Chapter Twenty-Three #2
“Confusing. We thought we were looking into a pattern of horse hobbling but a big-win horse went missing a few days ago before its next big race. It changed the whole pattern of the gamble.”
“How does a horse go missing?”
“It was loaded into a horse trailer with three others to travel and when the trailer reached its destination, the horse wasn’t in it.
The owners are scratching their heads and the driver insists no one else went near the trailer.
He’s wrong, of course, but it’s hard to say if he’s lying or he’s been duped. ”
“It can’t be hard to find a horse. It’s not like you can keep it in in your apartment and the neighbors won’t notice.”
“Of course not,” snorted Maddox. “But a person can hide a horse in all kinds of places. Abandoned barns or pastures are easy enough to find. Even an equestrian yard might take in a horse to board without realizing what they’ve got.
Or they know and don’t care. Hold on.” His voice became muffled, then he came back.
“Gotta go,” he said. “Boss wants an update. Are you still undercover?”
“Yes.”
“Keep me updated.”
I promised I would, and disconnected. “We should pay Yvette another visit,” I decided. “Or Joel. We’ll take a look around and see who is best to target depending on whom we see.”
“What if they’re both working?”
“We’ll flip a coin, although I’m hopeful we can take on Yvette. I want to know what she took from the Casey house.”
Despite scouring the ranch, we didn’t find Joel or Yvette anywhere, and I didn’t like to ask any of the stable hands just in case they fed back the information that we were looking for them, thus causing them to look for us.
Three of Lily’s horsey friends were riding in the school, far too busy for us to stop them and ask.
Instead, we took a cursory glance at their homes, finding the Caseys’ cars in the driveway, along with the farm vehicle Yvette was apparently using.
The idea that their affair might have resumed crossed both our minds, but despite watching their homes for several minutes each, there were no signs of life inside.
Our surveillance was far from definitive since they could have been occupied horizontally and disinclined to get up and walk past a window for our benefit.
“They’re around somewhere,” I said, “but where? We should check the barns again.”
“We could call one of them and tell them to meet us someplace. As soon as we see them heading there, we can break into Yvette’s house and take a look around.”
“If we planned to split up, I’d agree but I think it’s best we stay together.” Another thought occurred to me. “Let’s check the trash and their cars for the missing back protector.”
While Lily stood watch, I pulled on the riding gloves stashed in my pocket and opened the garbage can, pulling up two bags of what looked like regular household trash. No back protectors. I replaced the trash and tried the trunk of Joel’s car. It didn’t budge.
“Where would you dispose of a back protector?” I asked.
“Communal dump,” said Lily. “I might even tear it down first with a boxcutter and wire clippers but that would only be if I really wanted to hide it.”
“That would make it useless as evidence. The whole thing would be sabotaged and no one’s to say what happened when.
” I took a disappointed look at the garbage can.
“I’d do the same,” I decided. “If I were responsible for the incident, I’d make it impossible for anyone to put the evidence back together, and if anyone found it later, I’d claim no clue.
We should abandon this idea.” It was disappointing but I knew when our efforts were futile.
We headed back to the barn and this time, I grabbed Lily’s wrist. “There’s Joel,” I said, nodding to the paddock. Joel walked alongside, a piece of fabric twisting in his hands, as he aimed for the barn. He slipped inside, out of view.
From the paved walkway leading to the rehab yard came Harvey, scratching his head.
He looked around, saw us, and turned away without acknowledging us.
Spying Kenzie, he strode over, his voice too low for us to hear from where we were but she turned and pointed to the barn Joel had entered. Harvey took off at a fast walk.
Lily and I exchanged looks and followed him at a slower pace.
We paused by the corner of the paddock, waiting for Harvey to head inside the barn, then jogged after him.
I motioned to Lily to follow me around the near side of the barn, circling it until we reached the entrance from the other side, reducing the odds we’d run into them from this side.
“…doing?” Harvey was asking, his voice seething with annoyance. “You can’t just take the horses off the rehab yard whenever you please. I’ve told you that.”
“Oh, c’mon. Who’s going to know? This is a good opportunity and you know it.”
“It’s not. We get found out and the whole pack of cards falls down. Get him out of there. Now!”
“An hour. Two, tops. Then I’ll take him back.”
“No, absolutely not. You know what… why don’t I just do it myself? You’re fricking unbelievable, Joel.”
There was a scuffle, like one pushed the other, and a grunt, then Joel said, “No, you wait a minute, Harvey. This is my farm. I say what goes around here, and I’m saying that horse stays put until he does his job.”
“Just because Jessica is gone doesn’t mean you’re in charge. I’m calling the shots now and you’re going to put up with it.”
“Or what?”
“Or it’s the end of your gravy train, dumbass. Get out of my way!”
“Hey!”
“What’s happening?” whispered Lily, leaning around me to try and look. It was no use, I couldn’t see anything.
I shuffled forwards, peeking around the barn door. Joel lifted his hand to his lip, his fingertips stained with a small trickle of blood. Harvey’s fists were clenched and although he had his hands by his sides, I felt sure he was coiled ready to punch again.
“You made a big mistake,” sneered Joel.
“You made the big mistake. I’m here cleaning up as usual.
Now get out of my way and don’t come into the rehab yard again.
If I see you with any of the horses, I’ll make you sorry.
” A bolt drew back and some horses nickered.
Then, a big bay horse appeared at the barn door and I turned, motioning to Lily to scramble back.
We darted around the corner, peeking around again.
Harvey walked the bay horse out of the barn and alongside the paddock.
The horse was agitated, rearing slightly on his haunches, but Harvey kept a firm grip on his halter, moving the horse forwards.
I straightened up and rounded the barn, aiming to give the impression I was walking past just as a door slammed shut and the bolt was drawn, then Joel walked out, coming close to colliding with me.
“Oh!” I pretended to jump in surprise. “Oh! Joel! Are you okay? You’re bleeding.”
“It’s nothing,” he said and he knocked my shoulder with his as he pushed past.
I stumbled, then righted myself, calling, “Are you sure? You look…”
“I said it’s nothing,” Joel snapped and strode away, leaving Lily and me to raise our eyebrows at each other.