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“And proud racehorse owner. Which was his downfall. Guy got fucking sentimental about his racehorse. Tried having the race fixed. Little allowance race with a bunch of nobody riders in it. Got to most of the riders except Jasper Lee who don’t bend that way, and Attila Johnson, a bug boy. From what I’d heard, Johnson was crooked, but I guess he all of a sudden got a conscience. He won’t play ball. They try to take Johnson out right in broad fucking daylight on the track yesterday morning during works. Got some girl rider instead. All this just so Marinella’s lousy horse could have a chance in a race. Un-fucking-believable. But this Attila Johnson, he rides the race of his life and wins it.”

“You got all this on tape?” I ask, incredulous.

“Nah, that I pieced together. What I got on tape this morning was Marinella telling Nick Blackman he’s gotta get rid of Attila, that the guy’s a loose cannon. Apparently they’d been trying to scare Attila for a few weeks with little incidents but it hadn’t done the trick. So Marinella tells Blackman he’s gotta help him take Attila out. On tape.” Carmelo grins.

“Now we got warrants coming and most of it gets wrapped up today. I’m not having anything to do with it from now on. They want to keep me useful, so I’m not blowing my cover. I’ll keep working for Radcliffe another couple weeks so it seems unrelated when I quit.”

“And what do I do?” I say, feeling left out.

“I guess it’s back to the sunshine state for you, friend. Check in with the office.” Carmelo adds, “Maybe they want you up here a few days before you go back.”

“Right. I’ll do that,” I tell him.

“It’s a bitch, huh?” he says apropos of I don’t know what.

“Yeah,” I shrug. “Good work,” I add, even though I feel left out and a little bitter about having taken this trip north for no good reason.

I walk away from the shedrow feeling at a loss until I remember Ruby mentioning some burgeoning friendship with Violet Kravitz, the wife of Henry Meyer. I stop the next hotwalker I see, asking if he knows where Henry Meyer’s barn is. The guy just shrugs. I ask a few more people until someone finally points me in the right direction.

It’s nearing midday now but the sun hasn’t won its battle with the steely cloud bed and the wind is working overtime.

I find Meyer’s shedrow but it’s deserted. Lunchtime I guess. I go to what I assume is the door to the barn office and knock, not expecting a response.

“Yes?” a female voice answers. I open the door and find an elegant gray-haired woman sitting at a desk, looking immensely guilty about something.

“Oh,” she says, visibly relieved, “who are you?”

“I’m a friend of Ruby Murphy’s?” I venture, smelling smoke and noticing a half-extinguished cigarette sticking out from under the woman’s boot.

“Oh!” The woman looks pleased. “Where is that girl?”

“I was going to ask you. Are you Violet Kravitz?”

“Yes I am, and you?”

“Sam Riverman,” I say, extending a hand.

“Oh.” Violet seems disappointed.

“I’m afraid you’ve caught me smoking, Sam Riverman. My husband prohibits such recklessness,” she says cheerfully. “Please don’t mention it to him.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Nice of you, Sam. Now tell me what brings you here looking for Miss Murphy?”

“She’d mentioned spending time with you. I happened to be on the backside visiting a friend. Thought I’d see if you had Ruby secreted away in here since I haven’t been able to reach her.”

“I haven’t been able to reach her either, actually, but since I haven’t seen hide nor hair of Attila, I’m assuming the two have reconciled and disappeared together.”

“Attila?” I say with a sinking feeling.

“Oh, you don’t know Attila?”

“No, I’m afraid I don’t. He’s a rider though, isn’t he?”

“Yes, he’s a rider. And the paramour of our Miss Murphy though I had the distinct feeling the liaison wasn’t long for this world. But now I’m gossiping with a complete stranger. I hope you won’t think poorly of me.”

“No,” I say, feeling sick.

“You look dejected. Have I blundered horribly? Are you a suitor of Ruby’s?”

“Oh… I don’t know,” I say, making a helpless gesture.

“I’m