by AK Leigh
‘Russia!’
Panic crept into her heart as understanding came. This new evidence was suggesting a Russian suspect. A Russian spy perhaps.
She didn’t have to voice her conclusion. Jack did it for her. ‘The AFP want you to switch your focus to the Russian competitors on the list. In particular, we want you to keep a closer eye on Andrei Strasinski.’
Not again. Her heart throbbed at the prospect. She couldn’t keep being thrust into his way. It was getting harder to deny the connection she still felt; harder to stop the memories that insisted on invading at the worst times; memories of a funny, caring, thoughtful man …
‘It’s impossible he’s involved.’
She gasped once the words were out, but found herself believing them one hundred per cent. Her solar plexus clenched with the conviction. The Andrei she knew was not a terrorist. A spy, probably, but not a terrorist. Besides, Lizzie’s profile had hinted at a Chinese suspect. She was rarely wrong.
Jack said, ‘Look, I know the two of you have history, but you’re going to need to leave it behind to remain objective.’
‘I am being objective, sir. Lizzie’s profile suggests a Chinese suspect.’
‘And our intel says Russian.’
‘Respectfully, sir. The intel is wrong.’
‘The parts came from Russia, Farris.’ His tone echoed clear exasperation.
‘I know, it just …’
She trailed off, unsure of what she was wanting to say. It couldn’t be Andrei. It wasn’t any other Russian competitor either. Her instincts fired with that conviction.
In a gentler voice, Jack said, ‘Do you think you’re too close to this?’
Maybe.
‘No, I can do this.’
‘I knew we could rely on you. We are setting up surveillance on the entire Russian contingent. Your role is to inform us of anyone acting suspicious. Hopefully, we can stop another bomb from going off.’
‘Yes, sir.’
After a few more preliminaries, she ended the call.
There’s no way it’s Andrei.
She made herself forget him and shifted to another issue. What reason for leaving early would be plausible enough not to warrant further digging by an overzealous reporter? Something Andrei had said to her at the Russian café came to her. ‘I want to get acclimatised’. She could make a statement to the press using the same reasoning.
Once she was in Beijing, she could have plenty of time to detect anything suspicious before the threatened bomb on Sunday. She had to stop this lunatic before they really did hurt someone. She had so many people to lose.
A friend. A coach. A former lover …
Her gut tightened. I will do whatever it takes to stop this.
* * *
The stern voice on the other end of the line told Andrei, ‘We’re being set up.’
‘Exactly what I thought.’
He’d just been filled in on the details that had been left out of the news report he’d seen a short time ago. The Chinese police had found fragments of the bomb. The serial numbers had been traced back to a Russian manufacturer.
‘There’s more.’ Something in the caller’s voice told Andrei he wasn’t going to like what came next. ‘The serial number matched one of the stolen parts.’
‘Oh, wow.’ That was huge. It meant … ‘The stolen weapons are connected to the terrorist.’
‘Yes.’
‘Which means if we find the terrorist, we find the smuggler.’
They also had a motive for the suspect stealing the weapons in the first place.
‘Exactly.’
Suddenly, another piece of the puzzle that had been bothering him clicked into place. If the terrorist—a competitor—was also the smuggler, they were dealing with an amateur. Why they’d used Darwin as a port.
‘Have you managed to find out anything more about the smuggler?’
‘We’re working on it. In the meantime, you need to send us your shortlist of suspects and get to China.’
‘When should I be ready to leave?’
‘Tomorrow.’
Which meant he had a long night ahead of him packing and finalising the suspect list.
* * *
It wasn’t the first time she’d held a press conference, but for some reason it seemed like it was. Nina stared ahead at the awaiting media.
In her ear, she heard Lizzie whisper, ‘Do you want me to take over?’
She turned her head to face her sister then shook her head. ‘I’ll be all right.’
She just needed a minute to compose herself. Come on, Nina. This is just like every other time.
