Mad Powers (Tapped In) (23 page)

“
What are you doing?
”

“
Transformer. I think I can get to it.
”

“
Like right now, in the middle of the day? What if someone sees you?
”
Pippa came over to the window and looked out. Her shoulder was touching mine and I could smell the fragrance of her shampoo. She saw me looking at her and stepped back.
“
I guess there
’
s no one around. You going to try it?
”

I nodded.

“
Maybe a different pair of shoes?
”
she asked.

I looked down at the loafers I had on.

“
You
’
d slip right off that roof
—
might as well be wearing roller skates.
”
She lifted my suitcase onto the bed and unzipped it. Within several moments she held out a pair of tennis shoes.
“
These would work better.
”

I changed shoes and took another look out the window
—
all clear. First, I hung one leg outside, then the other, and slowly clambered onto the roof. The slate shingles were big and slippery even with sneaks on. I had to sit on my ass and crabwalk to my left. Pippa stuck her head out the window and was watching my progress. When I came to the next window, I peeked around the corner into the room. Peering through sheer curtains, I could see enough of the room to determine it was empty. A large mahogany poster bed, covered in a frilly comforter, was across from a dresser displaying a flat-panel TV. The TV was on
—
some kind of German soap opera. A shadow crossed from farther back in the room, where the bathroom was. Then I saw her. It was Ingrid
’
s bedroom. She was getting dressed for the day
’
s events. When she disappeared back into the bathroom I quickly scooted across the window to the other side.

Even from three feet out I felt the familiar beckoning. The power line was connected to the far side of the transformer. I needed to get closer. Ideally, close enough to place my forehead right next to the high-voltage cable, but the only way I
’
d accomplish that would be to come at it from its far side. Unfortunately, over there, the roof slanted downward into a sheer drop. I maneuvered myself so one leg hung over the roof
’
s edge, against the side of the house, while I precariously clung to the transformer itself. I leaned over and tapped in.

As if quenching a dire thirst, I drank in the power. My mind expanded into the grid, spreading across countless power networks, until I was one with it, a part of it.

Where have you been, Rob?

Tell me who you are?

I
’
m a captive. I
’
m in a dark place. Can you help me?

Help you what?

Get free.

The sound of Ingrid
’
s window opening pulled me back. I saw fingers pushing curtains aside and her face leaning forward.

“
Isn
’
t it beautiful!
”

Ingrid leaned farther out and turned to her right. It was Pippa who
’
d gotten her attention. I pulled my leg up and lay against the slate shingles. Ingrid and Pippa talked for several minutes before Ingrid leaned back in and closed her curtains, after the window was slid shut.

* * *

Both Ingrid and Pippa were wearing dresses and wide-brimmed hats. The color of Pippa
’
s small pink purse matched her hat and the floral design on her dress. It fit her perfectly and accentuated her recently endowed bosom
’
s cleavage both provocatively and tastefully. Ingrid
’
s sea green floppy hat was becoming on her and complemented her green-patterned silk dress. Pippa, earlier, had selected my attire
—
white slacks, button-down shirt, ascot, and navy blue blazer. We were dressed for the races.

Manfred drove as Ingrid spoke to us about our destination:

“
Now the Iffezheim Racecourse, with its magnificent views of the Black Forest, is home to the Grosser Preis von Baden race. The Iffezheim racetrack is about eight miles from the small village of Iffezheim. This course is truly one of my favorites; it
’
s both prestigious and elegant.
”

“
And what will we be seeing there today?
”
I asked.

“
There are two heralded festivals held yearly at Iffezheim racetrack
…
Spring Festival, and Grand Week, which is going on now, and started several days ago. The festival consists of six race days
…
I believe there are nine races run per day, but don
’
t quote me on that.
”

“
What
’
s the plan for getting us close to the Goertzes?
”
Pippa asked.

“
My good friend, William Genz, has agreed to let us share his box seats. This is no small measure, I assure you. Genz has a thoroughbred running today. Genz
’
s and Leon Goertz
’
s horses will be racing against each other. Their rivalry, although kept friendly for the most part, goes back many years.
”

I thought about what Ingrid was telling us.
“
Can you get us back into the stalls, pre-race?
”

Ingrid stared at me blank-faced for several seconds.
“
I suppose. Let me check.
”

She reached for the limousine
’
s mobile phone, thought for moment, and said,
“
I think I know his number
…”
She dialed and held the phone to her ear.
“
Willie?
”
She laughed at something he said and then spoke quickly,
“
Yes, you must be frantically busy and I
’
m so sorry to be a bother. Would it be possible to see
A Grand Dream
? Get into the stables?
”
Ingrid smiled and nodded several times while listening to whatever Genz was saying.
“
You are my prince in shining armor. Yes, you can think of something special as your reward.
”
She immediately flushed, looking over at Pippa and me, and hung up the phone.
“
It is all set.
”

Chapter 36

This was no small affair. The traffic was backed up for several miles before we could enter the racetrack grounds. Manfred maneuvered the big diesel Mercedes past bright orange cones and was waved through by officials into a smaller lot at the back of the park.

