High Stakes Read Online Free

ponytail extended through the back of the ball cap she was wearing with its “Save Old Friends” logo, the motto of a national organization dedicated to preventing retired racehorses from being sent to slaughterhouses and therefore winding up on foreign dinner tables. Then she resumed sliding the noisy tool back and forth as the gelding’s whole body gently vibrated.
    â€œMorning, Jack,” said Tenuta from the doorway of his nearby office. “You waiting to talk to Ingrid?”
    â€œYes. Good to see you Ralph. What the hell is she doing to that horse with that machine?”
    Tenuta laughed. “Another step forward in Ingrid’s horse helping. Look at old Pick the Packers. Loves it. Last week, Ingrid went through this routine with him and he went to sleep right afterwards. Was snoring like a human. Next day, he won here, running the best race of his life.”
    They watched as Ingrid turned off the machine and packed it in a large leather carrying case. She gave Pick the Packers a final pat on his neck and came out of the stall. “I’ve got one more of Ralph’s horses to work on, Jack. Want to come with me?”
    â€œSure.” He and Tenuta followed her down the shed row to where a red chestnut filly looked at them expectantly. As Ingrid opened the stall door, the filly whinnied a welcome. Tenuta said, “She’ll be doing some of her chiropractic work on this one. Name is Mady Martin. Ingrid has helped her a lot.”
    Ingrid proceeded to pick up, bend, then rock back and forth each of Mady Martin’s legs before fully extending the left fore and swinging it side to side. “So, Jack,” she said as she worked, “what’s up?”
    â€œSomething maybe you can help me with,” Doyle said. “Ingrid, you’ve heard about those horses being secretly killed at university vet schools?”
    She turned her attention to Mady Martin’s left fore, yanking it backwards and stretching it, then did the same thing to the right fore. “Yes, I heard about that. Weird, huh?” Ingrid began to crank the appreciative filly’s neck from side to side, grunting softly with that exertion. “What’s your interest in these killings, Jack?”
    â€œI’ve been asked to try and find whoever is responsible by some people I know. Couple of FBI agents. These are criminal acts they’re dealing with. Have you heard any scuttlebutt about who might be doing this? I know you stay in contact with a lot of your fellow vets.”
    Ingrid nodded as she prepared to finish Mady Martin’s treatment. “Naturally, there’s been some talk about it. But nobody I know seems to know what’s going on. They figure it’s some nutcase from some loony animal rights outfit. Who knows?”
    Tenuta poked Jack in the arm. “Watch this windup she’ll do. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
    Ingrid plucked a carrot out of her carrying bag and waved it in front of Mady Martin’s eager nose. Leaning against the filly’s side, she held the carrot to the back of her head. Mady Martin craned her neck back to nearly touch the carrot. Ingrid did the same thing on the horse’s other side as the filly nickered impatiently. Then Ingrid held the carrot under the horse’s belly. This stretching exercise concluded with Ingrid feeding Mady Martin that carrot plus two others.
    As Ingrid hooked the stall webbing shut behind her, Tenuta said, “Couple of guys were talking in the track kitchen this morning about the horse killings you mentioned. Buck Norman brought up the name of that kook that used to date Pat Caldwell. Esther Ness. I worked for her for about ten minutes. Among other things, she was a shouter for what she called ‘horses rights.’ Didn’t you know her, Ingrid?”
    Ingrid shrugged. “Just to say ‘hi’ to. I used to see her around.”
    Doyle said, “Who is Pat