Zeph Undercover

by Jenny Andersen

  “And for another?” she asked.

  “I don’t seem to be able to forget you.”

  Heat streaked through her, lust followed by anger. At herself. What kind of limp idiot could she be to have these feelings for someone who might arrest her father? Even though he couldn’t be guilty. “Why not?”

  “Who knows? We have nothing in common. You don’t have any free time. You’re always surrounded by horses. But I can’t get you out of my mind.”

  “Does masochism run in your family?” she asked.

  “Damn it, Allie, suffering here.”

  He made it sound so believable she had to remind herself that his loyalties lay with his job. Guilt over her attraction—her past attraction—to him hardened her heart. “So I’m some kind of evil temptress making your life miserable?”

  “No, you’re just the woman who’s gotten under my skin and is making my job a thousand times harder than it should be. So stop taking shots at me and let’s get to work. What’s on your agenda for today?”

  “Office hours this morning. After lunch, I have to go look at a horse that got cut up in some barbed wire and has an abscess because its negligent jerk of an owner didn’t call me right away. Then there’s a dog that needs to be neutered.” She smiled at Zeph’s uncontrollable flinch. “You can help with that. You’re a pretty good surgical assistant. Unless, of course, you want to go investigate something.”

  “Who am I likely to meet if I stay with you? I have nothing against combining business with pleasure.”

  “Well, office hours,” she said, ignoring the warm glow his words produced. “That means anybody or nobody. The horse is at Seldon’s, and—” She broke off when Zeph focused on her like a laser. “You’re interested in Seldon?”

  “I’ve met him. Heard more about him. I thought he got sent up for murder.”

  “He did. This is his brother. Not Lander. Wendover. He took over the horse trading business. And he runs a pitiful operation.” She forced herself to swallow her anger at the shoddy fences and dirty stalls at Seldon’s stables.

  “Who does he run with?”

  “Some rough characters from Sacramento.”

  “Who are his neighbors?”

  “Nearest is Santos Rodriguez.”

  If Zeph were a dog, he’d have come to a point, tail stiff and nose twitching.

  “What? What did I say?” she asked. “Is Wend going to be your chief suspect instead of my dad?”

  “I think I’m very much looking forward to our stable call this afternoon,” Zeph said.

  The first patient of the day interrupted her, and she never got a chance to ask just what he thought he’d accomplish at Seldon’s. But that curious alertness didn’t leave him all morning. “I have to give you credit, Zeph,” she said as he closed the door behind the last patient of the morning. “You’ve become a great assistant in a remarkably short time.”

  He grinned and moved to the sink to wash his hands. “Self-defense. And I still don’t like cats. At least dogs are only dangerous at one end.” He carefully washed the long scratch on his arm. “That Snowball, she’s got a mean set of claws on the hind legs. Come on. I’ll buy you lunch at Betty’s.”

  “I should buy you lunch. You’ve worked like you’re getting paid.”

  He struck a dramatic romance-cover pose, all bedroom eyes and bulging muscles, and swept her into his arms. It was funny and dramatic at the same time, and made her heart jump. “Just being with you is payment enough,” he said before he kissed her, sending her heart into double time.

  She had to work to remember how angry his suspicions made her. She repeated the litany: jerk; traitor; um….um…the litany had completely escaped her and she began to melt.

  The door opened. “Allie—” her father said.

  Zeph let go of her like a red-hot horse shoe. Only a faint red stain on his cheekbones gave away any internal turmoil he might feel, and she had to give him credit for the way he turned to face her father. “Hello, Wentworth. I was just kissing your daughter.”

  Her father made a small strangled noise. “Yes, I see that,” he said. “Sorry to interrupt.” He didn’t sound the least bit sorry and Allie smiled. Her father never changed.

  “I dropped by to see if anyone was interested in lunch,” he said, and Allie wondered if it was a demand, not an invitation.

  “We were just about to leave for Betty’s.” Zeph managed somehow to look not guilty and not sorry they’d been interrupted. Allie wanted to smack him.

  The way Zeph had switched from hot lover to the easy camaraderie with her dad proved all her angst over him was wasted. She ought to feel nothing but anger over his suspicions.

