Flying Change

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

I stretched out my arms and looked across at the other side of the bed, which was empty. The sunlight was filtering in through the window and I could hear Phillip banging around in the kitchen. It was the day after we had returned from WDM. Phillip was whistling downstairs, and the sunshine looked brighter and the roses outside the window smelled sweeter. The phrase all peachy came to mind. We'd spent the night in discussions with Stefan, crunching the numbers until late at night, his study light burning the midnight oil. We knew Toy Story was gone, but for the moment, no more sales were going through.

I had dragged up the courage to tell Philip about Nat and I's plan. He had laughed and called us duplicitous and fanciful and made me promise not to feign war with Nat to try get to Kristina until he had at least looked for another solution. I didn't know how he was going to find one but it had made me feel better to see that he was on my side. It was the first time we had spoken properly without overwhelming tension in ages, what a relief I thought as I headed downstairs.

I grabbed a coffee mug and poured myself a cup as Phillip dished up French toast and sizzling bacon.

"So are you ready to hit the road again?" he asked with a smile as we sat down and dug into the food.

"Yeah, I think so," I took a deep slug of my coffee. "What time do we need to leave?"

"By three I think, to catch the plane."

"Dad wants to see us jump the 7 year olds before we leave."

I nodded and slugged my coffee.

"I spoke to dad, about Joe, and I showed him the photo you found." He looked at me carefully, judging how I'd take it. I waited for him to continue. "He had a slightly better solution to the issue. One of the guys he knows in Brussels has a private detective, dad made a call and he's going to look into him."

I looked at him in disbelief, "A private investigator?" This had suddenly become way bigger than I had ever imagined.

"It's actually not that unusual, most of the big companies who sponsor us have them, you know check we're not criminals," he half smiled.

"Are you serious?" I laughed.

"Yeah, you would have been checked out before THS hired you."

"I, what?" I sputtered, nearly shooting coffee across the kitchen.

"Yeah," he smiled at my disbelieving expression."It's part of the recruitment process."

"I was investigated?" I uttered in disbelief.

"Why are you so shocked? Do you have something to hide?" He laughed taking a sip of his coffee.

"No," I shook my head indignantly, "it just seems so extreme."

"Yeah well, the horse world attracts some shady characters. Any industry that attracts big money does."

I mulled over this for a few minutes and then slurped down the dregs of my morning brew and followed him out into the yard.

**

"Forward!" Stefan yelled as I turned the corner towards the triple combination, I nudged the little gelding towards the fences and he bounded forward, finding a slightly long spot and leaping into the air, two strides, too close I thought and pulled my shoulders back as he yanked his up and twisted his body over the over landing and pushing another two strides out before he leapt over the vertical. I sat up and patted him slowing to a walk a few strides later.