“I’ll call him today and see if there’s anything I can do,” he said. Sarah bit her lip. He seemed so sympathetic it was hard to believe he’d had anything to do with it.
Her husband went back to his newspaper.
Later that day Sarah found Kaz sitting on the deck overlooking the lake. He had a faraway expression on his face. She wondered what he was thinking. It wasn’t often she found him out here, and even rarer for him to be deep in thought.
“Did you speak to Jim yet?” she asked, tentatively. “I was wondering how he was getting on?”
“No. Thanks for reminding me. I’ll give him a call now,” he said, and reached for his phone that was lying on the table in front of him, acting as a paperweight for the newspaper.
Sarah kept her eyes glued to his screen. She saw him type in his code, 2-0-7-4-1-3.
Got it!
Now she must just make sure she didn’t forget it. A couple of repetitions later and she had it.
“He’s not picking up,” Kaz announced, a moment later, hanging up.
“Oh dear, that’s not good. Do you want me to try? Perhaps I can offer my help?”
“No, don’t worry. I’ll try again later.”
“Okay. I’m going out for a run,” she announced, and dashed upstairs. As soon as she was in her room she wrote his passcode down on a piece of paper and hid it in her underwear draw.
Then she got changed and headed out for her run. She purposely took the path via the staff quarters, hoping to bump into Crane but he didn’t appear to be around. His pickup wasn’t parked outside his bungalow either.
Disappointed, she ran into the forest, but stuck to the path. Twenty minutes later, she passed the horizontal tree stump where they’d sat and talked. It would have been so great to talk to Crane now. She needed to off-load. Her anxiety was bubbling up and, left unchecked, threatened to overflow and strangle her. Already her mouth was overly dry and her body was plagued by inner tremors. Was her husband involved in Ana’s death, or was she simply being paranoid?
Feeling frustrated, she ran on, pushing herself to the limit. She ran until the trembling stopped. Soon sweat was dripping between her breasts and down her neck. Still she kept moving. Maybe, if she ran hard enough, she’d outrun the demons that were haunting her.
“You look tired,” remarked Doug as they sat on Crane’s porch overlooking the dark green canvas of the forest that surrounded the cabin. “This undercover work keeping you up at night?”
“I’ve just been for a hard paddle,” Crane replied, avoiding his friend’s gaze. He couldn’t very well tell him the dreams had come back again. Doug would be worried and insist he speak to someone about it, which wasn’t necessary. They were only dreams, after all. In actual fact, Crane felt more relaxed after his kayaking session than he had in days, despite the lack of sleep. Blaster and Spirit had been over the moon to see him, barking madly and sticking to his side as if they were afraid he might disappear again. They’d even followed him down the rapids, albeit on the shore, barking every time his kayak disappeared from sight, under the white-water or behind a boulder. “It was tough out there today. The river’s running high.”
Doug leaned back in his chair. “So you think the Senator is dirty?”
Crane nodded. “He’s dirty, all right. It’s possible Kaz took out the wife as some sort of warning.”
“I’ll look into her death,” Doug promised. “See what I can find out about the truck that rammed into her.”
Crane pursed his lips. “It’s unlikely to be connected to Kaz. He’s smarter than that. Also, see what you can find out about Kramer. Ashely Kramer. He seems to be Kaz’s right-hand man, the financial whizz of the operation. I spent the whole day with him on the golf course yesterday. If Kaz is running a smuggling operation, then he’s involved too. No doubt about it.”
“Gotcha.” Doug sipped his beer as the crickets screeched quietly in the background, then he asked, “How’s it going with Sarah?”
“Fine. She helped me out of the control room last night. She’s cool. I trust her. She wants Kaz put away as much as we do.”
“That’s good. We need her on our side. Pity she doesn’t know more about his activities.”
“He doesn’t let her in. She had no idea about the drugs, although she’s pretty sure he instigated the death of her lover and his friends.”
“Speaking of friends, Copeland has regained consciousness.”
