“Did you find out anything?” Lee Anne asked.
“Maybe.” Nancy sat on the edge of the bed. “But I don’t want to get your hopes up, so I’m not going to tell you everything yet. I do need you to answer some questions, though.”
Lee Anne nodded sleepily.
“Do you know Andy Brackett?”
She knit her brow. “The name sounds familiar.”
“He’s one of the security guards. He worked for Klaus until a year ago.”
“Now I remember. Sometimes Andy came to High Hills to haul horses. Mostly he worked at Klaus’s other farm, so I didn’t really know him.”
“His other farm?” Nancy queried.
“Klaus has a farm in Iowa, right across the state line,” Lee Anne explained. “He keeps his broodmares there. Aristocrat stays there in the spring during breeding season. Recently Klaus said something about getting a new stallion. I’ve never been to the Iowa farm because it has no riding facilities, but Michael goes there sometimes to work with yearlings.”
“Thanks, Lee Anne.” Nancy yawned and started to undress. The lack of sleep was catching up with her.
“Was that helpful?” Lee Anne slid back under the covers.
“I hope so. Now go back to sleep.” As she pulled off her jeans, Nancy thought about everything she’d learned. Brackett must have worked with Aristocrat in Iowa, so he’d have to know how valuable the stallion was. And he might have known Michael, too.
Nancy frowned. That meant the two could have planned the theft together, and when Gilly found out what they’d done…
Nancy shivered, trying not to think about the groom. She glanced down at Lee Anne. Her eyes were closed, and she was breathing deeply. Nancy definitely didn’t want to tell her friend the latest news, since it didn’t help to clear Michael.
“Boy, I feel better.” Nancy stretched. It was eight-thirty Sunday morning. Bess was already awake and dressed in shorts and a T-shirt.
“You look nice,” Nancy said. “Going somewhere special?”
“Gunter’s riding later this morning. He invited me to come watch—and help.” She held up one foot. “That’s why I’m wearing sneakers instead of sandals.”
Nancy smiled. “Delicate sandals aren’t too useful around horses. So you’ll be with him most of the day?”
“Yes, but maybe all four of us can meet somewhere for lunch.”
“I think Ned and I are going to tour a farm in Iowa.” She filled Bess in on all they’d discovered.
Bess looked sad. “I hope, for Lee Anne’s sake, you find out Michael and this Brackett guy had nothing to do with each other.”
“Me, too.” Nancy glanced around the room. “Where is Lee Anne?”
“She left early. She had to feed the horses, and she’s grooming and exercising Curio. She still insists that Michael’s innocent and will be out of jail in time for his test tomorrow, so she wants Curio to be ready.”
Looking in the mirror, Bess checked her hair, then picked up her purse. “See you later.”
“Have a good time,” Nancy said. Reaching for the phone, she dialed the hospital. There was no change in Gilly’s condition. Then she phoned Ned’s room. His voice was thick with sleep. “Rise and shine, Detective Nickerson,” she said. “We have criminals to apprehend.”
Half an hour later they were driving to the showgrounds. “We’ll stop at the barn first and ask Klaus about Brackett,” Nancy said as she drove into the parking lot. She and Ned had grabbed a couple of bagels from the buffet at the motel before heading on their way. “But let me do the talking.”
“That’s okay with me.” The window was down, and the rushing air ruffled Ned’s brown hair. Nancy had dragged him out before he was quite ready, and he still looked half asleep.
They stopped at the security booth to show their passes, then drove into the parking lot beside Barn C.
“Good,” Nancy said. “Klaus’s Mercedes is here. He might have some news about Michael.”
They found Klaus in the barn, chewing out a young groom who held a bucketful of cleaning supplies. Nancy hadn’t seen the girl before and wondered if she’d been recruited to help Lee Anne.
When he saw Nancy and Ned, Klaus dismissed the girl with a curt “Be quick,” then turned to greet them.
“Miss Drew, Mr. Nickerson, what brings you to the barn this morning?” he asked in his formal manner.
“We’ve been looking into the theft of Aristocrat.” Nancy said.
Raising his hands and lifting his chin, Klaus looked skyward as if imploring the heavens. “My poor horse. And now Michael. My head is splitting with all the pain.”
And what about Gilly? Nancy wanted to add, but instead she said, “You mentioned that you thought the guards might have stolen Aristocrat. Did you recognize any of them? Perhaps one of them might have been out to High Hills.”
“Hmm.” Klaus wrinkled his forehead as if pondering the question.
Nancy had purposely refrained from mentioning Andy Brackett’s name. She wanted Klaus to identify the man on his own.
“No, I can’t say I recognized anyone.”
Nancy was surprised by his response. Andy Brackett might be nondescript, but if he’d worked for Klaus, Klaus should have recognized him.
“I spoke with Michael this morning,” Klaus said, making a clicking noise of disgust. “My lawyer should have him out in no time—insufficient evidence. Those thickheaded police never should have arrested him in the first place.”
