The Obsidian Mirror, page 10
Sierra twisted a lock of her dark hair and looked at the floor. “Chaco, about that…”
“Let me guess. It would be a mistake, you’re going to say.”
“That is what I was going to say.”
“Why? I like you. I know you like me.”
“I do, Chaco,” said Sierra, looking into his amber eyes. “But can you tell me that you won’t break my heart?”
He washed a bowl and set it in the dish drainer. “No. I can’t tell you that. I wouldn’t mean to hurt you, of course, but, well, I never stay in one place for very long. Or with one person. It’s in my nature,” he concluded, looking at her apologetically, but with a wry grin. Evidently, he didn’t feel too bad about his nature.
“Right. I guess I’d be snorting in disgust if you were human. But you, I believe. Good night, Chaco.” Sierra went back upstairs, alone, and climbed into bed. If she had any regrets, they soon succumbed to a deep and dreamless sleep.
Chapter 10
The next morning, Sierra woke feeling full of energy. True, she didn’t exactly have a plan yet, but she had a solid objective, which was an improvement. Before breakfast, even before her first cup of coffee, she hurried into the garage and opened the now-cool kiln. She gave a sigh of relief. The silver clay pieces had turned out beautifully.
She held three perfect replicas of Quetzalcoatl’s feathers in her palm. She had pressed the feathers into the clay, then placed them in her kiln. The feathers had burned away, leaving the exquisite detail of their shafts and barbs imprinted into the metal. Unpolished, they looked as though they had been spray-painted white. She took up a wire brush from her workbench and scuffed the surface of one of the feathers. Instantly, the surface shone silver as it began to reflect the light. Sierra brushed the feathers until they gleamed. She laid them on the bench and began to look through her collection of gems. She picked out several gemstones, referencing them against her design, rejecting some and keeping others. She worked until Fred poked his head into the garage and told her that breakfast was ready. She looked up in surprise.
“Breakfast? Who made breakfast?” she asked. “Chaco, of course,” said the mannegishi. “I can’t reach the stove. And I don’t know how to cook.” He gulped a bit and looked away. Fred looked a bit pinkish this morning, Sierra thought.
“How are you feeling today, Fred?”
Fred looked at her dolefully. “Not so good. I have a headache,” he replied. “I only want coffee.”
“Bit too much to drink last night?” Sierra inquired, with an air of innocence. “You’re looking kind of, well, pink today.”
Fred rolled his eyes at her, then winced. “Hmph,” was all he said. He went back inside the house. Sierra, her stomach rumbling, followed him.
“So,” Chaco said, ladling scrambled eggs with chorizo onto her plate, “What are you up to today?” Fred, sitting on a phone book on one of the kitchen chairs, averted his eyes from her plate and sipped from a mug of coffee. When he wasn't sipping, he held the mug in his hind paws.
“I think I’m going to call Clancy back,” Sierra said, crunching her toast. “Might as well get it over with.”
After breakfast, Chaco decided to teach Fred how to wash the dishes, with the aid of a chair so that the mannegishi could reach the sink. Sierra left them bickering over the suds and called Kaylee at work.
“Good to hear your voice,” said Kaylee, but she sounded a bit wary.
“I hear I have you to thank for being alive and well today,” Sierra said. “So thank you! I don’t know what would have happened if Chaco hadn’t called you. And if you hadn’t called Mama Labadie.”
“Hmm, yes. So I guess we both have a secret life that we haven’t been exactly open about,” said Kaylee. “I’m sorry, but I just don’t share that with a lot of people. You can see why.”
“Yes,” said Sierra. “I think I do. But I have to tell you, all this started very recently. For me, I mean. I guess Chaco told you everything?”
“I don’t know about everything,” replied her friend. “But he gave me an earful, for sure. And he says you’re still in danger, Sierra. I’m worried about you.”
“Um, yeah, that seems to be true, but I have Chaco and Fred here to help me.”
“Fred!” Kaylee snorted. “I don’t know how much help he’ll be. Chaco, maybe. Anyway, what do you plan to do next?”
“Well, Chaco says I got a call from Clancy Forrester while I was sick. Before I call him back, is there anything you may have heard about why he’s calling me?”
