Ghost of a Gamble (Granny Apples Mystery) (18 page)

E
MMA
never got to the gym.

After Lenny gave Emma the directions to where he’d stashed the money, she, Quinn, and Phil put together a plan to retrieve it.

Quinn went back to the iPad and looked up the information. “He said Highway 95 south, right?”

“Yes,” confirmed Emma. “It’s a road named Jasper off of the 95 heading towards Boulder City.” She consulted her notes. “Yes. Jasper will dead end. From there we have to go on foot.”

“I see Rocky Point but nothing called Jasper intersecting with the 95.”

Phil studied the map over Quinn’s shoulder. “What’s that road there?” He pointed at the screen. “Can you enlarge the map?”

“Sure.” Quinn enlarged the map, then smiled. “Good catch, Phil.”

“What is it?” asked Emma.

“There are two 95s,” Quinn explained. “An old road and the highway. I’ll bet that highway was built after Lenny was killed.”

“Let’s see.” Emma did some calculations. “Milo was around two when his father died, and he’s fifty-three now, so if that highway was built in the last fifty years, it’s not the highway Lenny’s talking about.”

“There’s no Jasper intersecting the Old Highway 95 either,” noted Phil, “but there are a couple of unnamed turnoffs. One of those is probably it.”

“And like most everything else in Nevada, it’s out in the middle of nowhere.” Quinn looked at the two of them. “As much as I’d love to run out there tonight, I think we need to hold off until daybreak.”

“Why can’t we go now?” asked Emma. “The sooner the better.”

Phil and Quinn exchanged looks. Phil said, “City folks.” Quinn chuckled.

Phil turned to Emma. “That’s the Mojave Desert, Emma. Lots of dangerous creatures roam the desert at night and I’m not talking about unhappy ghosts. Ever hear of the Mojave rattler?”

She shook her head.

“It’s considered the most poisonous snake in all of North America. It’s nocturnal and we’ll be digging around smack in the middle of his home.”

“He’s right,” agreed Quinn. “Not to mention burrow holes that can snap an ankle long before you ever see them. Trust me, I know about digging in the dirt in dangerous places. Our best bet is to get some rest and head out there as early as possible.”

Emma wasn’t happy about waiting, but running around in the desert in the dark with poisonous snakes wasn’t something on her bucket list. “Okay,” she agreed. “Daybreak it is.”

“According to this map,” said Quinn, “it will take about forty minutes to get there. Probably less at that time of day.”

“Sunrise is around five thirty this time of year,” noted Phil. “How about we hit the road no later than four forty-five or five.” The other two nodded in agreement.

Quinn continued searching the Web. “One thing is for sure—we can’t take Emma’s SUV, even that time of day. The cops know it and might be keeping an eye out for it, especially Detective Garby.”

Emma slapped her hands over her face. “Arghhh, you’re right.” She turned to Phil. “You didn’t by any chance drive, did you?”

“No,” Phil answered, “I white-knuckled it here in a plane. Now I wish I hadn’t.”

“No problem,” announced Quinn as he got up from the table. “Consider me in charge of the motor pool and supplies.” He started to leave. “I’ll pick you guys up in the morning. I’ll text you a place to meet me when I’m on my way.” He was almost out the door when he shot back, “But you guys are in charge of breakfast. Something quick and portable—easy to eat while driving. And don’t forget the coffee.”

“Don’t you want to stay for dinner?” asked Emma.

Quinn looked from Emma to Phil, then back to Emma. He shook his head. “Thanks, but I have things to do for tomorrow.”

An awkwardness fell between Phil and Emma after Quinn left. Emma went to the closet and pulled out clothes for the morning. Phil started to turn on the TV, then stopped and put down the remote.

“Do you want to go out to eat or should I order room service?” he asked. When Emma didn’t answer, Phil added, “Or should I go ask the front desk for a room of my own?”

Emma hugged the shirt in her hands to her chest and stared down at the carpet a long time before answering. “You can stay here, but . . .” Her voice trailed off.

