Chapter Seven
Seven
Fort Bragg, California
Elle wished she’d gotten her own hotel room. She and Sara had eaten dinner in the inn’s dining room and the tension between them was so thick it had given her a stomachache, despite how delicious the food had been. It had only gotten thicker when they’d returned to their room.
Maybe I should quit simply to save our friendship.
She finished uploading the day’s footage from her body cam, mostly from the walks she’d taken to stretch her legs, then set her laptop aside on the bed. “I’m going out for some fresh air.” She bundled up in her parka and gloves. “I’ll be back in an hour or so. Do you need me to bring you anything?”
“No, I’m good, but thank you.” Sara hesitated, then sighed. “Be careful, Elle. Miller could be out there.”
“I will.” Although she thought she might be willing to face off with Miller to get out of this room.
She was halfway down the stairs to the lobby when her phone buzzed with an incoming text from Alexis.
Alexis, Sara, and Elle had met in law school at Berkeley. Sara and Felicia had already been a couple and the four of them had quickly become best friends. After graduation, Elle had gone back to Florida, but they’d remained close with girls’ vacations and Skype calls.
Elle loved them all. They’d been her support when she’d needed them most, but she wasn’t looking forward to this call, because she knew what Alexis was calling about.
Alexis had texted: Do you have time to talk?
I do, but need some time to get to a quiet place.
No hurry. Any time. I’m home working.
Elle approached the front desk with a friendly smile for Judith, who was still on duty. “You’ve had a long day. You were here this morning, too.”
Judith’s returned smile was tired. “One of my assistant managers called in sick. What can I do for you, Ms. Randolph?”
“I’m just Elle. I wanted to go for a walk and was hoping to take some coffee with me. It’s kind of cold out there.”
“There’s an urn over on that table.” She pointed to a table with a brass coffee urn, a festive flower arrangement, and a plate full of cookies. “I just made it fresh. You’ll find to-go cups and cream and sugar next to the urn. Help yourself.”
“Thank you. You’re very kind.”
Judith’s shoulders slumped. “Look, I’m sorry about yesterday. I’d do it again, but I hate having to call the cops on my guests.”
“No worries. You were being responsible. You had no way of knowing we weren’t in town for something nefarious. I would have reported me to the detective, too.”
Judith’s smile was relieved. “You’re very kind, too. Where were you planning to walk?”
“I saw a park on the other side of Route 1. The headlands, I think?”
“The Noyo Headlands Park, yes.”
“It doesn’t look too far to walk.”
“Fifteen minutes, but it’s safer to drive. There isn’t a sidewalk and the road has some blind spots. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
Elle felt an odd shiver race down her spine, so intense that she looked over her shoulder. But the lobby was empty. Sara cautioning her about Miller had her imagination working overtime.
“Driving it is, then. Looks like the view of the waves from there will be awesome. Although it might be too dark to see anything.”
“There’s a little moon tonight. Might be enough to get a glimpse of the waves. I like to go there. Sometimes I just stand and listen. There’s something calming about the waves. But that park technically closes at sundown.”
“Oh.” Elle wanted to pout. “That’s disappointing.”
Judith winked. “But they have to catch you there first. Just tell them you’re from out of town and didn’t know. The worst that can happen is that they tell you to leave. Also, stay away from the edge. Erosion makes the outer few inches of earth unstable.”
“Will do, because that’s a long way down. Thank you so much.”
Elle poured herself a cup of coffee and headed out to the Tahoe. The night was quiet, with only the faraway hooting of an owl to break the peace. Until she heard something behind her.
She spun, peering into the darkness. But there was no one.
Unsettled, she debated returning to the room, but stubbornness prevailed.
Let Miller come. I’ll be ready for him. She’d apprehended far more dangerous felons, after all. Plus, she’d promised Alexis that she’d call, and she couldn’t do that in front of Sara.
She got in the Tahoe, willing her hands not to shake as she started the engine.
She parked in the lot for the headlands and made her way toward the edge. The wind had died down somewhat so it wasn’t too cold.
The coffee sure was nice to have, though.
And now it was time to stop procrastinating and call Alexis. Her friend answered on the first ring.
“Ellie! How the heck are you?”
“I’m okay.”
“No, you’re not. I can hear it in your voice. I want to know what’s going on, but first, where are you? Sounds all echoey.”
Elle drew in a breath of ocean air as she took in the sweeping cliffs and the crashing waves below. “I’m standing on a bluff, looking at the ocean.”
“You can see the ocean in San Francisco.”
“Not like this. This is more like Big Sur.”
