by Toni Leland
She hurried into the house and headed for her studio. Bandit’s owners lived in Texas, so how could they get to Ohio before Quaid figured out what she was up to? It would depend on how much they wanted Bandit back. But what if they’d moved on? No longer cared, no longer wanted him?
An elderly man answered and Kim swallowed hard.
“This is Kim Kovak in Ohio. I’ve found your horse, Bandit.”
“Oh, my goodness, oh.” He fell silent for a moment. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, he’s listed as missing on a stolen horse website. Didn’t you know?”
The old man’s voice cracked. “I guess my wife must have done that.”
Kim spoke gently. “May I speak to her?”
“She passed away two weeks ago...on her 75th birthday.”
Kim let out a soft breath. “I’m so sorry.”
“Yes, I am too. We were married thirty-eight years. Polly, that’s my wife, spent her life rescuing horses no one else wanted. Saved a lot of ’em from the killers.” He sighed. “I’m not sure now what to do with them.”
Kim closed her eyes, joy surging through her heart. He certainly wouldn’t want Bandit back.
The man’s voice became stronger. “Polly used to let the local pony club kids show the horses. It helped attract folks who might want to buy or adopt one of them. Bandit was stolen from one of those shows. Polly was devastated.”
“I can imagine she was. Would you like me to arrange to send Bandit back to you?”
Kim held her breath.
“Does he have a good home now?”
“Well, it’s complicated, Sir. He’s in excellent health, but–”
“I’ll just ask you this, Ma’am, straight from the heart. Please find a good home for that horse. To honor my wife and her lifelong dedication. Can you do that?”
Kim’s throat ached. “I’ll do my best, Sir.”
She hung up and began to tremble. The horse in Teri’s barn was definitely Bandit, and he’d arrived there through a careful and cunning scheme. All the more reason to delay Quaid’s case closure and save that horse from again becoming a pawn in a treacherous game.
She pressed star-67 to hide her number, then dialed and put the phone to her ear.
“Mr. Fortune? This is United Equine Assurance calling. Our case files on Jasper Martin won’t be closed until next week. I’m calling to instruct you that the horse, Talisman, is not to be released to anyone until we send you written permission.”
“Some broad from your firm was just here taking pictures. She said it would close the case. I can’t keep spending money on feed for these nags, so make it fast.”
I am NOT a broad!
She kept the irritation out of her tone. “We’ll let you know the minute we finalize the claim. Thank you so much for your patience.” She swallowed hard. “You can bill the insurance company for the board fees, if that helps.” Oh, boy, this could get me in a lot of trouble!
Fortune’s tone warmed. “Oh, alright then.”
Kim almost laughed out loud. What was it with people who were so consumed by money?
She hung up, hoping Reggie Fortune would not check to see if the call was real. Why would he? He only wanted to be rid of the problems so he could sell that property for a tidy piece of change.
She glanced at her packed bag lying on the bed. She really needed a break. Could she afford to take a couple of days, then get back on this? Could she afford not to?
She grabbed the phone again and dialed Dixie. “Hey, I’m packed and ready to go. Meet you at the car.”
For a moment, she gazed at the phone, recognizing an obvious solution to her dilemma. She set the phone in the charger, picked up her bag, and walked out the door.
~~
Quaid spent some time fuming about Kovak’s attitude, but eventually put it out of his mind and began thinking about his upcoming trip with Ricky. Now that the insurance case was history, Quaid could take as much time off as he wanted. He looked at a calendar. By the weekend, the Smithsonian would be a zoo and not much fun at all. If they could get to D.C. tomorrow, they’d have a more leisurely visit. He pulled up MapQuest and checked the driving time. A little over six hours.
He dialed Jenna. “I’d like to leave first thing in the morning. Is that doable?”
“Sure. He’s driving me crazy he’s so excited. I’ll tell him to get packed. What time will you be here?”
“Six. We’ll grab breakfast on the road.”
“He’ll be ready.”
“Hey, will you be all right while we’re gone?”
She laughed. “Are you kidding? A few days to myself to do anything I want?”
