Free Beef Stolen-Off by Liz Lipperman Page B

fragrance that reminded her of the herbal shampoo she used. She felt her shoulders relax. The entire room gave off a warm and friendly vibe, as if she were in the living room of a good friend instead of a wealthy stranger she barely knew. Her first instinct when she’d seen the size of the ranch was that Brenda Sue would be all about how much money she had. If the house was any indication, so far, Jordan was pleasantly surprised.
    She looked up as her hostess came back into the room and handed her a glass of tea, noting that Brenda Sue didn’t have kitchen help. Taking a sip, she was bowled over by the sweet delicious flavor. “This is fantastic. What’s in it?”
    “Orange pekoe with fresh mint added. The wife of our ranch foreman has a greenhouse out back where she grows herbs for homeopathic medicine, among other things. Her mint is the sweetest I’ve ever tasted.”
    “I have to agree,” Jordan responded, taking another sip before settling back in the soft leather cushion of the sofa.
    “So what did you want to talk to me about?”
    Jordan set her glass on a coaster on the end table and glanced at her watch. “I’ll jump right to the point, if you don’t mind, since I have to be back at work by two.”
    She’d made a deal with Egan to have this afternoon off instead of Friday this week but wanted an excuse to cut and run if things got uncomfortable. Besides, she had her heartset on a nap when she got home. “I’m worried about Maria Morales.”
    Brenda Sue’s face displayed her confusion. “Because of her health?”
    “No. Because she seems terrified and even admitted she was afraid of someone. I was hoping you might be able to shed some light on who might be giving her trouble.”
    Brenda Sue thought for a moment before shaking her head. “Everyone loves Maria, especially Diego. He wouldn’t hurt a hair on her head, and he’d kill anyone else who tried.” She shook her head again. “Honestly, I can’t think of anyone who would deliberately hurt that woman.” She met Jordan’s stare. “Did she actually say she was afraid of someone, or did you suggest it?”
    Jordan pondered the question before answering. “I may have led her there, but twice she grabbed my arm and wouldn’t let go. Then she mouthed the words ‘Help me.’”
    Brenda Sue laughed. “Since her stroke several months ago, Maria hasn’t always seemed rational. The doctors keep telling Diego that the aphasia may go away in time, but the longer she goes without speaking, the less chance there is of that happening.”
    Jordan straightened on the sofa as a thought suddenly came to her. “Can she write on a notepad?”
    Brenda Sue shook her head. “She was right-handed and that’s the side that was paralyzed. They’ve tried to teach her how to use the left one, but she’s never mastered it. She gets frustrated and throws the pad across the room every time.”
    “It must be hard not being able to communicate.”
    “I’m sure. She had her stroke just a few months after having her left hip replaced, which made it that much more devastating. She was just getting used to walking without acane when she had the massive bleed into her brain. As I understand it, she mistakenly took too many of the blood thinners she’d been on since the surgery. The doctor said it was a miracle she survived.”
    “Did she get confused about the pills or what?”
    “That’s the funny thing. When Diego counted the remaining tablets to see just how many she had ingested, none were missing. Yet her blood tests showed her clotting ability was five times slower than normal.”
    “Wow, that is weird,” Jordan responded.
    Brenda Sue pushed away from the table and stood up. “Enough about Maria. Ready to eat yet? I’m starving.”
    “Me too.” Jordan got up and followed her through the French doors onto a veranda overlooking miles of green pasture dotted with grazing cows. “Are those Wagyu?”
    The hostess looked surprised. “You know