Broken Trust (15 page)

“He didn’t really run away from us, you know.” Abigail said it softly. “He died. And I
took him home
and let him be buried by his family.”

Nora’s throat felt too dry to speak. “My father died? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Abigail stared ahead, her eyes misty with tears. “I thought if I told you he died, you’d go looking for his family but if I told you he abandoned us, you’d hate him and not ever try to contact him.”

“That makes no sense.”

Abigail raised her eyebrows. “It worked, didn’t it?”

“Yeah, but I’ve spent my whole life angry at a man who didn’t deserve it.”

Abigail considered that and then went on. “We were so young. We met in college and married within a month. Neither of us ever finished. So in love. We didn’t have any money and we didn’t care. Oh, I know you won’t believe me when I say that. But your father was
…
he was special.”

Nora couldn’t speak; she struggled to breathe.

“It was a car wreck. The sort of thing that happens to other people. And suddenly
…
our dream was all over. He was gone and I was
just a few weeks
pregnant.”

“I’m sorry.” Nora wanted to cry for her mother’s loss. “Why didn’t you tell me this?”

A father and family she didn’t know. How could her mother not tell her? When could she meet them and begin to understand her past? Thoughts flew at her like snowflakes fluttering against a window.

Abigail fought tears. “I wanted what was best for you. Maybe I was wrong. I don’t know. You turned out so well and you’re successful and educated. But it’s coming full circle.”

Chills snaked through Nora.

Abigail’s eyes pleaded for understanding. “Your father was Hopi.”

After so much tension, Nora laughed. “He was not. I’ve got red hair.”

Instant anger burn
ed
Abigail’s words. “He most certainly was Hopi. Maybe there was an indiscretion in his ancestry
, I don’t know
.
But t
here’s also red hair in my family.”

Could that be true? Maybe that’s why she could see Nakwaiyamtewa. “Am I related to Benny?”

Abigail waved her hand. “I imagine so.”

“Does he know
that
?”

“I don’t know. He seems to know a lot of things.”

Hopi heritage. This wasn’t true. It couldn’t be true.

Nora rubbed her forehead. “Why didn’t you tell me my father was dead?”

The fire went out of Abigail. “I was afraid. I was young and alone with a baby. The Hopi have very strong family attachments and I thought they might take you from me. I would have shared you with them but I didn’t know
those people
and I didn’t trust they would give you back.”

“And they’re destitute. You couldn’t stand the thought of me not having all those cute Urban Outfitters clothes and going on spring break.”

“I am not a monster!” Abigail sounded hurt. “I wanted the best for you. And you got the best.”

Nora tilted her head to stretch her neck. “I’m sorry. Can you
…
” She couldn’t think what she wanted to ask.

Abigail stood and backed toward the door. “You need some time to think about this.”

The world faded, leaving her isolated on her desk chair, floating in dense fog. Nora nodded. “Yes.”

Nora sat still. If she moved, she might crumble.

Hopi.

She had family.

twenty

Nora sat at her
desk, struggling with the idea of a father. A Hopi father. Did he love peaches and hate liver as she did? Was he a Rolling Stones fan or did he tend more toward Elvis? Or maybe he didn’t like music at all.

“Good morning.”

Nora gasped at the greeting. Mark stood at her doorway. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Nora brought herself back to reality. Bright light shone from her window.

Last time she saw Mark he had fired her. Now he stood in her doorway. She scanned his hands for the giant butcher knife he probably brought to ram into her ribs. Instead, she saw two tall compostable paper cups
bearing the
Mr. Green Beans logo. “Hi, Mark.” She tried for casual but it came out a croak.

He held out one of the cups. “I saw your Jeep out front so I turned around and went back for coffee.”

She accepted the cup. This would help with her colossal headache. “Thanks.”

“I got you a double shot skinny latte. Next time, you can tell me your favorite.” He sniggered.

Mark’s one-eighty in attitude made her more than a little jumpy. Abbey stood, stretched
,
and wagged his tail as he ambled to Mark. When Mark didn’t pet him, Abbey plopped down. Mornings exhausted him.

Nora sipped. Yuck. Mr. Green Beans
either
over-roasted their beans or grew their own in the back
yard. The coffee had a sickening, super-bitter taste. She smiled. “That’s really nice of you.”

