Chapter Eighteen
“I’ve been thinking about Mitch Anders,” Carter said, shortly after he arrived at Mira’s apartment Friday evening.
“What about him?” She settled back on the sofa and regarded him warily.
She hated to have outside problems intrude on their time together, but it was unrealistic to try to have a relationship in a bubble.
And now that he had brought up the subject, part of her was curious to hear what he had to say.
He sat down beside her, the sofa cushion sinking under his weight. “If he’s from Santa Fe, wouldn’t you think he would have mentioned it to you?” he asked.
“We never really talked that much,” she said. “And I gather he moved away when he was pretty young.”
“Still, he could have heard about David Ketchum’s murder. And how could he live in the same house with his dad and not know Ed was writing those letters to people in town? I have to wonder if Ed didn’t say something about David, and maybe even about you.”
“It doesn’t make sense to me,” she said. “It’s so convoluted and, frankly, pointless. There’s not one shred of proof to link me to David’s death. Why would Ed—much less Mitch—want to hurt me? They don’t even know me.”
She hugged her arms across her chest. “I’m really struggling to accept that Mitch had anything to do with the child abductions here. I mean, I know better than anyone that people can fool us. I just can’t believe I’ve misjudged someone so badly twice.”
“I didn’t mean to upset you.” Carter rubbed his hand up and down her leg. “Maybe Mitch has nothing to do with any of this. I just thought it was interesting.”
“There haven’t been any more attempts to kidnap children,” she said. “And I haven’t received any more letters. Maybe whoever was responsible got scared or left town—or both.”
“I hate to think they got away with their crimes,” he said.
“Maybe the sheriff’s department knows something we don’t.” She patted his knee. “Can we talk about something else? Have you heard anything about Craig?”
“I called his social worker and she said he’s settling into a new home. After he’s been there a month or two, maybe I can see him.”
“That would be great.”
He squeezed her hand. “Want to come with me on one of my Jeep tours Saturday? You can be my guest and ride in the front passenger seat. You’ll get to hear the spiel I give the tourists.”
“I’d love that,” she said. “If it’s okay with your folks.”
“They’re fine with it. And they’d love to meet you.”
“I’d like to meet them, too.” Though the prospect made her nervous.
“Great. The first tour leaves at nine, so be there about fifteen minutes early. Bring a jacket—it can get cool in the mountains.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
He picked up the television remote. “What movie do you want to watch?” he asked.
“Does it matter?” She slid closer to him. “We never make it to the end.”
He smoothed his hand up her thigh. “Can I help it if you distract me?”
She kissed his neck. “Did I say I was complaining?”
He tossed the remote aside. “Maybe we should skip the movie tonight.”
“You have such good ideas.”
“That reminds me of something I thought we could try.”
“Mmm. Why don’t you show me?” She smothered his reply with a kiss.
Saturday morning, Mira stopped for gas on her way to meet Carter at Alpine Jeep Rentals. A white SUV pulled up on the other side of the gas pump and Mitch Anders stepped out. “Hello, Mira,” he said.
“Uh, hi, Mitch.” She tried to hide her surprise at seeing him, but obviously failed.
“I’ve been released on bail,” he said.
“Oh. Well, that’s good.” She wasn’t afraid of him, just wary of her own judgment.
He was so much like George—someone who appeared good and gentle on the outside.
But George had harbored an ugly compulsion.
Mitch was entitled to be presumed innocent until he was proven guilty, but even his arrest demonstrated how wrong she could be about people’s true motives.
She looked past him, to the passenger seat where Shayla sat, only the back of her head visible.
“How are you doing?” Mira asked, turning her attention back to Mitch.
He shrugged. “It’s been a little rough, but I’m hoping everything will die down soon.”
Mira glanced back to the SUV. “How is Shayla?”
“Shayla’s upset.” He began filling the SUV with fuel. “She told me you and Carter Ames are friends. I heard about how he helped Craig Phillips. That was really something.”
“Yes, it was.” She was still staring at the back of Shayla’s head. Was she not even going to look at Mira?
