Sandra Nelson was a good friend. Many people would have shied away from watching Timothy when he was visiting Jessy and she had to go out. Not Sandra. She considered it an easy gig and said all she had to do was listen to Timothys storiesand see that he didnt set the house on fire because he was convinced he needed another log for his grandfathers sweat-lodge fire.
Sandras alarmed stare brought an apologetic smile to Jessys face. Im so sorry, its just that
She didnt finish, because just then a loud gasp came from her right, where the family room abutted a courtyard. Mom! Mom! Its Jessyshes on TV! A man was murdered!
Sandra stared at Jessy, who grimaced and went running past her to reach the family room, where Reggie was draped over the big comfortable sofa, staring at the television. She gasped again when Jessy walked in.
Jessy stared at the television. Shed been so focused on getting home that she hadnt noticed the news cameras out front when she and Dillon Wolf had finally escaped the casino, but there she was. She hadnt realized that she had actually been hanging on his arm.
You were involved in a murder? Sandra asked.
Forget that. Who the hells the hottie? Reggie demanded. Tall and slim, she had her mothers green, dark-lashed eyes and a perfect heart-shaped face. Despite her beauty and her age, though, she was basically a nice kid, and Jessy was always pleased when she came over to help Sandra with Timothy.
Murder? Sandra repeated.
At that moment, Timothy emerged from his bedroom. He was wearing jeans and a plaid shirt that was on backward. Despite that, he maintained his dignity as he straightened regally and said, Murder? Yes, it was murder. They can bury my heart at Wounded Knee for a fact, because the slaughter of the American Indian remains one of the greatest tragedies and injustices of our nations history.
Dont worry. The Native Americans are taking a just revenge. Its called bingo, and its wonderful. They make money, and no one dies, Sandra said, placating him gently.
Jessy walked over to give him a hug, but he only stared at her. His eyes, light blue and misted like fog at the coming of day, were blank at first. Then they registered that she was in front of him. Granddaughter. Youre home. And youre safe.
She was startled to feel him trembling as he hugged her. She looked over his shoulder, frowning questioningly at Sandra.
This just came on, Reggie said quietly.
You were in danger, Timothy said. They told me so.
Who told you so? Jessy asked.
The ghost riders. Their ghosts came and told me that I needed to be strong, that you were in danger, and that I need to defend you, he said earnestly.
Im all right. Honestly, Jessy said, really worried now. Ghosts? This was new. Timothy
I miss my bed, he said.
Tim, you have a bed here, she told him.
He smiled at her, his eyes misty again. Yes, and Im grateful. But its not my bed. I should be in my own place, where you come to visit me.
Youre going back tomorrow, Timothy. Its going to be fine, she said.
Sandra was staring at her, arching a brow. Her silent look said quite clearly, Its wrong to lie to him. Where can you get that kind of money?
Come on, Timothy, let me get you to bed, Jessy told him, ignoring her friends silent admonition.
His shoulders straightened, and he was entirely lucid. I can take myself to bed, Jessy girl. He turned to face Sandra and Reggie. Thank you, ladies, for the lovely dinner, and for listening to an old man tell even older tales. Good night.
Reggie hurried over to give him a hug, and Sandra gave him a kiss on the cheek. He turned and headed back to his room. Jessy didnt want him to see her checking up on him, so she kept an eye on him from where she was and promised herself that she would look in on him later.
When she turned back to Sandra and Reggie, they were both staring at her, wide-eyed.
What the hell is going on? Sandra demanded.
And I still want to know who that guy is, Reggie added.
And theresblood all over you, Sandra said, ignoring her daughter. Are you sure youre okay?
Im fine, I promise, but youll have to excuse me, Jessy said, wiping at the blood, suddenly desperate for a shower.
She practically ran to her room, where she couldnt get her clothing off quickly enough. She threw it all straight into the trash basket, knowing she would never wear a single piece of it ever again. She hurried into the shower and turned the water on so hot that it was almost scalding, then rubbed her skin practically raw. She massaged shampoo through her hair over and over, until, finished at last, she threw on her terry robe and hurried back into the family room.
