by Chris Taylor
THE DEBT COLLECTOR
Book Five of the Sydney Harbour Hospital Series
Chris Taylor
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 2016 by Chris Taylor
(All Rights Reserved)
Smashwords Edition
LCT Productions Pty Ltd
18364 Kamilaroi Highway, Narrabri NSW 2390
ISBN. 978-1-925119-31-2 (Ebook)
ISBN. 978-1-925119-32-9 (Paperback)
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold or given away to other people. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
The Debt Collector is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright
Dedication
Books by Chris Taylor
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Epilogue
Note to Readers
Acknowledgements
About the Author
This book is dedicated to my sister, Catherine, for having the courage to follow her dreams. And as always, to my rock: my husband, Linden. I love you.
The Sydney Harbour Hospital Series
(in order)
The Perfect Husband
The Body Thief
The Baby Snatchers
The Final Bullet
The Debt Collector
The Lab Test
The Stolen Identity
The Cliff Top Killer
The Likeable Fraudster
Other books by Chris Taylor
The Munro Family Series
(In order)
The Profiler
The Investigator
The Predator
The Betrayal
The Deception
The Negotiator
The Christmas Vigil
The Ransom
The Defendant
The Shooting
The Maker
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Find out more about all of Chris Taylor’s books, including the hugely popular Munro Family series by visiting her website at: http://www.christaylorauthor.com.au/about/books
PROLOGUE
Dear Diary,
It’s taken years of patience, but finally I’ve been able to put my plan to the test and boy, has it paid off! My preparations were meticulous. I left not the slightest thing to chance.
His final moments were beautiful. Everything went to plan. He succumbed to death with a slight look of fear, but mostly confusion, probably wondering where he went so wrong…
I feel not the slightest bit of sympathy or regret. I gave him more than he’d ever had. No one can provide charity indefinitely. Not even me.
What can I say? It was time to collect on my debt…
CHAPTER ONE
With a nod to the smartly dressed doorman of the Hilton Hotel, Hannah Langdon smoothed her long blond hair over her shoulder and straightened her spine, anticipating the usual stir caused by her arrival. Stepping inside the entryway of the luxurious hotel, she kept her head down and crossed the foyer quickly to avoid the collection of curious glances she invariably attracted in public.
It wasn’t her fault she looked like a younger Charlize Theron and was often mistaken for the model and actress—even though the woman had been born in South Africa and now lived in the US. Hannah had never stepped foot outside Australia. She’d barely been out of Sydney, the city of her birth. It was laughable she could be mistaken for the globe-trotting actress who left everyone gaping in her wake.
The reality was, Hannah had been blessed with a body women envied and men drooled over, and a face that was every bit as beautiful as her shape. That didn’t mean she welcomed the attention. In fact, she much preferred the quiet and solitude of her place of employment at the Max Grace Funeral Home.
She loved the peace and serenity the funeral parlor afforded and she loved her job as an embalmer even more. Her boss was pushing eighty and wasn’t at all interested in her or how she looked. As long as she got the job done with a minimum of fuss, Max Grace was a happy man. As for the people she worked over… Well, they were the most affable of all.
She never got curious stares from the corpses she lovingly restored to a more appealing sight and it was Max’s job to deal with the grieving relatives. It was normal for Hannah to spend the entire day inside the building, out back in the embalming room. If it weren’t for the fake tanning cream she applied in the summer at the insistence of her best friend, Samantha Wolfe—Samantha Coleridge, now—Hannah’s skin would be as pale as freshly churned butter.
“There you are, Hannah! I’m glad you’ve arrived!”
Hannah turned and looked into Samantha’s smiling face. Dressed in a low-cut, black silk dress that hugged her curves, Hannah’s best friend looked stunning.
“Sam! How are you? I can’t believe you found me in this crowd!” Hannah said, smiling back and giving her friend a hug.
“Are you kidding? All I had to do was look for the horde of men who’d halted mid-stride and mid-sentence to ogle and marvel at your beauty! It didn’t take me long to find you!”
Hannah looked away, embarrassed, though she knew there was no malice in Sam’s teasing.
“Hey, I’m joking,” Sam hurriedly added, noticing Hannah’s discomfort. “I’d die to look the way you do! Where did you get that dress, by the way? It looks sensational.”
Hannah grinned. “You won’t believe it; I bought it on eBay. I got it for the grand sum of fifty-five dollars, including postage. I wasn’t sure if it would look as good on me as it did on my computer screen, but I just couldn’t get past the color and of course, the price.”
