Blue Smoke and Murder

80

SEPTEMBER 17

6:24 P.M.

Hi, Mary,” Jill said into her sat phone. “I wanted to make sure you were still awake.”

“Working on it. How’s it on your end?”

“Just got a wake-up call from the cop behind me. I’m slowing down and pulling over. I’ll leave the connection open.”

“Watch yourself,” Mary said. “Friends are hard to find.”

“Same goes.”

Jill laid the phone aside. Now that it was happening, she wished she had more time. Something had been bugging her since the service station at Indian Springs, but she couldn’t pin it down.

Later, she promised herself.

The wheel bucked in her hands when the two tires on the right side of the Escalade hit rough gravel at the edge of the pavement.

The cop pulled even, matched speeds, and used the loudspeaker in the car’s grill. “Follow me!”

The voice sounded like Halloween in hell, but she signaled agreement and eased back onto the highway.

“Okay, I’m not pulling over,” Jill said into the sat phone. “I’m back on the highway. He wants me to play Follow the Leader.”

“Keep me in the loop,” Mary said.

“Don’t worry. I’m feeling real talkative right now.”

Jill picked up her speed again to match the officer’s. Two miles later, his brake lights flashed once in warning. She slowed as he did.

The cop’s left turn signal came on.

“We’re turning left,” Jill said. “Old gravel road, mostly dirt and weeds now. Buildings about a half mile away. Dead trees around. Could have been a ranch once. Or a resort. Or-”

Her voice died as she focused on a battered, sun-faded sign next to the dirt road.

“Okay, this is weird,” Jill said into the sat phone. “It’s a cathouse. Or was. The sign reads ‘Beaver Tail Ranch, Lots of Both Right Here. Y’all Come.’ The place looks like it’s been a long time between lube jobs.”

Mary choked off laughter. “Anybody there?”

“So far, all I see is me and the cop. Why don’t I feel good about that?”

“Because you’re smart.”

“Yeah?” Jill asked. “Then why am I here?”

Mary didn’t answer.

Jill didn’t expect her to.