Their Bond Through Jade

by Iris Blobel

  “Sorry,” he whispered.

  Her eyes flew open.

  “I needed to know what these lips feel like,” he said, as he traced her bottom lip with his thumb.

  She gave him a shy smile. “Did they pass the test?”

  “And more. But before I lose complete control over my body, how about we get back to your plan?”

  Tilting her head towards his face, she kissed him again, and he slid his hand around her waist, drawing her in close again. Her hands drifted up his chest, melting his insides as he held back a groan at the feel of her fingertips skimming over his body. Relishing the feel of his hands at her waist now, he used his thumbs to gently caress her skin beneath her belly button. The feel and the taste of her woke all his senses, and he was surprised by the craving in his body.

  When she broke the kiss, a smile tugged at her lips. “I needed to be certain as well.”

  He laughed as he gently pulled her into an embrace. “Glad we got this sorted.”

  He pulled her in even closer in a hug, placing a light kiss on her forehead. “And we’ll get everything else sorted as well. Ka mate te kāinga tahi, ka ora te kāinga rua 4.”

  Six

  Within the next twenty-four hours, Tiffany was sitting in front of Sergeant Harris and Senior Constable Jones at the police station for the second time. She glanced warily around the interview room, nauseous with apprehension. It was furnished simply and coldly, with white walls and nothing but a table and a few chairs. Unlike in most of the movies, this room had a small window front. Déjà vu, she thought. Yet, this time it was Mat sitting next to her instead of Steve.

  Harris introduced Mat to Jones before he asked, “What brings you to Melbourne?”

  “Business.”

  “What kind of business? Personal curiosity.”

  “I’m hoping to expand my company with the help of a travel company from Melbourne.”

  Harris didn’t break eye contact with Mat and seemed genuinely interested. “What’s the nature of your company?”

  “I own a helicopter tour company in Fox Glacier.”

  Tiffany noticed Senior Constable Jones was hanging onto Mat’s every word. Not only that, she’d studied him intently as well. It didn’t surprise her, because, after all, he looked sexy as hell, and she still had to pinch herself that he was sitting right next to her, instead of enjoying his time in Melbourne. More so, she had to pinch herself that he’d kissed her. And what a kiss it’d been. She watched him as he politely satisfied Harris’ curiosity. Everything inside her was on full alert as she looked at him in the loose-fitting black cargo pants and his black T-shirt, which, again, only revealed part of his tattoo.

  “Miss Cahill?”

  Sergeant Harris’ voice hauled her back from her thoughts, and she hoped he didn’t notice the flushed cheeks that had resulted from her images of Mat.

  “Sorry.”

  The twitching lines of his mouth told her he was trying hard to hold back a smile.

  “This is a written statement of what you told me yesterday. Could you please read through it and sign to acknowledge the accuracy of the events?”

  Tiffany took a deep breath, preparing herself to revisit the terrifying moments of the previous night again. She read the first few lines, but had to start over, her mind not wanting to take in the words. Forcing her not to go back to the five minutes again that had scared her so much.

  Her will was stronger, though, and a few minutes later, she asked for a pen to place her signature at the bottom.

  Harris took the piece of paper and moved it to Jones who placed it into a file.

  “We’ll give you a copy before you leave today.”

  Tiffany nodded, and when she was about to stand, Mat said, “Sir, I’m not sure whether it’s of any relevance, but Tiffany’s brother came this morning after he’d been called by a neighbour…”

  Harris first looked at Jones, who took a piece of paper and a pen before starting to take notes.

  Tiffany stared at Mat, surprised at his statement, but nonetheless grateful. “After last year’s episode with the police taking me to the station, my brother asked my neighbour if he could leave his number with them. We’ve become good neighbourly friends since,” she explained.

  “The son had heard someone screaming and saw a guy parking at the front door for about an hour. When he’d told his mother, she, in turn, rang Liam. Perhaps he, as in the son, might be able to help. The guy in the car for an hour could’ve been you or the other guy.”

