The Search The Secrets of Crittenden Cou - By Shelley Shepard Gray Page 0,43

of himself.

Too sure and popular to get sucked down into the abyss that Perry Borntrager had fallen into.

“So you were in Louisville?” he asked, purposely naming the wrong city.

“Lexington,” Jacob corrected. “I like going to the horse auctions.”

“But aren’t those auctions just for racehorses?”

“Not all of them. Some breeders bring stock that they’re hoping to get off their hands. Every once in a while you can find some horses perfect for buggies or working the farm.”

“I’m surprised you’d spend two weeks going to auctions. Your parents’ store is always busy. Weren’t you needed here?”

“It’s not much of a surprise.” Looking vaguely amused by Luke’s ignorance, he said, “I like horses. If my parents didn’t have this store, I probably would’ve done something with breeding or doctoring them. Besides, I work every day. It was as good a time as any to take a break.”

Again, his manner was matter-of-fact, but Luke still had a feeling he wasn’t getting the whole story. “I find it a coincidence that you left to go to the auction the same day that Perry’s body was found.”

Jacob shrugged. “I don’t know what to tell you. I don’t plan the auctions, I just go to them.”

Luke didn’t appreciate the flippant remark. Something about the boy’s story didn’t ring true to him. “I heard that you were once good friends with Perry. Why don’t you tell me what you knew of him.”

Jacob’s eyebrows rose. “So, I guess we’re done with pretending you’re here for anything other than Perry’s death, huh?”

“We both know there’s no other reason for me to be in Crittenden County.” With effort, Luke pushed away all thoughts of Frannie Eicher. It didn’t matter that she seemed to be on his mind all the time. There was only one reason for him to still be in Kentucky, and that was to do a job. “So,” he asked again, “tell me about Perry.”

Jacob stretched out his legs and crossed his feet at his ankles. “Perry and I grew up together. A few years ago, he started working here.”

“So you were good friends.”

“We were friends most of the time. But we were close because of proximity, not by choice.” His gaze turned shadowed. “For years, Perry and Deborah and I walked to school together.”

“Deborah is Perry’s sister?”

“Jah.” With a shrug, Jacob said, “There ain’t much to tell you, Detective.”

“Really? I would’ve thought Perry being fired from the store was a big deal.”

Jacob swallowed. “It was a big deal. My daed was upset about Perry stealing. He felt bad for firing him, too. Mr. and Mrs. Borntrager thought my father was being too harsh.”

Luke wasn’t surprised to hear that. He’d come to learn that Perry’s parents had made multiple excuses for his behavior over the years. “So how did you feel about your father firing Perry? Were you upset?”

“I was upset that he stole from my family’s store,” Jacob corrected. “I was upset that he was shifty and had seemed to think that neither my father nor I would notice money missing from the cashbox.” He paused. “If you want to know the truth, when he was fired, I was glad.”

“I see.”

“Do you?” Jacob’s voice now held a slice of bitterness. “Even when my daed confronted him, he acted so smug. I honestly think he was shocked that my father told him to leave.”

“Why do you think Perry was so surprised?”

“Because he didn’t think my father was smart. By now, you’ve probably had at least one run-in with my father and one of his schemes for the store.”

“Like the guinea pigs?”

A slow smile lit his face as Jacob shook his head. “I’m so glad I missed those guinea pigs.”

“The snakes were worse.”

“I bet they were,” he said with a laugh. Sobering, he said, “Here’s the thing, Detective. My father is a good man, and though he comes up with fanciful ideas, the store has made a profit every single week it’s been open. Not many businesses can say that.”

“I don’t think many could,” Luke replied honestly.

“My daed runs a good business. But it takes a lot of patience. And some experience with keeping your mouth shut. Perry . . . he never learned to do that.”

“Walker Anderson . . . has he?”

“Walker?” Jacob looked caught off guard by Luke mentioning him. “I don’t think Walker cares one way or the other what plot my father has concocted, as long as he gets paid. But Perry, he took my father for a fool and started stealing from us almost from