Body of Evidence (13 page)

“But you still have to stake out the alligator pen, right?”

He nodded, his hands moving down her arms. “Yeah, for now. I just have a gut feeling these people aren't done back there.” He tugged her close. “I can arrange for someone to stay here with you tonight.”

“No, I'm a big girl, Anderson. You do what you need to do and I'll catch up on some paperwork. I'm exhausted, anyway.”

He didn't want to leave her. “Okay. Let's get inside and eat the leftovers my mom saved for us, then I'll head out. You keep your phone nearby, okay?”

“Okay.” She followed him inside and together they prepared the lasagna and salad Ramona had tucked inside the refrigerator. “Your mother made enough to feed half of Texas.”

“She made enough for us to have a nice quiet dinner,”
Anderson replied. He bent down beside old Roscoe, petting the dog like he did every night before he left Jennifer and Roscoe to do his job. “Roscoe, you might like some leftovers, too.”

“He's not getting any better,” Jennifer said, coming to sit by the dog. “I hate watching him waste away but…I don't have the heart to let Dr. Jenkins put him to sleep. He assures me Roscoe's not in any pain.”

“The old boy's just resting, I reckon,” Anderson replied, his eyes gentle on hers. “He deserves a good long rest.”

“Let's eat,” she said, getting up to hurry back to the kitchen.

Anderson followed her, then turned her around to face him. “Are you sure you're okay?”

She bobbed her head, looking back at the dog. “I just…I don't know how to thank you or your family for what you did today. Your dad already has a construction crew lined up to rebuild the barn and your mother told me the women in her Sensational Seniors group are going to become permanent patrons for Rodgers Exotic Animal Rescue. The amount of their financial pledge is astonishing. How can I ever repay that?”

Anderson leaned close, then tucked a cluster of curls away from her face. “You don't have to.” Then he bent and kissed her, something he'd wanted to do all day. “Consider it a gift.”

When they parted, her eyes were rich with longing. “I think I owe you a lot of kisses for today, Anderson.”

“Then pay up.”

He kissed her again, wishing he could stay here instead of having to go out on patrol. But there was no
help for it. He had to end this case so he could figure out what was going on between them.

The woman made his heart race with need and his mind whirl with possibilities. And he prayed that the example his family had shown her today would guide her back to the Lord.

“Let's eat,” he said, “before I decide to let Boudreaux and Bobby Wayne take out the bad guys without me.”

She smiled at that. “They could probably do just that, Ranger-man.” Reaching up a hand to touch his face, she added, “Before we eat, there's something I need to say.”

“All right.” He waited, never able to read her.

“I know you have a strong faith,” she said, her smile confirming her sincerity. “But today, I witnessed that faith firsthand. Your family is wonderful. They made me think long and hard about my bitterness toward God. I started thinking about that the first day you and I worked together and since then…I've felt this tugging in my heart. So I just wanted you to know, no matter what happens, I'll always be grateful for that.”

Anderson's joy caused him to pull her close again. Hugging her, he kissed the top of her head. “Now that was worth the trip.”

She stood back, laughing up at him. “You're something else, Ranger-man. Just be careful out there.”

He intended to be careful. He had a very good reason to settle this fight now. He wouldn't give up until he knew she was safe. And then maybe he'd be able to figure out how to balance his work with his growing feelings for Jennifer.

T
wo nights later, Anderson lay on his bedroll, bundled under a thick wool blanket, watching the crescent moon nestled against the stars like a necklace and wondering if he was going to have to call it a day on this stakeout and get back to headquarters for another assignment.

Apparently, the drug cartel and the Lions had been spooked by the new developments and were now staying away. They'd either found what they'd wanted or they knew he was still around and so were avoiding the place. Either way, he was getting itchy and restless. Patience had never been his strong point, but this was driving him crazy.

Rather, being around Jennifer and not being able to act on his feelings was driving him crazy. A stolen kiss here and there wasn't nearly enough. He wanted to take her home to meet the family she'd already met and he wanted to keep her safe and he wanted to be able to come here on a regular basis in his off-hours and help her.

In a word, he wanted to spend time with the woman. Time that didn't involve danger lurking around the corner.

“I'm singing a new tune now, Mama. And you'd be so happy to hear that.” But would Jennifer? And what about his policy regarding never getting personally involved in investigations? He'd need to finish this job before he could even begin to sort out his feelings.

If he ever got a chance to do that. Anderson shifted, careful to scope the whole pond area since another quiet hour had come and gone. He'd purposely waited until well past dark to come out here, walking on foot this time so he wouldn't alert anyone who might chance by.

It was past midnight and still not a peep, not even from those two sneaky alligators. Anderson closed his eyes, his mind going over and over the variables of this case.

He must have dozed because the next thing he knew, he heard a grunt and then what sounded like a shovel hitting dirt.

And it was coming from
inside
the alligator pond.

 

Jennifer heard the loud beep of the alarm system, the faraway fog of sleep muting the alert. But within moments she was up and running toward the security control box located next to her computer in the front office, her feet bare, her heart pumping.

With one quick glance, she saw that the alert was coming from the alligator pond.

