Trotting in three quarters time (a novel), Part 6

by A.J. Lencroy

Chapter 1 is here.

Chapter 2 is here.

Chapter 3 is here.

Chapter 4 is here.

Chapter 5 is here.

CHAPTER 6

Do not blow our cover

“What connection?” “You mean like an informant or a mole?” Hooley spoke a little louder than normal.

Heads turned in the Florence Police Department toward the senior detective as he conducted a FaceTime interview with two senior citizens from Topeka.

His partner, Bones Marchais, who was listening from a desk chair out of camera view, scooted his chair forward a few inches. Department members Rosemarie Foster from tech and Dennis Arnold from vice began to watch the show from over Marchais’ shoulder. The trio of off-screen officers crowded together like teenagers ready to take a selfie.

For the benefit of late arrivals, Hooley asked the women to verify his recap.

He took a steadying breath and said, “Mrs. Elison.”

“Adele, please.”

“Adele, let’s get this straight. A man from Kentucky, who grew up in your neighborhood, finds your late husband’s obituary, shows up out of the blue, and randomly tries to lure you into investing in a racehorse.”

“Yes, but not randomly. He had a plan.”

“You know the guy is as shady as a lawyer with a shovel at midnight. You know he is trying to defraud you under the guise of advising you to save on inheritance taxes.”

“Yes.”

“You knock on your neighbor’s door, explain the situation, and she willingly joins the party.”

“Correct.”

“So now he is trying to swindle both of you. You know it, and yet you still get involved, and you still ARE involved.”

Adele said, “Yes, and now the police are on the case. Isn’t this thrilling?”

Doreen, the lady with the tiara, said, “I joined the Assets Accepted ownership group after the call from Kentucky. Actually, it was a FaceTime, just like this one, but with Peter.”

“Peter Pettigrew, the other cousin, the horse trainer, he contacted you?”

“Yes.”

Hooley tried another route.

“Did either of you have any previous involvement or knowledge about the sport of harness horse racing?”

The tiara answered brightly, “No, absolutely none, but we have learned quite a bit since the deal went down. We are learning about pedigrees, staking horses, qualifying, and training.”

Adele added, “With computers and a little curiosity, it’s amazing how quickly you can learn. Plus, we have each other to bounce questions off, and, of course, money on the line. And then there is Peter.”

Hooley said, “Yes, Peter, let’s get back to the horse trainer. What did he have to say?”

Adele clasped her hands together to compose her thoughts, paused, and said, “Alex the weasel did not take long to boast to his cousin, the horse trainer, that he had two old fish on the line ready to be gutted.”

“Oh my God,” Hooley blurted.

Bones slapped his right hand on the top of his head.

Foster and Arnold found folding chairs and sat down.

Adele spoke softly with a Cheshire cat smile, “Alex, the problem cousin, underestimated the goodness of his cousin. Peter was not interested in fish. He quickly called to protect us.”

“What did he say?” asked Hooley.

The tiara said, “Peter said, ‘Absolutely, under no circumstances get involved in any way with Alex. I want him to settle his divorce, stay away from the racetrack, and move away. He is like a fungus that attaches to anything and anyone – my cousin is a no-go zone.’”

Hooley asked, “You were both aware of this warning?”

“Oh yes.”

“Yes.”

Hooley hunched his shoulders. “I’m having trouble processing this.”

Adele sighed, “We are blessed. At this stage of our lives, the money is irrelevant. The adventure is more important. We are learning about a new sport, having fun, and we have, um, insulated ourselves from Alex. Doreen is key to our plans, and her participation gives us leverage.”

“Plans? Leverage?”

Adele waved a schoolmarm finger. “Do not underestimate us.”

“Not a chance. So, you are telling me that Alex has no idea that his cousin and you ladies are in contact?”

“No, Detective Hooley, and it is very important that he does not. Please take care not to blow our cover.”

There was a pause while all four officers silently exchanged looks of amazement.

“What did Peter say about the racehorse that you invested in?”

“Peter said horses are a risky way to make money, but this filly is the best-bred horse he’d ever owned. Then Peter said, and these were his exact words – ‘The trotting filly has a chance. My cousin is hopeless and ruthless.’”

Hooley glanced at his partner. Marchais held a sheet of paper pinched in his fingers with the word printed across it: CONKLIN.

Hooley nodded, “Ladies, do you know Martha Pettigrew Conklin?”

They answered in a duet, “No.”

Adele followed up, “Is she married to Alex or Peter?”

“Alex, but she is not married to him anymore.”

“Poor woman. Apparently, she did not do her due diligence. I’m sure it ended badly.”

“The marriage was extremely short and not sweet.”

“Is this Martha woman of sound mind?”

“Yes, maybe a touch of temporary insanity.”

“How does she figure in the equation?” Adele asked.

“The horse, Assets Accepted, was funded using her money, but Alex holds the ownership papers for his share of the horse. It’s a property settlement issue that is flaring up now that the horse has value.”

The tiara dropped back into the chat, clapping in glee, “Romance, intrigue, a bitter divorce, horse racing action, it just keeps getting better and better. Do keep us up to speed; we may co-author a novella.”

Adele said, “If there is a touch of violence, we could do a podcast.” Adele said with a smile.