For The Love of Horses (Pegasus Equestrian Center)

by Diana Vincent

  “No, but the last purchase he made before being closed down, was a ‘lot sale’ of six horses from George Kiles, but no descriptions or individual values of any of the horses. He bought the lot for one thousand dollars.”

  “Thank you, Susan.”

  “I have started a search for George Kiles, but so far have only met dead ends, but I’m waiting to hear back from someone in Idaho. I wanted to check with you how important it is to follow through with locating Kiles.”

  “I’m not sure, but continue searching,” Delia said. “Any other suggestions for Susan?”

  After a short conversation where the others asked about her search methods and made a few suggestions, they were ready to move on to the next item.

  “Phil; you have the Clark family, right?”

  “Yes, Del, it’s the file named logically enough Clark.” Phil was the only other full time researcher on her team besides Olivia, and not a law student. Trained as a legal secretary, he had joined the team on Olivia’s recommendation, and proved himself adept at investigative work. Middle aged, balding, paunchy, he looked the stereotypical appearance of someone involved in legal proceedings, but there was nothing mediocre or stereotypical about his mind.

  Phil began his summary, “Richard Clark is the great-grandson of Alexander Dean Clark, who founded The Clark Company in the last century, which at that time dealt originally in timber and then added cattle. The company prospered and at Alexander’s retirement, was taken over by his son, William. William ran the company for twenty years, first at a profit, but not recognizing a changing market, almost bankrupted the company before he retired and turned it over to his son, Alexander, Junior, the father of Richard Clark. Alex Jr. immediately sold off their interests in cattle ranching, hung on to some of the timber assets, but branched off into other more lucrative manufacturing options, and really boosted the company’s profits when he invested in armaments around the time of the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. When he retired, Richard took over, and has continued to manage the company at impressive profits, and has steered many of the company’s interests into computer technology. The Clark Company today, now based in Seattle, is consistently ranked in the top half of high-profit lists.

  “The Clarks are a local family and very influential in Firwood and the county. Richard Clark personally makes substantial annual contributions to the local university as well as the public schools. Five years ago he established a moderate fund, the Clark Scholarship, for university candidates with a business or economics major. He has also donated generously to the police and sheriff department funds and to the local hospital. He has twice served on the chamber of commerce of Firwood, as has Carla, his wife.

  “Richard has a cutthroat reputation and although the company has a board of directors, he retains final decision-making power. There have been some questionable business practices but nothing on public record. I found out about them from a contact that at this time will remain nameless, but is an ex-employee of The Clark Company, one of their former executives.

  “Carla Clark married Richard shortly after they both graduated from college, (you will note he graduated from Harvard with an economics degree and Carla from Boston University with a fine arts degree). She is from New York and they met some time during their school years. She attended a private prep academy in upstate New York with an equestrian program, and she continues to ride and compete, as well as the two children. The Clarks currently own six horses that they keep at their own stable on their property. The stable was once the subject of a feature article in an equestrian periodical – those are copies on the table.” Phil indicated a stack of five magazines. “Carla has never worked outside the home, but as I mentioned, she has served on the chamber of commerce, she has been on the local hospital board, and she frequently chairs local charity events.

  “I might mention that Richard apparently has no interest in riding; he prefers golf and sailing. He has also had several extra-marital affairs that are the subject of office gossip (again, my source is not named, but reliable). He commutes to Seattle, has an apartment there, and often comes home to Firwood only on weekends. I have not been able to discover if Carla is aware of these affairs, and I also do not find any evidence of infidelity on her part. Any questions before I go on to the children?” Phil looked up from his screen and then continued when everyone shook their heads.

  “Dean Clark, the oldest, is nineteen and has just completed his freshman year at Boston University. He attended three years at Thomas Jefferson Preparatory Academy, as you know, the local private day school. He was expelled in the second week of his senior year, for cheating on an examination. It was not the first time he had been caught; there was a previous incident his junior year resulting in temporary suspension. He graduated from Firwood High School with average grades. I’m surprised he was accepted at BU, but also found out he had applied to Harvard, and was turned down, much to his father’s disappointment. This is off the record information. Again, my source is office gossip, but apparently, Richard was quite verbal at the time. I have not had time to pursue Dean’s experience thus far at the university, other than he dropped one class during the year, but did pass all his other classes. I did find some interesting rumors of his high school years, both at the academy and public school. Apparently he was popular with the wilder crowd of kids, had a reputation for heavy partying and although I don’t have proof, hints of drinking and some drugs, and lots of relationships with girls. He didn’t participate in sports or extra-curricular school programs. How did this kid get into BU?” Phil shook his head but continued, not waiting for an answer. “He does ride and has competed in equestrian sports since early childhood. I believe he currently competes in a sport called combined training or three-day eventing. I looked it up – it is a competition in which the rider participates in three tests: a dressage test, a cross country test, and a stadium jumping test. I found a recent entry in a show on a horse named Diablo. He placed fourth in that event.” Phil paused, took a swallow of coffee, giving the others time to scan over the file.

