“You read my mind. We should also call Jason at the Holiday Inn. I’ll make sure they have the room next to the elevator and the ice machine.”
“You’re pure evil.” Tinsley grins at me.
“That’s why I’m so easy to love.” I lean down and kiss the top of her hair, savoring the floral scent of her shampoo.
Frank’s truck drives up, and Fiona jumps out in jeans and a sweater. I’m shocked that in place of her usual stilettos, she’s wearing cowboy boots.
“Surprised to see me?” she asks.
Her enthusiasm is infectious, but I’m going to play it cool and yank her chain a bit. “Naw. Jim warned me you were coming.”
“That bastard,” she shouts with a wide grin. “You must be Tinsley Pratt.” She rushes over while Frank unpacks five suitcases.
“Are you moving in?” I tease.
“I brought my computer and a printer and some files and an outfit or two.” She blushes, and it’s rather funny. She’s going to be sorely disappointed when she learns there isn’t anyone here to dress for.
“Come on in. Jim said you were on your way and gave me the rundown.” I show her where she can set up in the living room, so she has her own space.
“What do you think is going on?” Tinsley asks.
“The detective on this is Nick Robards. He’s young, kind of cute, and looking at jobs in Sacramento,” Fiona says.
“What does that mean for me?” I ask.
“The downside is he’s looking for headlines, so a billionaire playboy who denies paternity, and then the mother of his baby goes missing, is perfect for him.”
I groan. “Except that isn’t what he has,” I protest. “It wasn’t my baby, and it actually wasn’t a baby at all.” I’ve never been so grateful to have Tinsley in my life. My dick is permanently wrapped up and put away. “Did you know the blood they tested indicated she wasn’t pregnant?”
Fiona nods. “We also found out the boyfriend has a conviction for assault and battery.”
“Jim was told the police are trying to get a warrant for my arrest. Will they ship me home in handcuffs?”
“Probably not. If they do, I’ll make sure the media are there to talk about Robards overlooking so many issues with her story.” She smiles. “Is he coming today or tomorrow?”
“Jim thought he’d be here tomorrow, though possibly in town tonight. He doesn’t know he’s lost the element of surprise, so do you think he’s expecting to show up and haul me off?”
She shrugs. “Good question. We’ll see. I suspect he has a lot of questions he needs answers to in order to get his arrest warrant.”
Frank shows Fiona where she’ll be staying, and Molly insists on making her a cobb salad for lunch.
When Fiona gushes about it, Molly is gracious. “Thank you. The only thing that didn’t come from the ranch was the avocado and the blue cheese crumbles. The chicken and egg are from our hen house. We cure our own bacon twice a year, and the greens and tomatoes are grown right here on the land.”
“I’d love to see your garden,” Fiona says.
“I’m sure we can make that happen.”
Molly is so proud of the garden, and she should be. It feeds the ranch and all its visitors almost year-round.
After lunch, we move to the dining room to talk. Fiona sits down with a big file in front of her, along with a yellow legal pad and a fancy pen.
Tinsley sits next to me, and while they’re still doing small talk, I send a text to Darlene at the diner and Jason at the hotel about Robards coming in, letting them know he’s not to be trusted.
Jason: Perfect. I’ve got a family with eight kids in three rooms. I’ll make sure he’s next to them.
Darlene: We’ll conveniently be out of whatever he orders, and he’ll have to eat the leftover trout from yesterday.
My leg bounces, and Tinsley reaches over to still it, calming me with her touch. Fiona opens her file and brings out a packet of paper. “Mason Sullivan obtained these affidavits from each person you were with at the Shangri-la in October. Having Walker Clifton is good sway, given if anyone’s going to Sacramento, it’s him.”
“Wouldn’t Robards have checked that out first?” Tinsley asks.
“I’m not sure he’s that bright,” Fiona snarks.
I hope she’s right. I know ambition can get in the way of success.
Fiona holds up a CD with a fob attached. “This is the jump drive Jonathan Best compiled for you. It’s all your comings and goings around Las Vegas the weekend she insists you got her pregnant. They have each night you entered and when you left your room.”
My stomach turns. “Each time?”
“They say you’re always on a camera in Vegas.” Tinsley smiles, clearly thinking this is a good thing.
It’s not—at least not for my standing with her. I wasn’t alone.
Fiona nods. She knows I’m nervous because I spent a lot of time that weekend with Viviana Prentis.
“The compact disc is a video of Heather McCoy coming and going from the bar on the date in question, taken from the bank ATM across the street.” Fiona holds up the paper square with a CD inside. “She does leave, but we’re unable to validate who she’s with. It’s blown up and grainy, but we recognize her from the photos Jim has shown me.”
“That shows I didn’t get her pregnant, so I wouldn’t be worried about her doing anything to me,” I muse. “So, I’m guessing they’re going after what’s happened since she went to the press, and as you know, I left. I did go to Denver
