Deputy Harmon looked at the license, then made a quick comparison of the two images. “Changed your hair color, Miss Garcia.”

  “That was two colors ago. It’s shorter now, too. Like it?” Diane asked, beaming a smile.

  “Nothing not to like about you, Miss Garcia. You need to update your address on your operator’s license, though, if you live around here now. Please remain where you are for a moment. I’ll be right back.”

  “Okay. But can you hurry, please? I need to finish my workout before I cool down.” Diane knew the deputy was going to run her cover ID and learn Diane Garcia had been arrested two years ago for killing an abusive boyfriend … and been acquitted. She’d picked the background herself, wanting to give Glover something to consider when he inevitably inquired about his troublesome neighbors.

  The deputy climbed back out of his patrol vehicle and walked toward her, his hand resting on the butt of his service weapon and the flashlight checking her hands for a weapon. She wondered if Deputy Harmon was Glover’s stooge, and if her neighbor would be getting the news about her background later tonight.

  “Where’s your boyfriend?”

  “Went to pick up some beer, maybe rent a movie. He should be back before long.”

  “Mind telling me his name?”

  “His name is Lee. You looking for him?”

  “Lee his first name or last?”

  “You looking for him?”

  “I won’t know that until I get his whole name, will I?”

  “Guess not.” Diane was enjoying being a pain in the butt. If the deputy was honest, he was used to being jerked around. If he was a Glover toady, he deserved much worse.

  “You sure you live across the street up there?” He pointed toward her double-wide. “It looked to me like you suddenly appeared in front of your neighbor’s house. The light was off, and then suddenly came on. Then, there you were.”

  Diane grinned. “Just like magic. Or maybe he has one of those outside lights that comes on when somebody gets close. I ran by his driveway. Hey, why don’t you go check out his place? Maybe I kicked in his door and stole his TV?” She took a step back, opened her arms, and gave him a good look at her. Then she chuckled.

  “Okay, get stupid with me if you want. I can get a look at the tags on your boyfriend’s SUV and see just who this Lee really is—if he exists. And maybe you should unlock your ‘front door’ and prove to me it’s really your house.”

  “You trying to intimidate me, Deputy Harmon? You ran my ID through the DMV. From what you saw, I’m willing to bet you know what I do when I’ve had enough of somebody giving me shit.”

  Deputy Harmon tried to look confident when he chuckled, but his change in stance showed he’d decided she might be getting dangerous.

  His hand hovered over his handgun for a second. “I can haul you in and book you as a burglary suspect, Miss Garcia. Or you can cooperate. It’s up to you, ma’am.”

  Diane knew he was watching his language because their conversations were being recorded through the microphone and recorder most law enforcement used today to protect themselves from lawsuits and harassment. “It’s getting to be a long day, Deputy Harmon. I’ll go back up to my place and let myself in just to prove I really live there. You can do your job any ole way you want, I suppose. Just don’t ruin my evening or piss off my boyfriend, okay? The guy across the street was spying on me with a telescope last night, and he nearly got the damned thing shoved up his butt.”

  “That so?” Deputy Harmon seemed impressed. He obviously had heard of Newt Glover, one way or the other.

  “I’m going to jog home. Just don’t run over me, okay?” Diane turned and started back up the road easily, not wanting to wait for permission, but going slowly enough to show she wasn’t making a run for it, either. The last thing she wanted was to give the officer a reason to try and put her in the squad car. If she resisted, one way or the other it would blow their cover. The camera in her fanny pack had at least thirty photos of the interior of Glover’s home and that would be hard to explain.

  Illuminated in the headlights of the deputy’s car, she made her way up the road, sticking to the left-hand lane. When she got to the driveway, the deputy yelled. “Miss Garcia?”

  Diane stopped and turned. “Yessir?”

  “Please wait there a moment while I check this other residence. Then, if everything is clear, you can go on home and I’ll be out of your hair for the evening.”

