Matty gave that statement a moment of thought. It was strange to think a man could die and that the cause of his death would not be easily known. Oh, she knew it happened on television and in movies, but real life wasnt usually as gruesome, or at least as consistently gruesome, as fiction. In real life, people died in ways that werent a mystery.

"When? Do you know when it happened?" Matty asked, not really knowing if she wanted to know the answer, if she wanted to know just how long her half brothers body had been left out and exposed.

"Twelve days ago," Vivi answered, her voice quiet. "The same day the man who fell into your truck died," she added.

Matty frowned. "The same day I arrived," she said. "Do you think they are related? Do you know who he is yet?"

Vivi lifted a shoulder. "At this point, we still dont have an ID. But as to whether or not the two incidents are related, we dont have any evidence indicating that they are, but the investigation into Brads death is still in its early stages. Honestly, Id be surprised to find out they werent. Though, how they might be related, well have to figure out."

Dash and the others gave Matty the space and time to let the information sink in. For a moment, she stood in the silence. Then she gave a small shrug and a shake of her head. "I guess, well, Im not really sure what to think. I suppose over the next few days well have to sort out what to do with Brads animals and all that, and Im really not exactly sure what, if anything, I should be doing, but . . ." Her voice trailed off.

"When my grandmother died," Matty started speaking again, "we all knew it was going to happen, and by that point, Id been living with her for over fifteen years. We knew who her friends were, who we needed to tell. She was very clear about what kind of service she wanted and all that. But with Brad, I have no idea and Im not even sure Im the one who should have anything to do with it."

Dash reached over and took her hand in his.

Ian wrapped an arm around Vivi who leaned into her fiance. "You dont have to do anything tonight," Ian said. "Vivienne is still doing her thing and I would imagine, knowing what little I know of Brad from what we took into evidence, that somewhere in the house he left a will, or some kind of document, that will explain what his wishes were."

Matty frowned and dropped her gaze. Shed been through a lot of Brads files and paperwork and hadnt seen a will, but she hadnt really been looking for one either. "I guess I can see what I can find. He has files in his office, but he also has a room full of documents and other things down in the basement."

"Why dont you start that tomorrow," Dash suggested. "Theres nothing to be done about it tonight," he added, looking out for her more than anything. She looked up from her wineglass and met Dashs gaze. For a moment, her breath caught at the emotion, at the caring she saw in his eyes. With a small smile, she squeezed his hand.

"I think thats a good idea. Vivi, Ian," she said, turning back to the pair. "Dashs mom sent us home with a huge lasagna this afternoon, and I have some greens from the garden. Would you like to join us for dinner?"

Vivi and Ian accepted her invitation and the four of them spent the evening like old friends, eating, talking, drinking, and even laughing. That shed only known them all less than two weeks did not escape Mattys notice, but for the first time she could remember, she let herself go with it. In her life, real friends were forged over years of loyalty and consistency. But on this night, in this quiet place, she let herself believe that time need not always be the arbiter of what is good or real.

By ten oclock the next morning it was clear that news had gotten out about Brads death. Elise, his neighbor, had stopped by and Chen had called, as had a few of Brads other friends. Matty had called her mother and Charlotte to let them both know what had happened. To say that they werent happy with her staying in Windsor was a huge understatement.

While Charlotte was concerned about the possibility of Brad having been murdered not half a mile from where Matty was staying, her mother was more concerned about the arrival of Sandra and Douglas Brooks. Matty assured both of them that she would be fine and that, while she was living in the house, mostly because of the animals, she wasnt alone. And as for her father and his wife, well, Matty knew she could handle herself with them. She actually hadnt given their arrival much thought-not real thought-until her mother brought it up.

"Everything okay?" Dash asked when shed hung up the phone with her mom. Hed taken another day off from his clinic but was still on call for emergencies.

Matty frowned. "My mom is worried about what might happen when Brads parents show up."

Dash came to her side and propped his hip against the kitchen counter next to where she sat. "Do you think it will be a problem?"

She mulled it over before answering. "Im not really sure. I know I can treat them civilly, for sure. But this situation is going to be so much more emotionally charged than the last time I saw them. I mean, my god, they just lost a son. Their only child. I really cant imagine what they must be going through, what they must be feeling right now. And then to find me here, well," she paused. "Well, Im an easy scapegoat given who I am and what happened after my grandmother died, with me inheriting most of the estate and all."