“Oh, yeah. Well, see you tomorrow.”
He hung up and shook his head. He had no idea what mothers did with their time. They were always just there, handling things, keeping the wheels of familydom moving smoothly. A twinge moved through his chest. His own mother had been a rock, seemingly undaunted by everything life threw at her. He hadn’t appreciated that when he lived with her, and mostly hadn’t thought much about it through the years. Had she ever had a moment to herself to...to do what? Eat chocolates and read romance novels? Hardly. An image of her in the rocking chair with her knitting reminded him of the few times she sat still. He’d always thought the knitting was to produce socks and mittens, but maybe it was her way of dealing with everything else. A mindless, relaxing activity.
She’d been a good mother, he knew that. He just wished he’d ever told her so.
Shaking off the melancholy thoughts, he began gathering the bits and pieces of paper and information for the Talisman investigation. Once the final decision was made, he could bill the company, then see what other business he could cook up with them. He checked his e-mail to see if Kovak had sent the photographs. Empty inbox. It’s been at least three hours, for Pete’s Sake. What’s the holdup?
He looked at the notes he’d made concerning Teri Fortune’s brother, and the lover, Wade Warren. The brother was accounted for, although Kovak hadn’t said anything specific about the guy, other than he was at the cemetery. But what about the lover? Quaid’s instinct told him the guy factored into the case somewhere, but how? And which case? The theft or the murder?
Quaid opened the Tracer Database he used for finding people. Wade Warren was a common name. Too common, with hundreds of hits all over the country. Quaid would have to refine by state and age and occupation to find the right person. Five minutes later, three matches came up for Ohio. At the same time, his e-mail alert sounded and he closed the database.
The e-mail was not from Kovak.
“This is ridiculous.” He dialed her number, but it went directly to voice mail. She must be in a dead zone.
~~
Kim stopped just inside the entrance to Marietta’s beautiful Lafayette Hotel, inhaling the scent of history and remembering some wonderful times spent there as a girl. The riverboat-era hotel remained as she remembered it, the lobby filled with comfortable chairs and settees, reading lamps, gilded mirrors, and floral arrangements on the many tables in the area. Soft music played in the background and the subtle fragrance of lemony furniture polish permeated the air. Floor to ceiling windows, heavily draped with burgundy velvet and golden cord, afforded a view of the mighty Ohio River on the south side and the bustling streets to the east.
Dixie stepped up beside her. “Wow, this place is great. So charming and elegant.”
“Yes, it’s always been like this, even after several floods that caused extensive damage. But she always bounces back.”
“Let’s get checked in. I’m ready for a beer.”
Inside the elevator, Dixie stuck her hands in her pockets. “I need to talk to Quaid. I’ve been avoiding him.”
“Are you going to tell him the truth?”
“Yeah. He’s a pretty neat guy, but he’s not too swift, if you know what I mean.”
“I do, and it’s hard to believe. I mean, he was in the military and he’s a private investigator. You’d th
ink he would be a little more in tune with stuff.”
Kim’s thoughts churned. Now, a few hours later, she felt guilty about ditching him in order to follow her own plans for Bandit. But Quaid only cared about the job and the paycheck, not the humanitarian side of the case. In the brief time she’d known him, she’d come to believe he was a good man with honest values, but this disappointed her. Too bad.
“You like him, don’t you?” Dixie’s voice was close.
Kim started, then stammered a bit. “No, I mean, yes, of course, I mean...”
The elevator doors slid open and Dixie winked. “Come on, we’ve got some sightseeing to do before it gets dark.”
At the end of a long, narrow hall wallpapered in vintage roses, Kim stuck the keycard into the modern lock mechanism on the old wooden door. They entered the tiny room. The air was warm and stale, and the window air conditioner was silent.
Dixie whistled softly. “Whew, this place is stuffy.”
She tossed her duffel bag onto one of the twin beds, then fiddled with the AC unit. It rattled and growled, then finally settled into a low hum.
“Should be comfortable when we get back tonight.”
