"It didn't seem like it," Scott replied.

"Okay," Brian took over. "Mr. Alder, the problem is we only have your word for it Ashley left school by herself that day. n.o.body saw her leave school. n.o.body saw her walking home. n.o.body saw her arrive home."

Scott looked up, straight into Brian's eyes. "I did not kill Ashley. I loved her. I was going to marry her," he said fiercely.

"Don't leave town, Mr. Alder. We'll see ourselves out," Brian said as we rose to leave.

As we drove away, I turned to Brian. "Listen. He didn't do it. I know that for a fact. You are barking up the wrong tree. The real killer is still out there."

"Ally, I know you like him, but he's our best suspect. He's the only one with any kind of motive."

"What's his motive? He was in love with Ashley!" I argued.

"It's a heck of a way to get out of becoming a teen father," Brian responded.

"He had no reason to want to get out of it! He was excited about the baby! He was still going to be able to go to college! Brian, there is no way he wanted to get rid of Ashley! Why can't you see that?" I was exasperated.

"Ally, I'm sorry." He shook his head. "We're going to have to agree to disagree about this. Scott Alder continues to be our leading suspect."

"Well, I guess I'm going to have to prove you wrong." I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes at him.

"I guess so. G.o.d, you're a lot like your mom, you know that? But remember: you are absolutely NOT to question anyone without me, got that?"

"Yes, sir, Detective Keller, sir." I saluted him.

"Smart a.s.s," he muttered.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

"Only darkness, and darkness is cold. And maybe it's better than the burning of the light."

Madeleine L'Engle Tara wasted no time in planning a double date. So, Friday night Jack and I dutifully met her and Mat at the movie theater. After a fun, but ultimately forgettable film-at least there was less teen drama to put up with during this movie-we congregated at BJ's Brew Pub for a late dinner. Unfortunate name aside, they served great veggie burgers, onion rings, and house-brewed cream soda, which we enjoyed while teasing Tara and Mat about how long it took her to finally agree to go out with him.

"I think she wanted to make me completely insane. That's why it took her so long to say yes," said Mat, putting his arm around Tara and pulling her close to kiss her hair. As far as I knew, he hadn't yet tried to kiss her for real yet, and I knew this was frustrating Tara no end.

"Yeah, well maybe your insanity is what scared me off for so long." Tara pushed him away playfully.

"You have no real idea of the depth of his madness," Jack said, trying to sound serious. Mat threw an onion ring at him, which Jack caught and ate.

"No, the truth is you were discriminating against me because I'm not one of those college boys you usually date. You weren't ready for what a real working man can bring you." Mat had finished his EMT training in December and was now working full-time as a paramedic attached to a fire station. He had started a few weeks ago.

"Oh, and what exactly can you bring me?" Tara looked at him, disbelieving.

"I'll tell you later, corazon. Better yet, I'll show you."

"Promises, promises," she taunted. "You're all talk, Jimenez."

Mat got a slightly dangerous look in his eyes and leaned in to whisper something in Tara's ear. Or maybe he was nibbling her earlobe, because she closed her eyes and bit her lip.

"Um, we're still here, you two," I said disgustedly. "Get a room."

"Oh, now don't be like that, Ally. Just because Jack doesn't have my moves doesn't mean you have to hate on me and my girl," answered Mat with a very self-satisfied grin.

"Whatever," said Jack as he leaned over and began to kiss me along my jaw and neck. I had my own moment of eyes closing and lip biting.

"Looks like Jack does okay in the 'moves' department," Tara said wryly. "I certainly haven't heard any complaints from Ally.

"Yeah, I taught my little cousin everything I know," bragged Mat.

Jack pulled away and I could tell he was about to engage negatively with Mat, so to distract him I grabbed his jacket and pulled him back in for a real kiss. It was lovely and slow and left no room for thinking about anything else.

"Now who needs to get a room?" muttered Mat as we broke apart.

I texted Tara later that night.

Me: Call me if you're home. I want to hear about it.

I had barely hit send when she called. "You little hypocrite," she said in greeting. "I'm supposed to kiss and tell, but you can be stingy and keep all the good, juicy details about you and Jack to yourself?"

"Yes. I don't see why you have a problem with that. Now spill!" I ordered.

