Fool Me Once

INTRODUCTION

Kathe Swanson arrived at the Dixon, Illinois, city hall and entered the redbrick building through the side door, the same way she had for the last three decades. She looked younger than her sixty-two years, wearing her hair short and feathered. She was usually very busy, and today was no different.

As was often the case, her boss, Rita Crundwell, was away. Rita was Dixon’s city comptroller, but she was also a quarter-horse breeder with massive ranches in Dixon, Illinois, and Beloit, Wisconsin, eventually owning four hundred quarter horses on twenty-two farms across thirteen states. She had a $2.1 million motor home along with custom saddles, bedazzled riding jackets, and jewelry. She often took time off from work to do Lord knows ...