Page 31

Jake’s phone conversation with Daniel went about the way he figured.

Daniel was emphatic.

“In no way will you do anything that might harm Ellen Fletcher.”

“Odds are, she’ll just take a fall,”

Jake argued.

“It’s happened dozens of times.

She’s used to it.”

It was the truth, but any fall was dangerous, and Jake knew it.

He forced himself to go on.

“If I don’t do what they want, you know what will happen.”

“It’s a risk we’ll have to take.”

“It’s too damned big a risk.

There’s no way you can protect my family.”

Or Maggie and Sarah.

“I know these people better than you do.

They mean what they say.”

“Jake,”

Daniel said softly.

“You can’t take the chance of getting the Fletcher girl hurt, maybe killed.

They’re obviously using you as some sort of diversion.

You’re the least of their worries.”

“I might agree with you if it weren’t for Popov.

For him this is personal.

He’ll use any excuse to get to me.

I think he’s hoping I won’t do what they say.”

“I doubt it.

Somebody has gone to great lengths to put this scheme in motion.”

Jake’s fingers tightened on the phone.

“I’d better be getting back.”

“I repeat,”

Daniel warned.

“You will not comply with the final Soviet demand.

Have you got that, Jake?”

“I’ve got it, Dan.”

Jake managed to sound convincing.

“Keep in touch and keep your eyes open.”

“I will.”

He hung up knowing Daniel had done what he had to do.

Now Jake would do the same.

By the time Jake had finished his phone call, the riders were walking the course.

Ellie and Clay were in the ring with Flex.

Shep was riding Lovely Lass over to the gate.

“I must have missed you this morning,”

Shep said as he dismounted, handing the reins to his groom.

“Sorry,”

Jake said.

“How’s Lass?”

“She feels good.

A little stiff, but I think if she takes a couple more fences, she’ll lengthen and soften a little.”

He glanced at the course.

“I’ll be the first of us to go.”

“Just take it easy.

Don’t worry about time faults; just get her over the fences.

They look pretty imposing.

Why don’t we go ahead and walk the course?”

The two of them made the rounds, noting the height of the fences and deciding the number of strides Lass should take, then Shep took the horse over a couple more practice fences before the competition began.

“What did your friend Daniel have to say?”

Maggie asked, spotting Jake and walking up beside him as Shep led Lass away.

“Not much.

He just told me to keep my eyes open and believe me, I intend to.

I want you to do the same.

At the first sign of trouble, I want you back at the barn. I’ll look for you there.”

“Can’t I stay with you?”

It wasn’t a bad idea.

He could keep an eye on her, be there to protect her if trouble started.

“All right.

But first I need a few words with the team.”

He smiled and touched her cheek.

“I still have a job to do.”

He urged her toward a spot near the arena fence.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

With a last glance at Maggie, he headed to where Ellie stood next to Jubilee.

On the way, he unsheathed the heavy folding knife he’d picked up in the equipment room after his conversation with Daniel.

The knife was small enough to conceal in the palm of his hand, but sturdy enough for the job he needed to do.

The trick would be to get Ellie’s attention diverted until he could accomplish his task.

“What number did the team draw?”

he asked her as he approached.

“Number five.

Shep is first, then me, Clay, then Flex.”

Jake glanced into the arena.

Shep was taking the course.

Lass had a rail down at the third fence but seemed to be smoothing out.

Shep was riding well, taking the course just as they’d planned. He still carried the remnants of his beating and, Jake suspected, a few aches and pains. He seemed certain to wind up with time faults and had another rail down at the triple.

A glance at Ellie told Jake she was tensely involved in watching Shep’s round.

Behind them, Clay was taking Max over some practice fences.

The heavy little folding knife seemed to burn into Jake’s palm.

He opened the blade and moved toward Jube. On the pretense of checking the animal’s cinch, Jake lifted the stirrup flap.

You can’t play God, Jake.

If you do what the Soviets ask, you’ll never be free again.

Jake swore beneath his breath and glanced around to see if anyone was watching.

He had to do this, didn’t he? He had Maggie and Sarah to consider, his mother and sister.

