Mystery of the Midnight Rider (Nancy Drew Diaries #3)(25)

"Unless she’s teaming up with that other trainer like you said,” Ned said.

I nodded. I’d filled Ned in on our latest theories on the ride over. "These big-time trainers all seem to attend most of the same shows, so I’m guessing Lenny was probably at the one in question,” I said. “But everyone says he’s super successful in the show world. Would he really risk his whole reputation on this kind of garbage, just to take out a teenager?”

Ned shrugged. “Okay, change of pace—how about those animal protester people?”



"You mean PAN?” We’d passed the protesters on our way out of the show, though I’d noticed that Annie Molina wasn’t with them. “I don’t know. I’m not sure they’d be likely to target any particular person, and so far everything seems to be aimed at Payton.”



"Good point.” Ned reached for the salt. "They did throw that tomato, though, right?”

"Yeah, but we’re wondering if someone put them up to it.” That made me realize we’d never followed up on that particular angle. I made a mental note to try to talk to Annie or one of her cohorts the next day.

"Okay,” Ned said. "So other than Lenny and Jessica, who else have you got? What about that Cal Kidd guy? Or Dana? Or the groom?”

"All still on the list.” I sighed. "It’s just that none of them quite . . . hold on.” My phone was buzzing from my purse. Fishing it out, I saw that I’d just received a text. It was from Payton:





NANCY, SORRY 2 BOTHER U—I’M STILL AT THE SHOW, EVERYONE ELSE WENT HOME, & NOW I THINK SOMEONE IS STALKING ME!





CHAPTER TEN




Signing Statement



“CAN’T YOU DRIVE ANY FASTER?” I COMPLAINED, gripping the armrest of Ned’s car.

“Not without breaking the sound barrier.” Ned spun the steering wheel, sending his car screeching into the fairgrounds’ parking lot. It was a much different sight from the one we’d left a couple of hours earlier. Only a few cars were still parked there, along with several large horse trailers hulking in the pale floodlights positioned here and there throughout the lot.

Ned screeched to a stop near the gate, not bothering to park between the lines. “Let’s go,” I said, hopping out of the car.

We sprinted in through the gate, the guard barely looking up as we passed. “Where did she say she was?” Ned asked.

“She didn’t.” I put on a burst of speed. "Let’s check Dana’s barn. If Payton’s not there, I’ll text her again.”



We burst into the barn. It was dim and quiet in there, the only light coming from a few safety bulbs in the aisle.



"Payton!” Ned hollered. “Where are you? It’s Ned and Nancy! Payton!”

I held my breath, listening for a response. “There,” I said, spinning and pointing toward the tack stall. "I heard footsteps.”

"Payton?” Ned hurried that way. Halfway there, he skidded to a stop as Mickey emerged, rubbing his eyes.

"Hello?” the groom said, sounding sleepy. "What’s all the shouting about?”

“Mickey!” I rushed over to him. “Have you seen Payton?”

“Payton?” Mickey blinked at me. “What do you mean? I thought she left with Dana and the others an hour ago.”

I pulled out my cell phone and sent Payton a text: WHERE ARE U?

"If everyone else left an hour ago, what are you still doing here?” Ned asked Mickey, sounding suspicious.

Mickey was looking more awake by the second. "I stay here every night,” he said. “Extra security. Dana doesn’t want to take the chance of anyone messing with the horses overnight.”

I couldn’t help thinking he wasn’t doing such a hot job as an amateur security guard. He hadn’t even known Payton was still here.

Unless he’s the one who was stalking her, I thought with a shiver.

"Any response yet?” Ned asked, glancing at the phone in my hand.

I shook my head. “Let’s check her horses’ stalls. Maybe she’s in with one of them.”

Leaving a confused-looking Mickey behind, we jogged down the aisle. The first stall we checked contained only a sleepy-looking gray mare.

“Midnight’s stall is right over there.” I hurried across the aisle and peered inside. "Payton!”

"Nancy!” Payton was leaning against Midnight’s side. She straightened up and came to the door. "Thanks for coming. I’m really sorry to bother you guys—Bess told me you were out on a date.”

"It’s no problem.” Ned undipped the stall guard to let her out. "What happened?”

Payton bit her lip. "I kind of lost track of time and never told Dana I needed a ride,” she admitted. “By the time I realized it, everyone was gone.”

"You could have called my parents,” Ned said. "They’d come get you. Or I would have.”

“I know. I was planning to call your dad.” Payton glanced at Midnight, who was hanging his head out over the door as if listening to the conversation. "I was just going to say good night to the horses first. I was coming out of Midnight’s stall when I saw someone in the aisle.”