Samantha gave her a once-over. “I’m green with envy. You must be thrilled with the results. And I know what you mean by the color. Crimson looks so good on you. The dress alone is enough to capture the attention of every man in the room.” She softened her comment with another smile.
Hannah glanced down at the strapless, fitted bodice and the silk skirt that flared out gently over her hips. The filmy fabric swirled around her legs and ended just above her ankles in a flurry of movement and light. Knowing she looked good, filled her with confidence. For the first time in a long time, she felt fun and flirty. Just the right kind of mood to be in for a night at the Sydney Harbour Hospital’s Annual Charity Ball.
“There’s a good turnout. The numbers bode well for the auction later tonight. Where are we sitting?” she asked Sam as her friend led
the way through the crowd.
The ball was the major fundraiser for the hospital and tickets usually sold out within days of becoming available. Hannah had attended with Sam more than once, but this was the first time she’d come since Sam’s marriage. It wouldn’t be quite the same for her as when the two of them were single, footloose and fancy free, but she liked Rohan and hadn’t seen Sam for ages and she was looking forward to catching up.
“We’re sitting at a table not far from the dance floor, which should suit you perfectly,” Sam replied with a cheeky wink.
Hannah chuckled. It was no secret she loved to dance. In some respects, her affinity for the dance floor was in stark contrast to her reticent, almost shy nature, but she couldn’t help it. She’d been born with rhythm flowing through her veins.
“Where’s your husband? I thought you two were still attached at the hip.”
Sam turned back to her and rolled her eyes then followed with a smile. “Hey, it’s been three months since the wedding,” she protested. “Give us a break!”
Hannah laughed. “Ha! You can’t fool me. If there ever comes a time when you’re not glued to his side, I’ll know something’s up. He’s at the bar, right, getting drinks? It’s the only reason why he wouldn’t be here by your side. Truth be told, your togetherness is a little nauseating.”
Sam pulled a face. “You’re jealous.”
Hannah smiled and shook her head. “Not in the slightest and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. I couldn’t be happier for you, Sam.” Hannah glanced around her and then added, “I just hope I know at least some of the other people at our table. No doubt you and your husband will only have eyes for each other. Neither of you will likely be capable of normal conversation.”
This time, Sam poked out her tongue, but her eyes sparkled with mirth. Her black hair, piled high on her head, gleamed beneath the light. In her mid-thirties, Samantha was five years older than Hannah, but her looks belied her age. Her skin glowed with a youthful vitality much younger women would envy.
“For your information,” Sam replied tartly, “my sister, Ava, and her boyfriend, Lachlan Coleridge, are here. You know them. I told you she’s dating Rohan’s younger brother, didn’t I?”
“Yes, Sam. The same night you vacillated back and forth about whether it would be cool or annoying for two of the Wolfe sisters to marry brothers. Are they getting that serious? Do you think marriage is on the cards?”
Sam stopped and turned back to Hannah. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “You know, I think it is. Even though he’s still technically, married, I’ve never seen Ava so besotted. It’s Lachlan this, and Lachlan that. He moved back to Sydney from the country for her, you know. Isn’t that so romantic?”
Tears glistened in Sam’s eyes. Hannah started in surprise. It wasn’t like her friend to become so emotional over something as trivial as her sister’s love life.
“Are you feeling all right, Sammie?” she asked in sudden concern.
Sam’s cheeks reddened and she averted her gaze. “Yes, of course. Why do you ask?”
Hannah shrugged and then swept her gaze over Samantha’s body. Sam’s normally flat stomach looked slightly distended, as if… All of a sudden, it hit her.
“Oh, my goodness! You’re pregnant!”
Sam’s eyes widened in surprise. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. Hannah didn’t need any more confirmation.
“You’re having a baby! How fantastic! Why didn’t you tell me?” She frowned in mock hurt.
Sam was quick to reassure her. “Don’t be upset, Hannah. We decided to keep it from our friends until we knew everything was all right. Only our immediate families know.”
“How far along are you?”
“Twelve weeks,” Sam said, beaming.
“So you’re through the danger period.”
“Yes, just. Although it hasn’t been easy; I’ve been sick every day since I conceived. I keep hoping the nausea will ease, now that the first trimester has passed.”
Hannah squealed, filled with delight. “I bet it’s a girl! They say you always get sicker with girls.”
Sam shook her head and smiled. “I never had you pegged as someone who’d believe old wives’ tales, Hannah Langdon. Rohan and I decided not to press to find out. Boy or girl, it doesn’t matter. We’d be happy either way.”