Flashing red lights drew his attention.

Shep had completed his round, but a British rider was down at the first fence.

Several attendants stood over him looking worried.

The lights on the top of an ambulance flashed their warning as the vehicle entered the ring.

How would you feel if that was Ellie? How would he face himself? She’d come so far, accomplished so much.

He thought of her years of near blindness, how much of life she had missed.

Now life was out there waiting for her—all she had to do was take it.

What right did he have to risk destroying what Ellie had worked so hard for? Jake’s hand fell away from the girth.

He tried to raise the knife, but it felt as heavy as lead.

No matter the outcome, he couldn’t go through with it.

With a last glance at Ellie and a sigh of resignation, Jake turned to walk away and found Daniel blocking his path.

“Give me the knife, Jake.”

The sharpness in his friend’s deep voice was unmistakable.

Jake held out his hand, dropping the blade into Daniel’s waiting palm.

“It’s all right, Dan.

I couldn’t do it anyway.”

Daniel seemed relieved.

“It may not matter.

We’ve had some news.

The Soviets seem to be having a problem. There’s a rift in the party. A split of some kind. Whoever is behind this, it isn’t the government—at least not the leaders we know. We’ve informed the proper authorities, and they’ve already begun to take action.”

“I’m not quite following.”

“We don’t have all the facts yet.

So far, all we know is that some of the higher-ups in the KGB and in the government, itself, disagree with current Soviet policies toward the West.

They feel the policies are too lenient, that they’re risking the very existence of the Communist Party.

Apparently, they’ve taken matters into their own hands.”

Jake’s pulse was speeding.

“Whatever’s happening,”

Daniel continued, “the action isn’t sanctioned by the government.

Gorbachev has personally assured us the Soviets will take whatever steps necessary to protect your mother and sister.”

Hope flared in his chest.

“What about Maggie and Sarah?”

“Our people in Florida have already been notified.

They’ll keep Sarah under constant surveillance until this is over.

Our men here will be watching you and Maggie.”

Jake felt a wave of relief that drained some of the tension from his shoulders.

“Thank God.”

“Come on.

You look like you could use a drink.”

Daniel led Jake to a spot beneath a shade tree where they could watch events in the ring.

Reaching into his coat pocket, he pulled out a silver flask and handed it over.

“Thanks.”

Jake gratefully accepted the brandy Daniel had carried for as long as Jake could recall.

Though his friend never drank on duty, Daniel claimed the flask had come in handy on numerous occasions.

At the moment, Jake agreed.

Tilting the flask, he took a long, nerve-steadying swallow.

“Better?”

“Much.”

Feeling the biting warmth of the liquid sliding into his stomach, Jake handed back the flask.

“Listen Dan, I’m sorry about all of this.

Please believe I was doing what I thought was right.”

“I know that.

In your position, I might have done the same.”

Daniel grinned.

“That’s why I’ve had you watched so closely.”

Jake grunted.

“I should have known.”

“By the way, what changed your mind?”

“Something Maggie said about never being free.

As usual, she was right.

A man’s got to follow his conscience.

That’s what freedom is all about.”

Daniel smiled.

“I guess we’re never too old to learn.”

“Funny, that’s what Popov said.”

The two stood quietly for a while, Daniel giving Jake time to calm his ragged nerves and assess the information he’d been given.

“So where does all this leave us?”

Jake finally asked.

“What game are they playing?”

Daniel’s broad features turned grim.

“Unfortunately, that’s a question I can’t answer.

Our men are everywhere.

The Irish security people are top rate, but no one’s turned up anything. Everything appears to be running smoothly. Nothing unusual, nothing out of sync.”

“I don’t like this, Dan.

Whoever’s behind this has something planned and we both know it.”

Daniel’s dark gaze surveyed their surroundings.

“I wish you were wrong, but I don’t think so.

We’ll just have to wait and see.

Stay close to Maggie.”

“You know I will.”

Daniel dug his hands into the pockets of his coat and wandered away.

The wind at his back ruffled his light brown hair.

