Sharp Turn - Marianne Delacourt [77]
Another nod.
‘Then I wondered if he’d been using one of the oldest tricks around on you: spread a rumour about someone else before the same rumour catches up with you.’ Bok and I had done the same thing at school to deflect from our own misdemeanours. ‘Bolo knew the truth – that’s why he hired you, because you’re good. It’s also how he knew to bribe Dave.’
Bolo’s aura had turned the colour of smoke.
‘Clem, quick,’ I said. ‘I need you to come with me.
I have to stop Gig Riley from racing.’
I ran the short distance to the Riley bay. Jase and Cass were standing outside. Jase looked annoyed and a bit stressed.
‘What’s going on, Tara?’ he said. ‘I’m real busy.’
‘I want you to be a witness to a conversation I’m about to have. Are you prepared to do that?’
He frowned. ‘What’s this about?’
‘I’m an investigator.’
‘A private investigator?’
‘Yes. Kind of.’
His eyes lit up and the annoyance vanished from his face. ‘Okay.’
‘Follow me,’ I said.
Wal drifted closer as I barrelled inside the garage.
Riley Senior was having a last-minute word with Gig, who was sitting on his bike preparing to put his helmet on.
‘Stop!’ I shouted.
Riley opened his mouth to give me a blistering serve but I lunged at Gig and latched onto his arm. ‘There’s something wrong with your chain. You can’t race – it’ll break.’
‘Get that crazy bitch out of here,’ Riley bellowed at Jase, who’d appeared behind me with Clem.
‘Tara? What the –’ Jase began.
‘There’s a faulty chain on the bike. Gig,’ I pleaded, ‘just take a look at it. I’m a private investigator.’
Gig looked around for Dave but the wrench had disappeared.
‘Please. Just let Clem check it,’ I said.
‘That bent bastard isn’t coming anywhere near my bike,’ spat Riley Senior. ‘Now clear out, all of you.’
‘Clem isn’t the one who’s bent,’ I said. ‘It’s your guy, Dave.’
Gig stared at me. ‘Dad, just let him check. It’s my arse out there.’
Riley gave me a disgusted look but nodded. He loved his kid more than he loved winning. I’d banked on that.
Clem grabbed a spanner from the workbench and squatted down to test the Z-rings. On the fourth light tap the chain broke.
‘Jees-us,’ he said. ‘That could have been nasty.’
Riley trembled with restrained fury. ‘Gig, get down to the officials and withdraw the bike.’
‘I can change it,’ said Clem quickly. ‘If you want. Only take few minutes.’
Gig looked at his dad and gave a quick nod.
Riley let out a breath. ‘Thanks.’
While Clem and Gig searched the cartons for a new chain, Riley turned back to me. ‘Looks like I owe you an apology, young lady. After this race, you and I had better have a talk.’
Chapter 27
GIG RILEY WON AND broke the race record. Lu Red was a DNR.
After we watched the race, I told Riley Senior how I’d been working on a case that had led me to suspect his mechanic was taking bribes. I didn’t go into the details. Bolo was my client, however bent. It’d be up to Riley to dig around and find out the truth.
One thing I knew for sure: I wouldn’t be getting paid my expenses.
I did slip Crack’s card to Riley as I left. ‘You’ll be needing a new wrench. This guy’s good. Been around bikes all his life. Used to sleep with his Ducati.’
Wal and I caught Bolo in the car park. He tried to get in the Beamer and drive away but Wal slammed the door shut.
‘I don’t like being lied to by my own clients, Bolo,’ I said calmly. ‘But if you pay me the rest of my money, I’ll let it slide this time.’
‘Why you piece of –’
Wal wagged a warning finger. His eyes gleamed at the possibility of violence. ‘Don’t get nasty with my boss, mate.’
‘I know you’re a part owner in Tex-E and that you arranged to have a faulty chain delivered to Riley’s. Then you paid Dave to turn a blind eye when he fitted it. I haven’t told Riley or the police, but I could do both.’
Bolo took an unsteady breath and glanced between us. Then he reached into his pocket and peeled a small wad of notes