don’t want a shoot-out of any kind, at least not between your workers and the drug cartel. Just tell them you need to know about any trespassers.”
“Neither do I. I’ll talk to them first thing in the morning. Or…whenever the construction crew shows back up. They move from job to job.”
“So, nobody else has seen anything out of the ordinary that you know of, other than your fence being damaged?” He reached into the file folder he’d brought and showed her a picture of Eddie Jimenez.
“I don’t recognize that man and if any of my workers have seen him, they haven’t informed me about it. Of course, they work during daylight hours. I’d think drug runners would do their business after dark. But that wouldn’t explain how my fence got cut. Of course, it was around dusk when I did one last check for the day.”
“Yeah, so don’t ever go back there alone after dark, okay?”
“I’m usually too tired to do anything other than come home and eat a bite, do paperwork, then go to bed.”
“Got it. So tomorrow, you can show me around. I’d like to explore the entire acreage while I’m here. And I need to question the previous owner, too.”
“Previous owner lives out of state. I’ll give you his number. We can take the horses out. I need to check on a few things, anyway. I’ll also give you the name and number of the Realtor who brokered the deal.”
“We need to update your regular employees. Just tell them I’m here to help with security for the new pen.”
“That won’t be hard. No offense, but you shout law enforcement. So working security should appease them.”
He held up a hand. “I’m in civilian clothes. Look, just remind them to keep an eye out. Tell them you suspect trespassers back there. If you can give me a list of names, I can do background checks on them, too.”
“Yeah, right. My employees and volunteers are solid.”
“I’m glad you can vouch for them but I have to explore every angle. You’d be surprised how many crimes are from an inside job.”
She nodded. “We’re very strict on the rules and regulations around here, so I’ll tell them to cooperate. But back to that lot, Jacob and his friends used to hang out there. They like to ride their four-wheelers around my property, but I did warn him after the fence was cut. I’ll do the same with the construction workers and the volunteers. I guess it pays to be on the lookout. Like I said, people have been known to try and steal animals, especially endangered or exotic animals, so that’s a valid point. Will that work for you?”
“Fair enough. Now tell me, have you had any other strange things going on around here lately—things that you’ve noticed yourself but didn’t talk to anyone about?”
She shook her head. “Not if you don’t count Boudreaux and Bobby Wayne fighting now and again. Or the coyotes howling in the middle of the night. Or my turtles trying to escape their pen. Or the llama chasing my part-time helper. Or the goats escaping and eating all my potted plants. Nothing strange at all.” Then she glanced up and away. “Or the neighbor who’s protesting that new gator pen—nothing strange there. He just doesn’t get animal rescue, I reckon.” Her head came up. “Hey, maybe he sent that man to cut my fence.”
“Tell me more about the neighbor,” Anderson said. “And we’ll talk about those ornery gators and turtles later.”
“Ralph Chason? He moved next to me about two years ago. We got along fine—I mean we rarely see each other—until he found out I’d bought the extra land. He had a fit when he heard I was digging a pond back there.”
“Why should that bother him?” Anderson asked, his radar going up.
She shrugged. “I think he likes to take long walks back there. He’s kind of a loner, some sort of artist. He works with wood and I’m sure he gets a lot of it from back there. Maybe he thinks I won’t allow him on the property. I do have to put up a double fence for safety purposes, but I’m willing to work with him about that.”
“It’s your land and your call,” Anderson said, making notes in his pocket notepad. “I’ll need to check on Mr. Chason, as your security consultant.”
“Don’t go getting him all in an uproar,” she said, standing to remove their chili bowls. “Want some chocolate chip cookies and coffee?”
“Real cookies with real chocolate?”
She laughed out loud. “Yes, but they are made with wheat flour and organic brown sugar. You’ll never know the difference.”
Anderson looked her over. She was so innocent in her hospitality. As if she had a law officer eating at her table every night. Her ability to trust strangers scared him. “Yeah, I’d love a cookie and some coffee.”
Anything to keep her talking. He needed her to remember as much as she could about the happenings around here. Because he had a feeling some things were going on right under her nose without her even paying much attention. Things much worse than a cut fence.
And that was not a good situation to be in. Not at all.
THREE
Jennifer always got up early since most of her animals needed a good breakfast. Apparently, Anderson Michaels rose early, too. She saw him out the window, walking the property fully dressed in the work clothes she’d given him last night, and sipping a cup of steaming coffee. She, on the other hand, had stumbled into the kitchen and looked out the window at the rising sun, her eyes bleary from lack of sleep, only to see him blocking the sun’s warm rays.
Kind of nice to see a good-looking man standing there outside her window, the fall sunshine haloing around him like an aura. Nice to watch, but working with him would be a whole different thing. Thus, her lack of sleep. She’d worried and fretted most of the night about drug runners overtaking her property and a tall Texas Ranger hanging around for the next few days. Now the source of those dark thoughts stood out in her yard, ready to get down to business. And that meant she had to get in gear herself.
Gulping down her first cup of coffee, she hurried to get dressed. She had two volunteers coming to work the front counter and clean the supply closet and several more scheduled to help with the morning feedings and other maintenance work. Anderson wanted to brief all of them on the happenings and his presence here. They’d decided it made sense to alert everyone since Jennifer didn’t want her volunteers or workers to unknowingly walk into something dangerous. And this way, Anderson could get a fix on any regulars who seemed suspicious or jittery around him.
After washing her face and brushing her teeth, she tossed on some sunscreen and some medicated lip tint, then came back into the kitchen to make a quick breakfast.
Should she invite him inside?
“Oh, why not. After all, the man ‘works’ for me now, right?” she told Roscoe.
Roscoe nibbled at his own breakfast, then lapped at his water before he headed back to his bed.
Jennifer went over to pet him. “You won’t be here much longer, will you, boy?” She’d have to give him his arthritis medication a little later.
She didn’t