"Do you want to leave?" he asked. "You can always stay with me," he added.

Again, she thought before answering. "I dont think I should leave quite yet. There are the animals that Brad entrusted to me and then, depending on what Vivi finds, the police may need to be here again. I just think that someone should be here to handle things for Brad and Im not sure his parents would be able, or should even be asked, to do that."

Dash reached over and brushed a lock of her hair back from her face. "Thats very fair of you."

She gave a small laugh. "I know." The irony that she was the one who would have to maintain the peace after everything her father had, or had not, done was not lost her. "But again, taking me out of the picture, Sandra and Douglas are two people who just lost their son. Theyll need someone to handle the details."

Dash opened his mouth to say something but his ringing phone cut him off. Pulling it from his pocket, he glanced at the number, frowned and hit the answer button.

"Kristen? Is everything okay?"

Matty watched his expression as he listened.

"Whoa, slow down. How long?" he asked. "Left hind?" He waited for an answer. "Its okay, Kristen, Im glad you called. Ill be right over. Just try to keep him calm until I get there, okay?"

Dash must have received the reassurance he was looking for because he hung up and looked at her with a far-off expression, like he was trying to figure something out.

"Everything okay?" she asked, repeating the same question hed asked the caller.

He gave a shake of his head and held out a hand. "I need to make a vet call, will you come?" he asked. She nodded and he filled her in as they locked up the house and climbed into his truck. "That was Kristen, my neighbor to the east. Shes a kid, fourteen. Her dad leaves her alone a lot so she has my number in case of emergencies. About a year ago, her dad bought her a horse as a guilt gift and now the horse, Bogey, is tangled up in the fence."

"That sounds bad."

"It can be, depending on how much they thrash around," he answered.

"But something else is bothering you?" Matty pressed. Dash had looked like he was pondering more than just a common problem when hed hung up the phone.

After a moment, he spoke. "Yeah, its weird that hes only tangled up on his left hind leg. Its possible he rolled near the fence and rolled into it with that leg, but usually when I see a horse tangled in a fence, its a front leg or both back legs. It may be nothing, but Ill know more when we get there."

Ten minutes later, they were walking down a hill toward a distraught young girl who was alternately trying to soothe a clearly frightened horse and wave them toward her. As they approached, Dash introduced Matty to Kristen, a waify-looking girl with the biggest, deepest pair of blue eyes Matty had ever seen, offset by Mediterranean coloring and dark blonde hair. Kristen very politely murmured her greeting but promptly turned her attention to Dash who was running his hand down the side of the enormous brown animal as he made his way to the entangled leg.

Matty watched Dash as he made a quick visual examination of the mess, then turned her own eyes to the situation. And cringed. It wasnt just a single wire from a fence wrapped around the poor horses leg; it was five or six. Even to her, it looked strange, like five or six strands of wire had come unwound from each other and had all wrapped separately around the horses back leg in various places.

Mattys eyes went to the fence. It was made of heavy gauge wire and constructed much like a rope, which would explain all the different strands. It sure as hell didnt look like it would come apart easily. In fact it seemed like the kind of wire that would require either years of wear and tear to come apart, or opposable thumbs.

"Dash?" she said, calling his attention to her. His eyes looked up, even as his hand stayed on the shaking horse. She made a small gesture to the fence with her eyes, not sure if the situation was as weird as she thought it was and not wanting to call Kristens attention to it if she was wrong.

But the look Dash gave her told her he was thinking along the same lines.

"What can I do?" Matty asked.

"I brought a tranquilizer in with my stuff," he said, nodding to the box and bucket of supplies hed unpacked from his truck. "But Im going to need some wire cutters to get this off."

She turned to head back to his truck but was surprised when Dash stopped her. "Actually, Kristen, can you run up to my truck and get the cutters? They are in the back, on right hand side, fourth drawer down. Matty can stay here with Bogey. Shes good with animals and probably doesnt know her way around a vet truck as well as you do."

Not sure what Dash was thinking, she stilled while Kristen, who looked about to protest, finally turned her eyes to Matty.

"Come over here," Kristen said, motioning Matty to her place at Bogeys head. "Talk to him. Hes a cuddler and will like resting his nose on your chest."