  “Go for it.” Diane shook her head slowly, watching as the deputy wrote down the tag numbers and letters on the SUV behind her. He called in the information, then climbed out and walked over to Glover’s front yard. Diane heard him laugh when he saw the fresh graffiti on the door. A minute later, he was back at the door of his unit. He looked inside, probably at the display of his computer screen, then turned and crossed his arms. “You and Begay are an interesting pair. Where is he right now, by the way?” Deputy Harmon, resting his hand on the butt of his weapon, aimed his flashlight toward the front porch. “Inside?”

  Just then Diane felt the cell phone on her belt vibrating.

  CHAPTER 6

  Lee watched as Glover and the young woman—who was wearing skin-tight slacks that ended at midcalf and dressy shoes with big heels—fondled and groped their way to his pickup.

  He had to decide right away whether to stay and watch in case anything went down—or in this case, up—or hurry back to Diane’s pickup so he could follow in case they drove away. Instinct told him that the sex part of Glover’s evening would probably take place now, in the cab of the truck right there in the parking lot. A drug sale would probably cover the cost of the entertainment.

  Or maybe not. Lee didn’t think Glover would be stupid enough to carry any illegal drugs on him, or even in his vehicle. If he got stopped out on the highway, the arresting officer might not be someone on his payroll. With the state on two of the big smuggling corridors, stops in New Mexico often meant searches for drugs, and if Glover was with a hooker who was high on pills or whatever … .

  Lee decided to wait. The two climbed into the truck, both on the passenger side, and Lee could see the seat being moved back and tilted down. “Get a room” was the phrase that came to mind. Since Lee wasn’t into voyeurism, he was tempted to turn his head, but that was a bad idea when surveillance was the objective.

  Fortunately, everything he didn’t want to see took place below window level, and other than a few annoying groans, it was a nonevent. It certainly didn’t take very long. A few minutes passed, but the girl didn’t leave the vehicle as he expected. Instead, she sat up normally on the passenger side and fastened her seat belt. Lee then knew he’d have to run if he planned on following when Glover drove away.

  Slipping away from his vantage point behind a pine tree, Lee ran quickly back to Diane’s truck. If Glover drove in his direction, he’d have to duck and hope Glover didn’t notice and identify the truck as Diane’s. On the bright side, the sleazeball’s blood pressure might still be up and he’d be lighting a cigarette or something equally traditional and be distracted.

  Lee reached the pickup and jumped inside, just as Glover’s truck pulled out into the highway and accelerated back north. While Lee doubted Glover was going to take the girl to his home, she was obviously going to remain with him for a while, perhaps for a replay at a new location. He could see two heads on opposite sides of the cab as an oncoming vehicle highlighted the pickup in passing. Glover obviously wasn’t into cuddling.

  Lee turned on his own headlights, then pulled out onto the highway and followed just close enough to keep the vehicle in sight. Glover had no reason to think Lee had followed him, and if the man left the highway with his passenger, Lee could always pass by, kill his lights and return, then follow him down the side road.

  Glover drove just at the speed limit, another smart idea. The man obviously knew that officers frequently pulled over drivers who were going well under the speed limit at night, experience telling them that people who’d been drinking were often very concerned about getting caught behind the wheel.

  In New Mexico, a person who was convicted of DWI had to pay for the installation of a Breathalyzer device that would keep the vehicle from starting if his or her blood alcohol level was above the legal limit. Of course, since corrupt judges and officers existed, those without money or influence would get most of the new hardware, but that went without saying.

  About four miles farther north, Glover rounded a curve, then pulled off the road to the right onto a narrow pair of ruts, turned off his lights, then inched forward. Lee could see an old shed beyond, just the other side of a fence.

  Lee slowed, checked to make sure no other vehicles were in the vicinity, then turned off his own lights and pulled off the road quickly about two hundred yards back. Lee parked so that Glover couldn’t see his vehicle without reversing his route, then ran across the road and got as close as he could, trying to find a position where he could watch. If the man drove much farther, Lee knew he might not be able to catch up, but it was a calculated risk.

