Desert Heat

“Another bad date trying for a second time?” Mitchell kept just enough playfulness in his voice to keep from sounding patronizing. Tico shook his head, surprised at the animosity this man was showing toward Meg. And here he’d thought this was a tight-knit team.

Meg shot Mitchell an impatient look. “No. My roommate has developed a sudden interest in this investigation. She can leave a message.”

“Speaking of roommates.” Tico took the seat next to Meg’s and crooked a finger to beckon her closer. He liked the reluctance in her body language before she finally leaned toward him, a lock of hair falling on her forehead. Was she wearing perfume, or did her skin smell like heaven? He indulged in a slow, deep inhale before speaking. He felt strongly about what he had to say and hoped Meg wouldn’t take it wrong.

“Your roommate was flirting with me this morning.”

Meg lifted a brow. “And?”

“You might want to warn her that starting conversations with strangers around here could be more dangerous than she thinks.”

“Penny can take care of herself.”

“I’m sure the woman who disappeared a few days ago felt she could take care of herself, too. Just do me a favor and warn her to lay off the friendliness. She didn’t know me from the devil. She’s asking for trouble.”

Meg didn’t get a chance to reply. Eric Longwood entered the conference room, looking disgusted. He dropped his file on the desk. “Bad news. Another woman was reported missing this morning. A twenty-three-year-old. Melissa Collins from the ranch lands outside town.”

Tico sat back in his chair, quick to gauge the reactions of the team. What he saw surprised him. For now, he’d keep his counsel. While Meg, Bill and Jose looked surprised and as disgusted as their chief, Mitchell Blake sat back in his chair with an expectant look on his face, as if he already knew. When Mitchell saw Tico watching him, he leaned forward and gave Chief Longwood his full attention.

Eric continued, “Mitchell, Bill, Jose, I want you to check out the Collins woman’s car found in the mall parking lot. Talk to people. Look for leads. Tico, Meg, come with me to speak with the family. Let’s go.”

Out front, Tico opened the door to the backseat of the unmarked sedan Longwood brought from the precinct garage. Again, Meg gave him that lifted brow. “Not going to fight for shotgun?”

He grinned. “And have a dangerous blonde sitting behind me? Not today.”

Eric put the car into gear. “So, are we working any closer toward camaraderie among teammates?”

When neither answered, Eric heaved a heavy sigh. “I had a complaint from Mitchell yesterday, Meg. Says you sniped at him.”

Meg shook her head. “Sorry about that, Chief. I’m just trying to hold my own here. I’m getting flak on all sides. My career may not be as long as Mitchell’s, but I’ve earned my place, and he keeps trying to slap me down.”

“Your bio is pretty impressive,” Tico added in a show of support.

“Flattery will get you nowhere, Detective,” Meg said over her shoulder. “Besides, Chief, I have a bone to pick with you.”

Tico leaned back in his seat, waiting to see how Eric handled Meg. He knew exactly where she was steering this conversation.

Longwood reached for a pair of sunglasses from the dashboard and slid them on, shielding his eyes from the desert glare. “Before you jump to conclusions, Meg, you need to understand that Don Francisco may tell me what he wants done and as mayor can fire me if I don’t follow orders, but he respects me enough that I believe he’ll trust my decisions. I simply need your cooperation.”

She thumbed to Tico in the backseat. “You mean cooperate with him?”

“There’s a good start.”

“Meg and I had a conversation last night that I’m sure helped bridge that gap between us,” Tico said.

At the look of disbelief on her face, he added, “And you have to admit, Eric, you and I would be pretty upset if our credibility was being challenged. Detective Flores and I are finding a common ground.”

“We don’t have time for you two to find common ground. You need to own it. Now. Do you understand me, Meg?”

“I’m being coerced here.”

When Meg folded her arms across her chest, Tico found himself stretching his neck to see what effect that had on her cleavage. He rolled his eyes at his own actions and sat back.

“Look, Eric. No team leader likes to be circumvented. I get that. What’s worse is that Don Francisco is making decisions based on his own fears when his daughter is the most qualified detective for the job. I say, we offer the mayor lip service and get the job done with Meg’s team as fast as we can before he can object.”

Silence fell like dead weight in the car. From the look on Meg’s face he’d stunned her. Good. With another woman missing as of this morning, it was time to pull the team together.

Meg cleared her throat. “Sounds like you’re undercutting the mayor, but I thank you for the vote of support, Detective.”

“You’re welcome.” He held out a hand. “Now, let’s get to work.”

Meg looked at his hand a long moment before shaking it. Her hand felt small, soft and warm in his, triggering some foreign desire to keep her safe. Where the hell did that come from?

He cleared his throat. “So, what are your thoughts?”

Meg glanced from Eric to Tico. “If another woman went missing this morning, I’d say the others are still around. Seems like some arrogant son of a bitch is rounding out a stable of women to ship out all at once.”

Tico nodded. “Agreed.”

“Here in Adobe Creek?” Eric asked.

Meg nodded. “If not here, then in that damned barren corridor. My gut tells me if they’re using the corridor, there’s a hole somewhere close to our boundary. Well hidden and soundproof or locals would have reported unusual activity.”