Land of Entrapment

by Andi Marquette

  And we’ll bring these bastards down.”

  “But it won’t change them. And there’ll be more.

  There’re always more.”

  “Each one we stop is one less to deal with in the future. Don’t go down this road. You’re doing a good thing.”

  “But what if she’s not done with the movement?

  What if she’s just done with Cody?”

  She shrugged. “She makes her choices. If she goes back in, that’s her decision. And you might have to let her go. I know that sounds harsh.”

  My stomach clenched. “You’re right. It’d be enabling her if I chased after her again. I guess I’ll just hope that when this is over, she’ll be done with it.” She squeezed my hand again. “Hang in there, esa.

  We’ll get through it.”

  “Thanks for bringing me out here. And thanks for everything.”

  She smiled at me. “You’re my best friend in the world. There’s no way I’d let you go through this alone.”

  I felt a huge lump in my throat. “I love you, Chris.”

  “I love you back, Kase. Speaking of which, how’s Little Miss Hurricane?”

  She was trying to distract me because she knew how I could get all caught up in my analyses and my wheels spin and I can hit a downward spiral. But I also knew she was interested in my personal life and wanted to make sure I was okay.

  I sighed heavily. “A problem.”

  Chris shot me a quick look. “Oh, really? In a good way or a bad way?”

  “It depends on your definition of those terms.” I told her what had been happening with Sage and also about the night before.

  “Holy shit,” Chris breathed when I had finished.

  “I have got to meet this woman. Anybody who has K.C. Fontero acting like a head case is a person of interest.”

  “It’s not funny.” I groaned and looked out my window. “I mean, she’s a bit younger than I am.”

  “Whatever. She’s thirty. You’re thirty-four. Like that’s such a huge difference.”

  “I live in Texas.”

  “So?” Chris glanced in her rearview mirror and then passed a slow-moving RV. She eased back into the right-hand lane. “All right, listen. Let’s suppose you hook up with her.”

  I shot her a glare.

  “No, c’mon. Just suppose. If it’s going to work, distance won’t matter. And if it’s not, it won’t. What exactly are you looking for with her?”

  “I don’t even know. I don’t think she’s the summer fling type.” I adjusted my seat slightly and leaned back.

  “Doesn’t sound like it. And if that’s all you want, then you’d better not mess with her. It’s dishonest.

  For both of you.” Chris slowed down at a curve.

  “After last night, there’s no way I would even try a fling. She’s too—I don’t know. She’s a force of nature. That’s the best way to describe it.”

  Chris started laughing. “Whoa.”

  “I mean, she taps into you. It’s like she reads runes on your soul or some crazy shit like that. Not in a bad way. She just is. She lays it on the line and I get the feeling if you didn’t meet her halfway, she probably wouldn’t give you the time of day.”

  Chris was quiet for a bit. “This sounds potentially serious.”

  “I don’t know what it is. But she moves me. And it scares the living shit out of me.”

  “Hey.” She reached over and took my hand again.

  “No. No, no, no. Do not close yourself off because you had a bad experience with Melissa. Yeah, she fucked up. And yeah, you went through hell with that and maybe screwed up a little, too. But one bad experience does not a lifetime make. If Sage is everything you think she is and if she sees what a fine woman you are, there is no reason in hell not to give it a shot.”

  “This from a woman who isn’t the marrying kind,” I muttered.

  “Just because I’m not doesn’t mean I diss it in others. You’re the marrying kind, Kase. I know that about you. I know that some day, the part of our relationship that involves sex is going to end because you’ll meet her, whoever she is.”

  I opened my mouth to say something but Chris overrode it.

  “Don’t worry. I’ve always known that. So have you. And there’ll be times that I’ll miss that with you—no doubt. I have enjoyed that aspect of our relationship and I don’t know why I got so lucky to get that with you, but it’s too precious to forget. I will always have the memories and I will always be your friend, no matter how we express it.”

  “Dammit, Chris, I’m gonna cry.” I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I wiped with my free hand.

  She kissed my knuckles.

