Unfinished Business: Kovak & Quaid Horse Mystery Series (Kovak & Quaid Horse Mysteries Book 3)

by Toni Leland

  “Hell, no. If I came out of that mess alive and with nothing else, I wanted my horse.”

  “Okay, please sit down and tell me the rest of the story. This is strictly for me – no other reason.”

  Jasper blew out a long breath. “I got a horse hauler to come in the middle of the night to pick up Tee, paid the guy extra to do that just so I could be sure the horse wouldn’t get rounded up with the rest of the herd. Naturally, I stayed away from the Ohio barn for months so no one could follow me and find him. Lot of good it did me.”

  Kim licked her lips. “How did you get hooked up with Wade Warren?”

  Jasper’s eyes widened and he stammered, “How did you know about that?”

  “I took some pictures at a horse show last year and you were sitting in the grandstand with him. I didn’t find the photo until the case was closed, but I’ve always wondered what legitimate business you could possibly have with such a scum bag.”

  Jasper nodded. “That was a funny thing. He approached me. Said he’d heard about my problem with the IRS and told me he could help me get a loan to pay them off, get on with my life.” A wry grin creased Jasper’s cheeks. “A lot of offers came out of the woodwork about that time, but Warren had a connection to the Fortune woman’s brother who was an investment banker or something like that.”

  The story began to come together in Kim’s mind. Martin in trouble, needing money. Fortune and Warren planting the idea of a loan to pay the IRS, while plotting to steal the valuable champion show jumper. No wonder Talisman had been so easily switched out on his way to Ohio.

  And now she had her answers. Jasper Martin had actually been a victim in that mess.

  “At least you got the insurance money to put toward the fines.”

  Jasper gave her an incredulous look. “Are you kidding? That money went straight to the loan sharks – the Feds don’t kill you for nonpayment.”

  “If it’s any consolation, Wade Warren is in jail, and Reggie Fortune is in the wind.”

  “I don’t care about any of that. I just wish I knew where my guy ended up.”

  He stood up, his face a mask of resignation. “I gotta get going, but you were right. It helped to talk about it. Thanks.”

  Kim didn’t know how to respond. She wanted to assure him that someday he’d find his horse, that his life would improve, that time heals all wounds.

  But she knew better.

  Walking slowly back toward Shareen’s barn, Kim thought about Martin’s unfortunate circumstances. Funny how one misstep – whether innocent or intentional – could construct the pattern of everything that would follow. From life as a nationally-respected horse trainer to the nuts-and-bolts life of a livestock hauler, Jasper was the perfect example. She shook her head. Her own history mirrored Martin’s. Something as simple as swapping duty with another officer had changed her life forever.

  Shareen stepped out of the tack stall and stopped, surprise arching her eyebrows. “Oh! I thought you were going sightseeing.”

  “I ran into a friend and we got to talking. It’s too late to do anything now. Maybe tomorrow. You need any help here?”

  “I am all finished. Albert is watching a couple of classes, but if you are ready to go, we could go back to the house and relax for a bit.” She pulled out her phone. “Let me call and let him know.”

  As Shareen turned away, Kim’s phone chimed. Garrett’s number appeared and a tiny thrill ran through her stomach.

  His voice sounded strange. “Hey, Kim. How’s it going out there?”

  “Pretty good. I, uh ...is everything okay?”

  “Not really. There was a shooting at Ricky’s school. He’s okay, but it’s been ...”

  “Oh my god, Garrett, how horrible. Are you there now?

  “Uh huh, we’re on our way back to Jenna’s.”

  Kim stared at a hoof-shaped black stain on the barn floor. He sounded strange. Did he have more bad news?

  “Can I help in any way?”

  His tone strengthened. “No, I just wanted to hear your voice. Uh, I’m at Jenna’s now, so I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

  Kim stood, mouth open, trying to process what she’d just heard. She nodded, then stammered, “Yes, call anytime. Take care.”

  He wanted to hear my voice?