“But sleep on the sofa,” finished Phil. He pushed down on the cushions of the sofa, testing them. “I’ve slept on worse, and at least I’ll be with you.”

They went quiet again, then Emma went to him, “I’m serious, Phil. We need to talk.”

He sighed and passed a hand over his bald pate. “Yes, I know. I’m sorry I’ve been such an ass about Quinn. He’s really a decent guy. I appreciate that he’s been watching over you for the past couple of days. Really I do.”

“This isn’t about Quinn. At least not to me.” Emma looked Phil in the eyes. “A little jealousy is fun in a boyfriend. It lets you know he cares. But when you get crazy jealous like you’ve been, you’re telling me you don’t trust me. That’s what I have the issue with.”

“I know. I—”

Emma put a hand gently to his lips. “Let me finish. I need to say this.” She moved her hand so that it cupped the side of his face. “I’ve told you a hundred times that what happened in Pennsylvania with Quinn is over and that he and I are just friends. That’s the truth and he knows it. If I had any feelings beyond that for him, you and I would not still be together. I’m not the sort of woman to tell one man I love him when I have possible feelings for another. And if you don’t know that by now, Phil Bowers, you need to learn it fast or move on, because I’m not giving up my male friends and I can’t go on this way with you. Not if we’re in this for the long haul.”

Phil put a hand over Emma’s and squeezed it against his face. “I want to marry you, Emma. You know that.”

She nodded and pulled her hand away. “And I think about marrying you, but I can’t if I feel you don’t trust me. I don’t plan on being divorced twice in my lifetime.”

“Neither do I.” He reached for her hand again, holding it in both of his. “You know, today was the first time since we’ve been together that you haven’t greeted me with a kiss.”

Emma started tearing up and looked away.

“Be honest with me, Emma. Have you already made up your mind?” When she didn’t answer, he tried again. “Is it too late for us to fix this?”

In response, she leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on his lips. “No, Phil. It’s not too late. Not by a long shot.” She followed up with another kiss, this one a few seconds longer.

While Emma showered, Phil ordered their dinner through room service. Over dinner they discussed Dolly and the situation with Nemo and Lenny, steering clear of their personal problems. Not long after dinner, they turned in—Emma to her bed and Phil to the couch.

The text from Quinn came around four thirty, telling them to meet him in fifteen minutes on the third floor of the Venetian Hotel parking structure. They were ready and antsy to get moving. On their way out they made a quick detour to the food court to pick up breakfast and coffee for the road. They got to the designated spot just as Quinn pulled up in a shiny black Jeep Cherokee. Phil opened the front passenger door for Emma, then climbed into the back. Quinn started sucking down coffee before they were even on the road.

“It amazes me,” said Emma, observing the brisk early morning traffic around the casinos as they made their way toward the highway, “how this town never sleeps.”

“Many of these people probably haven’t been to bed yet,” laughed Quinn. “Or are coming to work at one of the hotels.”

The ride out of town was uneventful with daylight just beginning to show itself. Emma dug into the bag they’d brought and handed Phil a wrapped item. She held one out to Quinn.

“What in the world is that?” he asked.

“A protein bar,” Emma answered. “For your breakfast.”

“What? No egg and ham sandwiches? No cheesy croissants?”

“The coffee place didn’t have anything like that ready yet. Besides, this is much better for you.” She started unwrapping his for him.

Quinn glanced at it with a curled lip. “I eat those things when I’m tramping around out in the middle of nowhere. Doesn’t mean I like them.”

“As I recall,” noted Emma, “we are tramping around in the middle of nowhere.”

Phil leaned forward. “I’m with you on these things, pal. But you hang out with Emma, you eat protein bars.” He chuckled and bit into his. “They’re not bad with hot coffee.”

Following the GPS, they traveled along a major highway shared by the 95, the 93, and Interstate 515 as it skirted the city of Henderson and made its way into the desert. To the left was a lone casino and hotel called Railroad Pass. Just past the hotel, the highway split off with the 95 going off to the right. Quinn followed it.

“Is this the Old Highway 95?” asked Emma.

