Free Highlights to Heaven by Nancy J. Cohen Page A

into the dusty distance.
    Marla made a U-turn and parked in the free lot at Flamingo Gardens. It wouldn’t be smart for her to trail directly behind Cutter’s Mercedes down a private road. Nor was it wise for her to continue on this course of action without backup, she realized with a spurt of doubt. But curiosity got the better of her, and so did her need to find Goat. Cutter knew something, and it was possible that tailing him might help her find her neighbor.
    Glad she’d dressed for comfort that morning in dark pants and a lightweight pullover sweater, she trod down the dirt road in her sturdy work shoes. They’d never win a style award, but eight hours of standing in pumps or even strappy sandals would have left her legs hurting. Treading on small pebbles, she was grateful it hadn’t rained, or she’d be sloshing in mud. Probably she should’ve left her handbag locked in her car, but you never knew when a nail file, can of hair spray, or metal pick would come in handy.
    What kind of ranch was this? The dirt road abruptly ended at a tropical hammock. She spotted Cutter’s black Mercedes parked on a patch of grass. No sign of her quarry showed anywhere in the thick foliage ahead. A glimpse of various buildings gave her a goal. Cutter must have gone in their direction. Shifting her purse from one shoulder to the other, she started through the foliage toward the closest structure. It wasn’t long before she realized the grounds consumed considerable acreage and the distances were deceiving.
    Her hair lifted in a breeze too warm and humid for March. Carried on the wind came a cacophony of sounds: strident bird cries, twittering songs, squawks, and loud honks. Wait a minute. Hadn’t Vail said he’d found receipts in Goat’s house from a bird breeder? Could this be the place? According to his report, the receipts had been made out to a pet store. It logically followed that the breeder sold birds to that store. She wondered if Vail had visited either place to inquire about Goat.
    Grimacing as her feet crunched on twigs and dead leaves, she steadily proceeded into the jungle along a meandering path. Shafts of sunlight illuminated pink and white impatiens nestled among broad-leafed green plants. A cluster of bamboo creaked next to a stand of spindly red crotons. On either side of the trail, trees rose skyward, forming a canopy. Species she had seen only in parks had her craning her neck to spy the tops: hundred-year-old live oaks, shady Indian jujube trees, sapodillos, and arjun trees with thick, odd-shaped trunks. She recognized a peeling melaleuca as the wind tickled her skin and brought a musty smell of humus.
    Steering around a bread-nut tree, she narrowly avoided colliding with a glistening cobweb. A black spider hung in the center, crouching for prey. Her nerves tensed as she imagined its sticky web catching her unaware, and a shudder racked her spine. She advanced forward, treading carefully to avoid roots and rocks in her path. Wary of creatures dangling overhead, she ducked under an overhanging branch.
    A mosquito buzzed past her ear, and she swatted it away, cursing. Water trickled down a rocky ledge into a nearby pond, providing breeding grounds for more of the pesky insects. Bugs and spiders were not her thing, nor were the strange, piercing bird calls that rattled her composure. She almost missed the low murmur of voices ahead, but drew herself up short just in time.
    “What’s happening?” Cutter said in a harsh tone.
    “You go on ahead. I’ll join you in a few minutes,” said another man.
    “Who’s this?” grated a third fellow’s voice.
    “Cutter is my cousin. Cutter, this is Wake Hollander. Wake and I have some business to finish.”
    “Sure, Evan. Is this business that pertains to me?” Cutter’s nasal voice inquired.
    “Wouldn’t I tell you if it did? Wait in the lab. I’ll be right there.”
    “If you don’t mind, I’ll stand my ground.”
    “Suit yourself. Wake, I told you, the