“No idea. Did he leave a message?”
“Just to call him back. It has me kind of worried.”
“I think you’ve got a lot more worrisome things going on than Clancy Forrester, girl. What I really wanted to know is what you’re going to do about…this Neco-character that Chaco was going on about.”
“I don’t know, yet,” replied Sierra. “I have the beginnings of a plan, but I haven’t figured everything out. Anyway, you’re sure you haven’t heard anything at Black Diamond that might be a clue as to why Forrester is calling?”
“No. Sorry, Sierra. By the way, that PR guy from New York is all over the place. You can spot him a mile away around here. Silk suits and Hermès ties, and everyone else is in jeans. What’s the story on that dude?”
“Well, I worked for him when he had an agency in Palo Alto. He was pretty successful but decided that to play with the big boys, he had to move the agency to New York. Silicon Valley wasn't good enough.”
“But you didn’t go?”
“No. I was really uncomfortable with Clapper’s business dealings. I thought he was sleazy, and I know he charged clients for more than they were getting. I didn’t like a lot of the clients, for that matter—I was working on some pretty innocent things like disk drives and semiconductors, but a few of the other clients looked like fronts to me. I didn’t want to move to New York anyway.”
“What do you mean by ‘fronts’?” Kaylee asked. “Like, money laundering?”
“Maybe. I never found out. Clapper fired me. That’s two for two. I’m beginning to feel like an albatross,” Sierra concluded glumly.
“Why’d he fire you? I’ve seen you in action, and that just doesn’t make sense to me,” Kaylee said.
Sierra sat and thought. Finally, she said, “You know, I’m not really sure. He told me that I just wasn’t needed in New York, but he took several other people with him who were willing to move. He’s a secretive kind of guy. I asked a lot of questions, and he clearly didn’t like it. If he really was up to something—if some of the clients weren’t legit—maybe he thought I’d expose him or report him. I wasn’t actually sorry to leave the agency.”
“Sounds like kind of a creep, Sierra.”
“Yeah, that about describes him,” she agreed. “Kaylee, I need to talk to you about something. Can you come over here for lunch today?”
“Sure. I don’t have any meetings, for once.”
They agreed to meet at noon. Then she told Chaco and Fred that Kaylee was coming for lunch.
Chaco nodded his dark head. “And I suppose you expect me to cook for the two of you.”
“No, Chaco. You’ve been very sweet to do so much for me, and I love your cooking. But I don’t expect you to cook lunch for us,” she said. Chaco looked pleased.
“Actually, I don’t mind. How about chalupas poblanas and nopalitos?” asked Chaco. “I saw some prickly pear cactus in a vacant lot near here.”
“Prickly pear cactus? Well, I guess you know what you’re doing. It sounds wonderful,” she said insincerely.
Chaco went out to get his cactus, and Sierra sat down at the phone. After staring at it apprehensively for a few minutes, she took a deep breath and dialed the Black Diamond main number, asking for Clancy Forrester. He picked up on the first ring.
“Clancy Forrester, Security,” she heard him say.
“Clancy, this is Sierra Carter,” she said. “I got your message to call.” There was a brief silence at the other end of the phone.
“Look,” she heard him say. “I need to talk to you. But this isn’t the time or place. Can you meet me for lunch?”
“Oh, sorry. I already have a lunch appointment. Can you tell me what this is about? Maybe I can just settle it over the phone,” Sierra said, puzzled by the turn the conversation had taken.
“I can’t talk now. How about tomorrow?”
“For lunch? I guess so.”
They arranged a time and place to meet, and Sierra hung up the phone, burning with curiosity. Going to lunch seemed to imply that whatever it was that Clancy wanted, she was probably not in trouble.
Chaco returned in an hour or so with a bag of groceries and another bag full of flattened “paddles” of cactus, the kind Sierra had always called “beavertail." She watched with interest as Chaco held the paddles in the flame of the stove burners, using tongs to protect his hands.
“Why are you doing that?” she asked.
“Burning the needles off,” he replied. “You don’t want cactus spines in your salad, do you?”
