HORSES AND HEROIN (Romantic Mystery) (30 page)

Tami shrugged. “My Spanish isn’t great and they talk so fast. I just overheard his father yelling that he needed four horses on the trailer.” She scrolled on her phone, checking her messages. “I’m going to push today about that job. Miguel’s always nicer when he wants sex.”

Megan clamped her mouth and continued stacking clothes, relieved Miguel was leaving. Tami would be better off when he was gone. The ruthless way he’d forced that horse and rider through the fence left her nauseous. And if he was indicative of the type of people at the Baja Tinda, she hoped Tami didn’t get a job there.

Baja Tinda. Even the name left a sour taste in her mouth.

“Tami,” she said slowly, “I’ve seen Miguel’s tat sleeve but not the rest. Is it a tattoo of a horse?”

Tami shook her head, concentrating on her phone. “No, it’s just a bunch of stuff…stars, numbers, a snake. But the one on his stomach is totally cool. It goes real low. You should see where the arrow points.”

“Oh, wow. I’d like to see that.” Megan repressed a shudder.

“Maybe I’ll take a picture.”

“Okay,” Megan said. “And in return, you can borrow my truck, today and tomorrow.”

Tami grinned. “I love that deal.”

***

“That’s it? Nothing more than possession?” Scott frowned after Snake finished reciting Joey’s record. “Maybe T-Bone missed something. You sure he found it all?”

“Boss, T-Bone can find out how many times I had sex last month.”

“That I don’t want to know,” Scott said. “But send me everything you got on this Collins kid. Go deep. School, record, family, friends. He might be a user but at this point, he doesn’t sound like much of a dealer.”

“This isn’t our typical case. Are we working this stuff now?” Snake’s voice lowered, and Scott guessed Belinda was walking down the hall.

“No. It’s just a favor for a friend.”

“Must be a special friend.”

Scott leaned back in his chair, glad Snake couldn’t see his silly smile. Megan
was
special. When she looked at him with those big beautiful eyes, he turned to putty. He wanted to look after her, take away that wariness. Wanted to erase the hint of sadness that crept into her face when she thought no one was looking.

“Ah, your lady friend,” Snake said. “Want me run a background check?”

“Absolutely not.”

Snake chuckled. “Then it must be serious. Good for you, man. About time too. Belinda will be ecstatic. Guess that’s what fixed those headaches. When you coming back?”

“Soon, I guess. The school’s permits are renewed.” Scott dragged a hand over his jaw. Garrett had made it clear his services were no longer required and that a new instructor could take over the class. But leaving in midstream didn’t feel right. Neither did leaving Megan.

Of course, she’d finish her course by June, and everything was cool now, except for her occasional evasiveness. It was only natural she’d hold a few things back. She didn’t let people get close, something he intended to change.

Snake began to rant about uncooperative LAPD, and Scott glanced at the clock. Megan had only been gone an hour. Already he missed her. “So there’s nothing very pressing then,” he said, cutting off Snake’s tirade.

“Nothing pressing?” Snake snorted. “Have you even been listening? Lieutenant Babin wants to block access, that lady at the club won’t give up her list to anyone but you, and my guy at the dock has been missing for three days.”

“I’ll make some calls.” Scott jotted down a reminder on his yellow pad. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Oh, hell,” Snake said. “You got it bad.”

***

Megan finished her barn chores then walked down the aisle, pausing to look into Rambo’s stall. He was tied to a ring at the back of the stall, looking rather disgruntled while Peter pulled his mane.

“Lydia seems to think I’m a groom,” Peter said. However, his good-natured grin showed he didn’t really mind. “This is earning me enough bonus points to graduate a week early. Not to mention I’m really happy for the horse. Can you stay and hold his head? You’re the only person Rambo tolerates, but Lydia feels you’ve had so much activity that you need a rest.”

Megan steadied Rambo’s head, hoping Peter wouldn’t notice her blush. She didn’t know what Scott had said earlier this morning, but he’d certainly smoothed her way with Lydia. And now he was going to find Joey. Everything was falling into place.

“You’re going to look handsome for your new home,” she said, stroking Rambo’s polished neck. “I’ll bring you some carrots as soon as Peter is finished.”

