The Missing Horse Mystery Page 6

  lot. Nancy frowned in frustration. “I think we looked in

  every vehicle here. No sign of Aristocrat.”

  “No sound of him either,” Lee Anne added. “Most

  horses alone in a trailer are going to stomp or whinny.

  This place is so silent it's creepy.”

  Taking the flashlight, Nancy aimed it around the lot

  just to make sure they hadn't missed anything. When

  she ran the beam along the fence, her heartbeat

  quickened. “Look!”

  She pointed the light at one section of fence. The

  metal links had been cut and the fence peeled back.

  Lee Anne gasped. “Someone cut a big hole in the

  chain links!”

  Nancy moved closer to inspect it. “Big enough to

  lead a horse through.” Eyes on the ground, Nancy

  made her way through the hole. The beam picked up

  two hoofprints in the mud. On the other side of the

  fence Nancy could see a field. When she swung the

  light around, she noticed flattened grass in two parallel

  lines where a vehicle had been driven.

  She glanced over her shoulder at Bess and Lee

  Anne. “Looks as if someone led a horse through here,

  which means trouble. If it was Aristocrat, it means the

  stallion's not on the grounds anymore.”

  “Do you think he was stolen?” Lee Anne gasped.

  “That's what it looks like. We'd better alert

  Security.”

  With Nancy leading the way, the three girls hurried

  back to the barn. Texel and Klaus were standing in the

  middle of the aisle. Klaus was scowling and waving an

  arm in the air. Nancy gulped. He wasn't going to like

  the latest news.

  Quickly she told them what she and her friends had

  found.

  Klaus's eyes narrowed. “So you were wrong about

  my horse being on the grounds,” he said to Texel. “It

  sounds to me as if he's been stolen!”

  Texel rubbed his forehead. Pulling out his walkie-

  talkie, he relayed the information to his men and told

  them to alert the state and county police. “Now show

  us this break in the fence,” he said to Nancy.

  “Lee Anne and Bess will take you there. I'm going to

  find Gilly.” Nancy looked sideways at Klaus.

  The trainer shook his head and made a noise of

  disgust. Then he headed down the aisle after Texel.

  “No more delays. Let's find my horse,” he barked.

  When they had left, Nancy thought about where

  Gilly might have gone. She remembered the groom

  saying she'd met with some friends at the coffee shop.

  Nancy was about to leave the barn, when she heard a

  soft sniffing coming from one of the stalls.

  She held her breath and listened. Someone was

  crying. Moving quietly, she made her way toward the

  sound, which was coming from the tack stall.

  She peered inside. Gilly was slumped on a tack

  trunk, head in her hands.

  Nancy knew she must have heard everything they'd

  said. “Hey, Gilly.” Nancy sat beside her on the trunk.

  “It's not all bad news. Whoever took Aristocrat couldn't

  have gotten much of a head start, and Texel has alerted

  the county and state police, so they can be on the

  lookout.”

  Tears glistening in her eyes, Gilly looked up at her.

  “It's not just that,” she whispered hoarsely. Grabbing

  Nancy's wrist, she squeezed tightly, her eyes wide.

  “You've got to help me, Nancy. I don't know who else

  to trust. I know something about Aristocrat's

  disappearance!”

  8. A Risky Meeting

  “Do you know who stole Aristocrat?” Nancy asked

  Gilly.

  “No, but this morning, when I gave Aristocrat a

  bath, I couldn't find his scar,” Gilly said.

  Nancy frowned, puzzled. Then the thud of rubber

  soles on the concrete aisle made her look up.

  Gilly inhaled sharply. “Someone's coming.” Bending

  closer to Nancy, she whispered hurriedly, “Meet me

  here at five-thirty. I've got to feed early, then braid

  Curio.”

  The footsteps moved closer. Gilly grew rigid. “If

  something happens to me, look for the scar on

  Aristocrat's hock.”

  “There you are.” Klaus stepped into the doorway,

  blocking the dim light. Hands on his hips, he eyed

  Nancy, then Gilly. The groom jumped to her feet.

  “Don't look so worried,” Klaus stated. “I came to

  apologize for blaming you for Aristocrat's

  disappearance.” He spoke slowly, as if the words were

  hard to say. “I was distraught. I know you love

  Aristocrat as much as I do.”

  “I do,” Gilly said, her voice wavering. She glanced at

  Nancy. “I need to find out what Security's doing. I'll

  see you later.” Excusing herself, she went around

  Klaus.

  Nancy stood up. “I'd better help, too.”

  Klaus extended a hand to stop her from leaving.

  “Miss Drew, if I may speak with you for a minute. Mr.

  Texel told me you are a detective. I am in need of help.

  I do not trust Security to find my horse. Perhaps you

  could be of assistance?”

  Nancy hesitated. She'd witnessed how overbearing

  Klaus Schaudt could be. But he had apologized to

  Gilly, something that must have been difficult for him.

  “I am very worried about my horse,” he continued.

  “Not only is Aristocrat valuable, but I raised him from a

  foal. He is family.”

