WHO ARE YOU and what do you want?” a familiar voice demanded in Nancy’s ear.
She stopped struggling instantly. It was Ace!
“Don’t yell, or you’ll scare the horse,” he ordered, releasing his hand from her mouth.
“Mr. Hanford, it’s me,” Nancy managed to say after taking a deep breath.
The jockey muttered an oath and twisted her around, staring through the gloom at her face. “Nancy Drew? I didn’t recognize you in that hat and jacket! What were you doing sneaking up on Flash with that crop? You could have scared him into hurting himself!”
He escorted her outside the barn and into the cool dark night. A small sliver of a moon turned Ace’s face a ghostly gray.
“I’m sorry,” Nancy apologized. “Where are the stable boys? Who’s watching Flash?”
“I am. Flash is real skittish, and I stay at the barn with him most of the time.” He glanced over his shoulder toward Flash’s stall. “I gave the stable boys the night off. I wanted to talk to you alone.”
“But you weren’t guarding the horse when I got here,” Nancy pointed out.
“I heard something,” Ace admitted. “Like somebody walking real soft. So I went to see who it was. When I got back, you were heading for Flash with this in your hand!” He lifted the crop. “Why did you bring it with you, anyway?”
“I found it beside the barn,” Nancy told him. “Someone must have dropped it.”
Ace grunted. “Probably that stable boy Eddie was so mad at. He used it on Flash earlier, and the horse nearly hurt himself.”
“Did you find whoever was walking around the barn?” Nancy asked.
“No,” the jockey growled, glancing toward Flash’s stall once more. Nancy heard the colt shuffling in the hay. “Look, I don’t have a lot of time,” Ace went on, his voice low and secretive, “but I heard you asking about Dollar Bill, and I thought maybe it was time I said my piece about the crook.”
“Dollar Bill?” Nancy questioned.
“The man you were looking for. The one you saw talking to McHugh. That’s Dollar Bill.”
“Just who is Dollar Bill?” asked Nancy, keeping her own voice just as quiet.
Ace’s expression darkened. “He’s a bookie and a crook. You can place any kind of bet with Dollar Bill, but you’d better pay up quick.”
Nancy frowned. “He was threatening McHugh when I saw him, telling him he’d better get the money or else.”
“That’s Bill,” Ace said, nodding. “He’s got half the jockeys around here scared to death. If you don’t pay, he puts the squeeze on you in other ways, you know what I mean? I know he was leaning on McHugh. Wanted him to stiff a horse in the Derby. McHugh said no way.”
“Dollar Bill is into race fixing?” Nancy’s heart was pounding now. She finally had a solid lead!
Ace nodded grimly. “Among other things. The man’s like a bad wind blowing across horse racing.”
Nancy’s mind was clicking as she sorted through the facts. “So McHugh placed bets with Dollar Bill, then couldn’t pay up when he lost,” she concluded. “What I don’t get is why McHugh went through Bill when he could place a legitimate bet at the track?”
Ace shook his head emphatically. “No, ma’am. Jockeys can only bet on the mount they’re riding, and then they can only place the bet—”
“Through the horse’s trainer or owner. That’s right,” Nancy finished, remembering what Cam had told her. She also recalled that McHugh was a heavy gambler. “So McHugh placed some illegal bets, lost, and couldn’t come up with the money?”
Ace nodded. “That’s right. McHugh had talked Bill into waiting until the Derby. He was going to bet on Toot Sweet and get his money back. But then he fell,” Ace said, shaking his head sadly.
“Do you think Bill could have drugged Ken McHugh?” Nancy asked.
“It’s possible, but not likely. I mean, Bill wants his money. Until McHugh’s better, he won’t get it.”
Nancy couldn’t argue with Ace’s logic. Dollar Bill had to want McHugh unharmed—at least until he was paid off.
Glancing once more toward the barn, Ace said, “I’ve got to get back to Flash, but don’t tell anyone I was the one who told you about Dollar Bill, see?”
Nancy saw. From what Ace had said, Dollar Bill was one tough and powerful crook. If he knew Ace was the person who’d fingered him, he might do more than just threaten the jockey. “I won’t tell,” she assured him.
Ace nodded and disappeared back toward the barns. Nancy stood for a moment in silence, listening. A light snapped on, and for a moment she saw Ace checking out Flash O’Lightnin’. He glanced her way but made no gesture of acknowledgment. From now on, it looked as though Ace Hanford was going to pretend he had no idea who she was.
Nancy was lost in thought when she found Bess and Walt at the cafeteria. She was surprised to see how crowded it was at nine-thirty at night but decided everyone treated it like a social club. She waved to them as she ordered some french fries at the counter, then joined them at the table. Bess looked at her questioningly, but Nancy didn’t want to reveal what Ace had said in front of Walt.
Suddenly Nancy saw Cam burst through the cafeteria doors. His face was filled with suppressed anger. Spying Walt, he walked toward their table.
“We’ve got problems,” Cam said to Walt, ignoring Nancy and Bess. “Someone’s been snooping around the stables tonight. The stable boys say the horses have been restless. Thea and I are both sleeping on cots in the barns—I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t like it.”
“I’ll be on the lookout,” Walt said, worried.
“Did you say someone’s snooping around?” Nancy asked, thinking of the mysterious figure both she and Ace had seen around Flash’s stall. She wished she could talk to Cam alone, but it was clear to her that right then wasn’t the proper time.
“Yep. I don’t like prowlers. Someone might be trying to harm the horses.” Cam’s steely blue eyes focused on a table across the room. “So that same someone could win!”
Cam’s gaze was directed straight at Eddie Brent, leaving no doubt about who he meant. Before anyone could say anything, Cam was on his way to Eddie’s table.
“I wouldn’t put it past an owner as shady as Eddie Brent to dope horses or jockeys just so Flash can win the Derby!” he shouted as he went.
The room grew silent. Eddie Brent’s face twisted in hatred.
Slowly the owner rose from his chair. The two men squared off as the last few voices hushed. Then—in a lightning move—Brent smashed his fist right into Cam’s face!