Death by Equine by Annette Dashofy (booksvooks txt) 📕

file cabinet? Around the periphery of her thoughts, she heard Meryl agreeing to something on the phone and not sounding particularly happy about it.

Meryl returned to the table and tossed the phone on top of a pile of papers. She flopped into her chair and slugged down the rest of her wine.

“I gather that wasn’t an emergency call.” Jessie knew Meryl shared her aversion to the idea of drinking “on duty.”

“Not exactly. You have to work for me tomorrow.”

“But I wanted to go over to Amelia’s and go through Doc’s stuff.”

Meryl shook her head. “That was Daniel on the phone. He wants me to fill in for you at the track.”

Last winter, Jessie had walked into the little diner in West Cumberland and spotted Greg holding hands with a leggy redhead. Having Daniel replace her within hours, and with her best friend no less, may not have hurt quite as much. It was a business deal, after all, not an emotional one. So why was she feeling so damned betrayed?

Meryl reached across the table to give her a gentle nudge. “Hey. If you’d rather I told him to go to hell, I will.”

Jessie coughed out a laugh. “No, I know my patients there will be in good hands with you.” Then she slammed a hand down on the table, making her fork rattle on the empty plate. “But don’t go falling in love with the place. I still might want to buy Doc’s practice if I can swing it.” She thought about all that had transpired in the last few weeks. “If there’s anything left at Riverview once the dust settles.”

DROPPING IN ON AMELIA before work was becoming a bad habit. This time, Jessie called first. Doc’s widow sounded much cheerier on the phone than during their previous talk.

She also looked better when she met Jessie at the front door. “It’s so good to see you, sweetie.” Amelia gave her a big hug.

“I should’ve stopped in again before now.”

“Don’t be silly. I know what kind of schedule you have. I was married to the man you replaced, remember?

“I could never replace Doc.”

“You know what I mean. Come in. Can I get you some breakfast?”

“No, thanks. I already ate.” But she ventured a peek into the kitchen and was relieved to see a neat table and uncluttered countertops.

Amelia caught her looking. “I’m doing better.”

“Good.”

Amelia took a seat on the couch, which was free of blankets and bed pillows. “Please. Sit down.” She motioned to a chair.

“I wish I could, but I have to get to work.” Jessie decided against mentioning that “work” didn’t involve the track today.

“You said on the phone you needed Doc’s records.”

“I don’t know if you heard. Someone broke into my house and destroyed some of the files I had there.”

Amelia gasped. “How horrible.”

“I think there was something in them the burglar didn’t want me to see.”

A cloud of sadness crossed Amelia’s eyes. “I’d hoped there was another reason you wanted them.”

Work or not, Jessie took a seat beside Doc’s widow. “What do you mean?”

“I imagine you’ve heard about Sherry Malone.”

Jessie’s mind spun through all there was to know. The topic was endless. “What about her?”

“She was his daughter.”

Amelia knew after all. Jessie remained quiet, choosing to let Doc’s widow volunteer whatever information she wanted to share.

“Sherry wanted his practice. Doc was going to leave it to her in his will. But something happened. Not long before he...died, he changed his mind and left her money instead.”

Jessie took her hand. “I know. I wasn’t sure how much you knew, though.”

There was no joy in Amelia’s smile. “He didn’t think I knew about the girl. But I did. I never agreed with his decision to give her the practice. I think the only reason he planned to do it was to appease his own guilt.”

“Why’d he change his mind?”

“I don’t know.” Amelia patted Jessie’s hand. “It’s my hope that you’ll take it over.”

Jessie wondered if she knew Sherry was dead. Or that Jessie was under suspicion. “I wish I could.”

“Why can’t you?”

Jessie looked around the living room, clicking off the reasons in her mind. Starting with the fact that Daniel had barred her from Riverview property. Segueing to the EIA scare that might bankrupt the track. And ending with the most benevolent reason, which was the only one she shared. “I can’t afford to pay you even a fraction of its value.”

Amelia’s face blossomed into a smile, this one heartfelt. “My dear girl. I want you to have it. What am I going to do with a clinic and all those cabinets full of records? The lease on the building at Riverview is paid through the next two years, so you have plenty of time to deal with that part of it.” Her voice turned hard and determined. “I just don’t want that Malone woman to get it.”

Obviously, Amelia hadn’t heard. “Sherry’s dead.”

Amelia’s trembling fingers touched her mouth. “That’s awful. Do you think her death is connected to...?”

“Doc’s? Yes, I do. That’s why I want his records. I want to go through them and find out what someone wants to keep quiet badly enough to kill for.”

Amelia’s hand dropped to her lap. “By all means. Take them.”

Jessie rose and started for the hall.

“Jessie?”

She turned back.

“Keep them. I meant it when I said I want you to have the practice. You’re the only one I want to see have it.”

Jessie nodded and headed down the hallway to Doc’s office. Now all she had to do was solve two murders, clear her name, and keep Daniel Shumway out of bankruptcy. Provided solving the murders didn’t land him in jail.

Twenty-Six

Jessie parked the Chevy in her regular spot between the Cameron Veterinary Hospital and her house and slid down from the driver’s seat. Spring in western Pennsylvania was nothing more than a battlefield for dominance between winter and summer. A week ago, Jessie needed to run the furnace. Today, it wasn’t even nine o’clock and already sweat beaded along