The Shadow. Aimee ThurloЧитать онлайн книгу.
your father have pet names for places around here, like a favorite spot along the cliffs or down by the river or on your property?”
“No. And for the record, I never heard him mention Law Rock.”
“This could be what the men who broke into your father’s office were after…or not. They did take old maps, right? Either way, without knowing where Law Rock is, the directions are all but useless.” Jonas gazed at the symbol of the Brotherhood, the circle and the flames. “Or this might be a decoy. Something meant for others to find, a way to keep his enemy busy.”
As Jonas moved away to make a call, Emily stared thoughtfully at the drawing of the circle and flames. It was so familiar, but she just couldn’t place it, and the more she tried, the more elusive the memory became.
Chapter Four
Emily sat on the bench in the trailer. She’d studied the directions and distances so intently, looking for hidden meanings, she now had them memorized.
“My suggestion is that you keep it someplace safe,” Jonas said. “It could be months before you figure out what that means.”
He’d already checked with others in the Brotherhood. Within thirty miles, there was Ship Rock, Mitten Rock, Chimney Rock, Popping Rock, Thieving Rock and even Rock Ridge, but no one had ever heard of a place called Law Rock. They’d looked into the possibility that it was a translation, but had found nothing even close.
The brief talk he’d had on the phone with Diné Nééz continued to play in his mind. Grant Woods, as the resident closest to the accident scene, had been questioned as a potential witness. He had an alibi, apparently, which meant he couldn’t have caused the car wreck that had killed Emily’s father.
He’d been questioned a few hours ago about the other events, too. Grant claimed to have been at home, working in his office, during the first incident, and outside working on fence repairs during the second. He hadn’t recalled hearing any vehicles, or a motorcycle.
“When Grant brought over my mail, it reminded me that I’ve yet to go through all the papers in Dad’s safe-deposit box at the bank,” Emily said, interrupting his thoughts. “Dad also had a post office box in town. That’s where his business mail went because he didn’t like leaving important papers in a rural mailbox.”
“I don’t blame him. There was a time around here when people didn’t even lock their doors, particularly on the rez, but those days are long gone.” Jonas stood. “Let me go change clothes, then we’ll head into town. The reason I took off my shirt is because I ripped it against the corner of the workbench.” He called her attention to the sleeve.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you were hot.” Her eyes grew wide and her face flushed crimson.
He laughed. “Well, I’m not exactly eye candy. I’m too scarred up.”
“If you won those fights, I’d hate to see the other guy,” she said with a smile.
He grew somber and shook his head. “I saw my share of action as a Ranger, but half the battles overseas are with an enemy you never see—as in mortar rounds and IEDs.”
“I imagine things are very different for you now that you’re working for the tribe.”
Seeing the softness in her eyes as she gazed at him scrambled his brain, and for a moment he didn’t answer. “Yeah, it’s different,” he said, cursing himself for getting distracted. “Give me a minute to change shirts. I’ve got clean clothes in my pickup. Then I’ll be ready to go.”
“I need to clean up, too. I’ll meet you at your truck in a few minutes.”
Emily changed into a clean pair of slacks and her favorite long-sleeved blouse. The ruffles around the collar had sold her on it. Though the garment was plain cotton, that small detail softened the look and gave it an extra feminine touch.
As she brushed her hair and tied it back into a ponytail, she focused on her future. The Tamarisk Inn would be a reality someday soon. It had taken her weeks to figure out what to call it. She’d finally decided to name it after the hardy plant that grew with its fragrant pink blossoms near the river bosque. It survived by finding just the right place for itself in the dry desert.
Moments later, she met Jonas by his pickup. He’d changed into a gray-blue shirt. The open collar revealed the very tip of the long, narrow scar she’d seen earlier. Scars meant experience, and the sight fueled her imagination. As far as she was concerned, Jonas was sexier than ever.
Pushing those thoughts back, Emily slipped into the passenger’s side and fastened her seat belt. Everything in her life was upside down at the moment. Straightening things out—that’s where her focus had to remain.
As they headed into town, she glanced around the cab of his truck. He had clothes on hangers, a backpack, a coil of rope and a locked metal box behind his seat. The rifle that hung on a rack over the rear window was almost standard equipment for rural New Mexico. The strange-looking radio with antennae was not.
“That looks like a police radio,” she commented.
“I’m not a cop, but my work for the tribe requires top-notch communications equipment.”
She had a million questions she wanted to ask him about his job as a vindicator, but knew he’d told her all he intended about that. “It looks like we both have our secrets,” she said, and realized a moment too late that she’d spoken the thought out loud.
“Most of what I do has to remain confidential—to protect the clients.”
“It’s not just your job. You never talk about yourself—not at all.”
“I’m boring. I’d rather know about you.”
“Nice hedge.” Emily smiled. “But if you want to earn someone’s trust, you have to show that you trust them, too.”
She could sense him trying to figure out how to respond, but after several long moments, she knew his silence was her answer.
As they continued the drive toward the city of Farmington, her thoughts slowly shifted to other pressing concerns. “The tribe made my father an offer for a parcel of our land, the strip along the bluffs, and I haven’t been able to find anything that suggests the deal was ever finalized. The county never recorded the transaction, either, according to conversations I’ve had on the phone. I also haven’t had any word from the tribe, so I need to know if they’re still interested. Who would you suggest I speak to?”
“I’m aware of the deal and I assure you the tribe is still interested. Would you like me to handle that for you?”
“Sure. I’d like to get that matter settled as soon as possible. That…was my father’s last gift to me,” she said, fighting the tears that tightened her throat.
Jonas reached out and took her hand in his. Even now, with sorrow bearing down on her, his touch soothed, and filled an empty spot inside her.
Emily took a deep breath and concentrated on the problems ahead. “The price for the land was already agreed to, so I’d like to finalize the paperwork and get payment as soon as possible. Truth is, I’ll need the funds to complete the inn. The special amenities I need for my guests are very expensive, and my resources are stretched tight.”
“Quick payment may not be possible,” Jonas said after a momentary pause. “You wanted me to trust you, and I’m about to do that. But what I’m going to tell you has to remain between the two of us. Will you give me your word?”
“You have it,” she said, excited by the fact that he was willing to confide in her.
“Our missing man was carrying the entire payment with him—in bearer bonds,” he said. “Those have disappeared along with him.”
“Does the tribe think he may have just run off with the money?”
“No. He’s completely