“She wasn’t in the stables when I let the horses out.”
Zeke tilted his head. “Interesting, thanks.”
He ushered her inside. “Use my office,” he said loudly to Stanton. “Or, better still, you two go to the living room. Manny and I will wait in the kitchen.”
“Don’t leave the premises,” Stanton said, and glared at Manny. “You’re off the hook with the other case. Alibi checked out.”
“Thank you, thank you, Deputy Stanton,” Manny said, and relief washed over his young face as he slumped into a chair.
“Dena, you should put on some warm clothes first,” Zeke said, and stood behind Manny and rubbed his shoulders. “Down the hall, last room on the right, sweats and t-shirts in the dresser. You can borrow some boxers.”
“Thanks.” She knew where his bedroom was. What was he up to? Stanton gave her a quick nod of approval. Okay, so even in light of all that had happened Zeke was protecting her reputation. Sweet, but old fashioned.
“I’ll make that tea,” Zeke called after her. “Would you and Deputy Ortiz rather have coffee, Deputy Stanton?”
She glanced back to see Stanton looking hard at Zeke. “Tea will be fine,” he said.
****
Zeke pulled up a kitchen chair and rubbed his hands over the singed hair on his forearms. He thought it crackled. The soles of his feet were tight and pink. At least he didn’t have any bad burns. Manny put the kettle on the gas top and fussed around the kitchen for a few minutes.
“You okay, Zeke?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’ll live. Ah, listen…Susie Q. is missing…I’m going to put some clothes on.”
“And what will you do then?” Manny asked, and narrowed his eyes. “Stanton said don’t leave.”
“I heard.” It was like the kid could read his mind. They both knew Rocky favored Susie Q. That meant his foreman was here at Three C’s. “If Stanton comes back before I return, you go first with the interview.”
The less he said, the better it would be for Manny, if the kid didn’t know what he was up to, he couldn’t cover for him. “I’ll be right back.”
Zeke dressed quickly and let himself out the door to the garage. It was on the opposite side of the house to the living room. He prayed the sound of the automatic door being opened wouldn’t alert Stanton. Deputy Ortiz still worked around the outside of the casita. He hurried around the far end of the pool, crouched low, and pulled the hood of his sweatshirt up.
There was an open stretch before he’d reach the pasture where Dena had released the horses. He broke into a run and prayed the two pair of socks and the sneakers would cushion his hot and swollen feet. Excitement built and he gave a short whistle. Two horses came toward him. He stroked José’s nose.
“Not tonight, old-fellow,” he said.
He grabbed Nancy’s neck, smoothed her mane and stroked her flank, then threw himself up and onto her back. He hunkered down his body flush with the horse’s back and urged her into a trot.
He felt for his pocket. He’d gone through the safe in the office this morning, found a bunch of keys. No second key for the casita, but there was one for the abandoned house. He’d slipped it onto his key ring, not sure why. Just something Dena had said about him ignoring things.
The lake shimmered, dark and mysterious. A wave of sadness washed through him at the memory of making out there with Dena. She hated him now. He’d lashed out like a kid with hurt feelings and hurt hers. He skirted the border of the lake and eased around the side of the old ranch house. If he got the chance he’d set things right with her.
He slid off Nancy’s back near a patch of grass, and rubbed at his sore buttocks. Riding bareback was for the young.
“Wait for me, girl,” he whispered. Hopefully she’d graze. If not he’d have a long jog home. If he survived. A shot rang out, and echoed into the still of the night reminding him why he was here. He dove for the grass.
Nancy bolted.
And from behind the house Susie Q. took off after her.
Damn. He wasn’t armed. And now he had no freakin’ horse. What got into a man’s head that he’d confront a serial killer without a gun? Because said killer was an old friend, a childhood friend? Had he thought they were going to sit and shoot the