  Her father wouldn’t commit a crime. Never, never, never. But mistakes happen. Innocent men have been sent to jail. And Zeph wouldn’t let a criminal go, not for her, probably not for any woman. The anger faded when she realized that neither would he frame her dad.

  “You’re mighty quiet, Allie,” her father said as they got out of the car and walked into Betty’s. “Something wrong?”

  She shook her head. “I have to go to Seldon’s after lunch,” she said. “That’s always depressing.” Not telling the whole truth wasn’t the same as lying, was it?

  “That man.” Her father snorted. “He shouldn’t be allowed within two miles of an animal. He’s worse than his brother.”

  “I remember the brother,” Zeph put in. “I met him when I was here before. Didn’t like him. At least one of Hannah’s dogs had the smarts to bite him.” He rubbed his arm, and Allie knew he remembered the bite—even though everyone said it was really just a little nip—he’d gotten from one of Luke and Hannah’s horses.

  “Every barrel of apples has a rotten one or two,” Allie’s father said. “The Seldons are surely some of our worst.”

  Betty dashed up to the table and poured coffee. “Special’s tuna melt with cole slaw. You want menus?”

  Allie and her father shook their heads. “Sounds good,” they chorused.

  Betty turned to Zeph. “You want me to grill you a chicken breast? Got some broccoli too.”

  “Been talking to Martha? You sure got my number.” He winked at her. “Thanks.” When she left, he turned to Allie’s father, “I’m interested in this bad apple. Tell me about—what’s his name, Wendover?”

  “His mother had a thing about Nevada. Anyway, he’s worse than Lander in so many ways,” Allie said. “I don’t know where to start.”

  Her father grimaced. “He’s been arrested more times than you can count. Public inebriation, disturbing the peace, petty theft, public disturbance, urinating in public, fighting, breaking up bars.”

  “That was high school,” Allie added.

  “A model citizen, obviously,” Zeph observed. “And after high school? Surely he didn’t graduate.”

  Her father smiled, a wintery smile devoid of any real amusement. “No. Although I’m not sure whether he was expelled when he reached sixteen or just drifted out of the system. Not that he ever attended regularly anyway. After he no longer had to expend any effort dodging Monty—he was the truant officer as well as a deputy in those days—Wendover moved on to bigger and better things. He mugged a few tourists, ran a bunko game in the alley behind the bank, tried a few of the more common and mindless financial scams, and finally got caught trying to rob the bank. He always wore a red bandanna around his neck. For some reason, he assumed that tying it around his face would be an adequate disguise. And then he backed out the door right into Monty’s arms.”

  “Not only scum, but stupid scum.” Zeph laughed. “How long has he been back in town?”

  “About six months. Just about the same time his brother was arrested.”

  “Were his brother and Rodriguez friends?” Zeph asked.

  Allie’s father gave Zeph a sharp look. She waited for him to ask Zeph what his real purpose in town might be. He didn’t.

  “Not really. All three of them hung out with Blanton. Lander and Blanton were tight, Rodrigu
ez worked for Blanton, and the Seldons hung together. So they were with Rodriguez some, but friends? I don’t think so.”

  “After Blanton became mayor, he pretty much soft-pedaled the association with Wendover, didn’t he?” Zeph asked.

  “Yes, but I imagine both Seldons had access to Blanton’s business records, if that’s where you’re headed. Everyone knew he and Lander were tight. Why?”

  Zeph laughed. “Just curious.”

  “Mm-hmm.”

  After her father dropped them off back at the clinic, Allie asked, “Do you really think you’re fooling my father?”

  “Not for a minute.”

  “So why don’t we tell him?”

  “I’ve been thinking about it.”

  “You don’t really suspect him?”

  Zeph didn’t answer.

  Allie bristled. “What?”

  “He doesn’t like me kissing you.”

  “He still thinks I’m thirteen,” Allie muttered. She squared her shoulders and looked him in the eye. “You’re not supposed to be kissing me when we’re alone. And you’re changing the subject. What’s going on with this case?”

  Zeph looked at her for a long, silent moment. She could almost see his mind buzzing.

