by Aimée Thurlo
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Daniel muttered.
“He’s a beautiful little dog. And look how protective he is!” Holly said, ignoring the crinkled snout and razor-sharp teeth.
The woman smiled. “He’s a great companion. Are you in terested in the Sanchezes’ home? The bank foreclosed on it last month and the asking price is very reasonable.”
“We’ve been looking for a place,” Holly said.
Daniel watched her. Holly could brighten anyone’s day with that smile. He quickly brought his thoughts back to business. “We’d like to get a feel for the neighborhood, so it’s good to talk to you,” he said. “What about the people who live there?” He pointed to Larrabee’s place. “Are they friendly, like you?”
“Mr. Larrabee has always been a very private person and we’ve never talked that much, not until recently. He’s running for city council now, and wants my vote, I guess. I’m sure he’d like to meet you—if you’re a registered voter in this district.”
“Maybe we should go and introduce ourselves,” Holly said, squeezing Daniel’s hand.
“He’s not there right now. He came by earlier, parked his Jeep out back, then left in his truck. He’s hardly ever at home, so as far as neighbors go, he shouldn’t be a problem for anyone.”
She looked at Daniel, then at Holly. “It would be nice to have another young couple, and maybe children running around here again. With the Sanchezes gone, it’s been too quiet.”
The thought nearly squeezed the air from Daniel’s lungs, but Holly seemed to take it in stride. “I like what I’ve seen of the neighborhood so far, but I think I’m going to walk around a bit, maybe check out the back of the property and the area beyond that,” she said. “I like hiking in the bosque.”
“What’s back there is mostly a horse trail,” she said. “By the way, my name’s Susie Kane. I’ve lived here practically all my life, so if you have any questions, come by tomorrow. Right now I’ve got to go. It’s bingo night at church and Mr. T and I are already late.”
The woman walked over to her white sedan, placed the dog on the seat beside her, then drove off moments later.
“Good work,” Daniel told Holly. “Now let’s go around to the back and see what we can find. Just don’t touch anything. If we compromise any evidence, it’ll work against us.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t touch a thing.”
They walked down Larrabee’s concrete driveway, then crossed into the backyard. “Hey, let’s take a look in that window,” she said. “The curtains aren’t drawn.”
Without waiting for him, she hurried over. “There’s a fatigue jacket hung from a hook, and on the door mat I can see a pair of boots with some reddish mud on them.”
He came up and glanced inside. “You’re too close. Back up a bit,” he said, not wanting to have her accidentally come into contact with anything, especially the window glass.
“Do you think that’ll be enough for a judge to issue a search warrant?”
“I doubt it. When it comes down to it, all we have is mud and a Jeep. It still falls short of probable cause.”
She curled both hands into fists and clutched her purse against her. “This guy gets all the breaks!”
“No, not all. We are getting someplace, and it’s picking up speed.”
She moved over to look through the smaller kitchen window, angling to get a better view. “There’s a box in there, Daniel, and a photo on top of it. Is that me at one of the press conferences?”
He came up beside her. “It looks like a printout, and it’s too grainy to tell for sure who that is at this distance.”
“But it could be me. Isn’t that enough for a court order?”
“A photo of someone we think might be you?” He shook his head. “Probably not, especially because he was officially at the gas plant for training ops. That could be part of a publicity kit he picked up there.”
“Daniel, we can’t just ignore it. Maybe we can find a way inside,” she said. “No.”
“Let me at least try the doorknob,” she said.
“Stop. Don’t do anything.”
Daniel stepped back and looked around. There was a tan truck parked at the side of the curb about three doors down. The driver, a man with a bill low over his eyes, was sitting there, watching them.
Daniel moved closer to Holly, his instinct for danger going on high alert. He was inches from the door when he caught the scent of rotten eggs—or worse. As he glanced inside the kitchen, he saw that the oven door was open.
“There’s something else on top of that box, beside the photo. I think it’s a phone,” Holly said.
