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“I know what that is…” he said softly, “or rather, I know what it sounds like.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
When Matt arrived to install the cameras, he found Noah working with one of the foals, and Ellie sitting on a bale of hay in front of Stetson’s stall with a sketch pad.
“Hey Matt, I’m glad you’re here,” Noah said as he released the foal and walked over to join him. “I listened to that recordin’ again, and I’m pretty sure that thumpin’ sound isn’t thumpin’, but tappin’, and it’s sort of echoin’.”
“Tappin’…?”
“I worked on a remodel once, and we would tap the walls to find studs.”
“You might be right,” Matt agreed. “It does kind of sound like that.”
“If that’s true, it would have to be Bethany,” Ellie remarked, rising to her feet and moving down the barn aisle. “Dad wouldn’t be doing anything like that, and if he did, he would’ve told me. Oh, my gosh, I just had a thought. You know that house was owned by Jay Whittaker. Besides being a famous mob boss, he was also known as an art collector.”
“Huh, that jives with what Devlin told us,” Matt muttered with a frown. “Whittaker had huge portraits of historical figures lining the walls of the stairway that led up to his office. But what’s your point?”
“I wonder if Bethany is searching for a hidden piece of art, and that’s why she insisted on turning Whittaker’s office into a library. Seems like a good place to start looking. They were tearing out walls all over the place and she was always up there.”
“That would’ve been risky. What if one of the workmen had stumbled upon it? But it does kinda add up,” Matt said thoughtfully.“How did your father meet her?”
“At a charity event, and I don’t know why he got her involved.”
“And why has she been so difficult with you?”
“If you ask me, she wants me out of the house so she can have it to herself all day to hunt around without being bothered.”
“What about—?” Matt began, then caught himself.
“What about what?” Ellie pressed.
“Nothing, it’s not important.”
“It is, I can see that it is. Tell me!”
“I will,” Noah interjected with a sigh. “Last night when I left the house to check the horses, a car was leavin’. That’s why Matt’s here puttin’ up the cameras. If it comes back, we’ll have it on video and I’ll be able to get the plate number.”
“Shit. What kind of car was it?”
“An EV, but that’s all I know. I just saw the taillights.”
“And I was going to say,” Matt continued, “what connection would that car have to Bethany scourin’ that huge home for a piece of hidden artwork?”
“She wanted to make sure I was still here. With dad gone, she has that place all to herself.”
“You’re forgettin’ about David and me.”
“Hold on, Matt!” Noah exclaimed. “Ellie, might be right. You and David are in the East Wing, and Ellie’s on the West side.”
“Yes!” Ellie said firmly. “She could have rented an EV. She sure as hell can’t go sneaking around in that Ferrari of hers. It makes a helluva racket. But regardless, where do we go from here?”
“I’ll discuss all this with David, then he can talk to your father and see what he says.”
“Noah, this is really creeping me out,” she muttered, cringing as she spoke. “I’m really worried about dad. I’m almost glad he’s away.”
“You should have another ride on Candy.”
“That would be fantastic, but I haven’t finished putting together the grain baggies.”
