Martin, moving slightly away from the wall he had been lounging against, interrupted at that point, ‘Gerald Watson and company?’
‘Yes, you seem to have deduced most of it. They were a particularly inept lot, not very bright posing as a family, especially as bloody Peter was screwing Sienna. When I realised what was really going on, I told them to leave immediately. I knew James would have twigged and would be watching them very closely. I thought that with the three of them, they could divide their time between various members of the family. I even suggested that Peter try to chat up Hera.’ Lifting one shoulder in a familiar gesture, he raised his eyes. ‘Ahh, it was a stupid idea, and not very ethical. And of course, Hera couldn’t abide him. She is an excellent judge of character. Very intuitive as they all are.’
‘What about Damian?’ Gabriel seemed calm, but his eyes were narrowed to glittering slits.
Justin knew this deceptive calm, and sat up straighter, put his shoulders back, and started talking quickly. ‘No, I had nothing to do with Damian. I knew his history of course. Your father told me the story a few years ago, but I never actually met him, and I had no idea he was in Australia, let alone here.’ He drew a deep calming breath. ‘Okay, I’ll tell you everything I know and everything I suspect. But I know nothing about George and Edmondo. But yes, you’re right about Meredith. When I heard about James’s death, I thought I would finally have a chance to make amends for my stupidity all those years ago. I’ve never been able to completely forget her. I tried to talk to her at the club, but she just kept avoiding me. While James was alive, he would never let me near her or his girls either. He simply didn’t trust me. Once you stuffed up with James, there was never a second chance. He didn’t ever forgive. He didn’t allow for mistakes, and he’s brought the girls up the same way, so take care, Gabriel.’
‘Still trying to influence and manipulate, Justin. It won’t work, continue with your story.’
Justin raised his eyebrows, shrugged his shoulders, and sank into his thoughts. He finally looked up. ‘When I heard about James’s death, I did think initially that it was an accident.’ He paused thoughtfully. ‘It was only later I considered the circumstances, and realised it couldn’t have been. James would never make a mistake with the maintenance on his boat. I contacted the Patriarch and discussed it with him. I said I would arrange for someone from the family to go to the funeral and make sure everything was all right. I actually intimated that I would go.’ He had the grace to look embarrassed at that point.
‘But you didn’t, did you? You made sure no one from the family even heard about it until it was too late for anyone to attend, then you muddied the waters again making it seem that Meredith had refused to allow anyone on the property. If it hadn’t been for me and Martin asking questions about why we hadn’t been instructed to look into his death, the Patriarch wouldn’t have any idea of what you were up to.’
Justin was very pale now. Damn, he thought, they knew much more than he suspected, and they had been talking to the Patriarch about it. He was furious, but he had to stay calm.
Gabriel continued, ‘You had no idea how close Martin and I had become to James. You had no idea that I had business interests with James, and had for a number of years. You didn’t know that James stayed with me in London whenever he was there. You’re definitely slipping, Justin.’ Gabriel paused for a moment then continued quietly, ‘Now tell us about George.’
Justin was definitely rattled now. He couldn’t seem to think straight. Gabriel and Martin had been suspicious of him from the first, and the Patriarch? What did he know, and why had Gabriel taken Bede to Paris? What had that really been about? He suddenly felt much too warm. He could feel perspiration starting to form on his upper lip. He had to get out of here and think. Maybe Gabe was right. He was definitely losing the thread. What could he tell them about George that they’d believe? He had to tread very carefully here. How much did they know about Lucien? Christ, he needed time to think.
He cleared his throat. ‘I told you I don’t know anything about George, or why he was in Australia. I know even less about why he would have been murdered. You know George as well as me. He had more than his share of people who hated him.’
Martin had taken the phone from his pocket; and Justin could feel panic rising in his throat, but asked quietly, still in control, still staying calm, ‘Whom are you calling at his hour?’
‘Lucien, of course, remember the time difference, it’s early evening there, he’ll be delighted to hear from us. Particularly if the police haven’t managed to speak to him yet.’
