Death of the Horse Trader

Chapter 1 The murder in the small town

Chapter 1

"The air  frigid as the cold front moves in the Valley, temperatures to drop  into the 30's this early fall day" the tv reporter announcing the weather states in a matter of fact tone, I groan as  he drones on about the cold front moving in and apparently it is going to stay that way for the next five days.   I get my glasses  and look at the alarm clock  with its  red numbers  shining brightly into my eyes, I think its way to early to look at the clock  as it shines 7:30am on its face.   

The alarm goes off again as I hit the snooze button, turn off the electric blanket and throw the covers off me,  the cool air hits me making a shiver run down my back as  I feel the chill air hit me,  I get up and get my robe on and wrap it tightly around me.  I should really raise the temperature for the upstairs bedroom thermostat to avoid the rude awakening.  I head to the stairs to go down to my first floor and head to the kitchen to make a coffee to wake up a little.  Grab my favorite mug, a huge 20 ounce mug for cappuccinos, get the Machine on and make my first huge mug of the most essential thing in the morning for me.  I look out and see some frost on the windows, winter wants to come early this year it seems.  

I turn on the downstairs TV in the living room as I grab my nice steaming hot coffee and sit on the sofa and start my morning wake me up  routine of coffee and the morning news.   The weather report is over and I see that a murder has occurred nearby.  I say to myself, there goes the neighborhood, we have a first gruesome murder, the victim  was not identified  yet due to ongoing investigation.  I think what is wrong with people  that they cannot just  get over things without violence.  I am a peaceful person, not much into conflicts or drama in my life well my personal life  - lol  no drama there anyway.  

I listen to the reporter talk about the case on the breaking news report, I sigh and turn it off, since I will be heading into the department soon and will have more information there on the case.  Mu cellphone rings and Ava, my old boss is crying and mumblings  incoherently on the other side  and I am like "what  is the matter? what happened?"

" He's dead"

"Who is?"

"C Col l ton n" she sobs out.

"OMG! What happened to him? Did he die in his sleep?"

"NO he was murdered I KNOW IT"  she shouts the last part - I think why would someone murder an old man in his 80's that was well liked everywhere.  I think this, to myself, maybe she just is upset that she thinks he should live to over 100 years old.  

"NO  he was murdered there is BLOOD EVERYWHERE!" She practically screams and a broken sob comes out of her.

"I am so sorry to hear that ARE YOU OK? Are you hurt? What the hell happened?  Where were you?  What time did this occur? " She sobbs and I cannot make out what she is saying.  

Thoughts race back to the morning broadcast, omg my old boss is dead!!  This is horrible and an end of an era for me since I knew him since I was 7 years old, the man I got my first horse from,  the man I worked for over 35 years of my life.  I am shocked to the core.  My knees get weak, Wow, wowsy wow, I wobble over to the couch and sink down on the cushions, Ava still is crying on the phone,  I never thought that my small town would ever have a  crime like this happen here, everyone knew each other and we all were close knit like family,  I shake my head no as I listen to sounds and words deafly  as the news sinks in my head.  Death always makes me cry.  I sobbed incoherently over my first horse, my dog, my cat, my dad, grandparents ok  everyone...

"Do you need anything?  Are the police there now?" I ask wondering how long I was quiet as the thoughts raced through my head 

"They were here last night, someone broke into the house through the glass doors on the patio.  Glass all over the place,  I didnt hear anything  but Colton  must have  and went to look  I woke up at 4am to pee and he wasn't in bed, I peeked in the kitchen and saw his body on the ground and then the blood all over the floor.   all the glass on the door was broken and  shattered on the floor"  she pauses and started to cry again, "the love of my life is gone.. stolen from me".

My head still reeling from the news "I will go into work and see what is happening, I will call you when I get there and will head over to see you as soon as I can"  I disconnect the call.  WTF!!

I drink the rest of my coffee in a big gulp and get my clothes and purse and head to work.  Winter sucks.

I head out the door in a flurry of motion, keys in hand my bag and badge and gun holster, I just graduated from the police academy and  think my first case is going to be the biggest one in the city!

I arrive at the station to find it  a hive of activity, usually we are a quiet office, the LT, and other detectives  are at the police board with the photos of the crime scene already on the white board, they are getting a time line established as the Coroner gives them the time of death to establish alibis of the family and household members.  The Capt. sees me and waves me over,  "hey kid, sorry we didnt call you in at the time, but, we were thinking that we should not have you involved due to your connection to the victim, since he was your old boss and all.  We also tracked your cell and vehicle to clear you for the time of the murder, just needed to make sure you were not a suspect in the case".  He says it matter of fact as he see my eyes widen as he implies that I could be considered a suspect.  I recall seeing the beacon on my  car was flashing when I drove in, this new device was installed on my car a year ago, for the new tracking of police vehicles for the dispatching of officers closest to  a disturbance event to get the closest officer there as fast as possible.   I also remember that my chest cam was on my purse and saw it too had a low charge and was flashing,  leave it to me to have it filming me while I slept at the time of the murder.   I am glad I didnt sleep in the nude or the whole precinct would have had a eyeful of me!   

"But you were ummm, cleared and can work the case" a sheepish grin on his face as he says that, it dawns on me that I should leave the body cam inside my purse instead of attached to the bag on the ring as I feel my cheeks burn.  

"We dont have a solid lead at this time since the medical examiner is in preliminary stages of an autopsy so we need to get a list of everyone connected to Colton, I understand you still occasionally go to the farm so can you get a list of all recent customers and dealers and employees? Also, talk to the wife and see who has been around the house."  Captain Vero hands me a rather large notepad for this as I eyeball the pad thinking will that  be big enough to be able to write down all the people he asked me to get info on.  

"They just had an auction there and it was PACKED with people!"  I take the notebook then grab another off the desk to make sure I have enough space to write in  all that information down for the case.  This might take a long time to get and clear peoples alibis.  The captain nods saying" yea I was up there for that I got my kid a nice saddle for  his pony"  "Maybe you should take another to be sure you get all the info"  I sigh, grab a third one just in case.  

Life might be easier if I was being considered a suspect lol.  I gather my supplies as I get ready to head to the farm,  pads, pens and recorder in a box to head over there.  

First Big Case here I come...