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surface, waiting to breach. Surely, Melody knew my story. Why would she choose me for help?
    â€œI’m down here on a story about Mayor Albright’s run for governor.” She left it there like that was enough.
    â€œWho hit you?” I shoved down my past and concentrated on Melody’s present. “Stone?”
    â€œNo.” She went for her drink again, but I stopped her with my hand on her arm.
    â€œI’m tired of the cat and mouse, Melody. Who hit you?”
    â€œOne of my sources for the story.”
    â€œWho is he? Why did he hit you?”
    â€œI can’t reveal his name.” A silken strand of hair fell across her eye. She let it hang, obstructing the view. “He got angry when I wouldn’t pay him for information.”
    â€œWas he the one chasing us?”
    â€œI don’t know.” She hit her drink, harder this time. “He got mad, and I left the motel and then the SUV started following me. I tried to lose it, but I couldn’t. I finally parked in front of the La Valencia Hotel and went in pretending that I was going to get a room. I ran out the back. That’s when I thought of you.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œYour restaurant was just down the block.” Her eyes went soft and her mouth turned sad. I thought she was going to cry. But she didn’t. “You took on Peter for me. I’ve never seen anyone do that before.”
    That made me stupid, not heroic.
    â€œWhere does Stone fit in?” I asked.
    â€œHe’s someone I used to know when I was young and not very smart.”
    â€œSo, he’s an ex-boyfriend.” A spring-autumn relationship. I’ll bet Stone made for a cold, dark autumn. “How does he play into the story?”
    â€œHe doesn’t. I thought it would be nice to visit him while I was down here.” Her eyes found the floor. “It wasn’t.”
    Stone didn’t seem to be the kind of man you’d want to visit at any time. Especially as an ex. I figured she had another reason, but I let it go for now.
    â€œWhy no police?” I asked.
    Melody took another long tug of her drink and set the glass down empty. She was pulling strength from a tequila bottle. In order to deal with the truth? Or deliver a lie?
    â€œI’m sorry, Rick. This isn’t fair to you.” She swung her legs out from under her and her feet found her shoes on the floor. She put them on and stood up. “I shouldn’t have gotten you involved. I’m going to call a cab and go back to the bungalow.”
    Melody was still evading my questions. She had something to hide. But, she wasn’t the only one. Even with all
48 Hours
thought they knew about me, I had something to hide, too. Some thingsneeded to stay hidden in the dark corner of one’s soul. Melody and I didn’t know each other well enough to venture there. I didn’t know anyone that well.
    I stood up. “That SUV might be there waiting for you.”
    â€œI know.” Her voice creaked high and her shoulders slumped. “But I have to go.”
    â€œStay.”
    â€œNo, I can’t.” Her eyes went liquid.
    She wouldn’t go to the police and shouldn’t go back to her hotel. She only had me.
    â€œYou don’t have to tell me anything. I won’t ask any more questions.” I swallowed her in my arms and pulled her to my chest. “Just stay.”
    There was no redemption from the sins of Santa Barbara, but Melody needed me. Maybe life could finally start over.
    Melody’s face grew wet against my neck. Tears in silence. I held her and stroked her hair until she stopped crying. She looked up at me. One eye swollen, both bloodshot, nose red. Yet still beautiful. Her lips met mine half way. Soft, delicate. Then eager. Fingers fumbled at clothes, mouths explored freshly exposed skin. My bedroom was a five-second walk down the hall.
    The couch was more immediate.

Muldoon’s
C HAPTER F OUR
    We went at