A few clicks of her mouse and Jefferina nodded to herself. “I have the names of the owners of the greyhound winners but I don’t know what good it’s going to do us. They’re scattered over the country.” She looked up at Macayla and Oliver. “Any other ideas?”
Mac leaned in. “Aren’t any of them local?” She’d been hoping the winner would be connected with Henley somehow, helping them zero in on the mastermind.
“Henley didn’t win the big purse. The long shot came in from Texas.” Jefferina rolled her head on her neck. “I’ve got to tell you, what you did by approaching Henley was beyond stupid. I don’t need you antagonizing my best customer.”
“Yes, well, it was an accident. I just couldn’t see passing up an opportunity to ask him directly about the greyhound abduction. I still think there’s something hinky about it. He seemed like he was freezing me out. And when I told him I was doing a follow-up customer service call, he didn’t even respond. Not a good job or a you stink. Nothing. It was like my finding the dogs was no big deal.”
“Customer service?” Her boss was eyeing her with a squint. “When did we start doing that?”
Mac blushed. “I needed a reason to talk to him. It just popped into my head.”
Jefferina smirked. “Keep up that kind of thinking on your feet and we’ll make a PI out of you yet. But meantime, you’re supposed to be holding down a desk here.”
“I know. And I’m sorry I’m late. I just thought if I could talk to—”
“Witnesses. Tampering with witnesses. You’re just racking up charges, Mac. What kind of crazy do you plan to pretend to be in jail? Because you are going for the gold with lockup time, the way you’re going about it.”
“Lecture me,” said Oliver. “I’m the one to put her up to it.”
Macayla glanced at Oliver, who was riding the edge of Marcia’s receptionist desk with one leg cocked at a provocative angle and arms crossed, showing off tats and attitude. “But be warned, I’m not a good listener.”
Jefferina eyed him up and down like he was something she might be thinking about purchasing. “You told me you could protect her. This morning was your idea of protection?”
“It was that or lock her up in her bedroom. But she seemed to think my style of lovemaking should be indulged in sparingly.”
Jefferina chuckled. “She’s young.”
“I’m right here. And I’m listening. And neither of you is the boss of me. Especially in matters sexual.” Mac shot Oliver a hostile glance. “Three times is enough for one day.”
“Your opinion,” he and Jefferina answered simultaneously.
Mac just remembered something she was supposed to be angry about. “You gave him my address.”
“I wondered when you’d remember that.”
“He’s a perfect stranger.”
“Perfect, maybe, but not a stranger. He knew things about you that said you two had been up close and personal. Don’t look at me like that. I didn’t know you had a birthmark shaped like a duck on your ass.”
“I don’t.”
Laughter burst from her boss. “I like him, which is more than I can say about the other men I’ve seen you with.”
“You haven’t seen me with anyone.”
“I rest my case.” She glanced at Oliver, who was putting the charm moves on Marcia. “He’s a handsome beast. I am hella impressed with you. He came a long way just to get you to drop the panties. That speaks of devotion. Question is, how interested are you in him?”
Mac narrowed her eyes as she looked at Oliver, all taut muscle and masculine cool. Devotion? For her? How did she feel about him? “He makes me want to set fire to my hair. Worse, I can’t tell if this is a good or bad thing.”
“I’m here and I’m listening,” Oliver added. “Careful you don’t hurt my feelings, they bruise easily.”
Mac rolled her eyes but she couldn’t help grinning. “I think we’re both highly interested, so get me some work to do before I fall in so deep I won’t come up for air for months.”
“Funny you should mention work,” Jefferina said. “I wasn’t going to ask. But since you’re offering.”
That caught Macayla’s attention. Jefferina didn’t do coy. Ever. “What?”
“I had a job come in, starting today. I usually take something like this myself. But there are animals involved, and there’s no way with my allergies. It’s a house-sitting job. Three–four days at most. Until the storm blows through.”
“What storm?”
“Mac, where is your mind? Oh, right. Over there in that man’s jeans. That Gulf low that’s been piddling around all week has decided to make landfall in the area tonight. People have been talking about nothing else for the past twenty-four hours. The mayor’s office is advising people to move away from the usual low-lying areas.”
