07

"Doc, how's he doing?" Houston had been escorted into the office of Dr. Randall Forsythe at Memorial Hospital.

"Mr. Travis has been calm for the most part. He was given a sedative last night and didn't wake up until almost ten." The psychiatrist sat down behind his desk and removed his glasses and began cleaning them with a cloth.

"For the most part?"

"Yes. He got slightly agitated when he realized that his door was locked. But as soon as one of the nurses came to talk to him he calmed down."

"I'd say that's a natural reaction."

"It is. Actually he calmed down quicker than most people."

"Do you think he's up to answering a few questions?"

"I think so. He was asking the nurse about you when she entered his room. Let's go see if he wants to talk to you."

They went down the hallway and through a set of locked doors coming to a room on the left-hand side of the corridor. Forsythe knocked and then unlocked the door. "Mr. Travis, may we come in?"

"Yeah." The man answered immediately and as soon as he saw Houston seemed to perk up considerably. "I was wondering if you would show up."

"I told you that I would need to ask some questions. You feel like talking?"

"If it will get the SOB that killed Marlena." He eyed Forsythe suspiciously. "Is this the doc you told me about?"

"No. Dr. Forsythe is on staff here."

The doctor extended his hand and shook with Travis. "Pleasure to meet you."

The answer was a quick nod. "So what do we do to catch this guy?" He immediately turned his attention back to Matt.

"I need you to tell me what you know about your brother-in-law Chance." Matt took a seat in a chair next to a window that looked out over the side street.

"Nothing good. You know he killed his parents?"

"I heard that."

"Dumbass got drunk and was trying to leave. They tried to stop him and he ran right over the both of them and crashed into the side of the house. Not that I got along with them but that's an awful way for anybody to go out."

Forsythe listened intently.

"How did he and Marlena get along?"

"I don't know. I guess like a brother and sister. They fought sometimes and sometimes they were friendly."

"Did they talk a lot?"

"Texted mostly. There were a few phone calls and letters when he was locked up. She would put money on his books every once in a while. Send him packages some."

"So they got on fairly good. She didn't get pissed about him killing their parents?"

"Neither one of 'em was really fond of their parents. Those folks didn't seem happy unless they were fighting with one kid or the other. Or hounding me."

Matt nodded and thought some more. "When Sanderson was questioning y'all - did he ever talk to Marlena alone?"

"Yeah, he did. Right before I almost tossed him off the balcony of the hotel. Marlena told me to go inside, that she would deal with him. So I went in and was going to call the cops on him. About the time I picked up the phone they started yelling at each other and that's when I went out and shoved him. Told him to get the hell away from us or go over the railing."

"Did you ever hear anything about the robbery that Chance was involved in?"

"Not really. He wouldn't say much about it. Said his lawyer told him to keep his mouth shut or he might get more time."

Matt thought it over for a minute. "Do you think he talked to Marlena about it? And about what happened with the money?"

"Don't know. I was usually out when they talked on the phone. Or she would go into another room." He seemed to be getting a little irritated with the line of questioning. "What has this got to do with what happened?"

"Bud, I'm not positive that it does. There are a few things pointing in that direction, though. It's going to take some more digging." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the photos of Chance Anadarko's robbery crew. "Do you recognize any of these guys?"

Chris took the pictures and slowly looked them over. "This guy here is the one that they thought stabbed Chance." He held up the picture of Moscovitz. Next was Jackson's picture. "I don't know this guy from Adam. But this guy…" He paused on Weatherford's photo. "He kinda looks familiar. Can't place him, though."

"Okay." Matt took back the other two pictures. "You hang onto that and see if it will come to you." He saw a disappointed look on the man's face. "Did she have a computer?"

"Yeah. A laptop. It's in the bedroom."

"Alright. I'm going to take a look at it. Now I need to ask you about the horses: do any of them need anything special?"

"No. Their feeding instructions are on the board in the barn. I worked with the owners on that. Hard to believe some of the stuff folks think about how to take care of a horse." Travis stopped for a minute. "But Maple…" He looked ready to tear up. "Maple could use a little extra attention. He likes everybody but he really seems to prefer girls."

