Body of Evidence (10 page)

But he had a bad feeling he wasn't going to like what he might find back there.

“H
ere, drink this.” Becky forced Jennifer to take the hot tea. “And sit down before you collapse.”

Jennifer numbly slid into the kitchen chair, her hands gripping the warmth of the big cup. “What time is it?”

“Almost six. The sun's rising.”

Jennifer got up. “I have to call the insurance company and I have the morning feedings.”

“Wait, Jen,” Becky said, holding a hand up in the air. “First, rest and eat something. Then you can call the insurance people. And I've already called several volunteers and patrons to come and help with the feedings and the chores. That way you'll be free to worry about the barn and make sure the horses find temporary shelter.”

Jennifer looked up at her friend, too grateful to speak at first. “Thank you. I'm so glad you're here.”

Becky smiled, then took a sip of her own tea. “God has a way of putting people in the right place at the right time. Good thing Anderson was here, too.”

While her friend went about slicing cinnamon bread for toast, Jennifer thought about Anderson. Had God
sent him here at exactly the right time? And where was he right now?

Worried about him, she closed her eyes and remembered his harsh words to her last night. And the emotions beneath that harsh facade. She'd gone against his orders to stay out of the burning barn, so she could under stand his anger. But she'd also seen something else there in his eyes. A fierce longing had shattered through his anger, a longing that mirrored what Jennifer had felt when
he'd
gone into that barn for
her
sake.

I can't think about that,
she reasoned.
Once this is all over, he'll be out of my life.
Anderson would go back to his work and she'd return to her daily routine. Funny how her work and her scheduled tasks used to bring her such joy and satisfaction. But now…well, now she had Anderson underfoot and inside her head and he'd changed her whole perspective. She resented that even while she treasured his presence. Best not to depend on that presence, however.

“We have toast,” Becky said, placing two crisp, buttered slices in front of Jennifer. “Don't let it get cold.”

Jennifer took a bite, the sweet cinnamon mixed with crisp buttered bread sticking in her throat. She wasn't hungry, but she forced down a few more bites. “I'm in serious trouble, Becky.”

“I know, honey,” her friend said. “You've got double trouble from what I can see.”

“What do you mean?”

Becky dropped her own toast and brushed crumbs off her fingers. “Your barn burned down and…you got one fine-looking man burning for your attention.”

Shocked, Jennifer sat up and stared at her friend. Was it that obvious? “What are you talking about?”

Becky shook her head. “You always did have a one-track mind. In case you haven't noticed, that man is also in serious trouble.”

“Yeah, he's trying to track down whoever is behind all of this, so that kind of puts a target on his back.”

“Jen, quit trying to deny this,” Becky said. “Anderson Michaels has two things on his mind right now. Get the bad guys and…get the girl. And I sure wish I could stick around to see which one he gets to first.”

 

Exhaustion pulled at Anderson. Guiding Chestnut toward the corral shed, he dismounted and took care of the valiant gelding by quickly brushing him down and throwing a day rug over the big horse. “C'mon, boy. Let's find you some water and a bit of gruel to munch on.”

After getting Chestnut housed in the open corral shed next to the other horses, Anderson stopped to have another look at the gutted remains of the barn, then slowly made his way up to the cabin. Cade was on his way to help Anderson go over everything again. A new set of eyes sure would help, but Anderson's suspicions about the barn fire being a distraction had been right on the money. Somebody had wanted him away from the back forty.

And someone had been messing around in the dirt near the chain-linked fence around the pond. What was back there? Drugs? Money? Or something else entirely?

He could speculate for days and get nowhere. Right
now, he wanted a good cup of coffee and a hot shower. So he headed straight to the bunkhouse, where he'd told Cade to meet him.

Okay, so maybe he was avoiding Jennifer, too, he thought as he got cleaned up and dressed. He still shook with anger each time he thought about her going into that barn, but in his heart he could understand the woman's love for her animals. He'd have done the same if his horse had been in danger. Still, his heart roared up and took off when he remembered their argument last night. And the way she'd looked when he'd chastised her.

I came down too hard, just like I always do,
Anderson thought now as he entered the efficiency kitchen. His mother often reminded him that he let his temper get the best of his better judgment, just like his daddy. But a man tended to do that when he cared too much.

