“Thank you, and nice to meet you all,” Charley replied to Richard with a smile that included Suzy and Vince.
“Not just a friend of the Coopers, she’s their first cousin,” Sully told them.
“A double welcome, Charley,” Suzy said. She picked up menus and led them to a quiet table in the corner of the busy restaurant. “Enjoy.”
They ordered salads, steaks, and baked potatoes. Just before their entrees were served, Sully told Charley the beef came from Chase Cooper’s ranch. Then their salad plates were cleared away and they enjoyed every bite of their delicious meals. Deciding they were too full for dessert, Sully grabbed the check before Charley could. When she protested, he said maybe she could pay sometime in the future.
“Promise?” Charley asked, hoping that meant he was counting on seeing her again.
“Sure,” he said with a chuckle and a wink.
Sully tipped the waitress and promised Suzy and Richard they’d be back again. Charley didn’t miss the envious stares of other women at the bar as Sully gave Vince a wave as they exited the popular establishment. Sully held Charley’s hand on the way to his truck and opened her door. Heading back to her place, when he drove up the hill to her duplex, she regretted having to say good night to him. Turning off the truck engine, he came around to her side and walked her to her front door.
“Do you feel safe staying here tonight?” he asked.
“I think so,” she said as he unlocked her door. She stepped into her apartment, and when she turned to him in the small foyer, she asked, “I don’t have any beer, but would you like to have a glass of wine?”
“Sure.”
Sully locked the front door and made his way into the living room. On the Formica countertop of the half-wall separating the living room from the kitchen, the white orchid looked like it might survive. From a kitchen cabinet, Charley brought out a bottle of red wine and placed it on the counter. She set a corkscrew next to the bottle, and carrying two wineglasses, walked around the corner of the kitchen to where Sully stood. He picked up the wine bottle and corkscrew, and they settled themselves on the sofa. Sully opened the wine, and Charley clicked on the flatscreen. Chatting, they had finished their glasses of wine when the late news came on.
The leading story was grim.
“Yes,” Burt Groves stated to a news reporter. “Another body was found in a cave late today here in Old Colorado City.”
“This victim brings the strangling deaths of young females to four. Correct?” the reporter asked and held a microphone toward the detective.
“I didn’t say it was strangulation,” Groves clarified.
“This young woman’s name is—” The reporter glanced down at a note in his hand and said, “Amy Ramirez. Is that right?”
“No comment,” the detective said with a fierce frown. Turning to the camera, he said, “We are urging the public to lock their doors and not go out alone at night. Please be careful.”
“But because of the toadflax in the victim’s hand, we can assume the Cave Killer has struck again,” the reporter prodded.
“No comment,” Detective Groves repeated and walked away from him.
“What did I tell you?” Charley said and looked at Sully. “The Cave Killer is murdering a girl once a week!”
“Why don’t you come home with me?” Sully said. “You won’t have to think about being safe in the country. You’ll know you’re safe with me.”
Charley shook her head. “I need to open my shop tomorrow morning, and you said your business is open Tuesday through Saturday as well.”
“So don’t open tomorrow,” Sully said and clicked off the flatscreen. “Stay closed until they catch this guy.”
“But I was planning to call the shop about my Mini Cooper tomorrow.”
“I guarantee you your car won’t be ready yet.”
“Then I’ll need a rental car.”
“Make your calls from my house. I’ll get you wherever you need to go, Charley.”
“What about Leon?” she asked and nervously ran the fingers of both hands along her scalp, brushing her hair away from her face. “He’ll be back first thing in the morning.”
“Text him. Let him know you’re not going to open right away.”
“I haven’t made that decision yet.”