“Yeah, I saw the truckload of carrots dumped behind the barn.” Peter wrapped the comb around a stand of hair and yanked. Rambo’s ears flattened but he didn’t move. “Why did Garrett do that?” Peter went on. “He doesn’t strike me as a man who worries about treats.”

Megan shrugged. Peter was right, but it was nice to have carrots for the horses. Besides, it saved bagging up the alfalfa and messing up Scott’s car.

Peter picked up a brush and finished flattening Rambo’s mane.

“He looks super,” she said. “Thanks for looking after him.”

“I knew you were otherwise occupied.” Peter gave a knowing wink. “Too damn busy to even turn on your phone.”

Megan pulled out her cell and pressed the power button, not even trying to hide her smile. When she wasn’t riding, she usually kept the phone on, hopeful Joey might call. She’d only turned it off this morning when she and Scott were lying on the sofa, watching school video. That had been a waste of time though. Joey hadn’t appeared in any of the footage.

Not a total waste of time, she amended. Being with Scott was a natural high, and she couldn’t wait to return to his villa for supper. He’d suggested she bring Eve too, so he could conduct an informal interview. Finally, he’d learn the truth about Joey. The truth about everything.

And even though Eve distrusted Scott’s relationship with Garrett, it was no longer a factor—not since Megan and Scott had reached this whole new level of intimacy. He might even try harder if he knew Joey was her brother. She was confident now he wouldn’t put the school’s wellbeing over hers. He was protective, dependable, wonderful.

“Someone’s in love,” Peter said, jerking back her attention.

She tried to shrug it off, didn’t want Peter to see the dreamy look on her face, so straightened Rambo’s already neat forelock. The horse tolerated her grooming with only a swish of his newly conditioned tail.

“Scott scares me a little,” Peter added, “but you were never afraid of anyone, even Lydia. So I hope it works out.”

Megan traced the white hair on Rambo’s scarred cheek. She wasn’t used to making candid comments, particularly not with a guy, but there was something about being in a barn that made deception unnecessary. Maybe a horse’s innate honesty was contagious. She stopped hiding her expression and shot Peter a tremulous smile. “Thanks,” she said. “I really hope it works out too.”

Peter flushed, as though surprised by her candor. He dropped the comb in the grooming kit. “This horse looks good enough to race,” he said gruffly. “And win. Bet Eve wishes she were riding something half as good.”

Eve might not be riding anything for nine months. Megan removed Rambo’s halter and followed Peter from the stall. She wondered if Eve would tell Scott she was pregnant, wondered what he’d think when he heard Megan was Joey’s sister and wanted to help with Eve’s baby. Wondered what he even thought about babies.

She latched the stall door, her fingers clumsy with anticipation. This was going to be a big night, an all-important night. Eve would provide Scott with a much clearer picture since she didn’t have a sister’s perceived bias.

“With Eve gone, that leaves Miguel as top jockey,” Peter went on. “Although he didn’t look much like top dog when he was scrubbing buckets.”

Megan’s head jerked up. “What do you mean? With Eve gone?”

“I thought you knew.” Peter shrugged. “She left a couple hours ago. Some guy Garrett knows offered her a job.”

“A job? A r-riding job?”

“Yeah. The offer came in and she packed her helmet and left. Pretty happy. They were all celebrating at the jockey barn, even shared their coffee. Did you know they have their own fridge?”

“Sorry, Peter. I h-have to go.” She backed up then charged from the barn, checking her phone as she ran. The screen blurred. She could barely see but wasn’t sure if it was because of her tears or her jerky movements.

She scrolled down and spotted the message. Eve had said good-bye in a text. Said she’d call sometime and that was it. While Megan had been lying on the sofa, watching TV, her friend had packed her bags and moved on.

A tear slid down her cheek and she stumbled across the parking lot, twisting away from the stares of two whispering girls.

She knuckled at her eyes, wondering how Eve was traveling. Probably by bus. Maybe she could catch up in her truck, plead for Eve to be careful, to consider the baby. Beg her to stay and help find Joey. Eve might still be at the station.

She groped in her pocket for her keys but her hand came away empty. Tami and Miguel had her truck.

She moaned, wishing she hadn’t been watching DVDs. She’d been way too complacent, reassured that with Scott’s help, they’d find Joey. She jammed out a text message and stared at the screen, willing Eve to answer.

Nothing.

