“Well, that was a bust,” Cat said, returning to the bar. She sounded choked, but as if she was trying not show it. “No one seems to have ever seen George in here. They didn’t even know who he was.”
“Your barn manager may never have been in here, after all,” Aidan said.
Seeing what he was holding in his hand, she asked, “Then where did the matches come from?”
Aidan told her about Raul being related to the owner.
* * *
THE NAGGING FEELING of spinning out of control would be finished tonight. He was counting on it. He was ready to do what was necessary.
The hour to meet was here, the air was still, the moon was under cloud cover.
He would be invisible.
Popping an antacid in his mouth, he chewed fast and waited until he swallowed before getting out of the vehicle, case in hand, checking his pocket before walking to the back door of the appointed place.
He knocked and swallowed hard, counting the seconds that ticked by.
When the door opened, he nodded and entered, passing his accomplice without speaking.
“You have the money?”
He held out the case, and as it exchanged hands he said, “This will be it. No more.”
“Not a good attitude. We’re partners in this, after all.”
The spite-filled statement made him see red. He’d done all the damn work, had taken all the risks! As the case opened, and greedy fingers picked up one stack of bills and then the other, he slipped the syringe from his pocket and removed the tip.
“What the hell? A case full of tens? This isn’t a hundred thousand!”
“Doesn’t matter what it is.” From behind, he jammed the needle through clothing into flesh and pressed the plunger to release the contents before his victim could turn to fight. “You won’t get to spend any of it anyway.”
Then he stepped out of the way of grasping hands and watched as his liability became ineffective, eyes bulging at him, throat scraping out ineffectual sounds. A minute, and his amusement ended.
He stepped over the body and opened a cabinet to find what he needed, and realized something of great importance.
The first murder had nearly finished him.
Now he felt almost refreshed knowing that there was one less obstacle standing in his way.
The second time had been easier.
He could do whatever was necessary.
* * *
HER MIND WHIRLING, Cat let Aidan drive.
“So if George never went to Fernando’s,” she said, “someone could have given them to him. Or dropped them while taking the suitcase out of the closet.” Her pulse drummed because she didn’t want to believe it. “Of course that’s most likely Raul, right?”
“I would not venture to guess. I asked him about George and he seemed to be sincere that he was sorry about the man’s death.”
Aidan had such good instincts, Cat wanted to trust them. Wanted to trust Raul, who had worked for her since she took over the business. George had been the one to hire and train him. They might not have been buddies, but they’d always seemed to get along.
“Placido, then?” she mused. “What would he be doing at the farm?”
“He never came onto your property to visit his brother?”
“Yeah, sure, a few times. That’s how I met him, though I don’t remember seeing him around lately.”
“Maybe because he’s had reason to avoid the farm.”
Though she didn’t much like Placido, Cat hated thinking anyone she knew was involved in George’s death. But it only made sense. Her barn manager might not have been buried on her property, but it wasn’t much of a stretch to believe he’d been taken from the farm to the forest preserve, where he’d been dumped in the ravine.
When Aidan turned through the farm gates, she viewed the property with mixed feelings. All her life, this had been her home, her shelter, her safe place. But if George had been killed here, how safe could the farm really be?
A shiver set through her to her very core. Every movement and every shadow seemed to hold some secret menace.
She didn’t want to be alone.
So when they got out of the SUV and approached the house, Cat said, “Why don’t you come in for a minute? I’ll get you the keys to the truck.” If only she could get him to stay for a while, until she settled down inside.
“It’s late. I can fetch them in the morning.”
“No!” Flushing at her intense reaction, Cat tried for a logical explanation. “I mean, you might be up before me and want to leave for the track. I don’t want you to have to wait around until I wake up.”
“All right, then.”
As she unlocked the back door, Aidan was right behind her, so close she could almost feel him pressed to her backside. Tempted to stop and lean back against him, she forced herself inside. As usual, the dogs were waiting for her. She stopped for a moment to pet them and give them treats, then sent them to their run and locked them out of the house so they wouldn’t pester her for a while.
“The keys are in the living room. It’s the old, rusty black truck parked behind the barn.”
She headed through the kitchen and went straight for the desk nestled below the bay window. The keys were in the top drawer. Not wanting to be alone, wishing for Aidan’s company, she turned to him, hand extended, keys dangling from her forefinger.
“Here. Before you leave, can I offer you a drink?”
“’Tis not a drink I need.”
He reached for the keys and their hands touched and they both froze. The increased pulse in her throat startled her.
“Tea?” she choked out.
“Not thirsty.”
He moved a bit closer. His voice cut through her and his heat teased her and she could think of only one thing.
“What, then?” she asked softly. “What is it you need?”
“This.”
His arms wound around her back and he pulled her closer. Her breath caught in her throat as she waited for his lips to touch hers. It took forever, as if he were giving her a chance to push him away.
As if he thought she might not want this.
Sliding her hands up his chest, she lightly grasped his shoulders, feeling like she needed to hold on to him to stay upright. And maybe she did. Her pulse thrummed and sped up when his mouth covered hers.