“But you want me to go out to a low-lying area.”
“The house is on the water but it’s on the bay side. Second home for the summer for a family with two small kids. You know how it is with folks who don’t live near water. Every tropical storm is, for them, a Category Five on the hurricane scale. They’re taking the kids inland until the storm blows over.”
“I don’t know. I’d like to keep talking to people.”
“No. Someone’s out to get you. We don’t know who that is. I’m trying to protect you. If you aren’t at home they–whoever they are—will have a much harder time getting to you.”
Macayla thought about that for a few seconds. “There’s probably something else I need to tell you.”
Jefferina was chewing her lip by the time Mac finished her story about finding the cash in her underwear drawer. Her black eyes were dead serious as she made eye contact. “I don’t know how or why, but this is a lot bigger than petty dog theft.”
“It has to do with Macayla witnessing a shooting.”
Both women looked up at the sound of Oliver’s voice. He hadn’t moved from the desk but his attention was riveted on them.
“You told him everything?”
“I did, after he came back.”
Jefferina nodded. “I don’t like what’s going on. We need to tuck you safely away while I do some serious investigating of your situation. Go home and pack.”
She looked up at Oliver. “Don’t let her stay in her place more than fifteen minutes. If you see the police, don’t even go in. Then deliver her to this address.”
Oliver nodded, expression as serious any Macayla had ever seen as he took the paper Jefferina offered him.
Mac felt a sudden hit of emotion she didn’t want to examine. Oliver had come, and gone. And come back. A beginning. Of what she wasn’t sure.
She turned to her boss. “What do they want me to do?”
“Mostly feed the dogs and cat, and walk them.”
“People don’t usually walk cats.”
“Do I look like an animal lover? Work it out. The management company sent over all the instructions in an email I’m printing for you.” She grabbed the first sheet of paper off the printer.
“Sounds easy.”
“Yes. Basically they’re paying for you to watch videos twenty-four seven. Make the most of it.” She cut her eyes to Oliver. “But not you. Sorry, but you don’t work for me and I can’t take responsibility for you being on the property.”
“Then I’ll be off the property. Two inches, maybe.”
Macayla shook her head. “You don’t—”
He scowled at her, daring her to continue. “I’m not leaving you alone anywhere until you’re cleared of suspicion and the culprit’s caught.”
“You heard the man,” Jefferina added with a smile. She glanced down at the papers she’d snagged. “Oh yeah. There’re saltwater fish tanks in the house. A guy will come by daily to take care of that.”
Macayla took the paperwork and read it for herself. “Any teenager could do this job. Why did they call a private investigation company?”
“You do remember that reconnaissance is part of our name? We do low-tech security for vacation rental companies. House-sitting expensive properties comes under that umbrella. You do want the job?”
“Hell to the yes.” Macayla repeated one of Jefferina’s favorite phrases.
Jefferina snatched the final sheet as it finished printing. “You can order in from the list of restaurants left on the kitchen island. The bill’s already taken care of. As long as you don’t order food for more than one person. And you can’t buy booze.”
When Jefferina showed her where the house was located on the local map, Macayla frowned. “I’ll need wheels.”
Jefferina pointed to a line on her computer screen. “There’s a jeep available for use on the property. You’re free to use it as long as you don’t leave the greater Tampa/St. Pete area. It’s got a car locator.”
“You can’t be serious? Free food and a car loan?”
Jefferina smiled. “This might not be Palm Beach but we’ve got our share of heavy hitters. From time to time they need a house-sitter. I’ve been trying to break in with this level of client for some time, so bring your A-game, okay, Mac?”
“What if the family learns that the person fish-sitting their tanks is out on bail after being arrested on suspicion of dognapping?”
“I don’t see how that can come up.”
“Jefferina, thanks.”
She waved it off. “Now about your Aussie. Take him home. Make him happy. And then lose him. You don’t need the distraction, and he can continue to make inquiries on his own.”
“All that, and pack, in fifteen minutes?”
“You’ll think of something.”