by Toni Leland
“I was only down in the ditch maybe twenty minutes.”
“That’s plenty of time to unload a horse.” Kim remembered the syringe cap. “Had you given the mare anything?”
“No, I wasn’t sure what was wrong with her.”
Kim bit her lip. It looked as though someone else had been in that mare’s stall—someone who knew their way around Teri’s barn.
Defeat colored Teri’s voice. “We’re putting out an announcement to ask if anyone saw two trailers on that road at the same time.” Her voice caught. “I just can’t believe all this crap is happening to me. You can’t imagine the conversation I just had with the mare’s owner.”
“I think I can. And I’m sure sorry, but maybe everything will turn out okay.”
As she said it, Kim knew it was a lie. Teri Fortune’s mis-fortune would be her undoing.
“Maybe. But tell me more about the information you got on the Talisman twin.”
“How ’bout I come by in the morning and show you? We can figure out what to do then.”
“Hope I’m still standing.”
Kim chuckled. “You will be.”
~~
Feeling like she’d been up all night, Kim stumbled into the kitchen the next morning. She hadn’t slept well. Too many thoughts racing through her brain. Miss Kitty was rested and ready for breakfast and love. But not in that order. She meowed over and over while Kim made coffee, then the minute Kim sat down, the cat leaped onto her lap.
“You love me more than food?”
The cat rewarded her with a wet nose-tap and a kiss on the chin. Warmth spread through Kim’s heart. Some things were simply priceless. Unconditional love was one of them. It didn’t seem to matter whether they were cats or dogs or horses, if you treated them right, they’d be loyal forever. Unlike some humans. Sadness edged into her mind.
Bandit had obviously had a loving home and doting owners. Though displaced, he had a trusting personality and kind eyes. Kim thought about Jasper’s description of Talisman. A horse with those temperament problems was usually the victim of abuse. Was Jasper a heavy-handed trainer, using force and fear to get the required results? How could people conceive such cruelty? A sudden image smashed into her brain. Her wonderful police horse, Red, had been a gentle giant, strong and solid, afraid of nothing. Trusting her to keep him safe. And she hadn’t lived up to that trust.
The images haunted her life. Why such a senseless act to an innocent animal? The one wielding the gun was the real animal. And where was he now?
She exhaled sharply and stood up, depositing Miss Kitty on the couch. She had work to do before her trip to California, not the least of which was figuring out how to get Bandit back to his rightful owners.
~~
Kim entered Teri’s barn and stopped for a moment to listen to the pleasant sound of horses munching. The air was still cool inside, and no one seemed to be around.
“Teri? Hello?”
She glanced at the stalls. Only six horses in twelve stalls. Had Teri lost that many customers? Moving down the aisle, she headed toward the back door of the barn. Teri might be turning a horse out. Only one horse grazed in the morning sun. Teri was not to be seen. Kim headed toward the hay barn. The doors were ajar.
Not wanting to startle the girl, Kim called out. “Teri? Hey, you in there?”
She stepped through the doors and squinted into the dim interior. As her eyes adjusted, her heart stopped and she couldn’t get a breath.
Teri Fortune hung motionless from the rafters.
Chapter 17
“Dixie, oh my God, Teri Fortune committed suicide!”
“The woman in Delaware, the one with the switched horses?”
Kim closed her eyes, still reeling from the events of the past two hours.
“Yes. She was in a lot more trouble than that…are you busy right now?”
“For you? Never.”
“I’m just leaving the farm. The police are here and the coroner is working on her.” A band tightened around Kim’s chest. “I’ve given my statement, but I need to be with someone sane right now.”
“Meet me at the coffee shop in Centerville. I’m just leaving my mom’s.”
