Shadow Horse (11 page)

“What was that all about?” Chase asked.

Jas stiffened. Had he been listening the whole time?

“I invited Dr. Danvers over for dinner,” Jas said. “Do you think Miss Hahn will mind?”

“No. She’s had the hots for him for ages.” Shoving his hands in his pockets, he strolled over to the sofa with a curious gaze.

Jas stared at him.
Something is different about him. But what is it?

His baseball cap! For the first time since she’d met him, he wasn’t wearing it. His hair was trimmed around his ears, but long on top. It shone with auburn highlights. And now that his eyes weren’t shadowed by the bill of his cap, Jas could see that they were fringed with enviably long lashes.

“So what else did you and Danvers talk about?” he asked, sitting next to her on the sofa.

“What do you mean, ‘what else’?” she asked, scooting away from him.

“I
mean
, what was that stuff about Whirlwind?”

Jas was surprised by his question. “How do you know about Whirlwind?”

“You think I don’t know why you’re here? I may be goofy-looking, but I’m not stupid.”

“You’re not goofy-looking,” Jas argued, flushing when she realized what she’d said. “I mean—oh, forget it,” she snapped.

He grinned. “I knew you liked me.”

“I do not.” Jas slumped back into the sofa cushions. “So how do you know about me and Whirlwind?
Miss Hahn?”
she spat.

“No. My dad’s an investigator with the Stanford Police Department.”

“What?” Jas shot upright. “And he’s been telling you all about me!”

Chase shrugged. “Hey, it’s not like that stuff is confidential. A kid breaks the law and anybody can find out about it.”

“Yes, but, but …,” Jas sputtered, “but why were you asking him about me?” she accused. Then she frowned. “Oh, I get it. You wanted to find out all the dirt on the juvenile delinquent staying with
Diane.”

“That’s not why,” Chase said, his ears turning pink.

“Need help setting the table!” Miss Hahn
hollered from the kitchen. “The chicken’s almost done!”

“I’ll help.” Chase stood up so fast that Jas bounced on the sofa cushion. “I hope you have enough food,” he called as he bolted for the kitchen. “Dr. Danvers is coming to dinner.”

“Dr. Danvers!” She stuck her head around the door frame, place mats in her hand.

“I invited him when I heard he was having a frozen dinner,” Jas explained hastily. “I know I should have asked you first, but I could hear him drooling when I mentioned fried chicken.”

Miss Hahn looped a strand of hair over one ear. “No. No. That was a good idea. Gosh, should I change?”

“No, you look great,” Chase said.

“Except I’m so dirty.” Miss Hahn plucked at her pant leg, then began fanning herself with the place mats. “Whoo-wee, is it hot in here or is it just me?”

Jas looked over at Chase, who wiggled his brows at her and mouthed, “I told you.”

Jas burst out laughing, feeling some of the tension go away.

“You two are acting mighty strange,”
Miss Hahn declared. Handing Chase the place mats, she hurried through the living room and up the steps, saying, “I’m changing into something else. Set the table for me, Chase.”

He saluted. “Aye-aye, Captain.”

When he went into the kitchen, Jas sat for a minute.
So Chase’s dad is an investigator. Maybe he would be able to help me
.

But that would have to wait for later. She still didn’t have enough proof to go to the police. She had figured out how Hugh had arranged Whirlwind’s death. But now she needed to find out
why
. Jas figured that Hugh’s insurance policy might give her the “why.” If the mare was healthy, she would have been more valuable alive than dead.
Unless
Hugh had a huge insurance policy on her.

Jas knew where Hugh kept the files on the horses. And Phil had access to them at any time. But would he help?

After listening to make sure everybody was busy, Jas picked up the phone and dialed the office number for High Meadows. Phil just might be there taking care of last-minute paperwork before leaving for the night.

He picked up on the first ring.

“Phil, it’s Jas.” Furtively, she glanced up the steps, checking to see if Miss Hahn was coming down. This was one conversation she definitely didn’t want her to report to Hugh.

“Jas?” Phil’s voice was just as low. Was someone in the office with him?