“I had Craig in one of my classes,” he said. “I’m glad he’s getting some help.”
The fuel to Mira’s rental shut off and she turned to remove the nozzle from the car. She needed to get going or she was going to be late. “It was good to see you,” she said. “Tell Shayla I said hello.” And that I miss her. And I never meant to upset her.
“I will. See you around.”
Carter was waiting for her in front of the Jeep rental office. “We’re almost ready to go,” he said. “You just need to sign the waiver.”
“The waiver?”
“Basically, it says you’re engaging in a risky endeavor and if you get hurt, it’s not our fault.”
“Are you that reckless a driver?” she teased.
“I’m a very careful driver,” he said. “It’s the other people out there you have to worry about.” He escorted her inside. A middle-aged blonde looked up from behind the desk. “Mom, this is Mira,” Carter said. “Mira, this is my mom.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Ames.” Mira smiled and hoped she didn’t appear as nervous as she felt.
Mrs. Ames stood and offered her hand. “It’s so nice to meet you, too, Mira. Carter can’t stop talking about you.”
Mira didn’t think of herself as someone who blushed easily, but her face grew hot. Carter put a hand on her shoulder. “Mira needs to fill out the paperwork, Mom, or we’re going to be late.”
“Of course.” His mom handed over a clipboard. “Even though you’re Carter’s guest, we have to have everything in order for our insurance.”
She scanned the paperwork, signed her name in two places and returned the clipboard.
“Great.” Carter steered her toward the door. “See you later, Mom.”
The Jeep was open-topped, with three rows of seats already filled with a family of four and a retired couple. “This is Mira, everyone,” Carter said as he opened the passenger door for her. “You can all introduce yourselves later. Is everyone ready to go?”
Everyone was ready, so they set off, headed out of town and up to Raptor Ridge, a popular spot known for its spectacular view.
They soon turned off the paved road, onto a narrow four-wheel-drive route, which took them past old mine ruins, splashing waterfalls and expanses of brilliantly colored wildflowers.
Mira enjoyed the view, but perhaps even more, she enjoyed watching Carter.
He had probably told the stories he related about local geography and history a hundred times, but there was no sense that he was bored.
He told jokes—some at his own expense—and paid special attention to the two children present.
At one rest stop, he showed them fossils embedded in the rocks, and stopped in the middle of the road to point out a doe and fawn making their way through the trees.
Seeing him kneeling beside the boy and girl, showing them a fossil in a rock wall, made her go all soft inside.
He was going to be a great dad someday. How had she ever thought him self-centered and superficial?
Maybe that was the problem with her relationship with George. She had never gotten past first impressions to see the troubled man beneath the facade.
Carter pulled out all his best stories, hoping to impress Mira. Not that he didn’t always try to give the tourists a good time, but he especially wanted her to enjoy herself.
It seemed to be working. She had smiled pretty much nonstop all day, and a couple of times they locked eyes and he felt that special zing of connection.
“I had a wonderful time,” she said when they returned to the tour office. “Thank you so much for inviting me.”
“It made the trip even more fun for me,” he said.
“You’re really good at what you do,” she said.
This praise from her made him feel ten feet tall. “You’ll have to come on a different tour,” he said. “We have a mine ruins history tour, and one up to Admiral Mountain.”
“I’d love that.”
He glanced around to make sure none of the guests—or his parents—were watching, then pulled her close for a kiss. “Dinner later?” he asked.
“I’d love that.”
“I’m off tomorrow, so I can stay all night.”
“Even better.”
When Carter showed up at her apartment that evening, they decided on pizza for dinner, so they headed to Mo’s.
“I didn’t think about how packed this place would be on a Saturday night,” Mira said as they entered.
The room buzzed with conversation, punctuated by the clink of glasses and burst of laughter.
“It’ll be fine,” Carter said. “There are always tables in the back.”
They squeezed past a group who were headed out, then threaded their way alongside the bar, where most of the patrons were watching the baseball game on television.
Mira stopped so suddenly Carter bumped into her.
She grabbed his arm. “Isn’t that Ed Anders?
” she whispered, and nodded toward the end of the bar.
