Jacob
I watch as Joey leads Moon back into the stables to rub her down. Steam comes off the horse’s back in the cool outside air.
Putting Arion’s Moon through her paces has given me a chance to stay close to the barn so I could observe both Jose and Joey this morning. I may be barking up the wrong tree, but one of these two could’ve had an opportunity to put the snakes in the SUV. I don’t know why they would, but I’m hoping Pearl has had a chance to look a little deeper into their background. In the meantime, I’m going to see what I can find out.
Following Joey and the horse inside, I catch sight of Jose cleaning out Murdoch’s stall. Both companion ponies are grazing in the field behind the barn. Joey will be occupied with Moon for a bit so I focus my attention on Jose.
“How are things?” I ask, leaning my elbow on the half-door.
He glances over his shoulder.
“Good, good.”
“I meant to ask you, did you notice anything unusual in the past week or so? Maybe unscheduled visitors, or strange vehicles pulling up to the property while Ms. Baqri and I were picking up the horse?”
“Here?”
I notice he darts a glance past me where I know Joey is grooming Moon. Curious.
“Yeah, around the stables or the house,” I clarify.
“Can’t say I have,” he responds. “Did something happen?”
“You could say that. Someone tried to harm Ms. Baqri with rattlesnakes in her vehicle.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t see anything,” he states, turning his attention back to his work.
No reaction to the mention of rattlesnakes, which I find interesting. It’s not exactly common to purposely harm someone with snakes. I’d at least have expected a raised eyebrow.
Maybe I should be asking Joey what she’s seen.
She has Moon’s halter clipped to two leads between stalls on either side of the aisle. I place a hand on the horse’s rump so I don’t spook her as I move around to her side.
“She did well,” I comment.
Joey pops her head up on the other side.
“She did. Although she was lagging a bit around that last corner. But there was plenty of gas left in her tank on that final stretch.”
“I noticed she lost a second or two there. What do you figure it was?”
“I’m thinking it could be the track, the dirt seems a little looser there.”
“Okay, I’ll see if Jose has time to run the track conditioner sometime today.”
“Thanks.”
I run my hand along Moon’s neck.
“I meant to ask you; did you notice anything unusual around here since you got here?”
She stops brushing and glances at me.
“Unusual, how?”
“Someone messing with Ms. Baqri’s SUV, to be specific.” I keep a close eye on her reaction. “Someone who might have dumped a bag full of rattlesnakes in her vehicle?”
The shock on her face is instantaneous and seems genuine.
“Rattlesnakes? I hate them,” she squeaks with a visible shudder. “Oh my God, is she okay?” follows immediately after.
This is the kind of reaction I would expect.
“She rolled her SUV, but was lucky to get away without serious injury or snakebites for that matter.”
“That’s crazy. So you figure someone put them in her car?”
“Chances for seven adult snakes to find their way in are slim to none.”
“I guess so. Well, I haven’t really seen any strangers around, but then again, most of my time is spent in the stables or the guesthouse. I don’t get out front much.” She shrugs and begins brushing Moon again. “The only person other than you I’ve seen around is Jose.”
“Okay. Let me know if you notice anything,” I encourage her.
Of the two reactions, Joey’s seems the more genuine one, but for all I know she could be a talented actress. If that’s the case, her portrayal of an aversion to snakes should be considered an Oscar-worthy performance. In that same vein, Jose’s feedback could simply be the result of being less socially savvy.
On my way back to the house, I stop to check in with the contractor, who tells me the work should be done by Friday. His crew didn’t start until this Monday, which makes it a bit unlikely one of them could’ve been responsible, but I ask him a few questions anyway.
I walk away, none the wiser, five minutes later and go in search of Raj.
This morning I left her asleep in bed. Last night I’d gone outside to move my truck so it was in full sight of the security camera. Then I made sure all doors and windows were locked properly, before I rejoined Raj in bed for round two.
It was well after midnight by the time she settled against me, satisfied, and fell asleep. I was awake for hours longer, trying to wrap my head around the fact I had the object of my desire curled up in my arms.
I didn’t get a lot of sleep, but I feel more energized and alive this morning than I have in years.
I find Raj in the office. She puts a finger to her lips just as I hear a girl’s voice start talking. Then she flashes me five digits, so I back out of the room and head for the kitchen.
The coffee is all gone so I prep another pot. I could probably use the extra shot of caffeine to make it through the day.
No word from Bernie yet, but I suspect she’ll be here sometime mid-afternoon.
“Hey.”
