followed Mia up the stairs, one step behind but with his hand placed protectively at the base of her spine. As they arrived at the top, she turned and kissed him passionately. Unwilling to let go, they moved toward the bedroom until Mick finally scooped her up and carried Mia to the bed. Their lips met again, and they quickly undressed each other. Before long he lowered his body onto hers, and they began to move, in rhythm, as one.
THIRTY-NINE
Natalie needed to take her mind off of what she’d seen on CNN, so she took Sarah up on her offer. The party was just a few blocks from the condo, and she walked the short distance in just a few minutes.
The house was unmistakable. It was the largest and most beautiful home she had seen in her short time in Puerto Peñasco. As she approached, the sounds of laughter and festive music poured from an open doorway. Natalie stepped into the foyer. The home had an open floor plan, and she could see a living room, dining area, and kitchen—all tastefully decorated in an elegant, Mediterranean design.
“Hola, señorita. Are you here for the party?”
The woman was dressed in all white and carried a plate of hors d’oeuvres.
“Yes, I am. Sarah invited me. Do I have the right place?”
“Sí, señorita. The guests are out back on the beach. Please, join them. May I bring you something to drink?”
“Yes, thank you. Chardonnay, if you have any.”
“Of course, I will bring it to you on the beach.”
Natalie walked through the living room toward the voices. Not wanting to look like a party crasher, she quickly surveyed the guests, looking for Sarah. Aside from Roberto and Berta, she was the only other person Natalie knew in Puerto Peñasco.
“Natalie! So glad you made it!”
Sarah rushed in from the beach.
“You look beautiful. And I love the dress.”
“Oh, thanks. I got it at a terrific little shop in town.”
Sarah laughed and led Natalie by the arm.
“Come on, I’ll introduce you.”
“I can’t stay long… I just thought I’d drop by for a few minutes.”
“I think you’ll like my friends. I told them you were new in town. I hope you don’t mind.”
The surf crashed in the distance as the beach glittered from the moonlight amid the fire-lit torches and beach chairs.
“Take off your shoes.”
Natalie slipped out of her sandals and left them on the patio. Sarah grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the small crowd.
“Hey, everybody!” Sarah called out as they approached the group. “This is the friend I was telling you about. Natalie’s new in town, so be nice to her!”
Natalie was welcomed by the group of nearly twenty. It was an even mix of men and women, all gracious and friendly. The server arrived with her wine and Natalie raised her glass to the crowd.
“Thank you all for the warm welcome, it’s nice to be here.”
The others raised their glasses in unison. As Natalie and Sarah stood and chatted, another young woman joined them.
“Hi, I’m Alyssa.”
They shook hands. “Nice to meet you.”
“When did you get in town?”
“Just a few days ago. It’s my first visit to Puerto Peñasco, an
d I can’t believe how beautiful it is.”
“We all call it our hidden gem. Everybody knows about Cabo and Cancun, but not many people know about this place. But word is getting out, and it’s growing quickly.”
“I’ll bet,” Natalie said. “So, do you live here or are you on vacation?”
“I live here. I left L.A. and came down two years ago. It’s the perfect place for a new start,” Alyssa told her.
If she only knew, Natalie thought.
“I kind of escaped from a bad relationship and needed a new start,” Alyssa said. “I had been here a few years back on vacation, and I remembered it. I thought, why not? The place just has a great vibe.”
Natalie agreed. “You know, I got that sense right away as well. I went for a walk yesterday along the beach, and I couldn’t believe how many people greeted me.”
“Yeah, that’s the beauty of this place.”
Sarah joined in. “Alyssa works in the jewelry store next door to Summer Fling.”
“Oh, okay. Is that how you met, working next to one another?”
“Well, sort of,” Sarah explained. “But really, most of the people here work in some capacity for Peter. He owns a lot of the businesses in town. So we all know each other that way. He has these get-togethers maybe once a month. He likes to have a cohesive group of employees.”
“Works for me,” said Alyssa, raising her glass.
“In fact, this is Peter’s house,” said Sarah.
“One of his houses… Oh, and did I mention he is hot?” Alyssa added, smiling.
“It’s a gorgeous house.”
Sarah gave Natalie a brief history on Peter. “He came down here from the states, like, twenty years ago and just saw the potential in this little fishing town. He loved the beauty of the place and started buying up little businesses, one by one. His family had some money and financed him in the beginning and then things just took off. Now he’s the biggest landowner in Puerto Peñasco and owns more than forty businesses, including the Marbella.”
“The Marbella?” asked Natalie.
“Boy, you are new in town,” responded Alyssa. “The Marbella is Puerto Peñasco’s only five-star resort—very ritzy, very exclusive. It’s where the rich and famous come and hang out when they truly want privacy and don’t want the crowds and craziness of some of the other Mexican resort towns. The Marbella caters to people who just want to do nothing but enjoy the ocean and each other.”
“That sounds incredible but not exactly a place I could ever afford.”
“I’ve only stayed there a handful of times myself,” Sarah replied. “But I go there a lot for work. I haul half the store up to the Marbella when someone wants to shop but doesn’t want to leave the privacy of the resort. At first I thought it was crazy, taking all those outfits up there, because it’s such a hassle. But these women buy almost everything I bring in their size, and since I work on commission, well, it pays the rent.”
Natalie shook her head. “Not exactly a world I’m familiar with…”
“So, where are you from Natalie? We didn’t have much chance to talk yesterday at the store.”
“I’m from St. Louis. You?”
“I’m from Seattle, originally,” Sarah told her. “I went to school at Arizona State in Tempe and that’s how I discovered this place. On spring break, a bunch of us would haul down here and go a little crazy. It was close and getting across the boarder in those days was easy.”