Drawing in a deep, calming breath, she said, ‘As you know, I’ve called this press conference today to address rumours regarding my involvement in the upcoming Winter Olympic Games. My sisters and I will in fact be leaving for Beijing tomorrow. I have discovered that I am in need of early acclimatisation and—’
Before she could finish, she was interrupted by a woman in the front row shouting, ‘Is there any truth to the rumours that you entered to rekindle your romance with Andrei Strasinski?’
She wrinkled her mouth at the blatant invasion of her privacy. Why did people think it was appropriate to ask these kinds of questions simply because they were in the public eye? Hell, they’d been asked these kinds of questions, and explicit sexual ones as well, simply because they were triplets. How would the woman like to be asked the same question in front of millions of viewers?
Instead of saying that, she settled on a more diplomatic answer. ‘I will not be answering questions related to my private life, thank you.’
Another reporter, a male this time, asked, ‘What are your chances of winning gold, Nina?’
That one made her smile, ‘I’m quietly confident.’
Another male called out, ‘What are Andrei’s chances?’
She released an exasperated breath at the not so subtle innuendo behind the question.
Before she could blurt out what she really thought, she was rescued by Lizzie approaching the dais and saying, ‘No more questions. Thank you.’
Then her middle sister grabbed her by the arm and dragged her away from the throng.
Chapter 26
Nina gripped the armrest to bolster her sense of security. Whilst most people preferred a window seat, she’d always liked the aisle. Easy escape and more room to move. The other seats made her feel too claustrophobic. The fact she was on a large metal, flying deathtrap was already anxiety-inducing enough.
She drew in a breath and clamped her eyes shut as the plane took off.
Once in the air, she exhaled, and slowly opened her eyes.
The older woman in the middle seat beside her whispered, ‘Are you all right, dear?’
Nina nodded and forced a brave smile onto her mouth.
But she wasn’t okay.
How did this not get easier with time? Her heart began to race. She tried to breathe through it, but it didn’t work. If she didn’t do something fast, she knew a panic attack was imminent. She picked up her bag from the floor and rifled through until she found what she needed. Diazepam. The anxiety medication was legal to use during the Olympics.
Thank God!
She popped half into her mouth and used the bottled water she had with her to swallow the pill. The woman threw her a compassionate look, but made no comment. She returned everything to their former places and felt her fear start to calm.
As she leaned back to relax further, a familiar male voice from the aisle said, ‘Thought you could use this.’
Her heart rate spiked again when she realised who it was. She faced him and blurted, ‘Andrei? Why are you on this flight?’
He wasn’t supposed to be leaving for another couple of days.
‘I couldn’t get tickets for the day I wanted to go. For some reason, there are a lot of people heading to China right now.’
He grinned at his own joke, but she was still too stunned and panicked to do the same.
His expression turned serious as he said, ‘Here. Have this.’
She looked down at the shot glass he had in his hand. It was filled with a clear, odourless liquid.
She peered up and took a guess, ‘Vodka?’
He smiled, ‘Of course. I thought it might help you relax. I remember how nervous you get on flights.’
She lifted an eyebrow. How had he remembered that?
She knew he saw the surprise in her expression, but rather than remark on it, he stretched the drink out to her.
She was about to accept, then paused when she recalled something.
She shook her head, ‘Crap. I’ve just had half a Valium. It’s not good to mix it with alcohol.’
‘Oh.’ He glanced down and pulled the drink away.
The thoughtfulness of the gesture made her chest ache. She quickly added, ‘But thank you. It was very thoughtful.’
He smiled. ‘You’re welcome.’
After a beat of silence, she couldn’t help herself when she said, ‘I thought you weren’t going to be leaving for a few more days?’
He shrugged, ‘My job needed me to be there earlier.’
It seemed like her chest froze with those words. Does he mean the bomb? It had come from Russia. Was he involved?
She spluttered something that she thought was, ‘I see.’
