“No,” she answered. “Works for the city, like in a shop. I recognized the city patch on his sleeve, but I was at the wrong angle to see the details.”

“Think hard, Jennifer,” Ranger said. “Can you give us anything more?”

She blew out a breath. “Just that the uniform was brown, like UPS, only a shade or two lighter. He was wearing a matching cap, too.”

“He could be in any of their shops, a utilities inspector, or even drive a disposal rig. Was he short or tall, fat or skinny?” Ranger pressed.

“He was sitting down. All I can tell you for sure is that he looked fit.”

“Like a weight lifter?” Ranger asked.

“No, more like a runner. He had a nice smile, too.”

Dana didn’t have to look at Ranger to feel his exasperation. “What made you notice him?” Dana asked, playing a hunch.

“That’s easy. Although he was dressed like a working man-no tie or white collar-he had expensive tastes. You know how I collect old-style money clips cause they remind me of my dad?”

Dana nodded.

“His looked like a real antique. It must have cost him a fortune. I was pea-green with envy when he peeled off a twenty for his tab.”

“A money clip?” Ranger repeated.

“Yeah, really beautiful. He held it out for me to take a closer look when he saw I was interested. It was gold and engraved with an intricate design, maybe an initial. And he had a gold watch that must have set him back five hundred bucks.”

After getting a quick description of the guy-unfortunately Jenny had spent her time looking at the money clip and watch, and couldn’t even remember the color of the man’s eyes-they left the bar.

A few minutes later they were underway. “As far as leads go, that’s a strange one, but I think I know how to follow it up,” Ranger said, turning toward a residential area. “We need to see a friend of mine who works for the city.” He picked up the cell phone. “Let’s just hope she’s home. If I remember correctly, Saturday’s her favorite night out.”

“A former girlfriend, and you still feel free to call and ask to drop by at this hour?” she asked, surprised. The fact that he’d remained friends with more than one woman from his past spoke well for Ranger.

“Do I detect a trace of jealousy in your voice?” he teased.

“In your dreams, guy.”

His grin widened. “Be careful what you wish for. My dreams are all X-rated.”

Her flesh prickled as her imagination fueled her already awakened desire. “Focus on business,” she said for her own benefit as well as his.

“You are my business.”

“The day I’m not, then we’ll talk more about our dreams,” she said softly.

“Count on it,” he answered with a nod. “And Dana?” She looked back at him. “I always keep my word.”

The ranch-style home, complete with stables and a riding area, was on a multiacre lot on the northwest outskirts of Farmington. Tall bluffs lined each side of a narrow valley that led north toward the foothills of the San Juan Mountains.

Maria Charley was a slender, beautiful Navajo woman in her early forties with petite, oriental features. She placed a platter of fresh fruit in front of them, then sat in a chair across from the leather western-style couch.

“It’s good to see you,” Maria said, looking at Ranger. “I hope he’s treating you well,” she added, looking at Dana. There was no animosity in her tone or her expression.

“We’re just getting to know each other,” Dana answered cautiously.

Maria gave her a puzzled look, making Dana suspect she wasn’t used to getting lukewarm responses from Ranger’s girlfriends.

Dana was tempted to explain that they were simply business partners, but then changed her mind. Ranger was here to get information, not give it out.

“I gather this isn’t a social visit,” Maria said, giving Ranger a curious look. “You sounded…tense on the phone.”

“I’d almost forgotten how observant you are,” he said.

“It helps when you’re an accountant. So tell me what brings you here,” Maria answered with a tiny smile.

“I need your help,” he said directly.

“No problem. What do you need?”

Her response surprised Dana. Maria hadn’t even hesitated. Jenny had told her that Ranger had a way with women. Maybe the memories he created were worth the price of heartbreak.

Dana found the thought intriguing…and disconcerting. It was a little scary to feel herself so drawn to a man who should have come with a warning label-or maybe a disclaimer.

“You’ve worked for the city for years now. What department wears brown uniforms?” Ranger asked.

Maria thought about it, then shook her head. “The only departments I can recall off the top of my head are sanitation and maintenance, but I’m sure there are others, too,” she said, then added, “Come to think of it, animal control officers wear that color. One of their people came by last week and captured a stray dog that had been getting too close to my neighbor’s miniature horses.”

“Roughly, how many people total are we talking about in that color uniform?” Ranger asked.

“Fifty, more or less,” she said after a pause. “But I won’t be able to give you anything more concrete until Monday.”

“We’re looking for a guy who wears a brown city uniform, moonlights and isn’t too picky about the jobs he takes on,” he added, then gave her a description of the man Jennifer had seen.

“That physical information will rule out the women and a good number of the men. I’ll see what I can find out.”

“Before Monday?” Ranger pressed.

“Okay,” she said with a sigh. “Before Monday, if I can, but I’m not promising anything.”

After accepting something to drink and enjoying some small talk, Ranger and Dana left.

“You’re very quiet all of a sudden,” Ranger remarked as they headed back west toward the reservation.

“You and Maria get along great. I’m surprised you’re not still dating.”

“We’re friends. That’s all we ever were.”

“Has there ever been anyone really special in your life?”

He paused thoughtfully, then finally nodded. “A few times,” he said, then correcting himself added, “Twice.”

“What happened?”

“My first love jilted me,” he said somberly.

Surprised, she turned to look at him.

“Her parents gave her a horse for her twelfth birthday-and after that, she never had time for me.”

She scowled at him. “I was being serious!”

“Me, too,” he teased.

“Okay, what about your second love?”

He smiled slowly at her. “That’s still a work in progress.”

Her heart did a quiet somersault and there was a little hitch in her breath. Realizing from his expression that he was only too aware of his effect on her, she glanced away.

“Where to now?” Dana asked at last.

“We’ve stirred up enough trouble tonight. I think it’s time to pack it in.”

“So we’re going back to the safe house?” she asked.

He shook his head. “Our best chance is to stay on the move. I have another place in mind. But I need to make a call first and my cell’s not getting a signal here,” he said, placing the phone back down on the seat.

Stopping at a gas station, he walked to the pay phone outside and dialed. She strained to hear, but she couldn’t make out much.

Seeing him keeping his back to her, and his voice lower than normal, forced her to face a difficult fact. He still didn’t trust her, but in all fairness she couldn’t blame him. Ranger’s priority was to find Hastiin Sani’s killers, and he mistakenly believed she was withholding information that could help him do that.

They would never really be able to work together. That much was clear. It was time for a drastic change of plans. There was only one way for her to keep her promise to Hastiin Sani and not endanger Hastiin Dííl. The first chance she got, she’d have to get away from Ranger. Trujillo and the others wouldn’t be on the lookout for a woman traveling alone, not now. She’d change her appearance and complete the task on her own.