****
Just before lunchtime the next day, Boone and Delilah arrived at the park across from Miner’s Headquarters with a picnic basket full of food and water. They set up near a table which was slightly further away from other tables. Boone and Delilah hoped Katia would lead Debbie to this table for their lunchtime talk. Katia and Debbie would have the guise of privacy while Boone listened in on their conversation.
After laying out the fur blanket and setting up lunch, Boone pulled out his tablet, pretending to work. Delilah nibbled on a sandwich while staring at Boone. She loved how the sun reflected on his blonde hair and made the red undertones glimmer like gold. She loved the stubble on his face when he went a day or two without shaving. It made him look rugged, and she was so attracted to him and his wolf. With a twinkle in his emerald green eyes, Delilah found it hard not to lunge herself at him and have her way with him in front of the whole wide world. Delilah closed her eyes and shuddered, shaking away the lustful and erotic thoughts from her mind. Boone is right, Delilah thought, Daddy needs to hurry this wedding along.
Just moments past noon, Katia, and Debbie bounced out of the main entrance and crossed the street to the park. Katia looked around quickly and saw Boone and Delilah having lunch. For a moment, Katia was not sure if she was supposed to sit near them or away from them. Delilah quickly glanced towards the table farthest away from the office building and nodded. Katia grabbed Debbie by the hand and pulled to the table. “Let’s sit over here and talk,” Katia started. “I talked to my daddy last night, and he is so proud I was chosen. I am so excited.”
Katia’s statement was all that was needed to get Debbie to start talking. “Yes, we need to talk. I have so much to tell you. This is going to be the most exciting night of our lives.”
“Have you seen your dress?” Katia asked to keep the conversation going.
“Yes,” Debbie giggled. “It is so elegant. I am sure to find a rich husband. I have been practicing walking in high heels for a few months now. I want to walk into the room like I own the place. I need to find a man who will know in an instant I will look good on his arm.”
“So you are still hoping to find a rich man?”
“You know it!” Debbie gushed. “I know exactly how I am going to wear my hair. I am going to the mall tonight to get the perfect makeup. I am going to look like a supermodel.”
“I am going to keep it simple,” Katia revealed. “The gown is going to show a bit more than I am used to. I am sure there will not be a man in the room who will even notice the color of my eyes.”
“That’s the point, Katia,” Debbie laughed. “Use your female charms to hook yourself a man who will lavish you in beautiful dresses and jewels for the rest of your life.”
“Until my boobs sag from having too many children and breastfeeding,” Katia mused. “Then he will want another sister-wife.”
“There are ways to keep from getting pregnant,” Debbie whispered. “I am not planning on having kids anytime soon.”
Katia knew she would have to regain control of the conversation if she was going to find out anything about the party. “Have you heard anything about where the party will be,” Katia whispered. None of the girls had been told yet.
“My cousin Lewis says it is not at the office,” Debbie replied in a hushed tone. “It is held at one of Mr. Miner’s summer homes. I think it is in the mountains.”
“Well, that narrows it down,” Katia laughed and looked around. Sitting or standing in Provo and turning in any direction resulted in seeing mountain ranges. The summer home could be anywhere in a two hundred mile radius.
“I do not know where it is, but it belongs to Miner,” Debbie revealed.
Boone heard Debbie’s proclamation and smiled. “Got it,” Boone whispered to Delilah and turned his tablet back on. Ensuring he was not connected to Wi-Fi for security, he started searching for all properties Miner owned. “Miner has a summer home; actually two. One east of Provo on Squaw Mountain and one on the south shore of Utah Lake. The one on Squaw Mountain is more isolated thus providing more privacy for Miner and the other men in attendance. The one on the lake is easier to get to, but the houses are too close together for a large party to go unnoticed.”
“So we still need more information,” Delilah sighed in despair. “Can you push Katia from here? Let her know we need more information.”
“I have never tried from more than a foot away,” Boone revealed. “But I will try.” Boone looked towards Katia, hoping she would look towards him and make eye contact with him. After several minutes, she had yet to look away from Debbie. Still Boone tried.