  “My advice? See where this goes with Sage. I think she might be really good for you. And if it lasts, there you go. If it doesn’t, it’s not like you haven’t been there before.”

  “I am so lucky to have you in my life.”

  “Damn right. And don’t you forget it.”

  I started laughing as we crested the rise that would take us back into Albuquerque.

  WE PULLED UP in front of Sage and Jeff’s. Both their vehicles were parked along the curb. Mine was still around the corner. I had bought Chris dinner as promised at Monroe’s, another Mexican and New Mexican restaurant near Old Town. Chris shut the engine off and we both got out.

  “Hey!” Jeff was sitting on the front porch smoking a cigar with Rob and Mike from the barbecue.

  “How was your trip?” I asked as we mounted the steps.

  “It was good. Way hot. I can’t believe I grew up there.”

  “Hey, guys,” I said to Rob and Mike. “This is Chris, a friend of mine.”

  Introductions established, Jeff asked if we wanted a beer. “Plenty left over from the party,” he said, laughing.

  Sage suddenly appeared at the front door. My heart stuttered.

  “Hi,” she said, bubbly as usual. “You must be Chris. C’mon in.”

  Chris shot me a look as she followed me inside.

  Sage was already in the kitchen rummaging in the fridge. “Beer?”

  “Not for me, thanks,” Chris responded. “I have to work early tomorrow. But don’t let that stop you.”

  Sage grinned and took two Rio Grandes out. “You need one,” she said to me as she popped the top and handed it over. She was right.

  “And yes, I’m Chris.” She shook Sage’s hand.

  “How about iced tea, then?” Sage asked.

  “Love some.”

  “Cool. You want to sit down? How about out back?”

  “That would be great.” Chris preceded me to the back porch, where Sage and Jeff kept a few chairs. She sank gratefully into one and I took one on her left. I could hear Sage singing softly in the kitchen as she got Chris’s drink.

  “She’s hot,” Chris said softly. “You’d be an idiot not to follow up.”

  I glared at her.

  Sage emerged, carrying a beer for herself and a big glass of tea for Chris. She handed it to her and sat down on Chris’s right.

  “And how was your day?” she asked both of us.

  I told her briefly what had happened, including the trip to Edgewood.

  “Well, I feel better about you playing cop with the real thing right here,” Sage teased, throwing a grin at Chris. “Although it’s a tough job, keeping an eye on K.C.”

  “You have no idea,” Chris said innocently before she took a sip of tea.

  “Hey!” I retorted, pretending to be insulted. My Austin cell phone rang. The number in the ID looked vaguely familiar. Oh, yeah. Dragon. “Excuse me, y’all.

  It’s my tattoo contact.”

  “Don’t mind us,” Chris teased. “Wouldn’t want to interrupt something like that.”

  “Whatever,” I snapped good-naturedly as I stood up and headed into the mud room. “Hello?”

  “Hi, K.C.? It’s Dragon.”

  “Yeah. Thanks for calling. Listen, that situation I was telling you about is a go for Tuesday. But I was wondering if we
could meet somewhere besides the shop. I don’t want anyone to spot me getting worked on who might have, you know, connections.”

  “Oh, yeah. Totally. I get off work tomorrow at eight. I don’t mind if you come to my place. I’m over on Girard and Lead. Eighteen twelve Lead. You’ll know the place ’cause of the mailbox. I’ve got materials there.”

  “Excellent. Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow.” We signed off and I called Melissa. She picked up on the second ring. I had to tell her what was going on with Megan and I also knew that Chris would use the time to get a read on Sage.

  “Hi. I’m sorry I haven’t called back. I heard from my realtor and it’s a go. They’re accepting my offer.

  We’ll be able to close in a couple of weeks, maybe the first week of August.”

  She sounded really excited. “Wow,” I said, excited for her. “That’s awesome, Meliss’. How are you doing otherwise?”

  “Hanging in. I started boxing some stuff up. It feels really good.”

  I took a deep breath. “And speaking of good, Megan’s prints aren’t anywhere on the envelope or the CD.”