A look passed over his face, as if there was more he wanted to say, but instead of saying it, he pressed his lips together and turned his face away. ‘Well, I hope you have a relaxing flight.’
She nodded, ‘Thanks, Andrei. You too.’
He turned his face a fraction and smiled. Then he walked away. As he did, she saw him throw back the vodka shot intended for her. That made her chuckle. At least his effort hadn’t gone to waste.
She was distracted from her musings, by the woman beside her saying, ‘My, he’s a good-looking lad, isn’t he?’
Nina turned to face the woman, ‘Sorry?’
‘The man you were just talking to. He’s handsome.’
Nina shrugged, noncommittal.
The woman gave a knowing nod and said, ‘Ah, he’s your ex.’
Nina puffed out a laugh, ‘He is.’
‘I take it the situation is complicated?’
Nina laughed harder. ‘Complicated doesn’t explain half of it.’
‘It usually doesn’t for the best ones.’
Nina lifted an eyebrow. ‘What do you mean?’
With a serious expression, the woman replied, ‘Snow White and Prince Charming, Aurora and Prince Philip, Belle and the Beast. None of them had it easy, did they?’
‘But they’re all fictional characters.’
The woman smiled, the way a patient mother did when explaining a simple concept to a child. Somehow, it came across as more compassionate than condescending as she replied, ‘Or are they examples of what is needed to achieve true love?’
Where was Lizzie when you needed her?
Intrigued, Nina said, ‘In what way?’
‘Well, each partner had to go through trials before they could be with the other, right?’
‘For example …’
‘For example: Snow White had to venture through the dark forest alone and Prince Charming had to launch a nationwide search for her. Aurora was forced to live in exile and Prince Philip had to slay a dragon to get to her. Belle had to find courage and the Beast had to learn to open his heart.’
‘Okay …’
The woman grinned, ‘It was the trials each of them went through as individuals—the complications—that made them stronger together, and made them able to appreciate the strength in the other. Do you see?’
Nina laughed, ‘My sister, Lizzie, would definitely see it your way.’
‘And what about you?’
Nina thought for a moment. ‘I’m not sure. Can I get back to you?’
The woman chuckled, ‘You can … are you feeling better now, dear?’
Nina paused to scan her body. Her pulse was calm, thoughts of dying in a fiery plane crash had dulled, and her muscles felt relaxed. She nodded, ‘I am.’
‘Good. Now, I’ll leave you to have a rest.’
‘Thank you … and thank you for the conversation.’
‘Any time, dear.’
Nina settled back into her seat and closed her eyes. Seconds passed before thoughts of Andrei drifted through her brain. He’d remembered she got nervous on flights and had done something kind to help her. Just like he had when they’d been together. What about the times he’d brought up the topic of his job unsolicited and shared information about his past. Such as his life as a street kid. She frowned. This couldn’t be an act.
The truth burned in her heart, telling her that not only did he genuinely care for her, he also wasn’t a spy.
Confusion flowed through her.
If he wasn’t a spy, why had he behaved the way he had in Russia? Had something happened? Had his criminal past come back to haunt him? Had he been threatened? … Had she? She gasped at the conclusion. Her eyes flung open as she whipped her face around in the direction Andrei had left. Had he been protecting her all this time?
* * *
Andrei exhaled as he reclaimed his seat. What had he been thinking offering Nina the vodka? She’d just looked so scared. When he’d remembered she had a fear of flying, his protective instinct had taken over. He hadn’t been able to stop himself.
He’d seen her press conference the day before and had known she would probably be on the same flight as him. Her sisters had gone with her to say goodbye at the airport. He knew, because he’d seen them. His heart had tugged with both envy and happiness for her.
It must be nice having someone to care that you’re leaving.
He’d remained hidden and out of her way, mainly so he could come up with a plausible excuse for him to be on an earlier flight than the one he’d told her he’d be on, but he hadn’t been able to stay that way when he’d seen her panic attack.
