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

by Toni Leland

  “No, it can wait. Thanks, Albert.”

  Kim disconnected and stared at the rose-gray filly on the computer screen. I sure hope this works out. Rising from her chair, she moved down the hall toward the living room, a turmoil of thoughts competing for attention, not the least of which was apprehension about Garrett’s reaction to this latest development. Walking to the deck doors, she automatically tested the latch, a new habit she’d acquired since thieves had broken into her home months ago.

  As she gazed through the heavy plate glass, a black minivan cruised slowly along the drive in front of the unit. Dark tinted windows gave the vehicle an ominous look, reminding Kim of the security vehicles that accompanied every government official on the move. Maybe someone important was thinking about moving into one of the condos. She stepped away from the door, shaking her head. This wasn’t exactly a ritzy development – whoever it was couldn’t be too important.

  Scooping up a pile of mail, she headed back toward her studio. The past few days had been fraught with tension and emotion, leaving her with no ambition to take care of the daily chores in life. Like paying bills, or keeping house. Did she even have any clean clothes? With a decisive nod, Kim set about sorting the mail, determined not to slip into a hermit’s way of life.

  At the bottom of the stack of envelopes, junk mail, magazines and newspapers, she came across the show program from Scottsdale. The glossy booklet reminded her of the conversation with Jasper, bringing back the image of his sad and shabby countenance. Was the new development with Barevsky truly a cause for concern? Dixie’s assurance that the woman was a bona fide Interpol agent somehow didn’t make Kim any more comfortable with the idea. Wade Warren murdered in prison was further fodder for Kim’s imagination. Regardless of whether anyone else had such thoughts or believed her, Kim’s gut told her that the once-famous horse trainer was in grave danger. How could she warn him?

  Leafing through the show program, she came to the back pages filled with advertisements, the kind that supported the cost of printing the book. Shareen’s lovely logo adorned a full page ad, a blacksmith’s qualifications were outlined in another, and several smaller ads promoted local Arizona farms. The full color inside back cover showed Vivica Wheeler’s elaborate stall decorations and, on the opposite page, a dozen business card ads touted various services. Kim squinted at one in particular – JM Horse Transport. Arizona commercial drivers license and available on short notice.

  Before she had time to think it through, she dialed.

  “Hi, is this Jasper?”

  “Yep, it is. Who’s this?”

  “My name won’t mean anything, but you and I talked at the Scottsdale show. About Talisman.”

  The dial tone came on. Kim gritted her teeth and dialed again.

  When he answered, she talked fast. “Don’t hang up. I think you’re in danger. I just wanted to warn you.”

  Silence, then a wary tone. “Danger from what?”

  “Wade Warren was murdered in his prison cell, and a woman who said she was an Interpol agent was asking questions about your whereabouts.”

  A sharp intake of breath preceded a muttered expletive.

  “Jasper, I don’t know anything more than that – and I don’t think that woman was really an agent – but I thought you should at least know that you might be considered a loose end. And for what it’s worth, I believe your story.”

  After she hung up, Kim shivered. Jasper Martin might spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder. With people like Barevsky and Reggie Fortune – and Charles Léon – a person could run, but the odds weren’t good that they could hide forever.

  ~ ~

  Later that afternoon, as she drove slowly down the driveway on her way to meet Garrett, a pleasant sensation curled through her chest. Slowing for the curve at the bottom of the hill, she noticed a black minivan parked at the curb. Same one? Frowning, she checked for a license plate, but the rear bumper was empty. She glanced in the rearview mirror as she passed the vehicle. No license on the front either. What the heck is going on? Her pulse hitched and unwelcome thoughts crept into her head.

  Chapter 51

  Quaid drummed his fingers on the tabletop, listening to the rising noise as the happy hour crowd began to trickle into the cozy pub. The waitress tried again to ply him with an early order, but he shook his head. He needed a clear mind to talk to Kovak – it was too easy to get into trouble with her. Inviting her to partner with him in fraud cases had seemed like such a good idea at the time, but right now, he wished he could turn back the clock. He could think of no easy way to tell her that she wasn’t working out like he’d expected.

