Page 10 of A Touch of Murder
"It was. Looks like he took his horse up one of the trails and something happened. Horse returned down the trail without him. They found his body up Two Drops Trail." Barret sighed. "Hell of a loss."
Becky's eyes filled with tears. "Dead? I hadn't heard that. Poor Edith. This is going to devastate her." She reached for a tissue from the box on one of the other desks near her and dabbed her eyes. "That's horrible." She leaned against the desk. "I can't believe Roy would fall from his horse. He's on horses every day."
"Kyle went to see Adam Wrecker this morning, hoping to identify the saddle. Adam told him he saw a man clutching hischest." Vance stood to come over and grab a muffin from the box.
"Ah, that would explain it, if he had a medical incident. Still, how horrible. I need to get back and make a casserole and some bread for Edith. Her kids will be flying in. They'll need to eat." Becky wiped at her eyes again.
Barret never did understand why women always cooked for the deceased family. By sundown tonight the Rowins would have twenty different casseroles in their freezer and God knew what else people would drop off. He understood the need to help the family, but why not create a schedule and drop stuff off every day for a few weeks? And why was it always casserole? "I figured I'd drop by tomorrow and see if they need help around the ranch, but they've got several ranch hands still working out there. Still, I'll pay my respects and see what they need."
Becky nodded. "So, Adam was able to identify the saddle?"
"He saw Edith in a vision, so he sent Kyle to her house. She informed him Ray had gone for a ride early this morning." Vance sighed. "We're lucky he saw her, or we might not have known who that horse belonged to until Edith realized Roy wasn't back."
Barret rolled his eyes. "Don't tell me you believe in Adam's scams too."
Becky raised a brow at him. "Adam's the real thing. Remember when my bakery was broken into? He told me it was Reggie Forester just by touching the rock he'd thrown through my window to get inside. That was before I put up those security cameras. Sure enough, when Captain Russel brought Reggie in, he was so scared that he confessed to everything."
"Adam probably saw something happen out of his window and took advantage of the information to further his reputation." Barret reached for a muffin.
"Seriously? After all he's done to help those of us in the area, you can still say that?" Becky frowned at her brother. "Adam's a good guy. We've become friends over the years. Give him a chance, you might actually like him. As for what he does, no one can make you believe. Just don't go around badmouthing him because you don't understand what he can do." She leaned in and hugged Barret. "I need to get back and get things ready for Edith and her family. Stop by later this week for dinner. We haven't caught up in a while."
"Thanks for bringing this stuff in." Barret smiled.
"Glad to share." She waved. "See ya, Lou."
Vance lifted his muffin in salute. "See ya, Beck."
Barret closed the box of muffins so they didn't dry out before the others came in. "Am I the only one in town who doesn't trust Adam?"
"Possibly. I'm sure there are a few others, but they probably just haven't met him yet." Vance grinned. "I don't know how you haven't noticed him before all this happened. He's helped so many people around here."
"I don't listen to fairy tales." Barret shrugged. "Get back to work. You've got a full stomach now. No excuse not to work."
"I've been working this whole time. Got the search running as we speak." Vance sat down at his desk. "And we have a hit. Female, late teens to early twenties, brown hair, five-foot-three, a hundred and thirty pounds. Found almost two weeks ago outside St. George, Utah." Vance tapped on his keyboard. "And the picture matches. It's her."
"Shit." Barret went over and looked at the photo of the dead woman that filled Vance's screen. "How did we not hear about this?"
"I don't know, but it doesn't matter. We've found her." Vance leaned back in his chair. "I'll call the M.E.'s office and findout what we need to do. You want to call the police who reported this and see what he has to share?" Vance asked.
No, he didn't want to. He wanted to go back to thinking Trina was alive somewhere. "Sure. St. George police department?" Barret headed back over to his desk.
"That's the one," Vance told him.
Barret looked up the information and reached for the phone. His chest tightened at what would lay ahead. His day was about to get very complicated and long.
CHAPTER SIX
Adam walked across the street to grab a good cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll before he opened the shop for the day. He had an hour to kill before he had to unlock the doors. He waved at Jacey's sister Nancy as she drove past. She worked as a home health nurse and was the oldest of Jacey's siblings.
"Morning." Becky looked up from the front counter display where she was setting a tray of donuts. "Good timing. I just frosted a fresh batch of cinnamon rolls."
"You know me so well. I'll take one of those and a large cup of coffee." Adam moved to stand at the counter.
"Stay or go?" Becky asked as she went to the other display area where the rolls were.
"I've got time. I'll stay and enjoy it here." Adam pulled out his wallet to grab his credit card. "What's new? I haven't been over in a while."
Becky plated him a roll, then turned to get his coffee. "Not too much. You heard about Roy Rowin, right? Of course you did. Vance told me you led Kyle to Edith. That had to be horrible to see. Did you actually see Roy fall from his horse in your vision?"
