Nancy lowered her voice. “Perhaps there was a
motive. Gilly might have caught Michael stealing
Aristocrat.”
Klaus's chin snapped up. “That is absurd.”
“Not totally. You see, Mr. Schaudt, we discovered
that one of the guards used to work for you, and
Michael knew him. They might have planned the theft
together. Perhaps they attacked Gilly when she
stumbled onto their scheme.”
Brows arched, Klaus assessed Nancy with his direct
gaze.
She didn't blink.
“That's an interesting theory, Miss Drew. However,
if Michael needed money, he didn't have to steal a
horse. All he had to do was ask me for a loan. And
Andy Brackett is too dense to plan a theft. Still, I will
definitely mention his name to Mr. Texel.”
“In the meantime,” Ned chimed in, “Nancy and I
are going to your—”
Letting out a shout, Nancy shoved Ned hard. “Look
out!”
The blow caught Ned by surprise. He stumbled
backward, falling in a pile of manure. “What in the
world—” he sputtered.
Quickly Nancy crouched beside him. “I am so
sorry!” she apologized loudly, cutting him off. “But a
wasp was buzzing around your head, and you know
how allergic you are to wasps.”
“Oh, right,” Ned said quickly. “My allergies.” He
glanced up at Klaus, who must have thought they'd
both gone mad. “Thanks for saving me from the killer
wasp, Nan.”
Nancy bit her lip to keep from laughing. Holding
out her hand, she helped him up. The seat of his shorts
was covered with manure.
“Oh, yuck. We'd better go back to the motel so you
can change.” Nancy turned toward Klaus. “Thanks for
the information. Make sure you tell Texel about
Brackett and keep us posted on Michael.”
Grabbing Ned's elbow, she hurried him out of the
barn.
“Couldn't you have thought of some other way to get
my attention?” Ned complained playfully when they
got outside.
“I'm sorry I pushed you, but I didn't want Klaus to
know we were going to his farm. Did you hear what he
said?”
Ned nodded. “When you asked Klaus whether he
recognized any of the guards, he said no. Then two
sentences later he mentioned that Andy Brackett is too
dense to plan a theft.”
Nancy stopped by the door of the Mustang. “Right!
Only I never said Andy's name. Which means that
Klaus knows Andy and knows he's working here.”
Pulling her keys from her purse, she unlocked the
door.
“Why do you think he did that?” Ned asked.
“Good question.” Nancy paused before opening the
door. “Maybe Klaus knew he was working here all the
time because he'd arranged it.”
Suddenly Nancy's mind whirled back to the horse
theft. She and Gilly had been sitting on the tack trunk.
Gilly had been about to tell her something when they
heard footsteps. Nancy clearly remembered the horror-
struck expression on Gilly's face when she saw that it
was Klaus.
“Ned, I think I've figured out what Gilly was going
to tell me,” Nancy exclaimed. “That Klaus Schaudt
arranged the theft of his own horse!”
12. Puzzling Clues
“But why would Schaudt steal his own horse?” Ned
asked.
Nancy shook her head as she got into the driver's
side of the Mustang. “I'm not sure. Perhaps Aristocrat's
insured against theft and Klaus hopes to collect on it.”
She pulled a towel from the floor of the backseat and
draped it over the passenger seat. “Here. Sit on this.”
Climbing in, Ned lowered himself gingerly onto the
towel.
“After you change, then we'll go to Schaudt's Iowa
farm.” Nancy started the car. “I'd love to get a look at
his files. If we can connect him to Brackett and find a
reason for him to steal his own horse, we just might
crack this case.”
They stopped at a fast-food restaurant on the way to
the motel and got a take-out order. Even though it
wasn't quite lunchtime, the two were hungry after their
quick breakfast. When they got to the motel, Nancy
waited outside while Ned ran in and changed.
“You look better,” she told Ned ten minutes later
when he climbed into the Mustang wearing clean
jeans.
“Definitely an improvement,” Ned said, strapping
on his seat belt as Nancy roared off. She'd gotten
directions to Klaus's other farm from Lee Anne. It was
about a half hour's drive.
Reaching behind him, Ned pulled the two paper
bags from the backseat and handed one to Nancy.
“Now for those burgers.”
Driving in silence, they concentrated on eating their
lunch. The Illinois countryside was picturesque. Even
though her mind was whirling with thoughts about the
case, Nancy was able to relax—for the first time since
she'd arrived at the horse park, she realized.
They took the first exit off the highway after crossing
the state line into Iowa, then headed west on a winding
road. The farm was just beyond the second left turn.
“Wow.” Ned whistled when Nancy steered the
Mustang along the gravel drive. “Nice digs.”
