Vanished in the Mountains

by Tanya Stowe

  He recognized the bright flame of restitution in her eyes. That flame was the only thing he had in common with the redhead and was probably the one thing he didn’t need in his life. After he’d struggled for so long to suppress those feelings, Dulcie fed the embers into life again...not to mention the fact that she set his nerves on edge. She was touchy and flighty, jumping away every time he got close. He didn’t doubt for a moment there was a story behind those actions. She had a history, a past he didn’t know and didn’t want to know. The last thing he needed was a woman as close to the edge as her.

  And maybe his imagination was running a marathon. He shook his head. A prolonged vacation might be the only solution to his overactive mind. He was due for some time off and his lieutenant had been pressing him to take it. The case was over. The Kutchner trial didn’t start for another month, a long time from now. Until then, he needed to put all those unwanted feelings and thoughts away. Maybe he should consider some time off.

  Determined to discuss the idea with his boss, he hung his hat on the rack behind him and checked the work cell phone he kept on Silent. Sleep was hard enough to attain without reporters driving him crazy all hours of the night. Since he’d arrested Kutchner, they’d been harassing him relentlessly and he needed to talk to them even less than he needed to be around Dulcie Parker.

  He had a message on his phone. He hit the play button, and Dulcie’s voice, the very woman he was hoping to avoid, echoed over the line. She sounded...scared. That shouldn’t have surprised him. She seemed pretty uptight and easily shaken. But still her voice sounded...more than just frightened. Terrified was the right word. He released a heavy sigh. This was the last thing he wanted today, especially since she asked him to call her as soon as he could.

  Fearing she had a complicating issue with the Kutchner case, he reached for his desk phone and saw the message light flashing. Dulcie was on the office machine, as well. Something was seriously wrong. Before he could even dial her number, the front desk buzzed him.

  “Hey, Turner, I’ve got a woman here who needs to see you. She’s pretty upset.”

  “Don’t tell me. It’s Dulcie Parker.” He shook his head. “I guess you better send her in.” He knew she was trouble from the minute he met her. There was just something about her...

  He rose from his desk. The officer led Dulcie into the large common room filled with deputies’ cubicles. Even across the room Austin noted her pale features—so white the red freckles across her nose and cheeks jumped out.

  Taken individually, her features didn’t seem to fit together. Almost black eyebrows stood out against her pale skin. They were too dark for the rest of her face, even darker than her large brown eyes. Her lips had all but disappeared in paleness. Her curly copper-shaded hair might be pretty if she didn’t pull it back so tight and flat against her head. But she plastered it against her scalp and frizzy little strands rejected those tight confines. They fuzzed around her face in fiery protest.

  She looked more than upset...and that meant Austin’s morning would probably go from bad to worse. He stopped a few feet away and nodded. “Ms. Parker, what can I do for you?”

  Glancing around, she stepped closer—but not too close, he noticed. He’d seen that action the first time they met, that she didn’t let him—let anyone—get too close. In a low voice she asked, “Can we talk...someplace more private?”

  Austin hesitated. Whatever she wanted, he didn’t need to provide. She was toxic to him...brought feelings to life inside that were better off dead. But her colorless features and large, frightened eyes got to him. He gritted his teeth and pointed to a small room off the main area.

  As soon as he closed the door, she pulled an envelope out of her purse and handed it to him. He opened it and read the message inside.

  Mind your own business or you’ll become a Missing One.

  Austin had heard the phrase only once, at a meeting Abey had helped organize. As a member of the Navajo Nation, she had been heavily involved in multiple social organizations. In fact, he’d first met her when he was doing overtime duty at a fundraiser for Native American teens. The slender, dark-haired beauty caught his eye the minute she walked in to give an impassioned speech to the young women of her nation. At that meeting, an older Navajo woman referred to the missing and exploited Native American women by using the term the Missing Ones.

  Over the top of the paper, Austin studied Dulcie Parker. There was a serious issue with missing and exploited Native American women. It was true, and if he’d learned anything about the woman across from him, she was the kind who would meddle in someone else’s business. She wouldn’t be able not to meddle. If he knew anything about her, it was that. Just talking to her would mean trouble for him too, trouble he was pretty anxious to avoid.

  He took a slow breath. “Whose business have you been minding?”

  Obviously, she didn’t catch the hint of accusation in his tone. “I have no idea. All I did was ask for some statistics on missing women in the local area.”

  Her voice trembled. At least she had sense enough to be frightened. Maybe she’d be smart enough to walk away.

  “When Doris Begay said her daughter was one of the Missing Ones...”

  Austin’s senses perked up. “Is this about the Kutchner case?”

  “No...yes.” She closed her eyes and took a slow breath. “I don’t know. All I know is almost from the moment Judy disappeared Doris Begay assumed her daughter was gone forever...or dead. I’m not sure which. When I asked her why, she mumbled something about all the missing reservation girls.”

  Austin’s jaw tightened. “So, of course, you had to check it out?”

  He couldn’t keep the irritation out of his tone. This time she heard the cynicism peeking through. Dark eyes, that moments ago seemed frightened and unsure, focused on him with startling clarity.

