Page 52 of Deadly Peril

But she couldn’t just stand around waiting. “We’ll take one of the back trails after the competition starts. We’ll have plenty of time to ski.” The cross-country part of the competition was the length of a marathon, so it wouldn’t be a quick race.

Thaddeus carried his skis and walked beside her. It was good to have him there. Also, she would have a partner to help take her mind off the trial. She’d be skiing, not shooting, but it would be sufficient to keep her occupied.

Then a figure blocked her path. It was a male skier in his mid-thirties. He had a long, sort of rectangular face, and sported a short beard. He seemed vaguely familiar, but Jana couldn’t place him. “Excuse us,” she said, and started to move past him.

“Jana?” the man said.

Jana squinted at him. “I’m sorry. Have we met?”

Thaddeus hovered beside her, scrutinizing the man.

“You haven’t changed much,” the man said. “Remember me? Roston Vang…surely you haven’t forgotten.”

“Ross?” For a moment, Jana wasn’t sure this was the same person. His face was more grizzled, his skin leathery, and he wasn’t even that old. But his features rang a bell. When she looked closer, she saw that he was the competitor she’d known years before.

“Yes, it’s me. I’m glad you remember.”

Jana was stunned. “I thought you lived in Reno, or that’s what I heard…quite a few years ago.”

“Can’t a guy try out a different club?”

There was a look in his eyes, as if there was something he wasn’t saying. “I suppose, but you picked the wrong day. The club is reserved for the morning. You’ll have to come back.”

Roston shrugged. “That’s too bad. I guess I’ll just watch.” He didn’t seem anxious to go. “Are you going to introduce me to your friend?”

The encounter didn’t feel very social, but Jana made the introduction anyway. “Sure, this is Thaddeus. He’s going to ski with me.”

“Nice to meet you, Thaddeus.” A glimmer in Roston’s eyes unnerved Jana. She didn’t wish to continue the conversation. “Well, it was unexpected to see you again. There won’t be much to watch out there. The event won’t be televised.”

That got no response from Roston, so Jana just walked away. She did remember him, but not in a good way. The guy had been kicked out of the sport. It had been quite the spectacle.

When the trailhead appeared, Thaddeus put his skis down. “How do you know that guy?”

“Ross competed in the sport when I did, but he was a cheater,” Jana said. “He was one of those pain-in-the-ass guys, the type who take advantage. I’ve known him to go as far as to cut in front of a competitor on a high-speed run.”

While listening, Thaddeus put on his skis.

“He had quite an illustrious career. There were stories about fights, breaking windows with his bare hands, lockups in police holding tanks…even being sent home early from competitions.”

“Sounds like he had an alcohol issue.”

“I’d say so, yet he fancied himself as Olympic material. He tried to qualify for the trials.”

“Let me guess…he didn’t make it?”

“No, he didn’t,” Jana said. “Roston Vang is a name remembered in the sport, but not due to his physical prowess.” She finished putting her skis on. “His grand finale was to get banned from the sport for doping.”

“How long since you’ve seen him?”

“Uh…let me think. Well, I haven’t competed at that level for over seven years, so at least that long.” Jana zipped up her jacket. “I hardly recognized the guy. It isn’t just the age, but something else. He looks so…”

“Like a guy with a chip on his shoulder?” Thaddeus said. “I picked that up too.”

“Anyway, I hope he doesn’t hang around my club,” Jana said. “I heard that he lives in Reno, so he’s a bit far from his neighborhood.”

Jana didn’t want to talk about the unwelcome encounter. The trial had begun, so she preferred to focus on skiing. The air was fresh and cold, the mountain heavy with snow. It was ideal for a ski run. She preferred going fast when she could. She’d chosen a back trail to ski with Thaddeus, so there wouldn’t be anyone to get in the way.

Coley was well into the competition, on a different trail. Jana wouldn’t be able to see her, but she’d be thinking about her. It would be quite the experience to use the microchip during competition. She couldn’t wait for the feedback.

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