  Her heart hammered against her ribs, a dozen thoughts vying for first place, each one out-shouting the other. But a particular notion kept surfacing: when she returned to Ohio, she would make sure her life would never be the same.

  Chapter 37

  That night, Quaid sat with Jenna in front of the fireplace. The strain of the day’s events showed sharply on her face in the flickering light from the fire. Quaid felt his own weariness seeping into his bones, the aftermath of adrenaline compounded by relief that Ricky and his schoolmates were safe. He carefully avoided thinking about his impulsive call to Kim. He’d mull that one over later.

  Jenna glanced at the hall leading to Ricky’s room. “I’m glad you’re here. It meant a lot to him.”

  “He’s very important to me. I’m relieved that he seems to be dealing with today as well as he is.”

  “I think the saving grace was not being in the vicinity where the teachers were shot. Those poor kids – I can’t imagine what they are going through.” She shook her head. “Sandy Hook is just too recent in everyone’s mind.”

  “We can only hope that someone, somewhere, will find a solution to end this craziness.”

  “Amen to that.” Jenna smiled, the first one of the day. “Hey, tell me how the new job is going. You like Columbus?”

  “New jobs are always a little tough. This one got a new wrinkle last week when the long-time director of the company stepped down. I’m not so sure about the new guy. Other than that, it’s fine. Columbus is quite different from Cleveland, but I’m learning my way around. There’s lots to do. You’ll have to bring Ricky and visit some weekend.”

  Jenna threw him a sly smile. “Any interesting ladies in your life?”

  “Good grief, woman, I’ve only lived there a little over a month!” He toned it down and grinned. “But I do have a new horse.”

  “Would that possibly have anything to do with the lady cop you were seeing last fall?”

  Quaid stared at his sister-in-law. Women just never forgot a single detail. Totally annoying.

  “I wasn’t seeing her. We were working together. Still are. She’s a darn good investigator.”

  Jenna’s smug expression told him she wasn’t buying it, but he was damned if he was going to get trapped into any personal conversations.

  He stood up and stretched. “I need to get on the road. You sure you’re okay for tonight?”

  She rose from the couch and stepped closer, laying a hand on his arm. “We are. Thank you again for being here.”

  Quaid slipped his arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “You call if you need me.”

  An hour later, the lights of Columbus lit up the night sky ahead, an aura of white against the pitch black. Wispy clouds drifted across a half moon high in the eastern sky. Quaid had finally toned down the images and sensory details of the afternoon, giving himself permission to think about his own reaction to the tragedy.

  As he’d watched the families reunite with their children, seen Jenna’s terror followed by relief and elation, he’d faced the emptiness in his own heart. Was this all there was? To be a peripheral part of the family units that formed the foundation of any community?

  As he drove, he swallowed hard, stunned again by his deep urge to talk to Kim in the midst of chaos, hear her husky voice, picture her soft features in his mind. He must have sounded like a complete idiot on the phone, but once he had her on the line, he couldn’t think of anything to say. So he’d said what was on his mind at that moment, an honest and personal admission. But maybe connecting with her had helped him in ways he didn’t yet recognize.

  He eased off on the gas as he took the exit ramp for Dublin. He’d been using the investigating angle to keep her in
his life, but did he actually want more than that and not even know it?

  ~ ~

  “I’m sorry, Ms. Kovak, but there are no seats available on any of our Columbus flights tomorrow. I can put you on the standby list, if you wish. You’ll need to be in the boarding area an hour ahead of time.”

  “No, that’s fine, thanks anyway.”

  Kim disconnected and gazed at the ceiling above the bed. She simply didn’t want to spend any more time at the horse show. Enforced tourism would be the order of the next day. As she lay there in the dark, she thought again about Garrett’s call. Not that she hadn’t already beaten it to death, but now in the privacy of the night, she tried to consider why he might have reacted the way he did. Remembering her own first thoughts after she’d been shot, she realized that all she’d wanted at that time was to see Peter, hear his voice, know he was there with her. In an emergency, people tended to grasp at the familiar and the trusted, needed the stability of a support network. Was she the only person in Garrett’s life that qualified for any one of those requirements? He’d apparently thought of her immediately, so she’d probably answered her own question.