Kim closed the phone, then sat quietly in her car, willing the trembling to stop. She watched the people who were tasked with inspecting a possible crime scene. They came and went in a matter-of-fact manner, unaware of the turmoil that might lay behind Teri’s death. At least, not right now. Kim closed her eyes, trying to shut out the vision of a small body dangling from a rope. In all her years of police work, she’d never become immune to the impact of death. Shaking off the bad feelings, she started the car and drove down the lane. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to bask in the comfort of Dixie’s love.
Dixie was waiting in the parking lot outside the coffee shop. As soon as Kim pulled in, Dixie hurried over and hugged her tightly.
“Are you okay?”
Kim leaned against her friend, grateful for the chance to simply be needy. “I will be. It was just such a shock…I’m glad you had time to meet me.”
They entered the coffee shop and took a booth.
“Tell me what’s going on. Everything,” said Dixie.
Kim explained her research into the missing horses and about finding Bandit. Dixie nodded, but didn’t interrupt. Then Kim related the stunning story of the theft of Teri’s mare on the way to the vet.
Dixie nodded. “Remember I told you horse theft was big right now. The bastards are getting more cunning by the month.”
Kim nodded, thinking about the few minutes she’d had to herself after finding Teri. She’d called 911, then left the hay barn and sought the comfort of the warm bodies in the main barn. While she waited for the police to arrive, she’d returned to Teri’s office and examined the photographs on the walls. Had she expected to see the mystery couple somewhere in that collection? Possibly, but mostly she’d wanted to confirm to herself that Teri was a good person, a skillful horsewoman, that she’d had nothing to do with the chilling strategy of an organized theft ring.
Dixie spoke softly. “Anything else you want to share?”
“I was just thinking about Teri, and my determination that she not be involved in any of the bad stuff, but I’m not sure...”
“You can’t ever know the extent of someone’s private hell. She would certainly be a person of interest in these thefts.”
“Earlier this morning, I leafed through her mail. There were at least a dozen pieces from a mortgage company and the local bank. I know she’d lost customers lately and was frantic about that.”
Dixie stirred her coffee. “If she was about to lose her barn and had no way to pay her bills, she might have seriously considered something illegal, or at least unscrupulous.”
“But if she was in such desperate straits, maybe she just gave up. Ended it.”
“Or someone ended it for her.”
~~
Quaid listened to his sister-in-law’s voice, heard the worry that edged the words.
“Ricky’s not talking much today. You thought he’d be sorry when he got home yesterday, but he was pretty obnoxious. I did what you said, didn’t press him. Garrett, I’m scared. I think he might be deeply depressed.”
“Call the base and make that appointment. I’ll come by this morning and talk to him, if you’d like. I think he needs some help, both from professionals and us.”
Quaid hung up and flicked on the television to listen to the early morning news while he made oatmeal. The girl reporting the news gave an update on a neighborhood dispute, then she moved on to a breaking story. Quaid glanced at the screen and stopped stirring the pot. The big news of the morning was an apparent suicide at a horse barn in Delaware. The cameras zoomed in on the distinctive white barn at Fortune Farms and Quaid moved closer to the set to listen.
“You have to be kidding me!”
But no one was kidding. The woman at the center of Quaid’s investigation was dead.
A strong odor drifted on
the air and he ran back into the kitchen to snatch the smoking pan off the burner and throw it into the sink. He didn’t have time to eat anyway.
Ten minutes later, he called Jenna. “Hey, listen, I can’t come by until later. I have an emergency with a case.”
“I already told Ricky you were coming. Do I really have to tell him you’re blowing him off?”
“Jenna, I have to handle this situation right now. I’ll come as soon as I can. Tell him I’m sorry.”
Guilt surged through Quaid’s chest as he hung up. One of the problems he’d always had with the family was his dedication to work before everything else. Probably not a great lifestyle, but it kept the demons at bay. Mostly.
He did a quick calculation. It was two and a half hours to Fortune Farms. By the time he got there, they’d have it buttoned up and no one would be around to answer questions. The local police probably wouldn’t give him the time of day. Would they leave someone to watch over the place? And what about all those horses? Who would take care of them? He hadn’t yet delved into Teri Fortune’s personal life, so he had no idea if she had family or anyone to step in. Roberta Dodge had mentioned a theory about Teri’s married lover, which might preclude a Mister Fortune. Or not.