White four-board fences ran parallel to the drive,
enclosing lush pastures on both sides. In the field on
their right, a dozen mares with foals grazed. On their
left, a small band of yearlings romped.
When they topped a low hill, Nancy braked and let
the car idle as she surveyed the farm below. The
fencing ended at a large, very modern barn surrounded
by trees. No cars or trucks were visible.
“Doesn't look as if anyone's here,” Nancy said.
“Good. I didn't want to have to explain myself to
some farmhand.”
Nancy drove down the hill. Even though no vehicles
were around, a caretaker could be on the premises. “If
we do meet someone, we'll say we met Klaus at the
show and he sent us to see his yearlings. That way, we'll
at least get a tour of the place.”
Ned chuckled. “Like we have the money to buy a
horse.”
Nancy parked. As soon as she switched off the
engine, she heard dogs barking from somewhere
around back.
Ned furrowed his brow. “They sound big and
mean.”
“Let's hope they're penned,” Nancy said. She
opened the car door, then waited. No dogs came
barreling around the barn. “I think we may be okay.”
Cautiously Ned opened his own door and climbed
out. When he shut it, it made a sound as loud as a
shotgun blast. “If that doesn't bring someone—or some
critter—running, then there's probably no one here.”
“We'd better hurry, though, before someone does
show up.” Nancy headed toward the barn. A set of
double doors open
ed onto a wide aisle. She stepped
inside. It was cool and dark out of the sun. Stalls
flanked the aisle. As Nancy walked past them, she
noted the brass name tag over each stall door.
“All of the horses must be outside,” Nancy said as
she looked into an empty stall. Then she heard a nicker
and the thud of a hoof banging a wooden wall. “Almost
all,” she corrected.
The two hurried down the aisle. Nancy stopped in
front of a closed wire-mesh stall door. The name tag
read Salut.
“This must be Klaus's other stallion,” Nancy
guessed. The horse moved in front of the door and
pressed his nose against the screen. “Hi, big guy,” she
crooned as she studied him.
Nancy frowned and moved closer. “Wow. This horse
could be a ringer for Aristocrat. He's the same color,
with no white markings.”
“That's interesting,” Ned said. “How do we know
he's not Aristocrat?” Ned asked.
“We don't know,” Nancy said. “But I know how to
find out. Before she was hurt, Gilly told me to look for
the scar on Aristocrat's hock. Remember? That's the
way to identify him.”
She unlatched the stall door. “This stallion is
wearing a halter. If you hold him, I'll check his hind
leg.”
“I hope he doesn't bite.” Ned followed her into the
stall. The big horse snorted suspiciously, but stood
quietly while Ned held the cheekpiece of his halter.
“Easy, guy,” Nancy soothed. Talking quietly, she
moved around to the stallion's flank. Gilly hadn't said
which hock, so she needed to check both.
Putting her left hand on his right flank, Nancy
rubbed him to let him know she was there. He was
such a powerful horse that one kick would have sent
her flying.
“Just looking to see if you have a scar,” she told him.
Reaching down, she felt the joint in the hind leg. She
probed the smooth hair gently until her fingers found a
rough, jagged spot running along the inside of the leg.
“Ned!” Nancy whispered excitedly. “I found the scar
Gilly was talking about!”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. So that means either this is Aristocrat or Salut
is his twin in every way.”
“And if this is Aristocrat, then your hunch was
right—Klaus stole his own horse,” Ned said grimly.
“But why would he steal his own horse and then
house him in his barn?” Turning, Nancy gave the horse
a solid pat on his neck.
“Someone other than Gilly could have figured out
that this is Aristocrat.” As the stallion nuzzled her
fingers, she frowned in confusion. “Unless . . .” She
thought a minute, trying to make sense of it all. “Unless
the horse that was stolen wasn't Aristocrat. I remember
Gilly telling me that she couldn't find his scar. Maybe
when she bathed him, she suddenly realized that the
horse at the show wasn't Aristocrat at all.”
“Why would Klaus pass off another horse as
Aristocrat, then steal it?” Ned asked.
Nancy gave the horse one more pat, then followed
Ned from the stall.
“And if that is Aristocrat in there”—Ned jerked his
thumb toward the horse—“then who and where is
Salut?”
Nancy locked the stall door behind her. “There've
got to be answers to all our questions somewhere.”
“I'll bet Klaus Schaudt knows the answers,” Ned
said.
“I doubt that he'll volunteer any information,”
Nancy said. Hands on hips, she looked up and down
the aisle. “We'll have to hunt for the answers ourselves.
Let's try searching the office.”
“That must be it.” Grabbing Nancy's hand, Ned led
her down the aisle to a closed door. “Let's hope it's not
locked.” Ned turned the knob, and the door opened.
