Page 20 of Tied to Trouble

Sam frowned. “Yes, I saw it too. I got a message to meet a man there, but no one showed up. I was still waiting when I noticed the barrel because Mags was barking at it. I think I was supposed to see it, though.” He patted Mags on her silky head as she nosed at his jean pocket. “No more, girl. You got the last one.”

“What do you mean?” Az asked, ignoring his jealousy over Mags.

“I got a call this morning, a little before 3:00 a.m. A male voice told me that Genetico was doing experiments on cows, and he had the proof. He told me to meet him at the dam in the middle of the crosswalk at 8:00 a.m., and he would show me.”

He glanced down at the rifle. “Naturally, I brought some protection in case he was some kind of kook.”

“You shouldn’t have tried to meet him alone.” Az frowned again.

“Do you realize how many weird calls we get about the missing cattle?” Sam asked impatiently. “Nine out of ten of them are crank calls. That’s what I figured this was, but I decided to check it out anyway. I wasn’t expecting to find anything.

Naturally, I was surprised when Mandy and her friend showed up, since the voice on the phone was male.” He grinned at Mandy and eyed her appreciatively. “You look great in a bikini, sweetheart. If you ever change your mind, let me know.”

Az shot him a freezing glare. “You better go talk to the sheriff. Since I’m helping him with this investigation, I’ll be back in there in a minute.”

He watched as Sam sauntered away, and then turned back to Mandy. “You go on home and get your shower. I’ll be at your house at 7:00 tonight to take you to dinner.”

Mandy lifted her nose in the air. “There you go again, telling me instead of asking. When will you learn, Az Newcomb?”

Az leaned in close—so close she could see the dark specks in his turquoise eyes. “Someone will be learning a lesson tonight, and it isn’t me. Guess who that leaves?”

Chapter 5

“Are you threateningme?” Mandy asked.

“Without a doubt.”

She couldn’t breathe. With anger almost choking her, Mandy sent him her best icy frown guaranteed to curl the leaves on a philodendron at ten paces. “Don’t bother picking me up.”

“I assure you, it’s no bother.”

“You’re not spanking me,” she hissed.

“Wrong.”

She opened her mouth to reply, but he was already moving away, his back to her as he skirted the front of the truck and bounded up on the sidewalk. She was livid. Yanking open the door of her pickup truck, Mandy waited for Mags to jump in. Then she slid herself in and slammed the door shut behind her.

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