Fierce (Wolf Ranch 5) - Page 43
That I was right where I wanted to be.
21
CHARLIE
I was thankful Levi was in the shower when my cell rang. Bob, the lead foreman at Claymore’s, called. I was in the bunkhouse kitchen making coffee, the phone wedged between my ear and my shoulder. The sun was just popping up over the eastern plains, and it was just so dang lovely. It was early for a work chat, but when working with animals, everyone started early.
“She seems to be doing well. So far, so good,” I told him when he asked about Seraphina. I was to meet Clint at the stable in a little while for another go with Eddison. The horses were familiar with each other now, and it made the breeding process go a little more smoothly. Although, a stirred up stallion should never be underestimated.
“Well, I’m glad. I know everyone around here will be eager for a new foal,” he replied. “I was calling because a package from the online vet pharmacy came in the other day. I’m sorry I forgot to call you sooner.”
“Right, yes. No worries. You forgot to tell me, and I forgot that it was coming,” I said, trying to remain calm and sound… normal.
“Well, I opened it up to make sure none of it needed to be refrigerated.”
I bit my lip, trying not to gasp. He’d opened the shipment. Shit!
He’d done the right thing. I would have done it, too. There was nothing worse than learning medicine or vitamins spoiled because they hadn’t been put into the stable’s fridge.
“That’s a lot of ketamine,” he commented, adding a whistle to the end.
Play it cool. Play it cool.
“Oh? The order was for about ten thousand milligrams, if I remember correctly.” I came up with a number I’d ordered before Dax started fucking with me.
“Well, I’d say this is more like a hundred thousand.”
“That much?” I replied. Taking a deep breath, I lied through my teeth. “It sounds like they got the order wrong. That’s more ketamine than we need or that I wanted. If they overshipped, I’ll have to let them know although... I guess we’ll go through it eventually. As long as it doesn’t expire, it should still be good.”
He gave a small laugh. “Maybe you hit one too many zeros with your keyboard in the order. My wife placed an order through the grocery store pickup. You know what I’m talking about, right? It pretty much saved our marriage.”
Bob was a talker, which was sometimes frustrating when I had things to do, but today I was pleased. It meant he’d moved on from the drug delivery.
“Well, she wanted one package of coffee filters but somehow hit ten. That extra zero means we’ll never need to buy them again in our lifetime.”
“I think you’re right. I know who to come to if I run out,” I replied mildly. “Filters, not ketamine.”
He laughed. “Right. I’ll let you get back to it. Don’t worry none about the package or anything else. I locked it in your office until you get back.”
After I tucked my phone in my pocket and took my first sip of coffee, I leaned against the counter and wondered what I was going to do.
Bob knew about the order. Knew it was ketamine, and we’d received a large quantity. How was I going to just give it to Dax? I couldn’t dose all the horses in Claymore’s stables with that much of the drug to justify its disappearance. It wasn’t like I could lose that many vials. That would be unprofessional and raise more red flags.
I was in over my head. I should’ve gone to the police to begin with. Handed over Dax and let him get fired and take the heat. I’d been so, so stupid!
I had to do the right thing. I had to take the shipment to the police. Tell Mr. Claymore the truth. How?
My cell beeped, and I pulled it out, read the text from Keely.
I didn’t see the words because the answer came to me right then and there. The texts. Holy shit, I had the texts from Dax. The ones that said he wanted me to get the ketamine, asking where it was, threatening me. I could go to the police and show them the proof. There would be consequences for the product information I’d given to him before, but I’d face them. Yeah, it was time to deal. The stress was going to finish me otherwise.
LEVI
“Levi, this is incredible!” Charlie gasped. Instead of a hike, we’d gone on horseback to the Sheffield property, on the ridge above a swimming hole formed by a waterfall and hot spring mixed together. The owner had inherited the place over a year ago and had yet to move in. I’d been friendly with Old Man Sheffield, and even though he’d been gone a while, I missed him still.
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