  “A penny for that thought.”

  He jumped up, toppling the catsup bottle and scattering paper napkins onto the floor.

  “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.” Kim righted the catsup, then settled into the chair and looked toward the bar. “I’m dying for a beer.”

  Her dark red hair framed her face, and her flushed cheeks resembled luscious apples. Quaid almost laughed at the mental image of taking a bite out of one. A vividly colored scarf of green and gold nestled around her neck, further enhancing her coloring.

  She tugged the scarf down.

  “Yuck, this thing is itchy.”

  Quaid swallowed hard and glanced away from the creamy flesh at her throat. She looked really good, better than he remembered.

  “How’ve you been?”

  She grinned impishly. “You mean, since I hung up on you? I’m really sorry about that – I’ve been sort of under the weather lately.”

  Quaid looked down at the cocktail napkin he’d just folded into a tiny triangle. How to start?

  Kim got the ball rolling. “Do you want to tell me your news first, or should I tell you mine?”

  “You start. Mine’s not real great.”

  Her expression faltered, but she nodded. “Okay. I don’t think I told you that my friend Shareen left a large number of horses in Egypt when they fled to the States. She placed them with a relative somewhere in a remote area in the southern part of the country where they’d be safe. Or so she thought. She called me last week, absolutely hysterical. Seven of the horses had been stolen. She sent photos and asked me to get the information to that missing horses organization I found on the Internet. Which I did. But ...” Kim’s eyes glowed with excitement. “Remember that guy I saw with Vivica Wheeler at Scottsdale? The horse broker?”

  Quaid’s stomach knotted as he listened to Kim’s story unfold, a tale of reckless toying with dangerous people. Much as he admired her, the things she did sometimes bordered on insanity. Why would she deliberately go into someone’s private stalls and poke through their belongings? Granted, Wheeler was the object of their investigation and Kim had been in Arizona to check it out. But that fearless law enforcement mentality had gotten her into trouble before, and this could have been no different.

  Quaid suddenly became aware that Kim was looking at him strangely.

  She leaned forward. “Something wrong?”

  “No, I was just thinking you’re crazy to do some of the stuff you do.”

  She sat back with a smug smile. “Maybe so, but here’s my news: two of Shareen’s horses are in a quarantine barn at Wheeler’s.”

  Quaid’s chest tightened. “Are you absolutely sure?”

  “I faked having a diabetic low and, when the barn worker went to get me something, I took photographs to compare to Shareen’s. And ...the groom told me that Wheeler’s boyfriend is a diabetic. There’s your source for the insulin.”

  She sat back and grinned triumphantly.

  Quaid nodded as the information sank in. His premise was more feasible now that he had this piece of news. An easy crime to commit with the right tools and opportunity. He quickly did a mental review of the Wheeler case files. Every foal death had been either at night or over a weekend when Wheeler would have had complete privacy.

  Quaid blew out a soft breath and looked at Kim. “That might be a major b
reak in the case.” He shook his head. “Although I doubt we can use information you gathered while trespassing on private property without a warrant.”

  Another expression flickered through her eyes and he waited for the other shoe to fall.

  She licked her lips. “There’s something else. I talked to Jasper after I heard about Wade Warren’s death. Just to give him a heads up that he might be in danger. Even though Barevsky is legitimate, I still think Jasper is at risk. Anyway ...” She looked away.

  “What did he say?”

  “He was not happy, I can tell you that.”

  “Okay, I get it. But let me ask you this. Why in the world would you give your name to Wheeler’s barn help?”

  Kim frowned. “I didn’t. Why?”

  “The director called this morning, mad as hell that you’d been snooping around a client’s barn without authorization. Wheeler apparently called headquarters when she found out. Kim, you can’t do this stuff. Not only is it improper procedure – with this woman and her connections, it could be downright dangerous.”

  All the color fell away from Kim’s cheeks and fear crept into her eyes.

