She nodded. Right now she needed money and taking care of the dogs was her best way of making it. “Thanks.”

“You can help me out by taking Jasper to the breeder. He’s supposed to be there tomorrow morning. I’ll put the address and phone number by the keys.”

She turned to go. “Call me as soon as you talk to Jared Cabral. I want to know what he has to say about Miranda.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

ASHLEY TRIED TO concentrate on doing one more leg lift, but her mind wasn’t on the workout. She told Preston, “Let’s grab some juice and talk.”

He shrugged, lifting impressive shoulders. “Okay.”

He followed her into Dr. Jox’s juice bar. She ordered her usual pomegranate juice and he asked for a Redline.

“What’s that?”

“A new drink. Like Red Bull but with a bigger kick.”

Red Bull made Ashley jittery but a major jolt of caffeine didn’t seem to bother Preston. They took their drinks and went outside. Ashley hadn’t had a chance to discuss the fiasco with the dog. The workout stations were too close to each other to risk someone overhearing their conversation.

She sat at the table under the tree with the shady canopy. “I’m sorry about the other night. Ryan somehow figured out I was involved.”

“You told me that when you phoned me to return the mutt.” His clipped tone told Ashley he was angry with her.

“You’re upset with me. I’m sorry.” Ashley didn’t want him to hold this against her. She needed a friend now more than ever.

Preston chugged his Redline. “Don’t blame yourself. It was my idea. I just didn’t count on cops getting involved.”

“Cops? What are you talking about?”

“Adam Hunter’s a cop. He was here first thing yesterday morning.”

Ashley listened while Preston explained about Adam’s visit. “He agreed not to tell Whitney that you were behind her dog’s disappearance. This way she won’t blame your husband.”

“Why didn’t you call me?” Yesterday had been one of the two days each week that Ashley didn’t train with Preston. When she’d been competing, she worked out for hours every day. Since her mother’s death, Ashley allowed herself time to do things she enjoyed.

“I tried your cell but kept getting voice mail. I didn’t want to leave a message in case…”

His words hung between them. She knew he intended to say: in case Ryan picked up her messages. She couldn’t help being touched by the way Preston always tried to help her.

“Do you think Adam Hunter will keep his word?” She didn’t want Ryan to find out her “girlfriend” was really a man. He had nothing to worry about, but Ryan was overly protective of her.

“I thought so. Then I saw the news this morning. I expect the police will be knocking on both our doors.”

“What?” She stared at him slack-jawed, certain she’d misunderstood him.

“Didn’t you catch the morning news?”

“No. I usually have the TV on while I’m dressing, but not today.” When she’d awakened, Ryan had left already. It had been too early for him to go to the office where he was still practicing until the new clinic opened. She wasn’t sure where he’d gone, but having him out of the house had given her the opportunity to look through the things on his desk.

In the bottom drawer she’d found a manila folder with DOMENIC CORIZ written across the top. Inside were names and telephone numbers. She couldn’t decide what they meant.

Then Ashley had dressed and hadn’t been able to find her ring. She thought she’d put it on top of her jewelry box last night, but it wasn’t there. She might have left it on the windowsill when she’d prepared dinner. She’d been so nervous about cooking her mother’s meatballs that she couldn’t remember. She’d left the house without being able to locate the ring. She was going home to hunt through the trash.

“Someone firebombed the cottage where Ryan’s ex lives.”

It took a second for what he’d said to register. “How terrible! Was anyone hurt?”

“The reporter said no one was home even though it was late at night.”

“Whitney was probably with Adam.”

“What makes you say that?”

How could she explain women’s intuition to a man? They didn’t seem to have hunches the same way women did. “Trust me. Women know these things. When they came to the house, I could tell Adam has the hots for her.”

“Whatever.” Preston tinkered with his Redline can for a moment before tossing it all the way across the patio and into the trash can. “We can expect the police to contact both of us.”

“Why? We had nothing to do with it.”

“They’ll question Whitney. She’ll tell them about her divorce and Lexi’s disappearance. The police will chase down all the leads.”

“You’re probably right,” she replied. “What are we going to say?”

“Tell the truth. They’ll find out anyway. I told Hunter. He’s bound to-”

Ashley’s cell phone erupted with the opening bars of “Proud Mary.” She rummaged in her gym bag for a moment before locating it, thinking again about her father. Was he happy? Did he ever think about her?

“Hello?”

“Ashley? This is Whitney Marshall. Is Ryan there?”

It took her a second to remember she’d used call forwarding. Whitney thought she’d reached their house. “No. He’s at his office.”

Whitney didn’t respond for a moment. “I called there, but he’s not expected in today.”

“Oh, yes, I forgot.” Her quick comeback was a total lie. Why wasn’t Ryan in the office? Could he be with Domenic Coriz?

“Would you give him a message for me? We had a fire here last night. The police questioned me. I had to tell them I’m finalizing a property settlement after a divorce. They may come to talk to Ryan. Tell him it’s routine.” Whitney paused before adding, “I’m not trying to make any more trouble.”

“How’s Lexi?” Ashley had been so shocked when Preston had told her about the bombing that she’d forgotten about the dog.

“She’s fine. She was with me.”

“Good, good.” Ashley couldn’t stop herself from asking, “Did the fire do much damage?”

“Yes. The cottage is completely destroyed.”

“I’m sorry,” Ashley said and she meant it. She couldn’t imagine losing everything. Misplacing her wedding ring was no big deal compared to this. “Do you have someplace to stay?” The second she asked, Ashley regretted prying and quickly added, “In case Ryan wants to reach you?”

“I’m staying in the maid’s quarters at the main house until I can make other arrangements. Have him call my cell if he needs me.”

Ashley assured Whitney that she would tell Ryan, then snapped her cell phone shut. Preston was studying her, and Ashley explained why Whitney had called.

“We’ll hear from the police for sure. There aren’t many pipe bombings around here. The cops will be all over this one.”

Preston sounded worried. She’d never seen him brood like this. He’d always been upbeat. It suddenly struck her that although she often told him about her problems, she’d rarely asked about his. “Is something wrong?”

“Not really. I just don’t like cops messing in my business.”

She sensed it was more than that. “What else has you upset? Talk to me. Maybe I can help.”

He rocked back on the legs of his chair. “I was in some trouble when I was a kid. I took a neighbor’s car for a joyride. I was arrested, and I’ve hated the police ever since.”

Ashley had a feeling it was more than that. Men. Weren’t they a trip?

ADAM WAITED IN SAFFRON BLUE’S parking lot. The so-called gentlemen’s club opened at noon seven days a week and had for almost fifty years. Jared Cabral had made his money the old-fashioned way-he’d inherited it. His father, Simon Cabral, had started the strip club back in the fifties when bare breasts and naked women were taboo.

The wily old guy had managed to keep his club going even though he’d been busted at least once a month during those first years. A workaholic who didn’t seem to have a life, Simon Cabral made money hand over fist and invested it in more clubs. No one knew he had a family until he dropped dead of a heart attack just after his fiftieth birthday.