“No,” she said. So that’s how you eat cactus. She went into her workshop and spent the rest of the morning working on jewelry. A few minutes before noon, she turned off her torch, cleaned up, and went into the kitchen, where Chaco’s cooking filled the house with delicious fragrances. Fred, looking somewhat greener than he had earlier in the day, was in rapt attendance.
“What have we got here?” asked Sierra. “It smells wonderful!”
“Chalupes poblanas with homemade tortillas,” Chaco said, stirring a pot. “You put two tortillas on a plate. Then put salsa verde over one and salsa roja over the other. Then top with chicken, onions and cheese. The nopalitos go on the side.” He gestured toward a bowl full of light green chunks.
Chaco offered her some of the sauce in a wooden spoon. As she was savoring its fresh spiciness, the doorbell rang.
Kaylee stood on her doorstep, and Sierra was abruptly grateful for the sight of her cheerful face and sheared black curls. She looked so…normal. She reached out and the two women hugged each other.
“Come on in,” Sierra said. Kaylee walked into her front hall.
“What is that wonderful smell?” Kaylee asked, sniffing appreciatively.
“Chaco made lunch,” Sierra said, and Kaylee raised her brows.
“All that, and he cooks too?” she asked, shaking her head.
The women made their way into the kitchen, where Chaco made a low, sweeping bow, one arm gesturing toward the table, which had been set for four. Fred was already perched on his phone book, and Sierra was relieved to see that he had his knife and fork clutched eagerly in his paws. Fred’s table manners had improved since arriving, as Sierra had adamantly refused to allow him to shove his face into his plate and gobble.
“What’s this?” Kaylee asked, poking the nopales with her fork.
“Oh, that’s nopales—just a little salad made out of, um, prickly pear cactus.”
“Wow,” said Kaylee and took a bite. “This is great. I never had this before.”
Neither had Sierra, but she didn’t say so. Kaylee was right. The nopales were tart and slightly crunchy in a dressing of lime juice and olive oil. Chaco had added tomatoes, peppers, and cilantro as well. And the chalupes were heavenly.
The meal was consumed in companionable silence except for an occasional burp from Fred. Finally, Kaylee set her fork down and sighed.
“That was wonderful, Chaco. Thanks.” Chaco acknowledged this with a nod of his dark head and a grin.
Chapter 11
As Fred polished off the last of the chalupes, Sierra recounted the entire story, leaving nothing out.
“So I’m meeting Clancy for lunch tomorrow,” she concluded. “I still have no idea why he wants to talk to me. But if we’re going to lunch, I’m probably not in trouble with Black Diamond. What do you think?”
Kaylee frowned slightly, her eyes troubled. “Why did he ask you to lunch? Doesn’t that seem kind of odd?”
Before Sierra could reply, Chaco spoke up. “Because he likes her, that’s why.” He didn’t look pleased.
Kaylee’s brows rose and her lips quirked a little. “That makes sense,” she said.
“I don’t know,” Sierra responded. “He doesn’t really know me. We used to flirt, sort of, but it never went anywhere. Since then he has seen me for all of ten sub-optimal minutes while he was marching me out of the company that just fired me.” She got up and went to the cupboard, “Want some tea?”
Fred did, but Kaylee and Chaco declined. Sierra fixed tea for the mannegishi and herself, then sat down. Fred poured a couple of ounces of sugar into his mug and slurped this revolting concoction with every sign of enjoyment. Kaylee patted him on his melon-shaped head. Fred winced slightly, and his eyes spun dizzily until she stopped.
“He’s a bit under the weather,” Sierra explained. “He’s usually a kind of nice sage-green.”
“Oh, sorry, but you’re such a cutie, Fred,” said Kaylee. Sierra rolled her own eyes to the ceiling.
“That’s just because you don’t know him yet,” she said. “Kaylee, could you find out something about Clancy? What he’s like, what people know about him?”
“Whether or not he’s married,” Kaylee added.
“Well, he doesn’t wear a ring,” said Sierra.
“Doesn’t mean anything,” said her friend. “Sure. I’ll find out what I can. What are you going to do in the meantime?”
