Balancing Act: Kovak & Quaid Horse Mystery Series (Kovak & Quaid Horse Mysteries Book 2)

by Toni Leland

  As her mind plundered the possibilities, her gaze followed a figure, carrying several plastic bags, trudging through the snow. It was Quaid, and it looked as though he’d made good on his promise to go out and forage for food. Pleasure warmed her thoughts. Without seeming to, he’d taken over the job of looking after her comfort and welfare several times during their stay in Chicago. She glanced down at her leg. And many times more before that, when she’d been lost and without hope. A soft sigh escaped and she sat back. Did she really want to put herself in the position of having to deny Quaid’s attraction, simply to have a paycheck? Seemed like a recipe for disappointment.

  Someone rapped softly on her door and she eagerly hurried to open it. Quaid’s grin sent a jolt through the pit of her stomach. He looked positively adorable peering from the hood of his parka, his steamed-up glasses slipped down his nose so he could see over them. At that moment, she knew. Knew she wanted more with this man than a professional alliance could provide. Her pulse fluttered and she suddenly felt a little breathless. Such a big step.

  He stepped into the room and put the sacks on the bed. “This is a weird mix of stuff to eat, but it will do. Plus, there’s some beer.”

  Kim chuckled. “Good thing you’re around, otherwise I’d starve to death.” She moved toward the table. “Let me clear us a spot.”

  “Uh, no, that’s okay. I’ll just take one of the sandwiches and go back to my room. I’m whipped. And I need to spend tomorrow working with United Equine and making some realtor calls. I’m so far behind it’s not funny.” He shook his head. “And at this point, I think I’ll just drive straight to Dayton to pick up Ricky. I sure hope the roads open up sometime tomorrow.”

  Disappointment crashed through Kim’s chest as she watched him pick out a wrapped sandwich and a can of beer. Apparently, the attraction was one-sided.

  Chapter 48

  Quaid awakened from a deep sleep, his brain filled with snatches of a dream. A bad dream. He sat up, trying to shake off the images of his brother’s flag-draped casket and the team of horses slowly moving along a road in the cemetery. Had it really been four years already? Seemed like only a few months.

  Leaving the warmth of the bed, he padded toward the bathroom, surprised at how cold the room had gotten overnight. A moment later, he knew why. No power.

  Showering quickly in tepid water, he thought about all that he had to do. Check in with Harriett Post. Call Jenna. Locate a realtor to list his house. Figure out where he was going to live in Columbus. Maybe that could be a job for Dixie. He stopped soaping his chest. Kim could do it, but that didn’t seem like a great idea, getting her involved in his personal needs. He’d seen her expression when he’d excused himself from sharing dinner with her. The more he thought about the partnership thing, the more uneasy he grew. She was a good match for the business and he loved working with her, but maybe it was too much. Spending all his time trying to resist his attraction to her could be disastrous for the working relationship. He turned the shower on full, trying to wash away the other thoughts that crept in, destroying his rationale.

  Half an hour later, he walked down to the reception area and rang the bell on the counter.

  “Do you know how long the power has been out?”

  “The night clerk said four AM, but the power company crews are usually pretty good about getting it restored. The breakfast room is open. No coffee, but the other things are available.”

  Quaid walked across the hall. Kim sat in the corner, reading a newspaper. He selected a bagel and orange juice, then approached her table.

  “Good morning, I think.”

  She looked up, her smile nicer than he remembered. “Did you get any rest? I slept like I died. Yesterday was a long one.”

  “Yeah, we covered a lot of ground, didn’t we?”

  “Surprising amount. And I didn’t ever tell you about my conversation with Natalie. This whole thing has given her a new slant on life. She and Damon are getting back together. They’ll go forward with Dream Horse in the summer...” A tiny smile twitched the corners of her lovely mouth. “And I suspect there’ll be another baby in the future.”

  Quaid assessed her mood while she talked. If she had any problem about him distancing himself, she wasn’t showing it. Maybe she’d thought the same things about the partnership. If so, that would make it a lot easier to go forward.

  He cleared his throat. “What’s your plan for today?”

  “Don’t really have one, other than the hope we can go home at some point. Without the weather report, it’s hard to know.”

  “Yeah...hey, I can get it on the truck radio.”

  She started to laugh. “Jeez, I would never have thought of that. Duh.”

  “If the power is out for several hours, we might need to get warm too.” He shook his head. “What a pain in the butt.” He rumpled his napkin and stuck it in the juice cup. “Since you don’t have any pressing plans, maybe you could look at those insurance photographs for me.”

  Her face lit up. “Yes! Good idea. My laptop is fully charged and so am I.”

  Kim walked beside him as they left the breakfast room, exquisitely aware of his nearness. “Let me know what you find out, weather-wise. I’m going to check in with Dixie.”

  “Okay. I’ll copy those photos onto a flash drive after I read through the case to determine exactly what’s going on.”

