Page 25 of Risky Match
Shaking it off, I ask, “I assume you’ve worked out a signaling mechanism for when we can’t use the app. Is that right?”
Adrian says, “We have. Either Stephen or I will be in the Royal Box on Centre Court each day. If one of us is wearing a purple tie, then we need to talk to you. You’ll be invited to a private room after the match.”
“That works. No one will be surprised that royals are greeting each other away from the cameras. How doIsignal you when I need to pass information to you?”
Stephen says, “During the first set of the match, lay two tennis racquets on the ground in front of your bench before you serve the first time. We’ll then arrange an invitation to meet at the end of the match.”
“Okay. What if the app fails and we need to reach each other on days Blake and I aren’t playing?”
Matt says, “We have a plan for that as well. Attend an afternoon match on Centre Court if you need to talk. We’ve reserved a seat for you at all the matches. Adrian or Stephen will notice and invite you to meet. If we need to reach you, then we’llhave purple roses delivered to your house that morning. You’ll show up at the afternoon match on Centre Court, and at the appropriate time, you’ll be taken to meet one of the princes.”
“You’ve thought of everything.”
“We hope so. And you know the drill. Don’t remove your tracker for any reason,” Stephen says.
“I won’t.”
“Which tracker are you wearing,” Adrian asks.
“It’s the newest model. While we were at training camp a few weeks ago, the techs inserted the tracker into the pendant I’m wearing. I’ll keep it around my neck throughout the mission. You can follow me on your smartphone.”
“We’ll sync our apps to your tracker tonight.”
“Sounds good. Who is the other player you suspect?”
“For now, we think it’s safer if you don’t know. If it becomes important, we’ll tell you,” Matt says.
“Understood. What else should I know?”
“We need to go over the devices you’ll be installing and make sure you remember how to clone a phone,” Matt says.
“We went over it in training earlier this summer.”
“You did. But we’ll be going over it again tonight. There’s no room for error.”
Adrian says, “Bri won’t make any mistakes. Now, let’s head to the study. The devices are set up there.”
His confidence in me as a Covert Royal is reassuring.
Adrian and Stephen are like brothers to me after the tough training we’ve endured together. We’ve had each other’s backs at the camp for years. Now, we’ll take care of each other in the real world. I won’t let them or our countries down.
7
BLAKE
My phone buzzes as I’m heading out the front door of my rental home.
I ignore it.
It rings again.
No one is going to interfere with my morning run. I pull my mobile from my pocket, ready to send the call to voicemail—until I do a double take.
Briis calling.
Without thinking, I answer, “What’s up, Tennis Princess?”
She laughs. “Hello, Blake.”
