The Finest Line

by Catherine Taylor

  Something in his tone told her to run but before she could move he had flipped her over across his lap. She struggled to get away but was quickly secured. The shirt was pulled away to expose her.

  “I agreed,” she pleaded. “I’m going home. I’m not going to complain.”

  James rubbed and pinched her cheeks. “What part of ‘don’t leave the house under any circumstance’ did you fail to understand?”

  Mairead sighed, “Probably the part where I thought I had gotten away with it.”

  Raising his knee, her backside was lifted into the firing range. James patted her, “Well then allow me to teach you not to think so foolishly again.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  The limousine pulled up in an isolated area of the airport and was met by an airport security officer. Sean was the first to get out and shook hands with him.

  “We’re taking you through a sealed off area straight to the VIP lounge.” The officer told him. “As far as we are aware there have been no alerts to the media and you should be able to board your flight without hassle.”

  Sean nodded gratefully. “Thank you Steve. It’s been a tough day without those bastards on my back.”

  Mairead was next to get out with James behind her. He also greeted Steve with a handshake that implied they were well known to each other.

  The officer grinned at him, “Good picture in the paper James. Not like you to get yourself into trouble.”

  James smiled. “Why do you think I’ve tried to stay single all these years?”

  Steve laughed and nodded. “Best of luck to you man.”

  Turning back to Mairead, James laughed quietly as he watched her rubbing her backside.

  She caught his amusement and glared at him as he took her a short distance from the others.

  “That was a bloody long drive. Couldn’t Vanessa have bought something closer to the city?”

  James laughed louder and picked her up, holding her tightly against him. “It will give you something to help you think about me.”

  “Yeah it will,” Mairead frowned, “While I have to sit for another bloody hour on the plane, wearing these ridiculous clothes you bought me. I’ll be thinking of you alright.”

  She looked down at the flowery t-shirt and track pants. “You’re really telling me you couldn’t have done better?”

  “Not without driving for half an hour each way,” James replied. “Pukerua Bay is known for its beaches, not its shopping experience. An op shop was all they had.”

  She pointed down to a pair of black leather tie up shoes. “I’m wearing school shoes James.”

  He grinned. “I contemplated buying the uniform to go with them.”

  She continued to glare at him. “I can’t believe you would even think I would put on second hand underwear.”

  He laughed. “Well now you have nothing on underneath which is really sexy but if you don’t stop complaining and kiss me, I’ll pull your track pants down and let everyone see your bright red bum.”

  She quickly planted her lips on his and allowed it to evolve into a passionate kiss. It was their first display of public affection and Mairead was pleased that it didn’t bother James any more than it bothered her. Only when he looked at Sean did he grin as he brought her back.

  “Look after her for me.”

  Sean nodded and smiled. “It’s definitely my turn. Good luck James.”

  Tears were already running down her face as Mairead looked up at him. James held her against him once more as he turned to Steve.

  “Stay with them until they board the plane and then wait until it takes off.”

  “I will take good care of them,” Steve assured him.

  Mairead pulled away enough to look up at James sadly. “Come back to me.”

  His smile showed all the love he had for her. “Try stopping me.”

  Mairead was crying before he got back into the car and buried her face into her father so she didn’t have to watch him be driven away.

  “He’s going to be fine Mairead,” Sean assured her. “The lawyers have your statement. He will have to go through the processes but he will be released and back with us in no time.”

  “I love him Daddy,” Mairead gripped her father’s hand.

  “I know you do, and I’ve probably known longer than you.” He turned to Steve. “Lead on Steve. I need coffee.”

  There were only several patrons in The VIP lounge and each too involved in their papers and phones to give them a second look. Sean collapsed down on a leather couch and breathed a big sigh.

  “Give me your card Daddy, and I’ll get us coffee,” Mairead held her hand out.

  Steve interceded. “You sit down Miss Kavanagh. I can get those for you if you would like to tell me what you want...”

  “It’s Mairead,” She replied firmly. “You stay here and talk to Dad. I want to see what food they have.”

  She had no desire to sit any more than she had to. It had been a long drive, but apart from the discomfit it had brought, it had allowed her time to think about her options. Going back to North Shore was not one of them. She had no concrete plan except that she needed money.

  Once she had made their order, she slipped the card into her pocket. While she waited, a young woman came to stand next to her. She didn’t look at Mairead as she spoke.

  “Mark wants you to ring him,” She pushed a cell phone in front of her.

  Mairead looked at her in disbelief. “Who are you?”

  “He wants to let you know that Kylie is safe and well, but he can’t guarantee that she will stay that way.”

