“I tell you what Sam, I’ll talk to the city building council about the permitting and a lawyer about the pre-selling of the Condos and you write me up a proposal on how much equipment and labor we’d need to do the job. The cranes can be leased, so that leaves the concrete pumps for the lower floors and a lot of men.”
“I know better than to fight with you over this Harper. If that’s what you want I’ll try to find the men to do the job, hell there’s guys’ dying to work for Lewis Construction especially if I tell’em Clayton’s daughter will run the project.”
“You and me, Sam, we’ll be in charge of this project, Robert won’t have anything to do with this. I won’t keep him from contracting as much as the company can handle, but this project is all you and me Sam.”
A week later was the Devon Horse show in Devon Pa. Richard didn’t go, it was just Jose’ and Harper, they drove to Devon the day before and that gave her the opportunity to hire six off duty police officers to come to the event. They were dressed in plain clothes, and after Harper had explained what had happened at the Hampton show three of the off duty officers checked the surrounding area for all the vantage points where a possible shot could be taken. The other three walked through the crowds and parked trailers for any signs of a potential shooter.
Walter Keys, her trainer, tried over and over to get Harper to forget the event he said that her life wasn’t worth the reward of showing and being the best. He was convinced that the shot was meant for her and that the slight hesitation of Tao was just enough to cause the bullet to hit the horse and not Kate. He thought because the announcer had mistakenly announced she was the rider someone had taken the opportunity to try and kill her and only chance circumstances had saved Kate’s life.
If that was true, it might not be someone at the event that wanted her dead, and weather she competed or not that wasn’t going to stop whoever it was from trying to kill her again. She had tried to prepare herself for an assassin, Walter’s warning hadn’t gone without notice, she had her training, and she had remembered what her father had taught her. No she wouldn’t go like a lamb to slaughter, she’d find out what this was about, already she was having a private lab analyze the bullet that had killed Tao. Harper decided she wouldn’t sit back and wait she’d live her life and dare them to come for her.
The event went as planned, Harper won the jumper round with her fearless horse Neck Rider, and not one fault of hesitation the loyal horse cleared every fence and hedge. She received a standing ovation from the crowd. There were no incidents or reports of anyone with a gun or rifle.
The next day at home she discussed her experience at the event with Richard, he seemed distant and unconcerned. Harper attributed it to the knowledge that Sam was putting together an estimate of labor and equipment for the downtown Boston project.
The next day Harper dressed in her best conservative dress and went into the city, she had a meeting scheduled with the permit approval committee and the city council members. Her lawyer went with her, he had been in the service with her father and she even called him Uncle Walter.
When they filled out all the paperwork at the permit department their meeting with the approval committee was unanimous. All of the members had known Harper’s father and had heard him talk about his wishes for the downtown family property.
At city hall the council room was nearly full, to Harper and her lawyer’s surprise there was a lot of local opposition to the project, despite the city council’s positive discussion and praise for Clayton Lewis and his philanthropy in the community. However when the chairman questioned whether or not the attendant’s in the room actually lived in the city limits no one came forward. Apparently someone was stacking the deck against Lewis Construction but the calculated demonstration didn’t work.
However the vote of the city council was much closer than Harper expected. The issue was settled in her favor by only one vote, another sign that someone had paid to see the issue voted down. But to no avail on this day, the permits were granted and the city council had voted their approval regardless of being voted through by only one vote. Harper could draft the legal documents to begin the preselling of the condo units and raise the needed funds to go forward with her father’s project, The Lewis Center.
At home Richard never asked how her day went and Harper didn’t explain. They continued to get farther apart emotionally.
On Saturday Harper was up early and to her surprise Kate was at the stables waiting for her. She had made coffee and poured a cup for Harper and Jose’ when they came in, Kate was excited about the event. They loaded the tack and saddles, Kate hung her clothes in the trailer, and soon they were on their way to the Lake Placid Horse Show.
Six off duty New York policemen met them at the gate, all dressed in off duty attire, but they were all armed. Kate hadn’t expected the officers but felt more relaxed that they were there. Harpers explained about the Hampton show the men checked the event grounds and surrounding area. All the officers communicated with cell phones at appointed times, they checked the parking area and the stands and around the course. Harper was confident that there’d be no incidents.
The hunter class went first and Kate drew an eighth position, they got to watch the other riders and the complicated course didn’t go without every contestant having a problem with at least one of the barriers. Soon it was Kate’s turn.
“Brave’s not as young as Tao, Kate,” Harper said. “He won’t hesitate so give him his head, don’t hold him back. Even though this is not a timed event he’ll want to attack the jumps, so let him go. Remember it doesn’t matter how you do, just show these ass holes you’re not afraid, Brave will do the rest.”
“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” Walter said.
Kate got the start sign and she circled Brave once then approached the first fence and he went over it with ease, and all Kate’s nervousness went away. Barrier after barrier Brave looked like the champion he was. A flawless round and a standing ovation for the brave girl that had come back from a broken arm and a horse dying under her, Kate had never been so euphoric.