That realization floored him and alerted him. He needed to reel in his feelings for Jennifer so he could take care of business. Stay on course, get this case going and…move on? He'd always been able to do that before.

But he knew when this was over, he wouldn't be able to move on. Jennifer had taken hold of him in the worst kind of way. And how was he supposed to handle that when he was caught in the middle of one of the biggest cases he'd ever worked?

“Lord, I could use some guidance here,” Anderson said out loud while the coffee perked and gulped. With each beat of the drip, drip from the percolator, Anderson said a prayer. “Teach me, help me, show me what is right, Lord.”

Anderson closed his eyes to the fatigue and asked God to give him some peace. First, the case. Then he'd figure out what to do about his feelings for Jennifer.

Of course, he had to find out if she even cared about his feelings to begin with, after last night.

 

Becky nudged Jennifer after they'd gone down to the barn to look at the mess. “Mercy, girl, now there's two of them.”

Jennifer glanced toward the bunkhouse and saw Anderson out on the porch talking to a beefy-looking man with thick dark blond hair. “Now who is that?”

“Let's go find out,” Becky suggested with a grin.

Jennifer pulled her friend along. “Whatever they're discussing probably involves me, so yes, let's go and listen in.” She looked back at the barn. “I can't do anything down there until the insurance agent shows up, anyway. And thanks to you, all the other chores are being handled.”

“I'm that kind of friend,” Becky retorted with a wink.

Anderson glanced up when he saw them coming. “Morning.”

Could he be any more evasive?
Jennifer thought even while she managed to avoid making eye contact with him.

“Hello.” She decided to look at his friend instead. “What's up?”

“Jennifer, this is Cade Jarvis. I brought him in to help me search for evidence and go over things at the barn and the new alligator pen again.”

Cade reached out a hand and gave Jennifer a hearty handshake. “Hello, ma'am. Sorry about all of this.”

Jennifer accepted his handshake. “Thank you. This is my friend, Becky.” At Anderson's questioning look, she added, “I told her what's going on.”

After more handshakes and small talk, Jennifer asked, “So I assume you're here to help figure this out, since Anderson called you.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“Stop with the ma'am thing.”

“Yes. Okay.”

Anderson shifted on his boots. “While the barn was on fire, someone went snooping near the new pen.”

“What?” Jennifer put her hands on her hips then stared out toward the trees. “This happened last night?”

“Yep. A distraction to get me away from that area,” Anderson replied, still looking anywhere but at her.

Becky didn't seem to have any problems looking at Anderson. “So what do you two plan to do about that?”

Cade cleared his throat. “All we can do at this point is keep watching and try to figure out what these people want. I believe they think your security cameras have them on tape. They want any evidence you might have.”

Becky lifted her head, her eyes on Jennifer. “Jen, this is about more than just security, right?”

Jennifer finally looked over at Anderson. What could she say?

Anderson saw her confusion. “You know we're Tex as Rangers. We think the cartel is targeting this
place because they've been messing in drugs. And I'm only telling you this for your protection and because I might need you to help Jennifer out again before this is over.”

Becky hissed a breath. “Of course. Need me to sit in on a stakeout?”

“No, not that kind of help,” Anderson replied. “This is dangerous. You need to stay close to Jennifer and stay away from back there. And this conversation can't be repeated. Got it?”

“Got it,” Becky said, her gaze lifting over to Jennifer. “This is worse than I thought.”

“A lot worse,” Jennifer replied. “And I've got the construction crew arriving any minute now.”

“Just go about your business,” Anderson said. “We're heading back there right now—before they stir things up even more.”

“You'd better hurry,” Jennifer said, still cranky for lack of sleep and too much stress. “I called the foreman and they'll be here by nine.”

Anderson looked at his watch. “That gives us a good hour. We'll head out there first, then come back to inspect the barn again.” He shot Cade a glance. “I need to talk to Jennifer in private.”

Cade took the hint. “I'll drive on out and get started. You can meet me there later.” He tipped his hat at the women and got in his truck.

Becky stood there, still watching Cade. “Is he single?”

“Yes,” Anderson said. “But highly devoted to his job.”