Matty did as she was asked and as soon as Kristen looked convinced that Bogey was going to be okay, she turned and started to run up the hill, being careful not to startle her horse.

"Dash?" Matty made a silent inquiry.

"I dont want to freak Kristen out, but this looks intentional. I want to get some pictures to give to Ian and Vivi. If they agree, I think someone needs to have a talk with Kristens dad."

"Once youve taken them, I think you should send them straight over," she suggested. "If Ian agrees and thinks it looks suspicious, hell want to come over and have a look around."

Dash inclined his head even as he took several pictures with his phone. "Thats a good point. When Kristen gets back, why dont you take my phone up to the truck, e-mail them to Ian, and then give him a call. That way well know what he thinks before were done here," he added as he made his way to the other side of Bogey and took a few more photos.

"Do you think this could be related to what happened to Bob?" she asked.

Dashs head came around, and judging by the look on his face, he hadnt considered that.

"Shit."

"It was just a thought," Matty said. "I dont know much about what kind of crime happens up here, but it would just seem weird that there would be two animal-related incidences in such a short period of time, that is, if something was done to Bogey."

Dash swore again. "Kristens coming back. Ill tranquilize Bogey and once hes down, Ill cut him free. Take this," he said, handing her his phone. "Once shes here, go on up and get the photos to Ian."

Matty nodded and slipped the phone into her pocket. A few minutes later she was walking up the hill to the truck, phone in hand, e-mailing the pictures. When she was done, she dialed Ians number and told him what was going on. After taking a look at the images, Ian wasnt any happier with the situation than they were and was on his way over to have a look for himself.

As Dash made his way back up the hill, Matty was pondering a grumpy-looking sheep in one of Kristens pastures. Bogey was up and moving slowly behind his owner as they made their way to the small barn. The horses back leg was bandaged, but at least he was walking with only a minimal limp.

When Dash reached her side, she nodded toward the sheep. "He always look like that?"

The poor thing, covered in wooly dreadlocks sticking out at all angles, looked like it hadnt been sheared in ages. But what was most noticeable was his expression. Matty hadnt known sheep could have expressions, but this one sure looked to be telling them to fuck off.

Dash chuckled. "Yeah. Thats Bad-Hair-Sheep. Hes too mean to shear so Kristen just lets him be. What did Ian say?" he asked, turning serious.

She paused then gestured toward the road where they could see Ians truck making its way toward them. "He didnt like what he saw any more than you did. He says he doesnt know much about horses, but having grown up with cattle, that kind of tangle would have caught his attention, too. Not to mention it happening on the heels of what happened to Bob."

As Ian drove the rest of the way over to them, Matty went silent and contemplated the past two weeks. Despite the events earlier in the summer, Windsor didnt strike her as an area prone to violence-but there had been two deaths and two animal mutilations in her short time there. As a city girl, and one from DC at that, it didnt necessarily scare her, but it did make her wonder just what was going on. Were they all related? Were they all a coincidence? It all just seemed too, well, odd was the only word she could come up with, to be unrelated. But then she knew how much Brad loved animals, so how or why he could be tied to someone who could do what was done to Bob and Bogey, didnt make sense.

As if reading her mind, Dash wrapped an arm around her waist, pulled her to his side, and dropped a kiss on her temple. "Ian will figure it out. You have other things to think about right now. Lets just get through this day, through Brads parents arrival."

For a moment shed forgotten-not about Brad, but about the situation. It was much easier to try to solve the puzzle of just what was happening in Windsor than think about the emotional quagmire that awaited her when Sandra and Douglas showed up. Matty nodded.

"How is Bogey?" she asked as they watched Ian climb from his truck.

"Thankfully, not as bad as it could have been. He didnt need stitches, but we cleaned him up good. Kristen will have to keep an eye on him for the next couple of weeks."

That was good news, she thought. At least he hadnt lost any pieces of his anatomy, like Bob, or been permanently injured.

"Dash, Matty," Ian called as he walked toward them.

"Ian," Dash responded and, with a gesture of his head, he began to lead Ian down the hill.

"Hey, Dash," she said, stopping the two men. "Im going to go be with Kristen. Shell probably wonder why the sheriff is here and I dont want her to worry too much."

"Thanks, that would be great," Ian said, then he and Dash continued down.

Walking into the barn, she spied the young girl leaning against a stall door, arms resting on the top of the lower half, her chin on her hands, staring into the box.

