Spiral of Hooves

by Roland Clarke

  As long as Lina hears what I need to say, then I have to be satisfied. How long did Odette suffer in that freezing water? I pray it was quick, unlike this sad necessity.

  Fenburgh’s master bedroom was doubling as intensive care unit and office, curtains shutting out the real view outside.

  Instead of the stud’s wealth or shadowy figures, the CCTV monitors infected by Hareng Rouge were flicking between random shots. A single laptop was idle but with a screensaver of flying horses.

  Gilles was standing, his face accusing Armand of treachery.

  “Câlice, I’m about to save Vix, and this is my reward. I know your toy soldiers and the pigs are outside somewhere. Your cheap tricks are so obvious, Loup. I’m losing my wife, and you’re playing games with lives. Well, I can kill Carly too, unless you give me what Lina needs.”

  “She already has it, dying in the way that she decided others should die. Did you forget that Euphorbia were my cousin’s favourite plants? Or did you never learn that when seducing her and getting her pregnant? And the Chasseurs Alpins never play games.”

  “Cousin? Odette? Alpine troops? You're crazy, Loup. Give me the antidote.”

  “It won’t work. A hybrid dose of euphorbon could be interacting with Mick’s warfarin dagger.”

  Gilles picked up a syringe, and it flew across the room, smashing against the wall, but leaving the needle embedded.

  “Then Carly dies too. You can’t access his files, and he won’t talk, look next door.”

  Mick’s body lay on another bed, not breathing, rigid. Beside him, there was some medical equipment including syringes and a defibrillator. Despite the lack of wounds, they had tortured the salesman to death for the secret of his knife, and for the missing parts of Project Pegasus.

  Did I cause his death by playing for time? By playing games? Or would I have been too late? Why does the scapegoat get left to die? His death demands more revenge.

  “Afraid it’s just us left making this deal. We tried to save poor Mick, but his heart gave out. He was injured too badly in the accident.”

  “This was better than taking him to a hospital?”

  “It was quicker to fly them both here. Best facilities, just too late. Ask the medics downstairs. Anyway, how’s Wanda? Will she survive?”

  “No sign of any virus and I don't think the mare’s infected. It was a hoax designed by Vidarranj to force our hand. Like you, they wouldn’t risk her long-term breeding or competition value.”

  “I’m pleased she’s unharmed. If Carly’s retiring, so to speak, then the mare’s ours.”

  “You scheming bastard. Wanda’s mine and you will never get her back. As you can see, I haven’t retired.”

  Armand smiled as Gilles whirled to face Carly, who was standing in the doorway beside her new friend, Blanculet.

  “Impossible. You said Carly was dying, Loup. And the paramedics said the doctor took her to hospital.”

  “An exaggeration, part of the subterfuge. Unlike her win with Wanda after you had run. You lost that bet too.”

  “But, why my Lina? You can save her. We’ve so much ahead, together.”

  Carly unleashed her anger. “Damn you Gilles Boissard. You’re cruel and heartless. Patrick Harfang is not just a front. You’ve become him, ruthless. You want us to feel sorry for that murderess? She never grieved for Odette or Roman.”

  “Those were accidents, Vix, like yours.”

  “No way, you arranged them all. Even the accident that nearly killed me.”

  “That was Mick. She told me.”

  “After she framed him. You knew. And I thought you loved me. All those promises: the maple grove, the ranch, the new life—meant nothing. Why did I ever cry for you? I suffered for what? Were they the same false dreams that you offered Odette? Tell him, Loup.”

  “Karma is a pretty bad kickass, as you said. Lina’s death and the end of the dream are yours. What has all your scheming gained you? All these deaths for Project Pegasus?”

  Gilles sat on the bed by Lina, who stared at her executioner with bloodshot eyes, hearing but unable to snarl back.

  “Everything’s here, on my laptop. Just take it, give me back Lina.”

  “Merde, you had my cousin’s love, but you had Lina kill her. You had Carly’s heart, but your whore tried to destroy her. Now you’re losing her, and you can’t buy her life. It’s too late.”