Harper and Neck Rider drew the last position of the jumper class. The crowd was anxious after the other participants, Harper had dominated three prior events and that had attracted a lot of attention. Two of the previous riders had set personal best times.
She stood in front of Neck Rider and put her forehead against the horses bowed head, eyes closed as if they both prayed. Harper full of energy vaulted up onto the saddle without a boost up, something none of the other participants were capable of. Neck Rider threw his head back and down and raised his front feet and stomped the ground as the start sounded. Harper made a clicking sound and Neck Rider trotted toward the first fence. All she had to do was hang on, she reached down and patted his neck in-between barriers once and that seem to excite the horse even more.
The event was over, and Neck Rider had shattered the record time for a jumping event. Onlookers and jumper enthusiast knew they had witnessed something special. Offers to buy the fearless horse came one after another as Harper made her way back to her trailer. Walter Keys was offered a fortune to come and serve as top trainer at numerous stables. Kate also got offers to ride owner’s mounts in upcoming events.
Jose’ took care of the horses as spectators stood near and had their pictures taken with the amazing animal, they would say, “see I was there that day.”
The award ceremony was chaotic, photos, congratulations from event coordinators, and the presentation of the large silver cup with the record time already etched into its surface. Reporters from equestrian magazines, domestic and European all requesting interviews, a photographer showed the images of the day that he said would be published around the world. The image was Harper and Neck Rider forehead to forehead, the next was her leaping to the back of her fearless friend.
Nearly every late night news television station reported the event, and even though horse events rarely made the news the images of Harper
and Neck Rider were very popular. They showed them head to head, her leaping to the saddle, and several images of them both going over fences with Harper leaning forward over the strong horse’s neck.
After the day was done and Harper had gotten home and taken a shower, Robert never once asked how her event had turned out. Instead he talked about the two new contracts he had gotten and explained how busy the company was going to be.
Harper stayed in bed the next morning until Robert had gotten up and gone to the office. She dressed in Jeans, a t-shirt, boots, and a black leather bombers jacket. It was cool but not cold, winter was finally giving way to spring.
She drove to the ballistics lab of the local police department. Her visit had been authorized by Jerry Matson the officer that had showed up at her house to inform her about her parents the night of their unfortunate head on accident. Harper got out of her truck and walked up to the door, Jerry met her just inside.
“Good morning Mrs. Lewis, it’s good to see you again. A lot has changed in a little over a year. I saw you got married, and who could have missed all those pictures of you and your horse all over the news.”
“Please, officer Matson just call me Harper. Ya a lot has changed, I’m not so sure for the better. I’m not the kind of person that craves publicity.”
“I’m Lieutenant Matson now. I passed the Lieutenant exam and just got promoted, but please just call me Jerry. As much effort as it took for you to accomplish such an achievement in the equestrian world I’d think you’d welcome the attention,” he said.
“I don’t do it for the attention Jerry I compete because like everything else I do I was brought up that way. To do everything with conviction, be the best you can be, that’s why I do what I do Jerry, I don’t give a shit about the attention, it’s the competition.
“Ok, so there’s something you need our help with?”
“I do,” Harper took out the spent bullet from her pocket, “I was at the Hampton Horse Show and someone shot and killed one of my horses. A friend of mine was ridding the horse and when she fell she suffered a compound fracture. The local Hampton police department looked into the matter but covered up the fact that the horse was shot instead of the believed cause that the horse had a massive aneurism. It seems they thought it more advantageous to avoid bad publicity than find out who killed a horse. However, I place more value in my horse than I do most people.”
“So you want us to look at the bullet and tell you anything that might help in locating the perpetrator?”
“Yea Jerry, I’d be glad to pay.”
“Don’t worry about it, I’m with you, I like horses more than most people too, but I do find they have one thing in common, they’re mostly both horses’ asses.”
After the technicians expert analyses they stood in the lab and talked privately.
“It came from a Remington rifle. The military uses a modified version, an M40a series, it’s a sniper rifle. The technician said this round was shot from a long distance, must have been a hell of a shot.”
Harper went back to the house. She was making lunch when Aunt Rachel came in with a travel brochure. Harper put two slices of sourdough bread in the toaster for a tuna salad sandwich.
“I’ll have one of those,” Rachel said, “and a beer.”
“What you got there,” Harper asked?
“It’s a singles cruise on one of those super liners out of Miami, look at the size of this thing? Four swimming pools, night clubs, all you can eat, four points of call and a private island.”
“I think it’s a great idea Rachel.”
She made then both a sandwich and poured some barbeque potato chips out on their plates and opened a couple beers. Rachel read the brochure about the cruse and Harper flipped through the Boston Herald and finally came across the crime article by James Cullen.