  Kim watched him walk on down the hallway toward his room. She’d picked up on his subtle distancing efforts and, while it momentarily saddened her, she knew it was the right thing to do. Neither one of them could function properly if their collaborations were clouded by emotional entanglements. She did want the job – not only for the income and some sense of being productive, but also as a way to keep the fragile friendship alive. And they were friends. That part of their relationship had come first and should remain, no matter what. But is this the right way to do that?

  She shivered as she dug through her suitcase for something else to wear that would help her stay warm. A turtleneck and lightweight cardigan would have to do. Sunlight streamed through a crack in the drapes and she pulled them open, stunned at the brilliance of the sparkling snowscape. A minute later, she settled into a chair by the window and called Dixie.

  As always, Dixie’s tone was warm and loving. “Kim darlin’, how are things up there?”

  “Cold and without power. What’s it like at home?”

  “Storm came through during the night, dumped about six inches. It’s gorgeous out there now, and life seems to be up and running as usual. How about you? Any idea when you can come home?”

  “Quaid’s out in his truck, listening to the weather and road report, but it’s sunny and clear here, so I’m hopeful.”

  Dixie’s tone brightened. “So, how is it going with him? Have you two had a chance to get to know each other?”

  Kim chuckled. “Not like you’d hoped, but yes, we are gradually starting to get used to each other. A good thing, if we’re going to work together.”

  “You chose the job over Quaid? What’s the matter with you?”

  “You’re the one who told me to choose. What did you expect?”

  “Humph. I expected you to let your heart do the picking...well, hon, I hope it works out.”

  After they said goodbye, Kim stared out the window, no longer enchanted by the beauty of the snow. Dixie knew her well, had often commented on her strength and resilience. So why would Dixie expect her to make an emotional decision about a big change in her life? Didn’t Dixie realize that putting your heart in someone else’s hands made you vulnerable? A straight shot to hurt and disappointment? Peter had proven that so painfully and, once the initial shock had passed, Kim vowed never to let something like that happen again. And that included Garrett Quaid.

  Filled with resolve, she turned on her laptop and checked into her mail account. Not much activity since the power had gone out, but one message from the Southern California Thoroughbred Association popped up. It had come in th
e night before while they still had electricity. She began to smile as she read the note from Clark Jennings, the coordinator.

  Hi Kim,

  Hope this finds you well. I’ve been watching the weather out there and thought this might be a good time to offer you the show photographer job for our winter show. You did such a great job last summer – everyone wants you back.

  Dates are January 31, February 1 & 2. Same facility in Pasadena.

  Weather is gorgeous here in January! Hope to hear from you soon.

  Regards, Clark Jennings

  Kim hit the “reply” button, then remembered she couldn’t send the message.

  “I’ll just write it up and mail it later.”

  Hi Clark,

  Good to hear from you. I’d be delighted to do your show. Winter is a quiet time around here and I’ll definitely be tired of the snow by then!

  Talk to you soon, Kim Kovak

  Sitting back, she gazed out the window and smiled again. Another chance to check up on some loose ends.

  Chapter 49

  Kim’s laptop battery flashed incessantly and she was so cold she couldn’t think. Quaid had given her an update on the weather and road conditions a couple of hours earlier, but she hadn’t heard from him since then.

  He answered on the first ring.

  “Hey, I was just about to call you. My laptop died before I could copy those photos. Let’s go sit in the truck and warm up while the batteries charge.”

  A few minutes later, they walked across the newly plowed parking lot. Quaid unlocked the passenger door and Kim climbed in, eager to finally get warm. Once the engine started, Quaid plugged his laptop into the AC converter outlet on the console.

  Kim touched the cord. “Modern technology is so great. I can’t count the times my car charger saved my butt on location.” She turned sideways in the seat. “I talked to Dixie earlier. There’s not much snow at home, so once we get away from here, it should be a decent trip. Are you going to leave today?”

  “I’d intended to. The Interstate is open, according to the state police, but it’s single lane in many places. Under the best of conditions, it would take me almost six hours to get home. Much longer in this stuff.”

  “Home? Aren’t you going straight to your sister-in-law’s?”

  “No, Ricky came down with the flu last night, so he’s home from school and Jenna’s not going on her trip. Too bad, ’cause she was really looking forward to it.” He threw Kim a guilty glance. “Actually, I’m kinda relieved – I have a ton of stuff to do.”

  “Did you have a chance to look over the new case you got?”

  “Yes, I did. A breeder in western Pennsylvania is under scrutiny for possible falsification of registration documents. The photographs you’re going to examine have probably been digitally manipulated to match the physical description on the papers.”

  “For what reason?”

  He gave her a quizzical look. “To get more money for the foals, what else?”

  Kim thought for a moment. “How does the insurance company figure in?”

  “They require proper documentation before insuring any animal. A couple of clients have discovered that they don’t have what they thought they bought. When United Equine refused to cover the animals, the clients sued the breeder. Now United is looking at all policies and claims for horses from that farm.”

  “What about DNA testing?”

  “That’s where the red flags came up. The company requires the test before writing a policy.”