As he heard a ring he felt a burst of adrenaline shoot through him. “Run!” He grabbed Holly’s hand, yanked her away from the door and raced away from the house.
They’d gone less than thirty feet when an explosion ripped through the air, throwing them face forward onto the ground in a wave of heat and flame.
“Stay down!” he said, pulling her against him.
Bits and pieces of wood, glass and roofing showered all around them, some of the debris on fire.
“What…” she managed, then ducked her head into his chest as big chunks of wood and insulation rained down on them.
“He was watching the house—and us. I caught the scent of gas, and when the phone rang I knew. A spark was all he needed.”
They crawled away from the heat and flames, then finally Daniel turned to look. After waiting a moment longer, he stood and gave her a hand up.
“He blew up his own house!” she said in an awed whisper, looking at the smoking hole blasted out of the kitchen. It looked like an artillery strike.
“He also destroyed whatever evidence was inside. This guy knows precisely what he’s doing.” Daniel grabbed his phone, called Preston and briefed him, raising his voice to be heard over the wail of approaching sirens.
“Yeah, we were set up,” Daniel said. “The fire marshal will undoubtedly find evidence of arson inside. To me, this looks like an act of desperation, so I’m sure he knows we’re closing in.”
“Did you see the make and color of his vehicle?” Preston asked him.
“He was driving a tan truck, extended cab. His neighbor, Susie Kane, might be able to give you more details.”
“I’ll run his name through DMV. Meanwhile, bring Holly here and we’ll take your statements.”
“No, taking Holly to the station’s not a good idea,” Daniel said. “That’s what Larrabee’s expecting me to do. He has a rifle and could pick us off outside the entrance or along the way. In fact, he may already be in position. I think we should stay on the move and remain unpredictable while you put out a BOLO on this guy. He can’t pin Holly or me down if we’re constantly in motion. I’ll stay in touch.”
“I’ll check credit card usage, ATMs and also see if his cell phone is on so we can get a warrant and track him. Watch yourselves in the meantime.”
Daniel closed up the phone and placed it back in his pocket.
“I heard what you said, but how long can we keep moving?” she asked as they hurried back to the pickup. A fire truck was coming up the street from the opposite direction, and several residents were on their lawns, looking at the smoldering house and the oncoming emergency vehicle.
“All night, if necessary. There’s a BOLO out now, so every law enforcement agency in the county will be on the lookout for him.”
“Sounds like it’s going to be a long night,” she said as they got under way.
“Yeah, but look at it this way. By Christmas this might all be over.”
“Tomorrow’s Christmas Eve. That’s not a lot of time,” she said.
“Either way, you and I can still have a special Christmas.”
She smiled. “We’ll have to decorate…something.”
He smiled slowly. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Her eyes grew wide, and she looked away, her cheeks flushed.
He smiled again, then after a moment grew serious. “
After I make sure we’re really in the clear, I’m going to arrange to meet Preston away from the station. I have an idea.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Twenty minutes later, they were on their way to meet Preston. As they pulled into a gas station off west Main Street, the detective was already there, waiting.
“I took a roundabout way here, doubling back, just to make sure we were clear,” Daniel said, handing Preston the keys to Gene’s pickup. “Here you go. Treat it gently or he’ll have your hide.”
“You mean he’ll try,” Preston said, his eyes filled with mischief.
“One more thing. How about trading cell phones with me, too?”
“Yeah, good idea. Anyone can find you on a GPS if they have your number and the right hardware,” Preston said. “And you can’t afford to stay out of contact.”
“Guys, I hate to point this out, but by switching pickups and phones, all we’ve done is give Larrabee a new target—Preston,” Holly said.
Preston flashed her a mirthless, lethal smile. “I’m so hoping you’re right.”
“My brother will have lots of backup and be ready to party,” Daniel said.
Preston looked at Holly, his gaze gentling slightly. “There’s more to this than catching the bad guy. It’s about standing up and being counted when one of my brothers has his neck on the line. It’s about honoring Hosteen Silver’s legacy.”