Justin spluttered, ‘What do you think he can tell you that I can’t?’ He thought quickly he could still handle this. ‘All right, I’ll tell you what you want to know.’
Martin glanced across at Gabriel with a question in his eyes and acknowledged the quick nod. He carefully returned the phone to his pocket, and turning back to Justin, waited quietly.
Justin was unsure where to start. He needed to keep as close to the truth as possible; but looking across at his nephews, he felt a fission of fear. They knew some of the ‘games’ he had been playing over the years that was patently obvious now, so he would have to be very careful. He had taught them long ago to look beneath the surface. He had instructed them in the technique of watching for the tiny telltale signs of lies. The slight twitch of the eyebrows, the tightening of lips, and the tremor of the hands. Drawing a steadying and calming breath, he turned to Gabriel, rose from the chair, and paced across the room. He could let them know he was agitated, and then perhaps they wouldn’t look too closely, wouldn’t suspect his real motives.
‘I assume you’ve guessed that I’m here to try to convince Meredith to take another chance with me. I was a fool all those years ago, and although I did try at the time to repair matters, Meredith would never speak to me. And over the years, James made sure we didn’t meet.’ He continued to pace. ‘Neither of us is young anymore, she has never married, and of course neither have I.’ He was quiet for several moments, looking deep into the past. ‘I made a mistake all those years ago. I behaved badly to everyone, I have no excuse to offer for what I did, and to be honest, have never been able to look too closely at it. I didn’t even have the excuse of being particularly young. I was certainly much older than Meredith and James. But I was immature and arrogant.’
Gabriel was still lounging quietly against the wall, while Martin sat in the chair with an expression of calm boredom on his face. Neither of them spoke. A very effective technique he knew, and he felt their combined compulsion to continue with his recital. There were a few beads of perspiration blossoming on his forehead, and he resisted the urge to wipe them away.
‘I haven’t been completely honest with Meredith or the girls, and I certainly haven’t spoken to her about my wishes for the future.’ This was proving even more difficult than he had imagined. Looking around him at the beautiful room, warm and inviting, he suddenly knew there was no other option now. He felt the tension leave his shoulders, and drawing a very deep breath then letting it out slowly, he moved to sit down again. ‘I really had nothing to do with James’s death, but I suspect George of having some involvement. But it’s only a suspicion and I have no proof. George never did forgive James for the beating he received, and he’s always made a point of gloating over the fact that I didn’t manage to make off with Meredith either. He’s carried a grudge for years and has consistently made threats against James to both Lucien and myself, but usually when he’d had too much to drink. I never took it seriously.’ He looked across at Martin. ‘Lucien will confirm everything I’ve said.’
Gabriel pushed casually away from the wall. ‘Justin, you haven’t said anything that Martin and I didn’t already know. What we would like you to tell us is what you know about why George was in Australia, how he knew about the two books, and why you set him up to steal them?’
Martin leaned forward in his chair. ‘And we wou
ld like you to explain what you know about why George and Edmondo were shot. It has all the earmarks of one of your operations’, he paused briefly, ‘an operation that went wrong.’
Justin was stunned, and now felt perspiration trickling down the back of his neck and beading over his eyebrows. He shot to his feet in rage and panic. ‘What are you talking about? And what are you accusing me of?’
Gabriel moved across the room now, and putting his hands quietly but firmly onto Justin’s shoulders, pushed him gently, but inexorably, back into his chair. ‘Justin, we’ve been tracking your movements since before you left Prague. We’ve already spoken to Lucien, and although he tried valiantly to keep your confidences, he realised it has become critical. There are now three deaths to account for to say nothing of the attempted theft of two valuable antique books. You’re up to your neck in the conspiracy against James and his family and have been for years.’
Martin interrupted at this point, ‘It was you who employed the very ineffectual Watson family, and although they’re no longer technically on the property, they have been keeping a watch on everything that’s happening. They’re camped just a couple of miles from here, and are taking turns with the binoculars. They really are an incompetent lot.’