  “You never intended us to be together,” said Carly. “You played with me, used me. And the suicide? You could’ve told me, but no. You’re a cheap rat with his whore... sorry, your dying witch. Now it’s your turn. Goodbye.”

  Armand and Carly walked towards the master bedroom door as Blanculet waved the police inside.

  “Maudit, you misunderstand me. I intended to take you to Canada, Vix. Originally, it was meant to be with you, but it all went shit wrong. I never knew what Lina was doing. I only wanted to be loved. She hated Odette and wanted her dead. She hired that van. She wanted everything. Project Pegasus, Vecheech. Believe me; I’m her victim too.”

  “Then learn how it feels, Canuck vermin, with her blood on your hands,” said Carly, venom coating her words. “Time to end your flying changes with another corpse to your name.”

  Armand turned back to Gilles.

  “Don’t try and convince the Inspector that you’re innocent. When you gave us that USB drive, it proved that Vecheech had hacked into Vidarranj’s servers, on your orders, Harfang; and it proved that you planted the misinformation. The authorities here, as well as in Canada and France, will receive all the evidence needed to implicate you in Project Pegasus, plus the three murders, and the hit and run attempt. Every keystroke has incriminated you and exposed your schemes to the asset strippers.”

  As Armand put his arm around Carly, he was confident that the Inspector would ensure that he investigated this crime scene thoroughly.

  Outside, they looked at the paddocks bathed by the moon and stars.

  “Will he milk this? Can he use the TV to his advantage?” asked Carly.

  “Not with the evidence growing every hour Hareng Rouge eats away at Vecheech. He will face a lot of questions, and charges before he ever dreams of seeing Owlhead again.”

  “And Lina? She deserved to die, but murder is too harsh, as we agreed.”

  “She deserved to die, but she’ll suffer as the modified toxin puts her in a controlled coma. She’ll recover consciousness in prison, facing three murder charges.”

  EPILOGUE

  The chorus heralded the light. Mist swirled from the river and the clouds rippled in the water. Carly dismounted and hitched Wanda to the corner of the wooden bridge. Armand looped the reins of Dido to the other support.

  She laid a rug on the ground and gestured for him to join her.

  “This place is best. We must decide—and don’t just say whatever I want. That’s a cop out—and so is saying it might be a boy. This girl knows.”

  Armand grinned and kissed her. “I was going to say, Marguerite or Maggie, after your mum. She means so much.”

  “And so do others. What about Odette Marguerite Sabatier?”

  “If you wish, but this might be premature. Are you really...”

  She nodded, pointing to her stomach. “Absolutely.”

  “Should you be riding tomorrow at Ardingly?”

  “It’s just a one-day event, and better riders than me have done it at bigger competitions. Might even notch up a few more points in the South East Eventers League.”

  Wanda nickered, then lowered her head and nuzzled them.

  “So, I have to take you to the Seahorse Ball?”

  “For sure, I so like dances.” She snuggled into his shoulder. “Anyway, now I need to ask.”

  “Of course, anything, chérie.”

  “Our daughter, where are we going to bring her up? Is she French or English?”

  Armand held her hands. “Well, Peter has said we could stay at his place beyond the end of the season, it’s your home.”

  “I won’t
let us impose on Dad for much longer. We need a home of our own.”

  “But you know we can’t afford to buy a place. Hazelmead is way too expensive, even with the foreclosure. Anywhere else is...”

  “Aren’t I French now? Can you afford to let your family mas in the Cevennes run to waste? That’s another option, although the memories?”

  “At rest like your mum, just warm inspiration. We have to look to the next generation now, and I agree, home in France.”

  “Dad might even be tempted to re-design the abandoned buildings—if you want. He was sorry that he couldn’t help at Hazelmead more.”

  “I know. I realise we weren’t meant to stay there, but in France, he’d be very welcome. There’s still a lot to do.”

  “Your friends made a brilliant start,” said Carly. “And I want to get to know them better.”

  “Not just call sign names, then? A friend called Blanculet would be odd.”

  “And Loup isn’t?” Carly blew him a kiss and squeezed his knee. “Just joking, to me it’s cute, and it’s you. But Tamara suits our friend better than her call sign.”