  Harris nodded thoughtfully. “I appreciate that. Do you have a name?”

  “Mary Crawley. Her son’s name is Leo.”

  “How old is Leo?” Jones asked.

  Tiffany shrugged. “Late teens I’d say, but I’m honestly not sure.”

  Jones made more notes, and Harris asked, “Anything else?”

  Tiffany wracked her brain, but nothing came to mind. She closed her eyes, forcing herself back into the situation, trying hard to return to the moment. “He had dark olive skin, at least that’s what his hand looked like. Terrible body odour, which wasn’t the smell of sweat, but a bit like urine. I remember I was embarrassed thinking I peed myself, which I hadn’t.”

  When she felt Mat’s hand on her back, moving up and down, she opened her eyes and looked straight into Harris’ gaze.

  “That could be very useful,” he said.

  She wasn’t sure, whether it was simply a platitude or if he meant it. Either way, she was glad she was able to contribute something as well.

  Jones stood and left the room. Harris said, “She’ll get you a copy of that statement.”

  Tiffany nodded.

  “Thomas Terrill lived under the name Hudson Ford and imported drugs from South America under a third name. Insiders have told us he wanted out. We gather, but we’re not sure, that the list you were asked for is a list of dealers he worked with.”

  “In the movies they get such a list first before they kill,” Tiffany stated, with some surprise to the latest development.

  His subtle chuckle sounded genuine. “I agree. But this is not a movie. Do you know anything about this list?”

  “No. As I told you, the last time I saw him was over twelve months ago when he hit me straight into hospital. I thought he was a user, nothing more.”

  “We spent about two hours this morning turning Tiffany’s house up-side-down to find the list, but came up with nothing,” Mat explained. “It’s hard because we weren’t sure what to look for.”

  Harris nodded. “Any trace of a break in?”

  She shook her head.

  “We’ve spread the word there’s a list from Thomas in the hands of the police.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Excuse me? You’ve spread the word?”

  A little smile appeared on his face. “Some bits from the movies aren’t as far-fetched as they seem. We’re hoping to divert the interest from you. But we still need you to be at a safe place.”

  The police comparing her current situation with a movie didn’t sit well with Tiffany. After all, it wasn’t a movie but her life. And a dead person had put her into this movie-like situation. She burst into a round of curses and dire threats of what she would’ve done to him if he hadn’t been dead and ignored everyone’s stare at the same time.

  She thought about the list. A list with drug dealers. A list with names. Or addresses. A list…But she came up with a blank. Nothing had been in the mail. No email. No messages. She wasn’t able to remember a list.

  “Miss Cahill?”

  “I’ve packed some stuff and will stay with my parents for a few days.” For good measure, she added, “Or as long as it takes.”

  “Here in Melbourne?”

  “Yes. I’ve thought about it long and hard. They, whoever they are, shouldn’t know their address, because Hudson never knew.”

  Jones came back in and handed her a piece of paper. The copy of the statement. She thanked her.

&nb
sp; “Will you stay with her?” Harris asked, as he looked at Mat.

  He shook his head. “I’m heading back to NZ on Monday. I’m not able to extend my stay as much as I would like to.”

  Harris responded with a nod.

  The next ten minutes, they discussed the police’s plans to approach the case, as well as noting down more of Tiffany’s information, like her parents’ address.

  Once she was out of the building half an hour later, she took Mat’s hand and said, “Will you join me for some fish and chips in St. Kilda?”

  “I’d love to,” he replied with a big grin.

  Once they were in the car, she directed him through Melbourne to the other side of the city.

  “I like your voice much better than the GPS lady,” he said as he pointed to his navigation system.

  She let out a soft snort. “Thank you for the compliment. Can’t say that anybody’s said that to me before.”