"Kristen?" Matty said, coming closer. The girl turned her head but didnt raise it. "I hear hes going to be okay," she continued as she approached the stall. Bogey was standing but looked a little groggy. His head hung low and he wasnt moving much.

"Yeah, thats what Dr. Kent said, I just dont know how it happened in the first place," she answered. "I mean Im super careful about that kind of stuff. I turn him out at night because its cooler and there are less flies, but Im always checking the fence 'cause I dont want anything to happen to him." Kristen paused for a moment, then a look of guilt crossed over her face. "I guess I just didnt check good enough yesterday and now look at him," she added with a gesture to Bogey, who made a half-hearted attempt to perk his ears at his owner.

Matty sighed internally. On one hand, telling Kristen what was going on in her pasture, that Dash and Ian thought what had happened to Bogey was intentional, would erase her guilt. On the other, it might terrify her.

"Is your dad around?" she asked.

Kristen shook her head. "No, but he gets back today. Flying back from Singapore or someplace like that."

"What time is he supposed to get home?"

Kristen shrugged like it didnt matter. Based on what Dash had told her, it probably didnt, since he would most likely turn around and be off somewhere else in the next day or so.

"I dont know, two or something like that."

"Do you have anyone else who comes to stay with you?"

Kristen wagged her head. "I did, but not after I turned fourteen. Now he says Im old enough to be on my own. I catch the bus to school and he has someone who comes in and helps with shopping and cleaning and things like that, but mostly Im on my own."

Matty couldnt tell from Kristens tone whether she thought this was a good thing or not. In fact, it sounded a bit to her like the girl just didnt care because caring about it, one way or the other, wasnt going to change anything. Matty knew a thing or two about what that felt like.

"Look, Kristen, you should know that whatever happened to Bogey isnt your fault."

That got the girls attention and Kristen straightened and looked at her. Matty continued. "Ian MacAllister, the sheriff, is here right now, down in your field with Dash. Dash didnt like the way it looked when he arrived, how the wire was wrapped around Bogeys leg, so he took a few pictures and we sent them to Ian. Ian agreed that it didnt look right, so theyre down in the field right now, looking into it."

Kristen stared at her for a long moment, her huge eyes blinking as the information sank in. "You mean you think someone was here in the field and did this to Bogey on purpose?"

Matty pursed her lips and gave a tight nod.

Kristens eyes widened and went back to her horse. "But who would do that? Who would hurt an animal like that?"

"We dont know, Kristen, and thats why Dash wanted to call Ian out. Look," she paused, looking for the right words to say to a fourteen-year-old who was, for all intents and purposes, living as an adult. "I dont think you should stay here alone. Not until Dash and Ian sort this out. I know youre not going to want to leave Bogey, but I dont like the idea of you being here alone."

It was clear from the look on Kristens face that, until that point, shed been more concerned about Bogey than herself; that it hadnt occurred to her just how creepy it was to have someone coming onto her property.

"But I dont want to leave Bogey," she said.

"I understand that," Matty said. "Maybe we can find a compromise," she added, not wanting to make things worse for the girl.

"We have a compromise," came Dashs voice at the barn door as he and Ian walked in. "Kristen, none of us like the idea of you being alone. I hope you dont mind, but I called my parents and theyre going to come hang out with you until your dad gets home. That way you can keep an eye on Bogey but arent alone. How is that?"

Matty thought Kristen would have done just about anything Dash said, not because she had a crush on him, but because hed saved her horse. The young girl nodded.

"Ill call your dad this afternoon and fill him in," Ian added.

Matty held her tongue, opting to wait until she was alone with Dash to ask him about what he and Ian had found. She figured they would have already said everything they were comfortable saying in front of Kristen and anything else could wait.

On the way back to Brads house, the quiet of the truck had an eerie, creepy feel to it, given what had just happened. But even so, Mattys mind wasnt so much on the deed but on trying to sort out why. And so she asked Dash his opinion on the matter.

He shrugged. "Im not sure why someone would do that. Same way its not really in my realm of comprehension as to why someone would have cut off Bobs toe. The easy answer, as disgusting as it is, is someone just gets a kick out of hurting animals."

"I know thats the most obvious, but it just seems strange to me. Two animals, in the same small town. Has anything like this ever happened here before?" she asked.

He shook his head. "Not to my knowledge."