Reggie and Sandra spun around to stare at her again, and before Sandra could manage a word, Reggie demanded, Tell me now. Who is that guy? Have you been holding out on us?
No. I never saw him before tonight. His name is Dillon Wolf, Jessy told her.
Oh, okay. They said his name on TV, Reggie said.
Oh? Did they say my name? Jessy asked.
No, youre just the unidentified redhead, Sandra told her. She looked concerned, and rose from the sofa to bring Jessy a cup of tea.
Jessy thanked her and took a sip, then choked. It was half brandy.
Sandra
You need it, Sandra told her.
You might have warned me, Jessy protested.
Could we get back to what happened? Sandra asked.
I was playing craps
What? Sandra broke in, frowning.
Not to worry, I wasnt betting the house or anything, she said. Not quite, anyway.
And was the hottie playing craps, too? Reggie asked.
Jessy laughed. I dont think hed like being called a hottie.
Is he here to complain? Reggie asked.
No, but
Lets get off the guy, Sandra said. We know more about him now than Jessy does, Im willing to bet.
What are you talking about? Jessy asked.
Oh, they kept announcing his name on TV, like Reggie said, Sandra explained. Hes a P.I. with a hush-hush government agency of some kind.
I think hes working for Emil Landon, Jessy said, confused. She took another swallow of the brandy-laced tea. Now that she was forewarned, it was delicious.
I bet hes working undercover, Reggie said, excited. So how did you get to know him so quickly? When is your next date?
We werent on a date, Jessy said.
I was playing craps. Dillon Wolf was at the tableI didnt even know his name then. ButI won. I won a lot of money. It was bizarreas if an invisible hand was literally moving the dice until they landed on a hard ten. Anyway, I was starting to leave, and then the man plowed into me, knocked me onto the table
Dillon Wolf knocked you onto the craps table? Reggie asked.
No, the dead man, the murder victim.
He was dead, but he knocked you down? Sandra asked, confused.
He was dying when he knocked me down, and then he died on top of me. And then Dillon Wolf came back and helped me up. Actually, I think he convinced the cops to let me out of there, too, Jessy said.
Cool, Reggie told her. So are you going to see him again?
Cool, Reggie told her. So are you going to see him again?
I dont know why I would, Jessy said.
I dont know why you wouldnt, Reggie said.
He didnt ask me out, for one thing.
He will, Reggie said confidently.
Jessy smiled and took another sip of the tea. It all seemed distant now, as if it had all happened to someone else. The man, Tanner Green, falling on herdying.
What a night, Sandra said quietly. What you told TimothyBefore all that happened, you made enough to keep him at the home?
Jessy smiled falteringly. It was amazing. It never happened before, and Im sure it will never happen again, but yes, I made enough to keep Timothy there for the year.
Sandra gasped. You made that much? You did bet your house!
Jessy shook her head. No, honestly, I wasnt that crazy. It wasnt my money I was betting. I was rolling well, so other people kept throwing money down for me.
Its all so unbelievable, Sandra said. All that money. And then a man dying on you. That is one bizarre night. She looked thoughtful for a moment, then asked, And no one saw anything?
Not that I know of. He plowed into me, and hedied, Jessy said.
They all sat in silence for a long moment, and then Sandra said, All right, were up and out of here. If youre sure youre okay?
Jessy nodded.
I still feel creeped out. Reggie shivered suddenly. I meanwhoever murdered that guy is still out there, right?
Jessy felt a chill streak down her spine. Suddenly, as if she were reliving the moment, she could see Tanner Greens face, the lips moving, the eyes going dim, clearly before her. Shaking herself to drive the image out of her mind, she stood to see them out. Im fine. Well all forget it in a couple of days, she lied, knowing she would never forget the events of tonight.
Call me. Let me know ifwell, if theres anything I can do, Sandra said.
Will do, Jessy assured her. She watched as the two women made it into Sandras car, then carefully closed and locked the door. She suddenly wished she had an alarm system, but until tonight, it would have been wasted money, considering the cost of Timothys care.