  Her blood ran cold and she took the phone, hurrying away to the rest rooms. As soon as she was inside she rang the only number in the phone.

  Mark answered immediately. “Hello sweetheart.”

  “What have you done with Kylie?” Mairead was trembling.

  “Not a thing,” he assured her. “I’m sitting outside her place now, looking at her car. White Honda, registration number NTS977.”

  “How the hell did you find me?”

  “I didn’t but I figured the airport was a good place to watch. Sarah was quite content to sit there all day at my expense and knows she will be amply compensated.”

  Mairead hesitated before asking, “What do you want?”

  Mark laughed. “I wanted to fuck you but I missed out again. I suppose your chauffeur has had his cock in you for the last two nights. I’m in the wrong line of work.”

  Her anger was rising. “Just tell me what you fucking want.”

  “I take it you’re not buying that whole story of how Josh fell off the balcony.”

  “You fucking selfish arsehole” Mairead hissed into the phone. “You let me believe that I had killed Josh when all along it was that fucking cunt of an old man of yours.”

  There was a moment silence before he spoke again. “What the fuck are you talking about Mairead?”

  “Your father killed Josh. He threw him off the balcony. It was all captured on Josh’s cell phone which I have.”

  She knew that she may be caught out in her lie but it was worth testing it. Mark’s long pause and sombre reply assured her that he believed her. It was now her turn to fuck him over with a story.

  “Bit of a stalemate here Mairead. We really need to get together and talk.”

  “Yeah we do,” she agreed. “But I dictate where and when. First thing I have to do is get out of this airport and then I will ring you.”

  She hung up on him and felt a sense of power momentarily until the reality of the situation set in. What the hell was she doing? What did she even hope to accomplish by meeting up with Mark. Hopefully she was getting Kylie out of danger and with that thought came a sense of justification for her actions.

  Something else entered her thoughts, something James had said. Mark was in love with her and that alone gave her some power. She knew he hated his father nearly as much as she did. Could it be possible to somehow persuade him to help her? Did he hate him enough to see him
go to prison or at least stop the West Auckland development.

  She remembered what Mark had said, that he had the means to stop his father from ever hurting again. What had he meant by that?

  The only way she was going to find out was to see him and hopefully she could do it as safely as possible and at the same time make Kylie aware that she was in danger. Now all she had to do was evade airport security and get out. She tucked the cell phone into her pocket.

  Returning to the lounge, she found their order had been delivered to the table and Sarah was gone. She sat down next to her father.

  Sean gave her a worried stare, “Are you alright, baby?”

  She nodded. “Bit of an upset tummy.” She looked up at Steve. “You wouldn’t have any paracetamol for a headache would you?”

  He nodded. “I’ll get you some.”

  She watched him go behind the bar and out the back before she turned to Sean.

  “I love you Daddy and I would never hurt you, without the best intentions.”

  He looked puzzled as she hugged him and planted a kiss on his cheek and then she ran. Outside the lounge, she took a moment to get her bearings and continued to run until she saw the exit with a row of taxis waiting outside.

  Her pace only ceased as she climbed into the front seat of the first taxi in line.

  She looked at the young Indian driver, “Take me to the city as fast as you can get there.”

  The driver beamed with excitement. “You’re Mairead Kavanagh! I’ve seen your video on You Tube.”

  “There are reporters after me.” It sounded reasonable. “Can you help me?”

  He nodded, starting the car immediately and pulling away. “I’ll do a few weaves in and out of traffic and go down a few side streets. If anyone is following I will know. You can rely on me.”

  For the next twenty minutes Mairead was amused by the dedication of her driver who introduced himself as Chandi. He took his role seriously and manoeuvred the taxi in fast lane changes and spinning off around corners into narrow streets before getting back on the main road. Eventually he slowed down.

  “No one is following,” he announced. “I am absolutely positive. Now Miss Kavanagh, where would you like to go?”

  Mairead smiled. “I have no idea. I need a place to meet someone where I’m not going to be noticed. It has to be somewhere public and safe, where you can’t park a car.”

  She had visions of being snatched away before she even saw Mark.

  Chandi gave it some thought “How about the Queen’s Wharf cafe? It is set back into an area for pedestrians only and it has a downstairs bar that is often quite dark even in the day.”

  It sounded perfect. She nodded, “Queens Wharf cafe it is then.”

  Chandi smiled proudly and his excitement grew.

  “Are you going to do something special like you did that day on that building?”

  Mairead grinned and shook her head. “Nothing special, just meeting someone without reporters bothering me.”

  “If you want me to film something, I am more than happy.”

