Smokescreen (Pros and Cons Mysteries #2)

Chapter 24

CHAPTER 24

O live helped Hannah for another hour. Then she decided to go outside and stretch her legs.

She hoped while she was out and about she might run into Trick as well. She’d really like to catch up with him, especially after last night’s events. The two of them desperately needed a debrief.

She stepped out the back door and saw a bunch of ranch hands gathered in the backyard around a large smoker. Picnic tables had already been set up in rows, lanterns had been hung from posts around the perimeter of the space, and a small stage had been set up near a grove of trees.

Olive didn’t see Reid with the group outside.

“I think he’s in the stables,” Cooper called, seeming to read her mind.

She remembered what Hannah said about Cooper and Daphne. She wished she could confront him without blowing her cover.

She’d have to figure out another way to find this answer.

Instead, she called, “Thanks!”

She paced across the yard, following the sound of the horses neighing. Finally, she stepped into the stable and the noise behind her faded away. As the scent of horses and hay rose around Olive, a moment of peace washed over her.

She could actually like it here if she let herself. But she couldn’t do that. Compartmentalizing was key in her line of work.

Olive began wandering down the row and paused by the first horse, running her hand along the side of his face.

It was Blaze, Reid’s stallion. “Hey, boy. Have you seen Reid?”

Of course, the horse didn’t answer. But Olive couldn’t help but marvel at how Blaze fit Reid perfectly. They were both strong, solid, and quiet.

Reid was the kind of guy her dad would have liked—at least, in theory. Her father had always thought highly of people who were above reproach. Maybe it was because those people were so unlike him.

Jason’s image filled her mind. Her dad hadn’t wanted her to date. Said she was too young. Said Jason wasn’t right for her.

Why had he said that? Jason had been—and still was—a great guy.

Had her dad been hiding something?

Bitterness rose inside her. Olive no longer knew what was real, and that thought bothered her more than she wanted to admit.

Somewhere in the distance, one of the horses snorted and shuffled in its stall.

Maybe the horse was ready to go for a ride. She wasn’t sure.

Olive continued walking down the row, talking to each horse as she did so.

But the one horse continued to snort and sound restless. Olive wished she knew more about these animals so she could figure out what was wrong.

She bypassed several horses and tried to find the animal that sounded so upset.

She paused when she saw movement inside one of the stalls.

It was Bella, she realized. The horse she’d ridden.

“Bella, baby. What’s got you so spooked?” Olive reached toward the creature to rub her face.

Bella snorted and drew her head back.

Why was she so upset? What did Bella know that Olive didn’t?

She rubbed Bella’s face again, trying to calm the horse.

When she did, a movement caught the corner of her eye.

The next minute, something hard hit her head.

Then everything around Olive went black.

“Olive . . . what happened? Are you okay?” Someone shook her and called out for help.

Olive moaned as she forced her eyes open. But the pounding in her head caused her to press them shut again.

Why did her head hurt so much?

Then she remembered what had happened.

She was trying to calm Bella when someone hit her over the head.

She must have blacked out.

More footsteps came running toward her.

“Olive?”

She recognized that deep voice right away. It was Reid.

When she finally forced her eyes open again, she saw Trick kneeling on one side of her and Reid on the other. Cooper and a couple of other workers had also gathered around.

“I’m okay.” Olive hated that they were all seeing her like this.

She rubbed her head and felt the knot there.

“What happened?” Reid narrowed his eyes as he studied her.

Should she tell the truth and alert all these people she’d been attacked? Or should she make up an excuse to get the attention off of her?

She decided to go with the truth. “I came out here looking for you. Bella was upset so I checked on her. Someone must have been hiding in one of the stalls. He hit me over the head with something.”

“Probably that shovel.” Trick nodded at one tossed on the ground. “It was there when I found you.”

“Did you see this guy’s face?” Reid’s voice sounded deep with concern.

“No,” Olive said. “It all happened so fast.”

He glanced at Trick. “How about you?”

“No one was in here except Olive when I found her.”

“Boss . . .” Dippy stepped out from Bella’s stall. “I found this against the wall.”

He held up a can of gasoline.

Olive’s breath caught. Exactly what was someone planning to do with that? Torch this place? Harm the horses?

A fresh round of indignation rose in her.

Reid scanned everyone around him. “Do any of you know anything about this?”

All the men shook their heads.

“Did anyone see someone coming out of the stable anytime recently?” Reid continued to press, an edge to his voice.

Again, everyone shook their heads.

“I need to know who wasn’t accounted for within the past twenty minutes.” Reid’s tone made it clear that he wasn’t playing games. “I want to know who did this to Olive.”

“Yes, boss,” the men around him muttered.

“Cooper, you’re in charge.” Reid glanced at his righthand man. “I want you to question everyone.”

“Got it.” Cooper nodded.

Olive wished she believed that might present her with some answers.

But she didn’t know who to trust . . . and she wasn’t sure she’d believe anything Cooper had to say.