Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“Dad, this is Charlotte Fleming Cooper,” Sully said, never having felt so proud to introduce a female friend to his father. “She is the Coopers’ first cousin and goes by Charley.”
“I’ve heard great things about her from Chloe, saw the two of you, and stopped to introduce myself,” Owen Custis said and looked at Charley.
“Chloe’s husband, Derek, used to work with me as a deputy sheriff.
Now I work with him and his Percherons. Anyway, today Chloe stopped in the stables while I was there and told me all about you,” Sully’s father said and smiled at Charley.
With gray hair and a mustache, his dad was only about an inch shorter than Sully and somewhat stouter.
“Charley, they are so happy to have you as part of their family. It’s my pleasure to meet you. ”
“Thank you, Sheriff Custis,” Charley said and extended her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“I’m just plain ol’ Owen, now,” he said humbly as they shook.
“I’ve heard great things about you too,” Charley said. “From my cousins and your son.”
“Sully’s a good son,” his dad said with a beaming smile at him. Sully was proud of his father and glad for the chance to introduce him to Charley. Owen said, “If you two haven’t had lunch, let me treat you. I was on my way to Coopers’ Lodge.”
“That’s where we’re headed,” Sully said.
“I’d love that,” Charley said and smiled at Owen.
As they were going three separate ways after lunch, they each drove their own vehicle and met up at Triple C Ranch-East. Once they were inside the Lodge and seated at a window table, they were given water and menus.
Tracy Cooper spotted them, and when she made her way over to them, Charley stood and gave her a hug.
Tracy told them the specials of the day and left them to visit among themselves.
“Chloe said you live in Old Colorado City,” Owen said with a slight frown of concern.
“Yes, I own a duplex and flower shop on Colorado Avenue,” Charley replied.
“There’s a serial killer on the loose in your neighborhood,” Owen said without hesitation. “The pressure to catch him is immense. The Colorado Springs Police Department has their best detective in charge.”
“Yes, Burt Groves,” Sully said. “We met him, and he said to tell you hello.”
“Burt’s the best,” Owen said with a nod. “I’m sorry about your mother, Charley.”
“Thank you,” Charley said.
“Your mother’s death doesn’t fit the Cave Killer’s method of operation. Derek and I agree that there are two killers on the loose,” Owen said, like the former sheriff he was. “We also agree that you fit the profile of the Cave Killer’s victims, Charley.”
“Yes, Sully has pointed out that same fact.”
“The difference, of course, being you were attacked in your home and the other young women were found down in the caves except for the last victim,” Owen said.
“If the killer thinks he threw the police off by dumping that woman in the trash, he didn’t.
DNA is being collected, and I believe it will tie him to the other stranglings.
In any event, Groves and the CSPD are doing everything they can to catch the killer, including uniformed and plain-clothed cops patrolling the area. ”
“Charley is staying with me for a while,” Sully said just as Tracy came back to them with a basket of buttery rolls. “To be on the safe side.”
“Good!” Tracy said, having heard and standing next to Charley. “That makes me feel better. Cash and the others will be happy to hear that too. Will y’all be at Chloe and Derek’s Halloween party?”
“I will be,” Owen said. “Sully and Charley?”
“Charley packed a costume. I have my usual costume, so we’ll be there.”
“Excellent,” Tracy said. “See you then, if not before.”
Tracy squeezed Charley’s shoulder and left them to their conversation.
The subject of murder transitioned into more pleasant topics, and lunch was served by one of the waitstaff.
Charley and his dad had hit it off, and a good deal of the talking was between the two of them as they got to know each other.
Sully smiled. Man, if this, too, didn’t feel right.
After consuming their three specials, his dad grabbed the check before Sully could, and they walked out to their vehicles.
Owen gave Charley a hug and Sully a pat on the back.
After getting into his truck, with a wave, Owen was gone.
“Remind me where you’re heading from here,” Sully said as he and Charley stood in the open door of the Jeep.
