“If you go through with this, what will it do tous? I love you. Nothing can change that. But how will you feel about yourself? Even if you get away with it, what will it do to our relationship?”
Jake didn’t answer, just stared down at his drink. When he picked it up, his hand shook, making the ice cubes clink against the side of the glass.
“You’d better get some sleep,” he told her, his voice hollow and flat. “We’ve got a big day tomorrow.”
“Think about it, Jake. Please.” Ignoring the ache in her throat, Maggie came up out of her chair. With a last glance at Jake, she headed up to her room.
At the sound of the buzzer on the alarm clock, Jake jerked awake. Five-thirty. He’d barely slept. Knowing Flex usually slept later than the other team members, Jake figured he had time to shower and dress and still get into Flex’s room with time to spare.
It took six raps on the door before Flex’s unkempt, red-haired head appeared in the narrow crack he opened.
“Yeah?” His voice was thick with sleep.
“Sorry to wake you. Thought you’d be up already. Mind if I come in?”
Flex slid the chain off, and Jake pushed through the door.
“What time is it?” Flex asked, yawning.
“About six. Figured you’d want an early start.”
“Six o’clock?” Flex’s eyebrows went up. “In the morning?”
“Yeah. Mind if I use your john?”
Flex ruffled his hair with his hands. “Help yourself.”
“Thanks.” Jake stepped through the door, found the contacts in their tiny plastic vial, put the container in his pocket, and substituted the lenses in the vial the Soviets had supplied. At least Daniel and his staff had discovered Popov’s intent—the prescription had been changed, a subtle difference that would alter Flex’s vision enough to throw off his riding, but not enough for him to notice the change.
Jake’s lips thinned as he thought of the Soviets’ scheme.Glasnost,they preached today. New freedoms, a new westernization of thought. Jake had almost begun to believe it. Obviously, things in his homeland hadn’t really changed.
Flushing the toilet for effect, he stepped back into the room. “Listen, Flex. I’m sorry I woke you. I just wanted to come by and tell you I know you’ll do well.”
Flex stretched and yawned. “Thanks, Jake.”
“I’ll see you down at the stables.”
Flex nodded. Jake walked back into the hall and the door closed behind him. He’d done what they asked, though his conscience nagged him.
In an hour, he’d know what they really wanted him to do.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
After sending Maggie into Ballsbridge on an errand, Jake headed for the stables, going straight to the appointed meeting place, a vacant tack room at the end of the farthest barn.
Around him, riders hurried past and curious spectators came and went, everyone engrossed in the excitement around them. With an eerie creak, the door swung wide, and he stepped into the darkness.
The flare of a match, the acrid smell of sulfur, and the room brightened to a dull glow, lit by a single white candle on a dusty table, the only furniture in the otherwise empty room.
“Good morning,Tovarich.” Jake stiffened at the sound of Popov’s grating voice.
“So the keeper of the hounds arrives in person to direct the hunt,” Jake said.
Popov chuckled, the sound brittle. “Surely you didn’t believe I would miss it?”
“I wasn’t sure you’d take the risk.”
“What risk? Surely you can see that it is you who takes the risk.”
