Chapter 36

As Carl, pulled out the contract, Lisa excused herself, but Amy asked her to stay. The four sat around the kitchen table, as Carl read the contract.

Amy couldn't stand the waiting. She got up and started pacing between the mud room and where Ty was sitting, at the kitchen table. She kept rubbing her hands together. She was nervous, to say the least. She had seen first hand, how devious and sly, Ahmed was. Carl's expression never changed, as he read the contract.

Carl put the contract down, then asked for Amy to please sit. As she did, he took a slow drink from his tea cup, then proceeded. He turned the contract, so it was facing Amy. "This first page Amy, explains what the duties are, for a Head Trainer. Correct?" Amy nodded, in agreement. "Well I hate to tell you this, but that page, has nothing to do with the contract, you signed. I believe, Ahmed put it up front to throw you off. Amy, what you signed was a contract to be Ahmed's, Personal Consort." Carl watched Amy, to see her reaction, before he continued.

Amy, just stared at the table, as Carl told her. Ty and Lisa both, leaned back in their chairs and shook their heads.

"Do you, want me to continue?" Carl asked

Amy nodded yes.

"The biggest thing I need to ask you is, have you spent any of the money, that Ahmed either paid you, or gave you?"

"Why, are you asking that?" Ty questioned.

"Ty" Amy said, as she placed her hand, on Ty forearm. "I still have, everything that he gave me, so what difference does that make?"

Carl took a deep breath. "It states, that if you didn't return to France, one month after this contract is over, then, all moneys and gifts, are to be forfeited. His attorney said, you have 48 hrs to give a bank draft for the $234, 578.00, Ahmed gave you and as far as the two horses you had you step-grandmother steal off his property in France, you are to return them to his Villa within the same, set time limit."

Ty, quickly got up from the table and walked outside. Amy could tell he was pissed. Lisa had her face covered by her hands. She couldn't believe this was happening.

Amy said nothing, for what seemed, the longest time. After Ty came back in Amy spoke, "First off, that is not the contract I signed. You all may not believe me but I swear to you I didn't sign that. Carl did Ahmed's attorney tell you he had the original copy?"

"Yes he did. I must tell you Amy, it reads as yours does."

"The first week in France, I overheard a conversation Ahmed had with someone he had been doing work for him while he was here. The man claimed, Ahmed owed him money for work he had done. Ahmed told him he hadn't done the work in the time frame he was given. The man argued he was told to take his time there was no hurry. Ahmed had his man beat him and thrown off his property. My point is I only signed one copy, which I saw Ahmed put in that envelope." Amy told them with with a questioning look.

Lisa spoke up. "Amy, think back to when you signed the contract, were you distracted in any way, after you signed it?"

A slight smile came to Amy face. "Yes, from Ahmed's desk, he can look out over the arena. As soon as I sighed it, Ahmed shook his head in approval, Omar, Ahmed top man, walked in. Ahmed told him I had signed to be their trainer. He wanted to shake my hand so I turned around for a few moments. Ahmed, handed me the envelope, when I had turned back to him."

"Amy before Ahmed asked you to be his head trainer for his Equestrian Team, you were the head trainer for him at Hillcrest weren't you? Did you have to sign anything then?" Lisa asked.

"Many times. Maybe, that accounts for my signature on those papers. Carl, when I signed the contract that I'm referring to, I was standing and held the paper down with my left thumb, like so. Amy demonstrated what, she was saying. Now, I printed my name once,initialed it twice and signed it once at the end. Each time I initialed it Ahmed put his seal over it. He did the same when I signed it. Does that contract you have in front of you, have his seal anywhere?"

Carl turned the pages and said, "NO" quite emphatically. "I think, you and Lisa have something here."

Amy turn to Ty, who had been quiet, since he came back into the house. "Are you ok Ty? You look like you are in, deep thought."

