Dick Francis's Refusal Read Online Free Page B

during the Falklands War. That was when we had a proper navy. Bloody politicians. They’ve cut so much that there are now almost as many admirals as there are ships.”
    He clearly didn’t approve of the politicians or the cuts.
    I knew. I’d heard it all before, and often.
    â€¢Â Â Â â€¢Â Â Â â€¢
    I CYCLED HARD on the return journey, but still it was a few minutes after seven-thirty when I parked my bicycle in the garage, turned off its lights and rushed into the house.
    â€œI’m back,” I called as I climbed the stairs. “Are you ready for that story?”
    Fortunately, Marina was also running a little behind schedule, and the girls were still in the bath, splashing about and throwing great handfuls of bubble-bath foam at each other. What fun!
    â€œCome on, you two,” Marina shouted above their noise. “Out!”
    They were soon wrapped in large, fluffy white towels, and then dressed in multicolored pajamas, before jumping into the twin beds in Sassy’s bedroom.
    â€œGive us a story, Daddy,” squealed Sassy excitedly, sitting bolt upright in bed. “Tell us about riding in races.”
    Saskia had been born long after I had retired from riding, but she always wanted to hear about my time as a jockey.
    I sat down on the end of her bed.
    â€œOnce upon a time,” I said, “I rode in the Grand National.”
    â€œDid you win? Did you win?” shouted Annabel.
    â€œYou’ll have to wait and see,” I said. “Now, where was I? Oh yes, I was riding in the Grand National. The horse was called Noss Boy, and he was a big bold gray who jumped like he was on springs.”
    I described how we had raced around the Aintree course on the first circuit, with me bouncing up and down on the corner of the bed as if I was riding.
    â€œCome on, Sid,” said Marina, coming in from the bathroom. “It’s time these two were asleep.”
    â€œMommy, don’t be such a spoilsport,” Saskia said crossly. “The race isn’t finished yet.”
    â€œWell, hurry up, then.” Marina collected some clothes from the floor and went out.
    I bounced faster, jumping Becher’s Brook and the Canal Turn in a single bound.
    â€œIt’s such a long way from the last fence to the finish,” I said, panting. “Come on, boy, you can do it. Only a few yards to go. Come on, boy, come on.”
    I waved my right hand back and forth as if riding a close finish.
    â€œWe win!” I shouted, and the girls leaped up and down on the beds in excitement. “Time for sleep, now,” I said, calming everything down, “or you’ll be too tired for school in the morning.”
    I tucked them in and gave them both a kiss on their heads. “Night-night.” I switched off the main bedroom light but left the door ajar so the room wouldn’t be completely dark.
    Marina had already gone downstairs, and I followed her down and into the kitchen.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” I asked.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œYou’re being very grumpy.”
    â€œNo, I’m not,” she replied sharply.
    â€œYou are,” I said, going over and taking her in my arms. “What is it?”
    â€œNothing.” She pushed me away.
    â€œI’m not going to investigate anything,” I said. “I promised I wouldn’t, and I won’t.”
    â€œSo why did you go and see Charles?”
    â€œI wanted to ask his advice about something.”
    â€œAbout what?”
    â€œI asked him what I should do about what that man said to me this afternoon, about his suspicions that someone is manipulating race results.” I paused. “I’m not going to investigate them, but I could hardly do nothing, could I?”
    She didn’t say anything, but I suspected that
nothing
was exactly what she wanted me to do.
    â€œCharles suggested that I speak to the head of racing security and then leave