At Wolf Ranch (12 page)

Yeah, in her circle, all of that would be important. Still, she didn’t seem quite that shallow.

“The thing is, Lela and I wanted the cosmetics business to prove to our uncle that we deserved to run the company. He was always so hard to please. Nothing we did ever seemed good enough.”

“So you divided to conquer. Lela would have the school background and you’d have the company experience. Then you decided to get the MBA too. When you took over in a couple of months, you’d show him you earned it just as much as Lela.”

“With my parents gone, I wanted him to be proud of us.” She laughed bitterly.

Gabe rubbed his hand up and down her forearm. To keep her from falling back into despair, he changed the subject. “Can you run a combine tractor?”

Pride lit her eyes. “Yes. I can. I spent a month at the plant in Indiana.”

“Where you now attend school.” He put together the pieces.

She laughed, and this time the smile brightened her eyes. “Yes. I worked at the plant, and test-drove all the equipment.”

“So you could be a farm girl after all.”

“I said I test-drove it, so I’d know how to operate it. I didn’t say I was trading in my Manolo Blahniks for rubber boots.”

That made him laugh. “City girl.”

“Cowboy.”

“Hey, you own over one thousand head of cattle. That’s more than me.”

“I didn’t know about them, which is odd because I worked in that division and audited everything they oversee. If the cattle fall under Jim, why didn’t I find any records on them?”

“Maybe that’s what your sister discovered in addition to the missing paintings. Maybe your uncle has been supplementing his income with the money you make on the cattle.”

“Maybe. Are those the boxes of paperwork from my father’s office?” She cocked her head in the direction of the front door.

“Yeah. That’s everything. The thing is, I packed up those boxes myself. I didn’t see anything about paintings or the cattle. Most of it is the bills and insurance on the ranch. Nothing stood out.”

“Well, I’ll take a look and see what I find. I might notice something you didn’t. After all, you weren’t looking for anything.”

“No, not specifically, but I tried to scan all the files in case something important popped up. Your uncle wanted the stuff in storage, and he didn’t seem inclined to want to go through anything, so I thought to let him know if something important needed his attention.”

“His MO is to let others do things for him. He’ll probably send someone to go through the contents of the storage locker at a later date.”

“Lockers. The house took up five huge lockers.”

“Um, okay. I forget how big that place is. I haven’t been there since my father died in the plane crash.” Her eyes went blank on him.

“Hey, sweetheart, where did you go?”

“Why would Detective Robbins cover up a murder for my uncle? What else has he helped cover up?”

“Maybe the sale of the paintings. I imagine it’s easier to find a buyer in New York than out here.”

“I searched the Internet for any news reports that tie the detective to the art world. Nothing. None of the newsworthy cases he’s worked have anything to do with that scene according to what I found, but that doesn’t exactly rule it out.”

“Let’s start with what we know and work from there. Tell me what happened to your sister.” She needed to talk about it, but he hated to make her relive it.

Ella told him the whole story, her voice soft and infused with anguish. His heart throbbed with the pain he felt in every detail she described from the horrendous images in her mind. “My uncle stood there, my sister dead at his feet, and told the detective to find me, put me in a hotel room, and stage an overdose. Everyone would believe it, right?”

“Except you don’t do drugs. The people who really know you wouldn’t believe it.”

Her eyes went wide with surprise that he’d know that as the truth. “No, they wouldn’t.”

He reached out and swept his thumb over her wet cheek, cupped her face in his palm, and stared into her lovely, sad eyes. “I’m sorry, Ella. I like your sister. She had your strength and grit.”

For a moment, she leaned into his touch, then pulled away, her eyes reflecting her guilt. “I’m hiding in your house. I haven’t done anything to see that he gets what he deserves.”

“You found out about the paintings. The cattle business. The sale of the ranch. We’ll find the proof you need.”

“We?”

“No one fucks with my life and gets away with it. Besides, you keep holding on to me, and I’ll keep holding on to you.” He squeezed her hand to indicate their connection.

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want to let go,” he admitted. Feeling exposed, he added, “Not until I know you’re safe.”

The silence between them stretched, but it never turned uncomfortable.

“They talked about her murder like it was nothing.”

“They talked about killing you like it was nothing,” he reminded her. “Are you sure he doesn’t know where you are?”

“I can’t be a hundred percent sure, but I’ve turned off my cell phone. I used cash at the airport, and haven’t used my credit cards since I left New York. I used your phone to call Mary to make the funeral arrangements. Mary will erase the caller ID and keep that a secret.”

“But you’re having your sister brought here to be buried.”

“Yes, but what difference does it make if her body is stored here or in New York? She can’t be buried until the thaw anyway. My parents are buried on the ranch. It would be strange if she isn’t brought here and buried with them.”

“You’re taking too many risks. He’ll find out and send someone after you—or even come here himself.”

