Chapter Three

"I wasn't there," said Philip Chase as he hosed down the stables. He was twenty-seven, tall, lanky, and had close-cropped brown hair.

"Where were you that night?" Barbara inquired.

"Here."

"Where's 'here'? "

"At the house," said Tom. "In bed … ALONE," he said, emphasis on the word "alone". "Anyway … what's it to ya' ?"

I do SO hate repeating myself, Barbara thought. "Mr. Bruce Wayne…"

Philip shut off the hose and turned towards Barbara, jaw agape. "The billionaire?" exclaimed Philip. "THE Bruce Wayne?"

"Yes, that is correct," Barbara replied calmly. "He owned an interest in Midnight Dancer."

"I'm telling you, I wasn't there."

"I see," said Barbara. "Thank you for your time."

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Lucille "Lucy" Babington stood in the white-tiled equestrian bathing area, currycombing a gray stallion. She was twenty-five, slightly built, and stood five-feet-two-inches tall. She had brown eyes and long brown hair tied up in a ponytail.

"Where were you that night?" Barbara inquired.

Lucy stopped combing and turned towards Barbara. "You wanna know the truth?"

"Yes … please."

Lucy looked around, taking care to see that no one was watching. "I was with Philip," she said, her voice a conspiratorial whisper.

"Philip Chase?"

"Yes," she said.

"Where were you?"

Lucy blushed. "Do I HAVE to?" she said. "It's kind of … embarrassing."

"I need to know where you two were … and what you were doing … the night of the … beating," said Barbara. "Please."

Lucy sighed. "We made love," she said.

"Where?"

"In the tool shed," she said, pointing to a spot over Barbara's shoulder. "Over yonder."

"What happened that night?"

"He came by … around eleven," she said. "Tapped on my bedroom window." Lucy paused. "I climbed out, went with him to the tool shed … and we had sex."

"What happened?"

"You know, this is really rather personal…" Lucy said angrily.

"Did you fall asleep at all?"

"Yes," said Lucy softly. "When I woke up, he was gone."

"Do you know what time you woke up?"

Lucy shook her head. "Early morning, probably," she said. "It was still dark out." Lucy paused. "I put on my clothes and went back to the house."

"How did he get here?" Barbara inquired. "Did he have a car?"

"Truck," she said. "It was gone when I went back to the house."

"Is Turbo a … GUARD dog?"

"Oh, yes," said Lucy. "Wouldn't dream of having all these horses without one." Lucy paused. "Isn't it obvious?"

"Just making sure," said Barbara. "Did Turbo … bark … at all … that night?"

Lucy shook her head. "No," she said. "I didn't hear him."

"I see," said Barbara. "Thank you for your time."