In the Shade of the Blossom Tree

by Joanna Rees

  But the game was over for Roberto in Shangri-La. That much was clear.

  And if it was over for Roberto, then Lois knew it was definitely over for her too.

  ‘Lois, it’s time,’ Mario said.

  She nodded, walking with Fernandez towards Aidan and the Chinese officials.

  ‘I’ll be there, to greet Jai,’ Roberto said to Fernandez. ‘And to put him at his ease. Apart from anything else, I want to look that bastard in the eye.’

  Fernandez nodded. ‘The team’s in place, Roberto. There’s nowhere he can run to. He thinks he’s safe here.’

  Roberto glanced once at Lois. ‘We always meant people to feel safe in our casinos. That was the whole point.’

  Lois felt her heart aching. She could tell how furious he was with her. How betrayed he felt. But tonight couldn’t have happened if she’d played it any other way. Surely he had to understand that?

  ‘You coming, Lois?’ Aidan asked.

  She shook her head. She sensed that Roberto needed to do this alone.

  As the others walked away, Lois found herself beside Senator Fernandez once more.

  ‘You know, Lois, you may be able to give me some help,’ he said. ‘I’m commissioning a new task force back in San Francisco. There’s someone in line for the job to head it up. An ex-police chief. But I’ve done some digging and I’m not sure that he’s the right man for the job. In fact, you might know him? A commissioner. Blakeney’s his name.’

  Lois stared at him, hardly able to take in what he was saying.

  ‘It’s a highly paid and prestigious role. At the very forefront of anti-corruption. And I’m thinking that maybe someone with your experience . . . ?’

  He smiled at her and there it was again, after all this time – the feeling she had when she’d first met him on Fight Night – that airborne feeling, the feeling that she was in the presence of someone great. Who could make real things happen. Who really could make the world a better place.

  ‘You’d better get down there,’ she said, nodding to the screens and the pictures of the police cars arriving outside the Good Fortune’s entrance.

  ‘You’re really not coming?’ he asked. ‘Don’t you want to see?’

  She shook her head. The scene downstairs was going to be public enough. Lois didn’t need to be there to witness it.

  Besides, the Good Fortune wasn’t the only casino in Shangri-La with a police presence tonight.

  And right now, there was somewhere else she needed to be.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

  Across the strip in El Palazzo, Lois and Mario met Savannah Hudson at the door nearest to the security hub, as they’d planned. She was wearing the most exquisite long black dress Lois had ever seen. It was appropriate that tonight her outfit was black and not white. But as Savvy had told Lois earlier, she’d got to wear a white wedding dress once. On the night of the awards ceremony.

  One glance across at Mario confirmed how sensational Savvy looked. In the last few weeks, Mario had become quite a fan of Savvy Hudson. But he wasn’t the only one. Lois knew that what they planned to do tonight was the most daring thing she’d ever witness.

  ‘You ready?’ Lois asked her. ‘They’ve redirected the guests?’

  Savvy nodded. ‘Let’s do it,’ she said. Her voice was grim.

  A mutual respect had blossomed between Lois and Savannah since their talk in the barren Nevada Desert. Their two business empires might still be at war, but from now on Lois knew that the battles they fought would be along much cleaner lines.

  Savannah Hudson might be her father’s daughter, but plenty of things round here were about to change.

  A view of the Chapel of Love – Hawaiian, Elvis-themed – filled the bank of monitors on the hub’s wall. But the chapel was nearly empty.

  Chester Malone, El Palazzo’s head of security, turned to Savvy, a panic-stricken look on his fat face. ‘But they’re . . .’ he began, looking at Lois and Mario. He knew exactly where they were from.

  ‘I’m expecting you to cooperate with our special guests, Chester,’ Savvy said, a steely edge in her voice. ‘Please let Mario use your workstation.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘Now!’

  She nodded to Mario, who waited for Chester to get out of the way and then quickly sat down at Chester’s station and started rattling his fingers across the keyboard.

  Lois went to stand next to Savvy. She knew that the guests had already been diverted to the main hall, where the reception would take place, as they’d discussed.

