'That's right,' said Endor, glad of the comfort. 'When Zak went over herself to take a look-see, Mary went with her. I didn't. So I didn't have a chance to see how things were developing there. And she went out again in the autumn, allegedly to help Zak settle in. But I didn't see them together again till Abe turned up here, earlier this week. And I got the impression things were pretty cool between them now.'
'An act,' said Joe. 'If they'd been able to keep it up, if Jones hadn't heard them at it in the changing room
'No, I reckon from the sound of it, you'd have got on to them eventually, Joe,' said Endor.
It was pleasant to meet someone who had such confidence in his ability.
'Maybe,' said Joe modestly. 'But I still don't understand how they came up with such a crazy idea in the first place.'
Endor pursed his lips, looked grim and said, 'OK, this is the way I see it. With Mary, it's obvious. Not just the money, maybe not even the money. I reckon the sheer kick she'd get out of seeing her sister lose in front of her own home crowd would be motivation enough. As for Schoenfeld, well, he must have got the message he don't have no place in Zak's long-term plans. OK, they've got a good programme going over there, I made sure of that. But Abe's nothing but a college coach. Zak's in the market for one of the top pros. And when she finds the one that suits, it'll be like poor old Jim Hardiman all over. Bye bye, Abe. So why not make a killing while he can?'
Joe sipped his coffee and examined the hypothesis. The way Endor put it together it all made real sense. He'd been right to talk to the agent, use his cool calculating way of looking at things.
He said, 'So what do we do now?'
'We?'
'Hey, she's your client as much as mine. More. I mean, I know what my responsibility is. Find out the facts and report them to her. Only question is how and when. Don't want to upset her more than necessary.'
'You're going to have to do that sooner or later,' said Endor. 'I take it the police are still right out of the picture?'
That'll be down to Zak. No cops unless she says so. But what I meant was, how might it affect her if I gave her the full story now?'
'Take your meaning,' said Endor. The race. That would be a real turn-up if solving the problem upset her so much she lost the race anyway!'
'But I've got to tell her. She's got to know, otherwise she won't know how to run, will she?'
'You don't think there's any danger any more?'
'No. Listen, it was the threat to her family that really got to her, and I don't reckon Mary's going to start offing the others just to get at Zak. But even if I just say it's OK, there's no need to worry any more, she's going to want to know it all. Don't know about you, Doug, but I ain't got the machinery for saying no to a lovely girl like Zak.'
'You got yourself a problem, Joe,' said Endor. 'You could always send her a note.'
'A note?' Joe considered. 'No, that would look, I don't know, impersonal. Like I thought it didn't matter. This needs someone talking to her
He drank more coffee, contemplating the prospect, and incidentally Endor, gloomily over the rim of his cup. Endor looked rather uncomfortable under the gaze and finally burst out, 'Now see here, Joe, there's no way I'm going to do your job for you!'
'What? No, I didn't mean ... but hey, that's it, that would solve everything!'
'No way,' said Endor. 'She's going to come at me hard as she'd come at you to get the details, and like you, I just know I'd have to tell her.'
'But no, you wouldn't,' said Joe eagerly. 'Listen, you can say you met me and I asked you to pass the message on, it's OK, everything's taken care of, no more problem. Tell her I was absolutely sure, but I had to shoot off on another case, very urgent, life and death. And I'd contact her for a debriefing soon as I got back. Probably tomorrow. You'd be in the clear. You can't tell what you haven't been told, can you?'
The agent didn't look convinced.
'OK, suppose I did it,' he said. 'What do I get out of it?'
'Spoken like a true agent,' said Joe with a grin. 'What you get is a happy client who gets a good night's sleep and breaks the European indoor record tomorrow. Then I'll appear and tell her it's all down to her big sister and crooked coach.'
'Who are doing what in the meantime?'
Tacking their bags and checking the flight schedules if they've any sense,' said Joe. 'I wouldn't want to be around when Zak finally hears the truth.'
'Me neither,' said Endor. 'OK, Joe, you're on. But you owe me. I ever want a prospect checked out, you're my freebie. Deal?'
'Deal,' said Joe. They traded skin on it and stood up. As they left the cafe, Joe noticed Hooter Hardiman standing by the art gallery entrance, watching them, but as they walked towards him he turned and moved away.
Joe headed straight for the car park, eager to minimize the risk of being spotted by Zak or indeed Jones.
He felt good. There was a public phone on the edge of the car park. Ride your luck, he thought. He picked up the receiver and dialled Naysmith's number, etched forever on his memory. Lucy Naysmith answered. She didn't sound overjoyed to hear his voice, but clearly Pollinger's wish was his employees' and ex-employees' command.
'All right, you can come, Mr. Sixsmith. But you mustn't tire him. I don't know what that hospital was doing letting him out like that. He's still far from well.'
'I'll be gentle as a lamb,' promised Joe.
