Desert Heat

York shook his head and pocketed the notebook. “If you’ll pardon my saying it, Joa

He had started opening the door. In a burst of fury she slammed it shut under his hand.

“What exactly is that supposed to mean?”

“Sorry, if I offended you,” he apologized.

“The hell you’re sorry! You’re implying that I had something to do with Andy’s death, aren’t you.’

York looked at her in mock bemusement. “Did I say that? I don’t remember mentioning anything of the kind.”

Some women become shrill when they’re angry or upset. Joa

He frowned. “How is it that someone like you has immediate access to those kinds of reports?” he asked.

“It doesn’t matter how,” she countered. “What matters is that I do!”

With that, she spun on her heels and marched back into the office where she found her mother standing by the window, peering through the blinds at the Taurus backing out of its parking place.

“Who’s that man?” Eleanor asked. “Is he really with the DEA?”

“That’s what he says,” Joa

“Why was he here? What did he want with you?”

“That I couldn’t say, but don’t be surprised if he comes back asking to talk with you.”

“Me?” Eleanor echoed. “What would some-one from the DEA want from me?”

Suddenly aware of a pounding headache, Joa

“There were so many,” Eleanor responded dubiously.

Joa

“Oh, him,” Eleanor breathed.

“Yes, him. What did he look like?”

“Margaret and I were watching television. I’m not sure I remember.”

“Try,” Joa

“How do you expect me to come up with those kinds of details? After all, I only saw him for a minute or so.”

“It’s very important,” Joa

Eleanor closed her eyes as if trying to picture the man. “He had on one of those long white coats, the kind all those doctors wear.”

“And a stethoscope? Did he have one of those?”

“Maybe, maybe not.” Eleanor shrugged. “I don’t remember.”

“What did he look like?”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Joa

“It matters a great deal, Mother,” Joa

“All right. He wasn’t very tall, and a little on the heavyset side. He looked like a Mexican to me. Dark hair, wavy dark hair.”

“Glasses?”

“No, but brown eyes. Definitely brown eyes.”

“Anything else?”

“Lots of gold in his teeth. You know, gold crowns. You don’t often see that kind of dental work in a man that young.”

“How young?”

“Forty, maybe even forty-five. It’s hard to judge men’s ages. I don’t understand what’s going on. Why are you asking me all these questions?”

“Mother,” Joa

Eleanor’s eyes widened. “Like poison or something? You’re not saying that he killed Andy, are you? You mean I was actually carrying on a conversation with a murderer?”

“All I’m saying is if someone from the Tucson Police Department calls and asks you about this, tell them exactly what you told me.”

“Oh, I will. I certainly will.” Suddenly Eleanor stood up and started toward the door, moving with a whole new vigor and sense of purpose.

“And, Mother,” Joa

“Of course not,” Eleanor agreed emphatically. “I wouldn’t think of it.”

Joa

With her mother gone, Joa

Joa

“Hello, Joa

She eased herself into one of the two client chairs in front of his desk. “Please don’t say you didn’t expect to see me today,” Joa

Milo nodded. “Thanks for taking care of them. You’re absolutely right. They shouldn’t have been left hanging for a whole week. Chances are I wouldn’t have remembered them, either. I’m so used to you taking care of those kinds of details that I just don’t think about them anymore.”

For a moment he examined her face. “How are you doing, really?” he asked.

“Really?” Joa

Milo nodded. “It’s going to be hard as hell, Joa

“What do you mean?”

“It’s times like this when you find out who your friends really are, Joa

She looked him squarely in the eye. “There Is, Milo. Tell me what’s going on. I was here when Adam York came out of your office. What was he doing here? What did he want? Was he asking you about Andy’s and my insurance?”

Milo Davis frowned. “Not really, although I guess that was part of it. I didn’t tell him much, but I’ll have to eventually. He threatened to come back with a court order to examine my records, and my guess is he’ll make good on it.”

“What kind of records?”

“Payroll. Sales records. He wanted me to tell him exactly how much you make, to the pe

“Why me? Did he say?”

“I tried to press him on that, but he got real cagey about then.” Milo ’s face was shadowed with concern. “My guess is that he’s looking for extra cash, unexplained expenditures that are over and above what you and Andy could afford on what you both make. My guess is that he thinks you’re involved in some kind of drug dealing.”

“That’s preposterous!” Joa

“That’s exactly what I told him.”

Joa