“To the grocery store,” the gorgeous girl said with a heart-stopping smile as her blue eyes sparkled up at him. “I’m going to cook dinner at the cabin.”
“Am I invited?”
“You’re the guest of honor.”
Sully grinned. “You’re going to King Soopers or Walmart in Black Forest, right? Not into Old Colorado City?”
“Right. Probably Walmart, I need a few things besides groceries.”
“Meet you at the cabin later?”
“Sooner than later.”
“Keep your gun in your purse when I’m not with you, Charley.”
“Okay.”
“All right,” Sully said with a nod. “Be on the alert.”
“I will be.”
Sully pulled her into his arms, and when her lips met his, she kissed him. Letting him know she cared, she gently leaned into him during the kiss. Where had this woman been all his life? “Do you want me to go with you, Charley?”
“No,” she said, splaying both hands to his chest. “I’m a big girl. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re a little girl,” he said, towering over her. She slid into the Jeep and rolled down the window. Sully shut her door and said, “After I close the shop, I’ll come to your cabin.”
“Here’s an extra key in case you happen to get there before me.” Charley handed him a key and he caught her hand. Bringing it to his lips, he kissed the back of her fingers. He let go and as he walked away, she called out, “Want to flirt with me at the cabin tonight?”
Sully made a half-turn, and with a wink said, “You’ll need a wheelchair.”
“Sully!” Charley squealed and laughed.
Chuckling, he climbed into his truck and followed her from the parking lot to the highway.
There, she turned west toward Pikes Peak, and he watched her fade into the distance.
She wouldn’t go to Old Colorado City, would she?
No reason to, right? No, she wouldn’t, Sully decided and turned east. Who the hell was the maniac killing women in their twenties?
All of Colorado was acutely aware of the murders.
Hell, the reports were on the national news.
The whole country was watching. No sooner did he turn on the radio than the mayor was talking about the closure of businesses and dip in tourism blamed on the Cave Killer’s murder spree.
A spree? Yeah, it was. Sully gripped the wheel and turned into the Ranchers Gun Club and Shooting Range.
He recalled Roy telling them about Rod Vaughn’s visit and suddenly wondered what caliber bullet had killed Charley’s mother.
The gun he’d taken off Vaughn used a .38.
The cops wouldn’t give him the information he was looking for, but they might share it with the former El Paso County Sheriff.
Pulling into his usual parking spot behind the store, he pulled out his phone and called his dad.
He knew Owen Custis would do his damnedest to find out.
That afternoon, a steady stream of customers kept Sully and Roy busy.
Almost every one of them mentioned the murders in Old Colorado City.
So, the killing spree that was bad for most businesses was good for his.
Sully well understood the need to feel safe.
He’d given Charley a gun merely hours earlier.
When Sully glanced at the clock, he and Roy started winding down the shooting booths and finishing sales in preparation of closing up shop.
It was a record-breaking day at the cash register.
Twenty minutes later, Sully was locking the door behind him and Roy.
They spoke for a couple of minutes in the parking lot, and then Sully got into his truck.
He read a text from Randy. The horses were in their stalls, brushed, watered, and fed for the night.
He mentioned Rain in particular. She was fine.
Sully headed to the cabin on Triple C Ranch-South.
When he turned onto the gravel drive and steered toward the log home, a sense of peace fell over him.
The Jeep was parked at the hitching post, and warm lights spilled out of the cabin windows.
Plush green cushions, matching the rockers and shingles on the roof, now adorned the rocking chairs.
Two big clay pots bursting with yellow mums, surrounded by bright orange pumpkins, ornamented either side of the stained glass door.
The cedar door was wide open, and when he got out of his truck, a gentle breeze brought a whiff of delicious smells his way.
He walked onto the porch and looked into the cabin.
On the left, a crackling fire burned in the hearth in front of a sofa newly decorated with pillows and a matching throw.
To the right, the table was set with a white tablecloth, pretty dishes, silverware, and two wineglasses.
A bottle of red wine along with a colorful bouquet of pink tiger lilies, red roses, and lavender columbines were the centerpieces.