After he hung up he finished putting on the shirt and took off for Natalie’s house. En route he phoned Luckey. Kit had no idea if his friend would be available. He could be deep into a case or he might already have plans. But it was worth a try to find out.
“Well, if it isn’t Father Segal,” Luckey teased when the call connected.
Kit chuckled. “Tonight it’s just plain Kit, even if I’m wearing a collar. I’m glad I could reach a live voice.”
“Don’t tell me you don’t have anything to do on a Friday night because none of the guys would believe you. What’s up?”
“My brother needs me to haze for him tomorrow night in San Antonio. Are you working a case or could you guard Natalie for me?”
“You mean at her house?”
“No. She says she likes the rodeo so I thought I’d take her and Amy with me so she can watch. I’d need your services during the event. Here’s why.”
He spent the next few minutes filling his friend in on the case. “One or both of the Moraleses is after the money and the guns. None of those items are in the house, and I’m convinced they’ll come after Natalie when they break in again and realize that fact. She’s not safe until they’re caught.”
“Sure I’ll help. It’ll be fun to watch you in the saddle.”
“You don’t have to do this, Luckey.”
“You’ve helped me out plenty of times and my weekend is wide open. The boss told me to expect a new case on Monday.”
“I’ll owe you big time. I’m on my way home now. If Natalie says she wants to go with me, I’ll call you and we’ll make plans.”
“Home, huh?”
“Don’t start, Luckey.”
“Yup. You have it bad. I’ll wait for your call.”
* * *
NATALIE HAD JUST put Amy down for the night when her cell rang. Her pulse raced before she answered. “Hi, Kit. Are you still in Kansas?”
“Nope. I’m pulling into the driveway and I wanted to give you a heads-up.”
She was so happy he was back she had to be careful not to show it. “It’s perfect timing. Amy’s just fallen asleep. If she’d seen you, she wouldn’t have wanted to go to bed. She said your name several times today. She can’t figure out where you are.” His chuckle worked its way to her insides.
She could hear the garage door opening while they were still on the phone. “Maybe we can fix that problem this weekend,” he said and then disconnected, leaving her hanging.
When he walked into the kitchen wearing his collared shirt, her heart was still thudding. He looked...sensational. “Welcome back, Father Saunders. Would you care for something cold to drink?”
His gaze held hers. “I’d like a cola if you have one.”
“I have a six-pack.”
“Give me a minute to freshen up.”
While he disappeared, she pulled two out of the fridge and went into the living room to wait for him. He returned quickly, wearing a polo shirt, and reached for his soda before he sat on the couch. After taking a long swallow he said, “How was your day?”
“Uneventful, thank heaven. How was yours?”
“My trip to Leavenworth turned all of my hunches into truths.”
She sat forward in her chair. “Tell me everything.”
“I made a deal with Esger, who signed a confession in front of the prison warden. In exchange, two years have been taken off his twelve-year prison sentence. He provided false ID to your husband, to Salter, to the other prisoner who escaped with your husband, Alonzo Morales, and to his sister, Juanita Morales.
“She probably drove the vehicle that took them to Fort Collins where they would have paid a fortune to Esger to fix them up with false documents. When they’d planned out their con, they came to Texas. The woman Colette saw with your husband was Juanita. I sent Colette a rap sheet on the other woman and she made a positive identification of the mug shot.”