  “Caroline Clark, the younger child, is sixteen and just finished her junior year at Jefferson Prep. She makes average to above average grades and has no black marks in her school records. She was the vice-president of the student council, and was active in several clubs – French club, spirit club, and has been on all the dance planning committees. She does not participate in school sports, but she also has ridden horses and competed since a small child, and now shows in something called hunter/jumper classes. She is also riding this horse named Diablo, and I have listed all the shows she has competed in this year. You will see that she has won quite a few first and second places. She usually takes two horses to these shows. The other horse is named Hidden Talent, and I have listed the awards she has won on that horse as well - not near as many as with Diablo. Carla Clark often competes in the same shows along with her daughter.

  “In late May, Richard Clark reported a black gelding, Diablo, as stolen from the Merryweather Show grounds. He is currently pressing charges against two employees of Pegasus Equestrian Center, River Girard, accusing him of stealing the horse, and also against Sierra Landsing, a minor, as an accomplice. Apparently, there is some history between those two and the Clark children. Both Clark children at one time trailered horses to Pegasus and took lessons from the resident trainer, Teresa Holmes.” Phil concluded his report, and looked around the table, asking for questions.

  “Were you able to get the police report?” Olivia asked.

  “I did; since the Merryweather show grounds are in the county, it’s a sheriff’s department report. I only have the one copy, but I summarized it in the on-line file.”

  Olivia picked up the report, skimmed through it and passed it around.

  “Excellent,” Delia said, the last one to look at the report and after setting it down. “Well, that probably is a good transition to our next subjects, all associated with the equestrian center.”

  “Isn’t that
the place where you are taking riding lessons?” Olivia asked.

  “Yes, it is,” Delia answered with a smile, “which is of course, my connection with this case.”

  “I researched Teresa Holmes, so I can talk about her next,” Olivia offered and proceeded as the others agreed. “The file is labeled TH. Most everything I found out about her is associated with equestrian sports. She’s a local girl, graduated from Firwood High and then completed an associates’ degree in business at the community college. She’s had a somewhat successful career in the sport Phil mentioned of three-day eventing, and you will note that she was selected to try out for the Olympics at the age of twenty, but did not make the team. About nine years ago she went into partnership with a Walter Douglas who bought the property named Pegasus Equestrian Center. Mr. Douglas, of Douglas, Fines, and Anderson Financial Investments, provided the money but the center is run by Holmes. Apparently Douglas bought the business for his own daughter; wanting her to have an excellent facility to keep her horses and the very best of training and instruction. Most of this information I got from a source at the local country club, where Holmes, Douglas, and the Clark family, are all members. Last year, Crystal Douglas, the daughter, quit riding, so Walter is currently working with Holmes to dissolve their partnership, but it seems on congenial terms. Pegasus Equestrian Center, except for the first two years of barely breaking even, has always run at a profit and is currently doing very well financially. However, it seems it will be a bit of a financial strain for Holmes to buy out his share, and there is still a bank loan outstanding for the center. Holmes has never been married, but apparently was engaged for two years to a local race horse trainer. This is again gossip from the country club. But what is very interesting is that her former fiancé is the father of her employee, River Girard, who is on your list. There’s more to that story, but I’ll let whoever researched Girard tell you about that.” Olivia finished her summary and looked around for questions.

  “So, obviously, Holmes is also acquainted with the Clark family?” John asked.

  “I would assume so, since they are all members of the country club, and as Phil pointed out, she at one time gave riding lessons to the Clark children.”

  “Does anyone know why she no longer teaches them, or at least Caroline?” Delia asked.

  “The club rumors are that Carla Clark has a trainer that has worked with the Clark horses for several years, and gives lessons to Carla as well as the two children. No one seems to know why the two children started going to Holmes, or why they stopped.”

  “Hmm, any other thoughts or questions?” Delia asked after several minutes of everyone reviewing Olivia’s file. “Okay, let’s move on to the last two subjects before we talk about DNA testing.”

  “I researched both Girard and Landsing,” Manny spoke up. “I’ll start with Girard; the file is named River. I was surprised how much turned up just starting with an internet search, but apparently he’s become a local equestrian star competing in combined training, (which Phil has already explained what that is), which he only started two years ago, and in a sport called dressage. I found several articles in a local community bulletin and also in an equestrian magazine. But very interesting, as Liv mentioned, his father is currently in prison, convicted of attempted manslaughter. The conviction was obtained through a plea bargain. Allegedly he shot his son in the back and almost killed him. This happened a little over a year ago. Girard just completed his junior year at Firwood High School with barely passing grades. It appears he’s about a year behind because he had to repeat many of his freshman classes; I’m not sure why, other than just bad grades. Other than the pending charge of horse theft you heard Phil mention, he does not have a criminal record, either as a juvenile or an adult. Also of interest, he was an emancipated minor for about six months before turning eighteen. I found no rumors of usual teenage type activities such as parties, drinking, or drugs.

