Dick Francis's Gamble - Felix Francis [108]
“Like what?” he said.
“I know it sounds unlikely, but I believe that the Bulgaria business may have something to do with why Herb was killed.”
“But that’s ridiculous,” he said. “Next you’ll be accusing Gregory of murder.”
I said nothing but just sat there looking at him.
“Oh come on, Nicholas,” he said. “That’s madness.”
“Madness, it may be,” I said. “But I’m not coming into the office until I’m certain that I’d be safe.”
He thought for a moment.
“Come home with me now, and we’ll sort this out tonight. We can call Gregory from there.”
The train pulled into Esher Station.
Esher was the station for Sandown Park racetrack. Had it really been only nine days since I had alighted here to go to speak to Jolyon Roberts?
And two days later Jolyon Roberts was dead.
“No,” I said, jumping up. “I’ll call you tomorrow morning in the office.”
I rushed through the glass dividing door and then stepped out onto the platform just before the train’s doors closed shut behind me.
I didn’t want Patrick telling Gregory where I was—not tonight, nor any other night.
18
By the time I made it back to Lambourn, all three of the ladies were in bed, and the house was in darkness save for a single light left on for me in the kitchen. It was only fair, and I had called from a public phone box at Paddington to tell them not to wait up.
I realized I was hungry.
I looked at the clock hanging above the range. It was ten to eleven, and I’d had nothing to eat since a hurried slice of toast at six o’clock in the morning. All day my stomach had been so wound up with worry that I hadn’t even thought about food. My mother would not have been pleased.
I raided Jan’s fridge and made myself a thick cheese sandwich.
I then sat eating it at the kitchen table, washing it down with a glass of orange juice.
It had been a good day, I decided. I still just had a job and I had finally spoken to Patrick about my concerns. Whether or not he believed me was another matter. But surely he was duty-bound to start an investigation and bring Jessica Winter into the loop, whatever he might think of my cloak-and-dagger tactics.
But would I then be any safer?
If Gregory, or whoever, was trying to kill me in order to prevent an investigation into the fraud being started, then I should be out of danger once it had because killing me then would only reinforce the need for the investigation to continue. Unless, of course, he felt he had nothing more to lose and killed me out of revenge for uncovering his scheme.
Either way, I was going to lie low for a few more days yet.
Tuesday dawned bright and sunny, which matched my temperament. Talking to Patrick had set my mind more at ease, and I really felt I was getting somewhere at last.
In spite of being the final one to bed, I was the first up and downstairs, making myself instant coffee, by the time Jan appeared.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come up on the Downs to watch the horses?” she said. “It’s a beautiful day, for a change.”
I thought about it.
“I can lend you a hat and sunglasses,” she added with a laugh. “As a disguise.”
“OK,” I said. “I’d love to. I’ll just take some tea up to Claudia.”
“There’s plenty of time,” Jan said. “First lot doesn’t pull out until seven-thirty, and even then I give them a good head start. Be ready by about seven forty-five. We have breakfast afterwards.”
I glanced up at the clock. It was only five to seven.
“Right,” I said. “I’ll be ready.”
I took the tea and coffee up to our room and sat on the bed.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” I said to Claudia, gently shaking her shoulder. “Time to wake up.”
She rolled over onto her back and yawned. “What time is it?”
“Seven,” I said. “And it’s a beautiful morning, so I’m going up on the Downs with Jan to watch the horses work.”
“Can I come too?” Claudia asked.
“I’d love you to,” I said. “But how are you feeling?”
“Better every day,” she replied.