He sipped his own coffee. “I need to apologize for my behavior yesterday. I’m only glad the board prevailed with their calmer heads.” He snorted.

What a freak
. “It’s okay. I understand how stressful a board meeting can be. Sort of like a college final when your whole grade depends on one essay question.” What had her father studied in college?

“I want us to be friends. We’re on the same team
—
Team Earth.” He raised a fist.

Everything he needed to know about life he learned in kindergarten and he must have been absent for half the lesson. “Thanks, Mark. I’m really happy to be a part of the Trust.” Was her father short, like a lot of Hopis?

Mark studied her office as if he’d like to know what each carefully stacked pile of papers signified. “Have you been here long this morning?” He sounded more probing than friendly.

Long enough for my whole life to get tipped over
.

Time to compartmentalize. She shook off her shattering news and concentrated on Mark. New job. Loving Earth Trust. Here. Now. “I wanted to get an early start. It’s a complicated system and the sooner I get it conquered, the sooner I can write checks and pay bills.”

The friendly slipped from his face. “The sooner the better. Sylvia needs that money.”

Would it be poor form to ask about Sylvia and the police?

He pointed to her coffee. “How do you like the latte?” He seemed to expect her to drink more.

She took another awful sip and swallowed down the nasty brew. “It’s great.”

He nodded and watched her closely.
Again: freak
. “Okay, then. I’ll let you get back to work.”

She sipped just to be a good sport. “Thanks for the coffee.”

He scrutinized her once more and left.

Nora set the coffee down and typed in the August dates on Sylvia’s restricted account. The fund showed $1,295,672.56. She entered the dates for September
:
$895,672.56.

$400,000 difference
. Exactly. Where did it go? It shouldn’t be hard to spot.

Fay poked her head in Nora’s office. She wore jeans and a fleece pullover, her thin blonde hair tangled down her back. Her voice crackled. “Some drama yesterday, huh?”

Abbey stood and offered himself for a pat from the newcomer.

Fay obliged. She spoke in comforting baby-talk. “What a sweetie you are.”

Nora braced for harsh words. After all, she’d announced to the board that several projects at the Trust were over
budget. That would probably mean cuts and someone might even lose a job to save money.

Receiving his fair share of welcome, Abbey made his way back to lie at Nora’s feet.

Fay stepped into the office holding a reusable Mr. Green Beans
travel mug
. She lowered her voice. “Did you get a chance to tell the board about Sylvia? They ought to know she doesn’t do anything.”

Nora didn’t know what to say to that. “I only reported the financial situation.” Which just worsened with a $400,000 disappearance.

Bill stopped outside her door. He hadn’t shaved since yesterday and his shirt had more wrinkles than Harrison Ford’s face. He also sipped from a plastic refillable Mr. Green Beans cup. He gave her a thumbs up and said, “Did you turn Sylvia in for embezzling?”

“What?” Nora gulped. “No. I
…
”

Bill grinned. “Just joking. They think she killed Darla.”

Fay cackled. “Why would they think that?”

His tone dripped sarcasm. “Ballistic evidence? Flight risk? I wouldn’t know.”

Bill winked at Fay and they laughed.

Had they set Sylvia up?
Yes, they probably did and they’re going to take her Ferrari and run away to Mexico. Sheesh, Nora
.

Darla’s murder probably had more to do with the missing
$400,000. But maybe it wasn’t really missing. Nora needed to check out all the statements before she assumed it was
gone
.

Fay nodded sagely. “I have no doubt she killed Darla.”

“If she killed Darla, who do you think is next on her list?” Thomas walked up behind Fay. He unzipped his parka and gulped his coffee from Mr. Green Beans. The Trust ought to get a volume discount.

They stood in her doorway discussing motives and future victims of Sylvia’s murder spree.

How could they joke about this? Further, how could they stand that coffee? Thinking about hers, Nora’s stomach gave a twist.

“Petal and Darla, they’re both strange if you ask me,” Bill said.

The three of them carried on their gossip fest without including Nora. She didn’t know how to shoo them out of her office without being rude.

“I don’t know how she can work for Sylvia. Do you know how many grad students I could get into the field on that bitch’s budget?” Thomas said.

“Maybe you’ll get your chance now that she’s going to prison on murder charges
,
” Fay said.