  “I don’t care what normal procedure is,” she said. “Either you trust me or you don’t. Make up your mind.”

  He sighed. “Okay, Allie. Blanton’s company is involved. The problem is using inferior materials and billing for work not done. Those are common enough rip-offs, but it didn’t stop when Blanton was sent away, so someone is still masterminding it. Either Rodriguez was scamming Blanton, they were in it together and Rodriguez is continuing alone, or someone has taken over Blanton’s place and Rodriguez is still helping.”

  She’d almost expected something like this, but not the cold numbness that spread through her. “And you think that’s what my father’s doing?” she said, her voice strange and far away in her own ears.

  Zeph’s mouth quirked in an impatient grimace. “No, actually I don’t. But—I have to be sure. It all comes back to one question. If he’s not involved, why does he have the list?” He looked at her, a long, serious gaze that made her cold all over. “You tell me.”

  Chapter 6

  Zeph settled back in the truck seat, ignoring the trees whizzing past his window. God only knew what might be hiding behind them. Give him an alley full of addicts and other trash any time, where he knew what to expect and how to handle it. Allie whipped the truck around a sharp curve and centrifugal force pushed him against the door. He looked down into the deep canyon that had replaced the trees and shut his eyes, concentrating on what he might learn from Seldon. An anticipatory smile curved one corner of his mouth.

  “What’s to smile about?” Allie asked. “Seldon’s place would make a goat barf, and he’s worse.”

  Zeph sat up and opened his eyes as Allie eased the truck around another curve. “Yeah, but I get to question him. Might learn something.” He shut his eyes again to block out the nothing to his right and the logging truck to his left.

  “Relax,” she said. “This is the easy part.”

  “I’ll take the four-oh-five at rush hour any day.”

  She shot him a sideways gaze full of amusement.

  “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

  “Some. It’s kind of funny. Mr. Macho, so out of his element. Hannah told me about the chicken. And Shiraz.”

  He swallowed his grin. Damn, but he got a kick out of her teasing. “It wasn’t funny,” he protested just to keep her going. “The chicken attacked me. And the damned horse bit me.”

  “It wasn’t a hard bite. And I’m sure you were more than a match for a little bitty chicken. You have to admit—”

  “I don’t have to admit anything. You wouldn’t think it was so funny if you were in a totally foreign situation and—” He broke off, remembering how much at ease she’d been at the formal dinner in Sacramento, and at the plush environment of Mentrine’s ranch.

  “I’m sorry, Zeph. I love it here so much it hurts when someone hates it. I wish you could see some of the good things about my world.”

  The wistfulness in her voice twisted his heart. “Maybe I’d better look a little harder.”

  After a companionable silence, she said, “You really think Wend is involved?”

  He slanted her a sharp glance through narrowed eyes. “I suspect everyone. Remember?”

  “Yes, but it’s hard to believe that Wendover...”

  “Why?”

  “Too stupid.” She grinned. “But you should make up your own mind.”

  “I’ll do that. Remember, I’m an innocent bystander, all agog at his rural lifestyle. Eager to be friends.”

  “No hard-boiled detective? I’m disappointed.”

  “Nope. On the off chance that somebody hasn’t told the entire town I’m a detective...if he doesn’t know, I’ll get farther making like his pal.”

  “That’s dishonest.”

  “That’s reality.” His glance raked over her, looking for a sign she couldn’t handle what his job required. He didn’t find it, and thought again that Allie outclassed every other woman he’d ever met. Watch it, buddy. You’ve been thinking that much too often lately. “I haven’t been out this way before,” he said to change the subject. “Only out the other end of town, to Luke and Hannah’s ranch. Is Seldon’s as far from town as their place?”

  “No. In fact, we’re here.” She slowed and turned into a rutted driveway that ended in a farm yard. It bore no resemblance to Luke and Hannah’s tidy ranch. Two skinny dogs hurled themselves at the truck, barking and snarling. Zeph remembered Hannah’s dogs. He’d looked like a dork jumping back into his truck when Hero and Zoey had done the watchdog bit on his first arrival in nowhere-land. Not doing that again.