  “Yes, I did. I won’t turn my back on a woman or child...ever.”

  There it was again. The blazing passion that backed him down...backed most people down. It was a little scary. What was even more frightening... He understood that ferocious passion. He had one just like it, locked inside, eating away at his soul.

  That fact hit him in the face like a slap. Dulcie Parker put him on edge because she was exactly like him...just more honest and open about it. He’d run away from his problem, even tried to hide from it. But she spoke it, walked it and lived it. If he were honest, her courage made him uncomfortable.

  Ms. Parker didn’t appear to notice his startled reaction. It didn’t even slow her down. Now that her passion had been ignited, she was on fire. “Do you realize how many local girls are missing?”

  He tried to push the thoughts away, to douse the fire with a shift of his shoulders. “We’re surrounded by Native American reservations. They have the highest statistics so of course our local numbers are going to be elevated.”

  “Thirty-eight, Deputy Turner. Thirty-eight local women and girls have gone missing in the last three years. That’s almost double the amount in the previous ten years. Even accounting for the rise in sex trafficking that’s an alarming increase. Are you trying to tell me that’s to be expected?”

  The number was alarming. Why hadn’t he seen that figure on any reports passing through this office? Who generated that info? Definitely something he needed to find out.

  Before he could say so, she went on. “Those numbers may be acceptable to you, but they certainly are not to me.”

  That rankled. Was she trying to get a response out of him? Trying to ignite the same kind of angry blaze inside him? He’d been fighting for three years to keep that emotion out of his work. And now, here she was, this barely-tied-down ball of rage, trying to make him react.

  She wouldn’t like it if he did.

  He forced himself to keep tight control. “Of course those numbers matter. There’s someone’s wife behind each one of them.” His emotions flash
ed with anger. Where did she get off sounding so high and mighty? “I’ve never seen those stats. Where did you get your information?”

  “The Durango police department. Deputy Shaw.”

  Shaw. Austin knew him. Most folks in the local law enforcement did. The man made sure of it. He was ambitious. Austin had worked with Shaw and frankly, he wouldn’t put it past the man to try to call attention to his work any way possible. But Ms. Parker didn’t know that.

  “I didn’t tell anyone about my research except Officer Shaw and my boss. They are the only ones who could have passed that info on to someone else to create that note.”

  Austin didn’t know Vonetta Lauder as well as he knew Shaw, but he’d met her, watched her on the local TV programs and read about her in every newspaper in the county. Like Shaw, she seemed to enjoy the limelight. Neither of them inspired confidence in Austin. That fact alone made him willing to hear Ms. Parker out.

  “Let me get this straight. Shaw gave you some kind of report?”

  Some of her anger seemed to fade. “No. In fact, he wasn’t tremendously helpful. He gave me a couple of internet resources that didn’t tell me anything. But I’m pretty good with research. Once I got started, I found the info I needed and put the numbers together myself.”

  He stiffened. “You put the numbers together?”

  She tensed again. “I told you. I’m good with research. Actually, excellent.”

  “I’m not questioning your research capabilities, Ms. Parker. Just pointing out that there’s the possibility of error in your info. We all make mistakes.”

  She stared at him, stunned, and he watched all the spark and fire fade out of her. “You don’t believe me.”

  “I didn’t say that. It’s my job to find the facts, not make dangerous guesses. Here’s something else to consider. You were just involved in a high-profile murder case. Those investigations bring out the crazies and your name was all over the news. Maybe some unbalanced person or a former client decided now was the time to get back at you with this scare tactic.”

  She looked away. When she spoke, her voice was very low and tremulous. “It worked. I’m scared.”

  Austin released a frustrated sigh. “I didn’t say I would not look into this. I will. I’m just trying to point out how many explanations there could be. We can’t just go around jumping to conclusions, pointing fingers and naming names before we have the answers.”

  She gave a slight, hesitant nod. “I guess that’s true.” She pushed the strap of her purse higher on her shoulder and studied him, her dark eyes fathomless with strong emotions behind her tightly controlled gaze. He didn’t know what they were for sure...but they were there, held in check. The intensity put him off-step.

  He lifted the letter. “Can I keep this?”

  She caught her breath and hesitated. For the first time, she stumbled over her words. “It’s...it’s the only proof I have.”

  Mistrust. That was the intense emotion behind her gaze. Austin’s jaw tightened and his resolve hardened. “I get it. You want my help but you can’t find it in yourself to trust me.”

  Fed up, he shoved the envelope toward her. She gripped it with shaky fingers.

  Austin spun and walked toward the door. “I’ll look at all this and let you know if I find anything.”

  She fumbled with her purse, shoved the envelope inside as she moved toward him. She paused just short of the door. “Will you...can you call me even if you find nothing? I’d like to...know.”

  He nodded. “I’ll be in touch.” He opened the door. She ducked her head and passed him, but not before he caught the defeated look on her features.

  Austin followed her into the large common room and watched as she walked away. His instincts were right. She was a woman looking for a crusade and she’d triggered feelings from his convoluted past. Good police work didn’t happen when the emotions were engaged. He knew that better than anyone. He needed to step back if he wanted to assess this properly...no matter how many defeated looks Ms. Parker sent his way.