"Well, my two ranch hands are definitely not girls." He gave a chuckle. "I'll be meeting up with them there in a little bit. They're real good with horses and I guarantee you they will take good care of them."

"I've got to figure out what to do with Maple. I think I may know somebody that will buy Max and Bullet. But Maple needs...he needs somebody special to take him." There was a long pause during which he seemed to be trying to gather strength. "Since Marlena and I are talking about shutting it down…" It seemed to hit him suddenly that she really was gone and out of the crushed face several tears escaped to be quickly wiped away. He cleared his throat and started again. "After what happened yesterday I wouldn't be surprised if the owners aren't already trying to take them all out of there."

Houston thought about it. "Well, what do you want to do about that?"

"What can I do? If they want to take them it's their right."

"Do you have some kind of records of what tack belongs to each one?"

"Each one has a locker to store it and they have the key. But there's a list in my office in the barn of who owns which horse and pictures of each one."

"Do they owe you stable fees?"

There was a big sigh. "I'm not going to worry about it. Folks are going to be in a bind trying to find another place to board them. I don't think it would be fair to ask for anything."

"Well…" Houston stood. "If folks do clear them out of there and you're still not around...I can take Maple and your other two to my place and keep them there for you."

Chris looked up with the first hopeful look that he had shown all day. "Would you? He likes being with a good herd."

"I can sure do it. Got seven horses at my place. Three more won't make a dent." He held out his hand to Travis and the two shook. "I'll try to keep you in the loop about what's going on. Are you still going to keep your promise?"

Looking first at the floor and then Houston, Travis finally nodded. "Yeah. Daddy always said a man's word is his bond."

As he put on his gun belt back at the truck and started the engine, Matt waited for Don MacLemore to pick up.

"Houston? What's up?" The Fire Marshal sat down heavily behind his desk.

"I don't have any actual proof yet, but it looks like Sanderson was crooked."

"Oh, boy." Don listened as the information was passed along. "Oh, my God. I can't...damn." He rubbed a hand across his face. "So now what?"

"Right now I'm on the way to the Travis place to look through Marlena's computer and nose around some more." He hesitated for a minute. "And you might want to know that I'm now working for Strauss, too."

MacLemore let out a big laugh. "I'm not surprised. You impressed the hell out of him last night. He told me he was going to ask a few folks about you. Figured he would probably take you on. Fine by me. He and I get along good and this makes work between the departments on arson cases a little easier. Especially like now."

"I'll holler at you when I get something else."

"Please do. Talk to you later."

When Matt pulled up the driveway he saw that Bo and Lamar were waiting for him outside the locked gates and there was also an angry looking couple with a horse trailer giving them an earful. When he exited the truck he put on the LASD ball cap that Strauss had given him that morning, clipped the new badge onto his belt, and walked up to open the gates with the keys that he had gotten from Chris' possessions with his permission. "Mornin'."

"We want in there now to get our Lulu!" The woman was fairly screeching at him. "I called the Sheriff's Department and they said they were sending someone out."

"Yes, ma'am." He tapped the badge on his waist and Bo and Lamar's eyes almost bugged out, but neither said a word. "If y'all will bear with me a few minutes so I can find Mr. Travis' records I'll be happy to let you load her up." He unlocked the gate and all three vehicles pulled through. After locating the key to the office, he went in to find that Travis had things well organized and finding the file on Lulu's owners - the Tresslers - was easy. He had them sign a receipt and then went outside with them. The horse was out grazing in a pasture behind the barn and didn't seem at all interested in coming when her owners called. Mrs. Tressler attempted to catch her but the horse took off in the opposite direction. Mr. Tressler looked sheepish. "Sorry about her…" He nodded in the woman's direction as she made yet another attempt to catch the horse who trotted away again. "She freaked out when she found out what happened up here yesterday."

Not really answering, Matt gave a slight nod. "Does she always have that much trouble with Lulu?"

"Yep. That horse hates her." It was said matter-of-factly and Houston got the impression that maybe Lulu wasn't the only one who disliked her.

"Well…" Matt looked around and noticed one horse standing off by himself. "Maple?" The horse picked up his head and his ears flicked forward. "C'mere, boy." Eagerly the horse walked to him and gladly accepted a jaw scratch from the stranger. "Bo, hand me that rope over there, will ya?"