“I heard you went to see Grandfather,” Jas rushed on. “I heard you suspect Hugh of putting the yew in the paddock.”

There was a dead silence. Jas bit her bottom lip.

“Yes.”

“Then you’ve got to help me! I need to look at Whirlwind’s insurance policy. I think it’s the key to proving Hugh killed her. Can you get me a copy?”

“Yes. Look, I’ve got to go. I’ll meet you at one o’clock Wednesday when you visit the nursing home. I’ll have it then.”

The phone clicked off. For a second, Jas didn’t move, afraid she’d burst the bubble of hope swelling inside her. If everything worked out, she finally had an idea how to get Hugh.

A copy of Dr. Danvers’s autopsy report stating that Whirlwind’s stomach was empty would show how Hugh planned to kill Whirlwind. A copy of the insurance policy showing
a big payoff would then show his motivation to do so.

The police might not believe her, but how could they ignore the documents? And with Phil on her side, she would finally be able to prove that Hugh Robicheaux killed his own horse.

“
I
’
LL PICK YOU UP IN HALF AN HOUR,
”
MISS
Hahn said as Jas climbed out of the car. It was Wednesday, the day of Jas’s second visit with her grandfather.

Miss Hahn pulled out of the driveway to go run some errands. As Jas walked up the sidewalk, she began to feel nervous.

Is Phil really coming?

But as soon as she scanned the cars, she spotted Phil’s Jeep parked behind the nursing home van. Excited, she rushed inside, checked in at the front desk, and then hunted for Phil and her grandfather. She found both of them in the dayroom. Phil was standing by the window wearing new jeans and cowboy boots, looking totally ill at ease.

“Hi!” Jas rushed over to her grandfather’s wheelchair. Crouching by his knee, she took
his hand and peered into his pale face. He smiled crookedly, but his eyes seemed brighter.

“Did Phil tell you what he was bringing us?”

Grandfather nodded, but when she glanced up at Phil, she saw distress etched in his face. “What’s wrong?” Jas asked as she stood up. “Couldn’t you get a copy of the policy?”

“I got one,” Phil said as he twisted his John Deere hat in his hands. “Only it’s not going to prove nothing.” Pulling several papers from his back pocket, he thrust them at her.

Jas’s mouth went dry. Slowly, she unfolded the papers. Phil pointed to several lines at the bottom of the first sheet. “Whirlwind was only insured for fifty grand,” he said. “But she was worth a hundred.”

“But that can’t be!” Jas cried in disbelief. “If Hugh lost money on the mare, he would have had no reason to kill her!”

Phil bobbed his head. “That’s right.” He glanced at Grandfather, who was staring so intently at both of them that Jas could tell he was taking in every word.

“Which means we’ve got to drop this whole thing,” Phil said as he lowered his voice. “Hugh knows we’re suspicious.”

A chill raced up Jas’s spine. “How does he know?
What
does he know?”

Phil swung his head. “I’m not sure. But he knows I visited your grandfather last Saturday. And I think he knows I’m here with you today.”

Jas let out her breath. “I bet Miss Hahn told him. Do you think he knows about this copy?”

“Probably. The guy’s been watching me like a hawk. He’s looking for any excuse to fire me. You know that Danvers isn’t our vet anymore?”

“Ummph!” Jas glanced down at Grandfather, who sounded as if he was being strangled. Kneeling, she patted his hand. “Are you all right?”

“At ooves Hugh illed Irlwind!” He waved his good arm wildly.

“Are you saying that getting rid of Danvers proves Hugh is guilty?” Jas clarified.

“Es! Ee’s etting id of all of us.”

Jas’s eyes widened. “He’s right. Hugh is getting rid of anyone who might be suspicious about Whirlwind’s death. That shows he is guilty of
something
, but what?”

“Danvers had his doubts about the mare’s
death,” said Phil. “So when he did the autopsy, he checked to make sure she was sound. He also made sure she was still valuable as a brood mare. She was. That means if Hugh killed her, he killed a perfectly healthy mare worth over a hundred thousand dollars. Which makes
no
sense.”

Jas stifled a moan. How could she have been so wrong? Was there something she was missing?

Aladdin!

