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He looks up sharply at the sound of my voice.
‘Mind if I take a few pics?’ I continue.
‘Who are you again?’
‘Oh, I’m Stella. I’m with Runners for Hope.’ I fumble for my security pass.
‘Stella …’ He lifts his sunglasses, his eyes searching my face. ‘Have we met before?’
‘Yeah, I took a video of you on our first day in the bivouac.’
‘No, I mean, before this race?’
‘I don’t think so.’ But I frown. There is something familiar about him. I can’t place it.
‘Oh, OK. Well, go ahead.’ He gestures to my camera.
I don’t get him to pose or position him in anyway. I just wait for him to get back to his food and take pictures of him going about his business.
If Yasmin were here, if she was still alive, she would be the one I was taking pictures of. If she hadn’t received an invitation on her own merit, she would have bought a place at the race. Maybe she would have done what Matteo did. Run so fast and so hard that Boones couldn’t deny her a place with his elites. ‘You think you can keep this up?’ I ask, tucking my camera to one side.
‘I want this more than anyone else out there. I want a chance to compete against the elites officially. To chase them down one by one until it’s only me out there. But that’s up to Boones.’
‘You deserve it. You’ve earned it.’
He snaps his fingers. ‘I like the way you think. Guess we’ll find out soon enough.’
‘Think I’ve got everything. Good luck in the race.’ If he gets promoted, at least that would be one elite not running to fulfil my dad’s agenda.
It’s almost dark and I wave as I walk away.
‘Hang on a second,’ he says and I turn back towards him. ‘Do you have a sister?’
The question hits me, closing my throat. It takes everything in my power not to cry.
‘Not any more,’ I reply.
I can’t stay a moment longer. I power away, keeping my head down. As I move through the bivouac back to my tent, I see Adrienne deep in conversation with Dr Emilio. Goosebumps rise on my skin. I think about going to her.
Warning her about the drugs I found on him – about what I suspect he did to Nabil.
Warning her that anyone connected to my dad is not to be trusted.
But I don’t know anything yet. Not really.
I need Pete to get here. And somehow we can put an end to this nightmare together.
29
Adrienne
Darkness descends on the camp in a snap, so when Boones clambers up on his Jeep, he faces a sea of head torches. I don’t have mine, so I linger near a group who do. The tips of my fingers tingle with anticipation. Three more stages to go.
‘Well, congratulations to those of you still running,’ says Boones. ‘Day two and that jebel – brutal stuff.’
A murmur of agreement spreads through the crowd.
‘I apologize for not being there to start the race this morning. I know my Blixt friend took over. They’re keen, those guys. Keen beans.’