“Anything that doesn’t belong here,” Malachi said.
They explored in silence for a while, combing through the bushes, trying to identify anything out of place on the forest floor.
Suddenly Olivia let out a little cry.
“What is it?” Dustin asked, hurrying over to her.
“Maybe nothing, but...” She opened her hand. She was holding something red with a tiny needlelike point. The small object was in the shape of a horse. “This is one of the tacks we use to put notices up on the office bulletin board,” she said. “Someone might just have had one in a pocket.”
Dustin shook his head. “No, it wasn’t a random find, Olivia. This is where Frank Vine discovered the image of the general. I’d say that means someone—most likely from the Horse Farm—hung it here.”
“To lure Mariah out,” Malachi said, approaching them from the other side.
“So Mariah is innocent. One down.” Olivia raised a finger as though counting.
“Not necessarily.” Dustin shook his head again. “What if she put it here herself to make us believe her story?”
Olivia groaned in frustration. “How will we ever get anywhere?” she demanded.
“Well, Sydney was at the Horse Farm, watching over the place, right?” Malachi said. “Or...”
“Or was he?” Olivia finished for him.
“Maybe that’s something we can prove one way or the other,” Dustin suggested.
“We reach the solution by following every direction,” Malachi told her. “It was a good find, cousin. Now we know it wasn’t just left here by some college kid. That’s important—and it narrows down the possibilities.” They searched a while longer, with no further results, and started back.
En route, Dustin used his radio to call in; Frank Vine told him the night had been uneventful.
When they reached the Horse Farm, Drew and Sydney came out, hearing their arrival. Sammy came out, too, barking excitedly. Olivia immediately dismounted and captured the big dog in a hug, sternly ordering him not to jump.
“Anything?” Drew asked anxiously.
“Nope,” Dustin said. “Anything here?”
“Quiet as a tomb all night.”
“Drew, I heard people say that Aaron always rode Gargantua,” Dustin continued. “Is that right? The day Marcus died, was Aaron riding him?”
Drew raised his eyebrows in evident surprise. “Yeah, it’s true. Aaron—when he went riding, which wasn’t that often—always took Gargantua. He’s a big horse but he’s gentle. I once saw him let himself trip rather than step on Aaron when he’d fallen off. He’d gotten on him bareback, which was kind of foolish for Aaron. I wouldn’t call him an incompetent rider, but he wasn’t the best by far.”
“Where was Gargantua before everyone saddled up to go looking for Marcus Danby that day?” Dustin asked.
“In his stall,” Drew said. “I think.”
Sydney had been listening, Dustin realized, because he walked up to the two of them. “Drew, no. Remember? We had all the horses out in the pasture.”
“Sydney’s right,” Drew said. “I remember now. We had to round them all up to get saddled.”
“Is it important?” Sydney asked.
“I don’t know. Do you ever worry about the horses when they’re out in the pasture? I’m sure you don’t notice all of them all the time. Have you ever worried about one of them being stolen? Could one be stolen?”
“We’ve never had any horses stolen,” Sydney replied. “I guess all the ones we have now are known by people in the area, but we’ve also brought in rescues. Some could be dangerous—unless you knew the horse, knew the problem and the animal’s behavior. Like Shebaan. She was a kicker when we got her. But the first thing we teach anyone who comes here is that you don’t stand in kicking distance behind a horse. Any horse.”
“Should we be worried?” Drew asked.
“No, no,” Dustin assured them. “I wasn’t suggesting that. But could someone, say, use a horse and put it back in the pasture without anyone noticing?”
Drew looked at Sydney; Sydney looked back at Drew.
Then both men looked at Dustin and shrugged.
“What does all this mean? Does it matter?” Drew asked worriedly.
“I’m not sure. Maybe,” Dustin said evasively. “Thanks, you guys.” He left Chapparal with the men and made his way to the office.
Sloan was standing behind Jane Everett at the door, waiting for them. “Anything?” Sloan asked as they entered and shut the door behind them.
“More confusion,” Olivia said, going straight to the coffeepot, Sammy following her every move.
“We spoke with the general,” Olivia said. She poured her coffee and sipped it.
“And?”
“He didn’t see a face, but he did see someone running from the ravine when Marcus was killed.”
“And he saw a horse,” Dustin filled in for her.
“Which horse?”
“Gargantua,” Olivia said.
“Gargantua—the massive horse, I take it?” Jane asked.
Olivia nodded.