Crane jerked his head around. “Really? When?”
“This morning. The hospital won’t let us speak to him until he’s stronger, but we’ll send someone over to question him.”
“I want to do it,” Crane said, immediately. There were things he had to say to the man who he’d rendered unconscious, before letting his house burn to the ground.
“By all means, but we’ll have to question him too. He’s in a secure ward at Parklands Private Hospital with an armed guard outside. You’ll need permission to visit him. The reception won’t have his name on the admissions register, for obvious reasons.”
“Good.” Crane was glad provisions had been made for Copeland’s safety. The man had been through enough. Even his family were under the impression he’d passed away and that alone would be incredibly tough on him. It was vital Kaz didn’t discover he was still alive.
They made small talk for a while longer then Doug got up and stretched. “I’ve got to get going, but I’ll let you know about that recording as soon as I get it analysed.”
Crane nodded and walked Doug to his car. “I’ll be in touch.”
Doug patted him on the back. “Good work, by the way.” He touched his pocket which contained the flash-drive. “This should give us something to go on.”
“Let’s hope so. I want to wrap this thing up. You know how I hate being away from home.”
Doug grunted. “We’re getting closer. I can feel it.”
Crane hoped he was right.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Kaz’s phone, wallet and car keys lay on the kitchen table. Now Aneez was no longer around, her husband had hired a new driver, whose name she’d already forgotten. This guy was also foreign and built like a WWE wrestler, with long hair tied back in a ponytail and a wicked scar across his nose. He gave her the creeps, just as Aneez had. Where her husband found these men, she had no idea. This guy was lurking in the hallway, waiting for Kaz.
Sarah eyed out her husband’s phone and before she had time to think, she reached for it and entered the passcode she’d committed to memory and repeated so often there was no chance of her ever forgetting it.
The screen sprang to life. Now, what would Crane do? She clicked on his contacts and looked at his last dialled numbers. There were several rung just that morning. Grabbing her shopping list off the counter top, she turned it over and jotted down the top three. Then she heard Kaz’s footsteps as he came back into the kitchen. In a rush, she turned her shopping list over but there was no time to put the phone back down on the table.
Kaz walked in and frowned. “Is that my phone?”
“Yes,” she stammered, her mind spinning. How was she going to get out of this one? She’d been caught red-handed. She felt the colour drain from her face.
“What are you doing?” His voice was deceptively calm. She knew from experience he was seconds away from erupting.
She thought fast. “I was going to call my mother; I can’t seem to find mine. I must have left it in the bottom of a gym bag or something.”
He took it from her shaking hand and glanced at the screen. It was locked.
Sarah shrugged. “I couldn’t get in. Do you mind?” She held his gaze, praying he wouldn’t see the tremor of her lip or the fear in her eyes.
He hesitated, then said, “All you had to do was ask.” He punched in the passcode and handed it to her. “Make it quick. I’m about to leave.”
“Two minutes, I promise,” she said, her legs literally turning to jello. She sat down at the kitchen table and dialled the California numbe
r she knew by heart.
Kaz poured himself a cup of coffee and waited patiently, an unreadable expression in his eyes, but he was watching her closely.
Her mother answered, her voice cautious. The call from this number would be unexpected. “Hello?”
“Hi Mom, it’s me. Sorry to call you on this number, I’ve lost my phone. Yes, yes, everything’s fine. I just wanted to wish you and dad a happy anniversary.”
A pause as her mother, astute as ever, went along with her story. Over the years they’d learned to work around Kaz despite the hold he had over Sarah.
“Thank you, dear. Are you sure you’re okay?” There was worry in her mother’s voice.
“Yes, have you got anything nice planned for today?” Sarah pushed on with the conversation.
Kaz glanced at his watch. She held up a finger. One minute.
“That’s great! I’m sure it’ll be fun. Listen, I’ve got to go because I’m on Kaz’s phone and he wants to dash off. Have a lovely day and I’ll speak to you soon. Give dad my love, and Ben.”