They were playing him, and he was exhausted. It had been a very long day. Maybe he really was getting old, he had no idea these two were so on top of all his machinations. He tried desperately to think. He really had no idea who had killed George and Edmondo. It didn’t make any sense, but it did point to him. He knew he hadn’t had them killed, and he hadn’t had James killed, but if he didn’t sort this out, these two would tie him up. Admittedly, he hadn’t been honest with anyone for a very long time. He had allowed his penchant for deception and intrigue to finally undermine his natural caution. It was impossible, if George hadn’t had James killed, there was no one else, and there had been no whispers of anyone targeting George or Edmondo for that matter, except him.
His mind was reeling. He had, in the past, used George as a scapegoat. George, although brilliant in many ways, was surprisingly naïve in others. George had trusted him and Lucien completely. They had all been rivals when younger, but over the last few years, they’d often worked together to a common goal. Always financial, of course, they were now all incredibly wealthy in their own right, completely separate to their respective families. He was missing something, but his gut kept insisting this was Family business. Taking a long and calming breath, he turned to Gabriel. ‘I know you think I had something to do with James’s and George’s deaths, but in fact, I didn’t. I don’t say that I haven’t, over the years, speculated about both, but ultimately, they were both more valuable alive.’ He paused, shrugged, ‘Actually, that’s not strictly true. I would love to have done away with James. He caused me problems quite a few times, and he kept me solidly away from Meredith all these years, but I did not order his death.’ Glancing up, he saw Gabriel briefly nod at Martin.
‘Actually, Justin, Martin and I didn’t think you had anything to do with James’s death, but George and Edmondo’s are connected in some way, and as you and I know, you are untrustworthy and devious. You have some reason for being here, and although I can almost believe you about Meredith, I don’t think that’s all.’ He now strolled across the room, and parting the curtain, signalled to someone outside.
Justin was aware of the cold brittle blackness of the desert streaming through the window. The radiance of the stars was almost terrifying. They were glittering diamonds scattered across the heavens so close one could almost touch them. There was no ambient light to cloud the intensity, and suddenly, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. This alien country was unforgiving in its primitive grandeur. He really didn’t belong here.
Pete appeared at the open window. ‘The Watsons have left, packed all their gear, and driven off. We’ll still keep an eye on them. They can’t disappear out here, but they were definitely freaked when Bede took off in the copter and the police arrival.’ He grinned, and poking his head through the window, said, ‘Justin, I think you’ve lost your little spies,’ Chuckling quietly to himself, he turned away.
Gabriel turned to Martin, ‘I need to talk to Bede, I think.’ And with that, left the room abruptly.
Justin sighed, ‘Oh, to be young again.’ He scowled after Gabriel’s retreating back, ‘I’m going to bed.’
‘Before you sleep tonight, or what’s left of the night’, Martin quietly spoke, ‘I suggest you do some solid thinking, Justin. There’s something you’re not telling us, and I suspect it would be in your interest to reconsider. Gabe might be besotted, but he’s not stupid, and all those women are incredibly intelligent and resourceful. Keep that in mind.’
Chapter Thirty-One
Gabriel Grovels
Gabriel knocked, gently and quietly opened the door. Bede was just a lump in the bed covered by a light sheet, but he knew she wasn’t sleeping. It was a very hot night, and he could just see her through the mosquito netting hanging over the huge bed. The ceiling fan was whirling softly, and the window was wide open with the light from the moon shining straight onto the bed. He felt his groin tighten.
‘Well, my love, what exactly have you been up to? What was your paranoia with those two idiots Kamila and Jakub? You’ve been listening to my aunts, my mother, and perhaps Meredith.’ He raised his eyebrows in question.
Bede surged up in the bed, threw the mosquito netting back, and glared at him. ‘Yes, I bloody have. What exactly do you do for the family, Gabriel? Are you one of the so celebrated assassins?’
