VEILED MIRROR (2 page)

“I couldn’t sleep,” she said to Beth. She patted Maria’s hand as though it was the housekeeper who needed comfort. Perhaps she did. Maria had worked for the Pontifores for over twenty years. “Hi, Toby,” Ell said to the deputy, almost as an afterthought. “What are you doing to get Chris out?”

“Ellie.” Toby nodded and looked like he’d rather be anywhere else. “These old mine shafts are pretty unstable at the best of times, and with the monsoons they’re even worse. We’re trying to find out if we should get equipment for a rescue, or …” He stopped and looked down at the hat he was gripping awkwardly.

“Or retrieving a body,” Ellie finished for him in a flat voice.

Beth winced. Her sister never had been one to mince words.

Toby nodded but kept his eyes on his hat. “We’ll call you as soon as there’s anything to know.”

Beth nodded, but Ellie said, “I’m going out there.”

Toby looked up and frowned. “You don’t want to do that. The road’s a mess from last night’s rain, and there’s nothing—”

“I’m going out there.”

Beth knew that tone.

“Now Ellie,” the deputy began, but Beth cut him off.

“I’ll get our hats,” Beth said.

“How could this happen?
He knows every inch of this land,” Ell said for the tenth time. Her voice alternated between anger and pleading, as if she could argue with what was happening or persuade it to not be real.

Beth wiped a hand over her sweaty forehead. The high desert heat weighed on them despite the shadows from building clouds. “These old shafts are easy to miss,” she said, putting an arm around Ellie.

Silver and copper mines had dotted the southern Arizona landscape back in the late 1800’s, and few of them were mapped or marked. Beth remembered a news report about a man who’d stopped by the side of the road not far from Tucson, taken a few steps away from his car to relieve himself, and fallen to his death.

“This doesn’t make sense! What was he doing here? He said he was going to check fences to the south—”

The equipment set up over the three foot wide shaft clanked and the stony-faced men working there stepped back from the edge. A few glanced over at Ell, then quickly turned away. No one wanted to look too closely at her distress, especially since somehow word had already gotten around that she was pregnant.

“Okay, pull him up!” a sheriff’s deputy shouted. The winch on the truck bumper jerked to life. “Easy!”

“Be careful with him!” Ellie tried to step forward but Beth held her back.

Beth tried to swallow past the stone that seemed to fill her chest. The mic had picked up no breath sounds, but there was an ambulance standing by just in case. Still, everyone knew the rescue had become a recovery. Everyone but Ell. She kept talking like Chris might have survived the fifty foot drop.

Toby came to stand between Ellie and the shaft. “Come back to my vehicle. Let your sister do the I.D. This isn’t how you want to remember him.” He put a hand on her arm and she shook him off.

“No.”

Beth squeezed her sister’s hand. “Please, let me do this for you.”

“No.” Ell reached for Beth’s hand. Her fingers were like ice, in spite of the humid, ninety-plus temperature. “He’s my husband. I have to see him.”

“You can see him later, at the mortuary,” Toby said.

But Beth understood. Ell had to
know
. Now. When their mother had died they hadn’t been allowed to see her. It was because of the crash. No one thought two eleven-year-olds should view something like that. Their father had been too broken up to have a memorial service and it was as if their mother had just left one day and never returned.

Ell had to see Chris, or she would be waiting forever for him to come home.

It took almost a minute before the aluminum framed stretcher with its bloody burden cleared the edge. Chris was clearly dead. Beth hugged Ell but her sister stood rigid and unresponsive.

And then she collapsed in Beth’s arms.

H
ello?” Beth said into the telephone, then sighed as the perky soft rock resumed. She was on hold again.

When Ell had collapsed two days ago, the ambulance crew had taken her forty-five minutes away, to the emergency department at the nearest hospital. The doctor said Ell and the baby were fine, but she should take it easy for a while. So while Ellie sequestered herself in her room, Beth worked off the invitation list for the wedding reception, calling everyone to let them know about Chris’s death. It was an awful job, breaking the news to old friends, but it would be even worse for her sister to do it.