"Sure." The older cowboy shared a worried look with Lamar and handed it over to his boss.

"Maple, we don't know each other but I could sure use your help. Think you can help us catch Lulu?" He had eased through the pasture gate as Mrs. Tressler was screaming at the top of her lungs at the horse who simply turned her back and trotted away yet again. "Can you give me a ride out there, boy?" Stroking the horse's jaw again, he ran his hand down his back before placing his left hand on the horses neck and quickly jumping on. Maple turned to look at him but didn't seem to mind. "C'mon. Let's go get Lulu." Matt urged the horse in the direction of the mare and the Palomino calmly started that way. "Ma'am, if you'll go back to the gate I think we can get her for you." Mrs. Tressler looked aggravated but several minutes of chasing the horse had worn her down somewhat and she went back toward her husband.

"How ya doin', Lulu?" He talked quietly to the white horse who nickered. "Time to load up, darlin'. C'mon." Gently, he slipped the rope around her neck and began leading her back to where Mr. Tressler had dropped the gate on the trailer and was waiting with a smirk on his face. Matt slid down from Maple's back and loaded the horse up onto the trailer with no problem at all. In a couple of minutes the Tresslers were going down the driveway much to the relief of the three men left behind. "Poor horse." Houston shook his head and looked at Lamar sideways, a crooked grin coming across his face. "That woman kinda reminds me of one of your ex-wives, bud. Can't figure out which one, though." The older man swatted at him and they entered the barn where Matt explained that the feeding instructions for the horses were on the board before turning back toward the house.

"Kinda forgot somethin' didn't ya?" Lamar stepped outside.

"Oh?"
"The badge? Where in tarnation did that come from?"

"Sheriff Strauss hired me this morning."

"Dang." Bo shook his head and grinned. "Old Whitaker sure will love that." The answer was a big smile and nod as the younger man went toward the house.

Houston made his way back over to the front of the house, thinking that more folks were likely to want to get their horses when no one was around. As he looked over the area where Marlena's body had lain the night before he called CJ at the office. "How ya doin', Lil Mama?"

"Fine. What's going on?"

"Well, one of the boarders has picked up her horse but I've been trying to figure out what to do when we aren't here. Thought maybe my favorite lawyer might be able to do some thinkin' on the matter."

"Well…" She leaned back on the couch. "I suppose I could get Mr. Travis to sign as a client and empower me or another designated party to handle that for him. I'm sure Bo and Lamar don't want to stay there all the time."

"Nope. I'll call Dr. Forsythe and see if he thinks it's okay and have him call you to get the ball rolling. Thanks, Babe."

"You're welcome. Love you."
"Love you, too. 'Bye." He disconnected the call, then immediately dialed the number on the card that Forsythe had given him. After a short discussion he gave the doctor CJ's number and went up onto the front porch and found the correct key then put on a pair of nitrile gloves. The inside of the home was cool and dark. As he made his way inside he saw a bottle of bourbon on the table next to the phone. Must be what he was drinking last night. According to what Strauss had told him that morning a pistol, rifle, and shotgun had been removed the previous night. Matt looked around and didn't see any signs of a forced entry or any altercation that might have taken place in the house. Everything seemed ordinary and he made his way back to the bedroom. After looking around, he found the laptop that Chris Travis had told him about in the drawer of the bedside table. He took it back into the kitchen and turned it on, going first to Marlena's emails. He found a few from Chance Anadarko back in 2016 right around New Year's and noticed that most of them gave the time that he would be able to call her. Then after the robbery there were messages from someone using the name of John Smith. "Well, that's just original." He did some checking into the IP address and found it to be from an account in Washington - the Walla Walla area specifically. "Don't think maximum security prisoners get that much computer time." The only thing he could figure was that it was possibly a guard. He began reading the message:

Remember the trips we took as kids? You should go there and look in the stable.

"Wonder if Travis will know about that?"

From the front door he heard the voice of Lamar. "Houston, we've got another owner here wanting to pick up."

"Be right there." He closed up the computer and took it out to the truck. As he went through the process of helping the horse owner collect his property, his mind kept going back to the email. It sounded to him like maybe Chance had told his sister where the money was. And maybe that's why he got shanked.