Page 44 of Risky Match
I’m bothered that my answer implicates Blake when my gut tells me he wouldn’t be involved.
“And you’re just now mentioning this? Why didn’t you text? Never mind. Start at the beginning. What did you find?” Stephen looks at me in shock.
“Didn’t I tell you it was difficult not being able to communicate directly. I thought this info was too sensitive to text. That’s why we’ve set up ways to meet. Remember? Oh well, we’re here now. Forgive my frustration. I’ll explain.”
I share how I found the hollow trophy with a folded piece of paper inside, omitting that I’d hoped to find evidence to exonerate Blake. “At first, I thought a coin might be wrapped in the paper. It was the perfect size to hold one. Instead, it was a note telling Blake to listen to his coach and proceed as planned for the payoff he wants.”
“It sounds like his coach is the one in contact with the leader of the smuggling operation.”
“It does. To me, the note sounds like a warning to Blake. I wonder if he’s been threatening to abandon the operation.”
I have to hope that Blake isn’t willingly participating in something illegal. Otherwise, my judgment is off.
Rubbing his chin, deep in thought, Stephen softly says, “Perhaps.”
He doesn’t look convinced though.
Duty bound, I share another theory. “I also wonder whether there was a coin folded up in the note. Blake may have been instructed to remove the coin from the trophy and move it to another place. By writing the note on the paper surrounding the coin, they made sure he would see the writing.”
He slaps his knee, saying, “Excellent deduction. If the coins are hidden in trophies, that would also explain how they escape detection at the borders. An X-ray wouldn’t detect a coin inside the metal base of a trophy.”
Stephen’s earlier frustration has turned to enthusiasm at the prospect that we may actually be making progress in our investigation. I, on the other hand, am not at all happy with the direction we’re headed. If there isn’t a change of course soon, my prior one-night stand will be arrested for smuggling and who knows what other crimes.
Sullenly, I nod slowly. “Agreed. I also sent you photos of a hidden key I found. Have the experts determined what type of lock it opens?”
“I haven’t heard anything yet. How do you know the key is his?”
“Technically, I don’t, but it was in an envelope with a preprinted return address for a Paris hotel. I Googled the hotel. It’s less than two kilometers from Roland Garros where Blake just played in the French Open last month.”
Stephen’s brows furrow. “I see. I gather you couldn’t remove the key so we can duplicate it.”
“I decided it was too risky. If you can’t make a copy from my photo and tracing, then I’llborrowthe key on a day that Blake has a match. You can send a delivery to me. Some red roses would do nicely. I’ll pass the key to the delivery person. Someone else can return it later in the day along with a tin of chocolate biscuits from an admiring fan,” I smile, proud of myself for placing an order for two of my favorite things.
I need something to cheer me up, and it’s fun to poke at Stephen, trying to get a rise out of him or at least a slight smile. He obliges, with a half-smile.
“You’re very clever, my dear. We get the key, and you receive flowers and sweets.”
“Yes, it’s the perfect trade, don’t you think?” I taunt with a toss of my hair and wide grin.
“Of course. We’ll text if we need the key,” he says, with a shake of his head.
“Perfect. I really hope you’ll need that key,” I tease.
“You know you could just order the flowers and biscuits, right?”
“It’s so much more fun to receive deliveries from secret admirers, even if they are fake ones,” I muse.
“You’re too much. Have you learned anything else?”
“Only one other thing that I haven’t already passed along. We know Natalie and Josh met before, because Blake said Josh recommended her when he wanted to add a sports psychologistto his team. However, Natalie says she met Noah for the first time yesterday. That’s inconsistent with what Fausto overheard. Fausto is fairly certain that Natalie and Noah have a history too. It probably doesn’t matter, but why would she lie?”
Stephen shrugs. “Maybe they’ve spoken on the phone before, but they met in person for the first time yesterday. It could be as simple as that.”
“I’ll check with Fausto to see if that would explain what he heard.”
“Or it’s possible they were romantically involved and don’t want anyone to know.”
“She’s married now. I think her wife’s name is Cecilia.”