She knew the risk and took the chance anyway to see her sister buried, resting in peace with their parents. Gabe didn’t like it, but changed the subject. What was done was done. He’d watch out for her if Phillip’s henchmen came calling.

“How will you prove he killed your sister?”

“That may be a bit more difficult, but not impossible. I have a couple of ideas. Also, my uncle took something from my sister’s body. I want it back.”

“What if he got rid of it?”

“I don’t think he did. There was something in the way he looked at the necklace and tucked it away in his pocket. I don’t know how to explain it.”

“Like he needed to keep it and remember what he did?”

“Yes. Something very nearly like that. Odd. Disturbing, but he seemed to covet that item.”

“Your uncle is a psycho. What was he like to you growing up?”

“Distant. Uninterested. We lived in the same house, but you’d think we didn’t know each other at all. The only time he took an interest was when I was in the papers and tabloids.”

“He didn’t like your public image.”

“He believed what the papers wrote about me and my sister. When we were younger, she was by my side at most of the events before school took over her life.”

“Maybe your public life will save you.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Look at the media surrounding your sister now and the elaborate means he’s had to go to cover it up. You’ve got wealth and status. The longer you stay missing, the harder it will be for him to pull off his plan to get rid of you. I caught a couple news reports on the radio. People are already speculating about your absence in New York.”

“I didn’t think about that. My friends would expect me to step up and make a public announcement of some sort.”

“The people you know would look for you, try to contact you. They’d raise questions about your sudden disappearance, especially after your sister is found murdered.”

“My voice mail box and email are probably full of messages, but I can’t check them. They’re probably tracing my phone. They’ve got my name and face splashed all over the TV. They need to find me and eliminate me to get away with Lela’s murder.”

“Which is why you were so cautious when we met. You were afraid I’d turn you over to your uncle and the police.”

“You suspected last night that I wasn’t Lela, even before you saw the news this morning, didn’t you?”

He sat back in his chair and smiled. “It started with little things. The way you reacted when I called you Lela. You didn’t remember meeting me. You played it off, but not well enough. It piqued my curiosity, so I paid attention. Your eyes are close, but just different enough that I noticed. You don’t smell like her.”

That earned him a smile and a halfhearted laugh. “I don’t smell like her? Why are you smelling us?”

“Don’t be shocked, but I like beautiful women.”

She gave him a mocking stunned face with her eyes wide and her mouth open. It only made him smile more. He liked this playful side of her. Relaxed with him, she settled into the conversation and opened up.

“When I met Lela, the wind kicked up. I smelled her perfume. Most women smell good. You smell amazingly good.”

“You liked her perfume?”

“Hers I liked. Yours is addictive.”

“Are you flirting with me?” she teased.

It surprised him too, because she wasn’t his type. Beautiful, smart, sexy as hell, yes, but a city girl at heart. Not the country girl he wanted. Still, he couldn’t seem to help himself and continued to hold her hand firmly in his. Lost in the conversation and the connection they shared, she didn’t realize her fingers rubbed against his skin in a hypnotic way that pulled him under her spell even more deeply than he cared to admit.

“I’m working on it. Maybe I need more practice.”

“Um, so you knew I wasn’t Lela because of my eyes and the way I smell.”

He took her change of subject in stride. They’d get to the personal stuff over time. Right now, they had bigger things to talk about and clear up.

“I didn’t know anything, except it seemed odd. I saw the news report this morning and it made sense. I met your sister, but I didn’t get to know her. I’m sorry for your loss and everything you’re going through. Whatever help you need, it’s yours, because your uncle will go down for what he’s done.”

“You mean that.”

“My father says if you aren’t a man of your word, you aren’t a man at all.”

“I like your dad.”

“I like him too.”

“Do your parents live around here?”

“About forty miles away on the family ranch. Dad’s getting older. He’ll retire soon and travel with Mom. We’re trying to convince Dane to come home and run the place. Blake lives a bit farther away. He’s a world-class racehorse trainer. Caleb just got married last month and lives with his wife on her family’s ranch in Colorado.”

“Where is Dane?”

“Last I spoke to him in Nevada checking on the cattle I bought.”

“I’m sorry, Gabe.”

“I know you are. You’ll make it right, but now we have bigger worries than my lack of funds and potentially losing my cattle, the horses, this place. You know, everything.”

“I won’t let that happen.”

He wanted to believe her. Part of him did, but if her uncle succeeded in killing her, he’d be screwed. No way he let anything happen to her for that reason, and some others he didn’t want to name right now. “How about we brighten things up? Dessert?”

“I loved dinner. I can’t imagine what you’ve done for dessert.”

“I picked up a double chocolate fudge cake from the bakery.”

“Well, now you’ve found my weakness.”

“Careful, I’ll exploit it,” he warned.

“By all means, I’d probably give up my fortune for chocolate.”