She laughed. "Fine, but I expect some quid pro quo."

"Okay, smarty pants. I'll see what I can do. Now, did he finally kiss you or what?"

"Yes, he finally did."

"That's it? Seriously? When? Where? How was it?" I screeched.

"What do I get in return?" she taunted.

"Oh my G.o.d, Tara! I'm going to reach through this cellphone and strangle you!" There was only expectant silence from her end. "Fine. I will tell you exactly how Jack kissed me goodbye tonight. Deal?"

"Deal. Okay, my first kiss with Mat. Here we go: he pulled up in front of my house, turned off the engine, and turned to face me. He said, 'Tara Scott, I joke around a lot, but I need to be serious for a minute. I'm nuts about you. I'm probably too old for you, but I don't care. I want you to be my girlfriend. I want to be your boyfriend. And I really, really need to kiss you right now.' I stared at him for a second, then I nodded. He took my face in his hands and laid his lips against mine, so gently. Oh, G.o.d, Ally! It was amazing. It was the best kiss I've ever had."

"So, you and Mat, huh? I'm really happy for you. He doesn't know how lucky he is."

"I know, right?" We both laughed. "Now it's your turn. You didn't think I'd forget, did you?"

"I was hoping. Fine. Here goes: Mom stayed the night at Brian's and Grams is out with Roger, so Jack came inside, swooped me up into his arms and carried me upstairs to my bedroom, where he made mad, pa.s.sionate love to me for hours on end. He's still here, sleeping beside me, so I need to be quiet."

There was stunned silence on the other end for a moment. "You are such a b.i.t.c.h and I hate your guts. I'm hanging up now."

"Okay, okay!" I laughed. "I'm sorry! I couldn't resist. I'll tell, I promise."

"I'm waiting," she said coldly.

"Fine. My mom really is at Brian's and Grams was already in bed, so Jack came in and pulled me down onto the couch with him. He pulled onto his lap, tucked my hair behind my ear, which I love, and kissed me, really softly. Then he held me, for like an hour. It was one of the most romantic things he's ever done."

I heard her sigh. "Wow."

"Yeah," I sighed in return.

"Those Jimenez boys have got it going on, girl," she said.

"Tru dat, homie."

"Okay, I'm hanging up now before you get any more gangsta. Goodnight. See you tomorrow. Let's make a pact to go on a double date at least once a month. Okay?"

"Sure. It was a lot of fun. Two sets of best friends going out. What could be better?"

I had been racking my brains to find a way to get out of going to Ireland over spring break, especially since Jack and I had only recently gotten back together. I was not eager to be gone from him for an entire week. It turned out I needn't have worried; I was attending a high school that operated on a semester schedule and a community college that operated on a trimester schedule. Short version: I had CNM cla.s.ses during spring break, so I couldn't go to Ireland. Whew! Dodged a bullet there. Ca.s.sie told me she explained it to the council and they understood; we began making plans for me to go in the summer. The plan was for me to fly over by myself a few days after my mom's wedding. Ca.s.sie was getting married around the same time and would be on her honeymoon, but I a.s.sured her I was fully capable of traveling by myself. I actually preferred it that way.

The Wednesday before spring break, I was sitting on Jack's couch, finishing an economics quiz. Jack had already finished and I was determined not to ask for his help.

"Argh!" I exclaimed, frantically shuffling through my notes.

"What's wrong, babe?" Jack muted the basketball game he was watching and looked up at me from his spot on the floor.

"Nothing. I can't find my notes on demand curve shifts. It's okay."

He smiled and handed me his notebook. "Is that your last question? Here, use my notes. I want you to be done so I can ask you something."

I took his notes gratefully and finished my quiz, gladly closing my laptop for the night. "I'm all yours. What do you want to ask me?"

He turned off the television and looked up at me. "I talked to my dad yesterday. He's settled here in Albuquerque and really likes his new job, so he wants to sell our house in Taos."

I slid behind him, my knees on either side of his shoulders, and began to ma.s.sage his tight shoulder muscles. "Are you okay with that?"

"Yeah. I get that he needs to move on. What I wanted to ask is if you would be willing to come with me to Taos this weekend? When I moved down here, I left a bunch of my stuff in my old bedroom. Dad said it would be better if I went and packed up anything I still want. When he goes to sell the house, he can just get rid of anything I leave."

