The Deadline Series Boxset

by Wendy Soliman

  ‘Okay, good night.’

  ‘And I’m needed back in the bar,’ Drew said, bending to kiss his wife’s head. ‘There’s no peace for the wicked.’

  ‘You’ll be kept busy for hours then.’ Laughter sounded from the annexe. ‘That’ll be the grooms returning from the pub,’ Cheryl said. ‘One day they’ll remember to do it quietly.’

  Alexi grabbed the printed picture of Natalie she’d been carrying about in her bag and went to the back door. ‘I need to ask Tod if he remembers seeing Natalie at Fuller’s yard and, if so, what she was doing there.’

  Cosmo stirred himself and deigned to follow her from the room. So, naturally, did Toby. Alexi, with cat and dog at her heels, met the returning revellers before they reached their accommodation.

  ‘Hey,’ Tod said, his eyes lighting up at the sight of her. ‘Sorry. Were we too noisy?’

  ‘Actually, I wanted a quick word with you.’

  He offered her a sweeping bow. ‘I am entirely at your service.’

  Alexi laughed as she unfolded Natalie’s picture. ‘Do you recognise this lady?’ she asked.

  Tod took the picture from Alexi and held it beneath one of the outdoor lights. ‘Sure, that’s Natalie. She’s a local florist. Why do you ask?’

  ‘Has she ever been up to your yard?’

  ‘Yeah, frequently as it happens. She’s interested in taking a share in Super Nova. He’s a promising two-year-old Graham’s just taken into training and needs to find investors for.’

  ‘You say frequently. How often has she been to see the horse?’

  ‘Dunno. But I’ve seen her hanging around at least three times. Maybe more.’

  ‘Is that normal?’

  Tod smiled. ‘It’s a big investment she’s considering, so I guess she needs to be sure.’

  ‘Why big? Surely a lot of people take shares in horses?’

  ‘Yeah, but you’ve no idea how many pieces a horse can be chopped into; figuratively speaking. Up to twenty isn’t unusual. But Natalie is considering a quarter share in Super Nova so Graham’s job is to convince her the horse has real promise, which he does, and that it will be a wise investment. It’s a big deal.’ Tod shrugged. ‘There again, perhaps she just likes hanging about the yard and soaking up the atmosphere. Some people are like that.’

  ‘Who dealt with her enquiries about Super Nova?’

  ‘The guv’nor.’

  ‘What, every visit? Is that normal?’

  Tod grinned. ‘She’s very attractive.’

  Alexi laughed, but when it became apparent Tod couldn’t tell her anything more, she thanked him and said good night.

  ‘Hey.’ His voice caused her to turn back. ‘Why are you asking me these things? Why not ask Natalie herself?’

  ‘I would if I could find her.’

  ‘What do you mean? What’s happened to her?’

  ‘Nothing, I hope.’

  ‘Probably gone off with some bloke somewhere,’ Tod replied. ‘I bet she gets plenty of offers. Do you want me to ask the boss? See if he knows anything?’

  ‘No, it’s okay, thanks, Tod.’

  Alexi planned to visit Graham Fuller and do the asking herself.

  She returned to the kitchen, poured the remainder of the wine into her glass and told Cheryl what little she’d learned from Tod.

  ‘I have a feeling Tyler will need to go back to his office tomorrow, at least temporarily, so I’ll go and see Fuller on my own.’

  ‘I hope we’re not going to lose the pleasure of Tyler’s company already.’ Cheryl grinned. ‘He certainly makes the place look pretty.’

  Alexi conceded the point with a wry twist of her lips. Cosmo, clearly having forgiven her for abandoning him all day, leapt gracefully from the floor and landed on her lap. She smoothed his big head and the cat responded with a thundering purr.

  ‘He likes you, Alexi.’

  ‘Cosmo? Of course he does. I feed him, don’t I?’

  Cheryl tutted. ‘You know very well I’m talking about Tyler. I can see it in the way he looks at you, all dark and intense.’

  ‘Even if that’s true, I’m not in the market for romance. Besides, he already has a very over-protective partner lusting after him.’