She’d called Palmer, Chris’s cousin, first. After a moment of stunned silence, he’d taken Beth off guard with his question, “Do you know if he’d accepted our Lord Jesus Christ as his personal savior?”

This wasn’t the response she’d expected, but then she remembered he was preparing to become a missionary. “I—I’m pretty sure he believed in God.”

“But was he born-again? When I talked to him last, he was still denying his need to have his sins washed away in the blood of the Lamb.”

“I couldn’t say.”

“And Eleanor? You must assure her that God will not abandon her in this, her hour of grief. ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.’”

“Uh, I’ll tell her.”

“Tell her she may call me at any time. I can’t leave my ministry here just now; the refugees are in great distress. But when she feels the need of God’s comfort, I would be honored to pray with her.”

Fortunately, Palmer was Chris’s only relative. After that, she put off making the personal calls to his friends by phoning the lawyers and insurance company.

“Your call is important to us,” a recorded voice intoned. “Please remain on the line and your call will be answered in the order in which it was received.” The music returned, relentlessly upbeat. In spite of herself, Beth started tapping her toe. She was nodding along with the rhythm of the third song when the sound of a human voice startled her.

“This is Mark Johnson. How may I help you?”

Beth jumped and stammered, “Uh, hello. I’m calling to let you know that one of your clients has passed away, and—”

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you. I want to get some information on how to—”

“Name of the deceased?”

“Christopher N. Pontifore.”

“Christopher M. Pontifore.” He repeated.

“No, that’s
N
as in Nancy.”

“Christopher Nancy Pontifore.”

“No. Just N. I don’t know what it stands for.” She’d have to ask Ell.

“Social?”

She rattled off the number Ell had given her.

“Are you the beneficiary?”

“No, I’m his sister-in-law. I need to know—”

“I’m sorry, I can’t give out personal information except to the beneficiary, and then only after we have received a certified copy of the death certificate.”

“My sister—”

“The beneficiary?”

“I think so.” She didn’t know if Chris had gotten around to taking care of such things before the wedding or after they’d returned from the honeymoon. She hoped so, for the baby’s sake. Arizona was a community property state, but she knew that the bulk of Chris’s money was tied up in some kind of complicated family trust. Ell might need the insurance.

“Anyway, my sister’s not up to making calls, so I—”

“Do you have the policy number?”

“No, I just—”

“Then all I can do is send you a claim form.”

“That’s all I wanted!” Beth snapped.

“Address?” Mark sounded put out.

Beth gave it to him, and hung up, feeling bad about losing her temper.

Thank God she was here to take care of this crap for Ellie. She didn’t think her twin could handle this right now. It scared her how quiet her sister had been the last couple days. Ell stayed in her room with the blinds drawn, curled up on the bed she and Chris had shared, resisting both Beth’s and Maria’s efforts to get her up and out. It had taken only a few hours to plan the basics for the funeral, and nothing more could be done until the autopsy was complete. There was nothing to distract her sister from her sorrow. Beth felt helpless in the face of such grief.

At least I can make these calls for her.

Her gaze fell on the next name on the list: Jason Blackforth.

Anticipation sizzled down her spine at the sight of his name, which she ruthlessly suppressed. They hadn’t spoken for four months. She didn’t want to talk to him now, but he was Chris’s best friend. He deserved to know.

Talking to him would be awkward. They’d be oh, so careful and polite as they ignored the elephant in the room. The shame of it was they’d really connected, and now they weren’t even friends.

The last time Beth
had seen Jason had been four months ago, when he’d visited her in Las Cruces.

When she’d opened the door of her little apartment, he was even more handsome than she’d remembered. The wedding photos, as good as they were, didn’t do him justice. A dark lock fell forward over his brow and his eyes widened in appreciation as his gaze skimmed over her like a caress. He wore black jeans and a dark blue button-down shirt that didn’t quite hide his muscles. She wanted to run her hands over his broad chest all the way around his wide shoulders, but somehow she restrained herself.