  “Wait.” Allie grabbed his arm to keep him from opening his door.

  “What? I’m going to—”

  “These dogs mean business. We’ll wait for Wend.” She blew the horn and cracked the window to yell, “Hey, Wend. Call off your dogs.”

  Zeph shuddered as one of the dogs stood on its hind legs to snarl at close range. He looked into the dripping, fang-filled mouth and muttered, “Cujo,” as his hand moved toward the gun on his belt. Of course it wasn’t there. Still, he could deal bare-handed with a dog attack if he had to.

  As long as it wasn’t horses. Or chickens.

  “You’ve never been around dogs, have you?” Allie said.

  “No. My mother’s allergic. I guess she likes them okay, but… My only experience with them was in self defense class.”

  “Self...”

  “Defense.”

  She gulped but went on, apparently deciding to ignore that image. “Well, see, most dogs will mind if you sound confident. In control.” One corner of her mouth quirked up. “That shouldn’t be much of a stretch for you.”

  “It’s a good way to stay alive.”

  “Hannah said you jumped back in your truck when Hero and Zoey barked at you.”

  “Sure. Offing your clients’ dogs gets a job off to a poor start.”

  Her grin faded. “Offing...”

  “In a dozen different ways, honey.”

  “I guess your self-defense included some serious moves. We prefer gentler methods when possible, so here’s Dog Safety 101. A happy dog is a safe dog. Wagging tail, panting, friendly expression.”

  “Right. Like I can tell through all the fur.”

  “Sure you can. Snarling, hair raised along the back, mouth closed, stiff legs, head down, intense stare—those are not good signs. You want to stand sideways to the dog and avoid eye contact.”

  The smaller of the two dogs kept bouncing up to snarl through the window. “You got any handy rules for dogs on springs?” Zeph asked.

  “No rules for these dogs. They’re plain crazy. Don’t take any chances with them.”

  “Not me.” Since Seldon took his own sweet time, Zeph relaxed and looked past the fangs that
appeared in his window every few seconds. “This place is a junkyard,” he said. “Every old piece of machinery in California must have come here to die. And that barn looks like it’ll fall down if you breathe on it. You’re not going inside, are you?”

  “Not if I can help it.” Her mouth set in a grim line. “At least we don’t have to stay here.”

  Zeph’s gaze shot from Allie to the snarling dogs to the scrawny horse in a ramshackle corral with a startled awareness. He could count every rib and its hipbones stuck out like theater marquees. Hell, he could practically see the whole damn skeleton. Disturbing. He’d never thought of animals as victims before.

  Seldon ambled across the yard, yelled at the dogs and kicked one of them away from the truck. “About time you got here, Doc.” He leaned against the fender and rolled a cigarette.

  Zeph saw the twitch in Allie’s jaw as she gritted her teeth. “I’m here now, Wend.” She slid out of the truck and gestured toward the horse in the corral. “That the one?”

  Seldon nodded and followed her, grousing about how long it had taken her to get there. Zeph got out of the truck and tagged along. That muscle in Allie’s jaw still worked overtime but she didn’t respond to the running stream of complaints.

  When she motioned Seldon into the corral to hold the mare’s halter, the horse shied violently away from him and he aimed a blow at its head. Allie stepped between them and caught his fist in her hand. “Not while I’m here,” she ordered, and waved Seldon away. She turned to Zeph with an imploring look. “Sorry, but could you—”

  He swallowed a curse. He couldn’t ignore her plea the way he could the cold sweat prickling his skin. “On my way.” He maneuvered between the rails into the corral and approached the horse warily. Adrenaline spiked through his blood even though it looked like he could knock it over with one finger. Still, the thing was big.

  He gripped the halter and waited for the slashing teeth, but it only looked at him with patient, pain-filled eyes. Something clutched deep inside him at its uncomplaining misery. After a moment, he identified the feeling as sympathy. Even a horse shouldn’t be sentenced to life in this squalid little pen. When he shifted his weight, his new boots squished in the sodden ground. It hadn’t rained in a long time, and the ammonia stench was enough to gag him. The poor, damned animal.