  “Oh, my God.” Relief flooded her voice.

  “I think either Cody or Watkins hid it there and now both want it back. I don’t know if they’re on the outs or not, but they’ve both been by.”

  “I’m trying really hard not to think about the fact that Megan’s with a potential murderer.” Melissa’s voice sounded distant.

  I didn’t know what to say to that, so instead I quickly briefed her on my trip to Edgewood with Chris.

  “Did you see her?” Melissa’s voice sounded hopeful but strained.

  “No.” I then explained what Chris had told me about bringing Cody in and how we needed to go slowly and make sure everything was in place. She wasn’t happy about it.

  “I know how this goes. I know how it is with info-gathering and police work. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

  “I’m not exactly thrilled myself. But I’ll keep you updated, okay?”

  She was quiet for a second before speaking again.

  “I wish I knew how to thank you.”

  “Hey, what’s important here is making sure Megan’s okay and also making sure you’re okay. How are things at home?”

  “Same as they have been for six months. Don’t worry.”

  “Okay. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “Thanks.”

  “And congrats again. That’s great news about the house.” We said our goodbyes and I hung up. I rejoined Chris and Sage on the porch, sliding into my recently vacated chair. “Okay, you can stop talking about me. I’m back.”

  Chris laughed. “Suspicious, aren’t you?” She stood. “I have to take off. I do have to be up early and I need to get a little sleep. Wouldn’t want those bad guys to kick my ass.” She set her empty glass down on the little end table that stood against the back wall.

  “I’ll talk to you in a few, Kase.” She turned to Sage.

  “It was an absolute pleasure meeting you. I hope I see you again.”

  “You will,” Sage said, flashing a meaningful glance at me.

  “Thanks, Chris,” I said as she descended the back steps. “You’re a goddess.”

  She waved.

  “Bye,” Sage yelled after her.

  I took a swig of beer. Sage moved into Chris’s seat. I felt heat race through my veins. “So what did you two talk about?”

  She smiled at me and I could see it even in the gloom of early nightfall. “You, of course. She’s very perceptive.”

  “I know. I hate that about her.”

  “Come on,” Sage said softly. She reached out and pulled on my hand. “I’m taking you home.”

  I followed her to Megan’s and she waited while I unlocked the doors. She followed me in and locked the security door behind us before she turned on the swamp cooler. I watched her. It felt perfectly natural, having her around like this. She pushed me gently toward the bedroom. “Go lie down.”

  I forgot how to swallow but I managed to put my beer bottle on the shelves in the living room. I followed her into the bedroom, where I stood by the bed, sparks shooting through my stomach. Sage went into the bathroom and emerged with a bottle of lotion

  “Take your shirt off.” She motioned to the bed. “And lie down on your stomach.”

  “Excuse me?” This was definitely not how I envisioned things happening between us.

  She arched an eyebrow, a teasing remonstration.

  “You’ve had a rough day. I’m going to work on your back. You need to let the bad energy out. Now take your shirt off.” She turned away. “I’m not looking.”

  Her tone was gentle.

  I licked my lips nervously but did as she requested.

  “Bra, too,” she added, back still to me.

  “Geez, Sage. If you wanted to get me naked—”

  “Eventually. And I can guarantee you won’t be arguing with me when I do.”

  I almost choked on my breath but I took my bra off and stretched out on the bed, stomach down. I felt her straddle my lower back, thighs on either side of me. Oh, my God. Why? Why must she do this to me? The skin of her thighs brushed my sides. I heard her squeeze lotion into the palm of her hand and then she rubbed her hands together a bit, warming it. Before I was emotionally prepared, her hands met my bare back and I almost lost my mind. She started by caressing the muscles along my spine and shoulder blades then she increased the pressure, stopping a few times to add more lotion. I was caught between utter relaxation and complete arousal.

  “God, that feels so good,” I muttered. I heard her laugh.

  “Yes, it does.” She moved her hands to my lower back and kneaded carefully. “Nice art,” she added, in reference to the six-inch rendition of the jackal-headed Egyptian god Anubis on my shoulder blade.

