Baltimore 03 - Did You Miss Me?

the barn, his step slowing as he approached. Daphne was brushing a chocolate brown horse that appeared to be falling asleep on her feet. Something about her had changed. A serenity that hadn’t been there before. The worry was still there, but muted.
    Joseph got a little closer to see her better and noticed a set of human knees behind the horse. A man crouched, inspecting the animal’s back leg.
    Maggie leaned into the stall. ‘How’s our girl?’ she crooned.
    The man rose. ‘She needs to be re-shoed. I’ll do it while she’s up at my place.’
    Daphne turned and her smile bloomed. ‘Joseph.’ The smile faded. ‘You saw the wall outside. Is it human?’
    ‘Don’t know yet. Brodie’s on her way.’ He looked at the man who was studying him carefully. ‘I’m Special Agent Carter, FBI.’
    ‘Scott Cooper.’
    ‘Scott says he can take the horses for a few days,’ Daphne said. ‘He’s got some empty stalls right now. We’re not taking any chances.’ She gave Maggie a careful glance. ‘With the horses or you. I want you to stay with us until all this is over, Maggie.’
    Maggie looked apprehensive. ‘That’s a lot of work for Scott.’
    ‘My son will help me. He’s always looking for extra income. I wouldn’t sleep a wink knowing you were alone out here, Maggie. Not with that psycho on the loose.’
    ‘It would be safer,’ Joseph said.
    Maggie sighed. ‘We’ll try it for a few days. Scott, that new rescue might have a touch of colic. Can you come look?’ She shot Joseph a look of make-this-count over her shoulder as she walked with Scott to the other side of the barn.
    Bless her heart , Joseph thought. ‘Can I come in?’ he asked Daphne.
    ‘Please do.’ Uncertainly he picked his way over the hay and she smiled at him. ‘Not your cuppa, huh?’
    ‘Just not used to it. Are all of these horses yours? Or just this one?’
    ‘They’re all technically mine. The four over here belong to me and Mama and Maggie and Ford. All of our horses were rescues except for Ford’s. Ford’s horse is a hunter – way different price bracket. We usually keep at least two rescues, sometimes more. Scott just brought one of them home a few days ago. He finds abused and abandoned animals while he’s on the road. If he has room in the trailer, he’ll persuade the horse’s owner to sell it or give it up. We rehab them and find them homes.’
    ‘Where do they go during the day?’
    ‘Pasture. They’re in here at night and in bad weather. I tell you, I saw that paint on the side of the barn and I was terrified of what I’d find inside. But it doesn’t look like he came in. Everything’s the way it should be.’
    Except for the dead cow . He figured he’d tell her once he got her safely away from the farm. There wasn’t anything she could do and no reason she should see such a senseless slaughter. Joseph edged his way to her side, realizing that cowboy boots were in his immediate future. ‘Why horses?’
    She shrugged. ‘There’s something about caring for an animal. It’s healing.’
    A curious choice of words, he thought. And then he couldn’t think because she’d moved close enough to touch. ‘How did you sleep?’ he asked, dropping his voice.
    She looked away. ‘Not well.’
    ‘I can’t tell.’ He skimmed a fingertip under her eye.
    ‘The miracle of a good concealer. I’m ready to go, Joseph. I know we should have left already. I’m putting everyone in danger every minute we stay.’
    ‘I was going to wait for Brodie. But if you want to go, we can.’
    She gave the animal’s neck a final stroke. ‘Maybe we can see Stevie?’
    ‘We’ll have to get our names on the waiting list.’ He followed her out of the stall and Tasha fell in line behind them. ‘There was a thirty minute wait this morning.’
    Daphne shook her head. ‘Stevie’s as popular as the Olive Garden. We can call from the car. It’ll take us at least forty-five minutes to get into town.’
    ‘Let me talk to Cooper first. He does the maintenance around here, right?’
    ‘His son does.’ She frowned. ‘Why are you talking to him? Scott’s a good guy.’
    ‘I didn’t say he wasn’t. I have some questions about your power lines and generator. You can stay here a few more minutes while I talk to him.’
    Cooper was standing next to his truck, filling a syringe topped with a seriously large needle. ‘Agent Carter, what can I do for you?’
    Joseph’s radar went off at the sight of the syringe. ‘What’s