Chapter 6
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Heath waited with the others in the staff common room.
A few days had passed with no new information on the medallion guy or the investigation at all.
He could tell his colleagues were on edge: Finn was pacing, Oliver stared off into space, Daisy leafed through a journal but she kept scanning everyone.
Juliet was on her phone and tapping her fingernails on the table and Scarlet sat very still frowning down at her fingers. They needed an update.
Jeff Marshall walked in with Agent Rayburn and Agent Jack Stanton. Marshall said, “Hello, everybody. You remember Agents Rayburn and Stanton.”
They greeted the three of them and Oliver asked if they wanted coffee. The Agents refused.
Marshall said, “I’ll get mine. I’ve been here enough to know the lay of the land.” He poured a cupful and sat down next to the guards. “I realize you’re anxious for an update. But we don’t have a complete picture yet.”
“Tell us what you do have,” Heath said. “We’ve been waiting to find out anything.”
Rayburn began. “Lewellen Brock, the man with the medallion, was from a small Midwestern town. We don’t know why he moved here, but our people are interviewing residents out there now to see what information they can get on him. I’ll warn you, though, so far, he seems to have been a loner.”
“How long has he lived in Rockford?” Finn asked.
“That’s the thing,” Stanton answered. “The FBI can’t find the place he lived while he was here. And if he’s behind all the incidents, he’d must have had housing in town.”
“Is it possible he was working with others to pull all this off?” Oliver asked.
“That’s our line of thinking.” Rayburn sat forward. “An undercover FBI agent went on the Dark Web and established himself. He’ll be able to do more investigating. But as of now, we can’t link Brock to any of the things that happened here. However, we still think the medallion connects him somehow.”
“Boy, this is slow,” Daisy put in.
“Yes, it is.” Marshall again. His tone was sympathetic.
“We have one suggestion,” Stanton continued. “We’re going to have patrol cars drive by your houses at night.”
Scarlet said, “More guards?”
“Actually, Ms. Smith, you’ve had more contact with him or her or them than anyone. Someone breached your farm twice, that we know of. First, your horse was tranqued. Then the medallion man came right up to the house.”
Scarlet blew out a breath. “I already hired two guards from Kirkland for my house and barn.”
“Well,” Rayburn said. “Another precaution at night won’t hurt.”
Daisy said, “I welcome one for me. I have a son to protect.”
Juliet and Oliver agreed.
“Damn, the cops driving by all the time could interfere with my love life.” This from Heath. “But I’ll agree to police patrols, too.”
Marshall chuckled.
“Me, too, then,” Finn added. “For how long?”
“The feds are paying for this so they’ll stay until we catch the perpetrator.”
Everybody sat solemnly staring at Marshall and the agents. There wasn’t much more to say.
* * *
Seth and Joe had been working for two days to get the barn in shape for the new foal. They’d also ordered the materials for the paddock, which would be delivered today. “This gonna be smelly, Dad?”
“Yep. Horses poop in their stalls sometimes. And you, my son, will have to muck it out.”
Seth’s brown eyes lit from within. Right now, Joe knew his son would agree to anything to get his own pony. “Good thing the stall is closed off from the vegetables.” The barn was divided up and Joe guessed the last farmer had a horse, too.
“Yeah, we lucked out there.”
Seth grinned. “Can I ask you something, Dad?”
“Anything.”
“Can we call Scarlet and ask her to be here when the pony comes?”
Briefly, he closed his eyes. He’d give anything to see her. “We can’t see her anymore, remember? The case at the collective still hasn’t been solved.”
“You saw her a few days ago. You said she came over. They had good news.”
He checked his watch. “She’s probably working.”
“It’s Saturday.”
“The collective is open on Saturday.”
“Can we try?” Kids could be relentless about things they wanted.
“All right.” He took off his gloves and picked up his cell. Punched in her number.
“Joe, hi.” A hesitation. “I’m surprised to hear from you.”
“Seth insisted I call you. Cinnamon is coming at noon. He’d like you to be here.”
“Aren’t you worried about his safety?”
“Of course I am. Hold on a sec. Seth, run to the house and get some cold drinks.”
“I’ll get one for Scarlet, too.” He ran off.
“He’s gone. I am worried about our safety and yours.”
“The FBI put nightly patrols on each of our houses.”
“That might help. Will you come here? We just saw each other, sweetheart. What’s one more time?”
“You know what? I would love to be there when Cinnamon arrives.”
“Get here a little early.”
“I will. See you then.”
Seth returned to the barn and they brought in two bales of hay while they waited. Scarlet arrived—riding Stanley. “Hey there, buddy. Joe,” she said, smiling at him. This time, she wore western jeans, a fringed shirt and cowboy boots.