  ‘I get the impression your Mr Maddox doesn’t allow anyone else to tell him who he should or should not date.’ Cheryl grinned. ‘Besides, Cosmo likes him. That has to count in his favour.’

  ‘Hmm, I wish I knew what made Cosmo decide if a person is or is not worthy of his notice. His instincts are almost human…no, better than human when he comes to judging character. I thought he just liked people who were no threat to me, but he disliked Patrick from the word go.’

  ‘There you are. He is a good judge of character.’

  Alexi smiled. ‘He’s a very unusual feline, that’s all I do know.’

  ‘He’s a rare and precious baby.’

  ‘True.’ Cosmo purred louder, obviously aware that he was being admired. ‘Come on then, help me plough through these phone numbers.’

  ‘Slave driver.’

  Chapter Fourteen

  Alexi and Tyler were both up early the following morning and encountered one another in the upstairs residents’ lounge. Tyler had his car keys in his hand, about to leave.

  ‘Hi,’ he said. ‘I missed you last night.’

  ‘You were on a long phone call when I came up. I didn’t want to disturb you. Thought you might be whispering sweet nothings to a girlfriend.’

  ‘If only. What did you get from Tod? I saw you talking to him through the window.’

  Alexi told him. ‘Sounds genuine enough, but I’m planning to go up there now and see if I can talk with Fuller myself.’

  ‘Be careful.’

  Alexi blinked at him. ‘Why?’

  ‘I’m not sure.’ Tyler scratched his neck. ‘There’s something about him that doesn’t add up.’

  Alexi was genuinely surprised when Tyler told him what he’d overheard in the men’s room.

  ‘Blimey, you think he’s hard up? I find that difficult to believe. He’s a famous trainer. Even I’ve heard of him. I’d have thought owners would be clamouring to have him take their horses.’

  ‘He might have expensive habits. Don’t forget his staff accommodation burned down in mysterious circumstances, and Drew is always having to chase him for rent.’

  ‘True, but I don’t see how he can have anything to do with Natalie’s disappearance. If she was thinking of taking a share in that horse, it would be in his best interests to have her alive and well. Anyway, we haven’t unearthed any connection between them.’

  ‘We haven’t looked, but I doubt there is one. Just take care, that’s all I’m saying.’

  ‘Okay, I’ll do that. And then I’ll spend the rest of the day at Natalie’s cottage, looking for her hiding place.’

  ‘Don’t pull up all the floorboards,’ he said with a grin. ‘Oh, and there’s no point in going to see Fuller yet. He’ll be up on the gallops, watching his horses being put through their paces at the crack of dawn.’ He consulted his watch. ‘Leave it another couple of hours.’

  ‘I knew that.’

  His grin widened. ‘Course you did.’

  So much for fooling him, Alexi thought. She actually didn’t have the first idea how the racing world worked and evidently it showed. Why couldn’t she have just said thanks for saving her a wasted trip? Left to her own devices she would have headed straight for Fuller’s yard, thinking these country types got up at cockcrow.

  ‘You going into Newbury?’ she asked.

  ‘Yeah, I have a meeting scheduled with a client, but I should get that cleared up this morning. I have all the information he asked me to obtain. I need to put some time in at the office after that but I’ll be back this evening. If you find anything significant, or need me in the meantime, call my mobile.’

  ‘I can manage without you.’

  ‘I’m just saying, we don’t know what we’re dealing with or who to trust, so tread carefully and
trust no one.’

  ‘That works for me. Have you heard back from the guy you had checking out Natalie’s other two dates?’

  ‘Actually, yes. I was about to mention it. Both guys seemed surprised and genuinely concerned about Natalie’s disappearance. They confirmed individually that they’d only dated once, communicating by email, never on the phone. They admitted they couldn’t believe their luck when they saw Natalie and weren’t surprised when she didn’t want to hook up for a second time. Neither guy has false illusions about his attractiveness to the opposite sex. Anyway, Larry’s pretty sure they’re not hiding anything, which is good enough for me.’

  ‘Okay, we’ll put them to the bottom of the suspect list.’

  ‘We don’t really have any suspects, other than Seaton.’

  ‘How many more do we need? He has motive, means and opportunity. Isn’t that the yardstick you cops measure these things by?’

