“Glad to have your approval.” Jeremiah chuckled wearily. “I didn’t like the feeling that I was trying to hide something, though. It goes against everything I believe in.”
“I know. I’m sorry. We have to be more careful.”
“We dodged a bullet, but we shouldn’t tempt fate. We know all the reasons why a relationship between us wouldn’t work. I don’t know why we kept ignoring the simple facts.”
Miranda’s elation deflated. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right.” What else was he supposed to say? He’d just narrowly missed losing his livelihood over her. She couldn’t expect him to invite her to run away for the weekend. She rubbed at her nose unhappily but tried to remember what was important. “I’m glad you were able to keep your job,” she said. “I think it would’ve been a mistake on Stuart’s part if he’d let you go.”
“Thank you.” Jeremiah paused, then added, “Do you know anything about Stuart and his wife?”
“Gloria? She’s a teacher, I think. I remember years ago Isaac saying something about his mom going back to school to become a first-grade teacher. Why?”
“Just curious. Stuart shared with me that he was struggling with his wife’s newfound desire to have a career.”
“Ugh. He’s such a male chauvinist. I don’t know how Gloria put up with him all those years.”
“How do you know so much about Stuart and his wife?”
“I had a brief encounter with their son Isaac and he shared a few details. Plus, I’ve enjoyed a few conversations with Gloria at department functions. She’s a cool lady. Her only lapse in judgment was marrying that fool.”
Jeremiah chuckled. “Well, seems he’s dealing with a whole lot of change in his household that’s hard to handle. Honestly, if he hadn’t been distracted by his personal problems I don’t think he would’ve let me off with such a gentle hand. As it was, he seemed eager to put the matter to bed so he could focus on other things.”
“His turmoil was our gain,” Miranda said, shrugging. “Well, I went out to meet Vee Walker, and let me tell you, she’s a tough cookie. On the surface she’s gruff, barely civil and plainly not open to cooperating, which under normal circumstances would raise flags, but my gut tells me she’s not actually hiding anything. She just hates government authority. And if that were a crime, there’d be plenty in Alaska who were breaking the law.”
“So back to square one.”
“Not exactly,” she admitted, hating what she was about to say. “She told me a few things that have made me realize I need to take a deeper look into Rhett’s business.”
“Why?”
“Just a hunch that I ignored when we saw him and Vee echoed that hunch.”
“Do you want me to chase it down so there’s no conflict of interest?” he offered.
“Yeah, that would probably be best. God, I hate this. I don’t want to be right.”
“Don’t stress just yet. Plenty of things can seem suspicious but in the end, be perfectly legitimate.”
“Yeah, but I subscribe to the Occam’s-razor rule—the simplest explanation is usually accurate.”
“Let’s wait and see what the evidence says. Okay?”
“Okay,” she said. “See you at the office tomorrow.”
“Bright and early.”
“Oh, and, Jeremiah...sleep well.” She didn’t know why she’d tacked that on, maybe because deep down she knew he suffered from the same level of insomnia as she did and the one time they’d both slept like babies was with each other. It was silly, but, somehow, hoping that she’d be the last thing on his mind made her smile.
“Ditto,” he replied, his voice lowering just enough to sound like a caress. And then he was gone.
* * *
RHETT FOWLER BARKED for his wife, Ambra. “Where’s that damn beer, darlin’?” What a day. What a damn day! That Walker woman was going to put him out of business. Three more cancellations today. Ambra, his saving grace, came into the room with her usual serene expression and a beer in her hand.
“Darlin’, you’re the best part about my day,” he said, pulling her into his lap. She smiled and allowed him to rest his hand possessively on her pert rump. He sucked down a healthy swig of his beer before asking, “What did you do all day while I watched that woman steal three more reservations?”
“I did as I always do, my love—think of you,” she said, bending down to sweep a petal-soft kiss across his lips.