  Knowing this tidbit about him gave her the courage and desire to set the past aside and venture out into what could be a wonderful new world.

  Her phone chimed and Southwest Airlines appeared on the screen.

  “Ms. Kovak? We’ve had a cancellation on tomorrow’s eight a.m. flight to Columbus. Do you still want to change your ticket?”

  “Yes, please. I need to get home.”

  Chapter 38

  Late the next afternoon, Kim parked in front of her condo and glanced over at the empty spot where Dixie’s patrol car usually sat when she was at home – which wasn’t a lot, lately. Kim sighed. Right now, she could sure use some good, solid girl talk. She recalled her thoughts about trusted people and support networks. Dixie was hers, and Kim had received more than she’d given in that relationship. A pang of guilt crept in. Kim had begrudged Dixie’s new love, not liking the change it had brought to the dynamics of their friendship.

  “Time to have some charity here, sister.”

  She climbed out of the car and wrestled her luggage up the stairs to her front door. As she fiddled with the key, she could hear Miss Kitty meowing on the other side. After stepping inside and closing the door, she scooped up her pet and stroked the silky fur, crooning softly.

  “Did you miss your mommy? I missed you.”

  Miss Kitty struggled to get down, then immediately ran over to her empty dish.

  “Oh, yeah, right. I forgot how this works.”

  As she shrugged out of her coat, she heard a car door close. She walked to the deck slider and peered down at Dixie’s vehicle.

  Moments later, Dixie beamed, her bright blue eyes sparkling. “You’re home early!” She stepped in and hugged Kim tightly. “We missed you.”

  Kim’s eyes suddenly brimmed with tears. “I missed you too.”

  “Honey, what’s the matter?”

  Kim swiped at the damning tears. “Nothing, I’m just really glad to be home with my cat and my best friend.”

  Dixie cocked her head. “You look tired. Why don’t you get yourself organized, then come over for a glass of wine and some pizza.”

  Love surged through Kim’s heart. “That would be absolutely fabulous.”

  The door closed behind Dixie and Kim puzzled over why she’d become so emotional about something as ordinary as coming home from a trip. Perhaps it was simply the combination of being exhausted, her furtive snooping and being around scoundrels, plus Garrett’s family emergency – a lot of emotional and sensorial input for a jet-lagged body.

  ~ ~

  Quaid usually enjoyed Sundays, using them to recharge his mental batteries, but this one was different. He felt antsy and at odds with everything he touched. His house was finally put together, everything where it belonged. The snow had melted on the driveway and sidewalk, so he didn’t need to shovel. The only thing on television was a golf match he didn’t care to watch. Maybe he should go to the office for a while and get some paperwork done. That didn’t appeal, either.

  He dropped into his favorite chair and gazed out the window at a view so different from the one he’d had in Chagrin Falls. There, he’d been able to see the trees and squirrels, with little interruption from street traffic or neighbor activities. Here, the view from every window was nothing but houses and backyards and swing sets and the street. He squinted up at a small crack across one corner of the ceiling. This house had been close to the new job, but maybe that wasn’t so important. Maybe he’d find another place with a more rural setting. Maybe something closer to Commander.

  He grinned, thinking about the big black horse that made his heart race with admiration. If Commander was broke to ride, Quaid imagined it would be an exciting experience. Brooks didn’t know what the horse’s current abilities were, other than his driving history, but had said they could explore his other talents when he’d had more time to work him.

  “Now, see? Today would be a perfect day to go riding.”

  Jumping up from the chair, he headed for the closet. A visit to Commander might be just what he needed on this boring winter day.

  Forty minutes later, he walked quietly through the chilly barn toward Commander’s stall. The horse had his head down, probably nosing through the shavings in search of a missed blade of hay.