Just like you,
Jennifer wanted to shout out. His words were an obvious hint to her, no doubt.

Becky looked back at them. “Oh, okay. Got it. And you want me gone, right?”

“Do you mind?” Jennifer asked, giving Anderson a glaring look. “You can check on Boudreaux and Bobby Wayne and make sure they've had their morning meal. Be careful and stay outside the first fence.”

“I know how to handle your alligators,” Becky said over her shoulder. “They're about the only two of the male species I think I can understand.”

She pranced off, leaving an uncomfortable silence in her wake.

“Your friend's spunky.”

“I like that about her.”

Jennifer didn't know what else to say. Then Anderson took her hand in his and looked her square in the eyes. “Jennifer, I'm sorry about how I acted last night. I get so caught up in my cases, sometimes I take my frustrations out on other people. I sure didn't mean to do that with you.”

She wanted to stay mad at him but the way his eyes had turned all golden and shimmering made her mouth water and her heart skip a few beats. “Last night was difficult for all of us.”

His hand moved up her arm. “But…I should remember that you didn't ask for this and…I kind of stormed in here, telling you what I needed to do, never thinking how traumatic this would be for you.”

Why was he being so nice now, when she felt so bad about every little thing?

“It's okay. I'm stronger than I look.”

“I can believe that.” He moved close, so close she saw the flecks of rich brown in his eyes. When he reached up to push a few wisps of hair off her temple, Jennifer knew she was in too deep. “I don't want to hurt you. I'd never want to do that.”

She allowed the one delicate shiver to chase down her spine. “Is that an apology or a warning?”

“I am sorry,” he said. “But…I am warning you—I have to keep my mind on my job. The stakes are too high, otherwise.”

She pulled away, hurt by his bluntness. “Like I didn't see that from the get-go. No time for anything else, right?”

He hit a hand against his jeans, his face covered with frustration. “I'm doing this all wrong. I've never been good with words. Never been good with women, truth be told. But…with you…it's hard to explain.”

“You don't need to explain anything,” she retorted, her heart tearing. “You're telling me that you don't want any more distractions—especially from me, right?”

“It's not like that. I like…being distracted by you but—”

“But any distraction is a risk, and you don't want to take a risk with me. Well, guess what, cowboy, I don't want to risk anything with you, either. Just do what you've got to do, Anderson, and then let me get on with my work and my life. Because I learned firsthand that men like you—men who live for their careers—don't stick around for any kind of distractions that might actually require a commitment.”

With that, she turned and stomped away before she made a fool of herself and asked him why he couldn't
make an exception for her and break all his tightly held rules.

Just once, she'd like to know what it felt like to be loved, truly loved, instead of being left abandoned and longing for something she'd never have.

C
ade stared down at the freshly turned dirt just outside the chain-link fence then took a picture. “We could do some digging ourselves, maybe find something.”

“We could,” Anderson replied, the cold, cloudy morning not helping his black mood. “Or we could wait 'em out. If they want this bad enough, they'll be back. And I'd rather catch 'em in the act than make a mess digging up things right now. If we let them do the work, it should save us a lot of problems with Jennifer Rodgers.”

“Good point.” Cade took another picture. “You didn't see anything last night?”

“No. They made sure I'd go running back to the main house, which means they've seen me back here and they know something's up. But they didn't get very far from the looks of these shallow shovel holes.”

“Might be watching right now,” Cade said on a low even tone. “Maybe they were just planning on messing things up to force a shutdown, stall for time.”

“Probably.” Anderson ventured a glance around the woods. “They won't come out again until dark. Cowards tend to do that. But they're getting bolder.” He put his hands on his hips. “Any word on the Lions?”

“Nothing much other than what we already know. We just need one name but Jimenez sure is afraid to give up the goods.”

“And still nothing on our coma patient, either,” Anderson said, huffing a breath. “I'm getting mighty antsy.”

“Does that have anything to do with that pretty dark-headed woman you kept staring at earlier?”

Anderson kicked at the dirt, his gaze scanning the area once again in case he'd missed anything. “They had to have come in on foot. I don't see horse tracks or car tracks. And with all the mud and packed dirt, it's hard to find any firm shoe imprints.” He stomped at the mud. “We need to hurry this up and go over the barn again. Too many people milling around.”