  Savvy had wanted to make a public spectacle, but Lois had convinced her that this was a private affair. One that should not damage the opening of El Palazzo. And standing next to Savvy now, feeling her nervous energy, Lois knew she’d made the right call. One that Savvy would thank her for later.

  Because now there were only two people in the chapel. Luc Devereaux was standing at the front. Ahead of him, the wall was filled with a view of the beach, as if he were standing on the sand, waiting for his bride. He turned round and looked towards the doors at the back.

  Paige Logan was in her pink, short bridesmaid dress. She walked up to Luc and shrugged, clearly confused too. Lois could see that they knew something was very badly wrong. The guests should be arriving now. But the chapel was eerily quiet.

  Suddenly the chapel doors at the back slammed shut and both Luc and Paige jumped. Lois could see from the computer screen Mario was operating that four burly members of El Palazzo’s security team were guarding it from the other side, out of Luc and Paige’s view.

  Savvy nodded to Mario. ‘Play it,’ she told him.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

  Savvy felt her heart thumping wildly as she watched Luc’s expression when the lights dimmed and the view of the beach scene changed to the view of the top suite in El Palazzo, taken from a camera on the outside scaffolding.

  The sound was dubbed perfectly, recorded by the hidden microphones in the ceiling lights. Lois and Mario had done an amazing job of secretly infiltrating El Palazzo and bugging the whole place. Lois had called in some favours from her contacts back in the SFPD to help. They couldn’t have done a more conclusive job.

  The bed in the background was messed up. Luc was pulling on his shirt.

  ‘Don’t crack up on me now, baby,’ Paige said. ‘Not after everything we’ve been through. We’re so, so close.’

  ‘I know. But . . . but it’s all just too complicated.’

  ‘If you’d done the job properly, she’d already be dead,’ Paige said. ‘I did my part.’

  Luc rubbed his eyes. ‘Jesus Christ, I tried, OK? It wasn’t like I didn’t take the first chance I got. I told you. I busted all that sealant at the Good Fortune. Savvy was right there in the spa. The fire should have killed her. I only just made it out of there myself.’

  ‘Well, unfortunately, our little problem is still very much alive,’ Paige said.

  ‘Savvy’s not a little problem. She’s starting to sound convincing. More and more like her father. Like she doesn’t need us at all.’

  ‘Convincing? You really think that some dumb-ass ex-junkie who flunked school can run a successful business?’ Paige said, pacing in front of Luc. ‘She’s nothing without us. Nothing. And anyway, who gives a shit if she’s like that bastard Hudson or not. Once the wedding is over and she has her little accident on your honeymoon, then legally it’ll all be yours . . . ours. Just like we planned all those years ago.’

  Paige’s voice dropped. ‘I’ve been waiting so long for this, Luc. We can’t blow it now. This is the perfect plan. Because nobody would ever suspect us. And people like her . . . they don’t deserve the money or the success. Those Hudsons . . . they’ve trampled on everything, taken, claimed, when they’ve had no right. She’s been doing it ever since she stole my first boyfriend, and Hud for even longer. Since he bankrupted your papa and ruined his dreams. Don’t you remember when you said we’d devour Hud’s business, from the inside out? We’re so close, Luc. So very close .
. .’

  Even though Savvy had watched the recording a hundred times already, every time she noticed something different. Today she saw the manic expression in Paige’s eyes, as she stroked Luc’s face. The same slyness she’d seen in her expression on the night she’d killed Hud.

  Savvy had been through every emotion since Mario and Lois had shown her the tapes last week. There’d been disbelief, anger, humiliation, betrayal, grief, loss, but finally, now, she felt relieved.

  The view on the screens cut back to the chapel.

  Luc – her Luc – the man who’d told her that he loved her and always had – was staring up at the camera through which Savvy was watching him.

  He knew she was here. That she’d done this.

  But she was untouchable now. Just like he and Paige must now know they were trapped and their sick plan was over.

