Fever. Elaine Overton

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      Chapter 3

      They both seemed surprised by the other’s appearance, as if both were expecting to see very different people standing before them.

      Ike couldn’t speak for the other, but he’d expected to see a curly-headed beauty with killer legs instead of a gnarled, old Hispanic man wielding a deadly weapon.

      “If you want to get in here, you’ll have to get past me!” the man hissed with a heavy accent. “And I’ll beat you to death before you move one piece of furniture.”

      Ike twisted his mouth in concentration as he took in his frail adversary, who wore faded corduroys and a plaid button-up shirt. He’d learned long ago not to be fooled by appearances. Obviously, the man had mistaken him for someone else. Could Dean have given him the wrong information?

      Ike’s former partner from the police force was an invaluable resource when it came to getting background information on the frequent con men who patronized the Desert Rose. Tonight, he’d come through again when he did a trace on the license plate number Ike’s men had recovered from Roxie’s car. This was the address on record for the woman he now knew as Tessa Sanchez. But now, Ike was wondering if his mystery woman had covered her tracks better than he thought.

      He needed to confirm his suspicion quickly. After all, there was no use in wasting time on a dead end. He carefully extended his hand. “Ike Bancroft. I’m looking for Tessa Sanchez. Does she live here?”

      The old man looked down at Ike’s extended hand, and Ike watched him, fully prepared to dodge out of harm’s way if that cane came anywhere near him.

      The old man’s eyes narrowed. “What’s it to you?”

      “I’m a fri—”

      “Who is it, Theo? That Realtor again?” A woman’s soft voice called from another room.

      “No, some man who claims to know you.”

      “Me?” A small Hispanic woman pressed her way in front of the man, anxiously pushing her glasses up on her nose. Her curly head bobbed as she inspected Ike from head to toe. “Do I know you?”

      Ike felt his heart sink as he took in the older woman. I’ve been had. He shook his head slowly. “No, I’m sorry, I think I have the wrong address.” He started to turn away, and paused. “Do you own a light blue Honda Accord?”

      “Yes, why do you ask?”

      Ike could see a ray of hope in the distance. “Did you lend it to someone yesterday evening?”

      “Yes, our daughter, Roxie. But, why are you asking these questions?”

      Roxie. Ike took a deep breath, and felt relief sweep over his entire being. He hadn’t lost her after all.

      “My name is Ike Bancroft. She and I met the other night. Can you tell me how to get in touch with her?”

      “Son usted loco?” the man interrupted emphatically. “We do not know you—you could be some crazy man. Usted podría ser un maníaco para todo sabemos!”

      Ike arched an eyebrow. His Spanish was rusty at best, but he was sure he heard the word maniac in there somewhere.

      “Theo, calm yourself.” The woman placed her hand on his chest, and cooed lovingly. “He knows Roxie.”

      The elderly man’s mouth twisted in disbelief. “So he says. But he looks like a cop to me,” he said, looking directly into Ike’s dark eyes.

      Good call. Ike quickly looked away, knowing his revealing eyes were telling on him again.

      The woman continued to look him over with obvious curiosity. “Where did you meet Roxie?”

      “I work security at the Desert Rose Casino. She was playing one of our poker tables and I introduced myself.”

      The woman and man exchanged strange looks. “The Desert Rose?” She elbowed her husband. “Did you hear that, Theo, they met at the Desert Rose.”

      Ike watched the byplay and wondered what it meant.

      Now the old man was looking at him with narrowed eyes and even more suspicion than before, if that were possible. “Yes, I heard him.”

      Ike would figure out what all this meant later, but now, his main concern was finding Roxie. “Do you know where I can find her?”

      “If she didn’t tell you, why should we?” Theo flared up again.

      “Theo!” Tessa pushed back on Theo, but he stood steady as a rock, still staring at Ike with clear distrust. “Stop being so rude to our guest.”

      In truth, Ike didn’t blame Theo one bit. If in the future, some strange man showed up on his doorstep looking for his daughter under similar circumstances, the guy would probably leave with a busted lip.

      His eyes shifted to the cane dangling loosely from Theo’s hand. Maybe we have more in common than you think, old man.

      “Move out of the way, Theo.” Tessa pushed again, and this time the older man allowed himself to be moved. “Please, come in,” she said, gesturing to the small sitting room.

      Ike scanned the room, looking for signs of Roxie and they were everywhere. His eyes took in the walls lined with pictures that showed her growth and achievements from about the age of ten. He wondered only briefly about the years preceding as he took a seat on the sofa. Ike took in the couple once again, and pondered the origins of this unique family.

      “So, tell me, Ike. How did you end up here?” The woman flopped down beside him, studying his face with the same avid curiosity she’d shown in the doorway.

      Good question. “Well…” Ike hedged, trying to buy some time. “At the Desert Rose we have a policy of taking the license plate numbers of the patrons’ cars in the event we have to contact them. She left the casino before I could get her phone number, and like I said, we really hit it off, so I used the plate information to get her address and here I am.”

      “How sweet.” She tilted her head to the side and gave him a dreamy expression.

      You bought that? Ike smiled, and tried to hide his shock.

      “That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard!” Theo huffed. “And if it is true, it would make you a stalker!”

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