Olivia wondered if perhaps hed been waiting for her. But she paused by the reception area, pouring herself a cup of coffee and watching him. Shed managed to call Malachi on her cell during her last ride, and hed managed to call her back. Yes, if shed answered her phone, she would have learned that Blake was the agent whod been sent.
He was a curious choice, she thought. He was hardly nondescript. The man stood at about six foot four. He had the kind of lean, hard muscle that might be seen on a basketball player. His every movement hinted at agility. His face was chiseled, his jaw square, and he had flashing dark eyes that seemed to view the world around him with a certain amount of skepticism. No one could miss him. Hardly the type to slip in and out of anywhere unnoticed.
But then, hed come here as what he wasor mostly as what he was. Aaron was practically giddy that the bureau had chosen their facility as a place for the man to unwind, chill out or vanquish his demons. Nowhere in the paperwork had it been suggested that he was addicted to alcohol or other substances, but you didnt have to be an addict or suffering from a physical or congenital disadvantage to benefit from the Horse Farm. Marcus Danby had believed that the best therapy brought various kinds of people together. For instance, a stressed-out business exec could learn that patience and tolerance for an autistic or otherwise handicapped child was something that should come naturally. Equally, a young man like Brent could show true acceptance and affection to a drug addict or alcoholic who discovered that friendsreal friends, or the ones whod enabled their addictionswere afraid to be there for them anymore.
But while theyd had handsome high school and college football heroes, a number of pro athletes, musicians and some of the people who pulled major strings on Wall Street, theyd never had anyone quite like Dustin Blake.
He was the topic du jour.
Drew Dicksen stepped in from outside. He walked directly over to her and the table with the ever-present coffee service.
Hey, how are you doing, kid? he asked her.
He seemed to look at her with concern all the time now.
Im doing all right. How about you?
Fine. Fine, thanks. So, you met the new guy.
Yeah.
How did it go?
Okay.
Drew leaned against the wall, pensively watching the back room. I wonder why hes really here.
Pardon? she said, startled. Did people know?
He smiled and lowered his voice. I mean, what did he do? The kids talk about it constantly. They think maybe he cornered a serial killerand shot him down rather than arresting him. Or he freaked in the middle of a tense situation. They keep making up scenariosand theyre making me wonder, too. He laughed. In fact, its hard not to join in with their fantasies.
I doubt that he freaked out, or that hes violent. If he was, I dont think hed be here, Olivia said pragmatically.
Hes sure got a rapport with kids, Drew said.
The kids adore you, too. More than that, they respect you.
Most of the ones we get are good kids, he said. Dont worry, Im not jealous. My real job is basically pooper-scooper. And hes an FBI guywheres the comparison?
Andrew! You and Sydney save animals, animals found in the worst possible conditions sometimes. You care for them, and you keep everything in this place running.
Dont say that in front of Aaron! he said with a laugh. Me, I dont want to be an FBI man. Im not at all fond of the concept of people shooting at me. Cant help but be curious, though. So how did he do today?
Fine. He worked well with others and seems to know horses.
He is from Tennessee.
Drew, not everyone from Tennessee rides horses, she reminded him.
No kidding?
Olivia rolled her eyes.
They heard a loud shrill of delight. We won! Joey cried happily.
Rematch tomorrow! Sean shouted back at him.
Sandra Cheever suddenly appeared, marching over to the boys. Tomorrow being the key word. Out, young uns. We have to lock up.
Aw...
The kids began filing out for the night. They all said their goodbyes to Olivia and Drew. Joey paused by the door. There was a sign-up sheet for the history/ghost tour and camping trip Mariah was planning to lead on Friday night.
Joey paused, turning around. Olivia thought he was talking to her at first when he asked, Are you going?
Then she realized that Dustin Blake was standing right behind her.
What is it exactly?
Mariah Naughton. Remember, she was talking about it at the diner last night? We take the horses and ride out to sites that arent part of the National Battlefield Parks. I mean, they cant own everything, and there was Civil War action all around here. She talks about Tennessee battles, the ghosts that remain, and then we go set up camp by the stream. Its really cool.
Seriously, nothing here is really cool, man, Sean said, sticking his head back in and placing his hands on Joeys shoulders. But its the coolest thing we get while were in purgatory.
Youre right. I do remember. Sounds great, Dustin said.
