Michael McGarrity - Hermit_s Peak

"He wasn't the only one to show interest in her. Luiza attracted men.

Cute little thing. Real pretty in a shy sort of way."

"Can you describe her?"

"She was about five four, in her mid-twenties. Dark hair, dark skin.

Her left arm was skinnier than her right arm. She said she broke it when she was a kid."

"Do you know her full name?"

"Luiza San Miguel was her Spanish name. But she was mostly Indian."

"You talk about her in the past tense."

"Yeah, she quit and went home to Mexico. She was from somewhere in Chiapas, the southernmost state, on the border with Guatemala."

"You knew her fairly well?"

"Not really. But my old boss at the Box Z gave her a good recommendation when she came to work here." Griffin took his bowl into the kitchen, returned, brushed the dirt off his boots, and pulled them on.

"Did you work with her at the Box Z?"

Griffin shook his head.

"Nope, she didn't start there until after I left."

"When did she quit working here?"

"Soon after I fired Espinoza. Sometime in April last year."

"Did she give a reason for leaving?"

"Not to me. Maybe the boss knows."

"Where is your boss?"

"Santa Fe," Griffin said as he reached for his work jacket.

"Won't be back until late tonight."

"What about tomorrow?"

"She'll be here all day, far as I know," Griffin replied.

"I can't say I liked Rudy much, but I sure didn't wish him dead. You boys are taking some shit about that shooting."

Kerney held out a business card.

"Please give Ms.

Bingham my card. Tell her I'll stop by to speak with her in the morning."

"I'll do that." Griffin took the card and stuck it in his jacket pocket.

Kerney inserted his card key in the electronic lock and walked down the empty corridor past silent offices. The majority of the civilian workers and headquarters staff was gone for the day, but lights were on in the vestibule to the crime lab. He thought about checking in with Melody Jordan-if she was still working-but decided he had no reason to do so, and walked up the stairs to his second-floor office.

Kerney often worked late to compensate for his totally nonexistent social life. Tonight he was even less inclined to go home. The place would only seem more empty than usual with the departure of Sara and the dog.

A message that Andy Baca had called from Florida was taped to the handset of his telephone. He called Andy, who was about to leave for a cocktail party at the convention center, and enlightened him on the events of the week.

He rang off after reassuring Andy that everything was under control, and started in on the paperwork. He was halfway through a proposed plan for a narcotics raid when his telephone rang.

"Good, you're there," Melody Jordan said when he answered.

"I've got something to show you. Chief."

"Come up."

"See you in a minute."

Kerney's attempt to refocus on the plan failed as his gaze kept wandering to the open office door. He thought about asking Melody to join him for a drink.

Since he did not directly supervise Melody, it would not violate policy to do so.

Why not? Kerney thought. He was a free man with no obligations, and the company of a pretty woman might be the right tonic for his blues.

Melody walked in just as he forced his attention back to the text. She wore a black V-neck top under a waist-length lightweight jacket and a short pleated skirt that accentuated her trim figure.

He put the report aside and smiled.

"What have you got?"

"Test results on the bones," Melody replied, "confirming Dr. Lawrence's assessment. The victim suffered from rickets. That strengthens the possibility she was Latin American."

"That's good to know. Are you heading out?"

"You bet." Campbell Lawrence was waiting for Melody. He'd proved to be a very horny man, and she was enjoying every minute of it.

"So am I," Kerney said, standing up.

"Do you have time to join me for a drink?"

"That's a lovely idea, but I'm afraid I can't tonight.

Rain check?"

"Let me know when you're free."

"Sure thing."

Melody smiled, thinking that when it came to men in her life it was either feast or famine. Still, she felt pleased with the notion that she'd finally turned Kerney's head.

Melody left and Kerney tried without success to concentrate on work. He finally gave up and put the document away. He'd felt both annoyed and relieved when Melody turned down his invitation. He tried to think it through, but nothing came except a vague, dissatisfied feeling.

He stepped to the office door and hit the light switch.

He had to get back into sync. Somehow, he didn't think that would be easy to do.

Sara woke to the aroma of coffee and found herself on Susie's couch covered with a lightweight throw. She sat up and looked at the night sky through the picture window.

The lights of Tucson flickered, flowed, and gathered along the major roads and highways that bisected the desert floor.

She combed her fingers through her hair and found Susie in the kitchen, stirring a pot of pasta.

"What time is it?"

"Almost dinnertime," Susie answered.

"Welcome back to the living."

"When did I fall asleep?"

"About three o'clock this afternoon, right in mid-sentence."

"Can I help?"

"Pour yourself some coffee and sit yourself down.

Warning: I only brew leaded sludge."

Sara got coffee, sat at the Shaker-style table, and watched Susie spear a green bean out of the pot and taste it.

"A few more minutes," Susie said, turning to face Sara.

"This is simple fare. I'm not much of a cook."

"What were we talking about before I lost it?"

"Your extraordinary discovery of an honest man."

Susie brought over some flatware and place mats, and arranged them on the table.

"If you decide you don't want Kerney, would you arrange an introduction for me?"

Sara laughed.

"He sounds that good, does he?"

"He sounds yummy," Susie said, putting a salad bowl between the place mats.

"Tonight's menu is store-bought spaghetti sauce, frozen green beans, and salad with bottled dressing. However, I did cook the pasta to perfection."

"You're quite domestic."

"That's not where my charm lies," Susie said as she strained the pasta.

"Nor yours. Do you really think you can't be a career officer, mother, and a wife?"

"I could handle two out of three fairly well."

"So, which one goes by the boards?" Susie asked as she slid into a chair and handed Sara a plate of food.

"I haven't a due."

"Why not have it all?"

"I don't think Kerney would be willing to follow me around from post to post for the next ten years. Besides, neither of us discussed getting married."

"Maybe you haven't mentioned the M word to him.

But you've come close, with all that talk of a stud book and getting pregnant."

Sara poked into the pasta and twisted it around the prongs of her fork.

"I guess I have."

"You amaze me."

"Why?"

"You have one of the best tactical minds of any serving officer I know, and yet you don't have the foggiest notion of how to reel Kerney in."

"I'm not sure I want to be that calculating. I don't see you baiting the hook when it comes to men."

"Oh, you're so wrong. I'm just waiting for the right one to swim by."

"Okay, how would you reel Kerney in?"

"I'd ask him flat out if he's interested in marriage."

"I don't know if I'm ready to do that," Sara replied as she stabbed a green bean.

"Why not?"

Sara placed her fork on the edge of her plate.

"I'm not the wife type."

"You're sure of that?"

Sara picked up her fork and then placed it back on the plate.

"I don't know if I'm sure of anything anymore."