I stand up with sarcasm. “Okay, well, that’s great news.”
Luke chuckles, knowing we’re done here. “It was nice meeting you, Santosh. How much do we owe you?”
“I’m donation only, however…” she trails off and we wait for her to find the words. “This club that you’re in, what do you do in it? I feel I’m supposed to know.”
“Oh, are you?” He laughs and hooks his thumbs in his pockets.
I don’t like what she said about my cousin Ben…if it was about him. I’m super protective of my family. They’re good people, and he’s one of those I’m closest to since we’re less than a year apart. Our parents are the only ones of the Cocker Brothers who only had one child. It’s bonded Ben and I all through our youth, us being on the outside a little. Spent a lot of time at his ranch since our fathers are so close, too. Maybe that bond has Santosh seeing him and his marriage through me.
Since she seems like the real deal, I’m curious to know what she sees about the Ciphers. “Why do you want to know about our club?”
“Soph.”
“No, Luke, let her talk.”
She frowns, hesitating. “Do you help people or hurt people?”
“Both.”
She peers at me and stands up, too. “I have someone who needs help. Am I right in telling you that?”
“Maybe.”
“Excuse me a minute.” Santosh disappears behind a curtain in the back of her shop and returns a moment later with a framed photograph. “This is my son.”
I take it from her and Luke steps closer to see the picture of a young man’s high school yearbook photo. Blue eyes are saying he hates every second of this photo session, and probably school, too. He’s got an edge to him, even with his pretty boy looks.
“He’s twenty-seven now. Struggling.” She sighs and corrects herself, “No, he’s lost. I haven’t been able to get through to him. He’s a good boy, good heart, but doesn’t conform to society’s rules. I was thinking…no, I had a feeling that he might fit in with your club.”
Luke’s eyebrows shoot up. “I didn’t see that coming.”
“Me neither,” I mutter, staring at the image. “But we’re not the psychics. Is your feeling tellin’ you we’re good or bad, Santosh?”
“Good, or else I wouldn’t suggest this for my only child, would I?” It’s the first time she’s impatient, and I can respect that. This crazy proposition coming out of nowhere makes me believe she really is ‘gifted,’ and that just has me more worried for Ben.
Handing the photo back to her I ask, “Does he live in town?”
“He does.”
Luke and I turn toward each other as he says what I’m thinking. “Haven’t brought someone in from the outside since before I was born.”
“The other houses have.”
“Yeah, but not us.”
“Doesn’t mean we can’t look into this.”
“We’ll look into it,” he mutters as if that’s obvious. “I’m just not sure what we’re looking for.”
“I think we’ll know when we see it.” Meeting Santosh’s watchful gaze I ask, “What has he been up to?”
“Trouble. Can’t keep a job for long because he hates authority. The best one he had was in construction. Sean’s good with his hands, but there isn’t much building going on here with the recent law to keep things as they are. We don’t want to expand. Quaint and private is what people come to Sedona for. My son has an itch to get into trouble but I’ve raised a good man. Recently he’s been in quite a few bar fights, sent someone to the hospital, but this is a small town so people talk to me. The fights have been for good reasons. He’s defended people, and I’m proud of him for standing up to those people, but it can’t go on. People are getting nervous.” She’s wringing her hands, realizes it, and drops them. “Does that sound interesting to you? I had a feeling I needed to bring it up, but I won’t lie and say I’m not nervous about doing so.”
Luke shoots me a grin, “Sean doesn’t sound like us at all.”
“Nah, we’re pretty sedate.”
He side-eyeballs her, smile fading. “We take down the abusers, fight for the victims who can’t fight for themselves. Travel all over the states, sometimes Canada, sometimes Mexico. But there’s more than enough here to keep our club busy, usually.”
I cross my arms, eyes rolling. “Been a little slow lately. We should branch out.”
Santosh gazes at me. “Maybe you were meant to come here and help my son.” To Luke she asks, “How do you hear about these people you help?”
“Gratitude.” he explains without emotion. “They spread the word to others. All under the radar if you know what I mean.”
I add, “They want us to keep doing what we do, so they don’t tell, understand?”
She nods. “I’ve never met you.” Turning for her hutch, she opens a drawer and pulls out a piece of paper and a pen, scribbles on it and hands it to me. “This is our address. He’s recently moved back home. He’ll be there today.”
I hand it to Luke. “Map this.”
“Got it.”
“Nice to have never met you, Santosh,” I smile, dipping my head. “Maybe we’ll never meet you again soon.”
Her eyes are weary, the sign of a mother hoping for the best. “God speed.”
CHAPTER 26
L UKE
A t Santosh’s home, Sofia Sol and I stand on a burgundy welcome mat and use the moon-shaped door-knocker to announce us. We went back to the hotel and got our Ciphers jackets, thought it was the best way to introduce ourselves without having to work too hard to do it.
She takes a step back, letting me lead. My shoulders square off, subconsciously appreciating her trust and readying myself for whatever this guy is going to be like. The sound of heavy footsteps makes me glance to her, share a look that he’s on his way. She drops her hands, nodding that she’s ready, too.
A deadbolt clicks into