He peered out from his seat and could see her arm from her position ahead of him. She seemed a lot more relaxed than she had been. Hopefully she was having a sleep.
As for himself, he’d never been able to nap on a plane until he was like the walking dead. Movies tended to get him to that point. He focused on the screen set into the seat in front of him. Only another eight hours until they arrived in Hong Kong, their stopover for the flight to Beijing. He could keep himself occupied for that long.
Tapping the screen, he flicked through the offered movies until he found one he liked, popped on the included headphones, and sat back to relax. Time seemed to speed up and the end of the movie neared. He was grateful because his eyelids had begun to droop with fatigue.
Just then, he felt someone stop beside him. Assuming it was a stewardess, he glanced up. But saw Nina standing there. He slipped off the headphones and smiled, ‘Hi. You look a lot calmer.’
‘I feel calmer.’
‘I’m glad.’
‘I wanted to say thank you, for before.’
He shrugged, ‘I’m just happy you’re okay.’
She tilted her head to one side, clearly assessing his words, before glancing at his screen. Her mouth curled up at the edges as she said, ‘Princess Bride. Your favourite.’
He smiled. ‘Yes.’
How did she still remember that?
She faced him again and said, ‘I’ll leave you to it. You don’t want to miss the ending. I hear it’s good.’
She grinned then turned and walked back to her seat.
Chapter 27
The stars were twinkling in Beijing’s evening sky by the time Nina settled into her seat on the shuttle bus that was to take her to the Olympic Village. As others began to hop in the vehicle, her mind rewound to the encounter with Andrei on the first flight.
I’m just happy you’re okay. She’d been surprised when, for the first time ever, she’d discerned that he was being completely honest with her. It had been an oddly satisfying and soothing experience.
&nbs
p; She turned her focus back to the people getting on the bus. She didn’t recognise any of them. Until a woman with a distinct pink pixie-cut hairstyle stepped inside.
Isn’t that Liu Yang?
As soon as the woman locked her eyes onto Nina, she beamed, ‘Neens! Long time, no see. I saw on the news that you were going to be competing again. So good to see you.’
‘You too.’
Liu grinned then took a seat in front of Nina. ‘I’m so glad you changed your mind about competing.’
‘Thanks. Me too.’
Curious, and wanting to see if she could cull Liu from her suspect list, Nina asked, ‘Why did you get here so early?’
She groaned, ‘Ugh, same as you. Stupid acclimatisation. I get so jet-lagged if I don’t get to a place super early.’
Two other people stepped inside, cutting off their conversation. Nina didn’t know the first person, a man, but the second she recognised to be Maggie Chu.
She called out, ‘Hi, Mags.’
‘Neens!’ Maggie turned to the man and said something in Chinese. He took a seat near the front of the shuttle bus, away from them. Nina caught the name Wang We—one of the suspects—before Maggie faced them again and took a seat beside Liu.
She nodded her head toward the man, and explained, ‘Wang is my boyfriend, but he gets a bit shy around strangers. His English isn’t great.’
Nina waved a hand. ‘That’s fine.’
Another familiar face alighted. Amber Cransen. Why was she here early? There’d been no word about that from Marcel or the AFP.
Amber flashed them a nervous smile before greeting them all and taking the seat opposite the one Maggie and Liu were on. Why was Amber nervous? Nina made a mental note to get closer to Amber once they’d settled in. Even though she wasn’t Chinese, she had been on their original suspect list, and she’d been acting suspiciously since the announcement of her inclusion in the mixed relay team.
A few more men climbed aboard. She recognised two of them: Zhang Tao Wu and Ju Chan. Another two Chinese men that were on their suspect list. As those around her continued to chat amongst themselves, Nina surveyed the interior. Most of their suspects were here with them. Maggie Chu, Amber Cransen, Liu Yang, Wang Wei, Zhang Tao Wu, and Ju Chan. The only two missing were Chenguang Mu. And Li Jie Jin.