"I'm fine Ames. I'm just having a hard time, believing Ahmed is smart enough, to of planned all this out, that long ago. I don't doubt you Amy, that that's not the contract you signed. I specifically remember you telling me, how much Ahmed, was willing to pay you each month. What I'm thinking is he's short of funds and had that contract planted in your room." Ty turned to Lisa. "Lisa, while we were up at Victor's, do you know of anytime, the house might have been empty, for any length of time?"

"Yes. Two weeks ago Georgie had a trick riding show and we all attended. We were all gone, for at least 5 hours."

Ty then turned to Carl. "If it's okay with you, I'd like to call Constable Rodriguez. I'd like for him to check that contract you have there, for prints. If what we have been talking about here is what has happened then Amy's prints won't be on that contact anywhere. That envelope should have yours and Amy's prints for sure. Maybe it will have the person who planted it on there as well. I'd like him to dust Amy's room for prints also."

"Ty, you are right about Ahmed's funds. I remember my friend Andre, telling me that the French Government, had seized all, his assets. I also, highly doubt the elders of his country, are pleased he was dealing drugs and might have cut him off also." Lisa replied.

Ty made the call.

Amy went out to the front porch, to think as they waited for the Constable. Ty, made her a cup of tea and took it to her. He turned to head back into the house, when she spoke. "You can stay, if you want Ty?"

" I'll go get my tea and be right back." Ty told her.

When Ty back, Amy asked, " It's strange, that Omar wasn't with Ahmed when he came up to Victor's, to get me. Omar, was always, with Ahmed. Maybe he stayed in France. I can't think of anyone else, who would do that for Ahmed, but him."

"I think I know who, you are talking about. Wasn't he the one, that had his nose broken once and it kind of sits off to the side of his face, a bit.?"

Amy chuckled, "That's him. Maybe Lisa, could call that Detective friend of hers and see if Omar is there. I'm positive, he knew about Ahmed drug dealings, he had to of known."

Ty and Amy looked up to see Jack and Tim riding up to the barn. As they were dismounting, Constable Rodriguez drove up.

"Amy ,I'll go deal with Jack and your Dad. You just make sure that you ask Rodriguez to check and see if Ahmed has had any visitor except for his lawyer. That may help narrow down, who might have done this."

"Okay Ty, I will and Good Luck." Amy told him with a smile.

Amy and Ty both, welcome the Constable, then Ty excused himself. Amy took the Constable into the house.

Tim seeing what was happening started yelling "Amy hold up. I" is as far as he got before Amy was in the house.

"Tim, hold up, please." Ty asked, but Tim was having nothing to do with what,Ty asked. That left Ty no choice, he grabbed Tim arm and spun him around. Jack seeing all this, was quick to get between the two, before Tim tried to clobber Ty.

"Look Tim I'm sorry for having to do that , but Amy, Lisa, Carl Jenkins her attorney and the Constable need their privacy. If the two of you will come into the office, I'll explain to you as much as I can."

After Ty explained, what they thought had happened, Jack was madder than Ty had ever seen him. "Ty you know darn well, we usually don"t bother locking our doors. But since Amy's return and all this Ahmed shit has been going on, I have. I was the last to leave the house the day in question and I made sure they were all locked. Maybe we should check to see if one has been tampered with."

"Before we go Ty, I need to apologize, for not letting you explain yourself. I know you only have Amy's best interest in mind, so will you please except my apology?" Tim asked with his hand out for Ty to shake, which of course he did.

The three then, went to check the doors to see, if one might been tampered with. Only the door going into Katie's room looked like it had been messed with. Ty went in to tell the Constable to check that door. Ty then asked, if was okay for Jack and Tim to come in, which it was.

Constable Rodriguez had gathered all the prints that he thought he'd need. He told Carl, that he'd get back to him as quickly, as possible. He said he'd also check to see if Ahmed had any visitors.

Amy and Ty thanked them both as they left. "Are the two of you, staying for dinner tonight ?" Lisa asked.

"Yes" they both said as the same time. That caused, the atmosphere in the room, to change all for the better.

To be continued