“She’s really beautiful,” he said, just to hear Manuel’s response.
Manuel’s lips thinned. “Have you seen her?”
Preston tilted the picture to the side to get a better look. “Is she in some sort of danger?” From you, perhaps?
So far their exchange had lasted mere seconds, but Preston could already feel Manuel’s dislike. It came off him in waves and made Preston wonder if his own feelings were equally transparent.
“Possibly.”
“I really wish I could help you, but…” Preston shook his head. “I haven’t seen them. Do you have a card or something? Maybe I could call you if I do.”
Manuel slipped the picture of Emma and Max into his breast pocket and withdrew a card that read “Manuel Rodriguez.” Only a cell phone and pager number were listed beneath the name. No profession. No address.
“If you see her, I’d appreciate hearing from you.”
“You bet. We can’t leave such a pretty lady at risk now, can we?”
When Manuel froze and turned back, Preston knew he hadn’t masked the flippant tone of his voice quite as well as he’d intended to.
“Do you live here in Ely, señor?” Manuel asked.
They’d gone from amigo to señor. Not a good sign. Preston saw no reason to single himself out any more than he already had. He’d been foolish to provoke Manuel. It wasn’t going to help matters. “Yeah, I grew up here. Why?”
There was that icy smile again. “You don’t look like a cowboy.”
“Next time I’ll remember to wear my spurs.”
Straight white teeth flashed as Manuel laughed. “Be careful. A cowboy lives a dangerous life,” he said softly. “You wouldn’t want to be caught unawares.”
Manuel held his head at a haughty angle as he stalked into the dimly lit lobby, where Preston could see him showing everyone the same picture and, no doubt, asking the same question: Have you seen my wife?
The tension inside Preston wound tighter as he watched. How many people would Manuel have to approach before someone said, “I think I saw her over by the Starlight Motel.” Even if no one gave her away, Emma had a kid and no car. A diabetic kid. She didn’t stand a chance against the arrogant son of a bitch who was chasing her. If she couldn’t get a ride out of town Manuel would probably find her before nightfall.
The memory of Emma arching her neck as he kissed her soft skin flashed through Preston’s mind. She’d closed her eyes and held her breath at his touch, as though she’d never felt anything so gentle.
The thought of what she might have endured before caused Preston to crush Manuel’s card in his hand.
“Here’s your change,” the waitress said.
His mind on Emma and Max, Preston waved her off. “Keep it.”
She pocketed the money, but paused with a hand on her hip instead of moving away. When he looked up, she grinned. “At least take your receipt.”
He accepted the slip of paper. He was about to toss it onto the table when she touched his hand and made a point of turning the receipt over so he could see the telephone number she’d written on the back. “Call me sometime.”
As he slid out of the booth, he nearly told her he was just passing through. Even if he’d been planning to stay, he would’ve offered some excuse. He knew how to deflect interest; he’d become a master at isolation. But Manuel’s dogged persistence in the lobby distracted him, grated on his nerves.
Forget Emma. Get out of here. You have enough to worry about. Joanie’s divorcing Vince. This could be the break you’ve been waiting for.
Preston watched Manuel approach an old woman. Smiling broadly, he acted the perfect Latin gentleman. And she was obviously impressed. The old lady beamed as though she’d trade her dentures to be able to help him.
“Shit,” Preston muttered. To hell with moving on alone. He’d catch up with Joanie soon, but first he had to get Emma out of Ely, because he wasn’t about to let Manuel Rodriguez have what he wanted. Not today.
“Excuse me?” the waitress said.
“Sorry, I was thinking about something else,” he said. “I’d love to take you out sometime. But is there any chance you might be willing to do me a small favor first?”
The hesitancy in her eyes said she was leery of promising too much. “Um, sure, I guess. What is it?”
“See that man out there?”
“The one who was talking to you earlier?”
“That’s him. Has he approached you yet?”
“No.”
“Well, he’s looking for my sister and her son. But he’s abusive. He’s beaten her badly, and I’ve promised to help her get away from him.”
Her eyes went round. “He beat her?”
“You should’ve seen it.” Preston let the disgust he felt every time he thought of Emma’s burn show on his face.
“That’s terrible!”
He nodded. “Do you think you could walk past him? When he stops you to ask about the woman and the boy in the photograph, tell him you saw them earlier, that they were eating in here with—” he searched for a lie plausible enough to buy some time “—a heavyset trucker who mentioned he was on his way to Vegas.”
“A heavyset trucker going to Vegas. Got it.” She smiled freely again now that she knew she didn’t have to do anything too difficult. “So you’ll call me?”
“This weekend if I can. But in case I have a conflict, here’s a little something for your trouble.”
“You don’t have to tip me for such a simple favor.”
“You deserve it.”
She slipped the twenty he handed her into her apron. “Okay, but don’t let a conflict stand in the way,” she said with a pout.
“I’ll do my best,” he said, and she headed toward the hotel’s front desk.
Just as Preston had expected, Manuel spotted her immediately. When he crossed to speak with her, Preston slipped around them and hurried outside.
Parked right out front was a black Hummer. Manuel’s car. It had to be. The license plate read “Rodriquez-l,” which confirmed it. The bastard had every advantage.
As much as he wanted to avoid Max and Emma’s company, Preston knew he couldn’t walk out on them now. He already had more than enough regrets.
CHAPTER TWELVE
EMMA HAD purposely left her cell phone behind in San Diego. If she didn’t, she knew Manuel would call her incessantly. She even feared he might be able to trace her if she used it. She’d taken the barest of necessities, exactly what she needed for her plan to work. Only her plan had fallen apart the first day, and now she found herself trying to get by with almost nothing.