Wrong Place, Wrong Time (Pete 'Monty' Montgomery 1)

The doorbell and the phone rang simultaneously.

“You see which contender’s calling in,” Merry instructed. “I’ll see who’s at the door.” She scooted off.

Devon scooped up the receiver. “Hello?”

“Did you get them?”

“James.” From the corner of her eye, Devon saw Monty enter the house. “I was just about to call you. They’re gorgeous.”

“So are you,” James replied. “Did you just get home?”

“Two seconds ago. I took off my coat and found your flowers.” Devon’s brows drew together as Monty stepped into the kitchen, clearly intent on hearing this call. “They’re a welcome sight after a long day.”

“Yeah. A very long day.” James sounded strained. “It’s good to hear your voice.”

“Yours, too.” Devon was watching Monty scribble something on a slip of paper, which he then shoved in front of her.

Put him on speakerphone. Ask how Wellington went today.

Devon nodded. She had no idea where Monty was going with this, but she followed his instructions, pressing the speakerphone button and hanging up the receiver. “How did today’s competition go?”

A hollow laugh. “It was a disaster.”

“Why? From what I recall, you said it was an intermediate-level event on a younger horse. Did he give you trouble?”

“Life gave me trouble. I picked up some kind of twenty-four-hour stomach bug. I couldn’t ride. My grandfather subbed in someone else.”

Monty waved his hand in a keep-him-talking gesture.

“And that upset you?” Devon pressed quizzically. “I thought it was only the Sunday events you’re focused on.”

“It is. I was relieved as hell that my grandfather got Granger to ride Future. I sure couldn’t do it.”

“Who’s Granger?”

“One of our grooms. He’s also a very strong rider. He was a good choice—or he should have been. He blacked out right before the third jump.”

“Blacked out?” Devon didn’t have to feign her shock. “He fell off the horse?”

“Uh-huh. He’s okay, other than some minor injuries. He’s lucky. We’re all lucky. I don’t think I could have lived with myself if it had been serious. Someone slipped him a diuretic. It was meant to disqualify the rider—me. Granger has low blood pressure, so it did a lot more than that.”

Devon sank down on a kitchen stool. “Someone tried to sabotage you?”

“Big-time. It turns out there was a random drug test scheduled for today. If the Antidoping Agency had found that stuff in my blood, I’d be banned from the circuit, maybe for good.”

“That’s horrible. Do you know who did it?”

“Not a clue. It could have been a dozen different people. I told you, the equestrian world’s pretty brutal.”

“Is there an investigation under way?”

James gave a humorless laugh. “There’s always an investigation under way, especially when drugs are involved. That doesn’t mean anything will be uncovered, much less proven.”

Devon glanced at Monty, who scribbled down the words: Ask how he’s feeling.

“What about your stomach bug?” she inquired. “Is it better?”

“More or less. I managed to hold down some tea and dry toast. So I’m on the mend. Although the news about Granger made my stomach turn all over again.”