Page 75 of One in a Million

“I didn’t bring it up. You did.” They had reached the front porch. “Get some rest, Boss. It’s been a long, rough day, and the one coming up won’t be any easier.”

“Fine. Let me know how One in a Million is doing. I’ll take care of Baby’s . . . burial.” She choked on the words, turned away from him, and stalked up the front steps onto the porch.

Roper watched her go. Had he been too brusque with her? Should he call her back, apologize, and offer her the story she’d asked to hear?

Maybe he should have been more sensitive to her pain. In such a short time, Lila had lost her husband, a young employee, and her prize mare. She’d also discovered Frank had been cheating, dealt with a deadly wild animal, and suffered an accident that could have ended her life.

Through it all, she’d kept an iron grip on her self-control, refusing to give way to emotion. Only in the last moment, as she’d mentioned Baby’s burial, had he sensed that she was close to breaking.

He found himself wishing he could call her back and let her know that he understood, and that he was here to support her. But it was too late for that now. The next time he saw her, Roper sensed, the tentative bond that had formed between them would be gone.

Turning away from the house, he walked slowly back toward the stable. Lila had suggested that he go home and get some sleep. But it hardly seemed worth taking the time. He would rest a little in his office, make some coffee, and be ready for work at first light.

Lila had made it clear that she only wanted one thing from him—to prepare One in a Million for his return to the arena. Not only to compete but to win.

But bringing the champion out of retirement had been an idea born of desperation. Lila was depending on the stallion, and on him, to continue the tradition of the Culhane Stables with her as the new owner. But could he, riding One in a Million, give her the victory she needed?

His own future was at stake, as well. With Baby, he’d felt confident that he could win or at least rack up an impressive score. But the stallion, Baby’s sire, was past his prime. The years had cost him strength and speed and made him more vulnerable to injury. Roper was concerned for his safety. In a competition that demanded everything of a horse, what if that concern caused him to hold the stallion back?

He could still go to Lila and tell her that One in a Million wasn’t fit to compete with the younger horses, and that he should be withdrawn from the event. Roper could still compete with one of the backup horses. Even if he didn’t win, he could make a respectable showing. But knowing Lila, she would never accept that decision. And the decision was hers to make.

He entered the stable, the lights dim, the smell of death lingering in the air. Walking down the row of stalls, he stopped at the one where One in a Million was quartered. The stallion came at his low whistle, thrusting his head over the top of the gate and butting his nose against Roper’s shirt.

Roper stroked his neck, feeling the muscles ripple beneath the satiny hide. “The boss is counting on you, big boy,” he whispered. “It’s all up to you now.”

CHAPTERNINETEEN

It was midmorning and already getting hot. Sam sat at the kitchen table in his bungalow, drinking iced coffee and updating the report to Nick on his laptop. He hadn’t seen Jasmine since yesterday. She’d mentioned something about working on the vintage truck in the shed. That could explain why he hadn’t seen much of her. But they were both aware of their circumstances and the need to give each other space. That, or she could just be biding her time, waiting to surprise him.

His phone lay on the table. He glanced at it repeatedly, as if the extra attention could coax a ring out of it. He was hoping for some word on Madeleine’s phone calls and bank records. If his hunch about her involvement in Frank’s death was wrong, he needed to know. If it was right, he needed to act.

He hated keeping secrets from Jasmine. But telling her that her mother could be arrested for murdering her father would tear at her loyalties, possibly with dangerous results.

Not warning her could spell the end of their relationship. But his sworn duty had to come first. He could only hope she would understand.

From the pasture below the cemetery hill came the sound of the backhoe digging Baby’s grave. Sam had learned from Lila that the mare had died after her valiant battle with the escaped hyena. A crushing loss. Million Dollar Baby had been the best hope for the future of the ranch. Now Roper and Lila were going to need another plan.

The jangling phone broke into his thoughts. He snatched it up, his pulse breaking into a gallop. The caller was Nick.

“Good morning, Sam. I’ve got some news for you,” he said. “We found Madeleine Culhane’s phone and bank records. You seem to be on the right track. We did find several phone calls between Mrs. Culhane and Louis Divino. And there was a withdrawal of fifty thousand dollars from her account three days before Frank’s death. What we don’t have is proof that the calls with Divino were about a hit, or that the money went to pay for that hit. But maybe you can find a way to fill in the blanks.”

“Text me the photocopies. I’ll figure it out.”

“If you make an arrest, will you need backup?”

“Having another agent show up would just set off alarms. If my plan works, I shouldn’t need backup. But I’ll be wearing my Glock. The only thing I need from you is the authority to make a promise.” He told Nick what he wanted.

“That’s fine,” Nick said. “I should be able to arrange it. I don’t need to tell you to be careful.”

“Don’t worry. I know better than to take anything for granted, especially when a woman’s involved.”

“That’s a lesson we’ve all had to learn.” Nick chuckled. “Fine. I’ll get those copies to you in the next few minutes. Text or email?”

“Can you do both?”

“No problem. Keep me posted.”

The photocopied records arrived as promised a few minutes later. Sam studied the pages on his computer. There had been several calls between Madeleine and Louis Divino in the days preceding Frank’s death. But there was no way to prove what the calls were about. The pair could be business partners, even lovers. But it was just as likely they were arranging a hit, especially given the withdrawal of $50,000 from Madeleine’s bank account.