Quaid’s phone rang and he stared at Kim Kovak’s number.
Her voice was softer than he remembered. “Mr. Quaid? This is Kim Kovak. I have really bad news.”
“I heard it on television. You know anything about it?”
Kim hesitated. “I was there. I have some theories.”
“You willing to share?”
“Yes, but not on the phone. Can we meet somewhere?”
“I can be in New Albany in a couple of hours. Give me an address.”
Quaid hung up and exhaled sharply. Why had Kim Kovak been at Teri’s barn so early in the morning? And why wouldn’t she talk about it on the phone? Possibly, her undercover case had something to do with his own investigation. Just what he needed.
~~
Kim drove along the winding road through the condo complex, slowing down to ease over several speed bumps aptly named “Velocity Moderators.” The closer she got to her apartment, the more she wished she’d arranged to meet Garrett Quaid in some public place. But her physical and mental resources had been at an all-time low and she’d simply wanted to go home.
Besides, she still had to pack for her trip. Her shoulders sagged. All her enthusiasm for attending the California show had waned, and the excitement of continuing her investigation of the thefts now seemed like a foolish waste of time. It wasn’t her job. The best of the best was on the case and she had no doubt that he’d already figured out all the same things she had.
She let herself into the house and kicked off her shoes. She would give all her information and theories to Quaid and just go back to being a camera geek. She was still a little amazed at how easily Dixie had convinced her to call Quaid about the suicide. Kim was well aware of her own tendency to be a loner and hold things close, but Dixie’s view of the matter made so much sense. She’d known that Kim was in no mental condition to deal with the situation alone.
Outside, a car door slammed and Kim moved to the deck slider. Quaid’s blue truck sat next to her own car and, a minute later, the doorbell rang. She moved down the hall, stopping briefly to check her reflection in the round mirror next to the coat closet.
Quaid’s nice, lopsided smile sent creases rippling across his cheeks. “Hi.”
He came through the door and stopped. “Thanks for calling me. It was quite a jolt to see the news this morning.”
“I was the one who found her.”
“Oh, Jeez. Really?” His face reflected sincere empathy.
Kim closed the door and gestured toward the living room. “Come on in. I just made some coffee.”
He sat down on the couch and took out his notebook and pen. “You mentioned some theories.”
“Yes, but first I’d like to know where you are in the Talisman investigation.”
He gave her a quizzical look. “Why does that matter? Will it interfere with your undercover work?”
For a moment, Kim was speechless. He actually thought she was still working as a cop. Could she play that to her advantage?
She picked up her coffee mug and composed her features. “Whatever do you mean?”
“Don’t give me that. I know about you. And I know that police work runs in the blood, even after retirement. But you never actually retired, did you?”
“Mr. Quaid, do you want to hear what I have to say, or are you just interested in things that are none of your business?”
The friendliness left his face. “There’s a good chance that Teri Fortune was mixed up in the show horse switch. Do you know anything about it?”
Kim decided to play nice. “I wondered the same thing for awhile, but I had spent quite a bit of time with her and my instincts say she was a victim.” A hard knot formed in Kim’s throat. “Now that she’s dead, I’m not so sure.”
“Tell me about this morning. Everything.”
Like a documentary, Kim outlined every step she’d taken leading up to finding Teri in the hay barn. Quaid wrote it down as fast as she talked. When she got to the part about calling 911, she stopped and he looked up.
“What did you do while you waited for the police to show up?”
“I looked around her office. I didn’t open anything or go through any files, but I’m almost positive she was in deep financial trouble. Clients were pulling horses out of her barn almost daily, and she had let all the barn help go. The poor girl was doing all the work by herself. She must have been exhausted.”