  “No thank you Chandi,” Mairead laughed. “I have more than enough footage on You Tube.”

  “I will have you there very quickly for whatever covert operation you have. This is very exciting.”

  She wished she could share his enthusiasm. Instead her stomach was becoming a knot of nerves. While she still could, she took out the phone and rang Mark.

  “Mairead, my sweet,” Mark sounded as slimy as ever. “What can I do for you?”

  “Queen’s Wharf cafe, half an hour, be there alone and if I even think you have anyone else planted in there, I will run.”

  “Wouldn’t dream of it babe.”

  She hung up, still not believing that she could go through with this. She noticed Chandi giving her concerned looks and then he pulled over. Reaching to the back seat, he picked up a folded newspaper. Mairead sighed as he skimmed the headlines.

  “I know this is none of my business.” Chandi had lost his excitement. “Tell me I am not taking you somewhere where you are in trouble.”

  “I’m hoping that this is somewhere where I am going to get out of trouble.” She smiled hoping to reassure him. “Please, Chandi, don’t do something like ring the police or such. That’s why I need somewhere safe and if you want to you can wait for me to return. I should be no longer than twenty minutes.”

  He nodded determinedly. “I will wait and if you are not out of there, I will come looking for you.”

  He was looking very staunch as he drove to her destination and Mairead was deeply touched and a little sorry for his concern. He was yet another one of those who had to suffer her antics. When James finally got to catch up with her, if he caught up with her, she would be only too happy to submit to whatever chastisement he decided.

  The taxi turned into a narrow street and Chandi stopped. “You see, I can go not go any further than this. That area is for walking only.”

  “It’s great.” Mairead surveyed the wide expanse of paved promenade ahead that she had chosen for the meeting. No vehicles allowed in the area, foot traffic only. Enough restaurants, bars and public buildings surrounded the area that it did not seem isolated but lacked the chaos of the city. She was very satisfied that it was a good safe choice.

  “See you in twenty minutes,” She tried to sound cheerful.

  His wide smile encouraged her. “I will be here.”

  The cafe reminded her of the one she had dined at with James, with its tables and chairs set out under sunny blue skies. Mairead walked passed them to the stairs that led to the underground bar. Here the bright outdoor light was exchanged for the dim artificial variety.

  She spotted Mark sitting in a booth towards the back as she entered, but she walked to the counter to order a coffee and observe. Far from being crowded, there were enough patrons to feel at ease and she watched long enough to make sure there were no interactions between them and Mark. He was alone.

  Taking her order number, she walked slowly towards him. He didn’t look up until she had reached the table and then his mouth expanded in a wide grin. “Slumming it today are we baby?”

  He watched her sit down across from him, “You’re not wearing a bra. Are you trying to tease me?”

  “Shut up Mark.” Seeing him again brought all her hurt back. “You fucked my life over. I don’t understand why. I could have paid you your money back and you could have left me alone. Instead you put me through hell. What did I ever do to you to suffer that?”

  The mirth was gone, “Just business. You were a means to something my father wanted. Life sometimes throws us an opportunity and this one we couldn’t pass up.”

  His answer was painful to listen to. “You once told me that you had the means to stop your father. I think I know what that is. You’re knowledge of his dealings.”

  Mark nodded, “Enough to hang him if I wanted.”

  “Then why not use that knowledge,” Mairead implored. “You told me you hated him. Why not get rid of him?”

  Mark shrugged. “Timing I guess. It has taken me a few years to learn how to do business like him and he is very good at what he does. I have never had quite the same ruthless streak as he has, but I’m getting there.”

  She thought about what she was going to say next. “You could even stop him from getting that development in West Auckland.”

  His laugh was quite audible. “Now why the hell would I want to stop that? Mind you, it would be fun. The scandal would be immense. Your father has a whole horde of colleagues with knives poised to plunge in his back and you’ve made that so much easier.”

  “Not by choice,” Mairead said, “Stupidity maybe.”

  For a moment he looked sympathetic. “You are quite naive Mairead. You need someone to look out for you because you’re a little immature.”

  That angered her. “So everyone keeps telling me.”

  “And where is your faithful chauffeur?”

  “Trying to get off a kidnapping charge,�
�� Mairead answered angrily. “Did you really have to do that?”

  “I wanted our night.” Mark returned her anger. “You promised me I could trust you.”

  “It’s not like I left on my own accord,” Her voice was raised and tears began to fall down her face as she tried to compose herself. “That promise was made on a lie that you told me, but if I hadn’t been stolen away, I would have done what you wanted and knowing myself like I do, I would have enjoyed it.”