Hunter answered, “Hello, Mom.”
“Oh, sweetheart, how are you? I never hear from you anymore.”
“I’m fine, just kind of busy. You know how it gets sometimes.”
She heard the clink of ice in a glass and knew Belinda was drinking early today. Belinda said, “I wish you’d come visit and stay a while.” Hunter heard a small, pitiful sigh, “I’m so lonely, and I need you. I don’t think I can go on like this without my loved ones nearby.”
“Mom, isn’t David home? He’s one block away from you.”
“David is very busy with very important cases. He can’t let those clients down. He has too much integrity for that.” Hunter heard the ice click on the bottom of the glass as Belinda drained her drink.
Hunter rubbed two fingers on the spot on her forehead where the headaches began. “What are you drinking tonight, Mom?”
Belinda said in a hurt voice, “Why, what does it matter? No one cares about me.”
“I love you Mom, I was just asking a question is all.”
“Well, I’m drinking a screwdriver. It tastes lovely on this hot day.”
Hunter heard her glass fill and what sounded like a glass pitcher placed on the table. “I bet it does, Mom.” She wasn’t going to argue with her mother about drinking, not today.
Belinda said, “Can I tell you about something?”
“Sure, Mom.”
“It might be a bit long, the story is complicated. It’s about this man I met.”
“It’s okay, I’m listening.”
Belinda talked and rambled and drank more screwdrivers as Hunter held the phone to her ear and wished the conversation would end. When it did end, Hunter felt guilty for her thoughts.
The next morning she dressed and drove to the Sheriff’s office. Danny ushered her into his office and pointed at a chair. Gary sat in the one beside it, sipping coffee.
Hunter asked him, “You here for the free coffee?”
“That, and I dropped off some intel I received on cattle theft.”
Hunter nodded, then said to the Sheriff, “What’s up?”
“Lincoln Jones wants you to meet him in El Paso tomorrow.”
“For what?”
“He wouldn’t say.” Danny slid an envelope across the table to her. “The info is in there. Your Chief is already on board, and your travel orders are in there, too. He had Mary Joan bring it all over here for you.”
Hunter took the manila envelope, “You seem to know everything else already. Do I go in uniform or plain clothes?”
“Plain clothes. Enough for several days, he said.” Danny grinned at her, “And a dress for a semi-formal function one evening.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope.”
“Do you know what kind of function?”
“I don’t.” He suppressed a smile, “Do you have a dress?”
“Of course I have a dress. I have lots of dresses. What do you think I am?”