Death By a Dark Horse

bodies did baldy see on a daily basis? Didn't he feel any compassion at all?

'Well,' he said, flipping open his notebook, 'let's start with you. Let's have your driver's license.'

I retrieved my purse from the front seat of the truck and fumbled through my wallet for my license. I handed it to his royal highness, and waited while he copied the information. He took Jorge's when he was done with mine, then slid a couple of clipboards out from under the notebook and shoved them at us.

'Write what happened,' he said, and left to join his buddies.

I tried the pen that came with my clipboard, scribbled with it to get some ink to flow, then rifled through my purse for one that worked. Then I settled in and wrote diligently, but when I got to the part where I'd entered the pasture I caught my breath and stopped writing. I hadn't picked up on this detail earlier – this important detail. Too important to skim over. The chain securing the gate to the fence post was fastened all wrong. The chain that held the gate closed was the loose type. Many other people use the same simple set up. It loops around the fence post and the upright on the gate, attaching to itself with a snap. This is impossible for a horse to unfasten, but easy for a human. I had unsnapped it, gone through, then slid the chain so I could secure the gate from the inside of the pasture. It was habit – a routine everyone does to make sure no horses escape out the gate. Valerie would have done the same. She could not have been the last one to close the gate.

Blackie had not killed Valerie.

The sound of shod hoof steps on gravel drew my attention. The ambulance crew scattered giving more than adequate room for Delores to pass with Blackie. The men kept watch as she led him into the barn.

This wasn't good. People were already jumping to conclusions. I hopped off the tailgate and, clipboard in hand, jogged toward the deputies.

'Excuse me,' I said, approaching the bald deputy. He lounged against his car, arms crossed over his chest, watching what was going on in the vicinity of 'the body.' He rocked upright and hooked his thumbs on his utility belt.

'Yeah?'

'The gate – the chain was fastened on the outside when I got here.'

'So?'

'So, I think Valerie would have fastened it on the inside when she went into the pasture.'

His chin lowered as he pulled off his sunglasses and squinted at me. 'What's your question?'

'I think it's important. I don't think -'

'Just put what happened in your statement. Not what you think happened.'

'It's important I let someone know -'

'Write exactly what you remember.' He put his glasses back on and returned to leaning on his car.

I lifted my chin. 'Okay,' I said, but he ignored me. I could prove Blackie wasn't responsible for Valerie's death, but he obviously wasn't the right person to talk to. Never mind the fact I could save them all a lot of trouble.

I stalked back to the truck and again hoisted my butt onto the icy cold tailgate. Jorge, finished with his paperwork, wandered around, hands in his pockets, kicking at an occasional piece of gravel. I applied myself to writing every detail of my account and was still at it when the truck was jostled. I looked up. Eric, his complexion an unhealthy shade of green, had parked his butt against the fender and was rubbing his eyes with the thumb and index finger of one hand.

'Delores put Blackie in a stall,' he said, obviously confident I was listening. 'He's too curious about all the people.'

That was tactful of him. 'We need to take Blackie home.' He didn't answer. I cleared my throat. 'Eric,' I said louder. 'We need to take Blackie home. Okay?'

He nodded, without looking at me. Was he just responding to the sound of my voice?

'As soon as I'm done with my statement, let's load him up and take him home. Eric, are you listening?'

'Yeah, I heard you.' He rubbed his hands over his face then crossed his arms and stared at the ground.

I gritted my teeth and took a breath. No, forget it. Finish your statement, it's more important. You won't be able to leave until it's done anyway.

I went back to my task, but Jorge's fiddling with the trailer hitch, the lights, and the condition of the paint on the trailer was distracting. I climbed into the truck's cab to complete my lengthy narrative.

Once done, I sought out the deputy and handed him the clipboard. He skimmed it and grunted.

'I'll need you both to come down to the station and sign your statements when we've got them ready. Looks like an accident. That horse of hers nailed her pretty good.' He shook his head in disgust. 'Dangerous animals like him ought to be put down.' He patted his holstered gun for emphasis.

'No!' This guy couldn't be serious. He was acting like he wanted to shoot Blackie on the spot. 'First of all, he's my horse, and secondly, I'll have you know he would never hurt anyone. Read what I wrote before you jump to conclusions, for God's sake.'

I had his undivided attention. He reached for his notebook.

'Your horse, huh? Maybe you didn't notice, but he's the only animal in the field. That kind of narrows the list of suspects.'

'If you'd read my statement, you'd realize how wrong you are.' I swung toward Eric and Jorge. 'Eric…' My voice shook.

My friends strode over. Eric put a hand on my shoulder.

'Blackie never would have hurt her on purpose. He's a nice horse, very gentle.'

Jorge nodded, and held the deputy's gaze when he looked at him.

'Not so gentle this time,' the officer scoffed and hooked a thumb on his gun belt.

'No, you're wrong.' I set my jaw. Maybe if I said it enough I'd convince him to listen.

'Look lady, uh, Miss Campbell -'

'No, you look. You have no evidence to accuse my horse of this.'

Eric increased the pressure of his hand on my shoulder. I pulled away.

'Seems to me there's plenty of evidence lying a few yards over that way.' The deputy whipped off his sunglasses and pointed them toward Valerie's body.

'You're jumping to conclusions.'

'Not much jumping needs to be done to solve this one.' His lip turned up in a sneer.

'You haven't even bothered to investigate. You're assuming.'

'Thea -' Eric started.

I ignored him. The deputy needed convincing. 'It's so easy to blame my horse because he happens to be here. That'd sure save you a lot of paperwork, wouldn't it?' The officer's face glowed red. I wasn't done. 'Even I noticed the way the gate was latched, and I told you about it. If you had any brains you'd realize -'

'That you could be making it up?' His eyes narrowed.

'You're accusing me of lying?' I nearly choked on the words.

'What's going on here?' Delores popped into the midst of our discussion.

'I think this young woman needs to come down to the station with me.'

'You're Marty, aren't you?' she said to the officer. He nodded. 'Now you just sit still for a minute.'

His eyes widened as she turned to me. But I jumped in before she could utter a word.

'He thinks Blackie is responsible for Valerie's death.' I glared at this sorry-excuse-for-a-deputy-Marty- person.

'And I think you need to come down to the station.' Marty glared back.

'Fine,' I snarled.

'What on earth for?' Delores asked. 'You're only going to get more upset. Marty, she needs to go home. She's had a bad shock. You've got everyone's statements, you know where they live, there's nothing that can't wait until tomorrow.' She took Marty's arm, patting it in a little-old-lady fashion, and steered him away from me. Looking over her shoulder, she caught Eric's eye and jerked her head toward the truck. Eric's hand closed around my upper arm, but I stood fast.

Marty jerked his arm out of Delores's grasp, leaned toward me, and jabbed a finger at my face. 'We have laws about dangerous animals in this county, and the law is they don't live long after they've attacked a human. It's the responsible thing to do. You might want to think about that. Tomorrow morning. Sheriff's office. Both of you.' He jabbed at Jorge, too.

I rose on my toes, sputtering, but Eric's grip tightened on my arm and he half carried me toward the truck.