  “I understand,” Nancy said. Maybe there was a soft

  side to the trainer after all. “And I'll do whatever I can,

  though I think Mr. Texel knows his business.”

  “Humph.” Klaus threw back his shoulders. “My

  belief is that the security crew is behind the theft.”

  Nancy's eyebrows shot up. “What makes you say

  that?” she asked, startled by his statement.

  “Because the theft was obviously an inside job. The

  thief must know the showgrounds, as well as the

  guards' schedules. Otherwise the person would not

  have been able to steal such a large animal without

  someone seeing him.”

  Nancy nodded. Klaus's observation about the thief

  being someone on the inside was similar to her own

  hunch, but she'd been so intent on Michael as a

  suspect that she'd never thought about the guards.

  “In fact,” Klaus said, lowering his voice, “it is my

  belief that they are operating a theft ring. There are

  several horses here as valuable as Aristocrat. He was

  just the unlucky target.”

  “It would be interesting to find out if there have

  been other thefts at past shows,” Nancy said.

  Klaus dismissed her suggestion with a wave of his

  hand. “That wouldn't prove anything. Many of the

  shows here are smaller, attracting only local horses that

  wouldn't be worth stealing.” He straightened. “So. We

  will work together. Now I need to find out what Mr.

  Texel has discovered. Good evening.”

  As she watched Klaus leave, Nancy thought about

  his theory. It made sense. Still, she wasn't going to


  drop Michael as a possible suspect. As soon as she saw

  Lee Anne, she would ask her if the two had been

  together all evening.

  Then there was Gilly's cryptic message about

  Aristocrat's scar. Whatever Gilly knew, she obviously

  hadn't wanted to share the information with Klaus.

  Nancy checked her watch. It was one o'clock in the

  morning. In four and a half hours she had to meet

  Gilly. Then maybe she'd find out what the groom knew

  about the theft of Aristocrat.

  “I'm going to sleep until noon,” Bess said, flopping

  down on the bed. She was back in her pajamas. “So

  don't anybody dare wake me up.”

  Lee Anne plopped down on her bed and began to

  take off her shoes. “I wish I could sleep that late. But

  I've got to meet Michael at the barn at seven-thirty.

  He's got a nine o'clock test.”

  Good, Nancy thought as she headed into the

  bathroom to brush her teeth. She hoped no one else

  would be at the barn when she met Gilly. She could set

  the alarm for five and sneak out of the room. Lee Anne

  and Bess were so tired they wouldn't hear her.

  “So did you and Michael get to talk tonight?” Nancy

  asked Lee Anne when she came out of the bathroom.

  “Yeah. He was pretty upset when he left the

  restaurant.”

  “Where did you go?” Bess mumbled, her cheek

  pressed into the pillow.

  Lee Anne stopped in the middle of pulling her

  nightgown on. “Why are you so interested in what

  Michael and I did?” she asked, her eyes shifting from

  Bess to Nancy.

  “We just hoped you two had a good time,” Nancy

  said quickly. She didn't want Lee Anne to know about

  her suspicion that Michael might have something to do

  with the theft.

  Lee Anne yanked the nightgown over her head.

  “Well, we just drove around and talked,” she said. “And

  I was with him all evening.” Grabbing her brush off the

  dresser, she stomped into the bathroom, shutting the

  door behind her.

  “Well, that settles that.” Bess yawned and snuggled

  under the covers. “Michael can't be our thief. See you

  around lunchtime,” she mumbled and promptly fell

  asleep.

  Nancy took off her skirt and top. Before crawling in

  beside Bess, she put on a clean T-shirt and laid her

  jeans at the foot of the bed. When the alarm went off,

  it would still be dark and she'd be groggy from lack of

  sleep. She wasn't giving herself much time to get to the

  barn, so she needed to hit the ground running.

  Brrring. The persistent sound woke Nancy from a

  deep sleep. Beside her, Bess mumbled something

  about Gunter. Reaching up, Nancy hit the alarm's Off

  button.

  She groaned softly. Four hours of sleep was not

  enough.

  She slipped out of bed and tiptoed to the bathroom,

  grabbing her jeans on the way. After splashing cold

  water on her face and brushing her teeth, she felt a

  little more awake.

  Ten minutes later she shut the door quietly behind

  her. She was tempted to go to Ned's room and wake

  him up. Going to the barn alone after all that had

  happened wasn't the smartest idea she'd ever had.

  She knew she had to see Gilly alone, though. The

  girl had clearly stated that Nancy was the only person

  she trusted. If she brought Ned along, the groom might

  be reluctant to confide in her.

  The lobby was well lighted. The clerk said good

  morning and pointed out a tray of pastries and a

  pitcher of orange juice. Nancy grabbed a blueberry

  muffin and a glass of juice, then headed for her

  Mustang.

  The sky was gray, the air cool. While Nancy drove to

  the showgrounds, she munched on the muffin and

  sorted through everything that had happened since

  they'd arrived. If Lee Anne was telling the truth, then

  Michael hadn't stolen Aristocrat last night. Still, that

  didn't mean he wasn't working with an accomplice.