He lifted a brow. “I do believe you’re drooling.” Then he quirked a smile and his eyes flashed with heat. “But then, so am I, so we’re even.”

“Better wipe your chin, then, and kiss me,” she said. He’d been happy to oblige. Being held by Jason had felt so good. She’d longed for it throughout their many phone conversations, but the reality of it was better than what she’d imagined. Beth had half expected they’d cancel their dinner reservations, but Jason’s stomach had rumbled loudly, making them laugh, and they made it to the Double Eagle restaurant on time.

By the time their meals arrived, Beth realized she was doing most of the talking. “Maybe I should give you a call.” She hoped her words sounded like teasing and not a complaint. “You talk more when we’re on the phone.”

“Sorry.” Jason grimaced and took a deep breath. “I got some bad news before I left. I know we’d planned for a long weekend, but I have to fly back tomorrow. My boss needs me to work.”

Beth picked at her blackened salmon, trying to hide her disappointment. “So why are you here?”

The look he gave her was anything but distracted. “Because I had to see you again.”

His words almost made up for the loss of time together. “We could have done this next weekend, or the one after.”

He dipped his head a little. “I know. But I’ve been looking forward to this for months, and I may not have a weekend off for a while. I didn’t want to wait. Even if I could only see you for one night.”

It sounded so much like a bad line, but the sheepish look that accompanied it softened her heart. Beth couldn’t help smiling. Jason relaxed, and they talked as they usually did, about books they’d read, movies they wanted to see, her interest in training service dogs. Heat built beneath their words. Beth watched the way he moved his hands as he talked and wondered how he would touch her with them. She couldn’t help licking her lips.

Jason paused in what he’d been saying. “You didn’t want dessert, did you?” The hungry gleam in his eyes promised something better than crème brulee.

By the time they got back to her place, she was ready to jump him, but suddenly she felt nervous. She fussed with hanging up their jackets. “Do you want a drink?” It sounded so cliché, but she was suddenly at a loss. It had been a long time since she’d been with anyone. She didn’t quite know how to begin this seduction, but this seemed like a good start.

“Sure. I—No.”

She looked at him, suddenly worried that she’d misunderstood that look in the restaurant. That he wasn’t interested after all.

“I don’t want a drink.” He reached for her hand, drew her close enough to feel the warmth of his breath. “I want you.”

A thrill of anticipation raced up her spine. “I thought you’d never ask.” And then she kissed him—or he kissed her. She wasn’t sure who began it, but it didn’t matter. They were together, and the heat of his lips sent fire racing through her blood.

She’d wanted him for months, and wanted him to want her in return. Now she felt the hard length of his arousal against her abdomen, his need pouring in through her skin, her own desire blending with his.

His hands rubbed up and down her arms, sending sparks of light flashing through her. When he sat and pulled her into his lap the sparks ignited, racing over her skin like a wildfire. She met his tongue with her own.

A moment later he broke the kiss, breathing deeply. “I’m not sure this is a good idea.”

Beth looked at him.
Is he serious?
Despite his words, she saw the desire in his eyes. “I am.” She pressed her mouth to his.

Jason’s hand found her breast and she leaned into his touch as he stroked her nipple with his thumb. His caress sent electric pleasure singing through her body. Beth memorized his face with her lips, tracing the faint starburst of lines around his eyes, threading her fingers through his hair.

She shivered as he traced the curve of her ear with his tongue before returning to her lips. She opened her mouth to welcome him and unbuttoned his shirt halfway. A moment later her his broad pecs were under her hand, his dark springy hair tickling her fingers. She rubbed the hard tiny nub of his nipple. He groaned.

She stood and tugged him to his feet, murmuring, “Come on.”

Jason’s brown eyes were nearly black with desire, but instead of following her, he swept her up into his arms and carried her to the bedroom. She laughed with surprise. Laying her gently on the pink and green patchwork quilt, he followed her down, bracing himself over her.

