* * *
Little more than an hour later, Will heard the ping of a text and checked his phone. The driver was turning off the main road onto the drive into the ranch. Moments later Tucker signaled their arrival and that Leanne would lead them toward the round pen and the stallion. Will shot back a text and asked that they hold up for a moment.
“Transportation is here,” he called softly. “Do you want to climb out before they pull in?” He didn’t want the horse startled while she was so close to him.
When Liz turned, there was faint frown upon her forehead. “Can they park somewhere close so that we can lead him to the trailer? He may be more accepting if he isn’t frightened by the noise of their arrival.”
He had another brief exchange with Tucker then nodded at Liz. He picked up both his bag and hers while she slipped a halter over the Catria’s head. The horse’s docility amazed Will and that was exactly why Will didn’t trust it. He sensed that stallion was anything but docile by nature. Even so, he walked calmly through the gate Will swung open for them.
“Lead the way,” Liz said, holding the horse back until Will took the lead.
Will wasn’t crazy about having his back to her and the animal but there was a lot about this setup he wasn’t crazy about. He didn’t expect it would get much better until the stallion was on Italian soil.
A young woman—Leanne, Will presumed—waited for them in the clearing between the round pen and a fenced pasture where at least a dozen young horses grazed. Will gave the truck and trailer a once-over. Beneath a carefully applied layer of mud and dust, the truck was a powerhouse late model diesel with all of the hauling power he’d requested. The truck tag said ‘applied for’. The trailer tag was too muddy to read. Will had no doubt that was deliberate as well.
The driver of the truck stepped out and looked at Will. “You got this?”
Will nodded and the driver walked to a second truck and climbed into the passenger side. Without another word exchanged, the truck, driver, and passenger turned and exited back the way they had come.
Climbing into the cab, Will familiarized himself with the controls and linked his phone to the truck’s wireless. He left the truck running and stepped down to watch as Leanne dropped the loading ramp and Liz moved forward with the stallion who balked within feet of the base. Liz stopped obligingly to stroke his neck and whisper to him. Will forced himself to remain where he was. This was her show. For now.
The black cat, who’d been their shadow for the last little while, walked up the ramp then turned and sat. He looked back at the horse as if to say, Your turn. It’s easy.
Liz continued her whispered conversation with the stallion but Will resigned himself that sedation was likely to prove necessary. No doubt that would require first a battle of wills with Liz and then a more physical one with the horse.
The stallion sighed, eyed the cat, and took two steps before stopping again. The cat stood, meowed, and the horse blew softly. When the Catria moved forward again, he kept going up the ramp and into the trailer, Liz with him. The cat moved nimbly aside at the last moment and cast Will a smug glance.
Will stifled an inappropriate response and waited until Liz exited safely. Leanne, looking triumphant, helped lift the loading ramp behind the stallion and high-fived Liz. The cat sat at Liz’s feet and groomed himself.
When the cat stood and turned to look down the fence row, Will followed his gaze. Tucker strode toward them. The vet wore an anxious look that relaxed into a smile at the sight of the ramp up with the horse peering through the protective bars of the trailer window.
He withdrew the syringe he carried in his shirt pocket. “I’m glad we won’t need to sedate but, even so, I’d feel better if you carried this, just to be safe.”
Will reached for it when Liz hesitated. “Tranquilizer?”
“A mild one.”
Will gave Liz a look. “I’d rather have and not need than need and not have. His life could depend upon it.”
Though Will could see her reluctance, she nodded and Will felt a faint relief. He took the syringe from Tucker and slipped it into the pocket of his windbreaker. He would have taken the drug with them regardless of her feelings about it but her agreement indicated she knew the potential for problems ahead. In fact, Will would almost bet on that potential being a reality. Whoever had stolen the stallion had proved willing to murder to get him back. After that, what was another murder or two?
As if reading his mind, Tucker said, “The sheriff called with a preliminary on the coroner’s report. They’ve placed the time of Natalie’s death sometime between midnight and four am so you were right on target there.”
“Any suspicion of murder?”
“No, they seem to be taking the suicide at face value. And I don’t know what to think,” Tucker admitted.
Will understood the concept of murder had to be foreign to a man dedicated to healing.
Tucker gave a heavy sigh and moved on. “So, you have everything you need?”
Will nodded. At least he had everything he knew he needed. He’d deal with the unexpected when it happened. And it would.
They shook hands and Tucker wished them luck, adding, “You’ve got my number. Don’t hesitate to call or text if you need help. I’ll do whatever I can.”
“Tell Jana I appreciate everything,” Liz said.
“I will. And I’ve got to get back to her. She’s in charge of some visitors for the moment and doesn’t seem real keen on the fact.” He glanced down at the cat. “Ready, guy? Tammy Lynn called, she’ll be here in an hour or so.”
When Tucker turned to walk away, the cat stared after him, unblinking. When he did get up, it was to follow Liz toward the truck. Will cleared his throat and Tucker stopped and looked back.
“I was afraid of that,” Tucker said. “I’ll explain to Tammy Lynn.”
