Mystery of the Midnight Rider (Nancy Drew Diaries #3)(14)

“Like I said, my mom called.” Ned sounded grim. "I guess she was feeling guilty about keeping all this from Payton’s parents. So she called them a little while ago.”

“Oh.” I couldn’t say I was surprised. Mrs. Nickerson wasn’t the type of person to be comfortable keeping secrets. Especially from one of her best friends. "How’d they take it? Were they freaked out?”

"Not exactly. They said it wasn’t the first time something like this has happened.”

"What?” I pressed the phone closer to my ear as several pre-teens wandered past me, chatting and laughing loudly. “What do you mean?”

"A similar note turned up at a show Payton rode in a couple of weeks ago,” Ned said. “It was tucked under the windshield wiper of her parents’ car after the show. Sounds like Payton’s dad was convinced it was just sour grapes from some competitor. He insisted everyone ignore it. Wouldn’t even let Payton tell Dana or anyone else at the barn.”

“Wow.” I took that in, adding it to the growing case file taking shape in my head. “So whoever’s trying to scare Payton either knows her well enough to know which car belongs to her family…

“Or is a stalker type who follows her around so he or she can leave those notes in weird locations,” Ned finished. “Creepy.”

“Definitely. Which means this case just got a lot more serious.”

I bit my lip. “We’d better get back to work. I want to find Dana again—she was about to tell me about Payton’s enemies when she rushed off.”

"Sounds like a plan. I’ll try to find Payton and let her know what’s going on.”

As I hung up the phone, it buzzed again. Checking the readout,

I saw a text from Bess reading WE’RE HERE.

I texted back, and soon we met up near the entrance. "Those PAN freaks are back again today,” George said before I could say a word. “They practically accosted us on our way past.”



“Uh-huh.” I wasn’t interested in the protesters just then. “But listen, you guys will never believe what’s been happening around here...



Their eyes widened as I filled them in. When I finished, George let out a low whistle. “Do you really think someone could be stalking Payton?” she said. “But why?”

"And is it connected with Midnight’s drug results?” Bess added.

"That’s what we need to find out. I’m hoping Dana can help.” I sighed. "She started to tell me about how Payton has a few enemies, but that phone call interrupted and then she rushed off.”

“I can tell you one enemy,” George said. "That girl Jessica. If looks could kill, we would’ve witnessed a murder at least twice over just yesterday.”

"Yeah.” I agreed. "Jessica really seemed to have it out for Pay-ton. But she’s even younger than Payton herself. I could see her leaving nasty notes, maybe. But would she really follow Payton back to Ned’s house to do it? And what about that drug test?”

“I don’t know,” Bess said. “But I know who else should be on the suspect list—that rude trainer we heard insulting Payton yesterday.”

"Lenny Hood.” I nodded. “I was thinking about him too. I definitely want to ask Dana about him.”



“So let’s find her and ask,” George said. "Where do you think she could be?”



“Last time I saw her, she was looking for Payton.” I shrugged. “Guess we should start by checking at the barn.”

We hurried across the show grounds, pausing at each riding ring we passed just long enough to ascertain that Payton wasn’t in any of them. She wasn’t at any of her horse’s stalls, either, or hanging out on the benches out front with the other kids from her bam.

The day before, Payton had shown us around the stabling area and pointed out the tack stall where all the saddles and other equipment were kept. When I glanced in, the place was deserted except for Rachel and a younger girl in riding clothes. They were huddled around one of the saddle racks in the comer, their voices loud and excited.

"Hi,” I said as my friends and I stepped in. “Have either of you guys seen Dana lately? Or Payton?”

The girls spun around. “Nancy!” Rachel exclaimed. "Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it!”

"Can’t believe what?” I asked.

"Come look!” She grabbed my sleeve, dragging me to the saddle rack. "Can you believe someone did this to Payton’s saddle?”

I gasped. The saddle’s seat had been slashed to ribbons!





CHAPTER SIX




Vandal Scandal



“ARE YOU SURE THIS IS PAYTON’S SADDLE?” I asked the girls.

“Definitely,” the younger one spoke up. "It’s practically brand—new, too. Her dad bought it for her after she won a big class at Devon.”

"I already texted Dana to tell her,” Rachel put in. "She’s on her way.”

“Good.” I leaned closer to the saddle for a better look, but didn’t touch it. If Dana called the cops, I didn’t want to mess up any potential evidence.

“Pretty thorough job,” Bess said over my shoulder.