by Vikki Walton
Anne took a sip of the wine, enjoying its smoky, aged flavor. “I want to say something, and I want you to hear me out.”
“Okay. Is this from Anne or ND?”
She stuck out her tongue at him. “One and the same. Plus, we’re back to you not giving me your name.”
“I told you. It’s Carson.”
Anne growled. “I’m not going to be mad at you right now. Maybe later. We have to get this figured out.”
“Okay.” He grinned over his wine glass. “But you really shouldn’t be mad.”
“I choose when and if I’ll be mad, thank you very much.”
“Your prerogative.” He raised his glass.
“Be serious. Here’s the thing. We have information that a woman is involved and also someone who’s name is El Toro. Who does that remind you of?”
Carson quickly sobered. “Are you referring to Ruiz? Just because he has a Hispanic name?”
“Well, we can’t rule him out.”
“Fair enough. And the woman?”
“What about Mary Smith? I mean, come on. That’s got to be a fake name. And I’ve seen her with Ruiz.”
“Okay, so let’s think about that. She could be using another name because she wants to. No law against it.”
“But why would you do that unless you’re a celebrity? As far as I know, she doesn’t look like anyone I’ve seen on TV, in movies or online.”
“Big tabloid watcher, are we?”
“No. But I do love movies. And plays.”
“We’ve gotten off track.”
“Okay, so can we agree that they could have something to do with it? I mean, I’ve seen that Mary carries a gun and she always seems to be around. In fact, don’t turn your head, but she’s watching us right now from the Inn.”
“She may be watching us, or she may have just noticed us.” He turned and faced toward the Inn. “Hello. Care to join us?”
Anne watched as Mary, now dressed in a simple dress and sandals made her way across the two connecting drives. She came up the porch steps. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude. I was wanting to talk with you about something and didn’t know how to go about it. I guess I’d gotten lost in my thoughts. I didn’t mean to be staring. Honestly.”
“Would you like a glass of wine?”
“If it’s not too much bother.”
Anne replied no and went to the kitchen for another goblet and the bottle of wine. After she’d poured some for Mary, she topped up Carson’s glass and then her own.
Mary took a sip. “I, well, I have no right to ask. But I saw all those kids leaving your house. I overheard them talking about drugs and El Toro and it, to be honest, freaked me out a bit. I may have to rethink running by myself.” She waited for their reply.
“It’s perfectly safe here,” Carson replied.
“You’re the sheriff in town? Correct?” Mary raised the glass to her lips but stopped before taking a sip.
“I am.”
“Do you—”
“Miss Smith. Why are you here?” Carson responded, setting his glass down on the corner table.
“I’m here for a vacation.”
“Why did you choose Carolan Springs?”
She smiled at them. “I’ve always wanted to visit Colorado and I went online and found this place. I figured it would be a nice, relaxing time here.”
“How long do you intend to stay?”
Mary hesitated. “I’m not sure, yet. Why do you ask?”
“It must be nice to extend your time away from your job. What is it you do?”
There was no hesitation this time as she responded, “I’m a trainer. When my clients are away, it gives me a chance to take time off.”
“I don’t know that many trainers. But not many carry guns.” He waited for her response.
She set her glass down, untouched. “I carry for protection. I train in that area.”
Anne wanted so badly to say, “Honestly, come clean. Why are you here?” But she held her tongue.
The silence stretched.
“This has been really nice chatting with you.” Mary stood. She thanked Anne and left the porch.
Carson also stood. “I need to be going as well.” He turned to face her. “Lots to think about. I’m going to be out of town tomorrow morning. Have to go up to Denver for a talk with the state’s sheriff’s office. I should be back by the afternoon.” He stepped over to her. “What will you be doing while I’m away for the day?”
“I have Inn duties tomorrow, so sticking close to home. When you’re done, stop by and let me know what happened.”
“I will.”
“And just so we can put this to bed, my name is Carson. Carson Vlk. No one could ever understand my name. I made it simple by using my first name instead. Happy now?”
She laughed. “Yes.”
He tilted her chin and kissed her goodnight. “Sweet dreams.”
“You too.” Anne watched as Carson got into his vehicle and drove away.
She sighed with contentment. Even after all that she’d gone through with her ex, there’d constantly been something that didn’t quite click. She’d always felt on edge, never comfortable or safe like she did with Carson. Though she was still unsure about where their relationship was heading, she knew one thing for sure. She had to clear Carson’s name. The only person she felt could help was Officer Dale. She was going to call him first thing tomorrow morning.
Chapter Twenty-Six
When Anne arrived at the Inn the next morning, Kandi was already prepping everything for breakfast.
“Morning!” Kandi called out.
“Ugh. Too early. How can you be so chipper when it’s dark-o-thirty?” Anne shuffled over to the coffee pot and made herself an espresso.
“It’s six o’clock. I’ve been up since five. I let my girls out and checked on Boo Bear.”
Kandi had chickens and had taken to the large Newfoundland that they’d helped rescue. He would often hang out at her house in the evenings and Kandi liked that his presence seemed to keep predators away from her girls.
