The Trap Read Online Free Page B

Gabe now. That way we’ll be home before dark.”
    As I took the keys, my fingers trembled. I didn’t know Aunt Glenda well enough to be sure she was telling me the truth.
    But if she had read what Robin and I had written to each other, she’d know that we suspected someone of causing Gabe’s accident, and she’d ask me about it.
    Wouldn’t she?
    I hated the fact that I had no way of knowing.

THE FIRST THING UNCLE GABE SAID TO ME AS WE WALKED INTO his hospital room was “Did you get a chance—?”
    “Of course she didn’t,” Glenda interrupted. “I told you, we went to a luncheon, and then we took naps.”
    “Teenage girls don’t take naps,” Gabe grumbled.
    “I set up my laptop,” I told him. I didn’t want to bring up my discovery of the nail holes. I wasn’t sure why they were there. I didn’t want anyone to know about anything suspicious until I had more information. Like maybe knowing
who
and
why.
Robin said I had to find out. She was the one who knew how mysteries were solved. I had to start somewhere.
    “Uncle Gabe,” I said, “tell me how Rancho del Oro is operated. I mean, are there cowboys and a chuck wagon and all the things we see in Westerns?”
    Gabe smiled and patted the side of his bed, motioning for me to sit down. Glenda had taken the only chair in the room, so I perched on the edge of the bed and listened.
    “There’s a ranch manager, name of Martin Cooper,” Gabe said. “He keeps the books and arranges the purchasesand sales of the cattle and the sales of the residences. He takes care of all the financial details and keeps us updated by e-mail.”
    “Does he live on the ranch, too?”
    “No. He lives in Dallas, where the corporation is headquartered. As a matter of fact, he doesn’t put in an appearance at the ranch very often, but when he comes, he usually flies in his private jet.”
    I was puzzled. “To the San Antonio airport?”
    Grinning proudly, Gabe said, “We’ve got our own strip for small jets built on the highest point on the ranch. I take it that Glenda didn’t do any sightseeing with you.”
    “I can’t do everything at once,” Glenda said in an aggrieved tone. “I plan to show Julie around the entire area soon as I get a chance.”
    Trying to distract them from another argument, I quickly asked, “If the ranch manager isn’t at the ranch, then who takes care of the cattle?”
    “The ranch foreman, Cal Grant,” Gabe answered. “And he has three cowhands to help him. Nice people. All of them up from Mexico with green cards. Perfectly legal. One of them has a son in high school named Luis who was born here. In the summer and on weekends during the year, Luis hires himself out for small repairs around the houses, or weeds the flower beds, or paints trim—things like that.”
    He gripped the sheet and blanket in frustration as he turned to Glenda. “That reminds me. Get Luis in to clean out that trap under the kitchen sink. That was next on my list of things to do, and now there’s no way I can take care of it.”
    Glenda nodded. “I’ll call Luis. Don’t you worry about it.”
    “Do it right away. You’re going to be cooking more than usual when I get home and—”
    “But not tonight,” she said. “Julie and I plan to take it easy and eat out. Italian.”
    Uncle Gabe looked like a little kid who’d been told he hadn’t been invited to a birthday party. “Fried ravioli,” he said quietly. “Shrimp scampi. Tiramisu.”
    “None of which is good for you,” Glenda said briskly. She kissed the top of his head. “As soon as your blood pressure comes down, the doctor said we can take you home.”
    About fifteen minutes later, in a cozy little Italian restaurant, Glenda added, “Tonight I’m going to indulge in something with lots of cheese and calories. After we bring Gabe home, I’ll go back to healthful meals that suit his diet.” She looked at the menu and sighed with pleasure.
    I’d found out enough information to know how the ranch