“Is that so?” Rhett asked, his ire slipping away and being replaced by simple need. “Why don’t you show me what you were thinking?”
Ambra laughed and slipped away before his hand could reach the full bounty of her ripe breast. “You silly thing, not now. Perhaps later.” Ambra walked away, leaving Rhett wishing he could follow her into the bedroom and enjoy the benefits of having a wife who was so much younger than he was, but Ambra was a fickle beauty who doled out her affections sparingly. Usually, he had to loosen the buttons on her blouse with the help of something shiny and expensive. He sighed. And he couldn’t afford a shiny new bauble at this rate. He drained his beer and grabbed his expense sheets. There was one saving grace—his new helicopter pilot, Mack, was saving him money. The kid came cheap because he wanted to build his résumé and Rhett had been more than happy to provide the experience for him. If only he’d been able to find ways to cut all of his operational expenses in half.
He was just surfing the Net looking for alternative fuel companies for his fleet of vehicles when a commotion interrupted his research.
Ambra trailed after that horrid woman, Vee Walker, as she barreled into the room and headed straight for him with fire in her eyes.
“You rotten SOB, siccing your fish-and-game honey on me just because you can’t handle a little competition? What’s the matter? Can’t deal with a woman getting the jump on you because you’re too damn lazy to start thinking creatively? So we cut a little into your business...tough titty! Fat and lazy, that’s what you are, and you’re trying to submarine us for simply trying to run a legitimate business.”
Rhett struggled to his feet to stand toe-to-toe with the tall woman. “Legitimate business? You can’t tell me you’re running a clean operation when you cut corners to offer a dirt-cheap price for your clients. How do I know you’re not running that poaching ring to supplement your income?”
“I don’t need to supplement my income because I don’t waste it on frivolous crap.” Vee shot a derisive look at Ambra, who shot back a dagger of her own. “I can see where you spend your money and it’s not on your clients. Maybe if you stopped being such a little bitch, lapping after whatever crumbs Miss Arctic Snow here is willing to drop you, you’d see what was happening right under your damn nose. Stop poking around in my business and tend to your own. And tell your little fish-and-game honey to back off!”
“Watch yourself. She’s like a daughter to me and whatever you’re implying is about to get you in a pot of hot water,” he warned.
“My apologies for implying that you’re a dirty old man who likes women young enough to be his granddaughter,” Vee shot back, clearly not the least bit sorry. She threw one last comment over her shoulder as she let herself out. “Tend to your own backyard and stay the hell out of mine, Fowler!”
The door slammed and something breakable crashed to the tile floor. Ambra clenched her little fists and shrieked, “My Waterford!” and ran to determine the damage. Rhett couldn’t care less about a piece of crystal, though. He was stewing about Vee bursting into his house and spreading chaos in her wake. How dare she insult his wife? And what was Vee saying about “tending to his own backyard”? What did she know that he didn’t?
“She broke the Waterford,” Ambra wailed, gingerly holding shards of shattered crystal within a towel. “That bitch!”
“Buy another,” he muttered, irritated at Ambra for caring more about a piece
of crystal than the fact that something foul was afoot within his business. “I’ll be in my study. I need to make a few calls.”
He stalked from the room and shut the heavy oak door to his office. Vee was tall for a woman. She’d stared right into his eyes without having to crane her neck like Ambra. There was something strong and vibrant about the older woman that, if she weren’t such a ballbuster stealing his clients, he might’ve respected.
But right about now...he wanted to bury her up to her neck in snow and then leave her to bake in the sun.
Well, maybe that was harsh but he was pretty damn mad.
Probably just as mad as Vee had been when Miranda had shown up asking questions. At that he cracked a smile. He would have loved to be a fly on the wall after that meeting.
Yeah, ol’ Vee had probably cursed his name up one side and down the other.
He guffawed. Served her right. Wait until she found out he’d placed a call to the IRS to have her audited.