She moved to the small dressing table and checked her reflection in the mirror, doing a quick finger-comb of her curls and straightening her shirt.
Kim got her wallet out and pocketed the keycard. “Ready?”
“Yep, but don’t you need your phone?”
“That’s a very long story which I will tell you when we get to the bar.”
~~
Quaid ordered a pizza and flopped down in his recliner to wait. He was pissed. Kovak had never sent the photographs and she hadn’t returned any of his five calls. By now, the office was closed and he couldn’t finalize the case and get on with his own plans. He’d have to delay leaving for D.C. What the hell was the matter with her, anyway? Had she been that angry about his attitude? Was she playing games again?
A sudden thought leaped into his brain. She was a solid, sensible ex-cop, not someone he’d expect to impede an investigation. Maybe something had happened, gone wrong at the Fortune barn. He sat forward, suddenly tense. The two of them had been screwing around in what looked like major criminal activity. Kovak was pretty close to Teri Fortune, and the murder had been a shock. Had Kovak stumbled into something she shouldn’t have? Was she in trouble? Was that why she wasn’t calling him?
The doorbell rang and Quaid leaped to his feet. While he’d been placating his ego, Kovak might be needing help.
~~
Kim and Dixie tucked up shoulder-to-shoulder at the gleaming mahogany bar in the Riverview Lounge.
Dixie whistled softly. “What a neat place. That mirror and wood must be original.”
“Probably not. When the Ohio comes over its banks, this hotel gets the brunt of it. I don’t know how well the original wood would have fared.”
Dixie glanced over her shoulder at the windows facing the river. “It’s sure right there, isn’t it?”
Kim searched her memory. “There were several floods in the eighteen-hundreds that crested at well over fifty feet.” She glanced around. “This room would have been completely underwater. I’ll show you the markers in the lobby when we leave.”
Dixie took a long drink of beer. “So, tell me why you don’t have your phone.”
Kim sketched out the conversation she’d had with Quaid that morning. As she went over the details, Dixie’s expression changed from curiosity to concern.
The blue in Dixie’s eyes intensified with her concentration.
“Kim, I understand your concern about this horse, but what exactly do you think you can do about it? Sounds like, technically, the barn owns the horse because Jasper says it’s not his. Even though you have the flyer from the website as proof, you only have verbal authority from an old man. How is this going to work?”
Couched in so many words, Dixie’s assessment seemed crystal clear, but Kim couldn’t accept that Reggie Fortune could just keep Bandit and do whatever with him. She couldn’t let her brain go where that might be.
She ran a finger through the condensation on her beer mug. “I was thinking I could go there and say I was picking him up for the owner.”
“You’re thinking about stealing him? Are you crazy? Have you forgotten that I’m a cop?”
Kim jerked her gaze from the beer mug to Dixie’s solemn expression. “You’d arrest me? Would you really do that?”
Dixie sat back and looked away. “Kim, I don’t think you’ve thought this through. I think you’re operating on emotion and knee-jerk.”
Kim was stunned by the change in her friend. The compassion and love-of-life that defined Dixie had disappeared like water down a drain. Kim’s chest ached. Why had she thought Dixie would understand? Dixie had never owned a horse, had no idea of the bond between horses and their owners. Most of all, Dixie had never lost a horse, the most horrible experience imaginable.
Dixie leaned close. “Listen, why don’t you just contact this Reggie guy and tell him the situation, say you’d like to have the horse. If that’s actually what you want.” Her eyes narrowed a bit. “Or you might be able to bluff him into thinking you know something about his involvement in the switch. He might just let you have the animal to get you out of his hair.”
Kim’s eyes burned. “I wish Quaid and I had enough time to ferret out these thieves, put a stop to this madness. I feel so helpless...thanks for listening. You’re right. I’m not thinking straight.”
Dixie patted Kim’s hand. “Come on. I’d like to see those flood marks and the river that made them.”
Chapter 32
The pizza didn’t taste all that great and Quaid tossed a half-eaten slice back into the box. Worry had replaced his hunger. What if Kovak had asked one too many questions of Teri’s brother? Questions that threatened to reveal wrong-doing on his part. Quaid wasn’t convinced that the brother was uninvolved in the insurance deal. He was, after all, apparently connected to the financial sector and, if so inclined, would know the ins and outs of working around the system.
