Page 52 of End Game

‘That shouldn’t stop you enjoying yourself for the next twoweeks. No need to tell him.’ Kelly’s eyes remained fixed on the next table.

‘But we’re pretty serious,’ said Artemisia. ‘We’ve been an item since we were teenagers, and now we live together.’

‘All the more reason to have a fling while you still can,’ said Kelly, ‘because you’ll never get another chance like this.’ Her expression suddenly turned to anger as she banged a fist on the table.

‘What’s the problem?’ said Artemisia, looking around.

‘That’s the Russian who stopped me getting into the second round,’ said Kelly. ‘I beat her in Beijing, but when she turned up this time, she was a completely different shape and size. I hardly recognized her.’

‘Drugs?’ asked Artemisia, giving the Russian girl a second look.

‘Up to her eyeballs,’ said Kelly, ‘like most of the Russian team.’

‘How do they get away with it?’ asked Artemisia, the journalist taking over.

‘Masking drugs. They all take them for the last six weeks before any major competition, so by the time they step up onto the podium to receive their medal, there’s no trace, meaning they get away with it. But not for much longer, I’m told.’

‘How come?’ asked Artemisia, still probing.

‘The good cops have finally worked out what the bad cops are up to, so it can’t be too long before they nail every one of them, even after they’ve taken masking drugs. But it still won’t stopherand not me being in the semi-final,’ said Kelly, still venting her anger.

‘But does that mean—?’ Artemisia was beginning to say, when she was interrupted by an Australian from the next table who had sauntered across to join them.

‘Hi, my name’s Blake,’ he announced, without sitting down.

‘Kelly,’ said her new friend, giving him a warm smile, ‘and this is my friend Annie. What event are you competing in, Blake?’

‘The javelin,’ he replied.

‘Of course you are,’ said Kelly. ‘I’m a swimmer.’

‘You girls care to join us?’

‘Sure,’ said Kelly.

‘What about your friend?’ asked Blake, glancing towards Artemisia.

‘Not a hope,’ said Kelly. ‘That’s a no-go area. She’s already accounted for.’

‘Sorry to hear that,’ said Blake, still looking at Artemisia. ‘But … if you change your mind?’

Artemisia shook her head, so Blake switched his attention back to Kelly.

‘He’ll have to be satisfied with silver,’ whispered Kelly as she stood up.

‘Shall we meet up later?’ asked Artemisia.

‘Muchlater,’ said Kelly, as she left her to join the Australians.

Artemisia sat alone, nibbling her lunch while she wrote some notes. But long before she’d taken a bite of her chocolate cake, she became painfully aware she’d only got half a story – and as her editor would surely point out, not the better half.

Artemisia looked forward to seeing Kelly again. She liked her and she had a feeling Kelly might be able to help her. She put down her biro and glanced across at the Australian table. Kelly was nowhere to be seen, and neither was the javelin thrower.

•••

Shortly after six o’clock on what had been a very long day, William’s phone once again began to ring. He picked it up, expecting to hear of some new problem that needed to be solved or a minor disaster only just averted, but instead he found Artemisia’s boyfriend on the phone.

‘No, Robert,’ said William. ‘I haven’t got any tickets for the one hundred metres final.’