Anne frothed some cream and poured it over the espresso. She added a sprinkling of raw sugar on top.
Kandi giggled. “You must be tired if you’re adding sugar to your coffee.”
Anne sat down. “I think I’m mentally tired more than anything. Trying to figure out what’s going on had me tossing and turning all night.”
“You sure it wasn’t, like, thinking about a certain someone that kept you awake?” She finished putting the homemade biscuits onto a pan, which was now ready to slide into the oven.
“I’m pretty sure it wasn’t that.” Although, truth be told, thoughts of Carson weighed on her mind. They certainly weren’t school kids, but where were they going with the relationship? She knew one thing, she didn’t want to be hurt again. Anne took a swig of the warm liquid, enjoying the rich taste.
“I’ve got paperwork this morning. Anything you need me to do to help with breakfast first?”
Kandi slid the biscuits into the oven. “Could you squeeze some oranges?”
“Sure.” Anne gathered up the box of oranges and used the juicer. The rhythm of the handheld pump was soothing. The pair worked in companionable silence, Anne with the juicer and Kandi creating individual bowls of ingredients for omelets the guests had ordered last night.
The back door opened. It was Hope. “Morning, Hope. I didn’t think you were coming over today.”
“Spencer is going to show me something on the computer later, to help with ordering. Since there’s so much racket with the remodel of the shop, I said I’d meet him over here.”
“At this hour? I thought teenagers were like vampires. They hated the morning sun.” Anne chuckled.
“He’s trying to save up to get a laptop. He said he’d be here early as that lets him get his chores done here and then work almost a full-day at Patty’s Pet Shop.”
“I wish his work ethic would rub off on some of those other kids.” Anne pulled th
e shell of the orange off the juicer.
Hope sat down. “What do you mean?”
Anne recounted what the teens had said the evening before. Kandi and Hope both listened intently.
“Whoa. That sounds, like, weird. Do you really think Mary Smith is not who she says she is?”
“That’s just the thing. She has never said who she is. And seriously, Mary Smith? I could have come up with a better name than that.”
Hope helped Anne as she filtered the juice from the orange pips. “It seems strange. But I would think she’d want to remain out of sight if she’s really part of this drug operation.”
“Maybe she’s trying to hide in plain sight.” Anne transferred the juice to a large container with a spout. Cutting some oranges thinly, she added them to the container. “I need to wash my hands. They’re still sticky. Then I can take this into the dining room.”
“I’ll take it. I thought I heard some of the guests. I think I’m more awake for morning banter than you are.” Hope picked up the container.
Anne folded her hands in a prayer posture. “Thank you, my child. I am not for morning banter this morning. Be blessed.”
“You goof.” Hope walked out of the kitchen.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
After Kandi had assured Anne that she had everything under control, Anne went into the office and shut the door behind her. She opened the desk drawer and rummaged through a stack of cards until she found the one Officer Dale had provided.
The call went to voicemail, so she called the station. A woman’s voice answered. When she informed Anne that Officer Dale wasn’t in, she asked if someone else could help. Anne said, “Could I speak with Police Chief Everett?”
The woman officer responded, “Can I say what this is about?”
Anne hesitated, then said, “Tell him it’s about El Toro.”
The line clicked off and Anne waited. In a moment, a strong male voice came on the line. “Ms. Freemont. How can I help you?”
Anne told him about her ideas, about the talk last night with the teens, about seeing the bull on the front gate at the Bennett’s place, and about the woman. She didn’t say she suspected Mary Smith or Deputy Ruiz. “I think someone framed Carson to get him out of the way.”
“I hate to admit it Ms. Freemont, but I have to agree. What does Sheriff Carson say about you speaking with me?”
“Oh, he doesn’t know I’m talking to you. I was trying to get ahold of Officer Dale but he’s not answering his phone right now.”
“Have you spoken to anyone else about this?”
“Just my friends.”
She waited while silence sounded in her ear. Finally, Chief Everett spoke. “Ms. Freemont, we could be dealing with very dangerous people who will stop at nothing to hide what they’re doing. You can’t take chances. I thank you for telling me all of this, but you need to stay out of it. Safer for you and safer for your friends.”
“But—”
“You’ve been extremely helpful. I’ll connect with Officer Dale.”
“Are you going to go out to the Bennett place and look around?” She changed the phone to her other ear.
“Ms. Freemont, the Bennett place is out of our jurisdiction. It’s not in the city, it’s in the county, so is under the sheriff’s department. But I have a good connection with someone over there, so I’ll have them check it out.”
“You mean Deputy Ruiz?”
“What makes you say that?”
“No reason.”
“Ms. Freemont, Thank you for calling me. I’d also take what those teens say with a grain of salt. They often embellish things to get more attention or to act bigger in front of their peers.”
“I don’t think—”
“I work with those kids all the time. I know. Trust me.”
For some reason, his attitude toward the foster kids made Anne bristle. You couldn’t lump all these kids into one category. If they acted out, certainly the reasons behind them being placed in foster care might have something to do with it.