  This was the moment Savvy had been waiting for. This exact instant of her revenge. The split second she’d made the Chinese cops promise her she could have, before she’d given them a copy of the evidence that would put Luc and Paige away for a very long time.

  In her mind, it was like the final turn of a roulette wheel, as the silver ball stopped rattling and dropped into its slot.

  The gamble was over. The chips were down. And the wheel had spun exactly as she’d hoped.

  She’d won. She’d beaten them. She’d destroyed those who’d set out to destroy her and her family. This dumb-ass ex-junkie who’d flunked out of school had just turned up trumps and she’d done it for keeps.

  Paige tried running, but it was useless. There was nowhere to go. The chapel doors had burst open. Police rushed in and grabbed her. She was shouting out to Luc, but it was too late. In a matter of seconds they were both cuffed and taken away, like the common card sharps they were.

  Savvy felt a hand on hers. It was Lois Chan. ‘Are you OK?’

  Savvy nodded. She’d never forget Lois’s kindness or how much she’d helped her. She cleared her throat and turned away from the screens. It was over now. History.

  ‘So it’s really over at the Good Fortune?’ she asked.

  Lois nodded. ‘For Jai Shijai, yes. All hell will be breaking loose over there right about now.’

  Savvy smiled. ‘At least that’ll give my guests down there something to talk about other than the fact I didn’t get married to that snake. On this particular occasion, I don’t mind the Good Fortune upstaging me.’

  Lois laughed. ‘Savvy, believe me, nobody is ever going to upstage you.’

  She paused, wondering how she could possibly tell Lois how grateful she felt. ‘So if we can’t be rivals, you think we’ll make it as friends?’ she asked.

  Lois smiled. ‘It’s worth a punt,’ she said.

  Savvy smiled at her, then hugged her.

  Lois pulled back. ‘You’d better go,’ she said. ‘Get down there where you belong. You have a kick-ass casino to launch.’

  ‘Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.’

  CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

  It was nearly a year since Lois had left Shangri-La. On a crisp September morning, out in San Francisco Bay, a white yacht sliced through the choppy water. On board, Lois stood behind Cara, covering her eyes with her hands.

  ‘Ready?’ she asked. She grinned up at Aidan, who was standing at the wheel. And then she winked at Zak, who was sitting hugging his knees.

  She flicked her head, letting the breeze blow the hair from her face.

  ‘Mom!’ Cara exclaimed.

  Lois lifted away her hands. Then she leaned down and pointed towards the shore, so that Cara could see their new harbourside house.

  ‘That one,’ Lois said. ‘The blue one.’

  ‘You’re serious? That’s where you’re going to live? And I can come and stay? Whenever I want?’

  Lois nodded. ‘You like it?’

  ‘Like it? Oh Mom, I love it!’

  Lois laughed, thrilled at her reaction. She couldn’t wait to call Roberto and tell him the good news. After Shijai’s arrest, Roberto had been astounded by what Lois had done to make it happen. Emotionally, he’d declared her to be his white knight and pledged his undying respect and friendship. He’d retired happily, his final bow-out a global recognition of his outstanding contribution to the gaming industry. Finally, with a ringing endorsement from Savannah Hudson, Roberto had achieved the adulation he deserved.

  Enzo Vegas, from what Lois had heard, was going to be at full capacity for the next year at least. With Mario in charge, the place was thriving.

  Roberto had insisted on buying Lois the house as a thank-you present, when she told him she was bowing out of Shangri-La and taking Fernandez’s offer to head up his anti-corruption task force in San Francisco. Roberto had been quick to give the move his blessing. Lois already knew that she and her fiery Italian-American mentor would remain close for life.

  Fernandez was thrilled that she was joining him and had finally come good on the favour he owed Lois, putting her in touch with a family lawyer, who’d successfully started negotiations with Chris to give Lois wider access to Cara. So far it was going well, especially since Fernandez had reopened the Lawnton case, in order to clear Lois’s name and prove once and for all that she hadn’t been responsible for Billy-Ray’s death. That, and the fact that Lois was back in the States for good, had resulted in Chris being fairer about her spending time with Cara in the vacations.