The kiss was soft and sweet and filled with longing.
Or maybe that was her.
She longed for a man who would partner her. A man she could count on. One who would spice up her life with the wild and exciting and unexpected. Someone who could heal her wounded heart.
A flash of the dogs digging up George suddenly sent ice water through her veins.
As if he read her shift in mood, Aidan whispered, “I apologize” against her lips.
“No. I wanted you to kiss me. I want…more.”
She needed more, to chase away the horrid images in her mind. To chase away the fear. To feel safe in his arms.
This time, she kissed him and slid her hands to his belt and unbuckled it.
Aidan groaned when she touched him. He came alive in her hand. Dropping to her knees, she explored him with her mouth until he fell back against the desk. He wound shaking hands through her hair and pushed against her mouth as she tasted him. Then he pulled her back up to her feet and kissed her again while undressing her. She let him do what he would, losing herself in every touch…touching and stripping him in return.
Finally, when they were both naked, Aidan bent her backward and followed over her, dropping them both gently down to the floor. As he entered her, Cat wrapped her legs around his hips and rolled, landing on top. Riding him, she lost herself in every touch, every movement.
For now, at least, their tangled bodies were enough to chase away the nightmare her life had become.
* * *
SHE WAS IN THE BARN IN the dark again, checking on the broodmares.
Wind soughed between the timbers and she s
topped to listen. Dread filled her but she continued working, hurrying to finish, all the while knowing she wasn’t alone.
She raced to leave the barn, but the shadowy figure caught up to her.
A sharp pain in her back stopped her. Paralyzed her. Though she tried, she couldn’t move.
Couldn’t avoid what was coming…
Aidan awoke with a gasp and quickly oriented himself. He was in bed with Cat. She was there next to him.
Asleep.
Safe.
For how long?
What did the dream mean? That she would be attacked and drugged? But why?
Should he warn her?
No, of course not. He’d learned not to trust his dreams. Learned that he had to sort truth from fantasy.
That was the trouble with his ability. Dreams held only half-truths, hid the rest.
So what was the nugget of truth in this one?
He would be on alert for any further sign of trouble. But on thinking about it, Aidan considered he might have mixed his growing feelings for Cat with the horrific scene they’d encountered in the woods.
Strong emotions could distort dreams into nightmares.
Next to him, Cat turned in her sleep and made a sound of discontent.
Aidan immediately settled back in and wrapped himself protectively around her.
Chapter Thirteen
Both Diamond Dame and Sweetpea Sue were in season. Finally! Though Cat was certain of it, she wanted Helen to check them out before proceeding. Having slept in fits and starts once she’d landed in her bed with Aidan, she didn’t trust her own judgment. The trouble was, the vet hadn’t shown up to check out Fairy Tail as she’d said she would.
Cat placed a call but got Helen’s voice mail, so she left a message. Then she called both Martin Bradley and Dean Hill to tell them their mares were in season. More voice mails. More messages.
After waiting to hear from someone for nearly an hour, her nerves were on edge. She called the vet again and had to leave yet another message.
“Hi, Helen. Cat. Just trying to scare you up. I’m waiting for you to check on the mares who are finally in season. And on Fairy Tail. Call even if you can’t make it, okay?”
Hanging up, she shoved the cell phone back in her pocket.
What now?
Raul came up from behind her, asking, “Do you want to get started?”
She didn’t want to, not really. She wanted a day off. Maybe a week off. How long did it take to get over deep grief? But she was running a business and she had two broodmares who were going to help pay her bills, and she couldn’t ignore that. It didn’t mean she’d loved George any less or that she would forget him. That was part of the problem. She couldn’t erase the picture of the dogs digging him up from her mind.
Or what she and Aidan had been doing just before the dogs found him.
“The mares?” Raul reminded her.
“Since we have two ready for cover, I guess we really can’t wait any longer.” The owners would expect her to breed their mares, vet or no vet. “I don’t understand why Helen isn’t getting back to me. She was supposed to be here this morning and didn’t even call to tell me that she was going to be late.”
Raul didn’t comment on the vet’s disappearing act. Instead, he asked, “Which mare do we cover first?”
Martin Bradley chose that moment to walk in on them.
“My mare first,” he demanded. “Hill’s not here, so his mare can wait. Two of his are already pregnant anyway.”
Not that it mattered, Cat thought. Getting to both of them in the same day would be no problem. Neither was going to go out of season in one day. Still tense after all that had happened the day before, she didn’t need any added pressure.
Thankfully, Dean Hill hadn’t gotten back to her, so she nodded and said, “Have Bernie bring out Sweetpea Sue, and you handle On the List.”
“If she’s ready, she doesn’t need a teaser stallion.” Martin pushed a tense hand through his dyed hair. “Just bring out Desert Son and let him mount her and get it over with. I want it done.”
What in the world was wrong with him? Cat wondered. She’d been working with Martin for several years now, and normally he let her do her job with little involvement. Something was going on with him, though, and she didn’t want to make things worse.
