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He hesitated, a response Cora didn't trust. That sidelong look he gave her spoke volumes. He was luring her in and then looking to overpower her when she wasn't expecting it. She wasn't falling for it.

"You're going to tell me," she said, "or I'll break your arm. Now. And I mean it."

She jerked on it again to make sure he understood, and he gasped.

"I'll tell you, just promise it goes nowhere," he grunted the words out.

"It won't go anywhere from me. I can't speak for your friends," she threatened. "But I want another favor from you, if I’m going to keep quiet. For right now, spill it out."

"Officer Garrett. He's the one I know about who is suppressing this. If there are others, I don’t know who they are, but he told us that he doesn't want it to get out. None of us are allowed to speak about it, and if we hear anyone else doing that, we're entitled to use force."

"Of course you are. It's all you know, isn't it?" she jeered. But she had a name at least. It was time to leave, get hold of Gabe, and tell him what she knew. First, though, she needed to lean on this guy a little harder, because she wasn’t done with him yet.

“I need you to help me later, when it’s dark,” she said.

“Why should I help you?”

“Because if you don’t help me, I’ll make sure the word gets out that you and your friends were beaten by a woman. So this is what I want. I want a ride to base in an hour’s time, when it’s dark. I’m going to talk to Garrett. I want you to take me in the trunk of your car. Drive in, open it, walk away. You’ll never see me again.”

“Okay,” he grunted.

Cora still didn’t trust him. Why would she? There was zero reason to, and so she needed some insurance.

“Hand me your car keys,” she said. “Now!”

He rummaged in his jacket pocket and handed over a set of keys for a Ford.

“Which one?”

“The gray sedan at the back of the lot there,” he muttered.

She gave his arm one last yank. He wouldn't have been as kind to her. She would have had a few broken bones by now if the three of them had ganged up on her. Some lasting scars. These bottom-feeders were mean, nasty types. They deserved worse from her, but she couldn't be bothered.

“One hour. You and me alone. I’ll meet you at your car.”

She pocketed the keys, got up and walked away, leaving the three to pick themselves up.

The cheers were reaching a crescendo as she walked back inside. She glanced at the screen, her eyes widening in surprise. Silver Blossom was in front. He was leading by a head. As she watched, his lead widened to a full length. He galloped past the finish line, followed by a closely grouped bunch of other horses, vying for the places. Right at the back, the chestnut ran slowly, cruising along, taking it easy. Tired out from his antics in the parade ring. Maybe what she'd heard had been right, or maybe it had just been coincidence. Either way, she was five hundred dollars richer. This case had paid out some money, after all. She could get her mother’s ring back now.

There was Gabe, approaching down the stairs.

"You have any luck?" he asked her as she hurried over. "I didn't. There was one guy who looked Army, but he was too young, and with a girl."

"I had some luck," she said. "I got us a name. Officer Garrett. He apparently knows what's going on. He gave the orders to suppress it."

Gabe's eyes widened. "That's great. We going to go speak to him now?"

Cora shook her head. She took the betting slip out of her pocket.

"I have some winnings to collect."

"What?" Gabe sounded startled.

"And an hour from now, when it’s dark, the person I talked to is going to give me a ride on to the base. I’ve got his car keys, to make sure he keeps that promise.” She jingled them in her pocket.

“Now that’s risky!” Gabe sounded dubious, but Cora wasn’t backing down.

“It has to be done, and this is my best chance. I need to get in there. We've got a name now. We need to find him and speak to him. He's been authorizing violence toward people who talk about this, and I want to know why the hell he's done that."

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