was going to help the redhead with bartending. She’d try to talk to her about the healing beads she’d bought from Isabella and sold at her spa.
Zeke turned, waved, and as he held open the back door, Manny came through it with several large canvases. They said a few words and Zeke clapped him on the shoulder in a half hug.
Would she be brave enough to tell Zeke what Manny had confided? Posada del Gato Negro now made sense to her. Dena understood Isabella’s need for isolation, and it had nothing to do with her painting. The feminine fabrics, the romantic feel to the place. She shuddered.
Ick! She’d slept in the bed where Isabella and Rocky had had their midnight trysts.
Should she tell Zeke? Did it matter?
She thought it over for a few minutes. Maybe it would help him to understand his mother’s need for privacy. But like Manny had said, were either of them in a position to say anything?
Chapter Fourteen
Four o’clock came too soon. Dena paced the small casita, picking up items, inspecting them, putting them back. She’d sent Manny on an errand, wanting the time alone to quiz Bob Carmine, the telephone repairman.
He arrived fifteen minutes late, which made her even more anxious. She eyed her watch for the hundredth time. Her plan to ride over to Cyril’s place after Bob finished his work was fading fast. She needed time for a shower before dinner.
Bob said something about the phone number. Dena frowned, asked him to repeat it.
“Oh,” she said. “I hadn’t realized the number was the same as the house number.”
“I can make it a separate line.”
The name on his uniform, Bob, danced before her eyes. She swallowed hard and shook her head. “It’s not my place, not my decision.”
“The request here says to activate the existing jack.” He raised the clipboard, watched her. “It’s your call. Be the easiest and quickest thing to do, won’t require any rewiring.”
Had he noticed her checking the time?
“Just do whatever the order says.” How would she go about sharing a line with Zeke? She paced back to the living area, watched Bob check the wires in the jack on the kitchen wall, and tried to stop her heart from racing so fast.
“Huh. Nothing wrong with it,” he said, and turned to stare at her. “You ever pick up the handset?”
Dena shook her head. “No. I was told it didn’t work.”
“So, whoever lived here before didn’t want to hear the incoming calls to the house?” That was interesting. “I’m so sorry you had to drive out all this way.”
“No problem. I’ll hang with Manny for a few minutes.”
“He went to the art store in town. I’m not certain he’s back.” She swallowed hard then took in a couple of deep breaths to steady herself. If this Bobby was the bad guy, should she be reminding him she was alone here? She forced a smile. “He said you two are friends. You’re Bobby, right?”
“Bobby?” he scoffed. “Can’t stand being called that, hated it in kindergarten, still do.” He laughed. “Manny must have had an off day.”
“Sorry.” Dena laughed and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “No, it’s me. I have a cousin named Bobby. I see the name Bob and automatically think of him.”
“Geez, my wife sometimes calls our son Bobby, and even then I cringe.”
“What do you call your son?”
“Robert, or Junior.” He laughed, shoving a few tools back into his utility belt. He waved a hand toward the canvases in the living room. “Manny said you guys are organizing an art fair.”
“Yes. Are you interested in art?”
“Nope, I leave that stuff to Manny. I haven’t got a creative bone in my body.”
Dena smiled and walked him up toward the hacienda. His cell phone rang and he grinned as he checked the caller ID. He chatted for a few seconds then turned to her with another smile.
“Sorry, that was my wife. She had to tell me something funny that happened to Junior.”
Relief rushed through her. He seemed like a really nice guy, one who wasn’t into dallying. She mentally checked him off her list of potential bad guys.
“Looks like Manny is still out, he—”
“Yeah, figures.” He gestured to the empty spot under the tree. “The garage is empty.”
Bob strode up the stairs and knocked on the back door. Irma let him inside and craned her neck in the direction of the casita. Seeing Dena at the foot of