Jake watched his friend go, wondering why he hadn’t mentioned his final upcoming meeting with Popov.

But down deep he knew.

He’d ride this round on his own, make the best of the number he’d drawn.

He hadn’t complied with their final demand and soon they would know it.

But if he met Popov this last time, maybe he could garner information that would tell him what the Russians had planned.

It was risky, but a risk he had to take.

Moving toward the arena, Jake saw Ellie mount Jubilee and ride into the arena.

As he watched her canter around the fences, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Whatever happened out there now was up to Ellie.

With that thought, Jake sobered.

Making an abrupt turn, he strode over to Flex.

“Headache gone?” he asked.

Standing next to Sebastian, Flex pulled off his hunt cap and ran a hand through his carrot red hair.

“Unfortunately, it’s worse than ever.”

“I think I know what’ll help.”

Reaching into his pocket, Jake dug out the tiny vial that held Flex’s contact lenses.

“Take out the ones you’re wearing.”

“What? Are you crazy? I’ve got to ride in less than ten minutes.”

“Then you’d better hurry.”

“What’s this about, Jake?”

“No time now.

I’ll explain later.”

Hurriedly, Flex popped out the lenses he was wearing, washed the ones in the vial in his mouth, and used the tip of his finger to insert them into his eyes.

“Any better?”

Jake asked.

“Yes, but I don’t know why.”

“The prescription is a little bit off in the other pair.”

“I don’t get it.”

“Later,”

Jake said.

“Right now, the important thing to think about is the course.

How’s Sebastian?”

“He’s a little bit full of himself but I think he’ll settle down.

He’s really enjoying this.”

“Good.

Just watch the pace.

You’ll have to make some neat turns to finish in the time allowed.

The line with the triple combination looks the most difficult.”

“I plan to override the triple and steady immediately so I can ride forward to that first wide oxer.”

Jake nodded his approval.

“Good luck.”

Jake moved off toward Clay, who was keenly watching Ellie take the fences.

Leaning against the rail, Clay rubbed Max’s ears, smiling and talking to him softly.

Jake came up beside him.

In silence they watched Ellie’s faultless round.

When she cleared the last fence, Clay grinned.

“She’s really something.”

“Something very special.

You’re a very lucky man.”

“Believe me, I know it.”

An Irish rider took the course on a big black Irish thoroughbred.

“Max looks ready.

How about you?”

Jake asked.

Clay smiled.

“We’re both ready.

Max has been taking the jumps as if he has wings.”

“You carrying that medicine of yours?”

Clay nodded.

“Security blanket, I guess.

Why? Your stomach bothering you again?”

Clay pulled the plastic bottle out of his inside coat pocket.

Jake took the bottle and stuffed it into his own coat pocket.

“Not exactly.

We’ll talk about it after the show.”

“Anything wrong, Jake?”

“Nothing for you to worry about.

You just take care of those fences.”

“Listen, Jake...if you’re in some kind of trouble...if there’s anything I can do...”

“Thanks, Clay.

I appreciate that, but I think we’ve finally got things under control.”

The Irish rider finished, knocking down the last two fences, riding glumly out of the ring.

Clay threw Jake a last glance and swung up into the saddle.

As he moved toward the arena, he passed Ellie, who leaned over and kissed him as he rode past.

Another rider completed the course, then the Irish announcer’s voice came over the speakers.

“From the United States.

Maximum Effort.

Clayton Whitfield, the rider.”

Jake glanced around the arena.

Some distance away, Maggie stood watching the competition.

A man Jake recognized as one of Daniel’s stood just a few feet away.

Since Maggie was well-protected, Jake decided he’d take a last look around.

When the competition was over, he’d have his final meeting with Popov.

Then he’d talk to the members of the team, explain what had been happening.

He’d resign his position, of course.

There was nothing else to do. He just hoped they’d understand his actions, try not to judge him too harshly.

Deciding to make a pass through the stables and around behind the grandstands, Jake headed off.

He still felt tense and uncertain, but his role in the drama was coming to an end.

In the meantime, he would watch the outcome of the competition.

For the first time in days, he allowed himself to pull for the American team.