Chapter Twenty-Five
“What do you think it means?” asked Lily.
We both peered at the unsent email. “I don’t know but whatever it is, when she did send it, she didn’t want Harvey to know it was from her,” I said as I snapped another photo. Then I closed the email window. I shut the laptop too and stepped back.
“We can analyze the emails later,” I said. “Let’s check the kitchen. Was the bedroom clear?”
“Nothing in there except clothes and a few books. I checked everywhere. Under the bed, the mattress, even under the nightstands. No notepads or envelopes unless you count the parcel from a fancy lingerie shop.”
“I don’t count it but how fancy?”
“Very fancy. The receipt was dated two weeks ago. I took a picture.”
“Good work,” I said and Lily beamed. “That suggests the affair was still active recently.”
“I remember those days,” said Lily wistfully.
“Active affairs?” I asked with a frown.
“Fancy lingerie. Now I’m just content to buy something that covers my butt and keeps me warm. Although Jord really likes…”
I held up a hand. “Don’t tell me what my brother likes you in.”
“He said the same thing about you and Solomon.”
“I’m very happy to hear that.”
We divided the kitchen, methodically checking the cupboards but Yvette was as neat and organized here as in the rest of her home.
All mail was stacked in a corner of a worktop that Yvette had set up as an admin zone.
There were flyers from local restaurants, a postcard from an equestrian clothing supply with a discount code stamped on the back, a reminder to book a dental check-up and various other life detritus.
Nothing that could possibly have been stolen from her sister’s house.
“I think we’ve searched everywhere we can.
The most interesting stuff was on her computer,” I said, feeling slightly defeated.
I wasn’t sure what I’d hoped for. A glaring sign of wrongdoing like a folder marked “How I Killed My Sister” or even a clutch of damning photos but instead, all we had were the anonymous emails.
We slipped out of the house and I peeled off the plastic gloves, wadding them into a ball and pushing them into my pocket.
“I can’t stop thinking about that email Yvette drafted to Harvey,” said Lily. “It sounded threatening. Or like he was doing something bad.”
“Perhaps she saw him doing something untoward,” I said, thinking. “Whatever it was, she was going to warn him off. She might have sent others and deleted them already.”
“Why not just tell everyone he was up to no good?”
“We don’t know he was up to no good. All we know is Yvette wanted him to stop.
It could mean he was doing something personally objectionable, or it could mean he was operating against the farm’s interests.
There’s nothing to say Jessica would have believed her since she knew Yvette was carrying on with Joel.
” I took a moment to think. “Do you ever get the impression Yvette is scared of him?”
“Joel?”
“No. Harvey.”
Lily shook her head. “No. They seem friendly enough. At least, professionally friendly. The sort where people tolerate each other in the office, but don’t want to socialize otherwise.”
“I got the impression they only socialized with each other and Jessica and Joel. The stable hands said they do their own thing.”
“What if Harvey crossed the line? Maybe he was having an affair with one of the stable hands and Yvette was warning him off?”
“Yvette has no problem setting up the stable hands and firing them,” I said.
“She could have done the same if that were the case, and justified it without setting anyone up. Besides, Harvey isn’t married so I don’t think that’s it.
She didn’t mention anyone by name, just what he was doing, whatever that was, had to stop. We should figure out what it was.”
“How are we supposed to do that?”
“I don’t know but I think the answer lies in the rehab yard.
That’s where Harvey spends most of his time.
If Yvette saw something, perhaps it was there.
Jessica was finding out a lot of detrimental things.
It seems everyone is hiding secrets and if Joel has been getting money from Harvey, perhaps it’s the same thing? ”
“It’s going to be tough to get in there if he’s on high alert after Joel’s stunt with the stallion,” said Lily. “Although I’ve never known that to stop you, or me, but since we’re both wearing sensible footwear I don’t even know why I mentioned anything. Let’s go break in.”
“Technically, we’re not breaking in. Jessica gave us the freedom to go wherever we pleased.”
“Try telling that to the king of the castle. Joel thinks he owns the farm.”
“Fair point. Let’s figure out where he is before we head over there. Oh!” Another thought occurred to me. “We should check out the office. Yvette has a desk there. She could have hidden something small there.”
“Let’s go.”