What the hell, Will thought. “What does that mean?”
“It means he’s decided he can be of help to you. He does that sometimes.” The vet sounded remarkably unconcerned.
“Look, I don’t have time to take care of a cat. The horse is more than enough.”
Tucker shrugged. “Trouble takes care of himself.”
“He’s not going,” Will said flatly.
A moment later, Tucker was gone from sight, the cat was in the truck with Liz, and Will was muttering curses as he made a last-minute check of the trailer to truck connections.
Chapter Four
I’m not hopeful of an uneventful ride but it would be appreciated. Sunlight is falling with pleasant warmth on the comfortable leather seat. My human companions were thoughtful enough to put their bags on the floorboard which left the entire rear seat at my disposal. I would close my eyes for a nap but I sense some tension from Liz and suspect a conversation will soon ensue from which I might glean knowledge which could prove beneficial in helping to protect our equine cargo.
The miles click along and I begin to doubt myself but a subtle shifting in her seat presages Liz’s next comment and my own acuity.
“You’re paying as much attention to the rearview mirror as you are to the road ahead.”
“Yes.”
“Are we being followed?”
“Not yet.”
“But you think we will be.”
For the first time, Will shifts his gaze to Liz rather than from road to mirror. “Don’t you?”
“I’m out of my element. I don’t know what to expect.”
“At some point, we’re likely to be followed even if they only suspect it’s us. The key will be to lose them before they can be sure.” He says it matter-of-factly. Not to alarm her, I think, but to be fair to her.
“I do know we can’t travel as fast on these back roads as we could the interstate.”
“We’d never outrun them in either case.”
I can sense Liz clenching her teeth. Indeed, I am almost clenching mine. Will is taking taciturn to a ridiculous level. Just when I conclude I must intervene to avoid bloodshed�
�his—he continues of his own volition.
“We’re not being followed at the moment but I’m not counting it out for the near future. Tucker’s going to give me a heads-up before he and Jana post a reward for the stallion. At that point, one of two things will happen. Ms. Dane’s murderer will believe the story and start scouring the countryside. Or he or she will disbelieve it and start tracking us.”
“You said he or she…do you honestly think it possible a woman slit that girl’s wrists?”
* * *
Liz was sorry the moment she asked the question. Will took his eyes and his attention from the road to ask, “Do you honestly think violence is the territory of men only?”
“No.” She chose her words with care. “No, I suppose not.”
Will didn’t press but she didn’t miss the tightening of his hands on the steering wheel. Her shoulders tensed as she realized she’d given something of herself away with that exchange. She only relaxed when he reverted back to the previous topic with his next comment. “A third possibility is that someone has been in place, ready to snatch the horse, from the moment the girl was tracked there and is waiting for word to make their move, now. That’s why we didn’t take the state highway straight to the interstate. A more round-about route could buy us a little time and a little may be all we need.”
“So, where are we going?”
“The opposite of what they’ll expect. We believe the Catria was shipped since he surfaced oceanside. With any luck, the thieves will be watching the seaports closest to here. Instead, we’re headed inland to take a late-night flight out of Atlanta.”
Liz turned her head to watch his expression as she spoke. “I keep my passport with me…but you couldn’t have known that.”
“It wouldn’t have mattered.”
That’s what she was afraid he would say. This man had connections she couldn’t begin to fathom.
* * *
The road they traveled threaded through one small town after another. In one of them, Will pulled into a local carwash. There was a small patch of grass to one side that looked free of weeds.
Saying a prayer, Liz unsnapped the stallion’s halter from the tie at the grated window then walked back to lower the ramp and unlatch the gate behind him. He backed out hesitantly but willingly. Once on the ground, he reacted to the meowing of the cat by putting his nose down close to the feline who head butted him lightly.
Liz found their amity odd. Horses were typically indifferent to cats who were typically indifferent to them. But, if it made a difference in the horse’s acceptance of his changing surroundings, she’d take it.
Without being asked, Will filled a bucket with water and brought it to where she let the horse pull at the grass. He didn’t seem to take it personally when the horse lunged to the side, away from him, as he set the bucket down. And his look of concern faded, as soon as he realized Liz retained control. He either knew horses or had done his homework.
Even though she kept most of her attention on the horse which tugged at the rope when taking a step further and further into the grassy area, she didn’t miss that Will removed a paper tag from the back of the truck that said ‘applied for’. Beneath was a Georgia state tag. He pulled a high-pressure hose from the car wash and rinsed the mud from the trailer tag. Also, Georgia. She’d already deduced that the truck and trailer were new and that the exterior had been as pristine as the interior until shortly before its arrival at the ranch.
The road behind them had been empty for miles and—if they’d been watched when they left the ranch—no one could have read either of the tags. Will was taking every precaution but Liz was smart enough to know they weren’t out of the woods. Natalie or Nadine had lost her life because of the horse that, even now, grazed at the end of the lead rope Liz held. She shivered at the knowledge.
Will hadn’t speculated—at least not to her and she suspected to no one—how the girl had come to be alone with the horse. Liz doubted that Will was one for speculation. Facts and data seemed more his mode.
