“Leon has
mentioned your Circle a few times over the years.” Jane glanced at the postcard on the desk before
picking it up. “I understand this was from one of your group.”
Dylan reached out and took the card from her. On the front of the postcard was a picture of
Bisbee’s Brewery Gulch. His gaze slid over the words as Belle peeked over his shoulder.
Leon,
Hear you’ve got quite an operation going over in Sierra Vista and that you have a beautiful
wife, a daughter, and two sons who keep you busy. I’m happy life is treating you well.
I’ll never forget that Hail Mary pass you caught to win the game over Douglas. You were
one hell of a receiver.
Take care of you and yours,
Nate
Dylan frowned. “ You were the quarterback and you threw that Hail Mary pass to win the game.”
“Exactly.” Leon braced one hand on a file cabinet. “That’s some mistake.”
“Leon said you all received a postcard and each one is odd.” Jane tilted her head to the side.
57
***
“What do you think that’s all about?”
Dylan shook his head. “Not sure.”
Jane gestured to the postcard. “We’ve made a copy, so you can take the original.”
“Thank you.” Dylan tucked the postcard into his shirt pocket with the two others.
Jane turned to Belle. “Leon mentioned you left while stil in high school.” Jane seemed to be the
type who said whatever was on her mind.
Belle shifted her stance and looked uncomfortable with Jane’s forward statement. “That’s true,”
Belle said quietly.
Leon came to Belle’s rescue. “Anyone like a beer or a soda? We can head on over to the house.”
“I’m on the job, so no beer for me.” Dylan figured they should probably spend a few moments
with Leon and his wife.
Belle nodded her agreement. “Soda is fine for me.”
They drove to the house and then spent the next hour talking with Leon about his business and
his kids. His wife was pleasant but continued to be very direct, and her questions often seemed to
throw Belle off balance.
Belle also got to meet Joe, and she spent some time caressing and talking to him. The German
shepherd was friendly to everyone there, but to Dylan he seemed to be a little less enthusiastic than
he usually was. No doubt the dog missed Nate.
When Dylan thought he and Belle had stayed long enough, he thanked the Petroskis for their
hospitality and Belle echoed his thank you. Dylan handed Leon his business card, which included
his personal cell number. Dylan patted Joe one last time before following Leon to the front door.
“You don’t think Nate was just messing with you all?” Jane said as Leon reached for the
doorknob. “It might have been his way of saying ‘Let’s talk.’”
“Could be.” Dylan gave a slow nod. “One way or another, we’l figure this out. You can count on
it.”
***
58
***
Afternoon sunlight faded as they drove from Leon’s home to Bisbee. It had been a long day, but
Belle found herself not wanting it to end. She knew she shouldn’t stay close to Dylan, not with the
secret she stil kept, but she couldn’t tear herself away from him. The energy between them was
electric, but familiar and comfortable.
She watched him as he drove, studying his strong features and the dark stubble on his jaw that
hadn’t been there when he was a teenager. He’d been a clean-cut country boy, not nearly as rough
and toughened as he looked now. She wondered what he’d been through all these years, what had
given him the hardness she sensed in him. It almost surprised her that he was gentle with her the
few times they’d been around each other. And that kiss…it had been so sensual, almost as if he’d
been communicating something through it. Yet he didn’t appear like a man who was gentle for
anyone.
She knew she had to tell him the truth, the whole truth, but she was afraid of what he might do
when he found out her stepfather was partially responsible for Dylan’s father’s murder. He’d
mentioned your Circle a few times over the years.” Jane glanced at the postcard on the desk before
picking it up. “I understand this was from one of your group.”
Dylan reached out and took the card from her. On the front of the postcard was a picture of
Bisbee’s Brewery Gulch. His gaze slid over the words as Belle peeked over his shoulder.
Leon,
Hear you’ve got quite an operation going over in Sierra Vista and that you have a beautiful
wife, a daughter, and two sons who keep you busy. I’m happy life is treating you well.
I’ll never forget that Hail Mary pass you caught to win the game over Douglas. You were
one hell of a receiver.
Take care of you and yours,
Nate
Dylan frowned. “ You were the quarterback and you threw that Hail Mary pass to win the game.”
“Exactly.” Leon braced one hand on a file cabinet. “That’s some mistake.”
“Leon said you all received a postcard and each one is odd.” Jane tilted her head to the side.
57
***
“What do you think that’s all about?”
Dylan shook his head. “Not sure.”
Jane gestured to the postcard. “We’ve made a copy, so you can take the original.”
“Thank you.” Dylan tucked the postcard into his shirt pocket with the two others.
Jane turned to Belle. “Leon mentioned you left while stil in high school.” Jane seemed to be the
type who said whatever was on her mind.
Belle shifted her stance and looked uncomfortable with Jane’s forward statement. “That’s true,”
Belle said quietly.
Leon came to Belle’s rescue. “Anyone like a beer or a soda? We can head on over to the house.”
“I’m on the job, so no beer for me.” Dylan figured they should probably spend a few moments
with Leon and his wife.
Belle nodded her agreement. “Soda is fine for me.”
They drove to the house and then spent the next hour talking with Leon about his business and
his kids. His wife was pleasant but continued to be very direct, and her questions often seemed to
throw Belle off balance.
Belle also got to meet Joe, and she spent some time caressing and talking to him. The German
shepherd was friendly to everyone there, but to Dylan he seemed to be a little less enthusiastic than
he usually was. No doubt the dog missed Nate.
When Dylan thought he and Belle had stayed long enough, he thanked the Petroskis for their
hospitality and Belle echoed his thank you. Dylan handed Leon his business card, which included
his personal cell number. Dylan patted Joe one last time before following Leon to the front door.
“You don’t think Nate was just messing with you all?” Jane said as Leon reached for the
doorknob. “It might have been his way of saying ‘Let’s talk.’”
“Could be.” Dylan gave a slow nod. “One way or another, we’l figure this out. You can count on
it.”
***
58
***
Afternoon sunlight faded as they drove from Leon’s home to Bisbee. It had been a long day, but
Belle found herself not wanting it to end. She knew she shouldn’t stay close to Dylan, not with the
secret she stil kept, but she couldn’t tear herself away from him. The energy between them was
electric, but familiar and comfortable.
She watched him as he drove, studying his strong features and the dark stubble on his jaw that
hadn’t been there when he was a teenager. He’d been a clean-cut country boy, not nearly as rough
and toughened as he looked now. She wondered what he’d been through all these years, what had
given him the hardness she sensed in him. It almost surprised her that he was gentle with her the
few times they’d been around each other. And that kiss…it had been so sensual, almost as if he’d
been communicating something through it. Yet he didn’t appear like a man who was gentle for
anyone.
She knew she had to tell him the truth, the whole truth, but she was afraid of what he might do
when he found out her stepfather was partially responsible for Dylan’s father’s murder. He’d
Similar Books