“I went through there a few days ago. I thought the guard was going to get in the car with me.”
Sarah understood all too well. “Imagine the guards when they saw six college girls on spring break pulling up to the border all crammed into a ‘91 Honda Civic.”
Both Natalie and Alyssa laughed at the thought.
“Bet you guys were something to see,” replied Alyssa.
“Oh, yeah. Girls on a mission. Those were the days. After graduation from ASU, I tried to find a job in Phoenix, but the economy had tanked and there was nothing out there. I needed a little getaway, you know, to clear my head, and so I came down here. That was five years ago, and I’m still here.”
“You never went back to Phoenix or home to Seattle?” asked Natalie.
“Not really. I had a friend bring my stuff down from Phoenix—it wasn’t much. And I was never that close to my family, although, when my mother died, I did go back for the service.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Sarah.”
“Thanks, but like I said I was never really that close to my family. It was kind of a messed up situation.”
“So, are you a Mexican citizen now? I mean, how does that work? How does someone stay here and work?”
“There are ways to do it, legal ways. A lot of the people who work in Peter’s businesses are Americans like me and are here long-term.”
“Well, who knows? Maybe I’ll join you.”
“Everyone, dinner is served,” the woman in all white called from the patio.
“Let’s go,” Sarah said to Natalie.
“Dinner? It’s after ten.”
“Get used to it. It’s a little bit like Europe here, everything is later. The good thing is that dinner is usually a light meal, or we’d all weigh 300 pounds.”
The group quickly came in from the beach and filed into the dining room. The table was large, beautifully set, and brimming with food.
“This is a light dinner?” whispered Natalie to Sarah.
“Yeah, look at what it is. Fish, fresh fruit, all healthy stuff.”
“Okay. But first I need to use the restroom. Can you point me in the right direction?”
“Sure, it’s right past the living room, second door on the left.”
Natalie excused herself and made her way across the living room, down a hallway, and into the bathroom. A few minutes later she emerged and bumped into a man who was the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. Please, excuse me,” she said quickly.
“That’s quite all right, Miss…?”
Natalie looked up and into the eyes of the most handsome man she’d ever seen. She hesitated, feeling her face flush and her heartbeat quicken.
The man smiled and extended his hand. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Peter Donnelly.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, hello. I’m Natalie. Natalie Summers.”
“Well, I’m very pleased to meet you, Natalie.” His eyes held her focus, and his hand held hers a beat longer than courtesy would require. “Are you hungry? Let’s have some dinner and get acquainted.”
“Yes,” Natalie squeaked. She was light-headed as he led her to the dining room. All eyes were on the couple when they arrived at the table. Peter pulled out the chair next to his, and Natalie took a seat.
Dinner was full of easy conversation among friends. As the wine flowed, the volume elevated, and Peter routinely leaned in close to speak with Natalie, his lips often lightly brushing the side of her cheek. Natalie was watching her alcohol intake, and although she had consumed only two glasses of wine, she felt completely intoxicated by the company of Peter Donnelly.
After dinner, the party moved back to the beach, but Natalie and Peter lingered on the patio.
“This is so beautiful.”
“Yes, it is,” he answered, looking directly into Natalie’s eyes.
She was entering dangerous territory, on so many levels.
It was late morning before Natalie crawled out of bed. The stress and strain of the past week drained her energy, and she needed the rest. Feeling refreshed, she walked to the living room and opened the sliding glass doors. The breeze poured in with the salty scent of the sea. She lay on the couch enjoying the view from a distance. Natalie couldn’t stop thinking about Peter Donnelly.
Handsome, sexy, smart—he was everything Scott was not. Her thoughts drifted back to Colorado. How did I ever fall for him? I completely screwed up my life and for what? A lying cheater who never even loved me? It was a conversation she had with herself many times over the
past few weeks. She never came up with a good answer and knew she probably never would.
Natalie turned her thoughts back to Peter. She closed her eyes and imagined his arms around her, his breath on her neck, the comforting cadence of his voice. He was sexy, but she knew this was something more. In just one evening, this man had gotten under her skin.
After a shower and a quick breakfast of fresh fruit, Natalie headed off for Summer Fling. She wanted to thank Sarah for the party invite and see if she might know of any job openings around town. She still had more than $18,000 left from the money Jack had given her but knew that wouldn’t last forever. If she was going to make Puerto Peñasco her home, she would need to earn her own money.
As she walked along the beach, Natalie came to an older section of town just southeast from the condo. The buildings weren’t new and modern like Summer Fling and the other high-end shops, but Natalie liked the feel. A boxy, multi-colored restaurant caught her eye. It sat on pilings above the water. She would have to ask Sarah about it. Farther down the beach, Natalie spotted an open-air café squeezed between two seafood vendors. She slipped in for a cup of coffee.
“Altura pluma,” the man said as he gave her a cup. “The beans are grown high in the mountains. It’s the best, no?”
“This is the best coffee I’ve ever had. My God, it is amazing.”
“My name is Juan, and I own this cafe. No es grande, but the local people, they like mucho. You here on vacation?”
“I’m staying at a condo just up the beach. I was taking a walk and saw your place. And this coffee is so good.”
Juan beamed. “Your name, señorita?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. My name is Natalie.”
“Ah, you come back, señorita Natalie. I make you the best tamales in Puerto Peñasco.”
“You’ve got a deal, Juan. And it’s nice to meet you.”
Natalie thanked him for the coffee and promised she would be back.
It was early afternoon by the time Natalie arrived at Summer Fling. She walked into the store and saw Sarah, who was busy with a customer. After the tourist left, the two hugged.
“I just had to stop in and thank you for last night. I had a blast and it was great to meet all your friends.”
