The Missing Horse Mystery

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.

  “Zeus! Apollo! Attack!” Klaus yelled, and an instant

  later the roar of the dogs followed by the trainer's

  hoarse scream filled the barn.

  15. Winners!

  “Don't look back!” Ned warned as he and Nancy ran

  toward the Mustang.
As they reached the car, the wail

  of sirens filled the air.

  Glancing up the drive, Nancy saw two police cars

  and Texel's truck fly over the hill. With a gasp of relief,

  she sagged against the Mustang.

  Ned ran toward the cars, waving his hands in the air.

  They screeched to a halt, and two Iowa State Highway

  Patrol officers jumped out.

  “Inside the barn,” Ned told them breathlessly. “The

  dogs have Klaus Schaudt, the owner of the farm.

  Schaudt's partner is in there, too. He's injured.”

  “Don't hurt the dogs!” Nancy cried. “They saved our

  lives.”

  The officers jogged into the barn just as Texel

  lumbered over. “What in tarnation is going on?” he

  thundered.

  “Klaus was behind the theft of the horse,” Nancy

  explained.

  Texel didn't look surprised. “I never liked that

  pompous snob,” he muttered as he headed for the barn

  doors.

  “Only it wasn't Aristocrat that was stolen,” Nancy

  continued, striding beside him. “They substituted a

  horse that looked just like him.”

  This stopped Texel in his tracks. “What?”

  “It's a long story,” Ned said. “When we figured out

  his scheme, Klaus decided to get rid of us—

  permanently.”

  Texel glowered. “That snake. Come on. I want to

  make sure my officers get them.”

  Ned and Nancy followed him into the barn. Andy

  Brackett was still slumped against the stall wall, holding

  a handkerchief to his bleeding lip. The dogs stood over

  him, licking his face and whining.

  On the other side of the aisle, Klaus stood facing the

  wall, his head down. His shirt had been torn to shreds.

  One of the police officers was cuffing his hands.

  When Klaus turned and saw Nancy and Ned, he

  barked, “That's them. They're the ones you should be

  arresting. They broke into my barn and tried to steal—

  —”

  “Save it for your lawyer, Schaudt,” Texel snapped.

  “Because you're going to need one. Your groom

  already pointed the finger at you.”

  “Gilly's conscious?” Nancy asked excitedly.

  “Yup. She told us that when she discovered the

  horse at the show wasn't Aristocrat, she knew right

  away that Schaudt had to be involved. Then Lee Anne

  mentioned that you'd asked her for directions to

  Schaudt's farm. That's why we were able to arrive just

  in time.”

  “How did Gilly figure out that Klaus was the thief?”

  Ned wondered.

  “She knew that the only thing the guy loves besides

  money and himself is that horse,” Texel explained. “So

  she figured there was no way anyone could have

  switched animals without him knowing.”

  “Bah,” Klaus spat. “The blow on Gilly's head addled

  her brain. I'm telling you it was Brackett all along. He

  was in it with these two juvenile delinquents, so don't

  believe a word any of them say.”

  Texel only shook his head. “Klaus, you've been

  giving orders for so long, it's hard for you to believe

  that, for once, no one's going to jump when you bark.

  Especially since Gilly said she saw you the night she

  got whacked on the head.”

  Klaus's face turned white. “Nonsense!” he sputtered.

  “It was Brackett. He knew about the rasp in Michael's

  trunk. He sneaked into the stall and hit Gilly before

  she even saw him.”

  “Brackett may have whacked her, but she did see

  you. Before she lost consciousness, she spotted you

  smirking outside the stall.” Texel jerked his head to the

  two officers. “Get him out of here, and then come get

  Brackett. Take them to the county police station. I'll be

  there in a minute, and we'll see how many charges

  Iowa and Illinois can pin on them.”

  Flanking Klaus, the two officers led him out of the

  barn. Nancy could hear his bellowing protests the

  whole way.

  “What will happen to Andy Brackett?” Ned asked.

  The guard was still slumped on the floor, the two dogs

  lying by his side.

  “He did try to save our lives,” Nancy pointed out.

  “We'll see how willing he is to talk,” Texel said. “If

  Brackett gives us enough information to nail Klaus as

  the mastermind, maybe the police will go easy on him.

  Personally I want to see the greedy Herr Schaudt go to

  jail for a long time.”

  “Me, too,” Nancy said.

  “Curio has never looked better,” Nancy told Lee

  Anne Monday morning. The two were sitting on the

  hillside, watching Michael and Curio perform a

  fabulous test. “You did a great job of keeping him in

  shape for Michael.”

