The Night Is Forever

“Which woods? Where were you exactly?”

“I don’t know exactly.... There’s a riding trail—the only real trail. You’ll see little paths here and there, but if you were on horseback, you’d have to take the trail. That’s where I was.”

“And it was daylight, correct?”

“Yes. Although it was a little overcast. The canopy of the pines and the other trees can create this green darkness that’s almost surreal. When we have fog, it’s like being in a fantasyland,” Marcus said.

Dustin ignored his lyrical description. “How far had you gone in?” he asked briskly.

“A hundred yards or so? I’d reached the copse.”

“And then?”

“Then I don’t remember.”

“Did you feel a pain in your head? A prick in your arm? Anything that would explain how you lost consciousness?”

“No... Yes! Maybe. I thought I’d been stung by a bee...or gotten a spider bite. Something like that. Something you don’t even pay attention to,” Marcus said.

“The medical examiner has released the information that there were drugs in your system. We have to figure out how they got there,” Dustin said.

“Well, there’s nothing in this house, I can assure you of that,” Marcus responded indignantly.

Dustin looked at Olivia. “And tomorrow, at work, you should say that you searched all over the house and you didn’t find anything—but that you’re resigned to the fact that Marcus must have suffered a relapse and hidden his stash in the forest somewhere,” he said.

“What?” Marcus demanded indignantly.

“Someone tried to get into Olivia’s home last night, Marcus,” Dustin told him.

“Oh. Oh, no!” Marcus said, giving Olivia an anguished look.

“I thought you were coming back,” she reminded him.

“Yeah, I meant to, but...”

“But what?”

“I made some discoveries.”

“Like what?” Dustin asked.

“I never knew Aaron and Sandra were sleeping together,” Marcus said.

“You were spying on them?” Olivia shook her head in disgust.

“Not the way you think. I...went to the Horse Farm and Aaron was still there. I went—” He paused. There was an air of sadness about him that seemed palpable. “I went out to see the horses. Big Orange Cat was hanging around in Zeus’s stall, and I swear that animal could feel me there, feel me pet him. That’s a great cat, Agent—if you’re thinking of adopting.”

“He’s a great mouser, too, Marcus. Good in the stables,” Olivia pointed out.

“But he’s special. Ah, hell, they’re all special.” Marcus sighed.

“Marcus,” Dustin said, steering him back. “When you were at the stables last night, did you see Sydney or Drew?”

“No, but they were in their apartments,” Marcus answered.

“Both apartments are upstairs. Sydney’s is above the stable office and Drew’s is over the tack room,” Olivia clarified for Dustin’s benefit.

“How did you know they were in their rooms? Did you go up?” Dustin asked.

“I could hear Drew playing an old Beatles album. Sydney was watching that reality show about people who own wildly expensive collectibles and don’t even know it,” Marcus said.

“But you didn’t actually see either of them.”

“No, because when I was in the stables, I heard noise over at the main office, so I went there.”

“And did you see Aaron and Sandra?”

“Yes. I’m not sure where Sandra came from. She might have stayed there after closing. Maybe she was just doing paperwork in the peace and quiet and fell asleep on one of the sofas. I’ve seen Sandra stay over to do paperwork and reports occasionally. Aaron drove in.”

“Sandra said she was going straight home,” Dustin said.

Marcus shrugged in response.

“What time?” Olivia asked him.

He looked at her curiously. “Time...” he repeated slowly.

“Yes, what time was it?”

“I don’t really know. It’s really not much of a concept to me anymore.”

“Does that explain why you didn’t come back to my house last night?”

Marcus seemed stricken by the reminder. “I am so sorry.”

“You really can’t help her, Marcus,” Dustin said.

“I beg your pardon? I can warn her—”

“Yes, but, you’re right. The responsibility falls to me. As you pointed out, I’m the one who’s living.”

Olivia wanted to pat Marcus’s leg and remembered that she couldn’t. “A warning is always helpful, Marcus. And I would’ve appreciated one last night,” she muttered under her breath.

Dustin leaned forward. “Marcus, when you walked into the woods, do you remember hearing anything?”

“I walked in because the dog was yelping—crying. I knew Sammy was hurt,” Marcus explained. “Did I hear anything else? Yes, actually. Something like a...flying sound. A buzzing? Sort of like a mosquito next to your ear. But then I...”

“But then you lost consciousness,” Dustin finished.

Marcus nodded in a dazed way. “You’re really not safe, are you, Liv? I have put you in danger.”

“She’s my responsibility now,” Dustin said.

“Stop it!” Olivia exploded. “I’m not anyone’s responsibility. I’m an adult. We’re all here to discover the truth behind Marcus’s death, not to treat me like...like an infant.”

Both men stared at her.

“Do you want to get killed?” Marcus asked fiercely.

“No, of course not!”

“Hmm, let’s see. He’s a trained FBI agent and you’re not. I say you need to let him take responsibility,” Marcus told her.

She threw up her hands. “Can we not make it sound so...pathetic?”

They both looked at her again and then at each other. Dustin resumed his questioning. “Okay, Marcus, this is important. You believe—but you’re not certain—that Sydney and Drew were in their rooms last night?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t know where Sandra Cheever was, but Aaron drove back to the Horse Farm. And you believe they’re having an affair?”

“Yes. Discreet, of course. But...”

“It would explain today,” Dustin murmured.

“What about today?” Olivia asked.

“I think they were arguing. This was before Sandra left—she said she was going straight home, by the way—then you came in. I didn’t have a chance to find out what the argument was about, though. My, uh, eavesdropping was interrupted by Mariah, who started talking about the camping trip tomorrow night.”

Marcus nodded. “The camping trip. If you’re together, then Liv will be safe. But what about tonight? Someone could come looking for her here—or at her own house.”

“I thought about that. I figured we’d go into Nashville. There’s a small chain motel on the outskirts. Actually,” he said, glancing at Olivia, “I was going to suggest a break. We could go in for dinner and get a couple of rooms at the motel. Olivia can leave her car at her place in case anyone’s watching. It’s more plausible that I might be in the city, since people know I have a sister who lives there. She’s not in town at the moment, but no one knows that.”