by Sonia Parin
“A good Samaritan.”
“And how exactly did he decide on Kinsley? Did he pull her name out of a hat?”
He turned into the narrow dirt road leading to Kinsley’s house and slowed down. “How did you ever find this place?”
“I figured she had to live close to town or at least within a reasonable driving distance. If she’d lived any further, it would have been closer to go to the next town for coffee.” And she’d been prepared to scour the countryside looking for her. Abby shrugged. “Also, all roads lead somewhere, and let’s not forget Joyce’s extra incentive.”
He parked the car near the fountain and they walked toward the stables.
“I’m glad you’re here.” Abby didn’t think she would have had the courage to return to the house alone. She couldn’t imagine living out here by herself. Even with Doyle’s company, she’d still feel isolated.
They strode toward the stables and, removing the crime scene tape, he opened the side door.
A person’s life had ended here, Abby thought. Had he been caught off guard? He must have been. She’d seen his body slumped over the colorful merry-go-round horse. What had he been doing there? “Wow, the floor is covered with years of dust. I didn’t notice it the first time I came in. The house must have been closed up for years.” There were footprints everywhere. The area near the carousel had almost been wiped clean from all the foot traffic. Abby assumed that had been Sam’s doing.
Joshua pointed to the ground. “See those track marks. We think he was killed by the door and dragged toward the carousel. The killer came in and went out the main entrance but then he made sure to disguise the footprints.”
“If he took the time to position the body, he must have known there wasn’t anyone else around to hear the gunshot,” Abby mused. “Are you looking for anything in particular?”
“I’m hoping to notice something you missed, but what are the chances of that happening?”
She pointed at the partly covered sign she’d seen when she’d peeked through the window. Taking a closer look, she uncovered other signs. “Looks like circus paraphernalia.” The carousel had been positioned in the middle of the stables. In the corner, she found what looked like a ticket booth. “From what I understand, Warren Kinsley wasn’t able to sell the circus as a going concern. While he appears to have kept some things, I doubt he kept everything.”
“Where did that information come from?”
“Faith did some research online.”
“You should both join the police force.”
Abby grinned. “Or charge you a consulting fee.” Circling the carousel, she strode toward the back of the stables and looked inside one of the stalls. “There are large chests in here.” Abby rubbed her hands together. “Treasure hunt?”
Easing one of the chests open, they found a collection of clown costumes.
Abby held one up. “You’d think the previous owner would have kept these.”
“Maybe Warren Kinsley was a clown,” Joshua suggested.
Another chest yielded a collection of posters. “These might actually be worth something to collectors. Kinsley said she’d been looking for something to sell. I guess she needs to think outside the box.”
After going through all the chests, they moved onto the next stall. Abby strode in only to be pulled back.
“Footsteps. They look recent. Even without checking the shoe treads I can confirm none of the police officers ventured into the stalls.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“I had one officer posted outside the stables and another inside next to the door,” he said as he took some photos of the footprints.
“I’m guessing it’s a man,” Abby said.
“Or a large woman,” Joshua offered.
“It might have been Sam. Also, Kinsley said she’d been taking a look around.” The contents of one chest had been scattered. “Do you think someone had been in the process of looking through them when Sam came in?”
Joshua searched through the chest but didn’t find anything of interest. “I wouldn’t dismiss the idea.”
“So, what do you think they might have been looking for?” Even as Abby asked the question, her mind toyed around with a few possibilities, her voice hitching with excitement as she came up with a new idea. “A stash of cash. Stolen jewelry. A circus performer’s secret diary containing incriminating evidence or a treasure map.”
“If someone had been after something, why would they wait two years to look for it?” Joshua asked.
“Maybe because they only now found out about the house or they just realized Kinsley thinks she inherited the house and nothing else. Maybe they know there’s more and they think she hasn’t found it.” Abby clicked her fingers. “I bet that’s it. Yes, the more I think about it, the more I like it. It’s been two years since she inherited. If she’d found something of value, she would have used the money to fix the place up, but she hasn’t.” Abby drew her cell phone out. “Do you mind if I take some photos?”
“Go for it.”
As she strode around taking pictures, Abby wondered why Warren had included the caveat. “I feel for Kinsley. She can’t get rid of the house and it’s almost uninhabitable. I have no idea what I’d do with the place.”
“She could turn it into a hotel or a bed and breakfast,” Joshua suggested. “Few people can afford to maintain large houses.”
“If she wanted to turn this place into a commercial venture, she’d need an influx of money. And, I still like my idea about the hidden treasure.” But who would know about it? She looked at Joshua. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but she doesn’t trust the police.”
“That came right out of nowhere.”
“Yeah, my thoughts are still fully caffeinated. Anyway, I noticed she kept ignoring the police officer and you said she wouldn’t open up to you. Also, well… she actually told me.”
He smiled. “I’ll try not to lose any sleep over it.”
