Page 40 of No Rules
Nathan shook his head. “I didn’t want it for the money. I wanted it for the honor, for being at the top of my field.”
“Do you have any idea why Marilyn chose someone else?”
Nathan looked away and sighed. “Yeah, I do. She flat-out told me. She’d seen me ride another horse and use the crop on him, and she was furious. I was following that trainer’s instructions, and it wasn’t like I was abusing him, you know? Everything was well within the guidelines. But she wouldn’t hear it. Said I should never have done it, even at the risk of losing my job.” Nathan scoffed. “That’s easy for her to say, isn’t it? I mean, she’s got money. Old money. But I have a family to support and can’t afford to be that principled.”
Ryan had dug into Nathan’s background and discovered he had a wife and three young kids. Apparently, he’d gotten his girlfriend pregnant in high school, and they’d stayed together, built a family. Good for him. “The view from the bleachers is always different from the sky box, isn’t it?”
“Exactly.”
“But before that, you and Marilyn got along well?”
Nathan leaned against the stable door. “She was tough but fair. Demanding, but she had a good heart. She always looked out for us jockeys, you know? Made sure we got our fair share of winnings, proper medical care, all that. But you had to abide by her rules. She wouldn’t stand for any mistreatment, even if it was considered standard practice. She had her standards, and they were high. Impossibly high. In fact, she’s reported a few people over the years for abusing their animals.”
“Not everyone must’ve appreciated that,” Alex said.
“That’s an understatement.” A gust of wind whipped up Nathan’s short dark hair. “In fact, she had some run-ins with other owners and trainers over the years about her stance on animal welfare.”
“Any names you can give us?” Alex asked before Ryan could.
“Let me think…” Nathan said. “There was one trainer, Darren Hartley. He and Marilyn had a nasty falling out after she reported him for abusing a horse. She got him banned from the track for a while.”
“Interesting.” Ryan made a mental note to look into Darren. “Anyone else come to mind?”
“They always say in TV shows to follow the money, right?” Nathan shrugged. “The money is in the gambling. Sure, the horses cost a fortune, but it’s nothing compared to the money made and lost in betting on the races.”
“Thanks for talking to us, Nathan.” Ryan extended a hand to the jockey. “We appreciate your insight, and it has given us a better understanding of the world you and Marilyn operate in.”
“Happy to help.” Nathan’s gaze drifted back to the horse he had been riding earlier, now peeking his head over the stable door. “I hope you can find whoever’s responsible for Sam’s Promise’s death. That horse didn’t deserve what happened to him.”
“If you think of anything else, don’t hesitate to contact us.”
As they walked away from Nathan and the bustling activity of the racetrack, Ryan’s thoughts raced alongside the pounding hooves of the horses. Nathan was innocent. Ryan was almost one hundred percent convinced. But where did that leave them? Every lead they’d investigated so far had been a dead end.
Nathan had given them another name, but would a trainer stoop that low to get back at Marilyn? The motive seemed too thin. Sure, in movies and on TV, revenge always played an important role, but in reality, it was hardly ever the only reason for a crime. In that sense, Nathan had been right. It often came down to money. So, where was the money in this case?
“Alex,” Ryan said as they made their way to the car. “I want you to dig up everything you can on this Darren Hartley. And did you get anywhere with your research into suspicious gambling activity involving Sam’s Promise?”
Alex shook his head. “Can’t get any information. Everyone I’ve talked to has claimed confidentiality, which makes sense.”
Ryan rubbed his temples. “If we don’t get anywhere with Darren Hartley, we may have to do something I avoid like the plague.”
“What’s that?”
“Talk to the cops. The Saratoga Police has more information than we do, and so far, we haven’t been able to even make a dent in this case. If they’re willing to share…”
“That’s a big if.”
Ryan started the engine. “Yeah, but it’s worth a shot. I’d have to talk to Marilyn first though. This is not a step I’d ever take without her permission.”
13
Warm light flickered from the fireplace, casting a cozy glow over the living room. Plush seating arrangements surrounded a low table laden with wine, cheese, crackers, and other delicious bites, providing fuel for the evening’s conversation.
Alex lounged in an overstuffed armchair, his long legs stretched out before him as he sipped from a glass of red wine. This had been a brilliant idea of David’s. He’d organized a sub hangout where all the subs in the house could spend an evening together. The Doms had been forbidden from entering, creating a rare opportunity for the subs to speak freely.
Even Burke had shown up, bringing their total to five. Jonah was a switch, but he’d promised to be in sub mode tonight. Though they came from different backgrounds and had varying experiences, they all shared a common bond as subs. As they laughed and chatted, warmth filled Alex, a sense of belonging and profound gratitude. These men understood him, accepted him without judgment, and that meant more to him than anything.
“So there I was.” David grinned as he recounted a recent scene he’d done with Jesse. “I never thought I’d find myself trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey and loving every minute of it.”