  His laugh went right through her and pooled in her groin. The extent of comfort and attraction surprised her, considering she’d known him for a bit over a day. After Hudson had beaten her unconscious, and she’d ended up in hospital, she’d withdrawn from life for a few months, deferring some of her classes, but going to the pub where she’d worked behind the bar. Guarded and cautious around others, she hated feeling vulnerable. She had begun to build a defensive wall around her heart.

  But her wall wasn’t tall enough when it came to Mat. He’d pulled down her defences with ease in such a short time.

  She turned towards him and placed her hand on his arm. The simple touch brought every nerve in her body alive, the bombardment of sensations for a brief moment causing her head to spin. With an effort, she said just above a whisper, “Thank you.”

  He cocked a brow. “It’s not really that much of a compliment comparing you to a GPS voice, but—”

  “I meant for everything else. For being here. For calling yesterday and making sure I was okay. For caring.”

  Mat glanced at her before he took her hand in his. “You’re very welcome.”

  “I’m relieved Hudson is dead,” she said with an exhale. “I know it’s not a nice thing to say…nice is not the correct word…it’s inappropriate, but when I had the police at my doorstep last year it was because he’d told them I’d given him the drugs. They’d arrested him on drug charges. The bastard blamed it all on me. I suppose in a way it was good I’d ended up in hospital, at least we had the medical records to prove he’d beaten me up.”

  “How did they prove it was him?”

  “At least he had the decency to drop me off at the hospital. They have cameras at the emergency entrance.”

  “Good thinking,” he commented with a nod.

  They drove in silence for a while, Tiffany engulfed in trying to forget about that terrible day. Did she have the right to be relieved that someone else was dead? Shaking the thought out of her mind, she focussed back on the road.

  “Turn right over there and find a park. Let’s introduce you to the best fish and chips in Australia.”

  Mat chuckled. “Can’t wait.”

  But before she was able to open the door, he gently pulled her back towards him. He studied her eyes for a moment before he reached across, laced his fingers through her hair, and cupped the back of her neck softly to pull her closer. Everything inside her stilled when he traced the curve of her lips with his tongue, sending a shiver down her spine. The touch of his lips against hers was so soft, so light and, yet, it had all her nerves on alert. He moved his other hand up her arm and cupped her face, before he kissed her lightly, albeit with a hint of fire that left her breathless.

  When he broke away, he dropped his forehead to hers and whispered, “I’m sorry you have to go through all this.”

  Tiffany licked her lips to savour his taste when she tilted her head. “Some things are meant to be, Grandma always said.”

  A corner of his mouth curved. “She sounds like an intelligent woman.”

  She nodded with a smile, remembering her grandma with fondness. “Yes, she was,” she agreed. “A wealth of wisdom.”

  ****

  They got out of the car and strolled along the beach to the food outlets. Mat looked around, enjoying the sound of the waves along the foreshore and the warm breeze carrying the scent of the salt water. He shook his head in amusement at the noisy seagulls, eager to snatch a chip or two from the small children.

  Tiffany hauled him back from his thoughts. “So, how do you know my brother, Liam?”

  “Spent some nasty days with him and Steve at Dad’s beach house east of Auckland.”

  She turned to look at him. “Nasty?”

  “Boys’ stuff,” he replied with a crooked grin.

  “Not sure I want to know more.”

  “Let’s just say we weren’t angels, and Dad was always pissed off by the mess we left.”

  “Not anymore, though?” Tiffany asked with a soft chuckle.

  A soft sigh escaped him as he remembered those days when the three of them were stuck in the beach house for a week with no idea how to cook. So, it was fast food and lots of beer, and equally lots of girls — the older Steve and Liam became, the less alcohol and girls were involved. It’d still been some fun days.

  “Steve has been over occasionally, but the business has kept me busy, so it was always a quick trip to Queenstown.”

  “So you’re a party boy?”

  “Nah. Not sure when it happened, but I’ve grown up. Probably when I started my business.” He lifted his shoulder in a shrug. “Fair enough, Dad helped me with some money to start it, but I’ve paid it back and have been solid since.”