“If you don’t want this, say so now.”

“Are you kidding?” She laughed raggedly. “That’s very gentlemanly, but if you can’t read me better than that, you must not be a very good lawyer.”

His eyes widened.

“Now get your clothes off.” His earlier comment resurfaced. “Unless
you’re
getting cold feet?”

In answer, he jerked his shirt off over his head, popping a button. “Not a chance.”

His chest was beautiful. “Thank God.” She pulled off her top and tossed it on the floor, then unfastened the front hook of her bra. She wasn’t very well endowed, and she wondered if he’d find her lacking.

Jason’s eyes grew dark and hot. He pushed her back onto the pillows and kissed her hard and deep, sweeping into her mouth with undisguised desire. Then he trailed kisses down her neck and chest until he reached one already peaked nipple. He was gentle at first, almost teasing, as he laved her sensitive skin with his tongue. She kneaded his shoulders, wanting more.

He understood, and drew her into his mouth. Pleasure sizzled from her breast downward. She moaned.

He lifted his head. “Like that do you?”

She huffed a weak laugh. “Shut up and get back to work.”

“I hear and obey.” He bent to attend to her other breast, grazing the firm tip with his teeth, sending a sharp jolt of lust straight to her core. His strong hand caressed her thigh, pushing up the hem of her skirt until he found the slick dampness of her silk panties. His fingers played there, teasing, stroking, driving her to a frenzy, then he pushed the delicate fabric aside and slipped his fingers inside.

Beth came instantly, arching off the bed with a sharp cry. Wave after wave broke over her as his fingers stroked in and out. Desire mounted again and she writhed, pushing against his hand, seeking more.

She almost whimpered when he pulled away. Then she realized he was shucking his pants and covering himself. His erection jutted sharply upward. She reached to touch it and it jerked hot and hard as she wrapped her fingers around it.

This was the
more
that she wanted. She quickly tossed aside her skirt and underwear.

Beth opened to him, hungry for the feel of him filling her body, filling her soul. He started slow, but it wasn’t enough. Beth wrapped her legs around his back, arching up to meet him, taking all of him. Jason thrust with long powerful strokes as if he wanted to become part of her. During all their long phone conversations and internet chats she’d felt a deep harmony with him. Now the connection was complete. When her need flashed over, it blinded with a blaze of fire that burned all the way down to her toes. And then he was coming too, convulsing around her, holding her tight. They lay there, holding each other close, trembling in each other’s arms.

Jason’s gentle kisses awakened her a little while later.

She smiled and kissed him back. “So when can we do this again?”

He chuckled and drew her hand down to his erection. “Now would be good.”

Beth laughed, and squeezed his cock. “I mean, when can you come back? Or I could come to Austin, if you want. I have some vacation days saved.”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. My work schedule is pretty hairy. That’s why I’m here now.”

Her flash of anger startled her, and she struggled to push it away. “I see.”

Jason pulled back a little to look at her. “Don’t go all remote on me. What’s the matter?”

“It’s just that …” She felt like an idiot. An unreasonable idiot. “Never mind.”

“Tell me.”

She took a deep breath and blew it out. “I want a little more predictability than that. You know what my childhood was like, mine and Ellie’s. After all that moving around, all that uncertainty, I promised myself that when I was grown up I’d live a nice, normal, stable life.”

Jason was quiet. Too quiet.

“Don’t worry about it,” she continued. “I can cope. You just pushed one of my hot buttons.” Then she climbed astride him. “Now I’ll push yours.”

And he let her.

The next morning, as the early light filtered into the room, Jason gently swept the tangled hair from her face and explained why they shouldn’t see each other again.

Beth pushed the memory
away. She’d revisited that scene too often over the last four months. Now, seeing his name and number on the list, the image of his dark curling hair and brown eyes sprang fresh and clear to mind, as did the searing memory of that last conversation.