Game Play (10 page)

Chapter 15

‘It was those twins wasn't it?'

Gloria nodded.

‘How did they get onto me?' Gloria turned around. ‘Why don't you ask them? They've got questions they'd love to ask you. And they're in this room having a cup of tea with their aunt.'

It was strange the way the smuggler almost regarded it as a game at which he had lost.

‘My game plan didn't work.'

‘Smuggling steroids isn't a game,' said Gloria sharply. ‘You're playing with peoples' health.'

‘If they choose to play, then it's all right.'

‘No, it isn't.'

‘When did you first notice?' The smuggler looked at Christopher.

‘It was you wasn't it?'

Christopher took out his sketchbook. ‘Yes. Your track suit was a different navy from the rest. I didn't see that at first. The main difference was the missing sponsors on the t-shirt.'

‘Ahhhh.' the smuggler pushed back his hair. ‘I didn't know who their sponsors were going to be. I only knew they were wearing navy trackers and a navy t-shirt. Trust a kid to notice something like that.'

‘And,' Christopher bent over and pulled up the smuggler's trackpants leg. ‘The socks are different. A team playing in an international event would all be the same. I couldn't work out why yours were different.'

‘What about the other players? Didn't they know you were an extra?' asked Amy.

‘They came from all over the place. So it was easy.'

‘What about the team manager? Didn't he have to count you?'

‘Just explained in Singapore that he'd been allotted an extra player.'

‘How did you do that?' Amy was very interested in the reasons.

‘Got my colleague to ring the hotel where they were all staying.

He pretended to be from the Sporting Association. He gave my name ... or the name on this passport'

‘What would have happened if you had to play?' asked Amy. ‘Are you good enough?' He looked well muscled.

‘That's when I might have conveniently twisted my ankle. On the other hand, it would have been interesting to play.'

‘Just playing games in his head,' said Gloria. ‘Gameplay. Time to face the facts.'

A tall man walked towards them. ‘This the one?' he asked Gloria who nodded. ‘Come with me please, sir.'

The tall man led away the fake soccer player.

‘He's from the Federal Police,' Gloria explained. ‘He caught the soccer player with the steroids on him.'

‘Who was he?' asked the twins. ‘The soccer player?'

‘We're not sure.'

‘Why?'

‘He was carrying three German passports, sixteen driving licences, thirteen Visa cards and two identity cards. All in different names.'

‘What will happen to him?'

“He'll be locked up in the Remand Centre until Monday. ‘

‘Why?'

‘Because we don't know who he is. And it will take at least until Monday to find out.'

By Monday, the twins would be helping Aunty Viv with her animal acts in between the events of the International Games. Amy and Christopher were glad they knew exactly who they were; the Frequent Flyer Twins.