He laughed gently. ‘No, my sweet, but if you want to have any sort of rational discussion, you need to put some clothes on. I can’t concentrate with all that smooth golden skin glowing at me.’ His voice had deepened as he moved silently across the room.
‘As for those two idiots, you were desperately in love with Kamila at one time. You asked her to marry you?’
‘Bede, I was nineteen, a hopeless romantic, hardly to be credited given my family. I was more than a little naïve, certainly about love.’ He moved suddenly, caught her shoulders gently, and pulled her against him. ‘Now back to my earlier question, what have my aunts and my mother been up to? I can find out, you know, but it would just make it a little easier if I didn’t have to spend time digging around within the family. Laurent is not pleased with all this drama. He doesn’t like the family name appearing in any newspapers, and this has the potential to make the media worldwide. I may not have liked George or Edmondo for that matter, but both of them were very well known in international finance.’ He smoothed his hand over her hair, and tucked a strand behind her ear. ‘To be murdered in the middle of nowhere in Australia will have curious journalists descending on this property within the next few days, and there’s no way you will be able to keep them out.’
Bede scowled at him and tried to pull away, but he was too strong. He wasn’t hurting her at all, but she was starting to recognise the determined glint in his eyes. He would not be distracted. She wasn’t certain she had ever managed to distract him. She had the impression that he had allowed her to think she had turned his attention away from what had been going on in Paris. But now, looking into his eyes, she felt a frisson of anxiety. She knew he would never hurt her or Hera or Meredith.
‘Was it Meredith who arrange to have George killed?’ he suddenly asked.
‘Christ, no, at least I don’t think so.’ Bede turned shocked eyes up to him. ‘What makes you think anything so horrendous?’
‘Because, Bede, there really is no one else.’ Drawing a deep breath, he continued quietly, ‘Unless it’s the terrible trio from Paris.’
Bede was furious now. ‘What about your former fiancée and her dubious husband?’ she snarled. She wasn’t jealous of Kamila, she told herself, she just instinctively didn’t like the woman. She was too smarmy and far too sure of herself.
Gabriel grinned down at her. �
�Are you jealous of Kamila by any chance? You keep trying to make her responsible for more than stealing two books. Believe me when I say that neither she nor Jakub are bright enough or involved enough, for that matter, to kill George in particular. He always pays extremely well for services rendered, it would be like killing the golden goose.’ He continued gently, still holding her shoulders, ‘Bede, I knew in Paris that Marina and Josephine had some other reason for being in Paris. They would never stay with Laurent unless they’d been invited, which means that Laurent invited them along with my mother. I also know that Laurent had finally acknowledged how completely untrustworthy and Machiavellian George had become. He’d always hoped that somehow, George would finally prove himself worthy of his father.’
Bede was thoughtful, as she moved away from Gabriel briefly, and pulled on a pale blue camisole and knickers, then moved back to sit beside him on the bed.
‘That’s only marginally better,’ Gabriel quipped.
‘Concentrate,’ she nudged him in the side. ‘Are you saying that Laurent called the women to Paris to warn them about George?’
‘I think it’s a decided possibility, but Laurent wouldn’t have ordered his execution. There would have been no need, he would simply have quietly notified everyone that George was no longer considered trustworthy.’ He smiled down at her. ‘Bede, that’s almost like a banishment. George would no longer be invited to participate in any financial deals going down within the family. He would no longer be kept up to date with family matters.’ He gazed into the distance. ‘It would be worse, much worse for George than being killed. You met Laurent, spent time with him. He’s always subtle in his dealings. Nothing overt if at all possible, and if there is a finite decision to be made, it will be executed quietly, so there are no disturbances anywhere. Shooting George and Edmondo in the middle of the desert smacks of revenge to me.’ He wrapped one arm around Bede’s shoulders, pulled her hard against his chest, and kissed the top of her head. ‘Bede, I need you to trust me. I will do whatever needs to be done to protect you all, but I do need to know everything the women in Paris were planning.’ He nuzzled her neck and whispered, ‘And there is nothing you could tell me about the three of them that would shock me.’
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