Desperate, she called Eve’s number but a metallic recording stated the phone was turned off. Eve was gone, truly gone.

Her knees buckled and she slumped against the barn, her tears soaking the gravel of the lonely parking lot.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Scott said. “Take some big breaths.”

Megan tossed her overnight bag in the corner by the door and paced around the table. “But you don’t understand,” she said. “Eve left!”

“It’s not the end of the world. I can still interview her.” Although he did prefer to talk to people in person. Liked to see their reaction to tough questions. “Where did she go?” he asked, keeping his voice mild.

“That’s the problem.” Megan whipped her head back and forth. Despite her reddened eyes, she looked beautiful. Beautiful but achingly vulnerable. “She’s gone somewhere to ride. Santa Anita, I guess.”

He didn’t see why it was such a problem but Megan looked shattered, frightened even. It left him uneasy. “Just give me her cell number,” he said. “I’ll call her.”

“She’s not answering. It’s turned off.” Her voice rose in obvious panic. “Just like Joey’s.”

“Whoa, Megan. This is not the same thing at all.” He couldn’t stand it any longer and wrapped his arms around her, shocked at the tautness of her body. “Try to relax. This is good for Eve. Of course you’ll miss her but she came to the school to be a jockey. This is what she wants.

“I’ll talk to Garrett,” he went on. “Find out what trainer she’s with. Maybe we can watch her race on the Internet.”

“But she could get hurt! She shouldn’t even be riding.”

“What do you mean?” Scott’s eyes narrowed as he pictured Eve. Small, dark hair, definitely a jockey’s build. And she rode like a hellion. Probably had a temperament to match. But perhaps she relied on drugs to boost her courage. She’d rushed from his class once, displaying somewhat erratic behavior.

Garrett believed Joey was still slinking around the school, which meant someone had to be providing assistance. Possibly Eve.

Without her around, it would be easier to grab Joey and obtain answers. Ease Megan’s mind. He hated her anguish and wanted to sort this out quickly, even if it meant diverting his best guys to the Joey Collins’ case.

Megan was shaking her head now, her mouth set in a stubborn line. “I’m going after her. She’s not thinking straight. I just need to know what trainer she’s working for.”

A familiar throb pounded the side of Scott’s temple. “You can’t just leave,” he said. “That needs to be cleared with the school first.”

“I have to see her. You don’t understand.”

“Then tell me so I do understand.” His jaw felt frozen, his words clipped.

“I can’t.” She wrung her hands, looking everywhere but at him. “It’s her business, not mine. It’s…important.”

And he wasn’t. That thought wormed through his head no matter how hard he fought it. He’d always known he wasn’t first on Megan’s agenda—ironic since the only two women he’d ever wanted had secret passions he didn’t understand. And now she was blocking him out again.

He tried one last time. “Tell me about Eve. Maybe I can help.”

“She doesn’t want me to say.” Megan brushed his cheek with a distracted kiss and rushed to the door. “Once Tami returns my truck, I’m going to Santa Anita. I’ll call you.”

She closed the door and disappeared.

He sank down on a chair, rubbing his temple. Ten hours’ drive, up and back. Garrett and Ramon would be irate. Maybe if he explained the situation, they’d cut her some slack.

Unfortunately he didn’t understand the situation and ‘to talk to Eve’ wasn’t much of an excuse. Hell, maybe Megan would change her mind and not go.

It was small consolation that she’d left her overnight bag.

***

Megan charged past the paddocks and into the barn. Phew. Her truck was parked at the far end so luckily Tami and Miguel had returned. She would find Eve and plead with her to consider the baby. She’d bring her checkbook too. She should have discussed child support and reviewed all the options, but Eve’s job offer had been totally unexpected.

She waved at Peter but didn’t stop to talk, just booted up the steps, slipped the key from the planter and flung open the door.

The curtains were drawn, the room strangely dark for midafternoon.

She switched on the light and jerked in horror. Tami curled on the bed, her eyes so swollen she was barely recognizable.

“I look awful, don’t I?” Tami mumbled. “We went for a walk in the woods. Guess I was allergic to something.”

Allergic to Miguel.
Megan hid her dismay and rushed across the room, dropping to her knees by the bed. “What happened, Tami? Was the job offer bogus?”

“It’s nothing. My eyes swell when I cry.” Tami’s shoulders shook in a shuddering sob.