Unfinished Business: Kovak & Quaid Horse Mystery Series (Kovak & Quaid Horse Mysteries Book 3)

by Toni Leland

  Quaid waited in his truck, watching the crowd spill out the front door of the church. Marge was one of the earlier departures. Most likely, she had to get to work. Quaid waited, then followed her car down the street toward the café. He parked at the curb and waited a suitable amount of time before going inside.

  Her round face brightened when she saw him. “Oh, hello again! How are you?”

  “I’m just great, how about you?”

  “Wonderful. Just wonderful.” She set a cup and saucer in front of him. “Have you made it to church yet?”

  He grinned. “I just came from there. Great sermon. Pastor Lamb is talented with words.”

  “Oh, yes! Isn’t he?” Her brow wrinkled. “I didn’t see you there.”

  “In the back, I came in a little late. I’ll have the number one breakfast, scrambled, ham, rye toast.” He smiled. “And I’d love to chat if you have some time.”

  She blushed and nodded. “Sure, but once the serious after-church crowds start, I’m real busy. But it’s still early.”

  Ten minutes later, she placed his breakfast on the table and sat down across from him, glancing nervously toward the kitchen. “I really can’t stay long. The boss is in a bad mood today.”

  Quaid leaned forward, lowering his voice. “Do you happen to know if Vivica Wheeler is rich?”

  Marge barked out a laugh. “Oh, my goodness, no! Wherever would you get such an idea? She’s lived here all her life, grew up on a broken down farm outside town. Father was an alcoholic and her mother worked off and on as a housecleaner. Vivi pretty much raised herself.” Marge shook her head sadly. “She was a brilliant student. A math whiz. I heard she was offered a scholarship to a good college, but her family situation dragged her down. She couldn’t go, had to take care of the home front. Such a shame.” Marge’s face brightened. “And yet, she’s always cheerful, seems to be happy with her place in life.”

  “Could she have inherited some wealth at some point?”

  Marge’s face darkened and her expression grew serious. “I don’t know. Why are you asking such personal questions about her?”

  Quaid tried to reassure her with a friendly smile. “She has those horses, and that costs a lot of money.”

  Marge snorted. “How much could it cost to feed one horse?”

  “She owns a couple dozen of the most expensive Arabian horses available.”

  Marge’s astonishment quickly turned to skepticism. “You’re wrong,” she bristled. “There must be some other person with the same name. Our Vivica Wheeler is the salt of the earth, cares for her ailing mother, and dedicates her life to the church and its work. She only has time for one horse.” Marge stood up. “I have to get back to work. I’ll bring your check over.”

  She turned and strode stiffly away. Clearly, Marge was no longer a source of information, but that didn’t matter. He’d planted the seed and, if he knew anything about human nature, Marge wouldn’t keep the information to herself.

  He made short work of the breakfast, then laid a twenty on the table and left the café. Walking to his truck, he pulled out his phone. Maybe Kim would like to meet at the barn later and play horsie.

  ~ ~

  Kim gripped the steering wheel as she sped down the highway in the growing dusk. Her initial positive reaction to learning about the boyfriend’s diabetes had disintegrated into worry. She’d managed to avoid the groom’s request for a name, so at least Wheeler wouldn’t figure out who she was. As for the purpose of the visit, all she’d discovered was that the possibility existed that insulin was used to kill the foal. Would there be any way to prove it? She and Garrett hadn’t searched the stalls, the barn, and the trash at the time of their initial inspection, and now any evidence would be long gone. Without it, there was no case.

  More profound was the discovery of the rose-gray filly in the quarantine barn. Kim found a place to pull off the road so she could examine the printed contact sheet she’d brought along. When she could compare it to the photos she’d just taken, she’d know for sure, but her gut was telling her that the filly was one of Shareen’s. A feeling of helplessness flooded her chest. The magnitude of the theft operation was mindboggling. Would there ever be a solid resolution to the problem? She didn’t think so.

