pickings.”
“I remember daddy talking about it last year. He was worried it might damage the tourist trade in town.”
“The Sheriff’s going to be meeting with your father later. Tell him to beef up the security at his hotels.”
“He’s out of town at the moment. But I heard a whole load of delegates checked in at the Rocky Mountain Lodge yesterday,” said Jessica. “My sister’s new hotel’s got a few VIPs staying too.”
“ The Spa in the Clouds ?”
“Yeah. They’ve only been open three months. Last thing they need is any trouble.”
“Especially, after that crazy security guard with the meat cleaver they had there,” said Caleb, stroking the light stubble on his face. “Your sister sure gave him a beating with that fire poker. Don’t mess with the Chase women, huh?”
“That’s right,” said Jessica. “We can look after ourselves if we have to.”
“I never doubted it,” said Caleb, looking Jessica up and down. She really was a beautiful girl. He’d been in love with her since their school days. Every guy had. He was a year older than her, and one thing or another had always stopped him asking her out on a date. If he was honest, he’d been a little intimidated by her. By all the Chase girls, in fact. They were the four most stunning sisters you were ever likely to meet. And their old man was the multi-millionaire who damn near owned most of the resort. Steamy Springs should have been named Chaseville. The family had built the town from nothing. And now it was up there competing with Aspen for the swishest resort in the Rockies title. For all their money, though, they were a down-to-earth family. There’d been no private education for the girls. Old man Chase still drove around in an old Ford. They didn’t demand any special treatment. Respected the independence of the Sheriff’s Department. But, they were super-rich, nevertheless. Most folks were intimidated by that kind of money. The Chase’s could definitely look after themselves. Caleb just wished that one day he’d get the chance to look after Jessica. Also, no other girl could fire him up the way she could. Just the sway of her hips or a fleeting glance from her blue eyes was enough to do it. She was walking viagra. A steroid shot to his cock. She was so hot, she should be on prescription. Caleb’s mind was now miles away, dreaming about removing that pretty little summer dress she had on.
“You OK?”
“Yeah. I was just thinking about work,” said Caleb, shaking himself out of his daydream. “We’re under real pressure to catch this guy.”
“Is he dangerous? Anyone get hurt?”
“Doesn’t seem to be. He usually waits until everyone’s out. But who knows, maybe he’s carrying. Why? You worried?”
“Not really.”
“You’re at home alone at the moment, then?”
“Just for a week.”
“Where are your folks?”
”They always get out of town when the Economic Forum’s on. I don’t think my father likes all those bankers and politicos too much.”
Caleb nodded as he took in the information. “You want me to stop by?”
“I guess you could do,” said Jessica. “For a little while.”
“I’m working late tonight, but maybe I’ll call round before I get off duty. Okay?”
“Sounds good. See you later then.”
“Looking forward to it,” said Caleb, as he started the engine and nodded goodbye.
Jessica realised that she had enjoyed her little flirt with Caleb. It was fun. Sometimes the guys at her college could be a little too earnest. Flirtation seemed to be a problem for them. Unless they’d had a gallon of liquor beforehand, and then flirtation just turned into a kind of drunken rambling. Not their fault though, they were the generation who’d been indoctrinated with political correctness. A lot of the fun had been taken out of life. The sexual dance between men and women was as old as time, and something natural and joyous. Pity there were too many humorless creeps