Anderson was out there! And someone was trying to break in?

Whirling, she started back toward the gun closet, intent on going to help Anderson, when a strong arm caught her and a sweaty hand covered her mouth.

“Don't try anything, lady, or you die.”

She struggled, but the man held her tight. “We warned you but you wouldn't listen. We can't let you live now.”

What did that mean? Were they going to kill her just because she'd infringed on their meeting place? Or because she had seen one of them up close? Trapped, Jennifer held her breath while she frantically glanced around for some sort of weapon.

And then the weapon she'd never expected came lunging out of the darkness, surprising both the intruder and Jennifer.

Roscoe barked and growled. Jennifer scrambled against her attacker, then using all the strength she could muster, planted her bare foot against the man's sneaker.

That didn't work so well. And now, Roscoe was up and snarling at the man's pant leg.

The man shouted at the dog, turning with Jennifer, his hand still over her mouth, to kick at Roscoe. But Roscoe wouldn't let up. He barked and growled, biting and leaping away from the man's vicious assault.

Jennifer twisted enough to get a good look at the man's face, her pulse striking against her temple as she realized he looked like the invader from the barn. Then she found just enough space to elbow the man in the ribs at the same time Roscoe latched on to his leg.

The attacker let Jennifer go, then tried with all his might to get Roscoe off him, the hood covering his long dark hair falling away to reveal a dark mustache and startled, sinister eyes. Jennifer watched in horror as
the man spun around, dragging a fighting-mad Roscoe around the room.

Looking for a weapon, Jennifer picked up an old gray metal first-aid kit she'd refilled earlier and left on the counter. Waiting for the man to turn away, she rushed toward him and whacked him on the top of his stringy hair, right in the center of his head.

The man went down with another grunt and fell inside the office.

And then Roscoe let go and fell down just outside the office door.

 

Anderson dragged himself belly-style toward the dark-dressed man inside the alligator compound, watching as the man took off his heavy jacket and went to work digging. The silent alarm should have sounded at the house so he got out his phone and put in a call to Jennifer.

She didn't pick up.

Praying she'd stay put and not come rushing in to protect those two snarly alligators, Anderson slid closer and closer to the spot in the first chain-link where the intruder had obviously cut the wiring. Same thing with the second shorter fence inside the pond. The cuts had set off the alarm, but the man now frantically digging on the dirt-packed shoreline at the shallow end of the pool didn't know he'd triggered that alarm.

And he apparently didn't know or care that two mean alligators were within feet of where he was busy working.

Anderson watched the man then tried to call Jennifer again. Still no answer. He'd have to act fast to subdue
this intruder, then hurry to check on Jennifer. He lifted up, his rifle scoped on the dark figure tossing sand and dirt in all directions, inches from the murky waters of the pond. The man was making enough noise to alert the whole countryside.

“Hold it right there,” Anderson said, calling out to the man. “Texas Ranger. Put your hands up where I can see them. Now.”

The intruder turned in surprise, dropping his shovel into the shallow water with a loud clatter and a heavy splash, his hands going up as he squinted into the moonlight.

Anderson knew his kind. The man would try to run and Anderson would have to make the choice of shooting him or chasing him. Either way, this was going to be a long night.

But then, everything changed. The man looked at Anderson, trying to gauge his chances and started to turn. But a quick splash in the water near him caused him to spin around.

And then Anderson watched as the younger, smaller of the gators, Bobby Wayne, slid with lightning speed up onto the shallow sand and rocks and snapped and snarled at the man's foot, his eerie war cry shattering the night.

The man screamed out in fear and managed to get away, his feet slipping and sliding, his pant leg tearing as he ran up over a jutting rock. Bobby Wayne advanced, still hissing his anger, his big tail flapping against the wet rocks.

“Stay right there,” Anderson called, heading around the fence line to try and block the man.

But the man took that as his chance to get away. When Bobby Wayne came closer, the intruder screamed and took off running, then ducked through the cut in the fence.

Even though Anderson fired a couple of rounds, the man never looked back. Anderson hurried after him, running as fast as he could to catch the man who'd pushed through the jagged tear in the outer fence on the other side of the pond.

He heard an engine crank up and figured the man had hidden some sort of motorbike or off-road vehicle in the woods. Even if Anderson called for backup, it would be too late to get anyone out here now. The alarm should have alerted Jennifer, though.

He'd lost the intruder. And he had to check on Jennifer.

Aggravated, he turned around to make sure the man hadn't doubled back.

And came face-to-face with a snarling alligator coming toward the open cut in the security fence.

Anderson had to act quickly. He hurried to the outside gate and grunted with each twist of the heavy metal wires as he tried with all his might to string the torn gate back together. He'd just finished the last twist when Bobby Wayne hissed and lunged toward the gate.

But the wires held and Anderson breathed a sigh of relief. “I should have let you have at him,” he told the mean, mad alligator. Picking up a rock, Anderson tossed it beyond Bobby Wayne. It made a splash in the water behind the gator. Bobby Wayne whirled and took off to investigate.

Then Anderson's cell buzzed.