“Come and look,” said Sierra, and showed the way to her garage. Kaylee followed, and the two disappeared into Sierra’s workshop. They emerged two hours later, grimy but happy
“That’s fantastic,” said Kaylee. “I knew you made jewelry, but I had no idea how hard it is. You’re great at it, Sierra.” She held out a hand, now adorned with a silver ring set with a turquoise cabochon. “I love it! How much do I owe you?”
Sierra stopped and faced her friend. “Nothing,” she said. “You helped me. You listened to Chaco, and you listened to me. I didn’t think anyone, ever, would believe what’s happened to me in the last few days.”
Kaylee looked at her, smiling. “I believed Chaco,” she said. “He’s the most convincing coyote I ever met. He’s also the only coyote I ever met, but nonetheless, extremely convincing.”
You have no idea, thought Sierra, then aloud, “Anyway, the ring is yours. I’m delighted for you to have it.”
“Well, thank you!” Kaylee said, extending her fingers to admire the ring again. “I’d better be going. I have to catch up on a few things for work tomorrow, and I have some research to do for you. Where are Chaco and Fred? I’ll just say goodbye.”
They found Chaco and the mannegishi playing checkers on the living room floor. Chaco looked slightly annoyed, and Fred was obviously winning. Sierra wondered if this was because Fred could make the checkers disappear, but decided the tubby little creature wasn’t cheating—he had the right number of pieces stacked on the floor next to him. When the two women entered the room, Chaco stood up in one lithe movement and pushed his dark hair out of his eyes. Kaylee’s eyes swept up and down, appreciatively. She held her hand out.
“Thanks for a great lunch, Chaco,” she said, smiling. They shook, both standing quite close, Sierra noted, and then tried not to note.
“Come back soon, Kaylee,” said Chaco, and leaned forward to kiss Kaylee’s smooth cheek as he held her hand. Kaylee dropped her purse, which Chaco picked up and handed to her with a bow. Sierra thought Kaylee’s cheeks flushed under her café au lait skin.
“Thanks,” Kaylee said, a bit gruffly. “Well, gotta run. Bye, Fred.”
Fred waved six fingers at her, but didn’t take either of his enormous eyes off the checkerboard. Sierra walked her to the door. “Thanks again, Kaylee,” she said. I couldn’t do this without you.”
“Oh, trust me, it’s the most exciting thing that’s happened to me since Jimmy Johnston kissed me behind the gym in seventh grade,” said Kaylee as she went out the front door. Sierra closed the door, walked back into the living room and sat on the couch with a sigh. She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling more tired than she could remember. She wondered if this was a lingering after-effect of Mahaha’s attack. Surely, she hadn’t felt so tired in years…
Coffee. She needed coffee. But she didn’t want to make an entire pot. “Chaco, Fred, I’m going out for a bit,” she said, stifling a yawn. She grabbed her wallet from her purse. Her favorite coffee shop was a few blocks away on Castro Street, and she intended to walk.
The fresh air felt good and perked her up a bit. She walked briskly and soon entered the front door of The Daily Grind. The barista recognized her, waved, and began to prepare a latte for her without taking her order. He served it in a thick, brown mug. She wrapped her fingers around the mug, enjoying the warmth and breathing in the milky fragrance of the latte.
“Well, hi. It’s Sierra, isn’t it?” The voice was familiar. Sierra looked up into a man’s face. For a split second, she thought he was a complete stranger, but then she recognized him. Aiden. The man she had met at Indian Grinding Rock. She stared up at him in astonishment.
“What are you doing here?” she asked. Whoops—that sounded kind of hostile.
But Aiden didn’t take offense. “Can I join you?” he asked, smiling and pulling back a chair. Then, “Hang on. I’ll get some coffee first.” He strode off toward the bar. Sierra watched him with mixed emotions. He was extremely attractive, true. And she had wanted to get to know him better, true. But wasn’t this a bit too much of a coincidence?
Aiden rejoined her with his own gently steaming mug. He sat down, stirred his coffee and smiled at her. “This is great,” he said. “I thought about calling you when I came to town, but I was afraid it was too sort of…stalkerish, if you know what I mean.”
“Why did you come to town?” Sierra asked mildly. She had given him her phone number, after all. Most people would view that as an invitation.
“Business,” he responded, taking a sip of coffee.
