Forged (Gail McCarthy Mystery) Read Online Free PDF Page A

local horse community. So I heard plenty of rumors about Dominic over the years. However, I am not going to name off all the people who might have had a grudge against Dominic as a list of potential killers. There's too many, for one thing. And I'd certainly forget about some candidates and remember other rumors that are entirely false. So I'm not going to pass on any gossip. If you come up with some evidence linking a person to this crime, if it is a crime, and ask me about that person specifically, I'll do my best to tell you what I know. Now," I said formally, "I think it's time for you to go."
    I met his stare. Detective Johnson's eyes were dark brown, and plainly angry. I was aware of Blue's quiet, observing gaze from his place in the comer.
    "I may need to question you further." Detective Johnson rose from the table as he spoke.
    I said nothing. After a minute, the detective turned without a word and walked out the door.
    "I can see why you don't like him," Blue said.
    "What was I supposed to tell him," I demanded. "That the current rumor is that Sam Lawrence threatened to kill Dominic over Tracy?"
    "No, I see what you mean," Blue said. "Who's Sam Lawrence?"
    "A horse trainer. Has a place up on Summit Road. Mostly breaks and trains backyard horses. Sam's a redhead, like you. Has a temper, unlike you. And Tracy is young, blond, and cute. You do see what I mean?"
    "Yeah."
    "And, of course, I have no idea if it's true. Horse people love to gossip. Tracy might not have had anything to do with Dominic. Who knows?"
    "I see what you mean," Blue said again. "Kind of rough to sic the detective on them."
    "That's what I thought."
    "So what now?" Blue asked.
    "How about we forget all this and take the horses for a ride on the beach?"
    "I've got an even better idea. It's supposed to be warm and sunny all weekend. How about we take a mini-pack trip? Just an overnighter. I know a great place we could go. It's right on the beach," Blue suggested.
    "How will we feed the horses?"
    "Just leave it to me. Give me a couple of hours to get everything ready. All you have to do is get in the truck when it's time to go."
    "What about Gunner's missing shoe?"
    "It's a short ride and all on soft ground. We'll put an EZ Boot on him."
    "All right," I said. "I'll clean up the house, weed the veggie garden, make us a lunch, and be ready to leave around one."
    "You've got a deal," Blue said.

FIVE
    I climbed into the truck at one-fifteen. As promised, Blue had organized everything; dogs, horses, and gear were all loaded in the truck and trailer when I walked down to the barnyard carrying saddlebags packed with a lunch on one side and a jacket and clean underwear and socks on the other. It was a relief to turn my back on the crime scene tape and drive away.
    "What are we going to eat for dinner?" I asked Blue.
    "Don't worry, I took care of it."
    "And breakfast?"
    "Took care of that, too."
    "Great," I said, and concentrated on watching the landscape slip by outside the windows.
    Rolling hills were vivid with the sharp chartreuse green of spring grass, splashed with yellow-orange California poppies and pools of deep blue wild lupine. Even the live oaks, so stately and somber, were warmed with the gold and rose tints of their buds and new leaves. Life burst from every twig.
    The truck topped a rise and I could see the blue curve of the Monterey Bay ahead of us, looking impossibly clear and dreamlike on this sunny April day. Blue followed Highway 1 down the coastline, giving us glimpses of scrub-covered dunes, sandy beaches, and twisted cypress trees. When he turned onto a familiar side road, I looked at him accusingly.
    "You're taking us out to your work?"
    Blue pulled the rig into the driveway of Brewer's Rose Farm without a blink. "We're starting here, yes." He drove through the maze of warehouses and greenhouses and parked the truck and trailer out back, next to a new greenhouse range.
    "This is where you used to live, isn't it?" I asked.
    "That's right.