by Annie Seaton
‘The shops in the hotel foyer are open twenty-four seven. What size are you?’
Connor smiled as Dru’s laugh bubbled out. ‘Tall. Big.’
After extracting a promise that she’d leave the chain on the door and not open it to anyone until he returned, Connor headed for the elevator. He kept his wits about him as he left the room, but there was no one to be seen apart from the housemaid pushing her trolley towards the end of the corridor. His mind was working fast, trying to reconfigure the information that he’d collected at the mine and take Dru out of the equation.
In the large shopping area in the foyer—he’d never seen a complex like this hotel, it was almost a mini-city—he found a pair of jeans, a couple of T-shirts and a pair of sneakers in the sizes she’d given him. After he made his purchases, he took the main lift back up to their floor. As he swiped the card security square in the door, he could hear Dru’s voice, low and husky. He waited till she came across to the door and lifted the chain, the phone to her ear.
‘I’ve got to go now, Megan. I’ll call you from Darwin.’ The white towel that she’d wrapped around her damp body covered her torso, but her long legs were bare. Another towel was wrapped around her hair. Her face flooded with colour and he looked away as he handed her the bag from the shop.
Connor crossed to the window to give her privacy as she went back to the bathroom.
‘Megan called me,’ she said through the door. Her voice was much lighter now. ‘She’s okay now that she knows I’m all right.’
‘That’s good. As soon as you’re ready, we’ll go.’
‘Thank you.’ Her voice was soft. This was a Dru he wasn’t used to.
As they made their way down to the underground car park in the lift, her body was rigid with fear. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes wide, and her knuckles were white where she clutched her phone to her chest. Another wave of protectiveness ran through him, and before he could think, Connor reached over and took her free hand and squeezed it, not letting go as they stepped from the lift to the car park. ‘It’ll be okay,’ he murmured quietly, trying to reassure her.
The car park was poorly lit and his car was three rows along. Dru’s breathing quickened as she hurried along beside him and she flashed him a tremulous smile as he hit the remote and the doors unlocked. Before he could open the door for her, she had it open and was in the car. Connor passed Dru his baseball cap. ‘Put your seat right back and pull the cap down over your eyes.’ She looked at him without speaking but did as he instructed.
Connor finally let himself relax as they exited the car park without incident. He hadn’t said anything, but had half expected they might run into a situation before they left the hotel. He didn’t think she’d exaggerated the threat from Al Tayer; he’d seen the guy’s aggression, and he’d seen him call his offsider over before Connor had shown himself on the terrace last night. He glanced in the rear-view mirror and took note of the cars behind them as they motored away from the hotel towards the main road off the island. A couple of dark SUVs; he’d keep his eye on them as they travelled.
He glanced over to the passenger seat. Dru’s feet were tucked beneath her and her hands were clenched in her lap. She’d put the seat back and closed her eyes as soon as they’d driven out of the hotel’s underground car park. Long dark lashes fanned out on paler than usual cheeks. Her eyes were circled by mauve shadows and he looked away as anger—and guilt—filled him.
He was slipping. To make such a wrong call was disastrous; he had lost his touch. Connor turned his attention back to the road as the light turned green and the traffic moved forward. As the sun rose higher in the morning sky, the haze thickened and left a dreary pall over the barren landscape dotted with half-finished apartment buildings.
As they drove the busy stretch of motorway from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Dru fell asleep. His thoughts churned through his head and he castigated himself for misjudging her. If he was honest, it was the fact that Dru was female—a strong woman—that had formed his certainty that she was involved in the theft from Matsu; the evidence had been purely circumstantial.
The sky darkened as they approached the northern city and Connor braked as a row of tail-lights appeared ahead. ‘What the—’
‘It’s a sandstorm.’ Dru sat up and stretched her legs out. It was the first time she’d spoken since her quiet thank you a few hours ago. ‘We could be held up a while.’ She pulled her seat up, and rubbed her eyes before she looked ahead. ‘It doesn’t look too bad.’