I turn to find Raj walking into the kitchen. She doesn’t stop until she’s plastered against me, and my arms automatically hold her there. It’s amazing how natural this all feels right away.
“Hey,” I rumble back, looking into her deep brown eyes.
“Sorry, I was just checking in with Amelia.”
Amelia Sherwood is a teenager my team was able to rescue back in the early summer. She’d been lured from West Virginia to Columbus, Ohio, where she was abducted and groomed to be auctioned off to wealthy pedophiles. We were able to take down most of the group responsible—that’s when Jesper Olson was taken into custody—except for who we believe the mastermind to be, David Wheeler.
“How is she doing?”
“She’s hanging in, focusing on schoolwork, still seeing her therapist, as are her parents apparently. Still, she likes New Mexico. She’s making new friends.”
“Good to hear.”
Rajani provides aftercare and counseling for some of the kids we manage to rescue from the hands of predators. Even if their day-to-day care is in the hands of other professionals, she tends to stay in touch, keeping a finger to the pulse.
Suddenly Raj turns her head toward the front of the house. Then I hear it too; the crunch of wheels coming up the driveway. She swings around—forcing me to let go—and starts moving to the foyer.
“It’s probably the security company I called this morning to install more cameras,” she shares.
We briefly discussed upping our security at some point last night. Clearly, Raj didn’t waste any time, confirming to me she was more rattled by yesterday’s experience than she cares to let on.
“Or,” I suggest, following her. “Bernie is early.”
Onyx
“What a lovely place.”
I follow Bernie, who is finding her own way to the kitchen before I have a chance to show her around.
As it turned out, Bernie and the security company arrived at the same time. After a brief introduction, Jacob went with the security guy to show him what he wants done, leaving Bernie with me.
The older woman loaded me up with a couple of cooler bags she pulled from the back of her vehicle, before she grabbed a large pot of some kind from the back seat.
“It’s Scottish beef stew I’ve had going since J called last night,” she indicates, setting the pot on the stove.
Then she turns to me and takes the cooler bags from my hands, placing them on the kitchen counter.
“I also baked some biscuits earlier, and put together a quick lasagna this morning. You can freeze it, or it’ll stay good for a few days in the fridge.”
“Wow. That’s…amazing. Thank you,” I manage, a little overwhelmed by the quiet, but determined, force this woman radiates.
She pulls containers and oven pans from the bags, stacking them on the counter. I swear there’s enough to feed a battalion. There’s no way we’ll be able to eat all this. I can’t even figure out how she was able to throw all this together since yesterday afternoon when Jacob mentioned he contacted her.
“Oh…” Bernie looks surprised when she opens my fridge. “You actually have proper food in here.”
I chuckle. “I like cooking, and I like eating even more,” I share with her.
She shakes her head and seems to be laughing at herself.
“I’m so sorry. I assumed, like J, you wouldn’t have the time or the inclination to cook. I didn’t mean to insult you by bringing food.”
She begins packing up the lasagnas again, so I stop her.
“Are you kidding? I haven’t had lasagna in years, and that stew smells mouthwatering. I do enjoy cooking, but that doesn’t mean I want to do it all the time. Having someone else create something delicious is such a treat.”
I take one of the oven pans and fit it in the freezer. The other one I stick in the fridge. Bernie is smiling when I turn back to her. I feel like I’ve passed a test.
“You brought food?”
I didn’t hear Jacob come inside so his voice startles me. His focus is on Bernie though.
“I did,” she confirms, almost defiantly. “I wasn’t sure whether you’d been eating or not.”
Apparently, Bernie is very serious about looking after Jacob.
“You don’t have to worry about me eating,” he reassures her, draping his arm around my shoulders. “I’ve been feasting on Rajani’s Indian and Pakistani cooking. You’ve gotta try it, Bernie, you’d love it.”
I elbow him in the ribs.
“What?”
“I’m not sure it’s proper manners to gush about someone else’s cooking to the person whose beef stew you will be eating tonight.”
Bernie bursts out laughing.
“Oh, I like her already,” she shares, beaming at Jacob.
Then she grabs her bags and heads for the door.
“Aren’t you staying?” I ask.
“Oh no, I should check into the Airbnb, and I have a container of stew for myself in the car.”
I gesture to the hallway going to the guest room.
“We have extra rooms here you’re more than welcome to.”
This time I get a warning from Jacob by way of his hand grabbing onto my upper arm firmly.