  “Commander.”

  The black head came up and swung toward the stall door. His ears pricked forward and his beautiful large eyes glowed with interest. Quaid was about four feet away when Commander chuckled deep in his throat and moved to the door. At that moment, Quaid fell in love with the black Morgan who’d been forsaken by others, but brought to him by another important person in his life.

  His phone rang. Commander snorted and jerked his head back into the stall.

  “Easy, boy.” Quaid held out his hand and the horse stepped back up to investigate. His whiskery muzzle nudged Quaid’s hand, then rubbery lips investigated the possibility that fingers might be something to eat. Quaid moved his hand away, then scratched under the horse’s chin while he checked to see who’d called.

  He turned away from the stall door to talk to Kim.

  When she answered, he shook his head at his pleasant reaction at hearing her voice.

  “What’s up, Miz Kovak? Ready to come home yet?”

  “Oh, I’m already home. Got back a couple of hours ago. And do I have a surprise for you.”

  “And what might that be?”

  She giggled, a new sound for him. “I think I’ll tell you all about it when you tell me what your secret is.”

  “Oh, a little blackmail? Okay, I’ll play. How about dinner tomorrow?”

  He could hear the smile in her voice. “Why, thank you. I’d love to!”

  “Meet me at my office at five and we’ll go from there.”

  Just then, a barn worker came in with the feed wheelbarrow and a chorus of whinnies echoed through the barn.

  “Where are you?” said Kim.

  “Visiting my horse. Er, the horse you’re going to let me have, right?”

  “Since he hates me, I think that’s a great idea. Okay, I’m headed over to Dixie’s for supper. I’ll see you tomorrow. Tell Bandit hello for me.”

  Quaid pocketed his phone and grinned at Commander. “You, my friend, are going to be very good for me.”

  Chapter 39

  Kim set her phone aside and let out a long breath, surprised at how easy it had recently been to talk to Garrett. If anything, she should be more nervous as their relationship seemed to become more personal, but apparently the underlying friendship and trust made moving to the next level less frightening.

  She put on her favorite moccasin slippers and headed next door to Dixie’s. The aroma of pepperoni and melting cheese wafted through the door as she entered. Dixie was on the phone, but waved, so Kim headed for the living room. Dixie’s beautiful police dog lifted his head and gazed at
her without blinking. She moved slowly to the couch, taking care not to meet the dog’s gaze directly.

  In a soft voice, she said, “Hello, Saskie.”

  His tail thumped once on the hardwood floor, then he turned his attention to Dixie. Kim had to appreciate that the highly-trained working dog would do nothing unless he was told to – unlike many pet dogs that had no manners, and owners who couldn’t control them.

  Dixie came into the room with two glasses of red wine and set them on the coffee table. The glow on her cheeks was unmistakable. Love stamped its presence on her features, her expressions, her every movement. A pang of envy moved through Kim’s chest.

  Glancing over at the dog, Dixie murmured, “You can come say hello.”

  The large Belgian Malinois rose slowly and moved to Dixie’s side for a pat, then nosed Kim’s hand.

  She slowly stroked the top of the dog’s head as she looked at Dixie. “You’ve sure been gone a lot lately. I’ve missed having you around.”

  “I might say the same about you, girl. I mean, Arizona in February? How much better does it get?”

  Kim didn’t miss the dodge. Had she been so obvious in her displeasure at her friend’s total involvement that Dixie now didn’t want any conversations about it? Best not to pursue it.

  “It was okay. Weather was lovely, but that scummy woman I was tailing was not lovely. Boy, what a piece of work. I’m almost positive she’s buying stolen horses from an international horse broker with a nefarious reputation.”

  “That Wheeler person we checked out in Coleville?”

  “The very same, and I have to tell you, the money she spent at that show was beyond mindboggling.”

  Kim described the stall setup, the gorgeous horses, Wheeler’s amazing show wardrobe, the expensive motor home and horse trailers, and the generous donation for the silent auction.