  Kim shook her head. “There sure seem to be a lot of underhanded activities in the horse business.” She brightened. “Oh, guess what? I just got another show photographer job in California. Same group, same place. I–” She stared at Quaid’s scowl. “What?”

  “We really need to talk seriously about time responsibilities. If you sign on with United Equine, I need to be sure you’ll be available when needed.”

  Kim took a deep breath. He was talking about putting her main source of income on hold – a profession she’d worked hard to build over the past five years. Could she just set it aside, turn down jobs in order to be available at a moment’s notice? She released a slow breath. No, she could not. This simply wouldn’t work.

  “Garrett, much as I’ve enjoyed working on these cases with you, I can’t walk away from the business I struggled so hard to achieve. Any involvement with the insurance company would have to be secondary.”

  His expression relaxed, and Kim wondered if she saw a tiny flash of relief pass through his eyes.

  He nodded. “I understand completely. I’m in the same boat, actually, but United Equine makes up such a large part of my income that I can’t afford not to take the job offer.” He grinned. “But you can still consult occasionally, right?”

  “Absolutely.”

  An hour later, thoroughly warmed up and with charged laptop in hand, Kim returned to her room. A devious plan began to form in her mind. Once Quaid was settled in Columbus, she’d make a point of staying in touch on a regular basis to keep tabs on what he was doing. Invite him to come visit Bandit and Commander. She’d also give him her schedule every couple of weeks so he’d know when he could call on her for help. This would work so much better than being tied to some piece of paper that dictated her life. And it might solve the problem of relationships in the workplace.

  A few minutes later, the lights came on and the heat kicked in. Through the window, she watched Quaid clear the snow from his truck. What was the real story about his broken engagement? Had it happened while he was in the Army? Or after he retired? Could his brother’s death have had anything to do with it? Conflict of job and personal life. That could mean several things, but the most likely scenario was a fiancée who wanted him to change his work to accommodate their life together. Just like Peter did.

  The past was the past, but sometimes it helped to understand the baggage it carried.

  Settling down with her laptop, she read through the copy of Natalie’s report again. What a twisted path they’d followed to get to the source of the crime. Not too different from the theft case, though. Sorting through the clues and suspects, leads that went nowhere but had to be followed, finding themselves in danger more than once – they’d been players in one of life’s big productions. Hadn’t Shakespeare said it perfectly? “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” And what a perfect setting: theater and ballet, a cast of talented and tormented actors, the age-old struggle of love and jealousy.

  Setting the multifaceted thoughts aside, she opened her e-mail program and re-read her note to Clark Jennings, then hit “send.”

  Chapter 50

  Quaid finished clearing the snow from his truck, then moved over to Kim’s BMW. The temperature had risen considerably and everything was beginning to drip. They should both be able to head home first thing in the morning. He might even leave before dawn.

  As he brushed off the snow, he thought about their discussion of working together. The relief he’d felt when Kim had decided against the job stunned him. In retrospect, it was the best solution to what could have become an extremely sticky situation. Kim Kovak marched to her own drummer, and that would never work when someone higher up was telling her what to do and when. He grinned, envisioning the battles they’d have waged against each other. Not the kind of relationship he wanted with her. He abruptly stopped brushing the windshield. What kind of relationship did he want? Did he know? He shook his head and moved around to the other side of the car. At least she didn’t seem like the kind of person who’d ask him to change to accommodate her. He smiled. And she’d called him “Garrett.”

  Thirty minutes later, back in his room, he jumped in the shower to warm up. The lights were on and the room was more comfortable than when he’d left it. Even though Kim wouldn’t officially be working with him, he wanted her to take a look at those photos. If anyone could tell that they’d been manipulated, she’d be the one.

  The photos copied quickly
from his laptop to the flash-drive, and he pocketed it, reminding himself to actually give it to Kim. His e-mail in-box held several messages, none of which needed immediate attention, but the junk folder contained a yellow flagged e-mail from a “ukrainestar.” Quaid frowned. The subject line read “dancers.”

  He sat back and thought for a minute. Most likely, this was spam, but the sender’s name and the reference to dancers caused him to hesitate before hitting “delete.” He sat forward, his finger poised over the link.

  The e-mail opened and he read the message from Sophia Barevsky: Mr. Quaid, in case you ever want to get together, here is my phone number. Also, here is a photo, so you can remember me.”

  Quaid chuckled. The Ukrainian acrobat wasn’t a woman he’d soon forget. The photo had obviously been taken within the last year or so, and she looked as glamorous as ever.

  Kim opened a search window in Google. Sophia Barevsky was just too conveniently involved in horse brokering, and Kim intended to find out more about the flamboyant acrobat.

  She wasn’t disappointed.

  Sophia Barevsky had quite the history. Kim scrolled through the hundreds of hits proclaiming the acrobat’s prowess over the years. According to what Kim could piece together, Barevsky would be about 40 now. Seemed a little old to be in the acrobatic business, but apparently, circus performers and the like plied their trade well into their sixties. Kim smiled wryly. At only fifty, she herself could barely climb onto her horse!