A Dead Certainty: A Jack Daniels P.I. Novella #2 by Holt John

Author:Holt, John [Holt, John]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Phoenix
Published: 2015-03-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

John Probert

The following day, having received the directions, and having made an appointment to see Mr. John Probert, I made my way to the premises of Hughes and Wicks. It was just a short drive into the village of Rivenhall. The surgery was located just outside the village, in Oak Road.

Inside there were several people waiting to be seen. Clearly Hughes and Wickes was a popular practice. I was a little early for my appointment, but I made myself known to the receptionist.

“Yes Mr. Daniels,” she said. “We were expecting you.” She paused and looked down at her computer screen. “Mr. Probert is with someone right now, but if you would care to take a seat over there he shouldn’t be too long.” She pointed to a waiting area.

I walked over to where she had indicated and sat down next to a Black Labrador that was wearing one of those lamp shades thingys. You know the type. The ones intended to stop him from biting his stitches. He didn’t look happy. Whether it was from wearing the lamp shade or the fact that he was due to see the veterinary, or it was me sitting next to him, I wasn’t sure.

* * *

I hadn’t been kept waiting too long when the receptionist called my name. “Mr. Probert will see you now,” she announced. “Consultation Room three. Just through there.” She pointed down the corridor.

I knocked on the door, opened it and went in.

“Ah, Mr. Daniels, do come in,” Probert said. “Take a seat.”

“It’s good of you to see me like this, Mr. Probert,” I said. “I see that you are a very busy man.” I pointed back towards the waiting area.

He smiled, and nodded his head. “Mr. Drake said that you had some questions to ask about Blue Boy.”

I nodded. “That’s right.”

“I’m happy to help if I can,” Probert replied. “So what exactly can I do for you?”

“I understand that you had been treating Blue Boy,” I said.

Probert nodded, and heaved a sigh. “Yes I had. He was suffering with colic.”

“Colic,” I repeated. “Isn’t that something that babies have?”

Probert smiled. “Colic is actually not one condition; it is a catchall name for several different serious digestive problems that commonly afflict horses,” he started to explain. “Make no mistake you must deal with suspected colic immediately, as all forms can be fatal. That’s why it is imperative to seek care at the first signs of colic.”

“So why did Blue Boy die?” I asked. It was a simple question, perhaps too simple. I wondered if I would get a simple answer.

“To be absolutely honest with you, Mr. Daniels, I have no idea,” Probert replied. “I was utterly devastated. Heart failure, I just couldn’t believe it. I mean I’d checked his heart just a few days before. It was fine, a bit fast but nothing to be concerned about.”

“So what went wrong?” I pressed.

“As I said I don’t really know. The treatment for colic should be simple and straightforward,” he replied. “Blue Boy should have made a complete recovery after a few days.

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