“I don’t want your fortune.”

“What do you want?”

“To get to know you better,” he answered honestly. “Looks like I’ll get the chance.” He cocked his head toward the window behind her.

“Oh my God, look at that snow.”

“We’re due for a couple of feet over the next three days.”

“Are you serious?”

“I never joke about snow.”

Chapter 13

P
hillip sat behind his desk in the library now that the police had released the scene of the crime, his hand wrapped around a tumbler of bourbon, even though he’d like to wrap it around the cook’s scrawny neck.

“Mary, you took some clothes and shoes to the mortuary.”

Her gaze shot from the glass to meet his. “Yes, sir.”

“I’m still not clear what prompted you to take such initiative.”

“I’ve been with the girls since the day their parents brought them home. You are dealing with so much, what with the investigation into Lela’s death and Ella’s disappearance. It’s not right to leave Lela at the morgue. Friends and distant relatives have called asking about the services. I needed to do something.”

The tears gathering in Mary’s eyes didn’t affect him.

“Yet you didn’t set up a service. You instructed them to send the body to Montana when it’s released. Why?”

“Mr. and Mrs. Wolf are buried on the ranch property. It’s only fitting Lela is buried with them. I thought it better her body be stored at a mortuary in Montana rather than New York, so we can bury her as soon as her grave can be prepared after the thaw. Besides, we can’t have the service with the ongoing investigation and without Ella.”

Made sense, but she was still lying about something.

“Have you spoken to Ella?”

“No, sir.”

The lie rolled off the old bat’s lips so easily. She’d always been protective of the girls.

“You’d do anything for them.”

“Of course. It’s my job,” she added.

“And you want to keep your job and the sizable pension set aside for you when you retire from your position here. That pension goes away if you’re fired.”

The doorbell rang, saving her from answering his warning. Ella was too smart to tell the cook anything important, but he had to try just in case she might actually know something.

“Get that. If it’s anyone but Detective Robbins, send them away.” Before Mary exited the library, he said, “You should consider what will happen to you if I find out you’re lying.”

Her head came up and her steady gaze met his. “I do not know where Ella is.” She left to do her job and see who was at the front door.

Phillip believed her. Oh, she’d spoken to Ella, but she didn’t know where the girl was hiding. Which begged the question. Why was Ella hiding? All she had to do was come forward and accuse him of murdering Lela. He had made sure the evidence was stacked against her, but she’d, at the very least, raise suspicions about Lela’s death.

Only one answer came to mind. Ella was coming after him and he’d better be ready. He needed to find her and teach her a lesson about going up against him.

Detective Robbins knocked on the open door to get his attention before closing it and walking over to take the seat in front of the desk. He eyed the glass of bourbon, the only outward sign Phillip remained nervous about this situation. Phillip normally didn’t drink this early in the day, but he needed it to calm his nerves.

“Did you find out where Lela went those three days?” Phillip took a sip of his drink, trying to keep calm.

“She’s as cagey as her sister. There’s nothing on her credit card. She withdrew two thousand dollars from her bank the day she disappeared.” Detective Robbins rubbed his hand over his brow. “I’m still checking video surveillance at the airport, but it’s a lot of footage to comb through. In the meantime, I’m being pressured to bring Ella in for questioning. My superiors want to see progress on this case. I’ve tied the gun to Ella and can present the evidence to my superiors when we’re ready. The press reported the possible motive. We either see this through or come up with another plan and shift the focus somewhere else.”

“We can’t. We need to move forward, find her, and shut her up immediately. Give another press conference. Offer a reward for information to locate her. When you find her, kill her and make it look like she resisted arrest and tried to flee. You had no choice but to shoot her.”

“That will get my superiors off my back, but bring in internal affairs.”

“I’ll handle that for you. I have someone in the department.” Phillip didn’t say who.

“I don’t like putting my ass and career on the line, or all these loose ends.”

“Then do your job and find her and tie this up.”

“It’s not exactly that easy when the girl’s got more money than God. She could be anywhere.”

“How far can she get without accessing her accounts?”

“With friends as rich as she is, pretty damn far.”

“Check with them.”

“I have. None of them has heard from her. They are all worried and anxious, demanding I find her. They think whoever killed Lela may have abducted her. Even the press is suspicious about her disappearing from the public eye.”

“If you believe her friends haven’t been in contact with her, then she’s out there on her own. Find her before this all blows up in our faces.”

“If it does, don’t expect me to cover your ass.”

“Don’t expect me to help you. I’ll be out of the country, living the good life, while you rot in a cell if it comes to that.”

The detective knew when to cut his losses. He rose from his chair and walked out of the room without another word.

Phillip downed the last of his bourbon, spun his chair around to stare out the windows at the afternoon sun bathing Central Park in golden light and tried not to think about what might happen if Ella uncovered all his secrets.