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She seemed to relax a little. “That sounds innocuous enough.”
“I swear on my Boy Scout honor that you will be safe with me.”
He led her into a couple of turns, which she followed like a pro.
“You dance very well,” she said with a smile.
“Thanks. My mom would be proud to hear you say that. I wasn’t one of her best pupils, but I manage to get by.”
She tilted her head slightly and asked, “Are you a musician, by any chance? You have a natural rhythm, like most musicians.”
He laughed. “’Fraid not. The only instrument I play is the radio.”
She groaned. “And yet you support the arts,” she pointed out.
“I’m not a priest, and yet I support the church.”
She laughed, a glissando of musical sound he found delightful. “Good point.”
The music stopped and the orchestra took a break. Jude took the opportunity to say, “Why don’t you give me your phone number? I’ll call you later in the week.”
She reached into the minuscule purse that hung from the tie at her waist. “Here’s my card. That has my home phone and cell phone, as well. I spend my Saturdays with my parents, so you’ll need to pick me up at their place.”
“I can do that.” As he helped her into her seat, he leaned near her ear and said, “I’m looking forward to seeing you again.” He straightened and spoke to Chris and Connie. “I’m very pleased to have met each of you. I hope to see you again.”
They responded in a friendly manner and he walked away.
By the time the evening ended, Jude was more than ready to go home.
He spoke to several people on his way to his sports car. Once he negotiated San Antonio’s downtown streets, he reached the highway and headed north. The house the agency had rented was located in the hills north of the city, and had a scenic view of the Hill Country.
He could reach the family ranch in a couple of hours, although he hadn’t been to see them very often. They knew he was working an undercover assignment and gave him the space he needed. He missed them, though. He’d have to get up there soon.
Jude turned off the highway and followed the snakelike road up through the hills until he reached the summit. The house was surrounded by a thick, stucco six-foot wall. Once there, Jude keyed in the security numbers for the day and waited until the gate opened, then followed the curving driveway up to the house and parked in the three-car garage. He noted the other cars were there. The agents were probably asleep by now. He knew he was more than ready to hit the sack.
Once inside, he went to the den where a large screen projected the various scenes shown by hidden cameras located throughout the property. Their team had several computers at work in the room…one collecting data, another running probabilities and another waiting instructions.
Jude picked up the phone and tapped in a series of numbers. His call was answered on the first ring. Without waiting for a voice, Jude said, “I made contact tonight. Looks like we’re in.”
Three
Jude opened the file containing information on the Patterson family. The files were so detailed that he probably knew more about them than they knew about each other.
He knew that forty-two-year-old Alfredo de la Cruz Patterson kept a mistress in Houston and paid for her penthouse condominium.
He knew that Benito spent much of his time out of the country, ostensibly selling and buying merchandise. Jude needed to find out exactly what he was buying and from whom.
He hoped the brothers were the only ones involved in the smuggling activities and that the rest of the family wasn’t aware of what they were doing. It would be a shame to arrest Christopher Patterson for aiding and abetting as well as obstructing justice.
Jude stood and stretched. He turned off the light and went upstairs to bed, feeling good about what he’d accomplished so far. He’d finally made contact and Carina had accepted his invitation to go out with him.
The following Thursday morning Carina met her sister-in-law Marisa for coffee at one of their favorite bakeries.
“Thanks for calling me to meet you this morning,” Marisa said. “I need someone I trust that I can talk to.”
“Trouble with Al?” Carina asked, sipping her coffee.
“It seems that’s all we have anymore. I’m thinking about divorcing him.”
Carina reached out and placed her hand over Marisa’s hand. “It’s gotten that bad, has it?”
“He’s been ignoring me for the last several months, which is upsetting enough, but now he’s ignoring the children, as well. It breaks my heart to see them wanting his attention while he brushes them off.”
Six-year-old Chris was the first grandchild and had been named for his grandfather. His sister, Tina Maria, was a precocious four-year-old. Carina loved them, as she loved Ben and Sara’s daughter, Beth. She knew they were each a handful and needed both parents.
“I think there’s another woman,” Marisa said in a low voice.
“Oh, surely not,” Carina replied. “What makes you think such a thing?”
“He’s been going on what he insists are ‘buying trips,’ which is something he’s always left to Benito before. Sara says that as far as she knows, Bennie does most of the buying for the company. I’ve been thinking about hiring an investigator.”
“Be careful,” Carina said. “Alfredo has a temper. I wouldn’t want him to hurt you in any way.”