  ‘It’s hard to apply those criteria when we don’t have a crime to apply them to.’

  Alexi folded her arms defensively. ‘But we both think she’s dead. Murdered.’

  ‘Thinking it isn’t the same as having a body of proof.’ He pulled a face. ‘Literally.’

  ‘We ought to bear Walker’s name in mind. I don’t think he had anything to do with her disappearance, but she did date him three times and we haven’t found anyone else she allowed to get that close. He did say he was planning to move their relationship on by inviting her to his house. Maybe she refused and he got the hump because he thought she was a bit of a cock-tease.’ She shrugged. ‘People have killed for less.’

  ‘That’s a reach. But I agree, we should keep him in mind.’

  ‘Okay, so we have a suspect list of two. That makes me feel as though we’ve achieved something. Now, what about her solicitor and shrink? Are you going to try and get appointments with them?’

  ‘I’ll put calls into them when I get to the office, but unless they’re willing to reveal anything significant, which I doubt, there’s not much point in going up to town again.’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know. I can be quite persuasive, given the right motivation.’

  That grin again. ‘Now there’s an invitation it would be hard to refuse.’

  ‘You don’t motivate me.’

  His chuckled developed a decidedly wicked edge. ‘Liar!’

  Cosmo chose a very opportune time to stalk into the room and wrap himself around Tyler’s legs, purring; demanding attention. Tyler dutifully bent to scratch his ears, saving Alexi from the trouble of formulating a response.

  ‘Take this guy with you today,’ Tyler said. ‘It’ll make me feel better.’

  ‘I will take him, but only because I can’t stand it if he goes into another of his strops if I leave him behind.’

  The corners of his lips lifted. ‘Good enough. Right, I’m out of here. Have a good day, honey, and I’ll see you for dinner.’

  He grabbed his iPad and phone and waved over his shoulder as he flew down the stairs, taking them two at a time. Alexi shook her head at his retreating figure. He was incorrigible. Dressed in a long-sleeved shirt that hung loose outside his designer jeans, his hair still damp from the shower and flopping over his eyes, she had to agree with Cheryl’s assessment of him. But she’d cut her tongue out before she admitted it.

  ‘Okay, Cosmo,’ Alexi said. ‘You ready for another day’s hard sleuthing?’ She stroked her cat’s sleek back. ‘I’m determined to show Newbury’s answer to Dick Tracy that he’s not the only one who knows how to get results. Natalie’s hidden her personal stuff somewhere. I’m a woman. I ought to be able to think like she does and figure out where.’

  Alexi had been unsure what to expect from Fuller’s venture but certainly hadn’t envisaged the pristine establishment that confronted her upon her arrival. Spick and span, everything was neatly in place, not so much as a blade of hay littering the cobbled yard. There were several rows of loose boxes—at least she thought that was what they were called—set around a quadrangle. They were all occupied by leggy horses munching away at hay nets. One or two of them glanced at her as she walked past, displaying refined heads with widely spaced, intelligent eyes, and long, arched necks.

  She had left Cosmo in the car, thinking there would probably be dogs around and not wanting him to take them on. Worse yet, he might have decided to amuse himself by terrorising a highly-strung racehorse or two. Having Fuller’s dogs coming out on the losing end of a fight with her cat, or having him traumatise one of the horses, wouldn’t be the best way to encourage his cooperation. Alexi chuckled as she considered the possibility of threatening Fuller with letting her cat loose in his yard if that cooperation wasn’t forthcoming. He’d probably think she was a candidate for the funny farm…until he met Cosmo.

  She wondered what Cosmo would make of these noble creatures. For her part she was starting to appreciate why it was known as the sport of kings. Just standing there, she felt a sense of history and tradition permeate her soul. She allowed the smell of warm horseflesh and sweet molasses, the sound of contented munching and the tranquillity of her surroundings to soothe her.

  ‘I feel a feature coming on,’ she muttered to herself. ‘Why would such strong, noble creatures allow themselves to be dominated by considerably weaker men?’ She thought Animal Farm and conceded that Orwell had probably been onto something.

  ‘Can I help you?’