He stopped the car and put the hazard lights on.
‘We haven’t been followed.’ Connor wanted to reassure her. She nodded but still turned around to look out the back window.
Her eyes were wide as she craned her neck to look at the cars behind them. ‘You know, I had begun to suspect he had me followed when I wasn’t at work to see what I was doing. He has eyes all over the city.’
‘He’s a very rich man.’
‘How come you know so much about him?’ She looked at him curiously in the strange dim light.
Putting his arms on the steering wheel, he looked across at her.
‘I guess a huge apology is in order.’ Connor turned and looked straight ahead at the darkening road; it wouldn’t hurt to tell her what he knew. ‘This is where it becomes very complicated. Zayed Al Tayer is the man who bought the diamonds stolen from Matsu.’
‘And you thought I was getting them for him.’ It was more of a resigned statement than a question.
‘It was the connection that wrongly convinced me you were involved. And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I made a mistake.’ His voice was emotional.
‘So what are you really? How do you have access to so much information? Like my bank records?’ Her eyes fixed on him and he turned to look at her. ‘And what flights I was on, and where I was staying. Who are you, Connor? Who are you working for?’
‘I’m an investigator. I work for myself. Matsu hired me.’
‘And you can just access anyone’s records? Anything you want? Find out what you want about innocent people.’ Her voice was rising.
‘I said I was sorry. Look, I have connections. I was in the Federal Police once.’ He lifted his hands from the steering wheel and rubbed his jaw. His skin was bristly; he’d not showered or shaved before they’d left. ‘A long time ago.’
‘How legal is what you do? Accessing my accounts and stuff?’ Her voice was suspicious.
‘I do what I have to.’ He didn’t want to say too much. ‘You don’t have to worry about it. I’ll take you straight to the airport and put you on the first flight we can get back to Australia.’
‘What about you? Aren’t you flying back too?’ Her voice was hesitant.
The sky lightened ahead and the traffic began to move slowly. Connor turned the hazard lights off and followed the traffic.
‘I’m going to Antwerp. There’s someone I have to talk to there.’ He glanced over, taking his eyes from the road for a brief second. Her hands were pressed against her stomach. ‘What’s wrong now?’
‘I don’t want to be alone.’
‘I’ll see you all the way to the boarding gate. You’ll be fine.’
Chapter 29
Dru waited in the car as Connor crossed to the car rental agency booth across the underground car park at the airport. The sleep she had snatched in the car during the trip from Dubai had left her feeling doughy. Her hands were tingling and her stomach was a churning mess, and her mouth kept moistening with saliva as though she was about to throw up.
She closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing, and gradually her stomach settled. Reaching down for the water bottle Connor had placed next to her before the trip, she took a tentative sip.
Her emotions were a mess. Fear clenched at her chest and stomach from the close call she’d had on the terrace. Zayed’s eyes had held hers and it had felt just like a predator stalking his prey. Her fingertips tingled as fear skittered along her nerve endings. She’d never forget the look on Z
ayed’s face when Connor had stepped up behind her and put his arm around her waist. His lips had pulled back into a frightening snarl and in that moment she had known he was capable of anything. God, she didn’t know what she was going to do about that. She couldn’t spend the rest of her life looking over her shoulder or hiding in the wilds of Australia.
Anger was bubbling up too. Anger that she had been foolish enough to come back to Dubai and leave herself open to all this. Anger that Connor had inadvertently put her in danger at the wedding. Anger that he had suspected her of stealing from Matsu. And anger that her banking records—and goodness knew what other private information—had been accessed by someone as he’d investigated her background. But more than anything, it was the uncertainty spiralling through her that was feeding her anger.
She didn’t know if she would be capable of boarding a plane and travelling the twelve hours back to Darwin alone.
Emotionally or physically.
Her confidence had taken an almighty hit. Could she even trust Connor? He said he’d been in the police force. But was he telling the truth? He was at Matsu under false pretences and he’d carried that lie off like a consummate professional.