  And that was what this was. A well-earned vacation.

  It had started well. Lois had spent last week organizing a secret retirement party at the Cultural Center for her mother. Lois had taken great pleasure in announcing in a speech that, thanks to a little help from Joshua Fernandez, a special funding programme for refugees from China had been set up in Beverley Chan’s name. A lasting way to ensure that her tireless contribution continued to be recognized.

  Her mother had been overwhelmed by the honour, but she’d only started laughing and crying at the same time when Lois told her mother’s friends and fellow workers that she was moving back to San Francisco to take care of her.

  And now Lois could truly relax. Aidan put his arm around her shoulder as Zak chased after Cara, who ducked down the stairs into the galley, laughing.

  ‘You see. I told you they’d get on,’ Aidan said.

  ‘She’s having the time of her life. I don’t think she’s ever had this much attention.’

  Lois put her arm around Aidan, squeezing him tight, as they looked out towards the Bay Bridge. Their future was as wide as the horizon, she knew. She couldn’t wait to see what fate had in store for her next.

  CHAPTER SIXTY

  ‘That must be it,’ Savvy shouted through the headphones.

  James, the pilot, nodded and tipped the nose of the helicopter down towards the remote Scottish island.

  Savvy stared out of the window. All she could see was a small cottage and lots of gorse-covered hills, with sheep. Lots of sheep. The waves crashed against the high craggy rocks, sending plumes of white foam into the air. But there was a rawness to the place, a ruggedness that she could see must appeal. This was just about as far away from her world as it was possible to get.

  And boy it was good to get away.

  The last few months had been a whirlwind. There would be more probing to come into the true extent of Luc and Paige’s deceit, she was sure. And in three months’ time she’d be in the witness box in the most sensational trial of the decade.

  But Savvy knew that the trial was a date in her diary, not the rest of her life. The storm would blow over and it would be business as usual.

  And business was booming. Her latest project was to coordinate the members of her select consortium who were making a bid for the Good Fortune. Shangri-La had taken off big time. El Palazzo was going from strength to strength. Things in Vegas were looking good too. Marcus had helped formulate Savvy’s plans to turn the White House into a small luxury casino and club that he’d eventually manage.

  As for Paige Logan and Luc Devereaux? T
he last Savvy heard, they were in separate detention centres awaiting the trial. No bail had been granted.

  A few minutes later the helicopter landed and Savvy thanked James, knowing he’d be leaving straight away and waiting on standby back on the mainland.

  But now, as she opened the passenger door and stepped out into the cold whirlwind of the rotor blades, she felt sick with nerves.

  Squinting through the wind, she saw a man running from the cottage towards the helicopter. Struggling against the vortex, Savvy moved towards him.

  She ducked as the helicopter took off.

  And then she was alone, face to face with Red.

  He’d stopped and was staring at her, open-mouthed, waiting until the noise of the helicopter subsided and they could speak.

  ‘Savvy . . . what the hell?’

  He’d changed since she’d last seen him. His hair was longer and he looked bigger, somehow, but that could be the thick Aran sweater he wore with his jeans.

  ‘I hope you don’t mind. I thought I’d drop in.’ She bit her lip and smiled.

  He didn’t say anything and she laughed, thrilled that she’d rendered him speechless.

  She stamped her feet up and down. The breeze from the sea certainly was bracing.

  ‘Is this remote enough, or what?’

  ‘How did you find me?’ he asked.

  ‘I ran into your brother a while ago. He inadvertently tipped me off on a very unusual investment opportunity.’

  Red stared at her. ‘It was you? The rescue package was you?’

  She shrugged and smiled. A month after having Red’s finances privately investigated, she’d anonymously arranged through a local lawyer to invest in his business venture here.

  ‘Savvy. Oh Savvy.’ He laughed. Suddenly, he scooped her up in a hug, twirling her round and putting her back down. ‘I don’t know what to say. Come,’ he said, grabbing her bag, then gesturing for her to follow. ‘Come in. Into the warm.’