  He leaned forward. “What?”

  “I gave the groom a fake name, so the only way they could have gotten my real information would be from my license plate caught on a surveillance camera. But why would anyone go to that much trouble to find out who I am?”

  “I don’t know, but the director was furious, and made it clear that we were to stay the hell away from Wheeler’s barn.”

  Kim’s color returned and her eyes flashed. “She’s got more than insurance fraud going on here, and I want to find out what it is.”

  Oh boy, here we go again.

  ~ ~

  Kim watched Garrett’s expressions, knowing she’d hit a nerve. Why couldn’t they just agree on stuff? Why did everything have to be a major standoff? If she stopped being involved in his investigative business, would things change? At this point, she wanted that change more than she cared to admit. A flush crawled up her neck and she tugged at the scarf. The man sitting across the table from her had been part of her life now for almost a year. She liked him. A lot. Her instincts told her that he felt the same, but the two of them had embarked on some crazy stuff together and obstacles to furthering the relationship just seemed to pop up constantly.

  Clearly, the call from his boss that morning had prompted Garrett to meet with her, most likely to eliminate her from the work equation. Which was fine with her – she’d like to start over with him, see if they could have any kind of normal personal relationship without constantly arguing about other people’s problems.

  “Garrett, I have to help my friend get her horses back. I understand that my actions have caused you some problems, and I promise I’ll stay out of this stuff from now on.” She gave him a shy smile. “I don’t think I’m private eye material anyway.”

  Relief washed over his face. “But you’re one helluva detective. You should really consider getting back into police work. Thanks for being so good about it. I really do like working with you, and you’ve been a big help in the past. Maybe—”

  “No maybes. Let’s just be friends and enjoy our horses. Speaking of which, how is Commander?”

  “I haven’t been out to see him for a week. How about we go to the barn tomorrow and see how he’s coming along?”

  “I’d like that.”

  Garrett’s smile was definitely something worth keeping.

  An hour later, Kim stood up and snugged the scarf around her neck. “I’ll see you in the morning. Thanks for a nice evening.”

  When Kim pulled into her parking spot next to Dixie’s patrol car, heaviness weighed on her chest. Only a few more days and Dixie would be moved out. Kim’s eyes burned, but she blinked it away. She would not let this ruin a perfectly wonderful friendship. In fact, she would go next door right now and help Dixie pack.

  She opened her own front door and pulled out her phone. As she pressed the speed dial button for Dixie, a blinding pain crashed through her head.

  Chapter 52

  “Garrett! I think Kim’s been kidnapped!”

  Quaid stared at his phone, confused. “What? Dixie what are you talking about? I was just with her.”

  “I don’t know for sure, but she called me about fifteen minutes ago. When I answered, she didn’t respond, but I could hear some noises. I don’t know what. And low voices, not Kim’s. Then I heard car doors slam outside and I ran to the window in time to see a black minivan peel off down the driveway. No license plates.”

  “How do you know she was in the car?”

  “I ran over to her place and the door was open and the cat was in the hall. Kim’s phone was on the floor. I called in an all-points bulletin, and I’m headed out now to see if I can find them.”

  Quaid ran a hand over his face. “Jesus, what can I do?”

  The background sounds coming through the phone were now the hollow sounds of the inside of a car and outside traffic.

  Dixie’s tone was steely. “Tell me what she’s been doing that might have brought this on.”

  “She still doesn’t believe Barevsky is a legitimate Interpol agent. Also, we’ve been working on an insurance fraud case at an Arabian barn and she might have found some stolen horses that belong to a friend of hers.”

  “Crap. And I told her about Wade Warren’s death and she’s worried that the crooks are going after Jasper Martin.”

  “God, Dix, if this has anything to do with that old theft case, Kim is in real danger. The players in this thing are real thugs.”

  “Yes, they are. Gotta go, I’ll keep you posted.”

  The line went dead and Quaid looked at the phone trembling in his hand. This was his fault. If he hadn’t involved Kim in the Wheeler case, none of this would have happened. But he hadn’t really believed that she would take the situation into her own hands.