Cade held the camera toward the fence line and clicked. “I take it your non-answer means Jennifer is getting to you in a big way.”

“I'm trying to focus on the problem at hand,” Anderson shot back. “She's all caught up in this case.”

“That's what I'm saying,” Cade replied. “Is
she
a problem?”

Anderson pushed at his hat. “She might be. I'm not sure yet. She resents me being here right now. We've had words a few times.” He couldn't tell his friend things between Jennifer and him were on a highly emotional level right now. It wasn't cool to get so involved with a subject in an active case.

Cade gave him a look full of questions. “I see.”

“I gotta go talk to that missing neighbor and work on making the security around here better,” Anderson
said. “Why don't we head back to the stables and see if the insurance inspector is here yet.”

“No problem,” Cade replied, following him. “Anything from this site I need to take back to head quarters?”

“No. I've sent in everything as far as evidence, but we don't have a leg to stand on right now. I just need to find out about the background checks on a couple of people.” He pulled out his phone and called Ben about that. But he didn't miss the inquisitive expression on Cade's face.

“The kid's clean,” Ben said. “Nothing there. But that neighbor, Chason, has a list of complaints against him regarding property lines and privacy issues. He's been before city councils and planning boards in just about every place he's lived. And, get this—he's had some misdemeanors regarding possession of pot. He's one of those naturalists who believes marijuana should be legal. A live wire and a possible person of interest behind these latest incidents, especially the joint y'all found out there. We can't rule him out.”

“I'm on my way to find him,” Anderson said on a snarl.

“Thanks.” He filled Cade in on what Ben had told him.

Cade gave him a sideways stare, then turned toward his truck. “While you talk to Chason, I'll go over the fire scene. A fresh pair of eyes might spot something you didn't see.”

Anderson nodded. “You might be right on that. Thanks for riding out. I'll check back with you in about an hour or so.”

He got in his own truck and followed Cade back up the winding lane, everything he needed to do today front and center in his mind. If he could get past the woman who was also front and center in his mind.

 

A day later, things were hopping around the farm, Jennifer thought as she took a long drink of water around midday. On a normal weekday morning, she would have enjoyed the buzz of activity all around her. But today, she had the gaping hole in the back of the charred barn to remind her why the insurance inspector was here and she had extra volunteers to remind her that she'd had yet another setback and couldn't keep up by herself. She had the construction crews and landscaping trucks driving back and forth along the lane toward the alligator pond to remind her that at least she'd be able to move the two alligators to a better habitat, possibly tomorrow or next week.

And she had Anderson to remind her of the danger lurking around every corner, causing her to lose trust in herself and to wonder if this whole operation would ever become a reality. With all the commotion, she just prayed no one would slip up and blurt out the awful truth to her board members and donors. Right now, the story stood at vandalism and that was, right now, the truth. She didn't have any proof to who was actually doing this. And she had too much to do today to even try to figure it out or worry about it.

But Anderson seemed to be on the case even if he was in such a foul mood he practically scared all the volunteers almost as much as old Boudreaux did. After
he'd returned from Mr. Chason's, he'd installed better door locks and dead bolts. And he and Cade had set up some sort of easy-to-install, invisible fence monitor around the perimeter of the alligator pen, explaining to anyone curious enough to notice that Jennifer was tired of the vandalism and needed to protect herself and her animals, and the vandals, too, at that. It wasn't on right now, since too many people were coming and going. But it would be on tonight. And Anderson would be out there waiting and watching. Jennifer would have a monitor on inside the house, too.

No one seemed to care about the tall, cranky Ranger working at a frenzied pace with security, however. The construction crew had been grilled and questioned even while they grudgingly helped with tacking the invisible fence monitors on to the existing fences. She didn't know if he'd found anything or anyone suspicious with that group. Anderson didn't seem very forthcoming with the details.

And he'd come back from the Chason ranch to inform her that Ralph Chason was not on the property. Anderson did tell her on a low growl that he'd done a thorough search but hadn't found a vehicle on the premises, either. Now she was beginning to worry that something bad had happened to her persnickety old neighbor. What if he'd stumbled upon the drug runners and been hurt or worse?