“No. We’re still on the newer road,” he answered. “Since Lenny said if we hit Silver Springs, we’ve gone too far and Silver Springs intersects both the old and new roads, I thought we’d turn at Silver Springs and backtrack on the old highway. Less chance of missing Jasper.”

“Good idea,” said Phil from the backseat.

“By the way,” Quinn added, “back at that intersection, if we’d kept going on the highway, we’d be on our way to Dolan Springs.”

“Really?” asked Emma, her voice swollen with interest.

“Yep. It’s about an hour from here.”

Phil leaned forward from the backseat. “You suggesting something, Quinn?”

Quinn shrugged. “Just throwing the information out there, seeing who salutes.”

“It’s very early,” noted Emma. “We might be able to catch them by surprise.”

“Armed with what,” scoffed Phil, “our good looks?” He paused. “Then again, it might be worth a look.”

“Let’s shelve this until after we get the money,” said Emma, her mind doing anything but letting the idea rest. “But it is something to consider.”

Quinn glanced at Emma. “Did you tell Milo yet about Dolan Springs?”

“I texted him last night that we think we know where Dolly is and we’re looking into it today.” She took another drink of her coffee. “He texted back asking where, but I didn’t tell him, just said we’d connect later today. I knew if I told him, he and Tracy would go running off to Dolan Springs with no thought to their safety.”

“Or Dolly’s,” added Phil. “A surprise visit from any of us might backfire. We’ll have to be very careful if we go.”

Keeping her eyes on the landscape whizzing by, Emma nodded. “Granny did say last night that Frankie was armed.”

Quinn looked in the rearview mirror at Phil “Phil, in the back right behind you, there should be a bag with some binoculars. Why don’t you dig them out. They might be useful about now.”

Phil undid his seatbelt and turned to reach in the back. When he faced forward again, he held a nice pair of binoculars. “Did you bring all that equipment with you to Las Vegas?”

“Survival store,” Quinn answered. “There are a couple in Vegas and they’re open late. Like I said, digging in the dirt is my specialty.” Quinn turned to Emma. “I also bought something special for you.”

“Bet I know which item that was.” Phil turned around again and retrieved something else. He held it out to Emma. “Am I right?” he asked Quinn.

“You got it,” answered Quinn.

Emma took the item, holding it carefully. “Is this what I think it is?”

“Sorry it’s not pink,” Quinn said with a chuckle. “They come in pink but survival stores aren’t big on stocking pink anything.”

“A Taser. More good thinking, Quinn.” Phil looked at Emma. “I want you to keep that with you at all times, Emma. Especially when you make the exchange.” He turned his attention back to Quinn. “You don’t by chance have a handgun in there, do you?”

“Sorry,” Quinn said with a shake of his head. “I’m not into guns myself, but I sure wouldn’t mind having one right about now. Bet you could handle it.”

“Been shooting all my life. I’ve even taken Emma here to the range a few times.”

“Can we finish up the male bonding and get back to business?” Emma handed the Taser back to Phil. “Here, I don’t want to even hold it. At least not until I know how to use it.”

“Don’t worry,” Quinn said to her with a grin. “I’ll show you. I bought one for my mother last year. Hers is pink.”

It didn’t take long before the Silver Springs turnoff came up. Quinn made a right-hand turn onto Silver Springs and almost immediately another right onto Old Highway 95, which almost joined at this point with the newer highway. With no other traffic around they were able to travel the older road slowly, keeping their eyes open for any sign of a road named Jasper or any unmarked road that might be it. Using the binoculars, Phil scanned the landscape for anything that might look promising.

“Okay,” said Emma, pointing ahead. “This road here is Roger Ray.”

They kept going. Soon after, they crossed an unmarked paved road. Quinn slowed down even more so Phil could take a good look at it through the binoculars. “That can’t be it,” said Phil. “It looks like it leads to some sort of business.” Quinn moved the vehicle forward a little faster.

They passed another couple of unmarked but well-maintained short roads that also led to businesses of some kind. Two cars passed them going in the opposite direction and turned onto one of the roads. They continued on until they crossed Silver Line Road.