The Art of Being Right

Hacking Out

"What does always watching even mean?" JJ groaned. They had started driving again and in the time it had taken for her to ask the question they had already dropped the contents of the envelope at the labs and were now on their way back home.

"I believe you just answered your own question." Wilson laughed, leaning back in his seat. He missed driving his Harley; in the few weeks he'd been there he'd mostly travelled in JJ's car, and felt lost without the loud thrum of the engine and the speed of his prized possession.

"Oh shut up," she sighed, but not bothering to contain the giggle that followed when she elbowed him in the ribs teasingly, "your friend on the inside couldn't be more specific?"

"Apparently not. He could get into serious trouble for the things he's already given us. I wouldn't push him for any more than that."

"I know, I'm sorry. It's just we might actually get a chance to close this case, and I want that so bad."

"I know that, trust me."

The conversation came to an end, but it wasn't awkward in the slightest. The two had become good friends over the time they'd spent together and felt at ease in each other's company.

"Hey, how about we take the afternoon off and take a ride up to the moors? The weather's great, so we might as well."

"Sure. Sounds good." Wilson grinned, twisting back to look out the window as the rest of the journey flew by.

The barn on the grounds of JJ's house was by no means tiny - more of a modest size. There were four stalls all in a row inside, with enough room to comfortably fit a horse, a hay net and water bucket each, with plenty of space left over.

However only two of the stalls were occupied. JJ explained that the other two were on loan to friends who were competing with them over the coming months. The remaining two were fantastic animals; both at least seventeen hands high, with long legs and bright eyes. The first was a black mare, with a white diamond - or star - under her forelock. The second was a dark bay gelding; Wilson would be borrowing him for the day.

The two saddled up, both knowing how to tack their own horses, before leading them into the open courtyard. JJ swung herself into the saddle first, watching in amazement as Wilson managed to do the same without smashing his face on the cobbles or falling off the other side of the animal.

"Not bad at all for a city boy." She teased, riding up beside him with a cheeky smirk. He rolled his eyes, holding the reins loosely in both hands.

"Lead the way, Knight. Don't get us lost, 'kay?" To which JJ stuck her tongue out before they left the yard, following a winding dirt track up a steep sided hill leading directly to the open moors.

"So where do you want to go first?" She asked, once they'd left the marked path for a secluded trail that snaked through the tall oak trees on the bank of the river.

"How about the first crime scene? Start where the story begins?"

"Sure. You okay if we pick the pace up a bit? I don't want to be out here after dusk."

"Go right ahead. I can keep up."

JJ didn't exactly believe him, thinking he was just trying to seem confident. Nevertheless she gave her horse a small kick with her heels and before long they were cantering along the path, heading towards the meadow where the first body had been found.

She dared a glance behind her, half expecting to see Wilson clinging on for dear life, or to see him fall from the saddle. But she was stunned to see him sat expertly in the saddle, looking totally relaxed as they rode on. She laughed at the sheer unexpectedness of it, earning a grin from the detective.

They slowed down after five minutes or so, to a slow trot. There was no sound except for birdsong and the distant rush of the river. It was perfect.

"JJ stop!"

For a second the shout didn't register. When it did she halted her horse and turned. Wilson had dismounted, and was crouched in the undergrowth.

"Wilson? What is it?"

"I think I've figured out what always watching was supposed to mean."

"I'm sorry what?!"

"Are we on private land? Is this woodland owned by anyone?"

"No it's free land, wait why are you aski- Wilson what's going on?"

She dismounted and tied her horse beside the other on a broad tree branch before following the detective into the long grass. Wilson pulled away a patch of moss from the tree trunk he was stood beside, to reveal a large, hi-def camera. JJ was stunned.

"And that's not all." He mumbled, shuffling a few steps to the right and kicking over a loose stone. A speaker was underneath, and another camera was concealed inside it.

"What the hell is going on out here?"