Abby wondered what had prompted Kinsley to make the admission. She hadn’t been able to explain her attitude toward the police. “It actually makes me think of something, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.” She looked around. “Bear with me for a moment, I’m going to think out loud. Circus. Circus acts. What sort of people are attracted to the circus? I mean, to work in.”
“Obviously, someone with a particular set of skills, like acrobats and magicians.”
There would also be workers in charge of setting up the circus, Abby thought. But what type of person would give up the comforts of home and hearth to go on the road? “Now I’m thinking about drifters. People living on the fringe. Someone with no fixed address.”
Joshua turned to her. “The type who don’t trust the police.”
Abby gave him a lifted eyebrow look. “Maybe Kinsley’s lack of trust in the police runs in her blood. Until recently, she didn’t have a fixed address.” Abby wiped her hands against her jeans. “Hypothetically, if someone had been looking for something, wouldn’t they come back?”
He murmured something under his breath. Raking his fingers through his hair, he strode out of the stall and stood in front of the carousel. “At least Kinsley is out of the house. This isn’t the city. We don’t always have the manpower to spare. Otherwise, I’d have someone posted in the house.”
“Do you think she might still be in danger?”
“Hard to say since we don’t have any real evidence of someone wanting to come after her.” He held up a hand. “Don’t suggest setting yourself up as bait.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” She turned and looked at the horse. A part of her wanted to jump on it but then she remembered the body had been found slumped on it. “The killer went to a lot of trouble to lift the body onto the horse.”
“You’re about to say it has to be a man.”
Abby raised her eyebrows. “Would you like me to try lifting you? I would bet anything I’d drop you several times even before I managed to move you an inch.”
“Okay. I’ll take your word for it.”
“You’re probably looking for a tall man with upper body strength and a great deal of determination.”
Joshua smiled. “The first two could be easily verified, but how does one measure determination?”
Abby laughed. “I see your point.” She cleared her throat and, employing her deepest voice, she said. “What proof does the police have, your honor? Well, the man displayed gritty determination, a characteristic prevalent within the criminal community.” Abby’s phone beeped. “It’s a message from Faith. She says she found a site online selling restored carousels.” Abby looked up. “You don’t suppose someone would try to steal it.”
Joshua got on the phone and put in a request for a team to do a thorough search of the chests all the while muttering under his breath about lack of police resources and funding.
“Imagine if they find a costume splattered with blood,” Abby mused. “You could have a cold case here.”
“As much as I have come to appreciate your input, the idea of that happening just sent shivers down my spine. Think about it. We’d have to map out all the towns the circus traveled to before it shut down. Then we’d have to cross reference the dates with possible missing persons. It could turn into a nationwide investigation.”
A crime had been committed and her mind kept scratching at the idea of the circus being connected.
“I’d like to know why Warren Kinsley didn’t leave any money,” Abby murmured. “He must have had some.” Striding up to the carousel, she tapped her foot against the horse. “Hey, speaking of buried treasure…”
“We were?”
“I mentioned it earlier. Some people keep their money under the mattress. What if Warren stashed his money in the carousel? Or maybe he spent all his money buying it. For all we know, we could be looking at the Holy Grail of carousels.” She played around with the idea and then shook her head. “No, it doesn’t quite sync in. Kinsley came into the inheritance a couple of years ago. If anyone suspected there might be money hidden in the house or somewhere within the property, they would have tried to look for it earlier.”
She resumed taking photos of the stables, making sure she didn’t miss anything. When she finished, she slid her cell phone inside her pocket just as it rang. Checking the screen, she lifted her eyebrows. “Mom?” Had she forgotten to call her? They usually chatted at least once a week, sometimes more. “How are you?”
“How am I?” Her mom gasped. “I’ve been working myself into a state of frenzy. What’s been going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“I called the office this morning and no one answered. So, I chased down Joyce.”
“Why would you do that?” Abby didn’t remember missing a call.
“Obviously, because if I want answers I know I won’t get them from you or Faith. Tell me there hasn’t been another murder.”
Abby grumbled under her breath. “Has Joyce been making up stories again? You know what she’s like.”
“Joyce said you were trying to find the identity of a missing person. Who’s gone missing?”
Abby laughed. “Oh, she’s being her usual dramatic self. Nothing’s going on here, mom.” Joshua must have touched something. In the next instant, the carousel music came on.
“What’s that?” her mom asked.
“It’s… it’s background music.”
“Are you at a fair?” her mom demanded.
“Don’t be silly. It’s the middle of the working day.” She rushed toward the stable door, opened it and yelped. Jumping back, she swung toward Joshua and whispered, “There’s someone out there.”
Joshua drew her back and peered out the door. “Stay here,” he ordered.
“What? Here? Alone? No way. I’m coming with you.”
“Fine but stay behind me.”
Abby tried to ignore the fact he’d reached for his revolver but he hadn’t drawn it out. For some reason, she never thought of Joshua carrying a weapon.
“Abby. What’s going on?” her mom asked in a hard whisper.
