Land of Entrapment by Andi Marquette Read Free Book Online Page A

you tomorrow. Call if you need anything.” She left and I followed at a distance, watching as she got into her car. It’s just residue. That’s all it is. The black Lexus pulled away from the curb as I opened the hatchback of my car and hauled my duffle bags out and slung them over my shoulders. After dumping my stuff on the bed in Megan’s room I poked around in her kitchen. Melissa had apparently emptied it of all perishables. God, that must’ve been hard. I found coffee in a container on the counter by the sink and a coffee maker in a cabinet. That was good news. I returned to the living room and decided not to start looking at racist crap just yet. I locked up and went back to my car.
    I BIT INTO my chicken enchiladas, served
    “Christmas,” with both red chile and green chile sauces poured over the top.
    “As good as you remember, huh?” Chris had ordered a burrito, also smothered Christmas.
    “Better.” I took a sip of my Negra Modelo. “Is it just me? Or is this truly some of the best chile ever?
    Or is it that I just haven’t had it in a while?” I took another bite, savoring.
    “Could be. Bet you can’t get it in Texas.”
    “Of course not. New Mexico is the chile capital, mujer.”
    “I’m glad you remember your loyalties.” She winked at me.
    “Always.” I cut a piece of enchilada off with my fork and worked it around my plate to get both red and green on it. The low murmur of conversation drifted from neighboring tables, all heavy Mexican-style wood. Monica’s was always cheery, the tile floor and windows always spotless, and entering was like coming into your favorite aunt’s kitchen. Great food, made with lots of love. I chewed and swallowed, enjoying the food, the energy, and the company.
    Chris set her beer down. She was off this evening and didn’t have to be at work until the next day at nine. “Do you have this kid’s name? Megan’s boyfriend?”
    I looked up. “Damn. I forgot to ask Melissa what his last name is. So far, all I know about him is that his first name is Cody, he drinks Diet Coke, and he has a swastika tattoo on his left forearm.”
    “Sounds nice,” Chris said sarcastically. “See if you can find a photo of him at Megan’s and maybe his full name and I’ll run a check for you. If he’s violating probation or anything, then we’ll have a reason to find him and bring him in.”
    “That’d be great. I have to go through the stuff Melissa found to see if I can get a sense of what type of group this is and how many people we might be talking about. Thank God Megan has high-speed Internet there. I’ll be doing some poking around online, too.” I looked across the table at her, and felt a familiar stirring in the air between us.
    Chris ordered another Dos Equis from the server, a nice middle-aged woman who was probably part of Monica’s family. “So how are your folks?” Chris smiled. “Still running wild in Tucson?”
    I laughed. “On both sides of the border, lately.
    They just got back from Central America a few days ago. Mom says hi, by the way.” I reached for my beer.
    “What about yours? Anything new to report that you didn’t have time to tell me two days ago?”
    “Nope. Same shit, different day. As usual, Dad wishes I had stayed a counselor and Mom hopes to get me married off some day, police thing notwithstanding. And you and I both know that has as much chance of happening as the moon falling.”
    She grinned.
    “Well, it depends. Married to a man or a woman?”
    I waggled my eyebrows at her.
    “Either.” Chris took one of the chips from the basket, dipped it in salsa, and took a bite.
    “Oh, ye of little faith! How are the boys?” I used my favorite term of endearment for Chris’s three brothers.
    “Working their asses off for the company. At least my dad has nice, big, strong sons to carry on at Gutierrez and Sons Construction. With the possible exception of John. He’s not as into the business as Pete and Mike are.”
    I cut