Kaz’s features hardened as she knew they would at the mention of her son. She quickly said goodbye and hung up, handing the phone back to Kaz.
“Thanks, I couldn’t not call them on their anniversary.”
He nodded, pocketing the phone. “Don’t ever take my phone again, without asking.”
She nodded. “I won’t. I’m sorry. I didn’t think you’d mind.”
Long ago, she’d learned it was better to concede than argue. The submissive wife, that’s what she’d become. It turned her stomach, but she swallowed it, and forced a smile. “Thank you.”
He put his coffee cup down on the table and in the same movement picked up his wallet and keys. “I’m going into town. I’ll see you later.”
He began to walk out, but halfway through the door he turned on his heel and added, “I’m going on a business trip tomorrow, to Pakistan. It’s just for a few days. I was thinking it might be nice if you came with me.”
“What?” He never invited her on his business trips. Not once. “Why would you want me with you?”
“The change will do you good. When last did you visit somewhere different? Be ready to fly tomorrow morning. We leave first thing.” And he walked out, leaving her gaping after him.
Sergio was lurking in the hallway when Crane walked in feeling distinctly uncomfortable. His suit was on the small size and pinched him under the arms and between the legs. Well, what could he expect when he hadn’t worn the thing in over five years? The last time being when he was awarded his medal, and he’d been a lot thinner back then. He glimpsed in the hall mirror and almost didn’t recognise himself, the image staring back at him was so out of context.
He nodded to Sergio, who scowled and grunted in reply.
A few minutes later, Kaz appeared looking immaculate in a designer two-piece. Unlike Crane, his fitted his lithe, wiry body to perfection. “Glad you’re here, Crane. I’m ready to go.” He patted Crane on the shoulder. “I hope you’ve got your thinking cap on, you’re going to sit in on some meetings with me. I’d like you to learn a bit about the business.”
Crane nodded. This was a promotion of sorts, hence the request by his boss to dress smartly. He could tell Sergio was trying to work out where he fit into the hierarchy. Was he just another bodyguard or something more?
To be honest, Crane wasn’t even sure what his position was. It appeared to be a mixture of assassin, bodyguard and golf partner. Now he could add personal assistant to his repertoire. The important thing was Kaz trusted him, and would keep trusting him until he could pull the plug on his whole dirty drug smuggling operation – if that was indeed what was going on. To date, Crane had to admit, he hadn’t smelt a whiff of heroin, apart from the Senator’s bizarre behaviour the other night and drunken admittance of blackmail.
Sergio, who it transpired was Lithuanian, drove the SUV while Crane sat in the back with Kaz.
“I’d like you to accompany me on a trip tomorrow,” his boss said, as they pulled onto the highway towards Portland. The luxury golf course they’d played at the other day flashed by in an emerald blur.
Crane glanced at him. “Sure. Where to?”
“Pakistan.”
That was a bit further than Crane expected. He saw Sergio glance in the review mirror. He too was surprised at the sudden inclusion.
“It’s a business trip,” Kaz explained. “You’ve had experience in the area, you know what it’s like out there.” Then he turned to look out of the side window. “My wife is coming too.”
“Sarah?” Now Crane was confused. Kaz was breaking a long-standing pattern bringing Sarah with him. As far as he could tell, she never accompanied her husband on business trips.
“Yes, she’s been… Well, you know I’ve been concerned about her. I’d like to keep an eye on her.” Kaz turned away from the window and looked directly at him. “I’d like you to keep an eye on her.”
“Of course,” was all he said. It wasn’t his place to question his boss, but his mind was working overtime trying to figure out what Sarah had done to warrant such suspicion. “When do we leave?”
“Tomorrow morning. It’s a nine o’clock flight. Ashely’s PA handles all my travel arrangements. I’ve already let her know you and Sarah will be joining us.”
“No problem.”
They arrived downtown and Sergio parked the SUV in a drafty, concrete carpark in Portland’s business district. He knew his way around the city pretty well for a foreigner. Crane figured, despite the heavy accident, Sergio must have lived in Portland for some time.