Ingrid was in high spirits and took both Pippa
’
s arm and mine as the three of us made our way to the stables.

Horses and trainers and owners and stable boys and members of the press, along with hundreds of others, moved about the intersecting cobblestone paths. The clip-clop of iron-forged horseshoes echoed off concrete walkways, as some racehorses were led from their freshly painted, white clapboard stable stalls. In contrast, the strikingly colorful silks worn by jockeys boosted up onto their mounts added to the already exciting and festive, parade-like atmosphere.

“
Let
’
s find William,
”
Ingrid said above the noise.
“
He
’
ll want to show us around
—
be the consummate host. Ah, I think I see him!
”
Ingrid waved a white-gloved hand high in the air, shouting,
“
Willie! Willie!
”

A robust-looking man in his early seventies
—
wavy salt and pepper hair, tan, and exuding a powerful presence
—
broke away from a small throng of people. He was dressed similarly to myself, though his blazer was dark green, and complemented Ingrid
’
s green and white attire.

“
Oh, Willie, you look so dashing!
”
Ingrid gushed to her friend in German.

“
And you
…
the most beautiful creature here,
”
he said back, giving her a quick kiss on the lips.

She gave his upper lapel a little slap and smiled.
“
I want to introduce you to my beautiful niece, Pamela, and her husband, David.
”

William took Pippa
’
s outstretched hand and held it between two of his own.
“
So nice to meet you,
”
he said, in heavily accented English.
“
Should I call you Pam, my dear?
”

“
Yes, please do.
”

William turned to me and we shook hands. It was a powerful grip from a man that weighed other men by the temper of their shake. He stepped in and said,
“
David, very nice to meet you. Hopefully, we
’
ll have a chance to talk more, later on.
”

“
I
’
ll look forward to it, sir,
”
I replied.

William took my place between the two women and, arm in arm, directed them toward a top-half-open stall door.
“
This is
A Grand Dream
,
”
William said proudly, presenting his open palms in the direction of the thoroughbred standing within the confines of the stall. Shiny, black, and muscular, the racehorse stood tall, as if posing for a photograph. His ears twitched and his head nervously rose into the air with a snort.

“
Oh my God, he is magnificent!
”
Pippa exclaimed enthusiastically. She moved to the gate and, as if on cue,
A Grand Dream
came forward. Pippa rubbed his long nose and looked over to me.
“
Isn
’
t he gorgeous?
”
she asked, waving me in closer.

I took her place in front of the horse and was instantly in his mind.

Do you mind if I talk to you?

I don
’
t mind.

Can you win this race today?

I want to win.

What horse or horses stand in your way?

Obvious Choice, Bingham, and Charlie
’
s Wish
…

Well, you go ahead, run your best race, and I
’
ll see what I can do about those other three
…

The inner stable door clanked opened. William and the trainer were ready to bring
A Grand Dream
out of his stall.

* * *

Pippa and I broke away from Ingrid and William. I promised we
’
d find them, back at their box, soon. I wanted to place a bet and I also wanted to have some time alone with Pippa. I
’
d had a hard time keeping my eyes off her; watching her here, she was like a small child, bursting with excitement. This was the Pippa I remembered
—
the one I
’
d fallen in love with all those months ago.

She yelled above the crowds
’
noise,
“
Why do you need me to make a bet?
”
She looked mystified.

I smiled and continued to pull her along through the hordes of people, acting as if I hadn
’
t heard her.

We passed one of the small, circular counters and I grabbed up a little pencil and a betting form. I was familiar with horse racing and had been moderately successful picking winners while in college. I placed the betting form on the counter while Pippa and I looked at it. Not only was it worded in German the betting structure here was somewhat different. I needed a little time to think about it.

“
What
’
s the problem? Fill it out and let
’
s get back!
”
Pippa said irritably.

“
Give me a second,
”
I said.

I saw the four horses listed that I was interested in:
Obvious Choice
,
Bingham
,
Charlie
’
s Wish
, and
A Grand Dream.
Often, when betting on a horse race in the U.S., I
’
d go with what is called a Trifecta Part Wheel. I not only betted on a certain horse to come in first, I selected the horses to win second- and third-place as well. The odds paid out substantially well, and by making this kind of bet here, I
’
d be sure to get the attention of Leon Goertz.

“
I
’
m going to make a Trifecta bet, and hopefully win in a way that will grab Leon
’
s attention.
”

“
How will your bet
—”

She cut herself short and looked at me with brows furrowed.
“
You
’
re going to cheat? You
’
re going to use those mind powers of yours somehow to cheat.
”

I wasn
’
t sure if she was scolding me or not. I did feel somewhat guilty about it. The fortunes and/or misfortunes that my actions might possibly instigate could be substantial. But we were on a mission. In the scheme of missions, where people often died as a result of my directives, this deception seemed almost inconsequential. Pippa must have come to the same conclusion, because she now wore a somewhat sly smile on her lips.

“
You can really do that? I mean, make that happen?
”

“
I don
’
t know; I need to hurry up. I still have to get pretty close to those other three horses.
”

“
Go! Tell me the order the horses will finish in and I
’
ll stand in line
—
make the bet.
”