  Glover stopped his vehicle with the front tires about even with the faded red structure, constructed of wood planks with a corrugated-metal sloping shed roof. There were no windows on the two sides of the structure that Lee could see, but the remnants of a rail-fence corral and an ancient water trough suggested it had once held horses or other livestock. Lee was across the road, nearly opposite the turnoff. He crouched low, staying beside the tall weeds that flourished beyond the shoulders where the runoff from rains settled. As long as he stood still, there was little chance of being seen unless Glover brought out a light and started searching.

  Their windows were open, and Lee could hear Glover mumble something to the young woman. Then Glover climbed out of the vehicle and turned on a powerful flashlight. Lee dropped to the ground just below the level of the roadbed as Glover swept the light around. The beam traveled over him, wavered, then stopped right at the spot where Lee was lying.

  Lee stayed still but closed his eyes, knowing they could reflect light. Thank God he wasn’t wearing his cap, it would have presented a structured shape that would have been hard to miss.

  Lee heard footsteps drawing closer, then Glover yelled out, “Hey! What you doing there!”

  There was a rustle behind Lee, then a very distinctive moo.

  The young woman laughed, climbing out the driver’s side. “Busted by a cow, sugar? Getting paranoid in your old age.”

  “Quiet, Breeann. You wanna wake up the whole county?” The beam of light continued around, and Lee risked a look. Glover was still checking for unscheduled visitors. He was either planning to meet someone here, or had come to visit his stash and was making sure there wasn’t a stakeout in place.

  “When you gonna get my goodies? I gotta get home to my old man or he’s going to come looking for me,” Breeann said, her voice now revealing a nasal whine.

  “I’m shaking in my boots. Just get back into the truck. I’ll be back in five minutes.” Glover waited until Breeann climbed back into the truck, his flashlight beam directed at her tight behind. Then he turned off the flashlight, put on a pair of brown work gloves, and ducked under between two slack wires of the fence.

  Glover walked over to the shack and disappeared around the side. Lee couldn’t see what went on, but Glover returned just thirty seconds later, pocketing what looked like a plastic bag as he came around the building again. He stopped by the truck, took another quick look around with a rapid sweep of the flashlight, then opened the truck door. “Here you are. Enjoy! Just remember. If you ever mention where this came from …”

  “Yeah, yeah, don’t worry. I won’t tell a soul.”

  “I know you won’t.” Glover’s voice was low, filled with menace.

  “You can trust me, sugar. Now, how about we go back to the bar? I’m going to call it a night.”

  “Oh, you want a ride back? That’s going to cost you.” He took off his gloves and tossed them into the truck.

  There was a moment’s silence, then Breeann laughed. “Okay, just this once. Just don’t hit any bumps or I’m liable to bite something off.”

  Lee smiled at the thought, then realized he’d better move fast—before Glover. He sprinted down the road, then across, reaching the truck just as he heard Glover’s pickup starting. Lee jumped in, started his own truck, then backed up, spinning around and easing out onto the highway, heading back toward the bar. As soon as he completed negotiating the curve, Lee turned on his lights and raced on.

  About ten seconds later, Lee saw Glover’s headlights in the distance. Lee accelerated even more, then at the next road leading off the highway, slowed quickly and turned. Lee killed the lights and turned around in the narrow road, barely avoiding running into a shallow irrigation ditch.

  When Glover’s truck went past, Lee was crouched down out of sight. If Glover had been looking in that direction, all he would have seen in the dark was the outline of the pickup.

  Lee knew where the man would be going, so he waited a full minute before starting on his trail again, taking time to put on a baseball cap and phony glasses. All Lee wanted to see now was which vehicle Breeann got into, so he drove slowly, trying to time things so he could confirm the information.

  He’d memorized the tags on all the vehicles earlier, while waiting for Glover inside, and written them down a few minutes ago while waiting for the man to pass by. Lee could run all the vehicles later, but this would be quicker. Hopefully Breeann would be driving her or her “old man’s” vehicle. He wanted to get her last name and do a background on her. She might become a witness, if she could be persuaded and protected.