  Alexi started, turning at the sound of another voice. The person accosting her was a girl of no more than twenty wearing muddy boots, jodhpurs and a body warmer over a polo shirt, her long hair pulled, appropriately enough, into a ponytail. Alexi wondered if she was one of the residents of the annexe. She didn’t recognise her, but that didn’t mean anything. She was very slight of build. Perhaps a trainee jockey—or were they apprentices? Whatever, women rode right alongside their male counterparts nowadays, didn’t they? It was one of the few sports where they supposedly competed on equal terms, although Alexi imagined it required physical strength to control one of these powerful animals, which would give the males a distinct advantage.

  ‘Oh yes, I was looking for Graham Fuller.’

  ‘Do you have an appointment?’

  ‘Well, no. Do I need one? It’ll only take a minute.’

  ‘He doesn’t usually see people without appointments. Can I tell him what it’s about?’

  ‘Super Nova.’

  ‘Oh, are you a prospective owner?’

  ‘Something like that.’

  ‘He’s over here.’

  The girl’s attitude became less guarded as she led Alexi to one of the boxes. Its inhabitant was a rich bay colour, indistinguishable to Alexi’s untrained eye from all the other horses she’d seen, most of whom were also brown. But there was no question that he was handsome. He looked up and whinnied when he saw the two of them looking at him over his half-door. The girl produced something from her pocket and offered it to the horse on the flat of her hand. He snuffled that hand with his muzzle and crunched on whatever she’d given him.

  ‘What was that?’

  The girl looked at her askance. ‘A mint. Horses love them. If you’re thinking of becoming an owner, I should have thought you’d know at least that much.’

  ‘I have a lot to learn.’

  ‘Evidently. Hang on a minute. I’ll go and see if the guv’nor’s about. They just came back from the gallops and they’re all at breakfast. Won’t keep you a moment.’

  Super Nova discovered she had no supply of mints of her own, lost interest in her and returned to his hay. She seemed to be kept waiting for ages and was on the point of giving up when a slim, muscular man strode across the yard in her direction, two spaniels at his heels. The same man who had been in the bar the other night, only Alexi had barely spared him a glance on that occasion.

  Fuller looked to be in his late-sixties, with a weathered face and a smile that didn’t trouble his eyes. She could see that he had once been a handsome man, but time and the ravages of the outdoor lif
e had left their mark. As he got closer she noticed a network of fine broken blood vessels decorating his face and nose. A drinker, she thought. Wisps of grey hair poked out from beneath the brim of a flat cap that appeared to be surgically attached to his head. She was repulsed by the traces of grease creeping up the outside where it clung to his scalp.

  ‘I’m Graham Fuller,’ he said without preamble. ‘I gather you are interested in Super Nova.’

  ‘Alexi Ellis.’ She shook his proffered hand, waiting for him to recognise her name, or face, because people often did. She’d become used to such recognition producing an outpouring of admiration—or abuse. When it became apparent that he didn’t know who she was, Alexi was relieved. If he had any useful information to impart, he was less likely to tell a reporter for fear of adverse publicity. ‘Thanks for seeing me without an appointment.’

  ‘Not a problem. What do you need to know about Nova?’

  The horse left his hay and stuck his head over the door. Fuller slapped his neck. Alexi looked warily at his very large, yellow teeth and tried to keep out of range of them without making her fear too obvious.

  Breakfast was obviously over and the yard gradually filled with knots of people, chatting and laughing. They noticed Fuller and the huddles dispersed with lightning speed. Alexi thought it interesting that all his workers appeared frightened of him.

  She watched the grooms go about their business. Horses with coats that already shone brightly enough for a person to see their own face in them were being vigorously brushed. She noticed a groom doing something clever with a piece of plastic that left the horse he was working on with diamond shapes on its quarters. A couple more wore rugs and things to protect their legs and were being loaded into a lorry. One of them didn’t want to go up the ramp and it took two grooms, with a rope around its backside, to persuade it. Were they going racing? Was there a race meeting today? She didn’t even know if Fuller trained chasers or flat racers. Face it, she barely knew the difference between the two except, obviously, one lot had to jump over obstacles and the others just ran like hell. Not that it mattered, and she’d be more effective in her investigation if she didn’t get bogged down with insignificant technicalities.