I set the glass of wine on the side table and with a long sigh dropped onto the couch.
Suddenly, I’d lost the desire to do anything but sit.
Kai joined me a moment later and let me space out for a few minutes.
Moss went to check on his kitten. Voodoo was still under the bed. Not because she was afraid, but because she’d discovered how well her claws penetrated the filmy fabric underside of the box spring.
And was tearing into it like a baby velociraptor.
At least it was my mattress. She could rip it to shreds. I didn’t care.
After not nearly enough downtime, I heard Kai say, “Grace?”
With a nod, I straightened, retrieved my glass of wine, and angled to face him. “I should start at the beginning, right?”
He nodded. “From when you got there.”
I made it through most of the story before he started asking questions.
“So you broke into Dr. Simon’s house to rescue Roscoe?”
“Technically, as a consultant for animal control, I’m approved to employ certain tactics in the rescue of an at-risk animal.”
“You didn’t just rescue the dog. You snooped.”
“That wasn’t the plan, I swear.” I lifted my right hand to emphasize my solemnness.
“Why did you go through her purse?”
“I don’t know. It was there. What was I supposed to do?”
“Call the police.”
“I couldn’t. No phones, remember? When I realized her wallet and cash and all that was in her purse, I decided to look around and make sure something hadn’t happened to her. Which of course it had.”
“Explain again what Roscoe told you.”
“It was more show than tell, unfortunately.”
“Take your time.”
I didn’t want to remember what the papillon had shown me, but after taking a fortifying sip of wine, I did as Kai asked.
“I don’t know how it started. Roscoe’s memory was triggered by the sound of Mr. Jingles and Cowboy talking.”
“Those are the bad guys?”
After explaining how I’d come up with the nicknames, I continued, “I heard them arguing with Dr. Simon, or Simone, or whoever she was. They were angry, especially Cowboy. Dr. Simon was”—I squeezed my eyes shut—“she was crying. Begging for her life. It didn’t matter.”
“It’s okay. Come here.” Kai set my wine aside and pulled me into a hug. I sank into the warmth of his embrace and drew in a shaky breath. He smelled wonderful. I indulged for a minute, then eased away.
I still hadn’t made it to Logan’s appearance. I knew that part of the story wasn’t going to make Kai happy, but there wasn’t anything I could do about that.
“There’s more,” I said, looking him in the eye. “Logan was there. Not with Cowboy or Mr. Jingles,” I hastened to clarify, as if that would mitigate things. “He was in Bluebell, waiting for me.”
“Logan.”
I nodded. “He scared the crap out of me.”
Kai didn’t say anything for several seconds. “And?”
“He told me the men were dangerous. Like I couldn’t have figured that out.” I went over what Logan had told me.
“Another warning?”
I nodded. “I think he was more interested in why they’d been following me. I told him I didn’t know. The only connection is Heart.”
“Does Logan know who these men are?”
“I got that impression, but he wouldn’t tell me. He said it would get me killed and then friggin’ Houdinied on me.”
Kai shook his head then leaned back to gaze up at the ceiling—which meant he was either deep in thought or trying to get his temper under control.
I was going to guess the latter.
When he still hadn’t responded after a full minute, I said, “What?” I was too tired and upset to hold my tongue—not that I’d ever needed an excuse.
Kai looked at me. “I don’t like that Logan has developed this interest in you.”
“I don’t think he’d hurt me, if it makes you feel any better.”
“It doesn’t.”
Kai searched my face, eyes fierce and filled with an emotion I couldn’t name but could certainly feel. He reached out and tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. The gesture was so tender and at odds with the intensity of his expression, I was still trying to wrap my head around whether or not he was mad when he slid his fingers through my hair, clasped the back of my neck, and kissed me.
Heat sparked between us and before I was able to form a more coherent thought than Yes! we were horizontal, tearing at each other’s clothes.
Kai tugged his shirt over his head, tossing it aside to expose the smooth, rippling muscles of his torso.
I’d pulled him down into another kiss when I heard Roscoe let out a long, pitiful whimper. Without thinking, I mentally reached out to quiet the little dog.
Bad idea.
Ever have a disturbing image pop into your head at the worst possible moment?
The instant my thoughts connected with Roscoe’s, I was hit with a playback of Dr. Simon’s murder.
I sucked in a shocked breath and shoved at Kai’s chest.
He jerked back.
“What? What’s wrong?” he asked as I scrambled away. I yanked my mental shield up to try to cut off the memory, but it was too late. Images bounced through my head. Screams echoed. I clapped my hand over my mouth and tried not to throw up.
“Grace, are you having a panic attack?” He sounded almost as horrified as I felt.
I pressed my eyes shut, shook my head, and fought off a wave of nausea. I couldn’t let Kai think he’d done this to me. I held my hand out to him.
He took it, eased closer, and then touched my cheek with whisper-soft fingers.
“It’s okay. You can talk to me, baby.”
My heart trembled a little at his words. He’d called me baby, and—Lord help me—I liked it.
