Foul Play....

...changes the game....





Continuation from this.. [link]
The Heist after the Belmont race.


__________

Cole dismounted from his panting steed, head hanging as he watched the winner be lead to receive their prize. "Well seems I've let you down " he murmured, patting his neck as they were elad back to the barns. Cole hit the showers and cleaned himself up, still troubled by the race and how poorly Heist performed. His mind drifting back to the blonde jockey who'd been so sure they'd lose. ~He's probably just a cocky competitor..~ he told himself.

Heist was walked around by one of Iron Dune Stable's grooms as the girl talked to him.
Mark leaned against the side of the barn and watched. He couldn't help but notice that even after an hour of being walked around calmly, the colt still seemed winded. Something wasn't right, he knew he'd trained that colt better than this. Conditioned him better.
Heather was talking to one of the racetrack vets, leading the older woman to the yard where Heist was still being walked. The colt was growing antsy, prancing around and tossing his head.
"No no boy, easy easy, please calm down..easy easy..." the young groom cooed to him.
Mark joined up with Heather and the vet, speaking to them a moment and explaining to the vet about Heist's apparent breathing problems. "Well let's take another look at your colt Ms.Silver." the woman said and walked up to Heist and the groom.
The Heist huffed softly and allowed himself to be lead into his stall, away from the curious eyes of a few reporters that had come poking about.

"Hold him steady we can't have him hurting himself!" snapped Mark to a few grooms who were gently trying to keep the race horse calm as the vet inspected his nose.
Heather's eyes widened as the vet pulled a sponge like object from his right nostril then he started bleeding. Heist reared up and shook his head, eyes rolling as he came back down.
"How bad is it? WIll he be ok?!" Heather asked worriedly.
The vet got the other nostril cleared and carefully dabbed away the blood as she glanced back at the other girl. "He should be alright. He's just a little raw in his nose and this is a little bleed. Your horse should be fit for racing in a few days."
Heather gave a sigh of relief and thank the vet as she left.



Heather walked into the racetrack officials' office, followed by Mark. "I would like to file for an investigation. Someone sabotaged my horse's chances of wining the Belmont." she said and put down a bag with the two objects dislodged from The Heist's nose.
The man behind the desk looked up at her. He pulled out a sheet of paper and asked her a few questions.
Heather sat in a chair in front of the desk and answered the questions the best she could.
"So..you haven't a clue who would do this?"
Heather shook her head. "No sir..bu.." She was cut off by the official. "Then there is no lead to go on."
"but can't you do SOMETHING?... look around, question your staff, anything?"
"Nope. I'm sorry but there is nothing I can do Ms. Silver. Have a nice day." he said and folded his hands on top of the desk.
Heather, thanked him even though she wanted nothing more than to smack him around and crossly walked out followed by Mark. "Never, in all my years of training have I met an official who wouldn't open an investigation..." he muttered.
Heather, "I know.. this is crazy.."
"I don;t like it...i don't like it at all.." he said angerly



The official got up from his desk that night and walked silently down the quiet isles of the empty stables. "stupid hat.." he muttered and yanked off his cap, running a hand through his blonde hair to put it back into place. He gave a slight jump when a voice emitted from the doorway next to him. "foul play..."
"changes the game." the man answered to the voice.
Another man stepped out from the doorway, shadows cast over his face, making it hard to see who he was. "My client has sent me here with your pay. He said he is pleased with your method for causing The Heist to lose. "
The blonde smiled. "Tell your client it was easy and if he ever.."
"My client prefers to not use the same resources." the shadow man said, handing him the bag of cash. "It makes it too easy for his identity to be compromised." he added then turned and left, leaving the fake official alone with his money.