  “But if I have anything to do about it, that little mare back there is going home where she belongs.”

  The phone chimed and Kim glanced down at the screen. Garrett calling. And that would be another hurdle. She let the call go to voice mail. She’d deal with him after she got home.

  Chapter 48

  “You did what?”

  Garrett’s voice barked through the phone and Kim winced.

  “Just calm down. Wheeler was off at a horse show and I only talked to one of the barn workers.”

  “Kovak, do you realize that you have no authority to act on behalf of the insurance company? That I could lose my job for something like this because you are technically working for me? I can’t believe you didn’t pass this by me.” His tone hardened. “Actually, yes I can.”

  Kim’s eyes burned. She’d never expected him to be quite so angry. She blinked hard and steadied her voice.

  “Do you want to hear what I found, or not?”

  “Whatever it was, it’s useless – you do know that, right?”

  A flash of anger rose in Kim’s chest, striking at her brain with lightening speed and loosening her tongue.

  “Fine. Solve your own case.”

  She disconnected and tossed the phone onto the couch cushion. Without warning, a flood of tears came. What am I doing?

  She swiped at her cheeks and walked to the deck slider to gaze out into the night. The street lamps cast an orange glow over the driveway, illuminating the empty spot where Dixie’s car usually sat. At that moment, Kim felt more alone than she had in her entire life.

  ~ ~

  Quaid stared at the black screen on his phone. She’d hung up on him! He laid the phone aside and stretched back into his recliner. What did she have to be mad about? He was the one with the big problem now. He stared at the muted television, mindlessly watching some game show contestants leaping around the set. He hit the remote and the screen went dark. An uneasy feeling crept into his chest.

  Kovak was a liability. Much as he respected her instincts and inquiring mind, he couldn’t have her involved in his work. She was too unpredictable. She wasn’t a team player, and that had gotten her into trouble before. He clenched his jaw. As unpleasant as it would be, tomorrow he would have to tell her their working relationship was over. He closed his eyes. He didn’t want to think about the consequences from that.

  He wandered into the kitchen to find a snack, but his mind wouldn’t let him put Kim Kovak on hold. She’d meant well by deciding to go back to Wheeler’s to look for evidence of some kind. That’s just how she was – always thorough, always sure that some further bit of information would surface to answer a question. And that wasn’t such a bad thing. Considering the Jasper Martin situation, Quaid was skeptical that the man was innocent in the Talisman case, but the things Martin had told Kovak did seem to ring true. And that closure was what she had needed.

  Quaid grinned, recalling Kovak’s defense of Martin when talking to Barevsky. Maybe women’s intuition combined with a law enforcement background was what made Kovak tick.

  Perhaps he should see if he could keep her corralled and take advantage of that combination.

  Then he snorted. “Like anyone is gonna keep her under control.”

  ~ ~

  The next morning, Quaid had barely settled behind his desk when his cell phone rang.

  Dixie’s voice sounded bright and cheerful, as usual. “Good morning, Mr. Quaid.” A teasing wheedle came into her tone. “I have some news for you.”

  “I hope it’s good, ’cause it’s Monday, you know.”

  “First – Dana checked on that Barevsky person you asked about and she is, indeed, a legitimate Interpol agent. But Inga Yuchenko doesn’t show up on any databa
ses.”

  “Good work, but ugh – I don’t look forward to telling Kim she was wrong.”

  “She’ll get over it, but listen – you remember that Wade Warren person who almost killed Kim?”

  “How could I forget?”

  “Dana just heard that he was murdered in prison. A shiv in the jugular during a small altercation.”

  “He must have really pissed someone off.”

  “With his international connections and long rap sheet, it could have been anybody.”

  “Yeah, or it could have had nothing to do with his past, just a hazard of prison life. I appreciate you telling me.” Quaid hesitated. “Have you talked to Kim lately?”