Nancy stepped inside. A window illuminated the
small paneled room. It was furnished with a wooden
desk, a swivel chair, shelves, and a file cabinet.
Paintings of horses decorated the walls.
“What are we looking for?” Ned asked.
“Any evidence that Andy Brackett worked here and
insurance forms on Aristocrat.” Sitting down in the
swivel chair Nancy started opening the desk drawers
while Ned headed for the file cabinet.
For ten minutes they worked in silence. Nancy
searched through every drawer in the desk, locating
stacks of new bills, correspondence from horse owners,
and show schedules. Nothing had Brackett's name on
it.
“Hey, the stuff in this file drawer might be helpful,”
Ned said. “Klaus has a folder on every horse.”
Nancy popped out of the desk chair. “Let's see the
one on Aristocrat.”
Pulling out a folder, Ned held it up. “There's also
one on Salut.”
Quickly they scanned the two folders.
“Here are Aristocrat's registration papers,” Nancy
said. “They state his color, breed, sire, and dam.”
“And here are Salut's.” Ned took out a piece of
paper and held it next to the one Nancy was holding.
“They have the same parents. No wonder they look like
twins. The only difference is that Salut is two years
younger.”
“How could they possibly have the same scar?”
Nancy wondered. She pulled out several stapled
papers. “Hey, here's Aristocrat's insurance policy. He's
insured for one hundred thousand dollars.” She
frowned. “That's odd. Lee Anne said he was worth
about two hundred thousand.”
“Then he's worth more than his insurance would pay
off if something happened to him,” Ned pointed out.
Nancy heaved a sigh. “Which means all this knocks
out my hunch that Klaus stole his own horse.”
The sound of tires on gravel made the two teens
start. “Someone's here!” Nancy gasped.
Hurriedly, they replaced the folders, then pushed
the drawers and file cabinets shut. Nancy tiptoed to the
door that opened into the barn and peered around the
jamb. No one had come into the barn. “We can make a
break out the far doors to our left, then run around to
my car when the person comes inside.”
“Whoever it is will still see your car,” Ned
whispered.
“I know, but we'll have to take a chance that we can
get away before they see us.” Gesturing to Ned, Nancy
burst out of the office and raced for the open doors as
loud barking erupted behind her.
Without slowing down, she tossed a glance over her
shoulder. Two burly rottweilers came galloping toward
them, teeth bared.
Nancy felt her stomach churn as the dogs charged
down the aisle after them, foam flying from their
mouths. There was no way she and Ned would make it
to the car in time!
13. An Explanation
“This way, Nan!” Ned grabbed her hand, pulling her
sharply to the right. She st
umbled after him into an
empty stall. Whirling, he slammed shut the wire mesh
door.
Growling and snarling, the two dogs threw
themselves at the door. Ned and Nancy had to brace
their shoulders against it to keep the dogs from forcing
it open. Nancy could feel the heat of their breath as
their sharp teeth tore at the wire.
“Zeus! Apollo! Down!” a firm voice commanded.
Instantly the dogs backed off. Whining, they circled
twice, then sat in the middle of the aisle. Nancy and
Ned exchanged relieved glances. She didn't think they
could have held the dogs off much longer.
Klaus Schaudt strode into view. He halted in front of
the closed door and studied them. “Miss Drew, what
are you and your friend doing in my barn?”
“Klaus, are we glad to see you!” Nancy greeted the
trainer with forced cheerfulness. “Thank you for calling
off your dogs. They scared us half to death.”
That part was true, Nancy thought. She couldn't
exactly say she was glad to see him. Nothing had
confirmed her suspicions that Klaus and Andy Brackett
were working together, but until she had some
answers, she didn't trust the man.
“We were following the lead about the guard who
worked for you,” Nancy explained. “May we come
out?”
“Of course. Zeus and Apollo were only doing their
job. They are my farm's security. Usually I let them
roam while I am gone. They definitely deter
trespassers.”
“Gee, I can't understand why,” Ned muttered,
eyeing the dogs as he opened the door and stepped
into the aisle. Nancy followed right behind him. The
rottweilers were still obeying the sit command, but she
knew if Klaus gave the word, the dogs would be at their
throats.
Klaus folded his arms. “You should have told me you
planned to come to the farm, Miss Drew,” he said. “I
would have advised you not to bother. I informed Mr.
Texel about Andy Brackett, but the man seems to have
disappeared. I'd say that points to his possible guilt in
the theft of Aristocrat.”
“It does appear that way,” Nancy agreed. “And since
he worked for you, he must have known the stallion's
value.”
Klaus nodded. “He knew. And since he was a guard
at the horse park he was in the perfect position to steal
him. I thank you for discovering that fact. I wish I had
identified him earlier.” He folded his arms over his