saw two men jump into the brown sedan that had been parked down the street. They pulled a U-turn and left the area.
Christy quickly checked the rest of the house without touching anything. She was alone. A message light blinked on the phone machine. Using the edge of her jacket, she pushed the button to play it back.
“Amigo,” a thickly accented voice said. “Thirty minutes. Foothills. Smell fire. They got at least ten. Loaded. Left…” The line went dead. Christy knew she’d just heard the voice of Armando, and he sounded stressed. He’d spoken in some sort of code. She didn’t have time to put together the pieces, but knew she had to get the message to Kyle right away. Something told her it could mean a matter of life or death. She jotted down the words, replayed the message until she got it right.
Would Kyle believe her? Well, yes, if he heard the message. But knowing he wanted to disappear, would she even be able to find him?
She remembered what he’d told her about the community, and how the buzz traveled like the Underground Railroad. Everyone knew about everyone else somehow. So, if she gave one of the team guys a message, Kyle would come. She was counting on it.
Christy drove to the Golden Bear Café and searched for square shouldered, stern looking men with tattoos and didn’t spot one. But she saw the cook Kyle knew. Griz. Maybe he’d have a suggestion.
Griz’s unshaved chin was heavily scarred on the right side. His steel blue eyes wandered carefully up and down her torso with a glint of appreciation for another man’s lady. At least that’s how she interpreted it, anyway.
“Well, hello there. You flying solo today, or is he meeting up with you later?” Griz asked her while wiping his hands on his stained apron.
“I was hoping you’d remember me,” Christy said as she looked down at her sandaled feet with the pink toenail polish, and then back up to his face before her tears burst loose.
Damn those pink toes.
“You’re not exactly easy to forget.” He smiled, but didn’t look at her cleavage, though she could tell he wanted to. She liked that part about this community, the respect they showed her. The direct look without flinching, Not hiding the effect she had on him.
“You wanna beer?” he finally said.
“No, thanks.”
“Well then, Missy, what can I do you for?” He chewed on a toothpick as he nodded to a couple just entering the diner.
“I’m looking for Kyle. It’s important.”
“Well, I haven’t seen him since yesterday. With you. Doubt he’ll be here tonight either. Not his scene.”
“If you could put the word out. I need to talk to him about a friend of his.”
“Um hum. This a message he’s going to want to hear?” The man pinned her with his eyes, being careful, protective of Kyle.
“Yes. He’s looking for someone. You know, Armando. I may have some information.”
“’Kay. So you have some information about Armando. Where should he contact you if I hear from him?”
Christy fished out her business card. “My cell phone’s at the bottom.”
Griz flipped the card back and forth against his other thumb, obviously thinking. He looked like he wanted to say something, but stopped himself. Christy felt the awkwardness of the two of them standing in a nearly empty room.
“Well. I’ve got to go. I’m going to drive around and see if I can spot his Hummer.”
He nodded. “You two have a little tiff?”
“That’s an off limits question.”
“Could be, but then Kyle’s a special operator and we look out for each other.”
“I know about that. Any idea where he’s staying?”
“You’re asking me? I’m surprised he let you escape.”
Griz grinned full out, but lopsided and apologetic. She saw the heart of gold inside the rough-hewn man of steel.
Christy scratched the back of her head, hoping to break the tension and change the mood. “I’m sorry I bothered you. I’ll be off now. But if you think of anything, please give me a
Christy quickly checked the rest of the house without touching anything. She was alone. A message light blinked on the phone machine. Using the edge of her jacket, she pushed the button to play it back.
“Amigo,” a thickly accented voice said. “Thirty minutes. Foothills. Smell fire. They got at least ten. Loaded. Left…” The line went dead. Christy knew she’d just heard the voice of Armando, and he sounded stressed. He’d spoken in some sort of code. She didn’t have time to put together the pieces, but knew she had to get the message to Kyle right away. Something told her it could mean a matter of life or death. She jotted down the words, replayed the message until she got it right.
Would Kyle believe her? Well, yes, if he heard the message. But knowing he wanted to disappear, would she even be able to find him?
She remembered what he’d told her about the community, and how the buzz traveled like the Underground Railroad. Everyone knew about everyone else somehow. So, if she gave one of the team guys a message, Kyle would come. She was counting on it.
Christy drove to the Golden Bear Café and searched for square shouldered, stern looking men with tattoos and didn’t spot one. But she saw the cook Kyle knew. Griz. Maybe he’d have a suggestion.
Griz’s unshaved chin was heavily scarred on the right side. His steel blue eyes wandered carefully up and down her torso with a glint of appreciation for another man’s lady. At least that’s how she interpreted it, anyway.
“Well, hello there. You flying solo today, or is he meeting up with you later?” Griz asked her while wiping his hands on his stained apron.
“I was hoping you’d remember me,” Christy said as she looked down at her sandaled feet with the pink toenail polish, and then back up to his face before her tears burst loose.
Damn those pink toes.
“You’re not exactly easy to forget.” He smiled, but didn’t look at her cleavage, though she could tell he wanted to. She liked that part about this community, the respect they showed her. The direct look without flinching, Not hiding the effect she had on him.
“You wanna beer?” he finally said.
“No, thanks.”
“Well then, Missy, what can I do you for?” He chewed on a toothpick as he nodded to a couple just entering the diner.
“I’m looking for Kyle. It’s important.”
“Well, I haven’t seen him since yesterday. With you. Doubt he’ll be here tonight either. Not his scene.”
“If you could put the word out. I need to talk to him about a friend of his.”
“Um hum. This a message he’s going to want to hear?” The man pinned her with his eyes, being careful, protective of Kyle.
“Yes. He’s looking for someone. You know, Armando. I may have some information.”
“’Kay. So you have some information about Armando. Where should he contact you if I hear from him?”
Christy fished out her business card. “My cell phone’s at the bottom.”
Griz flipped the card back and forth against his other thumb, obviously thinking. He looked like he wanted to say something, but stopped himself. Christy felt the awkwardness of the two of them standing in a nearly empty room.
“Well. I’ve got to go. I’m going to drive around and see if I can spot his Hummer.”
He nodded. “You two have a little tiff?”
“That’s an off limits question.”
“Could be, but then Kyle’s a special operator and we look out for each other.”
“I know about that. Any idea where he’s staying?”
“You’re asking me? I’m surprised he let you escape.”
Griz grinned full out, but lopsided and apologetic. She saw the heart of gold inside the rough-hewn man of steel.
Christy scratched the back of her head, hoping to break the tension and change the mood. “I’m sorry I bothered you. I’ll be off now. But if you think of anything, please give me a
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