Free The Edge by Nick Hale Page A

meet at the exhibition, remember?’
    Veronika frowned. ‘I thought you said
after
the exhibition.’
    Had he said that? He didn’t think so, but he couldn’t be sure. ‘I hunted everywhere for you,’ he said.
    ‘Obviously not,’ she said. ‘I was in Maria’s room.’
    ‘She said she hadn’t seen you since this morning.’
    Veronika blushed. ‘I meant Stacey, not Maria.’
    ‘I rang your phone,’ Jake said, not willing to let it go.
    ‘Well, there must have been no signal.’ She tossed her blonde hair and flashed Jake one of her killer smiles.
    Jake was sure the hair-toss-smile combo was her way ofending a discussion. She wasn’t a good liar, but Jake guessed if she wanted to keep something private that was her business.
    ‘Anyway,’ she said, looping her arm through Jake’s and leading him away from the dormitory, ‘you’ll never guess what I found out.’
    ‘If it’s half as good as what I got from Phillips, I’ll be amazed,’ he said.
    ‘All right,’ she said. ‘You go first.’
    As they wandered aimlessly around the complex, Jake told her everything, from following Phillips to the kiss with Dr Chow. By the time he got to Phillips’s illicit offer in the diner, her mouth was gaping.
    Veronika paused and turned to face Jake. ‘You’re sure he wasn’t just offering to be your agent?’
    ‘No way,’ Jake said. ‘He said he wanted a ten grand cut for putting me on the list. That’s what we call a bung in my country.’
    ‘I never did like that guy.’ Veronika started walking again.
    Jake jogged to catch up. ‘Now your turn.’
    ‘My meeting with Krantz wasn’t quite so dodgy, but I did find out some interesting details.’
    ‘Go on,’ said Jake.
    ‘Well, Krantz himself didn’t have any time for me at all. I waited in his office for fifteen minutes, and then he came inand said he had back-to-back meetings for the rest of the day – but I managed to get some time with his secretary beforehand. She said Krantz has a lot riding on Olympic Advantage. Ninety per cent of the funding for the camp comes from sponsorship, right?’
    ‘Like LGE,’ Jake put in.
    ‘And Ares Sports,’ Veronika said. ‘They’re one of the biggest companies of sports merchandising in the world. Mostly in Asia at the moment, but spreading fast. Don’t you think it’s weird they don’t have a bigger presence here?’
    ‘I guess so,’ Jake said. ‘I thought they were like a silent partner.’
    ‘Turns out that Ares have it written into the contract that Olympic Advantage must produce three medal-winning athletes within one year,’ said Veronika.
    ‘You mean athletes who are happy to promote Ares Sports,’ said Jake, smiling. ‘And if they don’t?’
    ‘Then Krantz is in a world of trouble.’ Veronika cast a furtive glance around, then lowered her voice. ‘While I was in his office, I checked a couple of drawers. It looks like Krantz has lots of debts. I think Olympic Advantage might be his last chance. If Ares pulls funding, he’s got nothing.’
    ‘Are you sure the secretary won’t tell Krantz you weresniffing around?’ Jake asked, realising they were back at his dormitory, right where they had begun.
    Veronika grinned. ‘I promised to have a knockaround with her ten-year-old daughter. Anyway, it seems like Krantz is a desperate man.’
    ‘It doesn’t explain why he might want to kill anyone, though,’ said Jake.
    ‘Not yet,’ Veronika admitted. ‘But there’s a lot of money up for grabs around here. It’s like sharks to blood.’
    Jake immediately thought of Igor Popov, and his reptile eyes.
    ‘Vron,’ he said. ‘Your stalker – you need to be careful.’
    She frowned. ‘What do you mean?’
    Jake took a deep breath. ‘I’ve met him before – it’s Igor Popov, isn’t it?’
    Veronika’s eyes widened in surprise. ‘How did you know?’
    ‘It’s a long story,’ Jake said. ‘But he’s dangerous.’
    ‘He’s just a fan.’ She took a few steps away from Jake.