Could she afford to trust him? Dru put her hand to her head and closed her eyes.
She had no choice.
She jumped as her door clicked open and a whoosh of hot air came in.
‘You right to go?’
She looked up at the man who had saved her from being held against her will. Connor stood beside the car, his stance relaxed and an encouraging smile tilting his lips. For the first time since last night, she took a long hard look at him. Dru tried to decide what to do. He returned her look easily and held his hand out.
‘When you’re ready . . .’ His voice was calm and soft but beneath his friendliness she sensed he was as wary as she was. But she had no choice. She’d put herself in his care and she had to trust him.
‘Where are we going?’
‘I thought I’d book a room at the hotel here at the airport. If you’re comfortable with that? You can freshen up and have something to eat while I get my contact in Australia to chase up a flight for you.’
Since he’d decided she wasn’t the thief, there’d been a change in Connor. A softening in his attitude and a glimpse of compassion that she’d not seen him display before. But a confident strength still emanated from him; a strength that had her teetering on the edge of trusting him.
‘That’s fine.’ She reached to the floor and picked up the small bag of clothes he’d purchased for her, and the bottle of water.
Dru looked about uneasily as they crossed the exposed car park to the lift that would take them up to reception. Connor put his hand beneath her elbow as if he sensed the fear that was clawing at her throat again.
The doors of the lift closed quietly and she leaned back against the mirrored wall and caught sight of herself in the opposite mirror. Her lips were bloodless and her face was pale, and there were dark shadows circling her eyes. Dru rolled her lips together, trying to get some colour back into them.
Connor leaned on the back wall. ‘My flight to Antwerp is late tomorrow afternoon, so hopefully we’ll be able to get a flight for you before that and I can see you on board safely.’
She lifted her chin. ‘I want to talk to you about that.’
He raised his eyebrows. ‘Antwerp? Or your flight?’
‘Both.’ Dru’s stomach rumbled, distracting her. ‘What time is it anyway? I’ve lost track today.’ She put her hand against her waist and the waistband of her jeans was loose beneath her fingers. The jeans that Connor had purchased were too big and needed a belt.
‘We were pulled up for a couple of hours, and we’ve missed lunch.’ Connor glanced at his watch. His skin was tanned and sprinkled with fine dark hair. As Dru watched him a strange jolt ran through her and her fingers tingled again.
‘It’s almost three-thirty.’ He lifted his head to meet her eyes, and his gaze was steady. ‘No wonder your stomach’s rumbling. I’ll get a meal sent up as soon as we get a room.’
‘About that. I’d rather not be alone so see if you can get a two bedroom suite. I’ll pay half.’
He raised his hand in a dismissive wave. ‘No need. This is a business expense.’
‘Okay. Thanks.’
Dru waited on a soft leather sofa in the foyer as he crossed to the reception counter. It was only a couple of minutes before he came across to her. ‘We’re in luck. A two bedroom suite on the top floor.’ He held up the key card and this time his grin was wide. Crinkles appeared next to his eyes and for the first time, Dru noticed the hazel flecks in his green irises. ‘Come on, let’s go order some food.’
This friendly Connor was going to take some getting used to.
*
The door closed behind the room service waiter and Connor lifted the white cloth covering the trolley. The last few hours had been exhausting. Remaining upbeat and keeping a friendly smile on his face and a constant relaxed stance had been hard work. He knew Dru was at breaking point and he didn’t want her to crash before he put her on the flight. He had tried hard not to let concern cross his face.
He lifted the silver cover from each plate as she stepped from the bathroom next to her room. The rich aroma of garlic teased his nostrils and his stomach let out a gurgle.
‘I’m glad to hear that. Makes me feel less embarrassed.’ Dru pulled out the chair on the other side of the table.
‘This is either a very early dinner or a late lunch. But I think we both need it.’ He tipped his head to the side. ‘You’ve got a bit more colour in your face. How are you feeling?’
‘Honestly? Stupid. Embarrassed.’ Her gaze was direct and a glimmer of the Dru from the mine reappeared. ‘Shaken, but better. Food will help. My stomach has stopped churning.’