They reloaded and a mile or so further, Will made another stop, this time at a fast-food chain. After a careful look around, he went in to use the facilities, warning Liz to lock the truck doors after him. Minutes later, he walked out to remain with the trailer and animals as Liz took her turn before ordering food for both of them. Anything, Will had told her. She bought the cat two plain burgers.
Back in the truck, she handed Will his meal then unwrapped Trouble’s, tossing the unneeded buns, along with the wrappers back into the bag. They ate in silence although she heard the cat humming with gratitude from time to time.
She was still picking at her salad when Will pulled the rig back onto the road. She was grateful he kept his attention focused forward. The way he glanced at her from time to time made her uncomfortable. She didn’t want to be a puzzle or a challenge for any man. Ever again.
The interstate miles clicked past. They’d just passed the second road sign for Atlanta when a Hummer beside them caught her attention. She glanced over but the windows were tinted too dark to see inside. Her nerves tingled when the vehicle slowed almost imperceptibly before falling in behind them. The cat on the console beside her hissed. “Will.”
“I saw.” His tone was even. “Did you note how far we are from the next exit?”
“Another five miles or so.”
He brought up a number on the touch screen and placed a call. “I’m leaving the interstate at the next exit and will need an interference after that, something between me and a silver Hummer.”
“Take a left when you exit. That will take you away from town. It’s a long rural highway. You’ll need to travel about twenty miles before I can get someone close enough to intercept.” It was a nice voice, Liz thought, the words clipped with some kind of accent she couldn’t place. Then the significance of the exchange hit her.
Will was silent a moment. Liz could almost hear him thinking. “I can’t risk gunfire with the horse. I want a helicopter, something that can get low and in between.”
“Trickier…but I can make that happen.”
Liz looked at Will as he broke the connection. “We’re being tracked.”
* * *
It wasn’t a question and Will didn’t answer. His mind was busy with scenarios while he still had time to change his orders. There wasn’t a good alternative. Under ordinary circumstances, he would’ve bet his money—and their lives—on his driving skill being sufficient to outrun them. But pulling a truck and trailer with the stallion onboard? Not an option.
Without giving a signal, he took the next exit and the Hummer followed as he’d known it would. These guys were good. He was better.
At the light, he turned onto the rural highway, keeping his foot evenly on the gas at a fraction above the speed limit. Anything less would alert the driver behind him that he was suspicious. Anything more would alert the local police that a nicely priced ticket could be issued. Any traffic stop would leave them too damned vulnerable.
“How do you think they found us?”
He took his gaze from the road briefly to look at Liz. Her calm expression and clear gaze reassured him she wasn’t anywhere near panic. “I don’t know that they have.” But he wasn’t taking any chances. “Keep your profile away from them as much as possible. These windows are a little darker than legal but that only does so much.”
Eighteen miles later, his phone buzzed through the wireless and he pressed the screen to take the call. “I’ve got you – and them – in sight.”
Will grunted. “You weren’t supposed to be in the cockpit.”
Except for a small chuckle, his comment was ignored. “In four miles, you’ve got a nice open road where I’ll need you to give me a quarter mile gap between you and the tail. I’ll drop low enough to distract them. I’ve got two in-coming with me, right on my heels, close enough your guys will hesitate before taking a shot at any of us. Hard to know one insignia from another these days. In my opinion, we look pretty official.
”
Will grinned. Damn. No telling how much he owed for this. “See you in Atlanta,” he said. Before he broke the connection, he added, “Don’t intercept. Just give me time to get away.”
He caught Liz watching him with more interest than alarm and he spared a moment of gratitude not to be dealing with a frightened passenger.
At four miles, he was ready for the straight stretch that opened up in front of him and he put steady pressure on the accelerator so that the truck showed its strength without any unnecessary jostling of the stallion in the trailer behind. He heard the rotors of the helicopters as they closed the gap. Beside him, Liz peered intently at the large sideview mirror.
“Oops,” she said quietly.
“What? I can’t see through the dust kicking up.” Nor did he want to take his eyes off the road for more than a split second at a time. Not at the speed they were traveling with precious cargo in tow.
“If I had to guess, I’d say the Hummer just rolled. Didn’t hear that was part of the plan.”
“No, but I’ll take it.” As long as none of his team could be ID’d, he couldn’t have cared less what happened to the two in the truck.
The helicopters faded into the distance and Liz unclenched her hands. Will didn’t miss the small action but said nothing as he followed the directions from the polite, stilted voice of the GPS back to the interstate. When he reached the exit for the airport, he turned off the GPS and followed the road signs from there. Before they reached the main entrance to the sprawling airport, he took a side road, fortunately well paved, that looped far around the tangle of runways.
* * *
They were met on the tarmac by one of the best-looking men Liz could recall seeing. His skin was dark, his head was shaved, and his shoulders would have put Hercules to shame. He called Will by name as they shook hands and Liz recognized the voice of the helicopter pilot who’d diverted their pursuers.
A Whisper of Trouble Page 4