Ed was indeed seated on the barstool, a bottle of beer and a plate of food in front of him. He ate a French fry as Carter stared. At least he appeared more sober than he had the night Carter had driven him home. As if feeling their gaze on him, he looked their way and glared.
“Go on.” Carter nudged Mira. “It’ll be okay.”
Ed continued to glare at them as they moved closer. Carter nodded. “Hello, Ed,” he said. “How are you tonight?”
“What’s it to you?” Ed asked. He fixed his gaze on Mira. “What are you looking at?”
“N…nothing!” she stammered. Carter felt her stiffen beneath his hand on her back.
“You’d better watch your step,” Ed said.
“Hey, calm down,” Carter said. “We’re just here to have dinner. We’ll leave you alone now.” He hurried Mira past the older man, to a booth at the very back of the dining room. He slid in next to her.
“What is his problem?” she asked, irritation sharpening her words.
“I think he’s a very unhappy person,” Carter said. “After all, he admitted to writing all those notes to people about the things he thought they were doing wrong. Only someone who didn’t have enough to occupy themselves would do something like that.”
“Shayla said Mitch took him in because he had nowhere else to go,” Mira said. “That would be a hard situation to be in.”
“Let’s forget about him and enjoy the rest of our evening,” he said.
They ordered pizza and soft drinks, then fell into a conversation about the morning’s tour. Ed was nowhere in sight by the time they left. Carter was relieved. He didn’t want anything to upset Mira. They had had a good day and he was looking forward to a good night.
Back at her apartment, she wrapped her arms around him. “I think you need to practice your Spanish,” she said.
“You want me to ask you where it hurts in Spanish?” he teased.
“Not exactly.” She kissed his neck, her tongue gliding lightly over his skin. “I thought I’d teach you some new vocabulary.”
“I’m always interested in expanding my knowledge.” Being with her made him feel reckless, ready to follow wherever she led.
“Bésame,” she said.
“Bésame?”
She laughed. “Kiss me.”
He did so. “Bésame otra vez,” she said. “Kiss me again.”
A deeper kiss. “Querido,” she whispered, her lips pressed against the pulse of his throat. “Dear one.”
“Querido,” he repeated.
“Except I’m female, so it’s querida,” she said.
“Querida.” He began unbuttoning her blouse. “Teach me more.”
“Ven conmigo.” She took his hand and led him to the bedroom. “Make love to me.”
She pulled him down beside her on the bed, and whispered the words for everything they did together that evening.
He didn’t know how much he would remember in the morning, but at that moment, he paid close attention, the conversation focusing him more acutely than ever, her voice a soft, sexy accompaniment to every move.
Afterward, when they lay together in each other’s arms, he turned to her. “Te amo,” he said.
Her eyes widened. “Where did you learn that?”
“I didn’t say it wrong, did I? I looked it up online. It means I love you, doesn’t it?”
“It does,” she said.
“Te amo,” he repeated.
“Oh, Carter,” she said. “I think… I think I love you, too.”
“Don’t sound so sad about it.” He forced a cheerfulness he didn’t feel into his voice. Had he rushed her, confessing his feelings so quickly?
“I’m not sad,” she said. “Not sad at all. It’s just…a big step.”
“We don’t have to rush.” He smoothed her hair away from her face, enjoying its silken slide through his fingers. “I just want to make sure you to know how I’m feeling.”
She smiled, and some of the tension went out of him. “Te amo,” she said, and lay her head on his shoulder.
They fell asleep in each other’s arms, covers pulled around their shoulders, his dreams a mix of English and Spanish, scenes from the day and the night jumbled along with the words in his head.
The crash of breaking glass seemed at first a part of the dream, then Mira was shaking him. “Carter!” she whispered. “Carter, I think someone broke in.”
She rolled away from him, and groped on the nightstand for her phone.
The overhead light came on, momentarily blinding him.
A slight figure clad all in black stood in the doorway of the bedroom, holding a large, black pistol.
“Don’t make another move,” the figure commanded.
“If you do, I’ll kill you. I don’t have anything to lose. ”