As they waited for the elevator, Crane’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He kept it on silent during the day, for obvious reasons. Resisting the urge to look at it, Crane accompanied Kaz to his first meeting in a high-rise a block away from the parking garage. Sergio stayed with the car.
The meeting was with some local textile buyers, all of whom seemed perfectly legit. In fact, Crane was bored stiff after the first twenty minutes, but he kept listening, kept alert, and tried to learn all he could about the business – or the legitimate side of it, anyway.
It was an hour later, when Crane excused himself to go to the restroom, that he managed to look at his phone. There was a text message from Sarah.
I need to see you.
Meet me at the usual spot. Twenty minutes.
They’d been back half an hour and Crane had finally managed to escape, job over for the day. He’d told Kaz he needed to pack.
Sure enough, as he came jogging up the path, there she was, where they’d met before, leaning against a tree. She wasn’t sweaty this time, too distracted to worry about the jogging part.
“Oh, there you are,” she breathed, as he stopped in front of her. It had been a few days since he’d seen her and she looked great. Her face was flushed, her eyes bright, and she hadn’t tied her hair up. He found he was feasting his eyes, so he blinked and focused on the task at hand.
“I believe you’re going to Pakistan tomorrow,” was the first thing he said.
She frowned. Yes, I think it’s because Kaz caught me trying to get into his phone yesterday. He’s worried I’m up to something.
Her eyes reflected her anxiety. He laid his hand on her back, a gesture to keep walking. They moved off, further into the forest, the same path as before.
“You took a risk,” he scolded gently. “I don’t want you getting into trouble.”
“I saw him put in his passcode the other day so I memorised it.” She sounded proud of herself. “So when I saw his phone just lying there on the table, well I couldn’t resist. I managed to get the last three dialled numbers before he came back.”
“Really? That’s great. Did you write them down?”
She nodded, a small smile playing on her lips as she handed over the shopping list. “Look on the back.”
Crane couldn’t believe his luck. The numbers might be nothing, but they might well be a lead, or another player in the organisation.
<
br /> “Well done.” He felt like kissing her. “I know someone who will be very interested in these numbers.”
She looked pleased. “I hope it helps.”
“So what did you say to Kaz when he caught you?”
“I told him I’d lost my phone and wanted to phone my parents to wish them for their anniversary.”
“Did he buy it?”
“Well, I thought so, but then he came up with this idea that I should come to Pakistan with him. So I’m not sure. He’s suspicious.”
“But he didn’t get angry?” What he meant to say was, he didn’t hurt you?
She shook her head. “No, actually you were waiting so he left for his meeting and didn’t say anything else other than to tell me we’re leaving tomorrow morning.” She looked up at him. “Do you think I should be worried?”
“No, I’ll be there.”
She perked up. “Really? You’re coming too?”
“Yeah, I’ve been tasked with keeping an eye on you.” He gave a wry grin. “So you’re in good hands.”
“Oh, thank God.” The relief was visible on her face. “I feel so much better now. I was so scared.”
He couldn’t help but bask in her relief. Perhaps it was that male protective thing but he was happy she wasn’t afraid of him, trusted him even.
“No need,” he said, then cleared his throat. “I’m not sure what the schedule is yet, but we fly out at nine tomorrow morning, so it’ll be an early start.”
They reached the tree trunk and stopped walking. She turned to face him. “I came looking for you yesterday, but you weren’t here.”
“I went home to check on the dogs and get some clean clothes.”
“Dogs?”
“I have two, but a friend is making sure they’re looked after while I’m here.”
“I don’t even know where you live?” Her voice was soft, her eyes curious.
“Across the river, in Washington State. It’s roughly two hours’ drive from here.” A hair blew across her face and before he’d even thought about it, he’d brushed it back with his hand.
Undercurrent: A P.I. Munro Crane Romantic Suspense Thriller Page 15