“Oh… Nothing mom. How about I call you later?”
“Don’t you dare hang up. And, for heaven’s sake, stay alert. I heard you say there’s someone out there.”
Her mom’s authoritative tone took immediate effect. Some people might call her mom clingy and demanding but they’d be dead wrong. Abby considered herself lucky to have a mom who cared. She had no time for detractors. In fact, she found them to be odious little toads who found fault with absolutely everything and took pleasure in nothing.
“Abby?” her mom whispered. “Are you there? What’s happening?”
“Nothing yet.”
Abby shadowed Joshua’s steps, her attention swinging from side to side. Hearing footsteps hurrying away, she tapped Joshua on the shoulder and pointed toward the road leading out of the estate. “There.”
He broke into a run, leaving her to decide if she should follow or not. Her reasoning mind told her she should stay and wait for Joshua to return. After all, she’d heard the footsteps receding into the distance. The perpetrator had a head start and she didn’t think he’d stick to the road leading out of the estate. In fact, by now, he’d probably scrambled his way through the forest…
“You have a lot of explaining to do, Abby Maguire,” her mom whispered.
Seeing Joshua disappearing down the road, she held her breath. Should she follow? Police usually had back-up. Joshua had set off in pursuit of a possible hostile intruder by himself.
What if something happened to him?
“He’s a trained police officer,” her mom whispered. “I know what you’re thinking, Abby. Don’t do it. And, for heaven’s sake, walk back to the stables. You’ve left yourself fully exposed.”
“I’m not going inside.”
“Fine. At least stand with your back to a wall,” her mom suggested. “That way, no one can sneak up on you from behind.”
Abby gripped the cell phone and held it against her chest.
“Abby, he’s a trained policeman,” her mom insisted.
“I know.” But he should have been back by now. The fact he hadn’t returned meant he’d caught sight of the perpetrator and was continuing his chase. Abby braced for the worst but couldn’t bring herself to imagine what that might be.
“I’m sure the person you saw had quite a head start,” her mom said.
“Are you trying to soothe me?”
“I’m your mom. What else am I supposed to do? You’re standing there facing possible danger. What happens if someone rushes toward you?”
“Okay. You’ve changed tactics. Now you’re trying to scare me.” She looked around her for something she could use as a weapon. “I’ll… I’ll grab a handful of gravel. If anyone dares to approach me, I’ll throw it at them. I’ll make sure to aim for the eyes so I can temporarily blind them and make my getaway.”
“Did you ever do anything about the self-defense classes I suggested you take?”
Of course, she hadn’t. She lived in a safe town where she knew everyone and everyone knew her.
“Now you’re thinking you have no reason to ever bother,” her mom continued. “What about the two murders that took place there?”
She thought she heard someone shouting but couldn’t quite tell if it had been Joshua. “You should come out for a visit, mom. Then you’ll be able to see for yourself what I mean when I say Eden is safe.”
“As a matter of fact, I have been doing some reading. Did you know Australia has the deadliest critters in the world, both on land and water?”
“That’s an exaggeration.”
“Red-back spiders, we know them as black widows. Funnel web spiders. Snakes. Scorpions. Too many varieties of sea creatures to count.”
“Mom. I know about all those. I live on dry land and I’m nowhere near the beach.”
“What about the spiders?” her mom asked in a taunting tone.
Taking a step away from the wall, Abby
looked over her shoulder. “Are you trying to distract me?”
“No. Why would I do that? I want you to remain vigilant.”
Abby rolled her eyes. “My back is plastered to the wall.” Seeing Joshua emerge from between a copse of trees, she sighed with relief. He strode toward her, his revolver safe in its holster.
“He got away,” Joshua said.
“Are you sure it was a man?”
He nodded.
“How can you be sure?”
“He ran like a man.”
“You can’t argue with that, Abby. Women have a certain way of running,” her mom said.
Abby snorted. “You’re agreeing with his stereotyping?”
Joshua frowned. “Do you have reason to doubt me?”
She couldn’t be sure but there had been something about the person she’d seen when she’d opened the stable door.
“Come on. We’ve seen enough. Let’s head back to town.”
Chapter Seven
ABBY SPENT THE DRIVE BACK to town assuring her mom nothing had happened and making up a story about vandals. She didn’t for a moment believe her mom would be gullible enough to swallow a word she’d said, but she knew her mom understood this had been Abby’s way of dealing with the difficulties of living so far away. Yes, she would be okay. After all, she had a police officer with her.
“Do you always lie to your mom?” Joshua asked after she disconnected the call.
Abby gave him a small smile. “Detective.”
“Yes?” he asked, his tone cautious.
“Are we in immediate danger?” Abby asked. “Do you have a firm lead?”
He tapped his finger on the steering wheel. “Not exactly.”
“There you go.”
He laughed. “That’s your argument?”
“Yes, and you can drop me off at the newspaper.”
“I thought you were having the place fumigated.”
