Deadly Finish Av John Francome

It''s summer, Royal Ascot, and life is good for young trainer Simon Waterford. He has inherited his father''s top-class yard, his brilliant two-year-old has just won the Coventry Stakes and he is soon to marry his beautiful half-Brazilian girlfriend. But Mariana has a secret which would wreck her hopes of marriage - and which Geoff has found out. And he has threatened to tell Simon. On their way back from the races, two rough-looking young men pass lewd comments about Mariana. There''s not much of a brawl - it''s over too quickly and is hardly even-handed - but it leaves Mariana in a sea of blood tending to Simon''s wounded face and Geoff lies dead on the floor. It''s a tragedy, of course, but Mariana can''t help but feel relieved. Her secret is safe, for now...