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to imagine what kind of funeral Lena would like. It
took about twenty minutes for me to discuss it with
the funeral director. Since there wouldn t be many
people attending, I opted for a simple graveside
service. But at the last minute I asked the director if
he could round up a mariachi group for the service.
She would have liked that. That and a few beers.
When I finally hung up the phone, Cate was nowhere
in sight. I found her in the kitchen washing the cups.
Everything arranged? she asked.
Yeah, day after tomorrow about two. Lena hated
getting up early in the mornings. I smiled.
Cate placed the cups in the drainer and dried her
hands. Well, what do you want to tackle next? she
asked.
You ve done enough. I have to run into town in a
little while to pay for the funeral. It ll be getting dark
by then, so you should start gathering your stuff up
and head on back to Austin.
Why don t I go with you to the funeral home? We
could grab something to eat in town.
I shrugged. But then you go back to Austin. I
don t want you out here after dark.
I doubt whoever did this would be stupid
enough to come back the next day. The police could
still be crawling all over the place.
Or they could be hanging around out there in the
trees right this minute and know there s no one here
but us.
She looked out the kitchen window, and I thought
I saw her shiver slightly. You re probably right, but I
could just stay in Kerrville and come back out
tomorrow morning. I know you won t stay in town.
No one s going to run me out of my home, I
frowned. You should go back home though.
You think it s not safe in Kerrville either?
Look, Cate, I don t know shit, okay. But I don t
want to take a chance that someone else will get hurt.
You might not believe this, but I don t want to have to
worry about your safety.
She looked at me, and a slow smile crossed her
lips. I didn t think you still cared, Jo.
There was that old uncomfortable feeling again.
Damn, how did she do that? I cleared my throat and
left the kitchen. I had a sudden need for fresh air. I
picked up my rifle on the way out the door and
walked toward the barn, even though there wasn t
anything there anymore. The county animal control
people had picked up Jack late the night before. It had
broken my heart to see such a beautiful animal
slaughtered for no purpose. When I returned to the
house, Cate was sitting on the couch looking through
a manila folder.
You about ready to go? I asked.
In a minute. What s this? she asked, pointing at
the folder.
I looked over her shoulder. Just some notes about
what Lena found about the meatpacking plant.
What meatpacking plant?
The one over at Mountain View. Sarita told me
Kyle s story about illegals was actually about the
meatpacking plant hiring illegals to process their
meat.
When did you talk to Sarita?
She came out here a couple of days after I left San
Antonio. It seems Kyle got the idea for the story from
her to begin with. She asked me to continue helping
him from the shadows. At first I turned her down, but
Lena jumped in my shit about it. That was how she
got involved. The locals over there weren t going to
talk to some gringa like me, so she got herself a job in
Mountain View and talked to anyone she could about
the plant. These are mostly just scribbles about what
she told me from those conversations. Most of it
doesn t make sense, but I haven t had a chance to sit
down and go over it.
Maybe I can help you sort it out.
Like old times?
But they were good times, she said, leaning
back on the couch and smiling. What do you think of
Sarita?
Seems like a nice enough girl. Straightforward,
educated. And she loves Kyle. No doubt about that. If
he keeps doing what he s doing, she could be in for
more than a little heartache.
Cate laughed. Now, that sounds more like old
times.
Maybe you should warn her before she makes the
same mistake.
She wouldn t believe it. I didn t. But it wasn t all
bad.
Bad enough. Ready?
Chapter Fifteen
I FOLLOWED CATE into town, checking the
rearview mirror more often than usual. She waited
outside while I took care of my business with
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