Part 5
An engine rose beyond the fog, followed by the hard crackle of gravel. Leah’s veterinary truck came into view too fast, its rear wheels slipping briefly before she brought it to a stop beside the cruiser.
Walt watched her get out. He’d told her about the lawyer’s visit; now she had someone with her.
The passenger stepped down carrying a leather folder. He was tall and broad across the shoulders, in a plain brown coat. While Leah hurried toward the gate, he shut the door and surveyed the yard before following.
“Dr. Sutton?” Talbot looked from her to the truck. “What’s going on?”
“You’re about to take the wrong man away.”
Rusk had turned toward the passenger. Walt saw his fingers tighten on the leather lead.
The man opened a credential wallet for the sheriff.
“Nolan Mercer, senior investigator with Orvane equine underwriters. We handle mortality coverage. I also work with federal fraud investigators on claims filed across state lines.”
He let Talbot examine the identification, then put it away.
Rusk raised his chin. “This is an ownership matter.”
Mercer looked through the rails at April. She remained against Walt, her breathing still too quick.
“It concerns a paid death claim,” he said.
Leah joined Walt inside the gate, keeping her movements quiet. She didn’t reach for April. She put a hand on the fence and waited where the mare could see her.
“I read the chip myself,” she told the sheriff. “I recorded the scan and her identifying features in one continuous video.”
Mercer opened the folder. Instead of handing the whole file to Talbot, he selected a clipped set of pages and turned to the signature at the back.
“Mr. Rusk received $246,000 from our company eleven months ago. The insured animal was Opaline Rhapsody. Here’s the ownership attestation. The supporting papers include a veterinary euthanasia certificate and a statement that the remains were disposed of.”
Talbot took the pages.
Mercer let him look, then indicated the chip number without touching the paper.
“That number belongs to the mare standing behind Mr. Dempsey. Dr. Sutton’s original video shows the animal, the scan, and the display. I have the complete file through a secure transfer, with the recording date preserved.”
Rusk looked toward his vehicle.
“I’m not discussing insurance business in a field.”
“You came to identify her,” Mercer said. “That’s what the sheriff needs you to do.”
The investigator put the folder beneath his arm.
“Claim her, and you’re identifying the living horse whose death you were paid for. Deny she’s yours, and there’s no basis for you to take her. Which position are you asking the sheriff to accept?”
Walt felt April’s lips move against his coat. He kept his hand on her neck.
Talbot lowered the papers.
“Leah. You’re certain of the number?”
“I checked it twice, then recorded it. You can watch the original.”
Rusk started to speak. The sheriff lifted one hand toward him without looking away from the veterinarian.
“And no break in that recording?”
“None.”
Talbot faced Rusk. The hesitant look he’d brought to the gate was gone.
“You’ve told me she belongs to you. Now I need you to answer with these papers in front of us. Is that your mare?”
The chain clicked as Rusk’s hand closed around it.
Walt watched him swallow. Up close, there were small lines beside his mouth that hadn’t shown from the courthouse steps. He looked at Mercer, then at the sheriff, searching their faces.
April lifted her nose from Walt’s coat. Her ears stayed back as she watched him.
Rusk threw the lead onto the wet grass.
“I’ve never owned that horse.”
Mercer nodded and made a note on the page inside his folder.
“Then you have no objection to correcting her records.”
Rusk’s face tightened. He said nothing.
The sheriff stepped away from the gate, leaving a clear path toward the vehicles.
“You’ve withdrawn the claim to her. Leave the farm, Mr. Rusk.”
For a moment, Rusk stared at Walt. Walt could feel April’s breath against his sleeve and kept his eyes on the man until he turned away.
The vehicle door slammed. Rusk backed around the cruiser, cut close to the ditch, and drove into the fog. His discarded lead lay where he’d thrown it.
Talbot removed his hat.
“I owe you an apology, Walt.”
April’s shaking had begun to ease. Walt stroked the short hair above her eye before answering.
“Don’t bring him here again.”
“I won’t.”
The sheriff looked down at the papers still in his hand, then went back toward Mercer. They spoke quietly while Leah checked that April hadn’t injured the knee during her scramble.
“She’ll settle,” Leah said. “Let’s keep her quiet this morning.”
Walt nodded. He could feel the sting in his palm now, where the cotton rope had slid across it. He moved the lead to his other hand.
Mercer came to the gate and offered a business card.
“Put the sale receipt somewhere safe. I’ll help get her verified status and your purchase entered while title is reviewed. The company will address any interest it has under the policy. Dr. Sutton’s record gives us a sound place to start.”
Walt took the card.
“What happens to Rusk?”
Mercer glanced down the drive.
“That will depend on the rest of the evidence.”
Leah looked up from April’s leg. “You expect more?”
Mercer closed the folder. “That kind of practice takes more than one claim…”
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