"I would love to go with you. It'll be our first road trip. I'll need to be back by Tuesday for my CNM English cla.s.s, though," I said as I honed in on a particularly tight spot on his left shoulder. "Since I used it as an excuse for not going to Ireland, I better not ditch."

He groaned in appreciation at my ma.s.sage and tilted his head to give me greater access. "I figured we could leave Friday after I get off work and drive back Monday. We can stay with my cousin, Donny. When I take you home tonight, I'll come in to ask your grandmother and mom, and a.s.sure them we will have separate bedrooms."

I laughed and leaned forward to kiss his cheek. "Spoilsport. You're such a good guy, Jack."

He pulled me down onto his lap and began kissing me. "Yeah, well I never said it was easy."

After a short discussion and a phone call to Trina, Grams and Mom were fine with me going and I waited impatiently for Friday to arrive. Trina had loaned Jack her Ford Escape, not wanting us to make the four-hour trip in Jack's forty-nine year old car, so we enjoyed a higher level of comfort than usual. We stopped in Santa Fe for dinner and arrived at his cousin Donny's house late. Donny had waited up for us and showed us to our rooms, telling us we would meet his wife and baby in the morning.

I woke the next morning to the smell of coffee and the sound of an infant crying. I got ready quickly and wandered out to the kitchen to find Jack feeding cereal to a baby and Donny flipping pancakes at the stove. "Good morning," I greeted them both and kissed the top of Jack's head. "Who's your friend?"

Jack chuckled as he loaded another spoonful of grayish goo into the baby's mouth. "This is little Alex."

The baby gave me a mushy smile and banged his hands on the high chair tray, demanding more. "That's my boy," Donny said fondly. "Did you sleep all right, Ally?"

"Great, thanks. Can I help with anything?"

"Nope, I got it. Just help yourself to coffee or orange juice." He turned back to the pancakes as I poured a cup of coffee and sat down next to Jack and Alex.

"Wow, Jack. I had no idea you were so domestic," I said as he continued to feed the baby, looking like he was enjoying himself, making airplane noises as he shoveled the cereal in Alex's greedy little mouth.

"I like kids," he shrugged.

"Good thing," a tall, attractive brunette entered the kitchen. "Because the Jimenez family is certainly fertile. You're feeding a rhythm method baby, you know. Keep that in mind, Ally, if you decide to stick with this one." She hugged Jack from behind. "It's good to see you again, Jack. It's been way too long. Hi, Ally." She gave me a hug. I was getting used to how affectionate Jack's family was. "It's nice to meet you. I've heard lots about you. I'm Audra."

"Thanks. Nice to meet you too."

Donny turned around to greet his wife with a kiss that was a bit more than perfunctory. Jack and I looked at each other with amus.e.m.e.nt.

"Thanks for letting me sleep in, babe. And for getting breakfast. And for feeding the baby." Audra punctuated each statement with another kiss.

"Hey, I'm feeding the baby," Jack argued. She didn't answer him as Donny pulled her back for another long kiss. Jack rolled his eyes at me.

"So, when are you two heading over to pack up your stuff?" Audra asked as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

"Right after breakfast," Jack answered. "I just want to get it over with. I don't think it will take too long and then I can show Ally some of the sights around here. She's never been to Taos."

"Where are you going to take her?" Donny asked.

"I thought we'd take a look at the Gorge Bridge and the pueblo. Maybe stroll around the Plaza. We'll eat dinner somewhere downtown," Jack said.

"That sounds fun. Why don't we meet you at Mosaic this evening? We want to take you out to dinner," Audra offered.

"You guys don't have to do that," Jack began.

"No, no. We want to. Please? We got a babysitter for tonight and could really use some adult time. You'd be doing us a favor," she wheedled. "They have a really great vegetarian selection, Ally. Come on, Jack, please?"

"Give in, Jack," Donny sighed. "She'll get her way. She always does." Audra gave him a dirty look.

"Okay." He laughed. "If Ally's fine with it."

"Of course," I said. "It sounds like fun."

"Oh, good." She clapped her hands in gleeful victory. "Let's meet there around 7, okay?"