After breakfast, which no one really felt like eating, Jonathan and Jennifer headed into town to talk with Dr. Walsh. Riley begged to go but they wanted to shield her from as much as possible. She stayed behind with Stephen who promised to go riding with her and as Jonathan and Jennifer left he and Riley were headed to the stables to saddle up Trinity and JJ, the race horse Jonathan and Jennifer had bought. After winning a few races they decided to retire her and Stephen agreed to keep her there.
Jennifer was staring out the window then glanced over at her husband, "Penny for your thoughts."
"They aren't worth that much right now, Sweetheart." He admitted, "We should know more after talking to Dr. Walsh. It's just the why is so puzzling."
They pulled into the parking lot at Dr. Walsh's office and headed in. They were escorted back to his office after a few minutes and he joined them.
"Jonathan, Jennifer, sorry for the wait but I had an emergency of sorts." He explained
They shook hands, "Oh, I hope everything is alright." Jennifer said
"Fine, fine." He assured them taking a seat at his desk, "Well, I don't know what else to tell you. There were significant amounts of arsenic found in Sugarfoot but there's no way to tell how it got there."
Jonathan thought for a moment, "So, it could have been in food or water or injected?"
He nodded, "There is a liquid form but we can't tell that from blood tests and probably not from the autopsy."
"When will that be done?" Jennifer asked
"Actually, I am doing it this afternoon. I'm sorry but I have a full morning but I will do all I can."
Jonathan and Jennifer stood, "Well, we appreciate it, Dr." Jonathan said, "You'll call as soon as you have all the results?"
"Absolutely." He confirmed just as the phone rang, "Excuse me. Dr. Walsh." He said picking up the phone and after a few minutes the color drained from his face, "I'll be right there...no they're right here."
Jonathan and Jennifer looked to him with concern
He hung up the phone, "Jennifer, that was your father. Trinity collapsed after he and Riley went riding."
"Oh God..." She managed just above a whisper
"I'll follow you out." He said grabbing his bag from behind his desk
/
When they returned to Stephen's they found him, Riley and Russell at the stables. He was doing his best to console a hysterical Riley but as soon as she saw Jennifer she ran straight to her.
"Mom!" She cried as Jennifer wrapped her arms around her
"Shhh...it's alright." She told her
Dr. Walsh was tending to Trinity but it was too late, "I'm sorry."
"No!" Riley cried, "Trinity..."
Jennifer guided her out of the stable and headed back to house.
"Damn it!" Stephen snapped, "I want to know what the bloody hell is going on here."
"We'll take her in for an autopsy and blood work, same as Sugarfoot."
"I think it's high time we call the police." Stephen said
Jonathan agreed and he and Stephen left Dr. Walsh and Russell to their sad task. When they got back to the house Jennifer and Riley were in the study. She was still consoling Riley.
"Why is this happening, Mom?"
Jennifer stroked her long ebony hair, "I don't know, sweetie. But I'm sure we'll figure it out." She looked up to see Johnathan and Stephen enter the room
"So what do we do now?" She asked
"I'm calling the police." Stephen said walking over to the phone
"Daddy, is someone trying to hurt the horses?" Riley asked
Jonathan looked into her innocent face, hopeful eyes looking to him for answers, "We don't know yet. That's why we want the police. They'll know what to do."
"The police are sending someone out right away." Stephen said as he hung up the phone
"Darling, why don't you take Riley upstairs?" Jonathan suggested
"No!" Riley protested, "Don't treat me like a little kid."
"Sweetie, you might feel better if you rested." Jennifer offered, "This is very upsetting for all of us."
"You're just trying to get rid of me." Riley pouted
Jennifer looked at Jonathan and sighed, "Alright, alright." She wasn't in the mood to fight with her willful daughter at the moment, "Why don't we try and figure out who might be doing this."
Jonathan sat next to them on the sofa, "Stephen, do you have anyone new looking after the horses. Russell has been with you for years, I can't imagine..."
"No, I trust him implicitly." He replied sitting in the wing back chair on the other side of the room, "There is a young man, Dennis, who has been helping out a few days a week. Russell seems to trust him."
"Could this be some kind of accident?" Jennifer wondered, "Like a chemical spill?"
"Darling, it's arsenic." Jonathan reminded her
"But why would someone want to hurt the horses?" Riley asked again
"Well, they aren't race horses." Jonathan said, "Could this be some vendetta against you, Stephen?" He asked, "A warning maybe?"
"I suppose it's possible." Stephen said recalling Joseph and Olbermann and his son, Christian, "But I don't know who it would be now."
"Why would someone want to do that to Pa?" Riley asked
"We're just trying to think of everything." Jennifer said, "And we don't have much to go on."
/
"How is it working?" He asked
"It's working perfectly, Sir." He replied, "I think we have them all running scared now."
"Good." He replied
"So, what should be our next move." He asked
"I'm not sure just yet." He answered taking a drink of bourbon, "But stay close and available for when I need you again."
"Should I continue to work there part of the time, as usual." He asked
"Yes, but don't do anything else until I tell you."
"I hated seeing those horses like that." He admitted
"An unfortunate casualty." He eyed his protege
"They are bound to get suspicious and Russell has been working for him for years." He said with concern
"Just be calm and do as I tell you." He instructed, "That's all, for now." He motioned for him to leave and the young man made his exit."
/
The police arrived and Jonathan took them to the stables, amid protests from Riley to go with them but she stayed behind with Jennifer and Stephen. Down at the stables the officers cleared everyone out and took food samples and water samples to determine where the arsenic had been placed. They also scoured the stables for anything else that looked suspicious.
"Mr. Hart." Officer Jenkins approached him as he waited just outside the stables, "I think we have everything for now. We'll be in touch."
"Thank you, Officer." He replied and walked them back up to the house
/
That evening Jonathan was in bed waiting for Jennifer who was in with Riley. She was still very shaken and trying to deal with a child in these situations was a relatively new experience for them. But at least by the time their little one came along they might have a better handle on it and he had a hunch,as hard as they would try, they would still find themselves in these messes. Trouble seemed to follow them no matter what they did. But he was more determined than ever to keep them all safe. After Jennifer's miscarriage he didn't want anything to happen. He didn't think she could survive something happening to this baby. It had taken her a long time to be willing to try again. He was lost in thought when she entered the room.
"Hmm, I know that look." She said as she removed her robe and slippers, joining him in bed
He reached for her and and she cuddled next to him, her baby bump a bit of an obstacle, "I was just thinking about Riley. We've never had to explain these messes we get into to a child before. How is she?"
Jennifer sighed heavily against him, "Better but she's trying so hard to understand all this. The problem is I don't understand it any better to be able to explain it to her."
"She tries to be so grown." He observed, "But she's not had that many people looking out for her."
"Hmm." She murmured
"Are you going to tell me?" He asked
"Tell you what?" She raised up a little to look at him
"What you said to Riley." He replied, "It must have been something for her to start calling us Mom and Dad."
"Darling, I can't repeat it." She said, "But suffice it to say, I helped her see that it's okay to love people even when it hurts that you've lost someone."
He smiled, his wife was a wonder, "And you thought you couldn't do it."
"It's still scary but I feel better." She admitted, patting her belly, "I should be an old pro by the time peanut arrives."
He kissed the top of her head, "I know you will."
She was silent for a moment, "Jonathan, what is going on?" she asked changing the subject
"I don't know." he admitted, "I just don't know." He held her tighter and they lay in silence until he could her breathing slow, indicating she had fallen asleep. He kissed her again and reached over to turn out the light
TBC