Olivia glanced at him, trying not to frown. Ping-Pong and camping? That was how an agent worked?
Joey scribbled on the sheet and turned back to Dustin. I put your name down, okay?
Thanks.
Aaron had come out of his office. Sandraherding the boys out the doorwas now behind Dustin.
Guess I need to get out of here, too, Dustin said. Thank you. Ive heard about this place for years. Its fantastic. Good day for me.
Glad to have you, AgentDustin, Aaron said.
As he walked out, Aaron turned to them. Drew, can you get Sydney? And, Sandra, can you find Mariah and Mason? We need a little meeting.
Five minutes later, they were all seated on the couches and chairs in the entry room. Once everyone had settled in, Aaron said, We have to decide how to handle this situation. First, just to let you know, Sandra and I have rescheduled all our sessions for tomorrowthe lawyers coming in the morning. He cleared his throat. I guess youre all aware that Marcus was the end of his line. I believe, since he and I discussed it many times, that the facility was left to me, but no one can be certain of anything until his attorney reads his final will and testament. I know, as well, that he left something from his life for every one of you. There are also clauses that protect the property and the livestock in the event of my death. So...thats one thing. The other is...we have to decide on spin.
Spin? Mariah asked.
Aaron exhaled. Well, the information about the autopsy is out. Naturally, in todays age of instant information and social media, it was inevitable, and some people are going to make a big deal of it. We all know the autopsy revealed he was on drugs. The blood tests made that clear. I saw Marcus that morninghe was fine. In fact, he was in a great mood. What happened to make him relapse after all those years...I dont know. The thing is, it puts us in a bad light. What good does any of this therapy do if the man who founded the Horse Farm died while on drugs?
He didnt take drugs willingly, Olivia said firmly.
They were all silent, looking at her. She knew that pitying stare. They all believed she just couldnt accept it.
To her surprise, Sydney Roux, Drews partner in looking after the stables, spoke up, too. He stood to do so; Sydney was an old Tennessean. His grandparents and their grandparents had grown up in the nearby hills. He was a gentleman to the nth degree. He fingered the baseball cap hed removed when he entered the office as he said, I cant believe it, either. I remember I was in my room above the stables one evening when he came by. Id been drinking a beer and I tried to hide it. He told me, Sydney, Im an addict. Youre not. Dont go thinking you cant have that brew because I stopped by. Im long past my trigger days. And I believe thatjust like Olivia believes it. Something happened. Someone tricked him.
If only, Sandra murmured.
How could we ever find out? How could we prove such a thing? Mariah asked. We had cops out here. They searched with us that day.
They didnt find anything! Olivia said, sitting up straight.
Aaron looked at her. Right.
Dont you see? They didnt find anything. They didnt find heroin, crack or anything else on himand they didnt find a needle in his possession. Where were the drugs or the paraphernalia he would have needed?
Sandra came and sat on the edge of the sofa by her. Oh, Liv, the acreage here seems to go on forever and were surrounded by forests. He couldve left stuff anywhere on the property and we might never find it. A hundred years from now, when theyre digging the place up to build condos, they might come across a broken needle or something and wonder what the hell?
Someone else could have put it in him, Olivia said stubbornly.
Sandra looked helplessly at Aaron.
I dont know what happened and I probably never will. And it doesnt matter. Marcus was one of the greatest men Ive ever known, Aaron said. The point is how do we handle this?
With honesty, Mariah said. What other way is there?
We downplay it, Mason insisted. We tell the truth. Were honest. But we say that it never happened beforeand that is the truth. We say that Marcus had thirty years of clean living, and many peopleand animalsbenefited because of him. And that were continuing on in that fine tradition of faith and belief.
Mason, Mariah said. That was wonderful! If you get tired of being a therapist, you can go into public relations.
Olivia nodded. It really was a good statement.
And its the truth, Aaron agreed. All right, then. We just lie low. When asked, we say that we dont know what was going on in his mind at the end but that we loved him and he did a world of good. Well say that well never forget him or what he gave to others. However, dont bring up the subject unless youre asked. So, everyone, have a good night.
And its the truth, Aaron agreed. All right, then. We just lie low. When asked, we say that we dont know what was going on in his mind at the end but that we loved him and he did a world of good. Well say that well never forget him or what he gave to others. However, dont bring up the subject unless youre asked. So, everyone, have a good night.