“Oh, stop! Please! You’re about to say ‘as long as it’s healthy, nothing else matters,’ aren’t you? You must have a preference, one way or the other!”
Sam laughed. “No, I don’t and what they say is true. Just you wait until you’re pregnant. You’ll see what I mean. The sex of the child is irrelevant. All you want is a healthy baby.”
Hannah stared at her friend, at the happiness that beamed across Sam’s face, and forced back a rush of yearning. She wanted so much to be a mother, to feel what Sam was feeling. There was still time. She was only twenty-nine. She hadn’t given up hope she’d find Mr Right and make it happen. She only hoped he was also on the lookout for her.
“Oh, look, there’s Rohan and Lachlan. I’m not sure where Ava is. She might have gone to the bathroom. And there’s Lane Black. He’s a friend of Rohan’s. Lane’s a detective at the State Crime Command in Chatswood. He’s married to Zara. They have the cutest set of twins. Come on, I’ll introduce you. Zara’s a lawyer and she’s gorgeous, inside and out. You’ll love her!”
At the mention of Lane Black, Hannah frowned. It was a name that conjured forth old memories and feelings that belonged firmly in her past. She gave herself a mental shake. Surely it couldn’t be the same Lane Black she’d gone to school with? The one whose brother she detested with all her heart?
Sam took Hannah by the hand and dragged her through the crowd toward the group of men gathered at a nearby table, leaving her with no more time to dwell on the possibility of that connection. All tall and broad shouldered, dressed as they were in tuxedoes and bow ties, the men were a formidable and appealing group. Even with the rest of the males in the room similarly attired, there was something about their group that commanded particular attention.
With Sam still tugging her forward, Hannah had no choice but to follow. As she drew nearer, her heart gathered speed.
“Hannah, it’s nice to see you again,” Rohan said, stepping forward to peck her on the cheek. She murmured a suitable reply.
“And this is Lachlan, Rohan’s brother,” Samantha added. “You met him at the wedding. He was Rohan’s best man.”
Hannah recognized the younger Coleridge brother and held out her hand. Lachlan shook it in casual greeting.
“Hannah. Yes, I remember. You were in the wedding party. We were seated across from each other,” Lachlan replied. “I have very fond memories of that wedding,” he added with a smile and then glanced around at the crowd.
Hannah spied Ava heading in their direction about the same time Lachlan did. Hannah watched as Lachlan’s smile widened and love and tenderness filled his eyes. She swallowed a sigh and ignored the pang in her heart. She yearned to have a man look at her like that. She’d only been in love once in her life and that had been a long, long time ago…
Hannah’s thoughts were interrupted as Samantha continued the introductions.
“Lane and Zara, I’d like you to meet my best friend, Hannah Langdon. And this is Lane’s brother, Jacob. He’s a doctor at the Sydney—”
At the mention of Jacob’s name, the rest of Sam’s words were blocked out by the pounding of Hannah’s heart and the rush of blood through her ears. Her chest constricted and her mouth went dry. It couldn’t be him. Please, God, don’t let it actually be him.
He was turned slightly away from her. As if in a dream, she went through the motions of shaking hands with Lane and Zara. All the while, her thoughts were focused on the man who had haunted her nightmares. And then he turned and faced her, mere inches away and there was no place left to hide.
It was him.
Jacob Black. He was here, at the ball, with his brother. The same Jacob
Black who’d been responsible for the death of the only man she’d ever loved. Anger, hot and fast, rushed through her veins, leaving her lightheaded. She gasped and reached out blindly for support.
Her fingers skimmed over the fabric of Sam’s dress. She clutched at it in her desperation. Sam turned and smiled. Hannah saw Sam’s lips move, but she was deaf to what her friend said. Oblivious to her distress, Sam continued to nod and chatter, unaware of the fact her best friend’s world had just disintegrated.
And then Jacob, of all people, was steadying her with a solemn look and his hand was big and warm around hers. She shook it automatically, but couldn’t manage any words. His eyes were as she remembered from more than a decade ago, though she spied a trace of weary cynicism in their blue depths that hadn’t been there before.
Crows’ feet crinkled the corners of his eyes and frown lines were etched into his forehead. He was the same age as she was, and yet, it appeared life had taught him some harsh lessons. She twisted her lips at the thought. It served him right if the road he’d traveled since high school had been rocky. She refused to feel sorry for him.
“You look as beautiful as you did ten years ago, Hannah,” he murmured.
She narrowed her eyes at him. Though he appeared sincere, she didn’t want compliments from him. Aware that the other members of their group were watching, she forced the briefest of smiles.