CHAPTER 4

Later that evening at the ranch, Matt and CJ were having dinner with Carol and Hoyt. CJ had decided on spaghetti and used a recipe that she had gotten from Mama Rosa Novelli herself. Mama Novelli was the mother of their good friend Vince, who had at one time held the job that was now Michael Hoyt's. The Novellis were living the good life in Hawaii these days running their popular restaurant.

Matt was sipping on a beer as the conversation turned to the case that they were working. When Michael and Matt told Carol about it, she had to think a minute before she remembered the two women. "I believe I've only seen them twice. Guess it sounds bad that I don't remember but we have a lot of patients there. Sometimes the face will look familiar but the name might not ring a bell. But now that I think back on it, these two stick out in my mind because of their occupations. Neither one was shy about telling me what they did for a living." She took a sip of wine. "Of course, I told them that they needed to find other employment…but you know how that goes."

"Do you know if they knew each other?" Matt was peeling the label off of the bottle and leaning back in his chair.

"Not that I know of, but I wouldn't be a very good judge of that. I only see folks once they make it back to the exam room, not in the waiting room."

"Would you tell us if they had any next of kin listed on their records? We haven't been able to find any so far for either of them." Michael was tired of dealing with this case.

"I don't know off hand, but I can look in the records tomorrow morning." She smiled over at the lieutenant.

"That would be a big help. Just call CJ and let her know if you would. We'll be in contact with each other on it." Hoyt looked over at CJ and smiled. "CJ that was the best spaghetti I've had in a long time – but if you tell my wife I said that I'll deny it." Everyone at the table cracked up. "Guess I better get home. Thanks for the dinner." He got up and gave CJ a kiss on the cheek and Matt got up and walked with him to his car.

"Well, I was hoping to get more out of that, but maybe we'll at least get the names of the next of kin." Houston looked down toward the barn where Cricket was raising a fuss wanting attention from him.

"Is there something wrong with that horse?" Hoyt looked in that direction.

"No, not other than the fact that she's spoiled. 'Course I don't have any idea how she got that way." Matt rolled his eyes.

Hoyt listened again. "Are you sure?"

Matt whistled and in seconds the sound of beating hooves could be heard. Hoyt looked like he was about to dive for cover as Cricket pranced up to her owner. "Cricket, give Hoyt a hug." The horse walked over to the detective and put her head over his shoulder. He started laughing. "Now give him a kiss."

"No, no that won't be…" Cricket did as she was told and licked the man on the cheek. "Necessary." He looked at Houston in disbelief. "You actually taught your horse how to do that?"

Matt shrugged his shoulders. "Not really, she just kind of picked up on it."

Hoyt shook his head. "Well, guess I'll see you tomorrow." As he got into his car he started laughing again. "Good night, Cricket." The horse bobbed her head in his direction causing him to laugh even harder.

Houston, followed by Cricket, walked back around to where CJ and Carol were still sitting at the table talking. "Guess I'll go on and take this wayward child back where she belongs and check on everybody."

"Okay, don't get lost down there." CJ watched as he nimbly hopped onto the horse's back and rode down to the barn.

"How does he make that look so easy?" Carol was amazed. "And he's not even using reins or a saddle."

"That's how he rides her half the time." CJ just smiled as she watched the man she that loved and his horse who loved him as well.

Later on after Carol had headed home, Matt and CJ were laying in a lounge chair out by the pool looking up at the stars. Matt shifted around until he had his right arm under CJ's head and with the left he brushed back her hair. He softly kissed her and then took her hand and kissed it. "I love you." He kissed her again. "Love you, too." She pulled him closer, kissed him, and whispered in his ear, "Let's go inside." He smiled and nodded, helped her to her feet and they walked into the house hand in hand.