Bernie starts laughing again. “If only you could see your face,” she mocks Jacob. Then she addresses me. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m afraid J here will put me out to pasture if I were to accept. Besides, the Airbnb has a fancy hot tub I’m dying to try out.”
I nod my defeat. “Ah, well, a hot tub, I’d pick that too. Then maybe once all this is over, I’ll have a chance to return the favor and cook a meal for you.”
“I’d love that,” she returns before turning to Jacob. “Walk me out? Your things are in the car.”
I watch the two head outside, smiling at the contrast between the short, pleasantly plump, elderly woman and the tall, bald, and marred man. Jacob may look intimidating, but I’m willing to bet Bernie holds the strings in this relationship.
I glance at the microwave clock and see it’s almost noon. Kate will be summoning us into a conference call shortly. We’re meeting a little later than originally planned because Mitch and Janey were busy with something this morning.
Grabbing a couple of mugs from the cupboard I quickly pour us each a coffee, just as Jacob walks in.
“I’ll put these away later,” he promises, indicating the two suitcases he left in the foyer. “Opal will be calling soon.”
He takes his coffee into the spare bedroom while I return to the office. We don’t want to risk anyone hearing either of us in the background of the other.
“Sorry for this morning,” Janey starts when we’re all present. “We had some movement during the night we wanted to check out.”
“And?” Jacob prompts.
“Yesterday afternoon there was quite a bit of activity around the guest cabins. Looked like staff hauling stacks of linens, boxes with supplies, and cleaning materials. Then we caught a helicopter landing on the field at the front of the property a little after midnight last night,” Mitch describes. “I could see three figures getting out before the chopper took off again. Janey was already on the grounds to adjust one of our trail cameras and was able to get a closer look.”
Janey takes over.
“The three headed straight for the lodge. I noticed one was walking behind the other two. It looked like he was holding a weapon aimed at the others.”
“Could you tell if they were kids?” I ask. “Girls?”
“I’m pretty sure they were both male, and young,” she clarifies.
“Wheeler favors boys,” Jacob contributes.
A chill runs down my spine, right at the moment I hear a click on my phone line, indicating an incoming call.
“Guys,” I interrupt. “I have to go. It’s Oliver Doyle calling.”
I switch to the new call.
“Mr. Doyle, what can I do for you?”
“Ms. Bariq, I am actually relaying a message. You have been invited to a soiree at Grandview Estate this coming Friday evening, with apologies for the late notice.”
It takes me a second to register what he’s saying to me.
“Let me get this straight, are you inviting me? To accompany you?”
“No. I’m merely passing on the invitation. Mr. Ackers has asked me to extend his apology for missing you last Saturday, and would like for you to join him and a select number of other guests for a light meal and some refreshments at the lodge.”
“I’m afraid I’m not sure who Mr. Ackers is,” I feign ignorance.
“Morton Ackers is the owner of Grandview. I’m sorry, I thought you knew,” he apologizes.
“I had no idea. I don’t think his name was ever mentioned. The only name I knew was Pegasus GLAN.”
“My oversight. Can I tell him you will be in attendance? Cocktails at six.”
“Please tell Mr. Ackers I would very much enjoy that,” I assure him.
I’ll have a chance to meet Wheeler face-to-face. I can’t wait.
“He will be delighted. Oh, and one more thing, Ms. Baqri. This is not a plus-one event.”
Shit. That means I can’t bring Jacob as my date. Not sure how that’s going to go over, but this is the opportunity we’ve been working toward, so I can’t turn it down.
“Of course. I’m looking forward to it.”
Five minutes later I have Jacob yelling in my ear, and am grateful for the great room separating us.
“Absolutely not, I won’t allow it!”
His outburst is followed by a pregnant silence. I guess everyone is taken aback. I was afraid this might happen, which is why I mentioned it in the conference call, instead of saving it to tell Jacob alone. I’m counting on the team to pipe up, which is why I’m not saying anything.
“Forgive me if I point out the obvious, but wasn’t this the whole purpose of this exercise?” Lee is the first to observe.
“It’s too dangerous for her to go in without backup.”
“She has backup, Mitch and I are already here,” Janey mentions.
“And I’m going to drive up with her,” Kate contributes. “The whole team will be backing her up.”
I can almost hear him grind is teeth.
“Jacob, you’re the one who wanted me on this case,” I remind him gently. “I can handle it.”
The line falls silent again while everyone appears to wait for Jacob’s response.
“I’m aware, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it,” he finally shares and Lee makes a casual observation.
“I swear, you almost sound like a protective boyfriend.”