‘That’s good.’ Connor picked up his knife and focused on his steak. Dru reached for the glass of water on the table and he noted her hands weren’t shaking as much.
‘So . . .’ Her voice was casual as she reached for her knife and fork. ‘Can I ask you something?’
‘Yes?’
‘Why did you leave the police force?’
That wasn’t what Connor had been expecting. He lifted his head and looked at Dru for a moment while he gathered his thoughts. Her expression was intense and he hesitated for a few more seconds before he replied. He didn’t normally talk to anyone except Greg about that time, but he’d done Dru a disservice by assuming she was responsible for the diamond theft. He spoke slowly. ‘I left the force after a case went . . . very wrong.’ He put his cutlery onto his plate; his appetite had suddenly gone. ‘Dishonesty, corruption and lies that led to some arrests overseas that should never have occurred. I didn’t want to stay in an organisation that valued personal ambition over human life. I learned that integrity wasn’t where I expected to find it.’
Dru nodded and stared past him towards the window. When she spoke her voice was full of feeling. ‘Human greed is a dreadful thing. It must have taken courage to step away from a career like that because you were disillusioned.’
‘It was more than that.’ Connor reached for the wine bottle that was sitting in the cooler beside the table. He hadn’t ordered it with the meal; apparently a complimentary bottle was part of the welcome. He poured a glass for himself and raised his eyebrows as he pointed to the other glass on the table.
‘Why not?’ Dru said with a shrug. ‘It might help me relax.’
Connor reached for her glass and poured the ruby red Shiraz. ‘I loved every minute of my training. They put me through a degree in international security studies at night, and I worked the Canberra beat by day.’ He let a mirthless chuckle escape his lips. ‘I thought I had it all. I was driven by ambition and I was in a group of colleagues who felt the same way.’ He picked up the wine and sipped it and Dru did the same. ‘We lived and breathed the force.’
‘Sounds like dedication to me,’ Dru said. ‘Nothing wrong with that.’
‘While it lasted.’ Connor shook his head. ‘I had a great life over those ten years. Good friends, great work colleagues and my future all mapped out.’ He sipped his wine and the strong berry flavour burst on his tongue. ‘A house and a partner.’
More than he’d intended to say.
He lifted the glass and held it up to the light. ‘Not a bad drop.’
‘So what happened that killed your ambition?’ Dru had cleared her plate while he’d been talking.
‘You were hungry.’ Connor smiled.
She nodded as she reached for the bread in the middle of the table. ‘I was . . . and I still am. Was it really so bad that you ended your career over it?’
She wasn’t going to let it go. Now that he had started talking about what had happened, a strange feeling ran through Connor and he didn’t want to hold back any more. It was almost as though he owed it to Dru to tell her how he’d come to Matsu. He got the impression that she would understand; sadness had filled her voice when she had spoken about human greed.
‘I was involved in investigating a couple of young drug couriers who were running drugs to Thailand.’ His voice was cynical. ‘I’m sure you’ve heard of the case. It’s been in the papers constantly for the last few years.’
Dru’s eyes widened. ‘I think I know the one you mean.’
‘My colleague, Greg, and I had been tipped off about what was about to go down. Greg had set up the travel alerts for when they hit customs.’ The familiar flash of anger was there. Nina had shafted them both, well and truly. ‘We were ready to arrest them before they boarded the flight but at the last minute a directive came through from the boss. We were told to let them board.’
‘And then they were arrested at the other end?’ Dru’s voice was full of sympathy.
Connor took a huge swig of his wine and looked down at the glass as he twirled it in his fingers. The last few drops stuck to the glass like a stain. Just like the feelings that he carried since Nina had walked right over him that day.
‘That’s right.’ Connor’s voice was terse. ‘My superior lied to us. She told us there wasn’t enough evidence to arrest them. But we knew there was. We’d been watching that group for a while and we knew what they were carrying to Phuket.’