She was in stark contrast to Brittany, whose blond hair was immaculate, and whose tiny, beaded evening bag matched her mint-green cocktail dress and the sheer scarf she’d draped across her shoulders. Brittany’s shoes were more stylish, as well. Julia sported lower heels with plain leather straps.
It should have been no contest, but there was something in the animation of Julia’s expression that engaged Harrison.
“Can I get a quote from you for the article?” she asked.
He glanced at Brittany, feeling unaccountably guilty, even though he hadn’t done a thing wrong.
“Perhaps I’ll sit down and have some tea.” Brittany pointed to a group of open-air tables nearby.
“I won’t keep him long,” Julia promised.
“You sure you don’t mind?” he asked Brittany.
“It’s no trouble at all.” She turned away.
Grateful that Brittany was so patient and even tempered, Harrison turned his attention to the interview. “Go ahead,” he told Julia.
She raised her pen. “What did you think of the finish?”
He drew a breath. “It was magnificent. Two up-and-coming stallions battling it out in the homestretch. It doesn’t get more exciting than that.”
“Were you surprised to see Something to Talk About pull away?”
“Something to Talk About is clearly a well-bred, well-trained and enthusiastic racer.” Then he leaned in. “Is that the kind of thing you need?”
She grinned up at him, a glint in her eye that caused a hitch in his chest. It was an annoying and unwanted reaction.
Then again, she was undeniably an attractive woman. And he was a healthy man. He’d get over it. He always did.
“Could you work in something about respecting the Prestons?” she asked.
“Write whatever you want. You can attribute it to me.”
“Thanks.” She jotted down a couple more notes while his cell phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Harrison?”
Harrison recognized the American voice, and touched Julia’s arm to get her attention. “Yes?”
“This is Carter Phillips. I’ve just spoken with the lab tech in Switzerland. Millions to Spare is, was, a half brother to Leopold’s Legacy.”
“Not a half brother to Picture of Perfection?”
“Definitely not.”
Harrison was not only surprised by the information, he was unnerved. This meant there was no way the mistake in Leopold’s Legacy’s breeding was accidental. And the death of Millions to Spare had to be related.
It put the mystery in a whole new realm.
“Whoever secretly sired Leopold’s Legacy also secretly sired your stallion,” said Carter. “DNA doesn’t lie.”
He was right about that. Which left a million unanswered questions.
“Can we keep this under wraps?” asked Harrison, as Julia’s expression grew curious.
“Absolutely,” said Carter Phillips. “We’ll continue our research at this end.”
“And I’ll investigate the poisoning before the trail gets cold.”
“Thanks,” said Carter.
“Thank you,” said Harrison, ending the call.
“What is it?” Julia hissed.
“They’re half brothers,” he told her.
“Millions to Spare and Picture of Perfection?”
“Millions to Spare and Leopold’s Legacy.”
Julia’s eyes widened. “How can that be?”
“I have no idea.”
Chapter Six
Julia had to practically run to catch up to Harrison as he crossed the winner’s circle. Her mind was scrambling over the DNA revelation. They had a serious clue here. And she might have a very serious story.
Harrison smiled broadly and held out his hand to Robbie. “Congratulations to Quest Stables.”
“Thank you,” Robbie responded, and Melanie waved to them from atop the horse.
Harrison casually reeled Robbie in, his tone going lower, but Julia could still make out the words. “I don’t mean to sound all cloak-and-dagger,” he said, “but keep smiling and pretend I’m congratulating you.”
Robbie smiled, and Julia smiled along with them.
“Millions to Spare and Leopold’s Legacy have the same sire. I don’t know who’s watching us together, so I’m going to back off now and walk away. You call Carter Phillips for the details.”
Robbie nodded, clapping a hand on Harrison’s shoulder. “Thank you very much,” he said, sincerity in his eyes.
Harrison gave a sharp nod and turned away.
Julia quickly fell into step beside him.
“That goes for you, too,” he growled down at her. “You need to stay away from me and go back to America.”
“I can help you investigate.”
He gave a snort of disbelief. “You couldn’t get a DNA swab without getting thrown in jail.”
While that might be true, she had a right to this story. She wanted to help the Prestons. She wanted to expose Millions to Spare’s killer. “I’ll stay out of your way,” she promised.
“That seems unlikely.”
“I want the story, Harrison.”
He stopped. “Julia, somebody out there was willing to kill my horse over all of this.”
“Maybe I can figure out who?”
“Go back to America.”
“But-”
“Seriously, Julia. Go home. I’ll call you right away if we find anything.” Then he stepped back. “Goodbye.”
A look passed between them, and she could have sworn it was longing. But he quickly turned away.
And then he was gone, and Melanie was beside her.
“How bizarre is that?” asked Melanie.
“Pretty bizarre,” said Julia.
Harrison sat down next to Brittany, and Julia found she couldn’t watch them together.
She forced herself to concentrate on the crowds and the horses and jubilant shouts instead. She nudged Melanie in the shoulder. “You won.”
Melanie beamed. “I did.”
Juggling her bag, her pen and her notebook out of the way, Julia pulled Melanie in for a hug. “You actually won. It was fabulous. And Harrison gave me a quote. And I’m going to file this article. If we’re lucky, some of the daily newspapers will pick it up.”
The smile faded from Melanie’s face. “What do you think is going on? How did a horse end up dead?”
Julia shook her head. “I have no idea. But I’m going to stay behind and find out.”
Melanie’s expression registered surprise. “You’re staying in Dubai?”
“I am. The clues are here.”
Harrison might object, but it wasn’t Harrison’s decision to make.
Melanie hesitated. “Are you sure it’s safe?”
“The only person causing me any grief was Harrison. I think he’s over that now.”