  Nancy rolled her eyes, suddenly realizing how dead

  set she was on making Michael the bad guy. Maybe she

  wanted to find him guilty because she didn't like his

  arrogance.

  A sleepy-eyed guard halted her at the front gate of

  the showgrounds. He was the same man she and Bess

  had talked to the night before.

  “Good morning, Fred,” Nancy said. “Any more

  news?”

  He shook his head. “The only good news is I'm out

  of here in an hour. Texel wants us all to work double

  shifts, but I need some shut-eye.”

  He checked her pass, then asked, “What brings you

  here so early on a Saturday morning? The sun's not

  even up.”

  “I have to help feed the horses. One of the riders has

  an early test.” A thought suddenly crossed Nancy's

  mind. “You didn't see a dented old station wagon come

  in here last night, did you?”

  “Nope. Can't say I did. Though another guard, Andy

  Brackett, relieved me so I could get some coffee. I'll

  ask him.”

  “Thanks,” Nancy said, and drove in. No other cars

  were parked in front of Barn C. When Nancy glanced

  to her right, she saw a few solitary people moving

  around the showgrounds.

  After locking the Mustang, Nancy went into the

  barn. The aisle was empty, the barn quiet. Nancy

  walked past several stalls. The horses' heads were

  down, and they were munching hay, so Nancy knew

  Gilly had fed them already. She peeked into the stall

  next to Aristocrat's. The cot was neatly made. Since

  Gilly had said something about braiding Curio, Nancy

  headed for his stall.

  When she reached Curio's stall, the handsome bay

  started at the sight of her. Head high, he snorted

  loudly. A lead line dangled from his halter, and when

  he swung his head, Nancy saw a needle and thread

  hanging from a half-finished braid in his mane.

  She pushed open the door, which wasn't latched.

  “Gilly?” she called. She couldn't believe the groom

  would have left without securing the door.

  Curio pawed at the straw. Hand outstretched,

  Nancy went up to him. “Easy, guy,” she crooned.

  Nancy grasped the lead line. Reaching up, she

  smoothed his neck, still talking soothingly. With a toss

  of his head, Curio swung his hindquarters to the right.

  Nancy froze. A denim-clad leg, half hidden in the

  straw, extended into the middle of the stall.

  Nancy darted around Curio's head. A girl was

  crumpled in the straw, her back propped against the

  wall. Her eyes were closed, and blood trickled down

  her forehead.

  Nancy gasped. It was Gilly!

  9. A Bad-Luck Horseshoe

  Nancy knew she had to act quickly. She jumped up,

  startling Curio. The bay nickered nervously, then

  banged the mesh door with his hoof. Nancy realized

  she'd better get him out of the stall and away from

  Gilly.

  Speakin
g in a calm voice, Nancy grabbed the

  dangling lead line. “Okay, Curio, let's put you in

  Aristocrat's stall. Then I'll call for help.”

  She opened the door, and Curio leaped out. “Easy.

  Easy.” Nancy steered him to the empty stall. A

  scuffling noise behind her made her whirl.

  A dark figure darted from a stall and disappeared

  down the cross aisle. The movement was so sudden

  that Nancy thought she was seeing things. But Curio

  was staring, too.

  Quickly she put the horse in the stall and latched the

  door. Then she raced down the aisle. The sound of

  receding footsteps came from the other side of the

  barn. Nancy dashed down the cross aisle, but when she

  got to the other side, no one was there. Then she heard

  a car engine rev up.

  Nancy reached the open barn door just in time to

  see a car speed past the guard's booth and disappear

  from the showgrounds, dust and gravel pluming out

  from the back tires. The morning light was so dim she

  couldn't see the license plate. Still, Nancy thought she

  recognized the vehicle as the old station wagon

  Michael had driven the night before.

  There was no time to think about what she'd seen.

  She had to get help for Gilly.

  Nancy raced to the guard's booth. Fred Dunlevy

  stepped outside to meet her. “What's going on?”

  “Call an ambulance,” she puffed. “There's been an

  accident. One of the grooms is hurt!”

  Fred hustled over to the phone while Nancy told

  him what she'd discovered. After he'd finished calling,

  she asked him about the car that had left.

  “It roared by so fast that I couldn't identify it,” Fred

  said apologetically. “I'd stepped out of the booth on the

  other side to check the pass of a van coming in.”

  Nancy considered what Fred had said. She would be

  the only witness, and she wasn't at all sure about what

  she had seen.

  Ten minutes later Texel arrived, followed by the

  ambulance crew.

  “She's been hit on the head,” Texel told Nancy as he

  left the stall to make room for the three emergency

  medical technicians, who bustled in with trauma kits.

  Nancy was leaning against the doorjamb. She was

  exhausted from lack of sleep and from worrying about

  Gilly.

  “Now show me the horse that was with her when

  you found her.”

  “Over here.” Nancy led Texel to Aristocrat's stall.