  “Thanks,” Lee Anne said, but her attention was on

  Michael and Curio. The duo had completed a high-

  stepping trot in place. Bursts of enthusiastic clapping

  from the audience had accompanied each movement

  the horse performed, so Nancy figured the pair must

  be doing well.

  Nancy had to give Michael some credit. Yesterday

  afternoon, when he got out of jail, his mind had been

  focused on only one thing—riding this test. Nancy

  hadn't liked the way he ignored everything and

  everybody, but she finally understood that it was the

  only way he was able to emerge a winner.

  Glancing to her left, she scanned the crowd. Bess

  and Ned had gone to pick up Gilly from the hospital

  while Nancy helped Michael and Lee Anne with the

  horses. Even though the doctors had told Gilly to go

  home to rest, the groom had insisted on coming to the

  event.

  Nancy saw Ned, Bess, and Gilly on the opposite side

  of the arena. Gunter had joined the trio as they

  watched the last minutes of Michael's test. When Gilly

  spotted Nancy, she waved excitedly. Except for the

  white bandage wrapped on her head, the groom looked

  great.

  Michael trotted Curio into the center of the arena,

  halted, and saluted the judge. With a roar of approval,

  the crowd stood and applauded him.

  “That was the best test he's ever ridden!” Lee Anne

  exclaimed, tears of happiness and pride filling her eyes.

  “I'm going down to join him.”

  She ran ahead. Nancy made her way through the

  horses, riders, and spectators until she found Gilly,

  Bess, Gunter, and Ned. “You look great!” she told

  Gilly.

  “So did Michael,” Gilly said. “I need to find him and

  congratulate him.”

  “And I need to apologize to him,” Nancy murmured.

  Putting an arm around her shoulders, Ned gave her

  a squeeze. “You didn't put Michael in jail, Nan. The

  evidence did.”

  The two went over to the edge of the crowd where

  Michael had halted Curio. When he dismounted, he

  was grinning.

  “Perfect ride!” Lee Anne exclaimed when she ran up

  to him. Nancy half expected Michael to scoff at her.

  Instead, he
wrapped his arms around her, pulled her

  close, and gave her a big kiss.

  “Thanks to you,” he said when he straightened up.

  Lee Anne blushed bright red.

  “One thing jail did for me was give me plenty of

  time to think,” he told her. “I know I need to

  concentrate on my riding to win, but I also decided

  that riding isn't the only important thing in life.”

  “Good attitude,” Gunter said. He offered Michael

  his hand. “Which makes for a good ride,” he added.

  Still grinning, Michael accepted the handshake and

  the compliment.

  Nancy let out a sigh of relief. She was glad to see

  that Michael was human after all.

  When Lee Anne went off with him and Curio,

  Nancy turned to Gilly. “Thank you for saving our lives.

  If you hadn't told Texel everything you knew, Ned and

  I would have been dog food.”

  Gilly squeezed Nancy's hand. “Thank you. If you

  hadn't come into the barn when you did, I think Klaus

  would have come into the stall and killed me.” Her face

  grew pale. “I'll never forget the evil smirk on his face

  when I saw him outside the stall that morning. He

  looked possessed.”

  “He was,” Ned said. “With greed.”

  Gunter shook his head. “It's so horrible to see what

  greed can do to a person. Herr Schaudt had a

  wonderful reputation. His ex-wife, Ruth, is still in

  Germany. She is one of the country's top trainers.”

  “Michael knows her,” Gilly said. “He already called

  and told her what had happened. She's flying in

  tonight.”

  “I hope not to bail Klaus out,” Bess sputtered

  angrily.

  “No. To help keep the two farms running,” Gilly

  explained. “Michael hopes she will take them over.”

  Gunter nodded. “She would be the one to do it. She

  will take good care of her horses and her employees.”

  “What's going to happen to Klaus?” Bess asked.

  “We don't know yet.” Just then Nancy spotted Texel

  lumbering across the showgrounds. “Texel might have

  an update.”

  “Good news!” he called as he approached the teens.

  “Between Andy Brackett's testimony and Gilly's, we

  should have enough to put Klaus away for a good long

  time.”

  Nancy grinned. Ned punched the air with his fist.

  “Yes!”

  “Andy will be charged with assault,” Texel went on.

  “But that's nothing compared to attempted murder.”

  “So everything's wrapped up,” Nancy said. She knew