Jennifer. “Are you all right?” he asked into the phone.

“Anderson, I need you to come back, right now.” Then she hung up.

But the low, shaking tone of her words scared Anderson even more than witnessing a man almost getting eaten alive by an alligator.

 

He found her sitting with a chair wedged against the door into the front office, Roscoe in her lap, tears streaming down her face as she rocked back and forth.

“Jennifer?” Anderson glanced around. There had been a struggle here. “Jennifer?” he said, loudly this time. “Are you all right?”

She shook her head then talked fast, her voice lifting, sobs halting her words. “A man. He attacked me. I hit him over the head but…Roscoe came after him.” She looked up, searching. “I was so worried about Roscoe— I shut off the office. That's where they fell, both of them. I dragged Roscoe inside here. I think the man got up and ran out the door when he heard me on the phone.”

“Did you get a look at him?”

She nodded. “I saw his face. I saw him, Anderson. It was the same man who came after me in the barn.”

“I'll be right back,” Anderson said. He moved the chair away and hurried to the front of the building. No sign of the intruder inside the building and no sign of a getaway car outside. Another diversion that had gone wrong?

He didn't have time to analyze that now. He rushed back to Jennifer. “He's not in there. How's Roscoe?”

She looked up at him with watery eyes then looked back down at the dog, sobs shaking her shoulders. “I think he's…he's gone, Anderson. He saved my life and now…he's just gone.”

Anderson felt around on the dog, moving his fingers over Roscoe's neck and chest. No pulse.

His heart breaking, Anderson reached for Jennifer. “C'mon now, honey. Let me help you up.”

“No,” she said, pulling away, her arms holding tightly to the big unmoving dog. “I can't…I can't let him go, Anderson. I can't. It's always been just him and me. How can I ever let him go?”

Anderson wasn't sure how to answer that question. He had two intruders out there on the run and a breach in the security at the alligator pond. And a half-dug dirt hole gaping near those gators.

But right now, he had an inconsolable, hurting woman refusing to let go of the dog she loved with all her heart.

“Hold on,” he told Jennifer. “Just sit right there with Roscoe. We're gonna make it all right, Jennifer, I promise.”

It was time to call in backup. First, he called 911 to report the break-ins.

Then he hit speed dial on his phone and waited for a voice on the other end. “I need you. Yeah, something's happened at the rescue farm. Can you come?”

“I'll be right there,” his mother said on the other end of the line.

 

Jennifer sat on the couch beside a warm fire, a cup of hot tea in her hand. But she couldn't move. She couldn't function.

Anderson's mother came to sit beside her. “How you doing, suga'?”

Jennifer glanced up, her eyes so swollen it was hard to focus. “I'm okay,” she said, too numb to admit that she was slowly falling apart. “Where's Anderson?”

Ramona shook her head. “Out there by the alligator pond with a couple of Rangers and the sheriff. I don't know the particulars of why he's called in everybody, but from the look of things, he's found something back there. Something bad enough to bring in several other lawmen.” Ramona reached out to touch Jennifer's hand. “He's been working on this case for a while, hasn't he, honey?”

Jennifer bobbed her head. “Yes, ma'am. I wasn't supposed to say anything.”

Ramona gave her a wan smile. “It's okay. He gave me a vague sense of what was going on. I live with that day and night. When that phone rang earlier, I tell you, my heart went straight to my feet. I thought, this is it, Lord. The call I've always dreaded.”

Jennifer's whole system jolted back to life. “I'm sorry. I…I've never considered that you'd have to deal with that, too. How do you live with the constant worry and fear?”

“It's not easy,” Ramona said, “but Anderson is smart and he's good at what he does. Right now, he's just hurt
ing 'cause he wasn't here for you tonight. Duty first and all that stuff.”

“But he was here,” Jennifer said, tears misting over in her eyes again. “He was here when I needed him the most.” She glanced toward Roscoe's empty bed by the fireplace.

Earlier, Anderson helped her up to the sofa, then he silently and gently carried Roscoe into another room, returning to the den to find Roscoe's favorite blanket. Without a word, he went back to Roscoe and covered the big animal. Then he shut the door to the laundry room.

“We'll bury him in the morning,” he told Jennifer.

And after that, he'd gathered her in his arms and held her while she cried out all her pain from her parents' divorce, her dad's death, her mother's grief and distance, Roscoe's courage…and her own relationship with the Lord.

Anderson had put her first, ahead of the bad guys out there. Ahead of his job. He'd stayed with her when she needed someone to just be there. And because he'd held her and comforted her, Jennifer knew she'd never be the same.

“He was here,” she said again now, wiping at her eyes. “And because he was here, my life has changed…so much.”

Ramona gave her a long, measuring look. “I think his has, too, sweetie. I sure think his has, too.”

Then Ramona got up and pulled the sunflower afghan off the back of the couch. “Why don't you lie down and just shut your eyes. You don't have to sleep. Just rest.”

Jennifer slid down onto the old couch and let
Anderson's mother cover her, the warmth of the blanket almost as welcome as the warmth of Ramona's soft hands on her wet cheeks.