With the door closed and locked, she checked in on Timothy, who had dressed for bed properly and was sleeping soundly.
She went on to her own room, thankful for the house. It had belonged to her parents, who had bought it long before Henderson became a popular spot to live. The courtyard was pebbled, with cacti here and there, along with statuary they had bought through the years. The living room held her mothers old piano, and had glass doors that led out to the small patio and pool area. She had a kitchen, dining room, family room, three bedrooms and an office.
Tonight, however, she wished that she also had an alarm.
She tried to tell herself that it was ridiculous to feel fear. Whoever had killed Tanner Green surely had no interest in her. She hadnt seen anything. She had just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. But since Timothy was going to get to live happily because of the evening, she couldnt really regret it.
As she curled up in her own bed, she found herself thinking about Dillon Wolf. Shed been intrigued by him, attracted to him, when he had just been standing there. That he had reappeared in time to help her up from the table was her own little minor miracle.
Why the hell hadnt she let him drive her home?
Because there would have been no point, she told herself. She didnt even have time to date. She was responsible for Timothy, for one thing, and she didnt mind that. Not at all. He had always been there for her, so it made her happy that now she could be there for him. And now she was so accustomed to working, trying to catch whatever overtime came along, that she barely remembered dating, much less having a relationship, and she wouldnt know how to date anymore, anyway, even if the opportunity presented itself.
It had been nice to touch him, though. To be touched. To feel the fabric of his jacket. To
She closed her eyes.
And allowed herself to dream about the man named Wolf.
But in the middle of the dream, just as Dillon Wolf was smiling at her, things suddenly changed. She was at the table again, and everything seemed to shrink away. She turned, and Tanner Green was stumbling toward her. Straight at her. She could almost feel his crushing weight against her again. See his eyes staring into hers just before the light of life faded from them for good.
She saw his mouth moving, and once again heard the word he had whispered.
Indigo.
She woke with a start. It was still night, and the darkness seemed to press down on her. She was suddenly certain that something was there with her, hidden in the shadows, that she was being watched.
She leaped out of bed and dived for her light switch. The room jumped into view, and she blinked against the sudden harshness, tense, her body ready to spring.
But there was no one there. The room was empty.
She felt foolish, but she went into her bathroom, took the bloodied, discarded clothing and carried it into the kitchen, where she placed it in a larger trash bag, which she hauled out into the garage. She knew it was silly, but she wanted that reminder of the evening as far away as she could get it. Then she went back to bed, where she turned on her small bedroom TV and didnt turn off the light.
It occurred to her then that no one had asked her if the dying man had said anything.
And so she was the only one who knew that he had spoken that single word.
Indigo.
Emil Landon was a man of an indeterminate age; he might have been a worn thirty something, or a fit man in his fifties. Because Adam Harrisonowner and director of Harrison Investigations, the rather unique private investigations firm that was Dillons actual employerhad contacts with access to just about any record on any human being living in the United States and beyond, he knew that Landon was forty-eight, had married and divorced three wives, had fathered one child who lived in Dublin with his mother, and had inherited millions from a grandfather who had been a Turkish oil baron. Sound real-estate investments had added to those millions. He liked to be a player. He liked the clothing and the cars, and the women who followed the call of big money. But he wasnt a lucky gambler himself, so hed discovered a way to profit from the propensity of most men to count on lucks eventual appearance, gambleand lose. Hed opened his own casino and was in the process of negotiations to create more gambling meccas, something of a sore point in the community. On his mothers side, he could provide the proper court-required documents to prove that he was one thirty-second Paiutein fact, he only needed to be one sixty-fourthwhich gave him the right to build casinos on Indian land, where he would no doubt see to it that the proceeds of his venture stayed in his pockets and didnt reach the Indian nation that should benefit from it.
Dillon hadnt followed much of the legal process; he had seen it far too often already. He didnt think much of Emil Landon, and he still wasnt sure why a man as moral as Adam Harrison had wanted him to take the case.
Dillon knew plenty of wealthy people who were also extremely responsible with their money and were courteous to those around them, no matter what their financial or social status.