As Daniel and Holly got into Preston’s Explorer, Holly glanced at him. “How do you define Hosteen Silver’s legacy?”
He took a deep breath. “The most important lesson he taught us is that blood ties don’t make a real family. Genes and DNA are just scientific markers that belong in a lab, but ties of the spirit last forever. Our family was forged by the strength of one man. We honor him by being the men he knew we’d become.” He took her hand, but said nothing more.
She’d wanted a picture-perfect hearth and home, but these past few days she’d learned that what she’d truly yearned for couldn’t be found in a building. She had no home, and her future was in question, yet beside Daniel, she’d found peace and love. Perhaps she’d never hear the words “I love you” from him, but his heart had whispered it to her in a language that didn’t need sound.
“For the first time in my life I’m truly beginning to understand what walking in beauty is all about,” she said.
He looked at her for a fleeting moment, then kissed her hand. “Let’s finish what we set out to do—make sure the dirt-bag after you spends his holiday behind bars. Afterward, you and I will have our own well-deserved Christmas celebration.”
She smiled. Not exactly I love you, but it would do.
THEY TOOK TURNS DRIVING, avoiding the major streets and roads whenever possible. They stopped to pick up coffee a few times, but only caught a few hours of sleep here and there. By morning, the constant pressure had taken its toll.
“I’m so beat, I feel like a zombie,” Holly said, rubbing her eyes and trying to stretch in her seat, knowing it was her turn to drive.
“Fortunately for me, you don’t look like one,” he said, pulling over to the curb.
She laughed. “Did I hear you talking to Gene a little while ago?”
“Yeah, he and Paul have been watching our backs, making sure we didn’t pick up any unexpected company. Paul didn’t have to do this. The guy’s not ready for field work, but he insisted on giving Gene a hand with surveillance.”
“They both love you.”
Daniel opened his door. “Your turn to take the wheel.”
It was cold, and she slid over past the center console to take his place as he hurried around the front of the Explorer.
“What is it with you guys?” she asked as he hopped in and fastened his shoulder belt. “You’d face a gunman without so much as a blink, but any talk about emotions and feelings and you run for cover?”
“Not so. You ever watch guys watching a football game?” he said. “You’ve never seen so much love or hate going on in your life. And talk about showing their emotions….”
“You know what I mean. You’re being evasive.”
“Am I?”
She put the Explorer in gear, checked her rearview mirror, then pulled back out onto the street. “Never mind.”
Later, as the clock on the dash turned to six-thirty, Holly stopped at the drive-up window of a fast-food joint. They picked up breakfast burritos for both of them—and more coffee.
Moments later they were eating, parked in front of a school. As sunrise began to appear from over their right shoulders, the cell phone Preston had given Daniel rang.
Daniel placed it on speaker as Preston identified himself. “We just got a call from the tribal police,” he said. “The officer assigned to examine the possible dig site Holly pinpointed for us wants her to meet him there. After the recent storm it’s hard to find disturbed ground. He needs her help in narrowing down the location.”
“That came directly through police channels?” Daniel asked.
“Yeah, and I double-checked before calling you. It’s legit. Officer Benally said he’s parked just off the left side of the road. When you get close you should be able to spot his unit.”
“Copy that.” Daniel turned to Holly. “You ready for this?”
“You bet,” she said with a nod.
“Let me make sure we’ve got backup standing by. A few added precautions can’t hurt,” he said, then dialed Gene.
Forty minutes later, they turned up the same dirt road she’d taken that fateful morning. The sun was still low in the sky as Holly’s gaze took in the layer of frost that covered the high spots in the dirt road. It was Christmas Eve, a good day for Megan Olson’s family to finally find closure, and with that, peace.
She leaned forward and pointed to her left. “There’s a white tribal SUV about a hundred yards ahead. Officer Benally’s in the right spot—the old tire tracks left by the Jeep are still visible.”
