Page 6 of A Touch of Murder (Touched #1)

"Not sure at all. It's a guess. I never saw his face, but I figure if Edith's been on this saddle, the chances are good her husband used it as well. The age would be right for what I saw."

"Any idea where to look?" Kyle asked.

Adam shook his head. "I saw water. Not a lake, but a stream. Not the river, but a steady stream. Large pines. I'm sorry. I didn't get more. I can try again or even come down and touch the horse. I might see more that way." He took another long drink of water and another bite of chocolate.

"You're sure it was Edith Rowin you saw?" Kyle asked.

Adam wasn't offended by the question. He understood that Kyle needed to be sure before going to talk to the woman, especially if it was her husband who was dead.

"I saw her face, along with a ton of turquoise.

She's always wearing her turquoise jewelry.

Only one in town I know that does." Adam took another drink, draining the bottle.

He took the second bottle that Jacey handed to him.

"If I hadn't seen the man clutch his chest and fall, I'd have guessed it was Edith you'd be looking for, but I got the sense the dead person was male, and that goes with the visual I saw of the man falling from the horse.

One other thing, his boot was caught in the stirrup at some point.

He might have been dragged a bit before falling free from the horse. "

"I hate my job some days." Kyle nodded. "I'll get a search team out looking and contact Edith. Thanks for your help."

"Anytime. Just wish it was better news." Adam stood. "Let me know if you need help. Jacey and I can close the store and come help if you need people."

"I'll give you a call if we need feet on the ground but let us check out a few places first. Your clue about a stream gives me a couple of locations to look.

First, I need to go talk to Edith and make sure Roy isn't home.

I'll let you know what happens." Kyle gripped the saddle horn and picked it up.

"Thanks." Adam went over and held the door open for Kyle. He watched as he put the saddle into the back of his truck, then climbed in and pulled away. Turning back, he met Jacey's stare. "I hate delivering bad news."

"But if you didn't, it could take them even longer to identify who they're looking for and he could lay out there longer. This way, hopefully Kyle gets to him before the animals do." Jacey held up another candy bar. "Eat this."

Adam walked back over to the desk and sat down in Jacey's chair, taking the candy bar. "Thanks."

"Well, that was an interesting start to the day." Jacey leaned against the desk. "You want more water?"

"I'm good." Adam took a deep breath. "Not how I like starting the day.

Roy's death is going to hit the community hard.

" The family was one of the richer in the area and owned a large amount of land just outside town.

They ran cattle along with training horses.

Adam didn't know the family well, but everyone knew either the older couple or one of their five kids.

"My mom's good friends with Edith. Do you think I should call and let my mom know what happened?"

"Not yet. Let Kyle be the one to handle things.

I don't want people rushing to Edith's side before Kyle has a chance to speak with her.

I didn't see the man's face. For all we know it was someone else on that horse.

I know it was male and older. I'm only assuming it's Roy.

Kyle could get out there and find Roy alive and well. "

"True." Jacey went over to the shelf that held the coffee pot and poured himself a cup. "You want one?"

Adam held out the cup he'd been drinking when he unlocked the door this morning. "Thanks."

Jacey took the mug and filled it. "So do you think the police will be back to talk to you more about the Wilson case?"

"I think they'll be back." Though he wasn't sure whether it would be due to the Wilson case or because of what had happened when he held Barret's handcuffs.

He still wasn't sure what to think about all that.

"The one cop who doesn't believe I have any talents will investigate me as a suspect.

It's happened before. It's my own fault.

I should have been clearer with the Wilsons on the fact that I didn't think their daughter was found here in Hidden Falls. "

"You told them you didn't know where she was, only that she had been found and was in a morgue. We don't even have a morgue last I looked."

"We don't, but they were distraught. I'd just told them she was dead.

I can't blame them for being confused." Adam stood.

"We'll worry about the police when they come back but be prepared for it.

My guess is they'll spend today looking through Jane Doe cases and find her, then come back to find out how I knew. "

"I don't know how you put up with people thinking you’re a con artist. Anyone who knows you—"

"That's the thing. Not everyone knows me.

I'm used to it. Besides, I can't blame them when the world is filled with con artists claiming to do things like I do.

There's nothing I can do about it other than prove to them I'm the real deal.

They either believe or they don't. I've got some bills to pay and emails to return, but yell if anyone walks in for a reading.

Let me know when the packages come and I'll help you set the new items out.

" Adam headed toward his office in the back.

"I've got this. Go relax. Eat another candy bar. You're still pale." Jacey waved him off.

Adam smiled. Jacey knew him well. He went into his office, closed the door, and drank two more bottles of water while eating half of another candy bar.

He was sure it was psychological, but death readings always seemed to take more from him.

As he thought about Ray and Edith Rowin, he hoped this once he was wrong and the death had been someone else.

His gut told him he wasn't wrong. He just prayed they found him so the family could have some peace.