Page 7 of Sinister Secrets

“No. I’m telling you that it’s your responsibility to deal with it.”

“Wouldn’t that be a conflict of interest? The body was found on my property.”

“Did you kill him?”

“No.”

“Well, there you go. Now find out who did.”

Jake’s truck roars to life behind me. It takes all my strength to stand my ground and not run after it, to try to escape. Because there’s absolutely zero chance that Kingston will let me run the investigation alone, and the idea of working with the man? Of answering to him? It sounds like the kind of nightmare you can’t wake up from.

CHAPTER 5

Sam Mule eyeballs me suspiciously as I enter his stall. His tail twitches. His ears pin. I’m mindful of his hind end, hoping the scoop of grain in my hand will be enough to keep him from choosing violence, but I can’t quite blame him if he does.

The mule is ornery at the best of times. Throw in a rude awakening, a late breakfast, and a trespasser in his personal space and you have a recipe for disaster. But that’s also why I’m here. Why I chose to feed him last. Why I just entered his domain when I could have poured his food into his bucket over the closed door.

He snorts as I approach. I hold my free hand out, letting him sniff it. Exhale with relief as his velvet muzzle, and not his teeth, touches my palm.

“Good boy,” I whisper, giving him his food.

I run my hand along his side as he eats. Can feel the rapid pace of his breathing. He’s tense. All of the animals are. They know that something is wrong, can sense it in the behavior of the humans around them.

Keeping my fingertips on him, I force myself to move slowly as I round the danger zone. Mutter a silent prayer as I make it past without being kicked. Pressing myself into the shadowy corner, I will myself invisible.

I haven’t had a moment to myself yet. My mind is racing, thoughts going in a million different directions, and I’m finding it impossible to digest the events of this morning under the sheriff’s watchful gaze. Though I suggested he return to the crime scene while I did my morning chores, he declined. Instead, he’s waiting for me to join him, which is making it impossible for me to pull myself together before the transport van from the medical examiner’s office arrives.

The sound of tires on gravel has me rushing toward the window. I spring back just in time to avoid one of Sam’s back hooves. But it’s safe to leave now. Jake’s finally returned from driving Lucy and her son home.

The mule stomps as I hold the empty scoop out for him to inspect while I try to negotiate my escape without injury. By the time I manage to, Jake’s striding into the barn. His brow furrows as he casts a suspicious glance at Sheriff Kingston, where he leans against the door of an empty stall, staring down at his phone. I catch his eye, gesture ever so slightly with my head and he follows me to the feed room.

Once inside, he loops his arms around me, pulling me to his chest. Lowers his head until his stubbled cheek rests against my temple.

“Are Lucy and Jeffery okay?” I ask, closing my eyes as I sag against him.

“As good as can be expected. He fell asleep on the drive, so I helped get him inside. Checked all the doors and windows, made sure they were locked.”

“Thank you.”

His breath tickles my ear as he asks softly, “What exactly did you find out there?”

I swallow hard before answering. “There’s a man’s body in Chomp’s pond.”

Strong arms tighten around me. “Could he have drowned?”

“No.”

“Is that why Kingston’s still here?”

“I wish.”

His body tenses against mine. I draw back until our eyes meet.

“Then why?” he asks.

I try to muster a smile. Fail. Decide to just get the bad news over with quickly and say, “He’s insisting that I work the investigation.”

“He what?”