“Okay, Raul. Desert Son it is.”
Undoubtedly Martin was competing with Dean Hill, the only reason she could think of for him to sound so…so desperate. He’d always been demanding, but he’d also been professional and had let her do her job without interference. While two of Dean’s mares were already pregnant this early in the breeding season, Martin had already expressed his displeasure that his own mares hadn’t yet taken.
Cat could only hope Sweetpea Sue would break the unlucky streak.
Thankfully, both Raul and Bernie had a good hand with the horses, and under Cat’s guidance, getting the horses ready for breeding went smoothly. Desert Son required no assistance, and the cover was quick.
But before the horses were even settled enough to take back to their stalls, Dean Hill stormed into the back of the barn where they were working.
“What is this? Where is Diamond Dame?”
Starting at the anger in his voice, Cat said, “She’s in her stall.”
“So you’ve already finished with her?”
“No, Dean,” Cat said, “we haven’t started her cover yet.”
“What are you waiting for?”
“In case you’re blind,” Martin Bradley said, “my Sweetpea, who is also in season, was just covered by my stallion.”
“So Bradley has precedence?” Dean demanded to know.
Before Cat could answer, Martin did it for her. “Why should you have precedence, Hill? You weren’t even here. My mares haven’t been as fruitful as yours. Besides, I should have priority. I’ve been Cat’s client since she took over the business! And I was her father’s client before that. You’re new to this barn.”
“This barn is lucky to have me!”
Openmouthed at the argument, worried the men would come to physical blows, Cat signaled her workers to take the mare and stallion back to their stalls. “You’ll both be taken care of properly, just as I take care of all my clients. I don’t understand the problem, Dean.”
“The problem? What’s the problem? No sooner have I committed my broodmares to your care than I’m questioned by Wade Pierce concerning the murder of one of your employees! And now this.”
George’s death came crashing back on Cat. She’d feared the owners might be upset by being involved in the investigation, but there was no helping it.
“Did you do it, Hill?”
Martin’s accusatory tone made Cat’s heart skip a beat.
Dean yelled, “Are you crazy?”
“Let’s all calm down, please,” Cat said.
“Right. It’s not Cat’s fault that George was murdered.” Martin narrowed his gaze on her. “It’s not, is it?”
“What!” Cat felt the need to hold on to a nearby post to keep herself upright. Maybe she should have taken that day off.
“Cat wasn’t even in the country when George disappeared, you numbskull!” Dean took a big breath. “All right. I’m calm. And I apologize for being out of line. I couldn’t get here when you called, Cat, because Pierce caught me before I could leave my place. He just got under my skin, is all. I shouldn’t take it out on you.” He looked to Martin. “Didn’t Pierce question you?”
“Yesterday evening. He has to question everyone, Hill. I didn’t like it any better than you did. I’ve just had more time to process it.”
“Detective Pierce can only get to you if you let him,” Cat said, hoping to calm the men so they could get back to business. “He’s been questioning everyone who worked with or knew George. Even the kids who muck out the stalls.”
Even Aidan, who hadn’t yet left his home in Ireland when George had disappeared.
Cat wished Aidan was here now. She wo
uld guess he was good at dealing with irate horse owners. He’d been good at keeping her on an even keel the day before. His strength would be welcome. He would be welcome. She was having more and more trouble keeping Aidan from her thoughts.
“I know Pierce wasn’t targeting us,” Dean said, sounding a bit more calm.
“But it sure felt like he was,” Martin admitted.
“All right.” Dean held out his hand to the other man. “I apologize if I was an ass.”
Martin took his hand and shook on it before leaving.
Crisis averted, Cat got back to work. Satisfied that Sweetpea Sue might be on her way to conceiving, she instructed Raul and Bernie to get Diamond Dame and False Promise ready for cover.
On the surface, she remained calm, breeding Dean’s mare as professionally as she always did. The owner—his charming self once more—apologized to her again and thanked her for doing such a great job for him. Cat smiled through it all, but underneath, worry—and guilt—ate at her.
If the adults had been so traumatized by the police investigation, what about the poor kids who had actually worked for George five days a week?
So when Laura and Vincent arrived after school, Cat was relieved that they seemed…well, like normal teenagers.
“Where do you want to start?” Vincent asked his companion as they entered the barn together.
“How about I muck and you haul?”
“Hey, I thought this was an equal-opportunity job.”
Laura sighed. “It’s just that the wheelbarrows are so big and you’re so strong, Vincent. But, okay. Maybe I just won’t completely fill it. Then it won’t be so heavy,” the girl said dramatically.
“All right, all right. I’ll haul your old wheelbarrow.”
Cat smothered a grin and realized this felt like the first natural moment she’d experienced since she and Aidan had followed the dogs into the ravine. Thankful that the kids seemed unaffected by the police investigation, she moved toward them and pretended she’d just realized they’d arrived.
“Oh, there you two are.”
“We’re on time,” Laura said anxiously.
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