Deception

Los Angeles had an aggravating way of heating up at the end of the year, reaching a peak on Christmas Day, when the temperatures invariably shot up into the nineties. The heat melted the plastic wreaths strung up between palm trees and withered joggers who were out exercising in their shorts. L.A. would never be portrayed as a Hallmark Christmas card, that’s for sure..

But autumn brought chilly desert nights, and on this particular night, Josh was freezing as he walked by the deserted animal compounds on his way to check on Katy and her foal before he left for the night. He hadn’t kept as close an eye on them as he should have the last few days because he had been spending most of his spare time with Noor. He was worried sick over her refusal to eat and intended to move her to the hospital tomorrow if her condition didn’t change. Her weight was getting dangerously low.

He was startled to hear laughter up ahead and hurried his stride. No one had any business being here this late. Another burst of laughter made him break into a run. He was sure the sounds were coming from the zebra compound and he had a queasy feeling in the pit of his stomach that something unpleasant was about to happen.