I’d already searched the office without turning up anything out of the ordinary. Saturday evening stables had been brought forward from four o’clock to three, and everyone had worked extra fast so that we had finished everything by five, ready for the big race of the day, the half-million-dollar Man o’War Stakes. All Raworth’s staff not actively involved had rushed off to the recreation hall to view the race on the large-screen TV. All of them except me. I had volunteered to keep an eye on the barn, plus its residents, while Keith went with Diego and Maria over to the track with our two runners. I checked my watch – 5.07 p.m. George Raworth and Charlie Hern would, right now, be readying the two horses in the saddling boxes next to the Belmont paddock. The race was due off at 5.28. I had asked Keith to leave the office unlocked so I could watch the race on the television, and he had readily agreed.