An unmistakable Latino accent floated over Bill’s shoulder. “I do not think Sylvia is going to prison.” Whatever Daniel Cubrero said sounded like silk on skin.

Bill flushed. Thomas disappeared. Guilt settled on Fay’s features.

“A police officer is downstairs now ready to conduct interviews. Perhaps you should make yourselves available to him.” Daniel spoke to Fay and Bill as he slipped into Nora’s office and removed the black sport coat he wore over a white shirt. His jeans snugged to his body like they were custom tailored. It occurred to Nora that they might be. That must be the finest Italian leather on his feet
;
the shoes probably felt more comfortable than her slippers and cost more than her Jeep.

Fay’s eyes glazed slightly and her jaw slackened. Nora knew how she felt.

Daniel raised Nora’s hand to his lips. Kissing her hand? Nora could never remember anyone kissing her hand before. Such an affectation and yet, it seemed natural for Daniel. “How are you this morning,
mi
bonita
cita
?”

Bill’s eyes widened.

In an effort to appear more grounded than the gapers in the doorway, Nora pulled her hand from Daniel’s and gestured to the wide work counter full of neat stacks. “I’m making progress.”
Nora didn’t think she allowed herself to be undone by total handsomeness, but her stomach roiled and bile rose in her throat. Maybe the milk in the latte was spoiled.

“Point me in a direction and I will do your bidding.”

His accent sent a little shiver through her.
Or was it the nausea from the latte? She burped a little, the taste of the bitter coffee revisited made her feel sicker.

Daniel turned toward Fay and Bill. “The officer downstairs?”

“Oh, certainly,” Bill said.

“Nice of you to get so involved.” Fay blushed and blinked rapidly. “I hope we’ll see you again.”

“
Bueno
.” He turned back to Nora
,
leaving the others to slink away.

“I’m not really sure what we’re searching for. I’m starting with the most recent bank statements and working backward.” Oh. Her stomach whooshed up and turned over. She held a hand to her mouth.

“Are you okay?”

Nora waited for the wave of nausea to pass. “I think so.” Another wave hit her.

Daniel grasped her arm. “You must sit down.”

She let him lead her to the desk. She leaned against it and spotted a swirl of pinks and oranges outside her door. The fact it wasn’t blue made her want to sing. But it might be Petal, alone and afraid, wanting to hang out in a safe office or maybe hide in her closet.

Nora plopped into her chair. She opened her mouth to call Petal into her office but what came gushing out wasn’t words. Nora didn’t have time to feel aghast at the stream of vomit coating the fine Italian leather of Daniel’s shoes.

She swayed to one side of her chair, slid off
,
and passed out on the floor.

twenty-one

The emergency room beyond
Nora’s curtained cubicle bustled with activity. The ER didn’t smell quite as hospitally as she’d expected, but enough antiseptic and chemical lingered to remind Nora where she was. Wheels, feet, voices, clanking, urgency—it all seeped under the drape to add to Nora’s anxiety.

Nora watched the IV drip into the tubing attached to the back of her hand. It looked pale resting on the white thermal blanket. She got up enough nerve to peek at Daniel. “I’m so sorry.”

He grinned, showing white teeth and inviting lips. “You’ve already apologized.”

She’d emptied her guts and wasn’t sure her hair was always out of the way. She had sweated and then chilled. She must be gorgeous. Nora wanted to hide under the blanket and yet she had to make conversation after she’d puked on his shoes. “Thank you for bringing me here.” She had a sudden thought. “What about Abbey?”

Daniel raised an eyebrow. “Abbey?”

“My dog. I left him at the office.”

The curtain around her bed swiped back. Cole burst in wearing his typical flannel shirt and jeans topped off with a navy blue down vest. He pushed his hair from his forehead and scanned her from head to feet
.
“Abbey’s in my pickup. Are you okay? What happened? Are you sick? Did you break anything?”

Daniel’s eyebrows popped up in surprise. “Nora, you did not tell me you were married.”

“I’m not.” To Cole she said, “Why do you have Abbey?”

Daniel’s mouth formed a slight smirk. “My mistake.”

Cole scowled at Daniel. “I didn’t think you’d want him shut up in your office when you weren’t there. What happened?”

“I got sick. Threw up. I’m feeling better.”