I offered him as much of a smile as I could. “Nothing spoils the mood like the flashback of a murder.”
“Come here.” He pulled me into his arms and froze.
A low growl vibrated only inches away.
Moss.
He must have gotten a dose of my terror and decided Kai was to blame before I’d shielded my mind.
I tried to reassure Moss. It’s okay.
Guard.
I eased away and slightly in front of Kai. My dog’s lips were folded back in a very serious display of fangs and intent.
Kai’s not hurting me, see?
The growl subsided. Moss leaned in to sniff my face.
Okay?
I’ll be fine, I promised with a pat.
He gave Kai a warning look before turning to walk away.
“Well, that was . . . different,” Kai said once Moss had disappeared down the hall.
“I’m sorry.” I buried my face in my hands, beyond embarrassed. “By the time I realized Roscoe was having a nightmare, it was too late.”
I looked at Kai but he wasn’t paying attention.
“Should she be doing that?” He pointed over my shoulder.
I shifted around to see Nelly standing on her hind legs, both forehooves planted on the wall as she nibbled at the tasseled curtain tieback.
“No—” I stood and made a move to take it away, but the goat managed to yank the tassel free before I made it. “Give me that!” I wrested the maimed tangle of threads out of her mouth.
“Emma’s going to kill me.”
“Can we put Nelly somewhere else?” Kai asked. “Somewhere less edible.”
I nodded. “On the deck.”
He stood and pulled on his shirt. “Why don’t you let me help, then we can talk a little more.”
It didn’t take long. Goats love
d to climb but the outdoor furniture was sturdy enough to handle it. After bringing anything nibbleable inside and moving the potted plants into the hall bath, I lugged Moss’s dog bed outside, got Nelly a bucket of fresh water, and then added a bowl for Roscoe when it became evident he wanted to bunk with his new buddy.
Wes returned my call just as I was closing the sliding glass door.
I told him what had happened, assured him I was safe, and he promised he’d be there in fifteen minutes.
It took him ten.
Being the only one of us who’d skipped dinner, I ate leftover Chinese and tried to remember every detail.
“Do you have any idea when the murder took place?” Wes asked.
“I don’t know. A couple days, maybe. Gator Lady—the neighbor—she might have a better idea. I’m only going by how hungry Roscoe was and how many accidents he had.”
“Hopefully, someone has reported her missing. Then we can go over there and take a look,” Kai said.
“I don’t know if she’s the kind of woman who’d be reported missing,” I said and told them about the IDs and diplomas.
“Can you remember any of the names she used?” Wes asked, sliding the notepad he’d been using toward me.
I tried, but could remember only Caroline and Simone.
“It’s okay,” Kai said. “Con artists tend to use names that are easy to forget.”
“So who are these people?”
“Most criminals aren’t masterminds,” Kai said, “hatching plots from poorly lit basement lairs. They’re just thugs.”
“So I’m giving them more credit than I should?”
“In the brains department? Probably. People like this are devious and that can seem like cunning, but really, a thug is just a thug.”
“How do we find these thugs?” Wes asked.
“I ran the plate on the car they were driving,” Kai said. “It came back registered to a man from Boca Raton. But I’m still running it down.”
“What about Dr. Simon?” I asked. “I’m telling you what I saw and heard. Even if you leave Roscoe out of it, doesn’t it count for something that these men were talking about getting rid of her and her stuff?”
“It does with us,” Wes said.
But that didn’t make me feel any better.
Neither did listening to Kai and Wes discuss theories. I was exhausted.
I didn’t want to think about murderers and con artists. I didn’t want to talk anymore.
“I’m going to grab a shower,” I announced to no one in particular. Both men paused to look at me but neither protested, so I headed into my bathroom, stripped, and stood under the hot water until my fingers began to prune.
I wrapped myself in the superfluffy robe Emma had given me for my birthday and was twisting my hair into a towel when there was a knock at the door.
Steam from the bath rolled out as I open the door.
“You don’t look much better,” Wes said.
“Thanks,” I grumbled, but knew he was right. “I don’t think I can talk anymore tonight,” I told him as I sank onto my bed.
From the other side of the bedroom door, Moss let out a soft woof.
Without me having to ask, Wes turned and opened the door. Moss trotted in, Voodoo on his heels.
I picked up the kitten and curled onto my side.
Happy kitty vibes began thrumming into me at once.
“Kai says he’s staying on the couch. Are you okay with that?”
I nodded.
“Do you need anything before I go?”
“Kai needs a blanket.” I started to get up but Wes stopped me by leaning over to kiss my forehead. “I’ll take care of it. Rest.”
I did a quick mental check on Nelly and Roscoe—both were sound asleep.
Moments later, so was I.
• • •
The next morning I pulled myself out of bed and, still half asleep, shuffled toward the kitchen. I stopped when I saw Kai foraging through the cabinets. Suddenly, I was wide awake.
Shirtless, barefoot, hair mussed with sleep—he looked good.
Roscoe chose that moment to prance up to me. I glared down at the little dog.
“You’re lucky you’re cute.”
Cuddle!
