“Please call me James,” the man in uniform said. “Derek is a great guy. Known him for a long time. I graduated from Coronado High School a couple years ahead of Derek. My department is in the process of buying some horses from Triple C Ranch-West.”
“You won’t be sorry. Derek and former El Paso County Sheriff Owen Custis turn out only the best-trained Percherons for mounted police all over the country. They’re in Denver today delivering eight horses to the police department.”
“I know there’s a waiting list for his horses. Derek’s got himself one helluva business for one helluva great cause.”
“Yes, sir, he does,” Cash agreed and turned toward Tracy.
“Sheriff James Hunt, this is Tracy Dalton,” Cash said in introduction.
“Thank you for coming, Sheriff,” Tracy said and introduced her grandmother to Hunt.
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Dalton,” Sheriff Hunt said. “Folks, excuse me for a minute. I’m going to call for some backup, including the coroner and fire department.” He moved a few steps away and made his call. Returning to them, he asked, “So tell me what went down here today.”
“Sheriff,” the deputy called before anyone could answer. With him was Donna. “Found this lady trying to leave in a dead Tesla.”
“Is that right?”
CHAPTER FORTY
“Yes. Sheriff Hunt, this is Donna Smith,” the deputy said, glancing at Gerald’s body. “Claims she was trying to escape being shot by a man named Gerald Moles.”
“That dead body is Moles,” Sheriff Hunt told the deputy walking past Moles.
“Ms. Smith says Moles shot her father, Winston Smith,” the deputy reported.
“Yes.” Donna nodded frantically. “Gerald shot my father in cold blood and hid his body in the shed right before he forced Mrs. Dalton into it.”
“What are you doing here, Donna?” Tracy asked.
“Thank God you’re okay, Tracy.” Donna smiled at Cash. “You, too, Cash. Thank you for not letting Gerald kill me or Tracy,” she said and reached a hand toward Tracy.
“Don’t touch her,” Cash ordered, clenching his jaw and narrowing his eyes at Donna.
“Take Smith’s statement over there.” Sheriff Hunt pointed to the deputy’s vehicle as Donna lowered her hand away from Tracy. Turning back to Tracy and Cash, the sheriff asked, “What do you know about her?”
They told him about the attack on Cash at the gas station and Tracy ended with, “Donna was recently released from adetox unit in a psychiatric hospital in Colorado Springs. It may be important for you to know that she was held for seventy-two hours due to a homicidal threat she made against her father, Winston Smith.”
Other details were added and Cash said, “Moles went to jail from the gas station. Donna must have gotten him out on bail. And I think somebody doused the shed with accelerant.”
“So that’s why Winston painted the shed,” Tammy said. “He planned all along to burn it down with me in it.”
Sheriff Hunt informed them, “Crime lab is on the way here and the fire chief can tell us what we need to know about the shed. I’ll take your statements here, but I think I’m going to haul Donna Smith in for further questioning.” Addressing Tammy, he said, “Ms. Dalton, an ambulance is also on its way to take you to the hospital in Colorado Springs.”
“Perfect,” Tammy said and took his hand. “Thank you, Sheriff Hunt. I’m sure I could benefit from x-rays and a boot or cast for my ankle.”
A small army of first responders and other law enforcement were soon on hand. Sheriff Hunt was in command and took charge over the crime scene. Cash called Chase and Derek to let them know what had happened and to assure them all was well. He also called Coop who was taking care of Dude. The German shepherd and Australian cattle dog had become fast friends.
“Grandma, I can pack for you, and we will meet you at the hospital in the Springs,” Tracy said. “What else do you need me to do before Cash and I leave Wild Horse?”
Tammy hadn’t moved from her spot in the lawn chair because of her ankle, but she motioned to Cash and asked, “If you would help me inside, I want to show the two of you something.”
“Of course,” Cash said. He carefully plucked her out of the chair as Tracy went before them and opened the front door.
Inside, Cash placed Tammy on the sofa, and she said, “Now I know why Winston put that tinfoil on the windows. He didn’t want me to see how he had torn up the ground digging for money that wasn’t there.”
“I wished I’d figured out sooner how evil Winston was,” Tracy said.
“Tracy and I began putting two and two together once we saw Gerald Moles’ car hidden in the trees,” Cash said. “We all underestimated them.”
