Hooved Homicide: A Shayla Murphy Mystery by Stella Bixby

Author:Stella Bixby [Bixby, Stella]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ferry Tail Publishing LLC
Published: 2023-10-28T16:00:00+00:00

17

“I still can’t believe that old man was the bookie all along,” Rylie said for the tenth time as we approached the O’Malley residences.

“Or was he?” I asked. “There’s no way of knowing. Heck, maybe Bunny is the real mastermind. Did you see how she memorized all those drink orders while simultaneously talking to us?”

“You make a good point,” Rylie said. “We should have gotten more information about Arnold from Brogan.”

I was about to agree when I noticed Molly’s official garda car in the driveway. At least, I assumed it was Molly’s. My insides clenched. Was she here about the investigation, or had something else happened?

The driver stopped, but we didn’t wait for him to come and let us out. Rylie pushed the door open, and we bolted up the stairs to the house.

It didn’t take long to find Molly. She was in the sitting room with Gráinne and Donal, both of whom looked like they’d been crying.

“What happened?” I asked. “Where’s Seamus?”

“Seamus is fine,” Gráinne said with a sniffle.

“We’ve determined the cause of death in Sophie’s case,” Molly said.

“And?” Rylie and I said in unison.

“It was accidental. The horse likely spooked and threw her into the stall wall before trampling her.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What brought you to that conclusion?”

“Not my conclusion,” Molly said. “The medical examiner’s. I’m just the messenger. Which means you need to stop going around telling people she was murdered.”

“Did you tell her about the nail?” I asked Gráinne.

“As I told them, one nail in a horse stall is not enough evidence for us to conduct a murder investigation,” Molly said.

I gaped at her. “The nail is completely different from what was used with Nuggie Buggie Boo-Boo Head. No other horses were in that stall. And the stall was cleaned out completely earlier that day.”

“Let’s just say that is enough to launch a murder investigation, how does that one nail bring us closer to the killer?” Molly’s tone was more exhausted than condescending.

“Have you looked into Brogan?” Rylie asked, changing the subject. “He was in deep with some bookie at the Gaelic Gold Grotto.”

“Arnold?” Molly asked weary laughter in her tone. “Have you met Arnold?”

Rylie put her hands on her hips. “Maybe you’re underestimating him.”

“Brogan had nothing to gain from Sophie’s death,” Molly said.

“But did he know that?” I asked. “Or did Arnold? Because, if not, they would have a motive.”

“Lots of people have motives,” Molly said. “That doesn’t mean they are responsible. Sometimes, it’s hard to face the facts because we don’t want to believe what they tell us, but not everything is a murder investigation.”

“Who else had the motive to kill my best friend?” Gráinne demanded.

When Molly didn’t answer, I said, “Tilda, Vince, Wes.”

“Yeh can’t be serious thinking Wes had something to do with this,” Seamus said from behind me.

“I don’t think he killed Sophie, but he did go into the bar that night and announce to the crowd that he was responsible for her death,” I said. “He likely meant it because he wasn’t protecting her or something, but it’s still possible.

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