“Lots of people work at the Grandview. Mostly, I’m just in their way.”
That wasn’t true. The man was as efficient as a machine, a master of making things move rapidly and smoothly.
“You go have your staff meeting,” he said. “Then I’ll drive you to the hospital. Once we’ve made sure Leslie is in good hands, I’ll bring you back.”
Jenny shook her head. “It’s too much to ask.”
“You aren’t asking. I’m offering.”
She wanted him to go with her. She couldn’t deny it. He was the most solid, comforting presence she’d had in her life in years.
“All right, if you’re sure.”
Cain just took her arm, and they headed down the stairs.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
EXPLAINING THE MURDER SITUATION TO THE EMPLOYEES DIDN’Ttake long. Word traveled fast in Jerome, especially at a locals hangout like the Copper Star.
In a waiting room at the Verde Valley Medical Center, Jenny sat next to Cain for almost four hours before Leslie Owens’s mother, Aida, and her aunt, Betsy, arrived from Phoenix.
Neither of the women had ever met Brian Santana. Leslie had told her mother she was dating someone new, but aside from Brian being a “good-looking, very nice man,” Aida knew nothing more about him.
By the time the two women arrived to take over Leslie’s care, Jenny and Cain knew the woman had suffered a concussion, but not how severe it was. Leslie was still unconscious, but the doctors were optimistic. Leslie had also sustained scratches, abrasions, and bruising, some of it around her throat.
As they were leaving the hospital, Chief Nolan arrived. He spoke to them briefly, then went in to talk to Aida and Betsy.
At least for a while, Jenny’s duties were over.
“The doctors are hopeful Leslie will fully recover,” she said, as Cain drove back up the hill to Jerome.
“That’s good news, and they should know more by tomorrow.”
Jenny watched the familiar desert landscape pass by outside the pickup’s window, the wide open vistas, Palo Verde trees, prickly pear, and miscellaneous cacti. The sky was clear, the sun out and shining, but a storm was on its way, predicted for the weekend.
“I keep thinking about the murder,” she said. “I think Brian and Leslie got into an argument that got out of control. Brian assaulted her, and Leslie killed him trying to defend herself.”
“The door was locked when you got there, so it doesn’t look like anyone else was involved. If the broken basin and pitcher turn out to be the murder weapon, you could be right, killing Brian was self-defense.” He turned to look at her. “Unless Leslie murdered Brian on purpose, which would change things entirely.”
Jenny felt a shiver. She thought of Leslie Owens, but couldn’t see her as the type to murder someone. Then again, how would she know?
“I wonder what they were fighting about that could have caused things to turn so violent,” she said.
Cain’s big, scarred hands remained steady on the wheel. “With any luck, Leslie will be able to tell the police when she wakes up.”
Jenny glanced at Cain, at his square-jawed, handsome profile, surprised she would notice after the trauma of the last few hours.
“Do you think Chief Nolan will tell us what he finds out?”
Cain flicked her a sideways glance. “Nolan was appointed by the mayor. If he has any gratitude for my sizable contribution to the mayor’s reelection campaign, he’ll be more than happy to keep us informed.”
Jenny fell silent.Money talks and bullshit walks, Uncle Charlie used to say. She had supported the mayor as well, mostly by putting campaign posters in the windows of the Star and passing out brochures to locals.
At least Cain’s money had gone to a good man.
By the time they got back to the Copper Star, Heather had found alternate lodgings for the guests who’d been planning to check in that afternoon, and the bar had returned to normal. There was a constant buzz among the customers, but people were eating and drinking as if it were any other normal day.
“Looks like the place is back to business as usual,” Cain said.