He continued, “I have to end the call, but please call me with anything else that you may think of that will assist us.” The line went dead.
Anne sat and stared at her phone. “I think I’ve been dismissed.” Her anger grew. She got up and paced up and down the room. “I should have waited and talked with Officer Dale. He wouldn’t have treated me so rudely.”
Anne hadn’t heard Hope come down the hall or open the door. “Talking to our self again?” Hope came over and sat down at the desk.
“Done here?”
“Go ahead. I can do what I need in a little while.” Hope slumped down in a chair. “What is it?” Hope turned toward Anne.
“I hate being treated like I’m an idiot. Every time I get off the phone with these people, I feel like someone just patted me on the head and said, ‘thanks dear, now go play with your toys.’ It’s so frustrating.”
“Don’t let it get to you. It will all work out.”
“I wish I could be as calm as you, Hope.” Anne ran her fingers through her hair. “Ugh. I’m sorry. Here I am going on about this stupidity when you’ve got the remodel because of the fire and caring for your mom.”
“It’s okay. But thank you. I know Carson didn’t do it, but I don’t have answers to why they found items at his house that connected to the fire. It’s making me doubt myself and I don’t like it.”
“I know. You don’t think he’s been lying to us all the time, do you?”
Hope sighed. “I know I always trust my gut. If I don’t trust mine, I trust Mama’s. She’s always liked Sheriff Carson.”
“But she said it was the sheriff that came and got her away from the house.”
Hope looked up and groaned. “How could I have missed it? I can’t believe I didn’t think about it sooner.”
“Are you going to let me in on what you’re talking about?”
“Sheriff. She called him sheriff, but it didn’t mean it was the sheriff. Anyone could be in a uniform and say he’s the sheriff if she asked.”
“But wouldn’t she know it wasn’t Carson? Hope, I think we need to talk to your mom.”
“Okay, but it will have to be after Spencer’s gone.”
“I have some things to do too, but I can do them later. Let me know when you’re ready.”
“Will do. Shouldn’t be too long.”
Anne’s phone rang. She mouthed ‘see you later’ to Hope and walked out of the room. It was Officer Dale.
“Hello?”
“This Ms. Freemont?”
“Yes.”
“Are you alone?” What a strange question.
“Yes.” She had some time to kill, so she headed out to the gazebo in the back as she talked.
“I need to see you. I think some of the information that you provided may be critical.”
“I can come into the station this afternoon.”
“No. Not the station. Do you know the old Silver Camp Road?”
Anne recalled the old road that was rarely used except by four-wheelers and hikers. “I know it, but why—”
“I’m concerned for your safety. I don’t want anyone to see us talking to one another. Don’t tell anyone you’re coming to meet me.”
“Okay. What time?”
“This afternoon. How about three?”
“I can do that. I’ll meet you there at three. Silver Camp Road. By the old homestead.” She hung up the phone.
“Who are you meeting at Silver Camp Road at three?” Carson’s voice cut through the silence.
Anne screamed. “You scared me to death. Don’t do that!”
“Okay. But answer my question. Who was that and why are you meeting them in such a secluded place?”
“It was Officer Dale. He wants me to meet him out there.”
“Why?”
“I guess Chief Everett told him what I said.”
“What you said?”
“Yes. I tried calling Dale but spoke to Chief Everett instead.
”
Carson sighed. “ND, you’re killing me. How can I protect you if you keep putting yourself in harm’s way?”
“They’re the police. Plus, I didn’t tell them everything. I left out the information about Mary and Ruiz.”
“Well, at least there’s that. Call Officer Dale back and tell him you’re not coming.”
“I am.”
“You’re not.”
“Yes. I. Am.” She crossed her arms. “He said that we needed to meet out there because he was concerned for my safety. He didn’t want me going to the station or being seen talking to the police.”
Carson rubbed his chin. “Possible. But I still don’t like it. I’m coming with you.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary, but I’ll be glad for the company.”
Carson said he’d be back at two thirty and they could drive out together. The rest of the morning passed slowly. At two o’clock, Carson returned and had changed into a brown shirt and slacks. He waited for Anne to finish her work.
“Let’s take your car. He’ll be expecting it.”
Anne swept up her keys and purse. “Okay. I’m ready.”
Carson was quiet as they made their way out of town. Little by little, the distance between houses grew longer until they were surrounded by forested land on both sides.
“There it is.” Carson pointed to an old worn sign, the paint barely readable. Anne turned off onto the dirt road. It was slow going as they climbed higher and higher up the mountain, each bend in the curve steeper than the last.
“I hate driving up in the mountains. You should have driven.”
“Just remember to keep it in low gear and don’t ride your brakes.”
“I know that. I’m more concerned about those drop-offs.”
They rounded the next bend and saw a police cruiser. “That must be Dale’s.”
Carson motioned for Anne to pull over closer to the mountain.
“Stay here.”
As she grabbed the door jam, Anne heard tires grabbing on gravel. Someone was coming up behind them. Had they been followed?
Carson had heard too and moved in front of the vehicle.
Another police cruiser appeared. An officer not familiar to Anne pulled up next to them.
