Texas Hold 'Em (Smokin' ACES) - By Kay David Page 0,26
she said.
“Where do you stand on that autopsy? I just got a visit from some folks I think might be associates of the deceased. They weren’t real friendly.”
“You want it done right, or you want it done fast?
“Yes,” he answered. “For now, just tell me what you do know. You’ve run his prints, surely.”
A child giggled in the background and a dog’s feverish barking followed. “Damn it, Santos. Why do you always cause me so much trouble?” The question didn’t require an answer, and she didn’t expect it. The sound of clicking computer keys came over the phone then she spoke again.
“His name is Carlos Hernandez, and he’s from El Salvador. The cartel connected to his tatts is where he started, but basically he’s hired help now. Roams around doing odd jobs, if you know what I mean. No loyalty to any specific group. He was wanted for questioning in the deaths of two store clerks down in McAllen. A liquor store robbery that went wrong.”
“Next of kin?”
“Sister outside Ojinaga.” She paused, and the child laughed again, this time louder. “I gotta go. Stay safe.”
Santos moved to stand next to Rose, his fists at his side, anger lacing his voice as he told her his boss’s news. “Forget tomorrow night. We need to talk now. Meet me at the horse pens as soon as you can get there.”
Chapter Seven
Santos stormed away, and Rose turned to face King, who’d come to her side. His expression was troubled. “How the hell do you know that guy, Rose? You blew me off the other day, but he’s beginning to bug the crap outta me.”
She cut him off. “This isn’t your concern, King. Wrap it up and get back to the station. We have real work to do.”
She could tell he wanted to argue, then his face closed. “Anything else, boss?”
“That’s it,” she said. “Call me when you’ve got more on that shooter from last night.”
…
Her cruiser hit eighty just outside of town, the landscape speeding by. A clutch of low peaks was barely discernible against the darker horizon, a streak of lightning reaching down to meet them every few minutes. Once the sun went down, the day’s heat often ignited the sky with daggers like that, dangerous and sharp. They matched the desolate landscape, their raw power and unabashed fury a sight she never got tired of seeing. She’d come back to find her mother, and she loved her job and loved being close to her grandfather. But the rugged mountains and endless vistas were the anchors that held her in place. Once upon a time that task had belonged to Santos.
Her thoughts unraveled as the recollections spilled out. She’d loved him more than she had ever loved anyone else, before or since. He’d been someone she’d thought she could stay with for the rest of her life, not just because he made her forget herself in bed, but also because he made everything else so great. She’d felt betrayed when she’d thought he might have cheated on her and even more betrayed at his insistence she shut her mother out of her life.
Now he wanted her help, and it seemed she was facing an impossible choice once again. Damnit to hell, what was she going to do? And why had he put her in such an awful spot? Surely he knew what this was doing to her.
She reached the cutoff to the ranch and bounced over the cattle guard. The road split immediately, one branch going to the old place where he’d said they were staying, and the other one leading to the main ranch house and the pens. The gravel road climbed straight up. Her tires crunching, she turned right, going deeper into the lonely night. As she drove, she opened the windows of the car and let the desert-scented air wash over her. The corral came into view a few minutes later, and she pulled behind it, cutting off the engine and killing her headlights.
The silence filled her ears until a chorus of singing insects and gossiping owls took over. Then she heard the sound of footsteps.
Her hand at her hip, she turned slowly and from the darkness, Santos emerged.
When he stopped close enough for her to see his features in the starlight, he tilted his head and stared at her, his eyes so black they seemed to be part of the sky. She thought he was going to kiss her and, unbelievably, a part of her wanted that so