Free The Survivors Club by J. Carson Black

at the end of their shift.

CHAPTER 12
    The best thing about the Lois Maderas Memorial Park: the hills and windbreak of trees at the top of one of them. The shade here was dark, and he was far enough away that even a sharp-eyed cop wouldn’t see him. He lay on his stomach on the grass, watching.
    He didn’t come to watch the mourners.
    He came because he knew the cops would be there, and he wanted to see who they were.
    They were easy to spot. Dressed professionally, but casual. Even if they didn’t dress like cops, he would know them anywhere.
    Because of what they were looking at.
    They weren’t watching the coffin as it was lowered into the earth.
    They were looking out . Out at the people surrounding the grave. Their faces impassive behind dark glasses. Quiet and contained, they kept their eyes on the mourners, and now and then they scanned the surrounding hills.
    He didn’t use his binocs because he didn’t want to catch a reflection.
    The woman in particular interested him. She wore a navy jacket over a pale blouse and chino-type slacks. He could see the rectangle under her jacket on her left hip. The woman was a cop all the way. Her dark blonde hair pulled into a neat ponytail. The dark glasses. The calm around her.
    And the other guy—the spic.
    He was a little more restless. Full of energy. Looking for trouble. When he looked toward the hills, it was almost with X-ray vision.
    The watcher knew he couldn’t be seen, but still…
    He knew that killers often showed up at funerals to gloat. Or out of nervousness, because they couldn’t stay away. Maybe they were worried about some loose end, maybe they had a compulsion.
    But he came to watch the cops watching for him.

CHAPTER 13
    This time there were no girls or horses in the riding ring.
    Tess stood back while Danny knocked.
    It took a while, but Jaimie finally came to the door. She wore a similar outfit to the one she’d worn last time—except for the cowboy boots, which were beat up, but expensive.
    “I’m busy today,” Jaimie said, her voice abrupt.
    “Just a couple more questions,” Danny said.
    “Who are you?”
    Tess stepped up close to Jaimie. “This is Danny Rojas, my partner.”
    “Your ‘partner?’ With the sheriff’s office? Or are you lovers?”
    Danny gave her his best sexy grin. “We’re negotiating on that.”
    Tess thought about stomping on his foot, but the moment passed.
    Jaimie came out on the porch and closed the door behind her. “All right, you can ask your damn questions! I just hope it won’t take long.”
    She seemed completely different from the way she’d been before. Last time she’d at least given the appearance of being forthcoming, and volunteered information. This time she folded her arms and stood on the porch. “What do you want to know?”
    “First, I need the names of the SABEL members,” Tess said.
    “Fine.” She walked inside and closed the door.
    “You have a way with people,” Danny observed.
    They waited. The smell of alfalfa, horse urine, and manure drifted up to them.
    A couple of minutes later, Jaimie Wolfe returned with a sheet of paper. “Names and phone numbers,” she said, her voice brisk.
    Only eight people on the list. Apparently eradicating buffelgrass wasn’t a popular pastime around here.
    “Do you have any theories as to why George Hanley moved down here?”
    Jaimie shrugged. “He said , to be with his daughter.”
    “He never mentioned an additional reason to you?”
    “I don’t think so. Look, he wasn’t crazy about his daughter, but she was related to him. There are problems in any relationship. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got things to do.”
    Tess said, “What did he tell you about leading the tours at Credo?”
    “I think he said his grandmother grew up there, when it was a real town.”
    “Have you ever been there?”
    “Nope. I’ve trailered my horses out into the Atascosas and rode some trails, but that was a long time ago. Back before things got really