Quaid nodded, continuing to write.
Kim leaned forward. “Tell me what you’ve found out about her.”
“I spoke to the woman who used to manage the barn. She’d been fired for some small infraction, and had no good feelings for Teri. I’m considering her as a possible accomplice in the switch, although her description of the horse’s personality doesn’t match the one Jasper gave us.”
“I know! And I found out who that horse belongs to. That’s why I went to Teri’s so early this morning.”
“Hold on a minute, what do you mean?”
“I found a record of a stolen horse matching the description of Talisman. His name is Bandit and he was stolen six months ago. He is an absolute twin to Jasper’s horse.”
“Can you be sure it’s the same horse?”
“I think so. I didn’t have a chance this morning because, well, you know. But the horse responded to his name. Even without positive identification, I know this is the same horse.”
She rose and retrieved the flyer from her shoulder bag and handed it to Quaid.
He whistled. “Amazing. But we need to verify his identity.” He looked up. “Any chance you’d like to take a ride back up to Delaware?” He looked at the flyer again. “Stolen in Texas. Now isn’t that just handy.”
Kim tilted her head. “How so?”
He grinned. “I’ll tell you after we visit Bandit.”
A few minutes later, they stood in Kim’s driveway after agreeing to take both vehicles. Kim stowed her camera bag on the passenger side of her car. Quaid opened the door to his truck, then glanced over at Dixie’s door.
“So this is where your friend lives, huh?”
Kim straightened up and looked at him. He had a goofy expression, and that crooked smile outed his thoughts. She closed the car door and walked over to stand beside him.
“You do know she’s gay?”
He blinked, then snorted. “Oh, yeah, right.”
~~
Quaid glanced in the rearview mirror. His experience with women wasn’t all that broad, but he hadn’t expected Kovak to come up with such an outright lie about her friend. Did she really think he’d believe her? Was it a ploy to destroy his attention on Dixie so that Kovak herself could have a go? The thought was intriguing.
In all fairness, he’d seen a side of her that surprised him. She’d been
genuinely stunned by the death of the horse healer. Now that he thought about it, she hadn’t directly answered his question about her police work. He slammed his hand on the steering wheel. She said she had some theories to share. About what? If she wasn’t undercover, why would she have theories?
He watched the black Beemer in the rearview mirror. With her solid law enforcement background, he’d have to be a lot cagier in his approach if he wanted genuine answers.
Chapter 18
Kim stared at the truck taillights and scowled. The man was a real boob. So arrogant, like he was the only one in the world who could figure stuff out. Well, let him. As of now, she had no intention of sharing her ideas. The two of them had absolutely nothing in common and a personality conflict on top of that. As far as she was concerned, this trip to Fortune Farms was simply a way to get Bandit identified and back to his rightful owner.
By the time they arrived, the parking area was deserted and the police long-gone, but yellow crime-scene tape cordoned off the barn doors. Kim got out of her car and glanced around. The police hadn’t even left an officer to stand guard.
Quaid waited by the truck. “Hope they don’t come back while we’re here.”
“Not a problem, I’ll just tell them I’m here to feed the horses.” She stopped short. “Speaking of which, someone will need to take care of them until…well, I’m not sure what. I don’t think Teri has any family.”
“I’m sure the county will handle it.”
Kim pulled out the rumpled flyer. “Let’s go see Mr. Bandit.”
Horses whinnied as they entered the barn. They walked toward the end stall and the handsome brown head popped over the door.
“Hey, Bandit!”
He let loose with a long, loud whinny and bobbed his head.
Quaid laughed. “Well, that’s a start. Now, what is the positive identification mark?”
“He supposedly has a mark on the inside of his right hind hoof. An indented white cross.”
Quaid stepped aside. “You go ahead. I have some unhappy experiences with the hind end of a horse.”
Kim entered the stall and stroked Bandit’s neck. “Hey, big boy, we’re gonna get you home real soon.”
