“Glad to hear it.”
He shifts his weight and glances around the crowd, clearly worried about who is watching the two of us. I’m starting to wonder if he regrets coming over to talk to me. “Listen, I wanted to reach out and see how you’re doing. I know you’re having a bit of an issue.”
“You can say that.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry.”
“Can I ask why?”
Desmond sighs heavily. “It’s nothing personal. I’ve loved the horses I’ve bought, won a lot of money too, but you know, there’s been a lot of talk lately.”
That’s news to me. I haven’t heard anything. In fact, it’s why I’m so fucking confused as to what’s going on. Hopefully he’ll give me some answers. “Really? About what?”
His eyes widen for a second. “You…well, the whole thing about Travis.”
I wonder if he knows where the fuck he is. So far, we’ve found absolutely nothing about where he is or where we went. All of the leads have been dead ends. I don’t want to play my hand because this is the first I’m hearing anything about Travis or people talking. So, I shake my head. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“It’s been going around, the whole scandal that he was doping horses when he was at Longwood Ranch…you haven’t heard?”
Longwood Ranch is where he was working before he came to work for me. That’s an absolute lie. There’s no way that Travis would do that, he loves his horses. Yes, he’s tough, but doping? No. I don’t believe it. But, if that’s the rumor, it would explain why Travis disappeared. Those kinds of allegations ruin lives. “I hadn’t heard any of it.”
“Yeah, apparently that’s why he was fired from there.”
I shake my head because that’s a boldfaced lie. “He wasn’t fired. I approached him and he came over, pissing Owen off in the process.”
“That’s…not what Owen is saying. He found proof that Travis was doping his horses, he fired him, and then you hired him—which is what a few owners are concerned that he was doing to theirs. Which is why no one wants to work with you guys.”
Fucking hell. “That’s bullshit,” I tell him. “Plus, if that was the case, why is Owen saying this now? Why not when I hired him?”
Desmond shrugs. “Maybe he didn’t want the rumors to fall on him and ruin his business, fuck if I know.”
I need to set the record straight right now. “Travis was not doping my horses or any of the ones we boarded. I have them tested regularly.”
“I’m just saying. I’m sorry I had to back out, but I can’t be mixed up in a scandal, I’m sure you understand.”
I get it, but there is no fucking scandal. If all of this is going on because Owen Perry wanted to run his mouth and spew a bunch of lies, I’m going to beat his fucking ass. I knew he would be a dick when I asked Travis to leave there, but I didn’t think he’d try to ruin my entire operation.
He’s known to be ruthless but not vengeful.
“I wish you would’ve talked to me. I could’ve shown you test results, veterinary records, and whatever documents you needed. I assure you, Travis might have been a tough trainer, but he wasn’t doping the horses on my ranch or on Owen’s.”
If I can find Travis, I could prove this isn’t true or at least discuss it. However, I don’t know this for an absolute fact. Hell, even if he told me he wasn’t, I can’t be one hundred percent sure. The only thing I do know is that Everett would’ve caught signs of it.
“I’m sorry about that, but I’ve known Owen for twenty years and I have no reason to believe he’s lying,” Desmond says with a sigh. “I wish you the best, Killian. I truly do. Your horses were always top quality and I’ll let a few of the guys know what you said here. Maybe it would be beneficial to have Travis also say something.”
Yeah, it definitely would be, but I can’t exactly tell him that Travis has gone missing right around when everyone started to pull out of their contracts.
“Thanks, Desmond,” I say, extending my hand again.
He shakes it. “Of course, good luck.”
Yeah, I’m going to need it.
I grab my phone and send a text to my contact at Cole Security to get some answers.
I’m going to need an update. I think I found out what’s been going on. We need to find Travis.
Liam