I scooped the papillon into my arms—it wasn’t like he wanted to have a murderous nightmare and booty-block me.
“Were you talking to me or the dog?” Kai asked.
“Both.” I stepped all the way into the kitchen. “Are you making me breakfast?”
“Looking for coffee.”
“Even better.” I got the bag out of the freezer. And enjoyed watching him go through the steps.
“Moss didn’t want to go outside with me,” Kai said as he worked on the coffee. “But I put food in his bowl and gave Roscoe some, too. I opened a can of cat food for Voodoo. I wasn’t sure about Nelly.”
“I have some hay in Bluebell, but she’d probably like to go out and browse a bit. I need to take the dogs out, too.”
“Let me change into my running gear and I’ll come with you.”
“Running gear?”
“I always have a bag with gym shorts and a change of clothes.”
“Smart,” I said, thinking of my unprovisioned backpack.
Kai retrieved his bag from the SUV while I hunted up a couple of spare leashes.
Twenty minutes later, I was coxing Nelly off the grass while Kai waited with Moss and Roscoe when disaster struck.
“What in the name of—Is . . . is that a goat?”
Mr. Cavanaugh, our less-than-magnanimous, somewhat cantankerous, complete ass of a neighbor.
As far as I could tell, he disliked just about everything. Especially yours truly and any animals within twenty miles of his person.
I kept my back to the man as he stammered down the stairs.
Kai saw my pained expression, but seemed to be waiting for me to say something. Probably because Cavanaugh was talking to me.
“I’m speaking to you!”
I turned to face him. “Oh—Mr. Cavanagh, hi! Isn’t this great?” I motioned to Nelly.
“Great? It’s . . . It’s . . .” He seemed to be quivering with too much rage to force more words out.
“This is Nelly, she—”
“It’s a goat!”
“Yes!” I said with so much forced enthusiasm I thought my face would break. “She is part of our new lawn maintenance program.”
“What?”
“Didn’t you get the ballot from the condo association? It was voted in last month.”
“Ballot? What ballot?” His liver-spotted face started turning purple.
“Nelly is much more economical and better for the environment than traditional lawn equipment.”
“You can’t keep a goat here. I won’t stand for it!”
“Oh, she’s just here to trim the grass.”
He narrowed his rummy eyes. “I’ll be looking into this.”
“Sure.”
“And if I see that animal going in or out of your unit, the board will hear about it.”
He gave me the stink eye all the way to his car.
“Have a great day, sir,” I called out and waved as he drove out of the lot.
“The lawn maintenance program?” Kai asked as we walked up the stairs.
“By the time he finds out the truth, Nelly will be back at R-n-R. Assuming I can get an escort.”
“I’ll go with you tomorrow.”
Kai’s phone was ringing when we walked in the door. I left him to take the call while I put Nelly out on the back deck with some hay and fresh water.
Roscoe and Voodoo had become fast friends and were chasing each other around the living room when I came inside.
I headed for the coffeepot.
“We found the sedan,” Kai said a minute later when he was off the phone. “The plates are a match.”
“That’s good, right?”
“It was dumped and set on fire. Charlie’s on his way to take a look, but Jake thinks it’s a total loss. They did a good job torching it.”
“So, no evidence?”
“Probably not. And worse, we don’t know what they’re driving.”
“Yes, we do,” I said, straightening away from the counter. “Dr. Simon. They took her car. I remember them saying they needed to drive it when the neighbor wouldn’t be watching.”
“I’ll let Jake know. I’ve got to run home and get ready for work but I’ll call as soon as I hear something.” Kai picked up his bag and I walked him through the foyer to the front door. He stopped before opening it. “Grace, promise you’ll stay inside unless someone is with you. And by someone I don’t mean Moss.”
“Okay, but isn’t there something I can do? Give a statement or anything.”
He regarded me with an odd expression. As if a thought was just dawning on him.
“Kai?”
His attention snapped back into focus. “What about talking to Nelly? She’s been wandering all over the area, maybe she saw what happed to Heart.”
My lips parted in a surprised smile. “That’s a great idea. You’re a genius.” I stood on tiptoe and kissed him. I’d meant it as a quick, appreciative peck but once my lips touched his, it was like an electromagnet had been charged.
My arms came up to snake around his neck while his locked around my torso. We eased away from each other a few seconds later, a little breathless.
“This has got to stop, Grace.”
I tried to blink away the brain fog. Not sure of his meaning, I said, “Um . . . it does?”
“Yeah, it does.” His voice was a rough-hewn whisper. “If we don’t finish this soon I’m going to lose my mind.”
“Oh, right.” My knees had gone suspiciously weak as his intentions became clear.
“Um . . . maybe we can wait until my sister is cleared of murder?” I asked only half sarcastically.
“I’m not making any promises.” He gave me one last scorching look and added, “Use the dead bolt.” Then shut the door.
I engaged the lock, then turned to rest my back against the door. Nelly stood watching me from a few feet away.
Horse of a Different Killer (A Call of the Wilde Mystery Book 3) Page 23