Now, that was a thought that raised his spirits.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
JUST TO COVER all bases Miranda pulled every single permit filed with Fish and Game in the past year for big-game tags. When she started tabulating each of the individual operation permits, she realized the numbers were down for everyone. The economy was bad, and people just didn’t have the money for these types of luxuries. It was no wonder Vivid Adventures was doing far better for offering a competitive price.
On one hand, she was relieved that everyone was doing poorly, because then it took the spotlight from Rhett and Big Game Trophy, but she couldn’t deny something didn’t seem right. It wasn’t something she wanted to do, but she’d be cheating herself and the case if she plainly ignored a very big red flag.
Jeremiah walked in adjusting his gloves. “I’ll call you when I’m finished.” Jeremiah was on his way to interview Rhett again. She just couldn’t do it. Besides, if Rhett had something to do with the poaching. it was better that there was some distance between her and the case because of their relationship. Jeremiah had pointed out that a defense attorney would rip apart their case if it was discovered that there was a conflict of interest during the investigation. Jeremiah noted her glum acceptance of the situation and reminded her, “Don’t borrow trouble. It could be nothing.”
She nodded. “In the meantime, I’m going to place some calls to the other smaller operations to ask them about their volume.”
“Good idea.”
Miranda watched as Jeremiah left the office and listened as his car hit the highway. A part of her wanted to be there to provide a buffer between Jeremiah and Rhett but she knew that wasn’t possible. In fact, it would defeat the whole purpose of Jeremiah doing the questioning. She was terrified that, if in the event that Rhett was linked to the poaching, she’d feel as if she were losing her father all over again. Rhett was the only person she had left in her life who was still seminormal. Rhett had been the only one who hadn’t gone bonkers when Simone had died. “Please be innocent,” she whispered.
* * *
JEREMIAH WAS LET into the house and led into the study, where Rhett awaited him. He’d half expected the man to make him wait a few moments in a show of power, but Rhett seemed ready to put the situation to rest and was there when Jeremiah arrived.
“I’m sure you realize that there is a conflict of interest for Miranda to continue questioning you,” Jeremiah began. “She loves you very much and the thought of you being involved in something like poaching is killing her inside. I hope for her sake you had nothing to do with the poaching cases.”
“Straight to the point, aren’t you?” Rhett leaned back in his big chair, regarding Jeremiah with a strong, steady stare. “What makes you think that I had anything to do with the poaching?”
“Your volume is down, your reported income is down, and yet you continue to live pretty opulently,” Jeremiah stated bluntly. “Given the lucrative nature of the black market, it’s only natural to wonder where you’re getting your cash if not from Big Game Trophy clients.”
“I told Miranda I had a healthy reserve. Some years have been better than others.”
“That’s not good enough of an explanation. I’m going to need to see your financials.”
Rhett scoffed. “Going a little far, don’t you think? I already told you I don’t have anything to do with the poaching.”
Jeremiah shook his head. “That might have worked for Miranda. But I don’t know you and it doesn’t work for me. If you have nothing to hide then getting a look at your financials shouldn’t be a problem.”
Rhett leaned forward and pinned Jeremiah with his gaze. “How would you like it if I poke my nose around in your financials?”
“I wouldn’t like it at all. However, if I were being considered as a possible suspect in an open case and I had nothing to hide, I would do everything in my power to clear my name and my reputation.”
There was a silent standoff between the two men until finally Rhett shrugged and said, “Sorry, son, you’re going to need a warrant for that.”
“I’d hoped you would have volunteered but I can get a warrant without a problem.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“You know this just makes you look guilty, right? And it’s going to kill Miranda. How do you feel about that?”
Rhett looked discomfited but held his ground. “I’m not about to sacrifice my rights as an American citizen without a fight. I told you I had nothing to do with the poaching, and I meant it. However, if my word isn’t good enough, then you’re going to have to follow due process to get what you need.”