Daniel reached for the cell phone, then as he turned off the road to follow the tire tracks, spoke to Gene. “We’re here. If there’s any news, I’ll call you back.”
As Daniel ended the call, Holly tensed. “I don’t see Officer Benally anywhere.” She shaded her eyes as she looked to the east, directly into the sun.
Daniel parked and reached for his jacket. “The vegetation is pretty thick right around here, so he may have decided to expand his search over that rise while waiting for us.”
Holly zipped up her coat as she followed Daniel along the fresh and days-old tire tracks toward the white tribal unit. “The day I saw Larrabee out here, his Jeep was right over there,” she said, pointing. “See the wide, faded tracks? He had some kind of big tool bag. At least that’s what I thought it was….”
“Good memory,” Larrabee said, stepping out from behind the tribal SUV. He had a semiautomatic pistol pointed at Daniel. “That’s why I knew I had to get rid of you, but you know the whole story now, don’t you?”
Daniel slid his right hand down toward his waist.
“Don’t tempt me, Hawk. I’m not playing laser tag and this is no training exercise. Keep your hands up where I can see them.”
Holly felt her heart hammering against her side. Taking a breath and trying to sound calm, she asked the question foremost in her mind. “What did you do to Officer Benally?”
“He’s taking a nap over there,” Larrabee said, cocking his head toward a cluster of thick brush on the far side of the SUV. “We can keep talking, but if that duct tape turns out to be too tight over his mouth, he may suffocate while we watch.”
“What do you want, Larrabee?” Daniel growled.
“Use two fingers of your left hand and take out your pistol, then set it down gently on the hood of your vehicle. Cooperate, or I’ll cap you, your new girlfriend and Officer Benally, in that order.”
“Why should we do what you say?” Holly said, surprised by how steady her voice sounded, particularly because she was almost sure she was going to be sick. “You’re going to kill u
s all anyway.”
“Maybe yes, maybe no,” Larrabee said, moving the pistol back and forth between them. “I can’t stay in this area anymore, no matter what happens, so cooperate and I might let you see Christmas.”
“You killed Megan Olson and buried her out here—but where exactly?” Holly said, wanting to stall and keep him talking.
“Let me guess, once I answer, you’re going to insist you’ve recorded it on your cell phone,” Larrabee said, then sneered. “This isn’t some stupid TV cop show, it’s the real deal, so don’t try playing games with a professional. Last chance, Hawk. Put the gun down—now,” he ordered, walking slowly toward Daniel as he cocked the hammer of the pistol.
Daniel did as Larrabee asked, never taking his eyes off the man.
“Now take two more steps back, Hawk, or I’ll kill the woman right now. I was on the pistol team back in the day, so I can put two rounds into her face before she takes her next breath.”
Larrabee picked up Daniel’s pistol, then eased the cocked hammer of his own weapon and tucked it into his belt.
Moving with slow deliberation, he aimed the barrel of Daniel’s gun directly at Holly. “Kneel on the ground. You, too, Hawk. I’ll make this quick and clean.”
“No,” Holly managed, standing up tall and trying unsuccessfully not to shake. “If I’m going to die, there’s no way I’ll do it on my knees. I’ll stand.”
“Caw!” The incredibly loud cry of a bird came from somewhere behind them. Larrabee instinctively turned his head to look, and Daniel made his move.
Seeing Daniel coming, Larrabee pulled the trigger. Nothing happened, not even a click. Larrabee looked down at the weapon just as Daniel tackled him.
Both men fell back onto the frozen ground and Daniel’s pistol landed somewhere behind them. “Get my gun,” Daniel shouted to Holly.
Larrabee grabbed Daniel by the throat, but Daniel kneed the big man in the groin and Larrabee’s grip relaxed. As Daniel punched Larrabee, Holly ran over and picked up the gun. Why hadn’t it fired? Maybe it wasn’t loaded. She looked down for the safety, and found a little lever with a red dot showing. Should she move it?
