“Uh, I took that horse to an auction. The killers bought him.”
“Killers!” Nancy exclaimed.
Klaus chuckled. “Yup. Right now he’s being hauled to a slaughterhouse, where they’ll turn him into dog food.”
“That’s sick,” Ned declared. “I thought you were a horse lover.”
Klaus shrugged. “I had no ties to that horse. Andy discovered our Aristocrat look-alike in someone’s backyard. It took a month to condition his coat and muscle him up so he’d be in the same shape as Aristocrat. We didn’t bother to train him, since we planned to steal him before anyone rode him.”
“Very clever,” Nancy said, hoping to keep the man talking. “So where is the real Aristocrat? And what can you do with a horse that you’re not supposed to have anymore?”
Throwing back his head, Klaus laughed heartily. “That’s the best part, Miss Drew. Aristocrat is alive and well and will soon be making me lots of money. Only you’ll have to figure that part out yourself, since we’re running out of time.” His smile faded. “No more delays. Get over the fence and into the barn.”
Ned jumped down on the other side and waited while Nancy climbed over. Klaus took the dogs who had to crawl on their bellies to get under the low board.
This is our chance to get away, Nancy thought, casting her gaze around for a safe place. They could run to the office, barricade themselves in, and call the police, but the barn was fifty yards away—the dogs would be on them in a second, Nancy realized.
“Go inside the barn, Miss Drew,” Klaus said, his words concise and menacing. “And don’t try anything.”
They crossed the grass and went into the end of the barn where they’d first entered. Behind them, Nancy could hear Andy talking to Klaus in a low voice, but she couldn’t catch his words. She did hear the hesitation in his voice. Andy Brackett didn’t have the guts to shoot them, she decided. Klaus would have to do it.
Which gave her an idea.
As they passed Salut’s stall, the stallion pressed his nose against the wire door and nickered a greeting. “Hello, my handsome boy,” Klaus crooned as if talking to a baby.
That was when Nancy knew for sure what had happened to Aristocrat. Gilly had been right.
She whirled to face Klaus. “Salut is Aristocrat! That scar on his hock isn’t a new injury; it’s the scar Gilly was talking about. You’re passing Aristocrat off as a new horse.”
“Quite right, Miss Drew.” Stopping in front of Salut’s stall, he waved an arm dramatically. “Meet my new stallion, the impressive Salut, who already is attracting so much attention that people are eager to breed their mares to him. He’s going to make me a fortune.”
Ned’s mouth had dropped open. “But how can you pass him off as a new horse?”
“I have carefully built my excellent reputation, Mr. Nickerson. Believe me, not one person questioned the authenticity of the forged import papers and registration. I have even made up a glowing show career for the fictitious Salut.”
“But why couldn’t you do that with Aristocrat? Why pass him off as a new horse?” Nancy asked.
“Raising and training horses takes an incredible amount of money. I need that one hundred thousand dollar insurance money to build this farm up into a showplace that screams ‘success and money.’ I don’t want to wait five years for my dream farm. I want it now.”
“And you’re willing to kill for it,” Nancy said in a soft voice. The words were for Andy’s benefit. She already knew Klaus would kill. Anyone who had no qualms about bumping off his employee and setting up someone he called his son would be capable of killing two people he didn’t care about. If she was right, Andy Brackett might not be so heartless.
When she glanced surreptitiously at Brackett, she knew her hunch was right. He was shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot, his expression one of distress. It was then that Nancy realized the guard had purposely bungled Gilly’s “death.” He had never intended to kill the groom.
“I don’t look at it as killing, Miss Drew,” Klaus stated. “I look at it as an investment in my future.”
Nancy pointed to Andy. “What about his future? With two murders pinned on him, he will be hunted by the police forever.”
“That’s his problem,” Klaus retorted. “He knew when he joined up with me that he’d be breaking the law.”
“But murder?” Ned said dramatically, as if he knew what Nancy was trying to do.
Andy Brackett cleared his throat. “They’re right, Klaus. Stealing a horse is one thing, but shooting—”
“Silence!” Klaus chopped the air with a hand. Instantly the dogs stood at attention, their black eyes trained on him. “You will obey, my stupid helper.”
Brackett gulped, but he didn’t back down. “This time I won’t be silent, Schaudt. I only agreed to help you steal—”
“How dare you disobey!” Klaus roared angrily. Drawing back his arm, he punched the unsuspecting guard in the jaw. Nancy stifled a gasp as Andy staggered backward, hit the stall wall, and slumped to the floor, dazed.
Nancy raised her eyes to Klaus, whose face was red with fury.
“No one disobeys me,” he thundered. Then an eerie grin spread slowly over his face. “Actually this is perfect. I can say I came into the barn just as Brackett shot you. To save my own life and apprehend the killer, I sent the dogs after him.”
“You’ll never get away with it,” Ned said.
“And who’s going to stop me, Mr. Nickerson? Texel and his clowns? Now, get in that stall or I’ll give the dogs the signal to turn you into hamburger.”
Nancy and Ned backed into the stall, Klaus moving with them. As he passed Andy’s body, he snorted disdainfully. “The man will be better off dead anyway. He’s such a mouse, he would have ruined everything.” He chuckled and gave his stunned accomplice a kick.
Deep growls came from the throats of both dogs. Nancy froze, staring at the rottweilers in horror. The two dogs were glaring at Klaus with undisguised hatred.
Klaus didn’t seem to notice. “Sit,” he ordered, but the dogs ignored him. The hair rose on their backs. Their teeth gleamed in the dim light. Only then did the blood drain from Klaus’s face as he finally realized the dogs were not going to obey him.
Beside her, Ned squeezed Nancy’s shoulder. She looked at him, and he nodded toward the barn doors. She knew what he was signaling. While the dogs were distracted, she and Ned had to make a break for it. It was their only chance.
“Sit!” Klaus hollered again. He backed away from the dogs, his attention momentarily off the teens.
Grabbing Nancy’s hand, Ned took off for the barn doors.