  “Not for a couple of days. Why?”

  “We, ah, had a little argument and she hung up on me. I probably deserved it, but I think she overreacted.”

  “She’s been quite emotional lately. I’ll swing by this afternoon and see if I can find out what’s going on.”

  ~ ~

  Kim heard the thunk of a car door outside. She peeked out her studio window in time to see Dixie’s blond head disappear beneath the deck overhang.

  A minute later, Kim’s doorbell rang and Dixie held up a six-pack of Corona.

  “Time for some R&R.”

  Kim glanced past her. “Where’s Saskie?”

  “At the vet for his semiannual full physical.” She chuckled. “Now I know how moms feel when their kids have a play date.”

  Dixie set the six-pack on the breakfast bar, then turned. “Kim, what’s going on? You seem so unhappy lately.”

  Tears burned Kim’s eyelids, then spilled over, making her furious. She swiped them away and took a deep breath.

  “I don’t know. Nothing seems to go right. I don’t have any work and can’t seem to generate any. Garrett’s mad at me all the time. And you’re moving away.” She offered a quivery smile. “Not much to be happy about.”

  Dixie eased the tops off two beers and handed one over. “I have some news that you might think is good.” She paused for effect. “Wade Warren is dead. Killed in prison.”

  “You’re kidding! How did you find that out?”

  “Garrett asked me to get the details about some Interpol agent and, while Dana was looking into that, she heard about Warren.”

  Making the connection between the two, Kim slowly set her beer bottle on the counter, her pulse suddenly pounding in her ears. “Oh my god, Jasper Martin is next.”

  “What do you mean? Next for what?”

  “That supposed Interpol agent was asking questions about Martin, wanting to know where he was so she could talk to him. She wants to shut him up.”

  Dixie reached over and laid a hand on Kim’s arm. “Sophia Barevsky is a legitimate agent. She’s on the inter-organization list. That’s what Dana learned from Interpol’s headquarters.”

  Kim heard the words, but her gut wouldn’t accept the reality. She’d always trusted her gut. But at this point, it didn’t seem to make sense to argue with the one person in the world whom she trusted without question.

  She let out a soft sigh. “Well, then I guess all that is finished.”

  “Yes. It is,” Dixie murmured.

  For the next hour, Kim reveled in her friend’s company, loving the familiar banter, laughing at Dixie’s stories of the crazy things that happened on her patrol shifts. Melancholy crept into Kim’s head, remembering her own adventures as a police officer. Maybe her unhappiness right now had more to do with her loss of that lifestyle – or the replacement with another that just didn’t have the same excitement.

  Dixie collected the empties. “I have to go collect my doggie, then pick up something for dinner tonight. Once we get settled, you need to come over for a visit.”

  “I would love to do that. If you think you’re getting rid of me just by moving away, you have another think coming.”

  Dixie laughed and hugged her hard. “I’ll think of a way. See ya later.”

  Chapter 49

  Quaid’s phone rang the next morning, shortly after he sat down at his desk. The consulting veterinarian for United Equine had a deep, booming voice.

  “Good morning, Garrett. I got your message. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you – I was on vacation, then had a family emergency out of state.”

  Quaid grabbed the Wheeler file. “Not a problem, doc. I just have a simple question. Can horses have diabetes?”

  “They can, but the more likely diagnosis is insulin resistance.”

  “Would a large amount of human insulin kill a newborn foal?”

  “Yes, that could happen. The animal would go into hypoglycemic shock. Without immediate treatment, the foal would probably die.”

  “Would lab work show that?”

  “Only if the blood were drawn immediately. Otherwise, the insulin levels would drop and not register as abnormal on the lab test.”

  Quaid’s pulse ticked up a notch. “Thanks, doc. You’ve been a big help.”

  Gail’s voice came through the intercom. “Anderson at headquarters is on line one.”

