‘Um, yeah.’Within moments, the wide screen flickered to life, and everyone gathered in tight as Bree zoomed in on the photo.
It washim.Her horse, Tempest.Her second chance splashed across the big screen, making her chest tighten and the air feel thinner.Her fingers curled around her pen as if to get a grip, literally.
‘It’s a cattle brand, right?’After all, they’d been scouring the brand register all morning.
‘Not quite.’Bree tapped the image and cleverly pulled up a side-by-side comparison of two brands—one fresh, one faded, all from Amara’s photo.‘It’s a mashup.Someone burned a cattle brand over an existing brand.Sloppy, but effective at first glance.’
Finn grunted.‘Smart.Whoever did this was banking on no one looking too closely.’
‘And we both know how I love a challenge.’Bree clicked on a registration file, dragging the branded image to the centre of the screen to show a combination of the letters CDP.‘The original brand is from Copper Downs Performance Horses.’
Amara’s posture stiffened.‘Copper Downs.’
Bree arched a brow.‘You know it?’
‘They breed specialised horses for international polo tournaments.Bloodlines that would never end up out here by accident.’Amara grabbed her tablet, her fingers flying over the screen as she typed in the search.The impatience had her tapping the side of her tablet, willing it to hurry with the results—even if her guts were already telling her the answer.
Hell’s bells.
‘You got a hit, didn’t you?’Porter’s look was filled with concern as she struggled to answer him.
‘Well do share, Duchess.’
She didn’t expect Porter to scowl at Stone as he scoffed down a sausage roll.
Amara streamed her results to the big screen for everyone to see:
STOLEN HORSE REPORT:
Registered Name:Imperial Prince
Stable Name:Rogue-1
Stolen From:Copper Downs Performance Horses
Estimated Value:$220,000
Insured For:$250,000
‘Imperial Prince?Rogue-1?’Stone crinkled his nose at the screen.‘Either his breeder was a Star Wars nut, or they had a real problem with the Empire.’
‘I see it.’Porter nodded beside him, both brushing the crumbs from their hands as they dove for more of the fast-disappearing food.‘At least they didn’t name him Vader.’
‘But the force is strong with the young Jedi.’Stone and Porter grinned like boys.
Great, they were both Star Wars nerds.
‘Can we get back to the bigger issue at hand, please?’It was Marcus, leaning a beefy shoulder against the open door at the back of the room, sipping from his coffee mug.‘How long has that horse been missing?’
Amara stared at the screen, her voice clipped.‘Missing four months now.’
That was it, then.Confirmation.
Tempest wasn’t hers.He’d never been hers.
She kept her shoulders square, her gaze fixed on the interstate police report.This wasn’t personal anymore.It was a case—one she was now committed to seeing through, all the way.That horse, Lot 728, deserved to go home…
Just not with her.