  It was pretty likely that Glover had his drug supplier drop the stuff off at the shed. Glover would want to avoid having contraband in his possession until the customer was on hand. If the drop was a regular stop, it could be staked out to identify the supplier, or worst case, the courier. Lee and Diane needed to get as much of the drug pipeline as possible to nail Glover, who in this case was merely the pusher.

  Glover passed Lee heading north about a half mile from the bar, and Lee didn’t see anyone else in the cab with him. With his baseball cap and glasses on, Lee believed the man wouldn’t recognize him. Diane’s pickup was a common, generic-looking vehicle, so he wasn’t worried that Glover would remember it. Add to that the fact that he was heading in the wrong direction and he was fairly certain he’d escaped notice altogether.

  Lee drove by the bar slowly, spotting Breeann just climbing into a green Ford F-150 pickup. He reached over and put a pencil check beside that vehicle on his list. Pulling over to the side in the spot he’d parked earlier, Lee brought out his cell phone. He had to warn Diane that Glover was heading home.

  The number was on speed dial, but all he got was an out-of-area response. “Shit!” Lee said aloud, then checked traffic in both directions. Breeann’s Ford pickup was headed north, the same direction he’d be going.

  Lee whipped out onto the highway, making a U-turn, then sped north. He’d have to get closer to home and try again. Glover was probably just ten minutes away from his house by now, if that was where he was headed, and Diane needed to be home or out of sight.

  Lee tried again, but got another out-of-area display. He flashed his headlights, passed Breeann going seventy in a fifty-mile zone, then hit redial.

  Diane knew that it was probably Lee calling, and was quickly considering whether or not to answer. If the deputy thought it was Lee, he might decide to stay around, too. He might be curious to see who’d stood up to Glover and hadn’t ended up in a hospital—or unmarked grave.

  What she hadn’t quite decided yet was whether Harmon had been the deputy who’d run Lee’s SUV tags earlier at Glover’s request. But that person would have already known about Lee Begay and not bothered to check it again. On the other hand, maybe the deputy was just being smart and covering his tracks.

  Diane finally made her decision and picked up the phone. “Excuse me, Deputy, I’m getting a call.”

  Harmon nodded, taking a step forward.

  “Hi, it’s Diane,” she said brightly.

  “It’s me,” Lee said. “I think Glover is on his way home. You’re clear of his house, right?”

  “That’s right, honey. And don’t forget the beer and my pork rinds.”

  “You’re not alone, are you?” Lee responded instantly.

  “No, I said pork rinds. I hate jerky,” she responded, rolling her eyes at Harmon.

  “Pork rinds. You have a cop there?”

  “That’s right.”

  “Everything under control?”

  “Yes. Two bags if they’re fresh.”

  “Okay,” Lee replied. “Guess I need to get some beer, then.”

  “Don’t worry about renting a movie. It’s getting late.”

  “I’ll bring home a six-pack of Coors,” Lee said. “’Bye.”

  “Okay. Love you, too. ’Bye.” Diane hung up. “He’s running late. Want to watch me open the door?” she added, glancing up the road. No headlights were visible, but the thought occurred to her that it might be a good idea to keep Deputy Harmon around until Glover returned. Their interaction might tell her which side of the law Harmon was really on.

  “Was that your boyfriend on the phone? Begay?”

  “Stick around and find out. He’s not at all jealous, and you won’t believe how much he respects the men in … beige.” She gave him a really big smile.

  “If I have the time. Meanwhile, Miss Garcia, just show me you have a key to the door.” Harmon stepped up within three feet of her.

  “Sure. But if I’ve gained a half pound tomorrow, it’s all your fault.” Diane brought out her keys, walked up the flagstone steps to the front door, and unlocked the handle and the deadbolt.

  “Tah-dah,” she said, reaching in to turn on the porch light. When she turned, she noticed headlights coming up the road. “That can’t be my boyfriend. Maybe it’s the asshole from across the road.”

  “I’d suggest you avoid Glover. He’s had trouble with his neighbors, and most people around here are afraid of him now.”