Westfarrow Island by Paul A Barra

Author:Paul A Barra [Barra, Paul A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781579625696
Publisher: The Permanent Press
Published: 2019-04-03T04:00:00+00:00

“Did you hear about Marv Harris, Aggie?”

“You mean Jack’s friend?” He could hear the sudden stress in her voice, as if her larynx had constricted. A second earlier she had been gushing over her filly’s bounce-back from her first race and how Manny Ramirez was anxious to ride her again, her voice open and easy. Now she sounded frightened. “What happened?”

“He was killed at the track. Shot.”

“My God. We did hear about a murder at the track but I don’t remember hearing his name. What does this all mean, Tony? Is Jack involved?”

“I don’t know. Has he been around since he talked to Jesse?”

“Not that I know of. We haven’t seen him, at least.”

Her voice trailed off, the darkness of fear sending her emotions into a slow spiral downward. Tagliabue had known for a while that she was afraid Jack Brunson was going to insinuate his way back into her life somehow. Nothing good could come from that. Jack had purchased the filly, Francine, thought he had made a smart deal to get her, and had recognized the potential in her breeding and conformation. Losing her to a wife he had already lost was not a slight he would forget. His bizarre visit to his son at the stable, even risking fraud at the security office by violating Agnes Ann’s restraining order, even if he really had bribed someone so he could get on the backstretch, seemed menacing to Agnes Ann, some sort of prelude to a vendetta. Tagliabue felt the need to reassure her.

“Listen Aggie, I’m searching for Jack Brunson. I think he’s here, but if he shows up in Saratoga I want to get back up there. Can you let me know if you hear anything?”

“Yes, of course. Do you think I need to take precautions?”

“The New York State Police are investigating Marv’s murder. Have they spoken to you yet?”

“No. I haven’t heard a thing.”

“Maybe they haven’t made the connection. You should contact them. Tell them you’re frightened because Jack snuck into the track to visit a son he hasn’t seen but once in his life. Tell them I said Jack and Marv Harris were up to something, I just don’t know what.”

“Tony, I can’t do that. They’ll suspect you are involved.”

“They already suspect that. I’ve been interrogated by the Bath sheriff’s office. And cleared, by the way. I want to put pressure on Jack, beat the bushes, y’know. Flush him out. He has more to

worry about right now than the horse you wrangled him out of, believe me. Talking to the law would actually help me.”

Agnes Ann was silent for a fat minute. He imagined her thinking of the harm she could do him. Finally, she said: “All right, baby, I’m going to the Saratoga barracks just as soon as I hang up. Is there, ah, is there anything I should not tell them?”

Tagliabue laughed at her tone, the implication that they were kids playing hooky or something and she was the good little girl wanting to keep her boyfriend out of trouble, trouble she suspected he deserved.

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