  They bought their lunch at a small fish and chip shop and returned to the beach where they sat at a small picnic table along the foreshore. Tiffany had been right, the fish and the chips were indeed delicious.

  “What about you? Are you a party girl?” he asked, as he opened the bottle of cola.

  She contemplated the question. “Used to be. Got myself into trouble from week to week and blamed Mum and Dad for my misfortunes.”

  “How come?”

  “Liam has always been the charmer with the intelligence. Everything came easy to him. Dad was the one who always blamed me for making the wrong decisions. Thinking back, I don’t think they were wrong, but when he’d say go left, I went right, without giving it any second thought.”

  He looked up to meet her gaze, but found her staring into the distance. It didn’t sound like the easiest upbringing, but he’d learnt early in his life his childhood hadn’t been the norm. He wouldn’t claim it to have been perfect. Yes, they’d had money, but there was the constant group of reporters, or the fake friendships because his father was famous, the girls who thought he was rich and were absolutely disappointed when he wasn’t able to afford to take them out to the movies — he’d preferred to spend his pocket money on magazines or CDs.

  “I suppose you figured to think about it before you turn left or right, at last?”

  A smile lingered on her face as their gazes met. “Yes,” she replied with an exhale. “It feels good. It’s tough, but when I can’t keep my eyes open on a Friday night because I’m dead tired on my feet, I remind myself I have a lovely house I live in, some savings in the bank, and soon I’ll have finished my studies and be able to start my own business.” She paused. “That’s the plan anyway.”

  Mat took a chip and dipped it into the tomato sauce. “I like a woman with a plan.”

  She looked back into the distance again, the smile on her face gone, replaced by something like wistfulness.

  Reaching out, he took her hand in his. “A penny for your thoughts.”

  “Nothing,” she said, with a shake of her head, yet too quickly.

  “C’mon. You’ve been so good opening up to me.”

  Studying her face, he thought he saw a little blush on her cheeks.

  “Life’s all about timing and fate, isn’t it? M
ine sucks.”

  He frowned. “How come?”

  “I meet you while I have the police breathing up my neck, but you’re also from a different country.”

  “Queenstown is closer than Cairns, you realise that, don’t you?”

  “Is it?” she asked, with her brows raised.

  He nodded with a grin.

  Her expression changed to sadness. “Shows my lack of education, I suppose.”

  “No, not at all. Shows that geography is not your strength. We all have things we’re good at, but no one is good at everything.” He gulped down the last of his drink, then said, “How about we get you to your parents so you can get ready for the barbeque tonight.”

  She checked the time. “Yes, good idea.”

  They disposed of the rubbish, and with his hand on her lower back, he walked her to the car. He would’ve loved to stay much longer, talk to her a little more to find out who she was, what she liked, but at the same time, he knew she would need some time this afternoon to settle in her parents’ house.

  And to explain the happenings of the last twenty-four hours, including someone threatening her life. Not to mention that the reason for the temporary move was the danger she could be in.

  ****

  When Tiffany woke the next morning, it took her a moment again to remember she was back at her parents’ house, in her old bedroom. The walls were still painted in dark pink, although the colour had faded, and the door to her walk-in-robe was still replaced by a beaded door curtain with lots of small butterflies. Over in the other corner of the room was the old child desk with a few of her books she’d loved reading.

  For the first time in all those years, she was actually able to smile and feel comfortable with the memories. It hadn’t been a bad childhood. She knew her parents loved her and had given her all the opportunities they’d been able to, yet her father’s and her own characters had not been compatible. They’d clashed often. But now that she was thinking about it, she always had one friend or another, or a boyfriend, she’d shared good times with. Coming home wasn’t high on the list on her favourite memories, but there’d been the occasional moments when all four of them had enjoyed a laugh while watching a movie, a laugh while listening to each other’s stories, or a little cry about another relationship gone wrong. Holidays hadn’t been that bad, either. Why did it always take her so long to see the good things in life?