We walked to the office, taking our time to greet the stable hands moving around the yard, and pet the horses in their stalls.
The office was almost empty when we arrived, save for Joel sitting at a desk at the back of the room, typing on his computer keyboard. He looked up when we came in, then got up and walked over. “What can I help you with?” he asked.
“I just wanted to use a computer,” I said, waggling my phone. “The WiFi isn’t so great.”
“Oh, sure, of course. You can take that desk over there,” he said, pointing to the one close to the help desk.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been on hand much but you know…
” He grimaced. Dark circles under his eyes suggested he wasn’t sleeping much.
His lip was clear of blood, with barely a noticeable cut.
“I was rude earlier and I’m sorry about that.
I’m glad Jessica hired you to help out. I know I haven’t said it, but I’ve appreciated the extra hands-on deck, so to speak, what with everything going on… ”
“We understand it’s an awful time for you,” I said.
“We’re really happy to help,” added Lily.
I nodded. “If you need anything else, you only have to ask.”
“I probably do but I wouldn’t know where to start. My brain feels like a scrambled egg. I start a thought and then it all turns to mush. I figured I better do some of the admin before everything falls apart. Plus, I hoped it might distract me.”
“Is there anyone who can help you with that?” I asked.
“Not really. Jessica did a lot of it, and Yvette would assist her but… I can’t ask Yvette. She’s grieving too. She needs to be with the horses. They’ll help her.”
“That’s thoughtful of you.”
Joel shrugged, glancing back at his computer.
“I wanted to ask you about the rehab yard,” I said. “Jessica mentioned it and she left some slots in my schedule. I’m happy to take a look at the horses there.”
“Harvey’s got that all covered so there’s no need. I’m sure there’s plenty for you to do here in the main yard.”
“How many horses are there? In the rehab yard, I mean,” I asked.
Joel furrowed his brows. “Up to twelve at a time. I’m not sure how many are there currently, but like I said, Harvey’s got it covered, and he likes to really throw himself into the work so he won’t want distractions. The horses can be so unpredictable. Anything can spook them.”
“Right, right,” I agreed. “Does he need time in the school with them? I’m happy to share the space, of course.”
“He uses the walker to exercise them gently if they’re not on stable rest.” Joel crossed his arms across his chest, giving the impression this part of the conversation was over. I was curious what he would say, or do, if I pressed the conversation any further.
“So they’re all competition horses, right?” I continued, changing direction slightly.
“Yes. A few racehorses too. All retired now,” he added quickly.
“It’s great that their owners want them rehabilitated. What will happen to them next?”
“They’ll make nice riding horses, or maybe retrain as jumpers or eventers if they have the aptitude, like Pepper. Some might just become companion horses, living out their retirement in peace.”
“Stud horses are common, too,” I added, watching him carefully. After all, it wasn’t my idea. It was his, and he’d been firmly knocked back when he tried it behind Harvey’s back.
“For the good lines, sure. I don’t know the owners’ plans beyond getting the horses back into shape.”
“I’m surprised Jessica wasn’t interested in running the rehab program. She was always so caring.”
“Yeah, she mentioned it actually, but she was just overrun with work on the rest of the farm, training and competing. I told her taking on anything else would be crazy, and to let Harvey handle it. You know how Jessica could be when she got an idea into her head. She thought she could do everything with the same hours in the day that the rest of us mere mortals have.”
“Oh, yes, of course,” I said. “Hey, isn’t it kind of expensive to rehab racehorses into riding horses?”
Joel laughed. “Everything to do with horses is expensive. Some people have the love and the funds to ensure their favorite horse is in great shape. Besides, not all the rehab horses are racehorses. We take on all sorts.” The office phone rang and Joel excused himself, reaching to answer it.
There was no way we could check out Yvette’s desk while Joel was there.
For all I knew, he’d be there all afternoon so we mouthed our goodbyes and slipped out of the office just as Harvey walked past on the other side of the yard, aiming for the parking lot.
I nudged Lily and inclined my head after Harvey.
We followed him to the parking lot, lounging nonchalantly against a fence, my back turned, pretending to chat while Lily watched Harvey get into a car and drive out of the lot.
“Let’s go to the rehab yard while the coast is clear,” I said.
“What if he comes back?”
“Let’s check to see if anyone knows where he went,” I said, looking around for someone who might know. Kenzie exited a stable, bolting the door shut.
“Hey!” I said, waving as we hurried over. “Have you seen Harvey?”
“I think he went to see a client,” she said, picking up a bucket.
“Here?”
“Oh, no, sorry, at Benedict Farm. It’s about forty minutes from here. Is it urgent? Can I help?”
“Oh, no, just wanted to check on something.”
“Sure, okay. Well, I guess he’ll be gone for the rest of the day but his number is in the office.”
“Kenzie!” The shout came from a stable.
“Gotta go,” she said, “but I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s session.”
“Same!” I said.
“It’ll be amazing,” said Lily.
“Don’t oversell it,” I said as Kenzie jogged to the next set of stables.
“Why not? It’s going to be amazing for someone. They’ve all loved your sessions so far.”
“Which is a miracle, and really, they’re your sessions.
You’re doing most of the work. I simply just repeat what you say.
” We were walking across the yard, unhurried like we didn’t have a care in the world, which is exactly how I wanted it to appear.
If we ran, we’d attract attention and spark curiosity, but walking, we were just like anyone else moving around the yard now the day was coming to a close.
The gate to the rehab yard was locked as we expected, but the rusted bar was still there, wedged in place as if it couldn’t move. Lily pulled and twisted it, and it came loose. She waved me through and I scrambled in a half crouch, rising as she followed me through and replaced the bar.
In contrast to the main yard, the rehab yard was quiet.
No one lingered here or moved around. No music played, nobody was standing and chatting.
It was just us and the horses. Seven were stabled, some of them watching us with interest. Probably hoping for a carrot more than actually interested in what we were doing.
I picked the nearest stable, and checked the chart fixed to the panel adjacent to the door. “This one has recurrent lameness,” I said, reading. “Is lame when a horse can’t walk properly?”
“Yeah, usually because of pain or injury but sometimes it’s a poor diet.” Lily rubbed the horse’s nose and it flared its nostrils.
I moved to the next stable, looking at the notes attached. “Ex-racehorse, strained shoulder. Riding horse, bites and kicks. Riding horse, overweight.” I peered over the stable door at the chunky pony inside. “I didn’t know that was a thing.”
“Probably hasn’t been exercised much, or the owner overfed it and the horse took happy advantage of that. Probably both.”
“So shouldn’t the pony be exercised instead of being in a stable?”
“Maybe it’s being exercised earlier? There’s a walker just over there,” she said, pointing beyond the paddock. “And I guess Harvey wants to make sure she doesn’t spend all day munching grass.”
“I guess so,” I said as a I moved on to the next horse, and the next, reading their diagnoses and petting their velvet muzzles. I looked for the large horse with the white star on its forehead but it wasn’t there; instead, a similar looking horse minus the star occupied its stall.
I patted its nose and it snuffled my palm, searching for treats.
When I scratched between his eyes, it gave a nicker of what I could only hope was pleasure.
When I withdrew my fingers, the tips were smudged brown.
I brushed my fingers together but the stain didn’t budge.
I looked at the horse and it gazed back with its big soulful eyes.
Contemplating my fingers again, the smudged hand and the clean one, I reached the clean hand to the horse’s head and rubbed its hair. When I withdrew my fingers, they were as smudged as my other hand.
“Lily?”
“Yeah?” She had her face pressed into the neck of a beautiful gray horse.
“Do you remember which horse was in this stall before?”
She lifted her head and frowned. “It had a white star on its head,” she said. “Same color as that one in there now.”
“Look at this,” I said, holding out my stained fingers for inspection.
“I’m not smelling them,” she said, wrinkling her nose in distaste.
“No, just look.” I smudged my fingers across the back of my hand, leaving a dirty streak.
Lily pulled a face. “What were you touching?”
I pointed to the horse’s head. “I think there’s dye on the horse’s coat. I think this horse had a white star last time we were here and now it’s been covered up.” I looked around the quiet yard. “What if the others are disguised too?”
Lily followed my gaze. Six horses resided in the yard, along with the pony.
“We need to take photos of all of them,” I said, “their notes too. I think I might know what Yvette’s email was about.”