Arizona Dreams (David Mapstone Mystery 4)

“Mmmm,” she said.

“Is that irritating you?”

“I’ll bear up,” she said. “I’ll tell you when to stop.”

I said, “Peralta says I’m the one who’s nuts. He was as angry as I’ve ever seen him that I had anything to do with Tom Earley’s wife. He didn’t want any explanations. He just ordered me to stay away. Why is he so afraid of Tom Earley?”

“Earley wants to destroy El Jefe,” she said. “He and his allies call the sheriff a liberal. Can you believe that?”

I shook my head. “Politics have become so extreme, especially in Arizona. When I was a professor, I was considered right-wing. In today’s Arizona, I’m what the Tom Earleys of the state would call a liberal, or a socialist.” I sighed. “Considering Earley was specifically questioning the need for me in the Sheriff’s Office, I should be the one who’s scared. I know Peralta’s just looking out for me. But the whole thing is creepy. Tom Earley uses me as political cannon fodder, and his wife shows up in my office. If Dana’s story is true, and she was a blackmail victim, she wouldn’t be a cooperative witness. She’s got to protect her husband.”

“Maybe she’s protecting herself,” Lindsey said.

I gently caressed her finely sculpted ankles. I could see why the Victorians thought the sight of a woman’s ankle was a scandal.

“I just need to get out of it,” I said. “Pass this information on to the detectives. Let them sort it out. I told Peralta I’d find her, and I did.” I started on the other foot. “Or,” I said, “I could ignore Peralta and arrest her for filing a false report.”

“Don’t get in a fight with the East Valley, Dave,” she laughed. “That would hurt El Jefe’s reelection chances.”

“That whole suburban thing baffles me,” I said.

“It’s not your thing, Dave. Not mine, either. Why don’t you just give it to the detectives and go back to the book.”

“Peralta’s book,” I said.

“It’s my History Shamus’ book,” she said, smiling at me warmly. “I love the parts you’ve read to me. I lived some of those cases with you. Anyway, you’ve seemed contented when you’re writing. I like that.”

She leaned forward and ran her fingers through my hair. “But there’s bad news.”

“I’m going bald?”

“No, Dave. I do love your wavy hair, and it’s fine. But I just came from the federal building, and they want me in Washington for a week. There was a major breach of corporate computer systems yesterday. Cisco, Bank of America, a bunch of others. Who knows what the hackers got away with.”

“You’ll have fun,” I said, without enthusiasm.

“I’d have fun on vacation there with you, whispering history in my ear as we toured the city. Instead, I’ll be cooped up at the FBI in endless meetings with a bunch of propeller-heads. I hate to leave My Love. But when I get back, we get to leave on our real vacation. It’s going to be wonderful, Dave!”

She made me smile. “I am so looking forward to that, especially the time with you.” I kissed her hand. “In the meantime, I’ll be fine. Don’t be gone long.”

She put her hand on my cheek, looking at me with her dark blue eyes. “I need you, Dave. You keep me centered.”

I leaned up and kissed her, letting our tongues dance together. “I’m so proud of you,” I said. “Please be safe. Remember the Russian mafia…”

She sat back. “I think about it all the time,” she said. “Maybe we should make that life change we talked about. We could make some money off the house. Go someplace that’s not so screwed up, get real jobs.”

“We would have done that if I hadn’t failed in Portland,” I said.

“You didn’t fail. They were assholes who didn’t see how brilliant you are.” Then, “I hope it’s not a problem that Robin is still at the house.”

“I hardly see her,” I said. “It’s not a problem at all. Maybe I’ll take her to dinner with Peralta, be a chaperone.”

“He does like her,” Lindsey said. “She said today that I was a bitch.”

I just watched her. I reached above the fabric of her pants and massaged her calf.

“It’s a sister thing,” she said, running her hand through her hair. “Seriously, Dave. I know she’s kind of like the houseguest that won’t leave. But she’s been through a bad experience, and I haven’t wanted to nag her.”

“It’s not a problem.”