Fatal Charm

“I’m going with you.”

Amanda nodded then changed her mind. “Maybe I’m overreacting, but I’d rather you stayed here on guard. I don’t want to take any chances with the children.”

As she walked out of the building, she looked around cautiously. There were plenty of people just getting off work. She’d be safe.

The narrow cobblestoned streets adjacent to the Santa Fe Plaza made it difficult for anyone to hide. She passed a mural of Saint Francis of Assisi painted on the crumbling wall of an old adobe building. The saint’s ability to talk to the animals was a link between Pueblo beliefs and the modern-day Santa Fe natives, who saw their city as one in perfect harmony with nature. Trouble of any kind here seemed impossible, but the facts were inescapable.

As she headed back, Amanda noticed an off-white sedan parked in the shadows of a narrow alleyway. From there, the driver would have a clear view of the day-care center. Amanda allowed herself a furtive glance. There was definitely someone in the car, but the driver’s face was masked by long, sculpted shadows that made it impossible to distinguish facial features.

Amanda slowed her steps, trying to get a better look. Suddenly, the vehicle sped out of the alley, heading north, away from the center. The license plate was from New Mexico, but Amanda couldn’t make out the letters or numbers. She hurried back to the center.

She pulled Bernice into her office. “That person was definitely watching us,” Amanda said. “I wish I’d managed to get a look at the driver’s face.”

“Maybe you’re safer not knowing who it is,” Bernice said slowly.

Amanda felt her skin prickle. What on earth had she been drawn into? She thought of Hope and her heart began to hammer. No matter what happened, she had to find a way to keep her daughter with her, out of danger.

Amanda went directly to the phone and called the police. She reported the car she’d seen watching the day-care center, but she avoided mentioning anything concerning Tony or the kidnappers.

Bernice shook her head as Amanda hung up. “You should have told them the whole story.”

“I can’t. But this way at least, the police will keep an eye on the center, and make sure that creep stays away from here.” Amanda took a deep breath and gave Bernice a worried look. “It’s getting late, but I’m still not sure it’s safe to take Hope home.”

Bernice moved to the window. “You’ll be okay. That car’s long gone. Go home. Just remember my house is less than a mile away. If there’s a problem, come over immediately. Winston’s the best guard there is. He’ll make sure everyone’s safe.”

“Winston!” Hope, a small dark-haired girl with large brown eyes, ran through the open doorway and launched herself into Amanda’s arms. “Are we going to see Winston, Mommy?”

“Hello, Peanut.” Amanda gave Doris, the nursery attendant, a nod, assuring her that Hope’s unexpected entrance was okay.

“I like Winston, Mommy! He’s my friend.”

Amanda smiled. “Yes, I know.” Winston was Bernice’s gargantuan bullmastiff. When he stood on his hind legs, he could see over the top of Amanda’s head. Nobody ever gave Winston a hard time. Though the dog rarely growled, he had a habit of standing directly in the path of anyone he didn’t know and licking his chops, as if making dinner plans.

Amanda glanced at Bernice. “I may ask to borrow Winston before this thing’s finished.”

“Yippee! Winston can sleep over.”

Bernice laughed. “You’re welcome to him anytime.”

* * *

AS AMANDA DROVE HOME, her eyes continually darted to her rearview mirror. Nobody was following her, she was certain of that. She soon let Hope’s incessant chatter divert her fears and began to relax.

As her daughter sang a nursery rhyme, Amanda’s thoughts strayed to Tony. She’d be calling him tonight after Hope fell asleep. The prospect sent a rush through her. Although she told herself quickly that it was only the product of all the extra adrenaline still pumping through her, she knew there was more to it than that. Tony’s appearance in her life had reminded her that she’d suppressed her womanly needs far too long, concentrating solely on being a mom. That aspect of her feminine side she’d so neglected was starting to demand her attention.

Forcing Tony from her thoughts, she focused on enjoying the drive with her daughter. This was their time, and she wouldn’t let anything encroach on it.

As they left the city behind, Amanda felt more of her tension melt away. She liked country living. Her house was on the southern outskirts of Santa Fe, nestled in a rural area dotted with small, territorial-style adobe houses. Here, prices were more reasonable, and she could afford to give Hope a huge yard to play in.

“Mommy, look! We have company!” Hope pointed ahead.

Amanda felt her breath catch in her throat. A pickup was parked in the shadows of the Russian olives that grew wild along one wall of her house. If the driver’s intentions had been good, he wouldn’t have been hiding there. Sensing danger, she made a sudden change of plans.

“Hang on, Peanut. We’re not going home after all.” Amanda stepped on the gas pedal, shot past her house, and sped on down the road.

Chapter Two

Amanda’s car responded instantly, but the dirt road made high speed precarious, and the rear end of the vehicle fishtailed before Amanda brought it back under control. Fear slammed into her as she raced toward Bernice’s home. Phil, Bernice’s husband, would be there and so would Winston.

“Wow!” Hope squealed. “This is fun, Mommy!”

Despite the thick cloud of dust she left behind, she could see the pickup had shot out after them. She wasn’t sure what was going on, but there was no way she was going to let anyone catch up to her, not with Hope in the car.

Amanda followed the bend in the road, staying away from the edges where she knew the sand would be soft. She hoped the pickup would get bogged down, but the other driver stayed right with her. For the first time since she’d purchased her home, she regretted the distance between houses.

Suddenly, Ernestine, her nearest neighbor’s miniature goat, stepped out into the road.

“Hold on tight, sweetie!” Amanda pumped the brakes and turned the wheel sharply to the right, narrowly missing the animal.

Just then she saw a motorcycle ahead going her way. Amanda raced to catch it, recognizing the driver as Ricky Biddle, who lived about two miles farther down the road. He’d help her out. She honked the horn and saw Ricky turn his head, then start slowing down.

She came up behind Ricky, pulled over to the right and stopped, far more confident now that she wasn’t alone. As Ricky halted his motorcycle a short distance in front of her, the pickup pulled up alongside.

Amanda’s temper flared as she saw Tony step out of the pickup and walk around the front of the vehicle toward her. “Are you okay?” he asked.

“Mr. Ramos!” Amanda got out, anger spiraling through her, robbing her of breath. “I should have expected something like this from you!”

Ricky, a sandy-haired young man in his late twenties, headed toward Amanda, removing his red motorcycle helmet as he walked. “Is this man bothering you?”

Towering over Ricky, Tony transfixed the younger man with an uncompromising stare. Ricky took a step back, realized what he was doing, then held his ground.

“It’s okay, son. The lady’s safe with me.”

“I’m sorry, Ricky. I made a mistake. I didn’t recognize Mr. Ramos for a moment. I can handle this.”

Ricky looked at Amanda. “Do you want me to go find a cop?”

“No, that’s not necessary,” Amanda said, noting Ricky hadn’t offered to stay. Not that she blamed him. Tony’s face was set and he looked about as friendly as a stone gargoyle. “I’ll explain later, okay?”

Ricky glanced at Tony, then at the ground. “Um, okay, Amanda. Call me later. Do you still have my number?”

“Sure. It’s right by my phone,” Amanda said. “Thanks for stopping.”

“I’ll be home the rest of the evening. I’ll stop by later to check on you.”

“No, please don’t bother,” Amanda said, hating what she’d started. Ricky was a nice guy, but she didn’t want him hovering around, which he had a tendency to do. “I’ll be talking to you soon, okay?”

As Ricky restarted his motorcycle and rode away, Amanda glanced to make sure Hope was still safely in her car seat, out of earshot, then glared at Tony. “You owe me an explanation. What were you doing by my house? I don’t recall giving you my address.”