Boone could not infiltrate Katia’s mind. Katia was too busy trying to drown out the sound of Debbie’s voice going on and on and on about the house she hoped to have and the servants who would be waiting on her hand and foot. Katia just wanted to yell for Debbie to shut up. Katia glanced at her watch and noticed their lunch break was nearly over. “I just hope I do not freeze in my gown Friday night,” Katia mused. “It definitely shows a lot of skin.”
“Yes, remember a shawl,” Debbie replied without thinking. “The mountains are still a bit chilly this time of year.”
“Thanks for the tip,” Katia smiled. “I cannot believe lunchtime is over already.”
“Let’s go.”
Katia and Debbie stood and headed back to work. Delilah smiled at Katia and nodded to let her know she had done well.
“I would still like to do a recon in both places,” Boone announced. “I do not trust Miner for even one minute. He could be setting up both locations, as a ploy.”
“I agree,” Delilah frowned. “Let’s head south while it is still light out. We can head east first thing tomorrow morning and explore Squaw Mountain. I have a feeling a long hike will be involved.”
“There seems to be only one road to the house on Squaw Mountain, and if it is gated, we will have to find another way in.”
“Let’s head to the lake house,” Delilah repeated as she stood. “I would like to stop and change into my jeans and boots first, though.”
“I thought you would,” Boone laughed. “I would like to do the same.”
Boone and Delilah made quick work of getting back to their hotel suite and changing clothes. “I am so burning these clothes when this assignment is done,” Delilah exclaimed.
“I will start the bonfire myself,” Boone agreed. “I used to like white shirts.”
“I like your white shirts,” Delilah giggled. “But not these short sleeve Mormon shirts. There is nothing sexy about them. I would not even want to dust the shelves with them.”
“Just a few more days until the party,” Boone sneered. “I hope we can blow this case wide open and be home soon.”
“From your lips...” Delilah started but did not finish the sentence. While she secretly hoped Odin would wrap this case up with a shiny red bow, she did not want to mention Daddy to Boone. Boone was clearly impatient when it came to Odin.
“It is a nice day for a walk along the lake,” Boone suggested. “Too bad we do not have a dog.”
“Do you think Warrior would help us out?” Delilah suggested.
“I would never ask him to leave Miner’s children,” Boone quickly replied. “He feels responsible for their safety.”
“I understand.”
“How about we pretend to be two tourists just checking out the lake? Or even better, two newlyweds looking for a summer house?” Boone suggested.
“Newlyweds looking for a summer house,” Delilah replied. “That way we can at least hold hands.”
“I like the way you think, Dee.”
Boone pushed the coordinates to the lake house into the GPS of the SUV Odin had given him for Christmas. Less than thirty minutes later, they were nearing the first of Miner’s vacation homes. They drove past the entrance and parked down the road. Cutting through a wooded area, they walked to the shores of Utah Lake and s
tarted walking back in the direction of the lake house.
Both Boone and Delilah were cheerful being in their normal clothing and being able to walk hand in hand. “This is nice,” Delilah stated with a relaxing sigh. “I almost feel normal.”
Boone started laughing hysterically. “When have we ever done normal, Dee?”
Delilah nearly doubled over laughing. “Like never! But this is as normal as it might get today.”
“True, very true. We are almost there. Two more houses down.”
“Max!” Delilah called out. “Here Max!” Delilah called again making kissing sounds as if looking for a lost or runaway dog. Boone smiled in appreciation of Delilah’s ruse and joined her in calling for their imaginary lost dog. Together they walked closer to Miner’s lake house watching for any indication of party preparations.
Seeing no vehicles or people outside of the house, they crept closer occasionally calling to their make-believe lost dog. They took turns watching for neighbors or passer-bys while the other peered through windows. “No one has been in the house for a while,” Delilah finally said aloud. “I do not think the party will be held here. Let’s get dinner and a good night’s sleep. I have a feeling we will have a long hike through the mountains tomorrow.”
“Let’s pick up some packs and rations for tomorrow,” Boone recommended. “And lots of water.”