  He stood up and paced the living room, thinking back to Kim’s near-death experience with Wade Warren last summer. Were these people any different? Were these the same people? Would they kill Kim for snooping? A hard lump grew in his throat and his jaw ached.

  ~ ~

  Images pressed against Kim’s brain, appearing and disappearing between the waves of pain at the base of her skull, waves that grew stronger as she struggled back to consciousness. A nasty odor permeated her nostrils. She inhaled a couple of times and realized it was the smell of the adhesive on the duct tape across her mouth. She tried to move, but her hands and feet were bound. A sharp pain stabbed through her hip bone grinding against the floor of the vehicle. Lights flashed through the windows and she tried to lift her head to see, but the movement generated a throb of pain and she closed her eyes. Men’s voices drifted from the front of the vehicle, but she couldn’t make out the words. She opened her eyes again. Looking around, she determined that she was inside a large vehicle. The minivan I saw this morning? These guys were looking for me.

  But who were “these guys”? Wheeler’s thugs? Barevsky’s thugs?

  More light flashed through the windows on both sides of the vehicle, various shades of whites and yellows. Kim guessed that they were traveling along a city street. How long had she been unconscious? Were they still in Columbus, or somewhere else? The vehicle stopped for a couple of minutes, then moved forward again. Kim lifted her head in time to see a traffic light as they crossed an intersection. If she could just lift her head a little higher, she might be able to make out some street signs. But what good would that do?

  She exhaled sharply through her nose and closed her eyes again. She’d just have to wait until they got to wherever they were taking her. Maybe by then she’d be able to do something about her situation. She tried to move her hands, but the duct tape held firmly. She’d think of something. Maybe.

  The vehicle veered to the right and Kim caught a glimpse of a familiar large green sign for the I-71 North entrance ramp. So we might still be in Columbus. The vehicle accelerated as it merged with the
traffic, tires whining on the pavement. Kim closed her eyes. Images of Garrett’s smiling face and Dixie’s sparkling blue eyes danced through Kim’s aching head. Fear curled through her chest. Would she ever see them again? And her beloved Bandit – what would happen to him? She’d done nothing about her plans to make a will and provisions for the future. Garrett will take care of him. With that comforting thought, darkness closed in and Kim drifted just below consciousness.

  The tire sounds changed, alerting Kim that the vehicle was leaving the interstate. Outside the windows, only darkness. Fear crowded in. Wherever they were taking her was obviously off the beaten path, somewhere they couldn’t be disturbed in whatever they had planned. Murmurs from the front seat drifted on the warm air and, at one point, a man laughed. The smell of cigarettes burned Kim’s nose, making her eyes water. Her head hurt and she closed her eyes, terrifying thoughts obliterating any hope of a rescue.

  What seemed like hours later, an man’s expletive broke the dark silence, then the car pulled over and stopped. Kim’s heart thundered against her ribs. I’m going to die now.

  Suddenly, the interior of the vehicle lit up with red and blue lights strobing through the darkness. The police! Kim tried kicking the side panel to alert them that she was inside, but she was wedged so tightly that she could do nothing more than push against the panel.

  A woman’s voice over a bull horn shattered the night.

  “Get out of the vehicle with your hands above your head!”

  Kim’s eyes widened. This was no ordinary traffic stop! Tears of relief streamed down her face.

  The sound of the car doors opening and muffled conversation, laced with swearing. More car doors slammed from another direction. Back-up patrol cars?

  Suddenly, the rear door of the minivan opened and strong hands helped Kim roll over. She scooted around and sat up, then gazed dumbfounded as her rescuer carefully peeled the duct tape away from her mouth.

  Deputy Dana Dexton grinned. “Well, well. You certainly do get yourself into some predicaments.” Her shoulder radio crackled and she pressed the button. “I got ’er, Dix. We’re up on Hogback Road by Alum Creek Lake, about two miles north of Salt Lick.”