A doctor with a lab coat over a simple brown paisley wrap dress stepped into the curtained space. She held a tablet computer in one hand and planted her other on her hip, staring down the two men. “One person allowed at a time. One of you will have to leave.” She shook Nora’s hand. “I’m Dr. Taylor.”

Could Nora get a prescription for that attitude? Dr. Taylor had no trouble asserting her control.

Cole glared at Daniel.

Daniel raised one eyebrow in response and spoke to Nora. “If your
…
friend
…
will see you home, I need to attend to a few chores.” Daniel bent over and kissed Nora’s forehead. Maybe he did it to annoy Cole in some testosterone standoff. But his familiarity startled Nora. They might slobber all over each other in Ecuador but Nora preferred her nice
,
roomy American personal space. Especially since she suspected she might smell a little “off.”

Cole frowned.

Dr. Taylor snapped the IV drip with her thumb and forefinger. “How are you feeling?”

“Much better.”

Dr. Taylor studied her. “The nausea gone?”

Nora nodded. “It didn’t last long.”

“I’d guess you got it out of your system with all that vomiting.”

Cole butted in, as if it were any of his business. “What made her sick?”

Dr. Taylor swiped her finger across her computer screen. “Could be any number of things. Her symptoms suggest food poisoning.”

“Can you run some test? Is this normal?” He sounded insistent.

Dr. Taylor glanced from the screen. “We could. Yes. We could spend a lot of time and money and not come up with anything definitive. Nora is feeling better.”

“When can I go home?” Nora asked.

Dr. Taylor tapped the drip again. “This is your second bag?”

Nora nodded.

“As soon as you empty this
—u
nless you feel the nausea returning. If that happens,” she turned to Cole, “bring her back immediately and we’ll run those tests.”

With that, she spun on her toes and zipped away.

Nora stared at the bag, three
-
fourths drained into her veins. “You can go. I’ll call Abigail to come get me.”

“Call Abigail if you want but I’m not going anywhere.”

“What are you even doing here?” Not that she cared what Cole thought but she’d rather he didn’t see her this vulnerable.

“I stopped by the Trust to talk
to
you and they told me you’d gone to the emergency room.”

Could she poke a hole in the bag and make it drain quicker? “We don’t have anything to talk about.”

“Benny called and
…
”

Would that be Benny, her long
-
lost cousin? She dropped her head on the pillow. “I don’t care what Benny said. He’s just a guy living out on a mesa in the desert having delusional episodes.”

Cole’s mouth tipped up in a half smile and his eyes danced. “Keep telling yourself that. You know better. You’ve seen it.”

A year ago the kachina had directed her to save the mountain
,
but he hadn’t helped her save Heather. Nora saw the headstrong, passionate
sixteen-
year-old flipping her blue-back hair over her shoulder, courageous and foolish in her fight for her Hopi heritage.

Did Nora blame the kachina or herself more?

Nora felt tempted to tell Cole about her newfound heritage. She had the strangest urge to know what he thought of it. But she wanted to get used to it before she shared it

Nora tried to reach up to tap the bag and force it to empty. Her efforts failed. If Cole would just leave she could relax and let her body rehydrate. “How is it you can just show up? Don’t you have a life?”

He paused. “I’ve been in Wyoming on my family’s ranch. It’s slow season so they can spare me for a few days.”

“I don’t need you to babysit me. Go home.”

His ears turned red. “There are more pleasant things to do than be rejected by you.”

“Okay then. We agree. You need to go home.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

He shook his head as if it were obvious. “Because you need someone to protect you.”

Now he was really dancing on her nerves. “And since you think you saved my life once
,
you have the responsibility to keep saving me.”

“It’s not a case of responsibility,” he said quietly.

Time to stop the conversation before he said something she didn’t want to hear. She turned her head away.

He didn’t leave. “You need to get away from the Trust.”

She whipped her head around. “Why would I do that?”

“Because someone tried to kill you.”

“I got food poisoning.”

“What did you eat this morning?”

Nothing. When she got to the apartment last night she’d eaten handfuls of Cheerios from the box. The thought of Abigail’s annoyance almost made her smile. That was the last food she’d had.

Until the coffee Mark brought.

The coffee she couldn’t stand even though Fay and Thomas guzzled theirs.