Death By a Dark Horse

He got up from his chair. 'We would appreciate it if you wouldn't make any travel plans for the near future, Miss Campbell. Expect to hear from us again, soon.'

My pulse rate jumped several notches. I stood, but made no move for the door. 'You can't seriously think I'm a suspect.'

Thurman smiled. Barely. 'We prefer 'person of interest.' Good-bye for now.'

'No, no, no. Now wait just a minute. How can you think I'm a 'person of interest'?' I made the little quotes with my fingers.

'What are you going to tell me, that you're just a tiny thing and couldn't possibly have the strength to have killed Miss Parsons?' He shook his head as he stepped, casually, around his desk.

Sweat prickled in my arm pits. I set my jaw. 'No, I'm going to wonder what kind of convoluted rationale you think I would have for doing such a thing. Sure I was mad when I found out she'd taken my horse, but I didn't even know he was gone until Sunday morning and from that point on there were people with me.'

We squared off for a couple of beats before Thurman tapped his forehead like he'd just remembered something.

'Were you aware a 9-1-1 call was placed a few minutes prior to yours, also regarding Miss Parsons?'

'That doesn't make any sense.'

'No?'

'No.' I frowned at him. 'Jorge and I were the only ones at the estate – until you people came.' Uh, oh. Had I just implicated Jorge?'

'Miss Campbell, we'll be in touch.'

Yeah, I'll just bet you will. I shot him an annoyed glance on my way out the door, which he closed immediately behind me. I pulled my purse onto my shoulder, clamped my arm around it, and raised my chin. Even if he did consider me a 'person of interest' at least Blackie was safe. Valerie's parents wouldn't come after me. They'd let the police do their job and find the real killer. Wouldn't they? I mean, sure, they'd be upset, but they wouldn't jump to conclusions. Because, if they did they could do far more damage to my business, family, and friends than Greg ever could. Just having the detective considering me a quasi-suspect was going to cause disruption in my family.

Somehow I'd made it through the lobby and into the parking lot without taking note of my surroundings. I stopped and looked around for my car, located it, and dug my keys out from the bottom of my purse.

Mother's going to have a stroke when she finds out what's going on.

I got in my car, slammed the door, and jammed the key into the ignition.

All I needed was for my parents to wade into the middle of this. I'd never hear the end of it. First, I walk out on Jonathan's proposal, and now I'm a 'person of interest' in a murder investigation. I'll be dropped from the Christmas card list for sure.

I turned the key, but all I got was a sick 'errrrr' sound. Damn. I'd been holding down the gas pedal and flooded the engine. I rubbed my forehead. I couldn't protect myself from my parent's wrath. How was I going to protect myself from Valerie's parents? Perhaps taking Delores's advice and getting myself an attorney was sound. But I couldn't call Jonathan like she'd suggested. He didn't practice criminal law. And this was the last thing I needed for him to hold over my head… no, wait. Maybe this was just the ticket. I'd call and ask him to recommend an attorney. He'd be so scandalized he'd back out of his marriage proposal, and I wouldn't have to worry about him anymore. Sure it would be humiliating, but so what? He'd dump me and Mother would be sympathetic instead of critical of me for rejecting his proposal – which she no doubt already heard about from Aunt Vi or Juliet.

I tried the ignition again. This time the engine turned over.

I needed to keep this quiet, though. I was not under the delusion the rest of my family would take such a sympathetic view of my involvement in a murder investigation, so it would be best if I didn't distress them with the 'person of interest' news. I could handle this.

I stopped by Blackie's pasture to make sure he was fine before facing my aunt and uncle. He whinnied loudly and trotted over when I ducked through the fence, checked my pockets for treats, and sprayed me with a sneeze. Yeah, he was fine. I ruffled his forelock, then went to the house.

Aunt Vi clasped her hands to her face and peered in horror at mine. 'Good Lord in Heaven, child! You never said a word about being injured.'

Uncle Henry had been sitting at the kitchen table reading the paper. He was on his feet in an instant, the newspaper spilling onto the floor. A vein throbbed in his temple.

'Greg did this, didn't he?' His question sounded more like a statement.

I couldn't believe I'd forgotten about my bruises. Without warning, a tremor took the warmth from my skin and turned my lips icy. Aunt Vi supported my arm and guided me to the table.

'Did he… did he…' Uncle Henry was stammering.

That, in itself, shocked me, never mind the color had drained from his face. With a jolt I realized my uncle feared I'd been raped.

'No! No. Just this.' I pointed to my face. 'Paul came before… before anything else… happened.' Now I was having difficulty getting words out.

'You poor duck. Henry, get the ice out.' She hurried to the drawer with the tea towels. 'My word, that lad's gone two stops beyond Barking.'

Uncle Henry grabbed his jacket from the peg by the back door. He turned to us, one arm in the sleeve.

'I'm going to have a word with that boy.'

Aunt Vi glanced in his direction, stopped, looked again and frowned. 'Henry Fairchild, you put your jacket up this instant and fetch me some ice. You'll do none of us any good sitting in the clink 'cuz you've gone spare and whacked the boy senseless.'

They eyed each other. Aunt Vi was right. Having Uncle Henry lose his temper wouldn't help any. I was about to say so when he pursed his lips and hung the jacket back up. He got a plastic bag from the cabinet and opened the freezer.

'Have you been to the doctor? The police?' he asked.

'Yes to both,' I said. 'It's just bruising. I'm okay. Uncle Henry, Detective Thurman told me Blackie didn't kill Valerie.' The words rushed out, and I thought he looked a little relieved when he nodded in acknowledgement.

He cleared his throat and handed the bag of ice to Aunt Vi. 'You'll be glad to know the vet stopped by. He gave Blackie a good going over. Couldn't find anything wrong. I'll keep an eye on him just the same.' He turned his chair to face me, while Aunt Vi folded the ice in the towel. 'What else did the detective have to say?'

'Just asked some general questions – seemed to think I'd know something about the improvements Randy Rucker's making at his place. I thought that was pretty bizarre.'

'I heard he was doing something up there,' my uncle said. 'Business has been a bit slow for him. Maybe he thinks he'll pull in more clients if he puts a new coat of paint on the barns.'

Wow, that was catty coming from Uncle Henry, and news to me.

Aunt Vi snorted. 'Well, I can tell you, he's needed to do something. The place is practically falling down around his ears. I've never seen such neglect.' She handed me the ice pack. 'Thea, you tell us everything that happened this morning. Don't be so economical with the truth. You said this would have been worse but for Paul.'

I rested the ice pack against my jaw and gave a brief sketch of Paul's rescue to an attentive audience. Aunt Vi tipped her head. Her eyes and mouth formed little 'Os.' Of course I left out the emotional stuff and the Paul-thing after Greg decamped, although I gave Paul credit for his suggestions. Neither did I mention my encounters with Randy. That couldn't be important. No point in adding needless worry.

'Have you called your parents yet?' my aunt asked.

'Please don't tell Mother and Dad. I swear I'll tell them after the police solve this. There's nothing they can do. They'll only worry. Please?'

'They're your parents, love, they have a right to know what's going on.'

'I know, but since I'm not involved anymore wouldn't it be better if we tell them after the sheriff solves this? Then they won't worry over nothing. Please, Aunt Vi?' I turned an imploring gaze on Uncle Henry. 'Please? It's not like you're not right here.'

He ran a hand over his face then studied me for a long moment.

'All right.' He flicked a quick glance at Aunt Vi, who shook her head and turned her attention to preparing the tea. 'On the condition that, should anything change and you become involved again, they'll be called