When she saw Anderson coming around the corner of the goat pen late in the day, she headed toward him, determined to make him talk. “I'm worried about Mr. Chason.”

Anderson stopped, his frown still intact. Would he ever get over their harsh words from last night? Would she?

“Maybe he works in the city or something, I don't know. But our check indicated he worked at home. I peeked into his art studio and everything seemed in order. I called out his name and identified myself several times. I don't think he was hiding. And his garage was empty, too. He could be on a trip.”

“He does go out scouting all over the state for wood and rocks a lot,” Jennifer replied. “That could be it.” Relaxing a little, she offered Anderson a fresh bottle of water. “I have to go see about the progress on the pen.”

At least that got his attention. “You don't need to be back there alone.”

“I won't be alone. The whole work crew is back there along with several reliable volunteers.”

He frowned but didn't argue. “We went over the barn again and didn't find anything beyond the gasoline-soaked rags and since the insurance adjuster and the fire captain ruled it an arson, you can clean up now. Jacob is down there with a whole crew, moving beams and breaking down the damaged walls.”

“I'll have to rebuild the whole thing,” she said.

“Yes, and I'm sorry about that. Somebody meant business. They're escalating the threats just like I expected, and I'm convinced it's because they think you've recorded their activities. I'd better go help Jacob. Maybe I'll spot something.”

He gave her one last blank look, then turned to leave.
She almost let him go, but something tugged at her. “Anderson?”

He turned, the dark clouds behind him reminding her that rain might move in before nightfall. “Yeah?”

“Can we be friends again? I mean, I know I didn't take this very seriously at first, but…I was scared last night. I didn't think. I just ran into the barn. It was a mistake, but…I wish you wouldn't hold it against me.”

She saw the torment in his burnished eyes. “I don't hold it against you,” he said as he stalked back toward her. “And I'm sorry if I've been rude today. I've just got a lot on my mind.” His look indicated she was part of that.

“Me, too. This thing has forced us together and I guess we're taking it out on each other, huh?”

He almost smiled then. “Yeah, I reckon. I get frustrated when a criminal gets the best of me. And I should have seen that coming last night. Setting the barn on fire is a time-honored coward's way of scaring people.”

“You had no way of knowing they did it as a diversion.”

“No, I didn't. But then, I was more worried about getting you to safety than turning and heading back to catch them in the act.”

His blunt nature stung her, but the gentle look in his eyes tempered her and held her. “Can we work together from now on? You seem to be condemning me and blaming me.”

He rushed toward her then, his hands pulling at her arms. “No, no, you've got it all wrong there, Jennifer. I don't blame you. I…how can I explain it? I can't get past how I felt when I thought you might die inside that fire.
All I could think was what a shame that would be—the world without you here in it—you taking care of these animals, showing children how to do the same, protecting creatures that can't always protect themselves.” He stopped, looked around and leaned close. “I thought about how kissing you made me feel and my heart just about burned up faster than that barn. I don't know what's happening.”

She touched a hand to his chest, her smile small and reluctant. “You thought all of that…last night?”

His lips tilted. “Okay, I thought about the kiss right away and then I didn't think beyond that until I had you out of that barn.” With what seemed an embarrassed shrug, he shook his head. “And then when Sadie didn't want to come out, I thought about all the rest, to keep myself calm, to keep myself alive so I could…maybe tell you all of that. And keep that stubborn, scared horse alive, too.”

Jennifer stood looking up at him, her mind whirling with images of rafters falling and horses bolting. That's how he made her feel—as if the barn were on fire and she was helpless to put out the flames. Not knowing what to say, and not understanding where this might lead since he'd indicated he was all about the case and not her, she smiled up at him. “I'm sure glad you kept that horse alive, Anderson.”

That made his eyes crinkle and his lips twist.

He stepped back, fighting a grin. “Me, too. I'll be back later so we can talk.”

“Okay.”

She watched him go, so glad that she'd had the nerve to confront him. Anderson didn't seem to be a man of
words. He had a quiet strength that didn't demand attention. But that kind of strength could sure fill a room.

And a woman's heart.