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Francisco, Josh gave me an “I told you so” look before he locked up the room.
    In front of the mansion I said goodbye to Josh and Francisco. Josh still had an afternoon of work ahead of him. Francisco wanted to stroll about the mansion, saying it was the opportunity of a lifetime to have it all to himself for snooping about.
    I drove away with the promise to call both of them if I came up with additional information. But for now, I really wanted to get back to my cottage to study the materials I was using to write the publicity brochure. And I desperately wanted to go over the copies of photos and newspaper accounts about Reggie Coover that Gracie had given to me. Previously I had put them aside, not knowing what to do with them. Now, I knew exactly what to do with them. And to myself, I promised that after being in that stuffy room, I would open the cottage windows wide and breathe in the sweet fragrance of roses.
    I felt tired, wilted and a little annoyed with Josh.
     
    Chapter 8
    Sitting at the small desk in the living room of my cottage I sipped iced tea, and inhaled the delicious scent of roses wafting in from all the windows. I was in the apex of the fragrances floating in on the breeze. Two hours had passed and dutifully I did my work first. Studying the brochure materials and writing a draft that, at least at first attempt, would do for now. I tucked my draft and notes into a file folder marked Stallion’s Gate and pulled out the newspaper copies Gracie had given to me.
    First, I sorted the copies into two piles. One stack that mentioned Marla Devereux by name and the other stack of clippings that were more exclusive to the Coover family. Then I started reading the newspaper accounts. After an hour of reading about the lavish lifestyle of Reggie Coover, I organized my ideas into a list:
    Stanley Coover was not involved and may not have been aware of Reggie Coover’s extravagant lifestyle and potentially illicit business dealings. Question: Did Reggie’s daring escapades include his personal relationships and romances? During the time he spent in California, he was linked to at least ten young women, most from the entertainment industry. The time frame was from 1923 to late 1928.
    What was Marla Devereux’s relationship to Reggie? How did they meet? No mention of an engagement is in the newspaper accounts. In fact, Except for Reggie providing the horse and cab for her to ride in the Rose Parade of 1926, there isn’t a direct reference to her. From three of the photos of that era, she is listed as one of the guests, but in each event that took place at Stallion’s Gate, the guest list numbered over fifty. And in each of the three photos, the woman identified as Marla Devereux is not standing near Reggie. She is alone and off to the side of the crowd.
    From the black and white photos, it appears that Marla could be of a mixed racial ethnicity, or of a Mediterranean background. It appears she has an olive complexion. Her hair does not appear to be very dark and one account refers to her as having lovely henna locks. Another account called her the Ebony Belle. Very curious?
    Seems to me I must follow up on two separate paths of research: The illegal racing that may have gone on in California during Prohibition and Marla Devereux’s mysterious disappearance.
    And what about Rory? Dear God, what am I to do about him and the other horses?
    It was this last question that kept me puzzled. So much so, that I said a prayer to Saint Francis of Assisi, the kind and watchful patron saint of the animal kingdom.
    I looked up to find it dark and my stomach growling. After eating a quick sandwich and then a jump in the shower, I decided to call it quits for the day and I snuggled up in bed with the TV on. Flipping the channels I chose an old movie from the heyday of the silent film era of early Hollywood. It was a Rudolph Valentino film where he plays an Arabian prince. I fell asleep with the TV on.
    “I like carrots,” I