  He was kneeling, holding a scale. On one side was the feather of truth and on the other a heart. If a heart was lighter than the feather, that person had lived a good life and passed into all the good things the afterlife offered. If not, well, the person got stuck in the Egyptian version of hell. In my tattoo, the heart and the feather were equally balanced. “I don’t think you’ll need to worry,” Sage continued. “Your heart is much lighter than the feather.”

  “You think so?” I mumbled.

  “I know so.”

  “Your hands are amazing,” I continued, not sure where the words were coming from.

  “I’ll bet you say that to all the girls,” she said, teasing.

  “Nope.” I sank into the heat beneath her palms and my attraction to her. Her fingers were on my shoulders now, rubbing. Her right hand worked on my neck and the muscles in her thighs contracted against my skin as she moved above me. “Sage, you’re a problem for me.”

  “A problem, huh? How’s that?” She squeezed more lotion into her palm. Her voice was calm.

  “You make me feel things.” God, I sounded and felt like I was drunk.

  “And that’s a problem because?” Her hands moved the length of my back.

  “I don’t know. Shit, I don’t know anything anymore.”

  She stopped suddenly. “K.C., why do you look for problems in the middle of solutions?” She ran her fingers through my hair. “This is about me, Sage Crandall, wanting you, K.C. Fontero. And it’s about you, K.C. Fontero, wanting me, Sage Crandall. Where is the problem in that?”

  I felt her lean down, felt her lips briefly on the back of my neck. “Swimming against the current is a lot harder than swimming with it.” Her hands were on my shoulders. “I’m not going anywhere. I want to know you better. So let me.” She pushed gently off of me. “Get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.” I grabbed my tee and put it on when she went into the bathroom to return the lotion to its rightful spot.

  When she emerged, I blocked her way and slid my arms around her, pulling her against me.

  “Thank you,” I breathed against her ear. Her arms encircled my neck. “I’m trying,” I said softly.

 
“I know,” she whispered. I felt her lips on my cheek. “It’s okay to jump.” She hugged me closer then released me. I followed her to the door. She turned, traced my jawline with her fingertips. “I’ve waited this long for you. I don’t mind waiting longer.” She held my gaze then turned and headed for the main house. I watched her ascend the steps.

  “Good night, Sage.”

  She paused. “Good night, K.C.” And then she went inside.

  I shut the door and locked it and sat on the couch in the dark, thinking. I had dated here and there since Melissa. Nothing really serious, though. I had missed what I had with Melissa, but I wasn’t sure I missed Melissa during the years away. I missed the idea of her more. Life hadn’t been easy with her or her demons. Which isn’t to suggest that I wouldn’t do it again. I had fallen in love with her and I had loved her until it was done. On some levels, I loved her still.

  I always would. She was part of me and my past, after all. But I didn’t feel for her now what I felt for her then. And what I felt for her then was nothing like what I was beginning to feel for Sage. I was different now, after all. I smiled in the dark. And Sage was completely different, too. Like nothing I’d ever experienced. Take the path, I heard my inner voice say.

  Take it.

  It might have been an epiphany I had that night.

  Or it might just have been the effects of a great massage from an astounding woman. All I know is that I let go of Melissa and I let go of the years in between and it was a physical sensation, like a shedding of skin. Abuelita told me once years ago that opportunities and hard work are sometimes two sides of the same coin. To get to one, you need the other. I stood up and went to the bedroom. I wanted to give Sage my undivided attention and I couldn’t do that just yet. Not until this thing with Megan came to some sort of conclusion.

  Chapter Sixteen

  I HATED THE tattoos Dragon inked on my inner forearms, no matter that they were temporary. A small clenched fist surrounded by a Roman wreath-looking thing marked my inner left forearm, signifying white power. On my inner right he drew the number 88. Fortunately, they weren’t more than an inch in size. Small enough not to attract attention from people who didn’t know anything about white supremacists but just large enough to draw attention from people who had those inclinations.