She was glad to go.” Her mother laughed. “The woman probably danced all the way to her car—”
“Listen,” Dena said sharply, then quickly softened her tone. “I’ll be out of town for a few days but you can call anytime on my cell phone. Please, please, don’t argue with Ruthie. If you get steamed up, call me.”
“Sure, but we won’t be home much this week. Ruthie has all kinds of plans for us.”
Dena breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness her mother was doing fine, although she did sound breathless and giggly.
“Have fun. Give my love to Aunt Ruthie. I love you, Mom. ’Bye.”
Bless Aunt Ruthie. Her mother would be one less problem to worry about. She tossed the phone onto the passenger seat and eased back onto the road, deep in thought. Ruth was their only relative. How sad was that? Their family had almost shriveled up. Her mother had been spoiled by her father. Ruthie often had a problem with her sister’s self-centeredness, but deep down she loved her.
Dena figured she was more like Aunt Ruthie than her mother. But she was also a lot like her father. He’d been a big handsome man. Handsome was great for a man, but not so much for a woman. She’d always felt gawky around Carli and her mother. Not that she was that tall, she barely hit five-five, but compared to their five-two and delicate bone structure—
She ran a hand over her cheek, massaged the side of her face for a moment. Realized she had no idea where the Indio P.D. was. Next car she’d get a GPS, that’s for sure.
She laughed out loud. “Next car, hah, I’m unemployed. I’ve got a sick mother to take care of. I can’t even afford a bike.”
She pulled into a gas station and eased up alongside a Latino male who stood at the gas pump. The tires on his white truck were as tall as the top of her Mustang. He leered at her. He was the only customer.
“Excuse me,” she said. “Can you tell me where the Indio Police Station is?”
The man flashed a grin her way. “You in trouble…preeety lady?”
She didn’t have time for this, but replaced the beginnings of a scowl with a smile. “I’m picking up a friend.”
He leaned toward her window and she was thankful she’d let it down only a quarter of the way.
“He gonna have to make bail?” the man asked, and stared at her handbag.
She shook her head. “No, he’s not in trouble. I just have to pick him up.” Sweat beaded on her brow. Maybe he thought she had wads of money in the handbag that sat in full view on the passenger seat. She started to pull away.
“Don’t worry,” she called out. “No problem, I’ll find it.”
“Eees that way,” the man said, and stepped away from her car. He pointed to the east. “One eleben.”
She gave a quick wave and took off. She’d heard and read about the crime in this part of the valley. It was no worse than in L.A. This was just a smaller population, so it seemed worse.
She headed in the direction he’d indicated. Minutes later she pulled up at a red traffic light and saw a green street sign that read Highway 111.
“One eleven.” She burst into laughter, relaxed against the seat, and waited for the light to change. He wasn’t a bad guy after all. And on that note she felt a rush of everything positive. It was going to be just fine at the PD.
****
Deputy Stanton sat behind the desk in the front room of the Indio P.D. watching Dena approach. A tiny prickle of irritation worried the back of her neck. He was a Rancho Almagro cop, should he even be here?
She strode forward, her chin up. “I’m here to pick up Zeke Cabrera.”
“It’ll be a while,” Stanton said. He leaned across the countertop and folded his arms.
The other two deputies glanced up then went back to their work. She knew Stanton had waited specifically for her. Like one of Isabella’s feral cats, he was about to pounce.
She shivered and clutched at her purse straps. “Where is Zeke?”
“We’ll need to take a statement from you,” he said, and kept his voice low. “Breaking and entering, tampering with police evidence—”
“Pffft.” Dena flipped one hand. Now she was nervous. Earlier it had seemed fine. She’d even suggested giving a statement. Her heartbeat pounded and she reminded herself to breathe deeply. “I didn’t tamper with anything. Zeke will