  “Not Mademoiselle Chastain?” Loup grinned, then asked, “Have you thought about my crazy suggestion?”

  “Endurance?” I wouldn’t be the first eventer to try my hand but...”

  “Well, Dido’s part Arab so she might make an endurance horse, although...”

  At the mas, she had checked Florac out and realised the extent of the challenge.

  “You wonder if I can compete outside my comfort zone. It’s another discipline completely, but at the same time tempting. Let’s leave it at that.”

  “It’s your decision, and I’ll support you, whatever you decide.”

  “Whatever happens now, Mum would be proud, and she’s where she belongs—deep in my heart—and within our child.”

  “And she lives on in your achievements,” said Armand putting his arms around her and kissing her.

  They let the embrace envelop them, like the sunshine spreading its warm embrace over the water meadows.

  They held each other and then there was an unmistakeable scent. Two foxes appeared through a hedge. Majestic in their coats and thick brushes with distinctive black hairs streaking the tips, they trotted across the bridge and melted into the dawn.

  Carly and Armand tossed three bouquets into the water and watched them drift downstream.

  THE END

  Thank you for reading my novel. I hope you have enjoyed it. If you can, please write a review. Every review encourages both writers and potential readers.

  You can follow me at www.rolandclarke.com.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Spiral of Hooves was a long journey of over 13 years from conception to completion, and I am grateful to the patience of family, friends and colleagues.

  Many people, from riders to medics and beyond, shared their experience and wisdom as I attempted to learn more about horses and other topics than my career as an equestrian journalist revealed. There are too many to credit here, but I need to mention with special thanks, Tony Warr, Michael Whitlock, Jenny Dutton, and Fiona Fouracre. Some kept asking which Olympics I would finish the novel by—the answer was London of course, for the first edition published in 2013.

  All the errors, and failures to understand the shared knowledge are mine.

  My thanks to my colleagues from the Tunbridge Wells Writers Circle who critiqued my work, and to my editors, including Yen Ooi, and to Lin White without whose extensive help this new edition of the novel would not have been possible.

  I am also grateful to my friends Jane & Nick Perry for supplying his photo of my other friend Sarah-Jane Brown of Shoestring Eventing and to my cover designer Jonathan Temples for turning that image into a great cover. I am also grateful to Kristina Stanley for the excellent endorsement on the paperback cover, and for all her encouragement.

  Finally, and most importantly, I want to thank with all my heart the person that inspired me to keep writing despite life’s adversities: my precious wife Juanita.

  You helped me to fly when my wings were clipped.

  Table of Contents

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright © 2013 by Roland Clarke.

  Dedication

  PROLOGUE

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  EIGHT

  NINE

  TEN

  ELEVEN

  TWELVE

  THIRTEEN

  FOURTEEN

  FIFTEEN

  SIXTEEN

  SEVENTEEN

  EIGHTEEN

  NINETEEN

  TWENTY

  TWENTY-ONE

  TWENTY-TWO

  TWENTY-THREE

  TWENTY-FOUR

  TWENTY-FIVE

  TWENTY-SIX

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  TWENTY-NINE

  THIRTY

  THIRTY-ONE

  THIRTY-TWO

  THIRTY-THREE

  THIRTY-FOUR

  THIRTY-FIVE

  THIRTY-SIX

  THIRTY-SEVEN

  THIRTY-EIGHT

  THIRTY-NINE

  FORTY

  FORTY-ONE

  FORTY-TWO

  FORTY-THREE

  FORTY-FOUR

  FORTY-FIVE

  FORTY-SIX

  FORTY-SEVEN

  FORTY-EIGHT

  FORTY-NINE

  FIFTY

  FIFTY-ONE

  FIFTY-TWO

  FIFTY-THREE

  FIFTY-FOUR

  FIFTY-FIVE

  FIFTY-SIX

  FIFTY-SEVEN

  FIFTY-EIGHT

  FIFTY-NINE

  SIXTY

  SIXTY-ONE

  SIXTY-TWO

  SIXTY-THREE

  SIXTY-FOUR

  SIXTY-FIVE

  SIXTY-SIX

  EPILOGUE

  THANK YOU

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS