Page 7 (2/2)
"I’ve got it," she’d told hihosts is by not acknowledging the dead You keep walking as if you’re in a hurry You step over bodies along the way--ah, I’ve got it Pretend you’re a stereotypical New Yorker Youbriskly, and for the love of God, you never make eye contact"
"Hey, so
Malachi had always had a sense of huone into police work, and noith the FBI She’d called him hysterically after the authorities had come to claim Marcus’s body, and he’d been so helpful He’d overnment had to be invited in when there wasn’t astate lines, a kidnapping or circumstances in which local authorities had requested assistance
Never once, however, had he suggested that she was s up to save the Horse Farht He’d promised her that he would find a way to help her "I’ht one to come out there at this point Too many people are aware that I’m your cousin, and it’ll i for outside help," he’d told her "Good way to piss off the local cops"
She didn’t care about appearances She wished Malachi had cohost of Marcus Danby--was speakingat the ed to take a sip of her tea She stilled her shattered nerves, took a deep breath and spoke to hih!" Marcus said, grih his body "Yes, no one’s fault--accidental death and all that"
"And drugs were found in your systeo, that I’d never touch drugs again as long as I lived I wasn’t teer situation I was a happy ot up, had my coffee Came by the Horse Farm I love this time of year--not cold yet, not hot like suo for a ride and then I decided on a walk so I could take hiing his tail, then barking like crazy He raced off toward the grove of trees west of the ravine and he didn’t come back So I called out to hiround I didn’t feel pain I was juston the ground" He paused as if taking a deep breath
He couldn’t have been taking a breath He wasn’t alive Olivia took another sip of her tea She’d be heading into her kitchen for the brandy in ahim to continue
"I don’t know if I was hit in the head, if I just don’t know At first, there was nothing And thenthen I was on a high like you wouldn’t believe, and I kneas in trouble I got up and started walking and thenI felt a shove at my back and I fell and you know the rest of it!"
"So you believe that soed you?"
"Yes Not tome"
"I told the police you would never have intentionally relapsed, Marcus I’ve sworn it, I’ve defended you, II called ent, Marcus"
"And he’s co After I talked to Malachi and he proet so up as a client to"
"Why doesn’t Malachi cos directly?"
"He’s with the governuys are all paranoid, I think," Olivia muttered "Anyway, it’s complicated, Marcus People in this area know that we’re cousins Some of them know Malachi Like you Sorry, I ht Go on"
"You can’t just step on the toes of the local police So Malachi’shere, and they’re sending souise of a client"
Marcus remained somber but he nodded and looked at her with hope in his eyes "Thanks, Liv You have to solve this The Horse Farm is a one-of-a-kind place We ith addicts, with autistic and Down syndrome kids, with burned-out adults, the severely depressed But you know all that And you know that it was always my way to make amends and to help others live quality lives andyou love the Horse Far I can, Marcus," she promised She closed her eyes for a one
Great In death, Marcus--always the most polite of men--had suddenly decided to be rude
3
Dustin arrived at the Horse Farn on the narrow paved road that led to a long dirt drive, a sign announcing that he’d reached the Horse Far fields surrounded it, gorgeous hills crested in the background and rich forests stood beyond the pastures and ht of the drive were the ht red To the left was the office and rec building; it, too, was large, but built ranch-style with only one story Parking in the dusty drive out front, he headed for the office Opening the door, he found old western furniture, walls covered with prints, paintings and newspaper clippings of horses, and overstuffed leather sofas He saw a ga and heard the whack, whack, whack of the ball going back and forth A young woman breezed by him with a quick "Hello!" and hurried on to the back "I’ the winner!" she called