“Am I going to need a warrant for your employee list, as well?”
Rhett smiled and pushed a piece of paper across the desk. “That I can give you. Is there anything else you need?” he asked.
Jeremiah picked up the paper and folded it in half before sticking it in his pocket. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Tell Miranda not to worry. My hands are clean.”
Jeremiah looked long and hard at Rhett and said, “I sure hope so. Because if they’re not, I’m going to find out and so will Miranda.”
Rhett gave Jeremiah a short dismissive wave. “Good day, Mr. Burke. I will look forward to your apology.”
* * *
MIRANDA ACCEPTED THE FOLDED slip of paper from Jeremiah when he returned and read it. “Rhett’s employee list?” she surmised. Jeremiah nodded and she added, “Tell me how it went. Is he upset?”
“He’s irritated but didn’t seem overly worried. I think he’s mostly pissed at the invasion of what he perceives as his privacy. I’ve already set in motion the warrant for his financials.”
“And I called for the financials for Vivid Adventures. We should have them by tonight if we manage to get Judge Pope—he’s a staunch supporter of animal rights and loves to stick it to the big-game operators whenever he can.”
“Then let’s hope for Judge Pope.” Jeremiah smiled. “Are you doing okay? I know there’s been a lot to absorb.”
Miranda leaned back in her chair, nodding. “Tell me about it. Yeah, I’m doing okay. I just wish there wasn’t so much noise going on in my head. Makes it hard to concentrate. My brother called me last night. He’s coming home soon to help me out. That’s a huge relief. My parents are a handful.” She looked to him, curious. “You never talk about your parents. Are they around still?”
“No. Unfortunately, I lost both parents when I was in my twenties. One to cancer and the other to heart failure about five years apart. The only family I have now is a brother I rarely talk to and an aunt who lives in San Francisco. My family was never what you’d call close-knit. I mean, I was close to my parents, but as far as extended family, we just didn’t live near enough to create those bonds.”
Miranda felt a pang of sadness for Jeremiah. He had no one to l
ean on, no one to care about. “As much as my family has a few loose screws, I can’t imagine life without them. I think that’s what makes the current situation so tough. I have lots of good memories. My dad was like the Alaskan version of Grizzly Adams. He taught us how to shoot, trap, track and basically live off the land if we had to. It was a constant adventure.”
“My dad wasn’t the outdoors type. He was probably the only person in Wyoming who didn’t own a gun. I had to learn on my own because unlike him, I liked to get out there once in a while. My dad was more of an academic. He enjoyed books and instilled in me a love of knowledge.”
“Do you miss your parents?”
“Every day. Some days are harder than others.”
That was how she felt about Simone. “Losing a family member...I don’t think you ever truly recover from it. I mean, the constant pain dulls but there’s always an ache deep inside to remind you of what’s gone.” Jeremiah nodded and she knew he was thinking of his son. “Did you want more kids?” she asked cautiously, knowing the question was planted in painful memories.
“I did. But Josie had a hard enough time carrying Tyler and we decided one was enough.” Jeremiah looked away. “We told ourselves that we’d be able to give our one child everything he needed without having to split our resources between siblings. It’d seemed a solid plan.”
“I never expected to be a mother,” Miranda shared. “I hardly felt qualified to handle my own life much less be in charge of someone else’s. But once I had Talen, my outlook on life changed and I realized he was the best thing I’d ever done. I like to think that kids take the absolute best of each of their parents.”
“And Talen’s father...?”
“Dead. Thank God.” At Jeremiah’s quick look, she explained briefly, saying, “He was bad news. I was going through a rough time and he seemed an excellent way to ruin my life and self-destruct at the same time. It was a two-for-one deal.”
“Why were you punishing yourself?”
“At the time, I was hurting so badly and I didn’t have anyone to turn to. My brothers were going through their own thing and my parents... Well, I already told you how they dealt with Simone’s death. It was bad times all around.”
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