Scarlet dismounted. “I thought her sire should be here, too.”
“The pony’s name is Cinnamon, right?”
“Uh-huh, but you could change it if you want.”
“No, I like it.”
Just then, a big white truck with a stall in the back rumbled up to the barn. Abe Cantor got out and greeted them. “Howdy.”
“Howdy,” Seth said. He was practically jumping up and down.
Abe handed Joe some papers. “You have to sign the note of delivery on top.
Joe scribbled his name. “Here you go.”
They waited while Abe levered down a creaky ramp and opened the stall. He led the pony to the ground and the clomp, clomp of her hooves made Joe and Seth laugh. “Ready to take her, boy?”
“Yes, sir. The stall’s all fixed up and we’re gonna build a paddock.”
“Should I saddle her before I go?”
Joe said, “No, we’ll let the boy get used to her first.”
Seth went to the pony and put his head on her torso. Then he burst into tears.
Joe and Scarlet and even Abe bit back emotion. They let Seth settle, then Joe crossed to them and patted Cinnamon’s back. “Hey, there, buddy. Welcome.”
Abe smiled. “Enjoy her, sonny.” Then he pulled up the ramp and got in his truck and drove away.
After a bit, Scarlet led Stanley to the pony. Cinnamon sidled right into him and he began to lick her. They let the reunion go on a bit, then Joe said, “Let’s take her inside.”
“Does she have to go into the stall now?”
“Yeah, but you can go with her.”
The pony neighed, as if in agreement, Seth laughed and took the reins. All of them, including Stanley, walked slowly to the stall. The pony went right inside and Stanley followed without prompting. The small horse began to nibble on the hay. “She hungry?”
“Probably,” Scarlet said. “Ponies eat a lot.”
“Did you get Stanley as a pony, Scarlet?” Seth asked.
“My grandfather did. When I was little. I rode him as we both grew up.”
Seth continued to pet Cinnamon. “You’re so beautiful. I love you already.”
Joe heard a car pull up to the barn and frowned. He wasn’t expecting anyone else. “I’ll go see who that is.”
He’d just exited the stall when someone appeared at the open barn door. A woman, dressed in a white suit, high heels and a big black and white hat. Joe’s stomach dropped to his knees. She said, “Hello, darlings.”
Joe stalked to her and none-too-gently drew her over to the side of the barn where they weren’t visible to Seth. “What the fuck are you doing here, Evvie?”
Evangelina Larson batted her thickly lashed eyes at him. “I came to see my son.” Before Joe could react, she yanked away and walked back into the barn and up to Seth. Joe had never felt more helpless. “Hello there, baby.”
Seth frowned at her, his body sidling up to Cinnamon.
“I’m your mother, dear. Don’t you remember me?” She eyed Scarlet. “Evangelina Larson. And you are?”
“A friend of the family. I own this horse.” She angled her head at Stanley. “He’s Cinnamon’s sire.”
Suddenly, Seth broke away and ran to Evangelina. He threw himself into her arms. “Mommy!”
Evangelina recoiled, making Seth stumble back. “Look what you’ve done.” She’d raised her voice. “You got my suit all dirty. It’s Prada.” True enough, her white outfit was stained in several places. Scarlet chuckled.
Joe stood behind her. “Holy hell.”
She gathered herself quickly and turned to Scarlet. “Would you mind leaving us alone? I’d like to talk to my husband and son.”
“She’ll do no such thing. You’re the one who’ll leave.”
“I have rights, lover. We’re still married, after all. Nice spread you have here. It must be worth a fortune.”
Scarlet crossed to Seth. “Come on, honey, let’s go up to the house.”
Still whimpering, Seth took her hand and moved close to her as they left the barn.
Joe’s hands fisted. “Is that why you’re here? For money?”
“Not at all.” Up close, he noticed she wore a ton of makeup. “If you cooperate.”
“What does that mean?”
“I want a relationship with Seth.” Her voice softened. She almost sounded vulnerable. But it was all an act.
“You should have thought of that when you ran off with what’s his name.”
“Gayle Marchand. We want to get married so I’d like a divorce, too.”
“You can have that, lady, in a New York minute. Send me the papers.”
She retrieved a sheaf out of her oversized white leather purse. “I have them right here, ready for you to sign.”
“Not until my lawyer reads them.”
“I’m surrendering my rights to your property.
“And to my son?”
“No.” She lifted her chin. “He’s my son, too. I want to see him regularly. It’s in the papers.”
* * *
“She smells the same,” Seth said, looking out the window of their living room.
“What, honey?”
He turned around. “When I hugged her, I remembered what she smelled like.”
Oh, dear. Scarlet knew nothing about how to handle this situation.
Go on your instinct.
“Come sit with me.” She patted the cushion next to her on the couch.