“Phil, tell me about Aladdin.”

“Aladdin?” Phil frowned in confusion.

“That horse that died the year my grandparents and I came to work at the farm. He was that big Dutch Warmblood. He used to jump into the field to chase the cattle. Hugh always boasted he could jump over the moon.”

“I remember him,” Phil said. “A chestnut gelding. Died of colic.”

“Did anyone check to make sure it really was colic?”

“Danvers was called in—he was the vet back then, too—and he said all the signs pointed to colic.”

“What about an autopsy?”

“Wasn’t done. Aladdin was only insured
for thirty thousand. Usually, the horse has to be insured for fifty thousand or more for the insurance company to do a full-scale investigation. Besides, his death wasn’t suspicious.”

Jas tapped her lip, another thought crossing her mind. “What if Dr. Danvers is in on the scam with Hugh?” she said to Phil. “What if he faked Whirlwind’s autopsy report?”

“Oh!” Grandfather protested.

“Your grandfather’s right,” Phil said. “I’d trust Danvers with
my
life. Besides, he’s the one who did the extra tests on Whirlwind because he was suspicious.”

He patted Jas’s shoulder with his work-roughened hand. “When I checked the insurance policy, I called Danvers. He mentioned that you two had talked about Whirlwind’s stomach being empty. That’s not enough evidence against Hugh.” Ducking his head, he looked down at his hat as if ashamed. “The two of us agreed to drop the whole thing.” Phil paused and then grabbed Jas’s shoulder. “You need to also, Jas.”

Her heart sank because it seemed Phil was right. The insurance policy only proved Hugh would have been crazy to kill his own horse.

“Maybe it
was
an accident that the yew
got in Whirlwind’s paddock,” said Phil as he put on his cap. “I’m sorry, guys, but I’ve got to go. Hugh thinks I’m at the hardware store.”

“Thanks for coming,” said Jas dully.

A small smile creased Phil’s leathery face. “Forget about the past, Jas. Your grandfather is mending fast. When he gets out of here, some horse farm will be eager to hire him. Everybody knows your grandfather is the greatest.”

“I guess.” Tears filled her eyes. She hoped Grandfather didn’t realize what Phil
wasn’t
saying.

Her grandfather
was
the greatest. He’d never be able to pull his own weight again. If no one would hire a partially crippled man as a caretaker, what would happen to them?

As if he knew what she was thinking, Grandfather reached up, took her hand, and held on tightly to his granddaughter.

Shadow’s rough orange hair was falling out in clumps. Jas ran the currycomb against the grain of his coat. Underneath, the new hair was a shiny chestnut color.

She wrapped her arms around the big horse’s neck. “You’re going to be beautiful!
Soon that white exclamation point on your face will stand for WOW!”

He turned to look at her, a hunk of hay hanging from his mouth. Since Shadow was out of quarantine, he’d been moved to the big barn.

“Okay, maybe not beautiful,” she teased. “You’re too big and gawky. But if you keep eating like a pig, you’ll soon be as fat as Lassie.”

It was the end of June, fifteen days since Jas had been at Second Chance Farm. Eight days since Shadow had been on the thyroid treatment. Already he looked better. His back was still bony and his hind legs stiff, but Jas could tell by the gleam in his eyes and the arch of his neck that he was feeling like a new horse.

Sighing, she rested against his shoulder. Thank goodness she’d been busy the past week. In addition to yard work and taking care of Shadow, the farm had hosted a dozen kids’ groups over the weekend. So she didn’t have that much time to dwell on the meeting. But whenever she did have a moment’s rest, like right now, the disappointment made Jas frustrated.
How can I prove Hugh is guilty when there is no evidence?

Suddenly, someone shouted and completely interrupted Jas’s thoughts. Curious, she walked over to the stall’s back window and looked outside.

Lucy was riding a fat pinto in one of the paddocks. Although she wasn’t a horrible rider, she did flap and flop around like a duckling learning to fly.

“Lucy, relax and go
with
the horse’s movement,” Miss Hahn was saying patiently. Miss Hahn was leaning on the paddock fence with her back to Jas. Chase was standing next to Miss Hahn.