“I told him last night that I wanted a divorce and he just laughed and asked if I was trying to get a higher allowance for household expenses. He refuses to take me seriously.”
“But what would you do if you found out there was someone else?”
Marisa sighed. “Accept that I really don’t have much of a marriage and that the kids and I need to go somewhere else. My mother keeps wanting me to go visit her in Dallas for a while and I’m thinking seriously of doing just that.”
“I want to see you and the kids happy, Marisa. I feel bad that I’m the one who introduced you to him.”
Marisa smiled, her first smile since they’d met that morning. “Hey, you didn’t force me to marry him, you know. I made that decision all on my own.” She took a bite out of her pastry. “I’m sorry to dump all this on you just because you’re my friend. You’re also Alfredo’s sister. I don’t want you caught in the middle here.”
“Don’t be silly. You and I have been friends since high school. Nothing’s going to change that, not even a divorce.”
“Don’t say anything to the folks until I make a decision. I think getting away is just what I need to give myself some time to think about things. I’m glad school’s out for the summer. It may be that I’ll start Chris in school in Dallas for next year.”
“You do what you need to do, Marisa. Just remember, I’m here for you.” Carina looked away for a moment before she said, “Neither of us did too well in the men department, did we?”
“At least you knew Dan loved you.”
“Of course he did. That’s why he had a woman with him the night he was killed. I was such a fool to think he was in love with me and not the Patterson name. Al wouldn’t have hired him if I hadn’t been engaged to Dan and you know it.”
“I guess you’re right. All men are slimeballs and we’re both better off without them,” Marisa said politely with no expression on her face.
Carina laughed and Marisa joined in. After they polished off their pastries and got more coffee, Carina said, “This probably isn’t a great time to mention it, but I have a date with Jude Crenshaw Saturday evening.”
Marisa stared at her, her cup of coffee halfway to her mouth. She set the mug back on the table.
“You’re kidding me! He asked you out?”
“Don’t sound so shocked. He asked me while we were dancing at the benefit last week.”
“I guess I’m more shocked that you accepted him. You’ve known for days and you’re just now telling me about it? Boy, when you decide to start dating again, you don’t mess around! Jude Crenshaw. He’s one of the most talked-about bachelors in town! I can’t begin to imagine how many hearts he’s broken since he moved here.”
Carina shook her head. “Doesn’t matter. He certainly won’t break mine. I’ve been thinking that I need to get back into some sort of social life. Since Dan died, I’ve hibernated in my apartment feeling sorry for myself. It’s time to move on and accept the fact that I have lousy taste in men. I figure Jude will be a good first step in letting people know I’m ready to start dating again.”
“I know a couple of women who’ve dated him. They both had the same experience with him. He saw them a few times, they hit it off, he was a fun date, rarely if ever serious about anything and they were both really taken with him. And then, for no reason that either of them could fathom, he stopped calling them. Just like that.” Marisa snapped her fingers. “He gave no explanation to either one. The next thing either of them knew he was seeing someone else. He definitely believes in playing the field.”
“Good. Then he’s perfect for me because that’s what I want to do. I admit I’m a little flattered that he even noticed me since I’m not his type. He seems to go for tall blondes. I haven’t gone out with that many men and I’ve never been serious about anyone but Dan. I’m sadly lacking in my dating skills.”
“Not to mention lack of a sex life.”
Carina grinned mischievously. “That, too. I may not put up much of a defense if Mr. Crenshaw insists on seducing me.”
“Come to think of it,” Marisa said, sounding disgruntled, “Maybe I need to get a boyfriend on the side, then, since my sex life has all but disappeared.”
They looked at each other for a moment and then burst into laughter.
Carina changed the subject and they spent the rest of their time together discussing what had gone on at the board meeting of the symphony the night before. Carina had been on the board since she’d returned from New York after her father became ill.
After a while, Marisa glanced at her watch. “Oops. Time to pick up the kiddos. Be sure to let me know how your date goes, okay?” They stood and walked toward the door of the small bakery.
“I’ll do that, and say hi to the kids.”
Marisa sighed. “Of course.” They paused once they were on the sidewalk. “You know, Carina, there are times when I don’t feel I even know Al any more. He’s certainly not the man I married.”
Carina gently squeezed her hand. “Hang in there. I know you’ll make the best decision for all concerned.”
Carina dressed for her dinner with Jude on Saturday wondering how the evening would go. Would he find her too boring for words?
Carina sank down onto her bed and smoothed the hand-stitched coverlet her grandmother in Mexico had made for her several years ago. She closed her eyes and visualized Jude with his blond, expensively styled hair and those gorgeous blue eyes.
