Courting Death - Carol Stephenson [60]
It wasn’t that far of a trek to OraGen so where was he going? Printing on the paper bag caught my eye, and I smoothed out the paper. St. John’s Health Clinic. I lay both the clipboard and bag on the floor.
“Nicole. What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
I gave Sam a sheepish smile. “I think Joe Poellinger recruited one of the other drivers to transport the containers. Gladys let slip that a ‘Danny’ skipped after Joe was arrested.” I gestured. “One Danny Lopez drives this truck and it was the one still in the lot when we arrived.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Find anything of interest?”
I pointed to the clipboard and paper bag. “Once a week Danny’s been driving about one hundred miles—the distance of a round trip to this clinic in Belle Glade.”
Sam held out his hand and helped me out of the truck. He cupped my elbow and started in the direction where I’d parked the car. “I’m going to be here a while, so rather than you giving me even more white hairs, why don’t you go to my place? I’ll pick up something to eat and then fill you in on what I can discuss when I get there.”
I stopped at the edge of the lot. “First, I don’t have a key to your townhouse—”
“Got one right here for you.” He fished a key out of his jean pocket and extended his palm.
I looked from his face to the key and back again.
“What? It’s only a key, Nicole.”
“Isn’t this the part where most men run a finger under their collar and have palpitations over giving a woman entrance to their sacred cave?”
Sam rocked back on his heels. “It makes sense. With our crazy schedules, I thought it would be easier if you could let yourself in rather than waiting outside for me.”
My heart twisted. This wasn’t a snap decision. This was something he’d been considering for a while. Another step forward for both of us.
I curved my fingers around the offered key and took it. I stood on my toes and kissed him lightly on the mouth. “Thanks. But since I really should get home, why don’t you come over when you’re finished, no matter how late, and I’ll fix dinner?”
He wrapped his hand around my neck and took the kiss deeper. When he finally raised his head, I answered the question I saw shining in his eyes. “And I’ll give you a key but we’ll have to have a few ground rules, such as calling ahead. With three women in the house…”
“Don’t want to walk in on the wrong one walking around naked.” He grinned.
Chapter Fifteen
On Saturday Sam and I were at a home improvement store selecting new door locks when Gabe Chavez called me on my cell.
“Hi, Gabe.” Sam continued to debate the clerk over the merits of locks so I moved a few steps away. “What’s up?”
“Rumor has it that tall, dark and ugly is with you.”
I flashed Sam a smile. “That’s right. He’s helping me beef up security at the house.”
“That’s easy. Buy a big dog.”
“Yeah right.”
“Or put Sam out front on a leash. Nothing like a cop with a gun to scare off a burglar.”
I chuckled. “Great visual.”
“Listen, I’ve been checking into that clinic for you. I found a woman I think you should speak with. Why don’t you and Sam meet me at his place in thirty? He’s going to want to be in on this.”
“We’ll be there.” I disconnected and looked at Sam. “All right, it’s decision time. Gabe wants us to be at your place in a half hour. I think he’s turned up something on that Belle Glade clinic.”
Sam gathered several packages and dumped them into the cart. “Thanks, we’ll take these,” he said to the visibly relieved clerk.
An hour and a half later Gabe parked his truck in front of a dilapidated house in Belle Glade. He’d chosen to play mysterious as to where he was taking us so for the better part of the drive he and Sam, who’d sat in front, had debated college football and the bowl games.
I didn’t blame them for passing the time debating sports. From my position in the back of the cab, there wasn’t much to see between West Palm Beach and Belle Glade. The agricultural community squatted on the edge of Florida’s heart blood, Lake