  Quaid lifted an eyebrow as he reached for the receiver. What would the head honcho be calling about?

  The man’s tone oozed irritation. “Exactly why was your part-time help snooping around Vivica Wheeler’s barn yesterday? Did you authorize that?”

  Crap. How’d he find out about that so soon?

  Ten minutes later, Quaid hung up and blew a hard sigh. He’d been at a real disadvantage with Anderson, since Kovak had not shared the details of her visit. He’d done a tap dance and offered an apology for overstepping the boundaries, and that had seemed to placate Anderson. But Quaid still needed to solve the dilemma about Kovak’s involvement in his business. He sat back in his chair and stared out the window.

  Had she really provided her real name to someone at Wheeler’s? Didn’t seem logical, given her suspicious and cautious nature, although the term “cautious” couldn’t be used easily with her. Didn’t matter – he had to confront her about this, find out the damage, and set up some guidelines if he planned to continue working with her.

  Pressing the speed dial key for her number, he rose and paced while he waited for her to answer. A pleasant curl moved through his stomach at the sound of her voice.

  “Hi, Garrett. What’s up?”

  “We really need to talk. Do you have some time this afternoon?”

  “Sure, you want me to come to the office?”

  “No, why don’t we meet at that place where we had Dixie’s birthday party. About four o’clock.”

  “I’ll be there. And I have some news for you, as well.”

  Uh oh. More surprises.

  Chapter 50

  The photographs from Kim’s impromptu visit to Wheeler’s flashed across the screen as they uploaded. She chewed a fingernail while she waited. When the transfer finished, she reached for the contact sheet she’d printed the day before. One by one, she compared the horses on the computer screen to the images on the contact sheet, a horrible feeling growing in her stomach. The rose-gray filly was an absolute match to the photo Shareen had sent. No doubt about it. And the pretty bay was another real possibility for a match.

  Kim sat back, releasing a soft sigh. Only DNA would prove if these were Shareen’s horses. Kim wondered exactly how she would go about getting that critical piece of information. She was already in a heap of trouble with Garrett. He wouldn’t appreciate this development one bit when he found out.

  More worrisome was the manner in which Wheeler had acquired the stolen horses. Did she know they were stolen? Had the suave, handsome Charles Léon hoodwinked her? Or was she so confident of her ability to buy whatever she wanted that she figured whatever problems came with the deal could be solved with copious amounts of money? Kim thought about Wheeler’s seemingly secret horse operation so far from her home base. That seemed odd, especially since Garrett had learned that no one in Coleville knew anything about it. Why the secrecy?

  Kim’s e-mail alert dinged and
she opened the window. A message from the missing horses website sent a blip through her pulse, but a second later, she sank back in her chair. It was only an acknowledgment that the photos and information had been uploaded to the database.

  Then she jerked forward in her chair. “Wait a minute. They have the resources to check out those horses at Wheelers!”

  She pulled up the site and clicked on the hotline link. By sending a tip about the possible location of the stolen horses, Kim hoped the organization would get some law enforcement people involved. Wheeler would have no choice but to allow officials to check the horses and take samples for DNA. As Kim hit “send,” she pondered the best way to tell Shareen.

  What if the horses turned out not to be the stolen animals? Shareen would be hopeful, then devastated. But she needed to be aware that something official might be happening, be ready to immediately provide registration papers and authentication of the animals. Kim took a deep breath and dialed.

  Albert’s charming accent came through the phone. “Good morning, Kim. How nice to hear from you.”

  “Hello, Albert. I’m sorry to call so early – I forgot about the time difference. May I speak to Shareen?”

  “Oh, I am afraid she is quite ill with the flu and sleeping right now. Could she call you back when she awakens?”

  “Yes, of course. I’m sorry to hear that. Please tell her ...no, just have her call when she feels well enough.”

  “Is there a message?”

  Kim hesitated. It would be best to do this in person, probably a conference call with both of them.