He was much taller than she. Danny had only been a couple of inches taller when she wore high heels. Even in her highest heels, she had barely reached Jude’s shoulder.
He’d been so gentle with her, almost as if he’d thought she might break. If he got to know her better, he’d quickly discover that she was far from fragile. She kept her body strong and supple with tai chi and yoga.
Of course he was handsome. And rich. And something of a playboy. But did she care about his playing the field? She’d told Marisa the truth. She wasn’t looking for a long-term relationship.
Carina glanced at her watch. Jude would be here soon and she didn’t want to keep him waiting. For all she knew, he might decide not to wait for her. He probably had a list of women’s names he could call at the last minute if he chose to leave. She smiled at the thought. I wonder if my name will be added to that list?
Jude stopped his car in front of the gate to the grounds of the Patterson property, located in the Alamo Heights district of San Antonio. Some of these mansions had been in the same family for generations, so he wasn’t too surprised to discover that the Pattersons’ home was here. He pushed the button on the security box and a male voice immediately spoke. “Identification, please.”
“Jude Crenshaw, here to see Carina Patterson.”
There was a pause and then the double wrought-iron gates swung open. He drove through and followed the curving driveway up an incline to the front of the house.
The Pattersons’ compound took up the entire block. Jude noted two other houses situated nearby. Guest houses, he presumed. The estate was almost large enough to hold a golf course!
He parked in front of the antebellum-style home and got out. Before he reached the top of the three shallow steps to the veranda, one of the double doors swung open. The man who stood there looked more like a former cop than a butler.
“Good evening, Mr. Crenshaw,” the man said. “Carina is in the music room. Follow the hallway past the stairs and enter the first door on your right.”
The foyer was wide and ran the entire length of the house. The staircase rose in a graceful curve to the second floor. Jude glanced up, past the second-floor landing at the ceiling and saw a multi-beveled glass dome that let in light.
When he reached the indicated door, Jude saw Carina seated at a piano, playing, her back him. He stood listening to her. Because her file had noted her passion for music, he’d immersed himself in classical music by attending concerts for the past several months. He was impressed by her skills, despite the fact that he much preferred country-and-western music.
Now he was known as a patron of the arts.
He doubted very much if his dad or his three brothers would believe that he’d actually come to appreciate the skill, practice and talent needed to play a musical instrument that wasn’t a guitar.
One of the walls had floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over a lush garden, making a colorful backdrop to the grand piano and the musician. He waited until she finished the song and then clapped his hands in appreciation. Carina’s head swung around in surprise and she rose from the piano. “Jude, please forgive me for being so rude. Helmuth didn’t tell me you were here and I’m afraid I lose all track of time when I’m playing.”
She walked toward him, wearing a cool-looking sleeveless dress that matched the green of her eyes.
“Then I can only thank Helmuth for the oversight,” he replied, “because I would have missed hearing you play just now. You take my breath away… I mean, your playing…” He stopped, knowing that he would only dig a hole for himself by attempting to clarify his comment.
Jude took her hands in his. “You have such small hands to be able to make such beautiful music.”
“Believe me, I wish they were larger. I’ve had to compensate for my lack of reach over the keyboard all my life.”
“If you’re ready, shall we go?”
When they reached the front entrance he saw that Helmuth hovered by the door. Carina paused in front of him. “Jude, I’d like you to meet Helmuth Gregorian. Helmuth has been with our family since before I was born.”
Jude held out his hand. “Good to meet you.”
Helmuth shook his hand and nodded. A man of few words, obviously.
When Carina saw his car, her eyes widened. “Oh, my. That’s quite a car you have there, Mr. Crenshaw.”
“Jude. My name is Jude.”
“How long have you had it?” she asked, as he opened the passenger door and helped her inside. He closed the door and walked around to the other side. Once he started the car, he replied.
“A couple of years, now.”
“It looks brand new. You must take good care of it.”
He grinned. “One of my many vices.”
Once he reached the end of the driveway and turned onto the street, Jude glanced at her and said, “I made reservations for us at a place north of town with a nice view. We’ll be there in about thirty minutes. I hope that’s all right with you.”
She patted the butter-soft leather of the upholstery and chuckled. “Are you kidding? I could ride in this for weeks.”
“That’s good to know. So if I decide to kidnap you one of these days, does that mean you won’t put up much of a struggle?”
“Well,” she said slowly, “that would depend on why you’d kidnapped me.”
