Sally’s face changed, she shook her head, no longer feigning tears. “Oh. well clap, clap, clap. Aren’t you the clever little Nancy Drew? Okay. I lied. Yes, she was here. I told her the same as I told you. He ruined my life and I want nothing to do with any of you. At least she got the message and left without pissing me off asking stupid questions.”
“So, where is she now?”
“How the fuck should I know? What do you want me to say? ‘I’ve kidnapped her and have her locked away in a secret dungeon somewhere?’ I don’t know where she is. She came round here asking about Adam. I told her, as I told you. I want nothing to do with him or you. Kate was sensible enough to take the hint and piss off!
Look, honestly, I’m very sorry about what happened, but I’m trying to put all this shit behind me. Please, I don’t know anything more. I honestly don’t know where she is. Please, just leave. I still get flashbacks of that morning; it keeps me awake at night with awful nightmares. I deserve to be allowed to carry on with my life, that is all I’m asking you.”
Sally dismounted. She walked towards me, leading the horse, her shoulders hunched.
“Look, I don’t mean to be rude. It was a tough time for all of us. Let me put Bruno away and then let me at least get you a cup of tea before you go?”
“No… You’re right. You are busy. Kate must have left and gone elsewhere. I’m sorry.”
“Please, it will be no trouble. I’ll just put him away and we can share a nice brew in the tack room. Talk about old times.”
I shook my head, muttering I had wasted enough of her time. Sally snorted and I watched for a moment as she turned the horse towards the mounting block, remounting and cantering him towards the far end of the arena. Shrugging I got back in the car, placing the crumpled invoice on the passenger seat, readying myself for a final drive home to Wiltshire.
* * *
We both looked up as the door opened. Sally stepped into the room.
“Well, I don’t know what you said or did but I had his sister here today. But don’t you worry. I’ve sent her away so don’t think that there’s a rescue mission coming to get you. I just need to decide what I do with you.”
“Sally… Please, why have you done this to us? You were a good girl and a great groom. You don’t have to hurt us?”
“Why have I done this? I did this for you? You became a spineless sap! I gave all my time and energy to help you succeed. When I realised, I wasn’t going to be a winner I gave it all up to support you. Every moment of my life was spent ensuring you became famous, helping ensure you won Gold. Then you had to screw it all up! You picked the wrong sponsor, despite what everyone told you, despite what I told you! I warned you. I told you to be careful, to reconsider, but no. Like always you knew better than me, after all, I was just your groom.
Her daughter was going to take over. As soon as she’d learnt enough you would have been made to step aside. If only you could have heard what other people said about you, how the other grooms and riders laughed at you behind your back? How you were being manipulated. You were her puppet, any moment she was about to cut the strings.
Where would that leave me? What would happen to me when you were thrown out? I was just the groom of a middling rider. I needed you to succeed so we would both have a career to retire on. You became weak and let us both down. You let that stupid girl abuse our horses. That was the last straw you pathetic bitch! Adam beat me to it. I was so proud of him when he hit her. But, in the end, she had to be dealt with.”
“So, you killed her?”
“Of course, I killed her. I’m sorry Adam had to take the blame, but he just presented a perfect opportunity for me. I knew as soon as he’d hit her, that he would be blamed if anything happened to her. I just had to steal his hoodie and necklace and then… Oh, you should have seen her face! It was such a picture when it suddenly clicked what I was about to do. She just became resigned to her fate. She cried you know. The tough Olivia started to cry like a baby just before I stabbed the pitchfork through her heart.”
Sally stood laughing.
“Sally? What the hell happened to you?”
“You broke me, Hilary. Watching you being pushed aside, seeing you fail and you just giving up. It broke me. Olivia was the last straw; I just couldn’t sit back and watch it happen anymore. I had to do something. I’m so sorry. And I’m sorry to you Kate. She at least deserved this, you just got in the way. Oh, and Adam. But you have to understand, I could never do time in prison. It would just be awful.”
“You bitch!” Kate flew at Sally who swung the baton she was holding firmly towards her, there was a sickening crack before she slumped silently to the ground.
“Don’t make it worse for me, or yourselves. It had to happen. This wasn’t me. I was forced to take this action, someone had to take action. If anyone is to blame, it’s you Hilary, not me.”
Hilary shuffled towards Kate who was groaning on the floor. “You’ve broken her nose, she’s bleeding.”
“And? Sorry, perhaps you don’t understand. I can’t let you go now. I need