  “He is the son of Renee Girard, a female jockey who was tragically killed in a racing accident. After his mother’s death, Girard came to live here locally with his father’s relatives. He is currently employed at Pegasus Equestrian Center as an apprentice trainer and instructor, and also resides there. That’s about it for Girard…questions?”

  With no questions Manny then directed their attention to the file he named Sierra. “This young lady just completed her junior year at Firwood High School. She is an excellent student, in the top ten academically of her class and enrolled in all AP courses. She does not participate in extra-curricular school sports or activities. She is also employed at Pegasus Equestrian Center as a part time stable hand and rider. I also found her name mentioned in an article in the community bulletin and records of her placings in some of these combined training competitions, including a championship. She has no criminal record and I uncovered no rumors of drinking, drugs, etc. I don’t know if she is acquainted with the Clark children or not. She and her mother are certainly not members of the country club. Her mother recently graduated from the university’s nursing program and is currently working at the local hospital. Her mother is a widow; apparently the father died in a car accident shortly before Sierra was born.”

  “Anything else as far as the kids go?” Delia asked after everyone had a few minutes to review the files. “Okay, what about DNA?”

  “That’d be me,” Phil spoke up. “The file is of course named DNA. This stuff is fascinating. DNA reports are required for just about any horse breed registry; at least all the ones I checked into and they’re listed in the file. Just like with humans, DNA testing is used to determine parentage, or in the case of horses, bloodlines. It can be associated with coat color and with the chances of reproducing a coat color in a breeding program. Again, like with humans, it can be used to test for genetic-related diseases or deformities. And…” he paused and looked around the table. “If the DNA is on file, it can confirm a horse’s identify in the case of theft. Is that what we’re dealing with here, Del?” he asked the question that seemed obvious with the preliminary investigation results.

  “Yes,” Delia answered with a laugh and then said in mock resignation, “I’m becoming too transparent.”

  “Maybe,” Olivia said with a wry expression. “But who’s our client, plaintiff or defendant?”

  “Is there really any question?” Delia said with an impish grin, looking around the table.

  Almost in unison they all mumbled in a resigned tone, “The defendants of course, the underdogs.”

  “Problem with that?” Delia asked with raised eyebrows.

  Five heads shook a collective ‘no’ as they all spoke at once, but Delia didn’t need to understand each individual’s words to know they were all up for the challenge – this group loved a challenge.

  “Great, all of you are awesome. Let’s recap and determine the next steps.”

  *****

  Chapter 21 Delivery

  From the first day, the horse in all his glorious freedom knows how to move correctly. It is we riders who have to be educated to understand this movement. –Sylvia Loch, The Classical Rider

  *****

  After meeting first with River and then with Sierra, John Fields agreed to represent them. This was exactly the type of case he loved. Each kid had openly confessed to stealing the horse, although when he talked with River, the boy had denied that Sierra had helped him. Sierra however, confessed that not only had she helped River, but had essentially planned the crime, including the fabricated alibis. When he then met with the two kids together, and emphasized that as their lawyer he needed to know the complete truth, River did admit that Sierra had played a part. Fields did not tolerate lying from his clients, but he understood River’s desire to protect his girlfriend.

  “Whether your motives are honorable or not, I need to know the truth,” he said to the two of them. “It is very difficult for me to defend you if the prosecution discovers a fact that you have not revealed to me; and believe me, unexpected information turns up all the time.
Now I don’t think either of you are of a criminal type, and I am happy to represent you, but only if you agree to be forthright with me at all times.”

  “I will,” Sierra readily promised.

  “I will too,” River agreed, “except I’m not telling where Corazón is.”

  “Okay, I can accept that for now.”

  Fields was very pleased to hear from Delia Evans and accepted her offer to assist in investigations that might prove helpful. She shared with him what her team had already discovered.

  “If we could actually prove the Cormack woman never legitimately owned the horse, or find out if she did own him that she had previously sold him, we could certainly reverse this case and counter sue. I’m going to see if I can get a pre-arraignment hearing in order to argue that the case should be tried as a civil rather than criminal case.”

  “Excellent,” Delia agreed.

  John Fields’ motion for a pre-arraignment hearing was approved and they had a date to meet with the district judge on Friday, the last week of August and one week before Sierra and River began their senior year of high school.

  *****

  Once a week, River called Ben from a land line, still paranoid about calling on his cell phone. Corazón had taken two weeks to get over his nervous and defensive behavior. But once he settled in, River encouraged Ben to ride him and use him however he wanted.

  “It’ll be a western saddle and cattle work,” Ben warned.

  “Okay, no problem.”

  Cory did not object to the western tack and took to working cattle enthusiastically. Jokingly, Ben often said after giving River the weekly update, that he just might steal the horse himself.

  *****

  The weekend before the pre-arraignment hearing, The Pegasus teams attended their last combined training event of the season. It had been held over three days, and on the final day before everyone departed, Tess gathered her students for a debriefing.