Carrying the pizza box into the kitchen, Quaid considered the possibility that someone had gotten to Jasper and forced his hand, made him call the insurance company and give the one piece of information that would facilitate the claim to quench the spotlight. A piece of information that Jasper had carefully excluded from any conversations about the theft. Had his troubles with the IRS overridden his fear of whomever was spearheading the theft ring? No, the Feds simply took stuff and levied fines and sometimes pressed criminal charges, but none of that would be frightening enough to turn someone into a puppet.
Quaid froze in mid-step, caught up in a vision of grainy vintage mob movies, gangsters and cops racing through dark, rainy streets. Criminals with no souls. Quaid slowly laid the pizza box on the counter and exhaled. Jasper Martin had probably gotten tangled up with loan sharks and was fighting for his life.
And that danger could reach out to touch anyone with whom he was involved.
Quaid hurried into his office and booted the computer, drumming his fingers on the desk while he waited. The empty inbox sent another coil of worry through his gut. He grabbed his phone and dialed Kovak again. Still no answer. He thought for a minute, then scrolled through his phone book.
Sitting back in the chair, he almost held his breath, waiting for that magical voice to answer.
“Hi Garrett, this is a pleasant surprise.”
He smiled, loving that she seemed happy to hear from him. Too bad it wasn’t a social call.
“Listen, Dixie, I can’t get hold of your friend, Kim Kovak. I’ve left several voice mails and it’s extremely important that I talk to her. Do you happen to know where she might be?”
“Ahh, I do, but—”
“You have to tell me. She might be in danger.”
Dixie’s voice softened. “I don’t think so, but why don’t you ask her yourself.”
Before he could respond, Kovak came on the line, her
tone not at all friendly. “What danger, Quaid? Is this a joke, tracking me down while I’m on vacation?”
He frowned. Where was she? And with Dixie? Anger came on like a Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Kovak had ignored his calls, just blown him off!
“No joke, Kovak. I need those pictures, so what game are you playing anyway?”
“You didn’t get them? I sent them this afternoon.”
“They never got here. Would you send them again, right away?”
“I can’t. I’m out of town, but I’ll do it Friday after I get home. Okay?”
Quaid squeezed his eyes shut. “That won’t help me. I’m headed out of town myself in the morning.” He exhaled loudly. “I could go there and take some myself, but it’s too late. I guess this will have to wait until next week. Sorry to bother you.”
Her tone warmed a little. “Sorry to snap at you.”
“Apology accepted. Talk to you later.”
He hung up and stared at his computer. Had Kovak actually sent the photos or was she lying? Why would she dodge something like this? What could possibly be more important than evidence to close a case?
He smacked his forehead. “Bandit!”
She’d been all gung-ho to find the horse’s rightful owner. Clearly, she knew something that he didn’t. He sat down at the computer.
Opening the Talisman file, he scrolled through the documents to refresh his thoughts, then switched to the Tracer Database to finish what he’d started earlier. Of the three Wade Warrens, only one seemed a good probability. Married, mid-forties, rural address outside Cincinnati. Quaid recalled Kim’s comment about the wife’s possible involvement in the murder. Jealousy and all that. But Quaid wasn’t in the homicide solving business. He simply wanted to know where the lover might fit into the horse thefts. Might be a long shot, but worth tracking down.
He drilled down through the file on Wade Warren. The guy had been in some sort of real estate venture for many years in the western regions of Ohio. Quaid squinted and leaned closer. Warren seemed to specialize in farm property. Interesting. That would certainly give him access to horse farms where good animals were kept. Perhaps Mr. Warren was the Ohio contact for the theft ring. They’d need someone in the various places that had large horse events. Columbus hosted the Equine Affaire every spring, and the Quarter Horse Congress in October welcomed over 300,000 people and hundreds of top-notch horses. Yes, Ohio would be prime pickings for theft.
