Chapter Five

"What's this about?" said Tom. Barbara, Helena, and Dinah were gathered in the Babington's living room. Tom and Flora sat on the sofa while Lucy sat in an overstuffed chair.

"I know who bludgeoned Midnight Dancer," said Barbara.

"Dan Chase, no doubt," said Tom

"No," said Barbara. "It was not Mr. Chase."

Tom Babington did a double take. "HUH?!"

"I found it … curious … that the guard dog did not bark," Barbara continued. "The dog did not bark because the person who bludgeoned Midnight Dancer … was NOT an outsider."

"Wait a minute," said Tom. "Are you saying … that Midnight Dancer was bludgeoned by someone HERE?"

"Please … let me finish," said Barbara. "Furthermore, a Belgian Malinois is a highly energetic, highly excitable, breed of dog. It's a breed which requires … firm handling." Barbara paused. "Only someone possessing a forceful, domineering personality could have cowed that dog into silence." Barbara paused again. "The only person here fitting that description … is Tom Babington."

Flora gasped. Lucy clasped her hand over her mouth in horror. Tom leaped out of his seat. "NOW, WAIT JUST A MINUTE!" he roared, outraged. "Why in God's name would I bludgeon my own horse?!"

"I did a little research on Midnight Dancer," said Barbara. "He never won a race … never even placed in the top three." Barbara paused. "Sixth here, eighth there, tenth there." Barbara paused again. "You got stuck with a money-losing dud."

"If that was the case, I would've SOLD him … not BEAT him!"

"Who would've bought him?" Barbara retorted. "Who would've bought a known loser?" Barbara paused. "At best, you would've had to sell him at a loss … a SIGNIFICANT loss."

"This is CONJECTURE!"

"According to the police report, there was no sign of forced entry," said Barbara. "No tool marks, no hair or fiber samples on the windowsill … nothing indicative of someone coming in from outside." Barbara paused. "The person who bludgeoned Midnight Dancer had access to the stable." Barbara paused again. "Just to make things interesting, Midnight Dancer was covered under a $2-million insurance policy."

"HOW IN GOD'S NAME DID YOU KNOW THAT?!" Tom thundered. "ALL my horses are covered under that policy! You've proven nothing!"

"I have a motive," said Barbara. "You thought you could recoup your losses by filing an insurance claim. You bludgeoned the horse (beating him to the point where he had to be put down), filed an insurance claim two days later, and then -- for insurance purposes -- tried to pin the whole thing on Mr. Chase by accusing him of vandalism."

"Tom, is this true?" Flora asked her husband.

Tom grimaced and glowered at Barbara. "Most money I ever got out of that horse," Tom grumbled.

"Animal cruelty and insurance fraud are both felonies in this state," said Barbara.

Tom rose to leave. Just as he was walking towards the door, Helena stepped in front of him, blocking his path.

"What did you use, Tom?" Barbara asked rhetorically. "Hammer? Tire iron? Crowbar?" Barbara paused. "How long did you let that animal suffer?" Barbara paused again. "Doesn't matter," she said. She then sighed and said, "You can explain it all to the sheriff when they get here."