“Oh, I love it there. Did you go to this bluff to get away from Sara?”
“Kind of. I haven’t told her about your offer.”
Alexis had offered to find her a job in her firm. It was more than a little tempting, especially after the scare with the growers.
“Not my offer, Ellie. My firm’s offer.” Alexis sounded almost giddy with excitement.
“They officially agreed that it was time to add a family law subspecialty, and they like your background. They’re offering you the job, if you want it.
I was asked to get your feelings on it and if you’re amenable, they’ll call you with the details. ”
Elle was floored. “You’re joking. Your firm is offering me a job? An actual job? For real?”
“I’m not joking. I’ve been working for the past year to make this happen and I couldn’t be happier. So…are you interested?”
“Yeah,” she said reluctantly. “I think I am, but I need to think about it.”
“Should I have the partners call you?”
“Yes. I’d like to know more.”
“Excellent. Now, what’s wrong?”
Elle chuckled. “Am I that transparent?”
“To me you are.”
“I’m having second thoughts about this whole bounty hunter career choice,” she admitted.
It was the first time she’d actually said the words out loud.
Alexis had been trying to lure her back into law with a job at her firm, but loyalty to Sara had kept Elle from doing more than thinking about it.
“It’s great for Sara and Felicia, but I don’t think it’s for me. ”
“Thank God,” Alexis declared. “I worry about you constantly.”
“Now you sound like my parents.”
“Who are smart people. No one likes the idea of you chasing after criminals, Elle. Except Sara because she’s always been a little bit crazy.”
It was said with affection, and Elle agreed. “She is a high-sensation seeker, for sure.” Focusing on the dangerous aspects of the job was better than highlighting the ethical issues Elle was having. “I’ll wait to hear from the partners in your firm and then I’ll let you know.”
The sound of a slamming car door had her spinning away from the water to stare at the parking lot. And then her eyes narrowed. “She did not,” she muttered.
But it appeared that Judith had narced on her once again.
“Who? Elle, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Looks like the hotel manager told the detective working a case related to ours that I was here. I’m fine, but I need to go.”
“You call me after he leaves.”
“Fine, fine. Bye now.” Elle ended the call and lifted her chin, staring Detective Clarke down as he approached, a white paper sack in his hands. “Did Judith call you again?”
“Nope,” he said cheerfully. “I had come to talk to you and saw you leaving the inn.”
Oh. It must have been the detective that she’d heard in the parking lot. “So you followed me.”
“I did.” He held out the bag. “Peace offering?”
Warily she took the bag, noting the name printed on it. “You got me medicine from the pharmacy?”
“Nope. I got you a local delicacy from the pharmacy. Open it.”
Elle did so and drew out the smaller plastic bag inside. Holding it to the light, her eyes widened as she read the label. “Candy cap caramels? They’re mushroom candy?”
“They are. Try one.”
“Mushroom candy? Like real mushrooms? Are you insane?”
“Probably, seeing that I’m here holding out an olive branch.”
“That is mushroom candy. Made from mushrooms.”
“Try one,” he urged.
She gave him a suspicious look before opening the bag and gingerly taking one of the candies out. “Are these psychotropic mushrooms? Are you trying to get me high?”
He threw back his head and laughed and her eyes were drawn to the strong column of his throat and his square jaw. She was helpless to look away.
His laugh settled into smaller chuckles, and he wiped his eyes. “No, I am not trying to get you high. Give me a little credit, Ms. Randolph.”
She finally managed to tear her eyes from his face. He was entirely too handsome for Elle’s own good.
“You can call me Elle,” she said grudgingly.
“Thank you,” he replied.
She waited for him to say that she could call him Ronan, but he didn’t. Just stood there expectantly as she studied the mushroom candy.
“It’s a Mendocino thing,” he explained. “We get lots of mushrooms around here. The candy cap mushrooms taste like maple syrup. These were grown locally. Seriously, try one.”
She popped one in her mouth, prepared to say a polite thank-you while controlling a grimace. But that wasn’t what happened.
“Oh my God.” She ate a second, then a third. “These are amazing. They do taste like maple syrup. Are you sure they’re not psychotropic?”
“I’m sure. I give them to my daughter, which I wouldn’t do if they weren’t one hundred percent safe. The ice cream place in town sells a mushroom flavor if you get a yen for more.”
“Mmmm.” She ate one more piece, then resolutely folded the bag and returned it to the paper sack. “I could eat this whole bag at once if I’m not careful. Unfortunately I have a real sweet tooth.”
“Am I forgiven, then? For getting you into trouble with your boss?”