  He felt someone’s presence behind him and turned. Lieutenant Dale McGuire, his supervisor, nudged his chin in Ms. Parker’s direction. “What’s she doing here?”

  Austin didn’t trust his own prickly attitude so he shook his head. “Nothing important.”

  “Good. Can I see you in my office for a minute?”

  Frowning, Austin followed his lieutenant. Dale had helped him get the job here at the station. He’d been a good supervisor and a great leader. Austin liked and respected him for all those qualities.

  McGuire gestured to the door. “Close that.”

  So...this was serious. Austin was instantly on guard. “What’s going on?”

  McGuire stood behind his desk. “It’s pretty bizarre, that Parker woman showing up today. Not more than twenty minutes ago I got a call to watch out for her.”

  “Watch out. What does that mean?”

  One of McGuire’s eyebrows rose. Austin recognized it as his boss’s “I’m not happy” signal. But what was he unhappy about? The call or Austin’s questions?

  He got his answer immediately. “I didn’t ask questions. I just listened. You should follow my example.” Dale’s eyebrow still rode high on one side. “I was told that she’s a troublemaker. She was fired from her last job after some scandal. Now she’s looking to cash in on her claim to fame with the Kutchner case. That’s the type of publicity we don’t need. So back off.”

  Austin studied his superior. Even though he’d just had similar thoughts, it rankled to be ordered to stand down. “Since when do other people tell you how to run your staff?”

  McGuire’s eyebrow rose even higher. “I think what I said was to the point. I didn’t ask questions and neither should you. She’s trouble. Stay clear.”

  He picked up the file on his desk as if the conversation was over. When Austin didn’t move, he looked up again.

  Austin hesitated. He didn’t like this. It smacked of collusion. He couldn’t believe McGuire was okay with it. “Who gave you the call?”

  His boss took a deep breath, obviously irritated. “Does it matter? We were advised. That’s all you need to know.” When Austin still didn’t move, McGuire’s frown deepened. “Is there something about this meeting you’re not telling me?”

  Dulcie said Officer Shaw was one of two people who knew about her research. Shaw belonged to the municipal police department and was a rising star. When he talked, people took notice. Did his popularity extend to the county sheriff’s department too? How deep...or high did his influence go? And why was McGuire so resistant to giving Austin details about the phone call? For the first time, he questioned the motives of a man he respected and considered a friend.

  “Is that an order, Lieutenant?”

  His superior stiffened. “If that’s how you want to take it.”

  “I think that’s how I have to take it.”

  McGuire dropped the file to the desk. “That’s fine, Turner. Take it any way you like. Just see that you do it.”

  Righteous senses bristling, Austin turned his back on his mentor and stalked out of the office to find Dulcie Parker’s number. His boss’s uncharacteristic actions just pushed him over the edge. Something was going on and Austin intended to find out what it was. Ms. Parker just became his number-one priority.

  TWO

  Dulcie slid behind the wheel of her car, locked the door and closed her eyes. When Judy Begay’s murder investigation had been handed over to Deputy Turner, she was relieved. She’d liked the man and Dulcie couldn’t say that about many people. Her background made it difficult for her to trust. But she’d had a good feeling about Deputy Turner. There had been something about him...the sense that he understood. That he was as serious about crimes against women as she was...and that he was kind. That was the most important thing. Kindness. Her early years had been dreadfully empty of that
emotion. She craved it now like living water.

  Her experience with Deputy Parker this morning had felt anything but that. She knew people, had strong instincts about them and was usually right. How could she have misjudged Deputy Turner so badly?

  Did his boy-next-door looks turn her head, muddle her impressions? It was true he was handsome...and blond. Today was the first time she’d seen him without his cowboy hat, and she had to admit what was underneath that Stetson did not fail to appeal. He kept those golden locks short but they still had a stubborn wave in the front. His blue eyes were clear and so bright, they almost sparkled beneath the brim of his hat. He also had a cleft in his chin, a distinct little dent that set off his almost-too-pretty looks. Dulcie closed her eyes.

  Okay. So...Deputy Turner’s appearance had definitely made an impression and probably skewed her people instincts.

  But he said he would look into it. She had to trust him and get on with her day. She reached for the key in the ignition but her fingers trembled so she couldn’t grip it.

  She gave her hand a shake and tried again. Still she couldn’t take hold.

  She was scared. Too scared to go to work and face Vonetta and too afraid to go home. She leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. She felt like she was crossing the Grand Canyon on a tightwire with hundreds of feet of empty air beneath her. It had been a long time since she’d been this scared. Not since she and her sister hid in their closet with their arms around each other.

  Her cell phone rang and she jumped a mile, bumping her knees on the wheel. Taking a deep breath, she stared at her purse. It was probably work wondering why she was late. Should she answer?

  Of course she needed to answer. Otherwise they’d keep calling. On the third ring, she grabbed the purse and pulled her phone out. A sigh of relief slipped out as Deputy Turner’s name flashed across the screen. She couldn’t slide the on button fast enough.