The article was about the death of an older man named Parker Doss, a wealthy Boston man from an old family that owned some commercial property. It listed one of them as a multi-storied building on Medford Street. The article went on to say Mr. Doss had refused to sell the building to an international company, (the article didn’t name it). It finished reporting Mr. Doss was shot with a high powered rifle from at least four hundred meters away, possibly the rooftop of a hotel building.
After Aunt Rachel left to go plan what she would take on her cruise, Harper picked up her cell phone and called the Boston Herald.
“I’d like to speak with James Cullen please.”
“I’ll page him Ma’am, I’m not sure he’s in the office?”
After several minutes, “James Cullen here,” he said.
“Mr. Cullen, I was calling about your article in the Herald. Do you happen to know what type of rifle it was that killed Mr. Doss?”
“I’m afraid that’s one of the things the local police investigating the death keep’s to themselves. Who am I speaking with?”
“Just an interested citizen, do you know who the company was that made the offer to purchase the property from Mr. Doss?”
“I do, but using that information in my article would expose the paper to a possible law suit. If you want any more information you’ll have to tell me who I’m talking to and make an appointment for a personal meeting, I have the feeling you know more than you’re saying.”
“I’ll be right there Mr. Cullen.”
Harper didn’t change clothes, she did braid her hair and put on a Red Socks ball cap, with a pair of sunglasses there was a chance someone would recognize her from television video about the horse show. Thirty five minutes later she pulled into the Boston Herald parking garage and stopped at the front desk and asked where James Cullen’s office was. Down the hall she stopped at the fifth door on the right, the sign on the door said crime reporter, James Cullen. She didn’t knock and when she opened the door James was startled.
“Crap, you could have knocked, let me guess you’re the concerned citizen.”
She sat in the straight back chair in the corner and didn’t take her sunglasses off.
“Yea go ahead have a seat,” James sarcastically said.
“So what’s the address of the building that Mr. Doss owned,” Harper asked, barley giving him time to sit back down.
“This is how it’s gonna work,” James said. “You have to give me something if I give you something.”
“What’s the address of the building Mr. Doss wouldn’t sell,” Harper asked again?
“It’s on Medford Street, near gateway shopping center. Say, are you a private detective?”
“No, what’s the company’s name that made the offer to buy?”
“Hey that wasn’t my question, what’s your connection to the case?”
“Are you new at this, you asked a question, and I answered it. What’s the company’s name that made the offer?”
“Ok, we’ll start again. It’s an international company with lots of connections in the United States, the CEO is listed as a Saudi national, the name of the company however is The Marine Group.”
Even with sunglasses on Harper couldn’t hide the shock on her face. It was the same company that had made the offer to buy her family property on Mass. Ave. and Dalton Street.
“I hit a nerve, that’s obvious. My turn, what’s your connection to the Doss murder and his property?”
Harper was quiet for a moment, thinking about how to answer and still not give too much away.
“The same group offered to buy another property in the city limits that’s undeveloped. Let’s just say I know them.”
“Was Mr. Doss killed by a rifle shot?”
Now it was James turn to look shocked. This girl knew more than she wanted to say and it was becoming more obvious she was putting together a story in her head and he was being left out.
“Yes, and it was a hell of a shot, had to have been a trained sniper, a pro, I have a friend that was there the night Mr. Doss died, he has some experience you might say. We stood where the shooter took the shot. He said there’s not three pe
ople on the East coast that could make a shot like that.”
Harper’s face must have turned white. She thought she was going to be sick. Just the thought that whoever had killed Tao was trying to kill her. It had been Harper’s name that was mistakenly given as the rider. Kate could have been killed if not for Tao’s hesitation.
“Listen let’s stop this dance, I can obviously see your upset. Tell me what’s going on with you, and my friend can help.”
Harper got up slowly and moved to the door to leave.
“Listen if you know someone that has a piece of property that this Marine Group has made an offer on and they’ve refused. Their life is in danger, but by what I’ve seen, you already know that. Let me help you.”
“What’s the Detective’s name that’s working the Doss case Mr. Cullen?”
“You’re either the most stubborn woman I’ve ever known or the stupidest. His name’s Detective John Walker.”
Harper left the paper with the reporter trying to convince her to listen to reason. She drove her truck to the Boston Police Department, the desk Sargent called John’s office and he told the Sargent to send her on.
“Good afternoon please have a seat, my names Detective John Walker.”
Harper wasn’t going to get to play any games with the detective.
“My names Harper Lewis detective, I came to see you today because of the article in the Boston Herald. When I read that Mr. Doss was shot with a rifle it reminded me of my own situation.”
“Maybe if you can explain I’ll try to help you Mrs. Lewis.”
Harper explained what happened at the Hampton Horse Show, and that she had turned down the offer to purchase the property in the Boston city limits. She did explain that her permitting had been approved and the city council had voted to let her proceed with the pre-selling of the condos as a means to finance the project. The Detective warned her that was no reason to believe there wouldn’t be another attempt on her life. Detective Walker did confirm that the rifle used to kill Mr. Doss was a Remington, possibly a modified M40a series.
FIRST STEP MURDER Page 10