Lachlan hung up and Alex smashed his fist into a cupboard door. The pain didn’t help.
If he tried to stop Ellie, it would only make her more determined. If he didn’t stop her, Teisha would die and he now believed this Lachlan when he said they’d set him up to take the fall. What sort of monster did this?
He rinsed his mouth out under the tap. He had to go to the police, but first he was ringing the newspaper’s security head. Surely they’d be able to make sense of this, but he had so much to lose too. If they investigated his accounts, it would come out that he’d been given several large sums of money and they would force him to explain the details. It was one thing to protect your source. For a journalist that was a given, but he’d protected people involved in criminal activity on an international scale. That would be harder to defend.
Maybe he could leave the country, let it all blow over. If Ellie broke the story, there was nothing they could do about it. Surely the authorities would have to act on the information then? He still had a British passport. If he left on that, he could end up in any number of places in the EU and then disappear.
He dialled work on his old phone, hoping there was some credit left. The head of security was in a meeting, but his second in charge promised he’d ring back shortly, before he went home for the day. Alex took a tiny piece of comfort from the man’s no-nonsense attitude. These guys were professionals.
He poured a glass of water, cradling it in his hands, still sifting through options. The water burned all the way down to his stomach.
If Ellie found out the truth about Nina, she might not go public. He wiped his hand across his face, the stubble on his jaw rough. Was that his way out? Come completely clean with Ellie about what happened the night Nina was shot and make her see it would hurt everyone if she followed through on the story?
And Lawson. Alex needed to tell Ellie that Lawson was there that night too. He cleaned up Nina’s mess. He lied to protect his men. He was probably still lying right now with whatever screwy deal he’d lined up with O’Sullivan. Was it possible he’d been Nina’s informant in Afghanistan?
Alex filled the glass again. Why had that never occurred to him before? If Lawson knew about Nina’s deals, then perhaps he’d always been a part of it. Was that why he was sticking so close to Ellie? It was obvious Ellie had no idea of the true story Nina had been following. Neither did her father.
It had been hard to stick around and watch a grown man cry, but Alex had to be sure Tom wasn’t in on it either. And he owed it to the man. Tom had always been good to him. It was obvious at Nina’s funeral he was clueless, a grief-stricken father who’d buried his wife and now his oldest daughter. He’d aged ten years during the army investigation into the death of Nina and the soldier. The official findings were inconclusive. Lawson must have lied.
And that circled back to what he was really doing in Half Moon Bay now.
Alex straightened up. The streetlights were on, casting a glow through his windows. He reached for his smart phone. Lachlan could listen in on this if he liked. It would be proof Alex was trying to stop Ellie. He had to start somewhere. He dialled and waited. It went to voicemail.
‘Ellie, it’s me, Alex. We need to talk. I know what’s really going on. Call me as soon as you get this. Lawson was definitely in Afghanistan. I’ve got hold of his service record from a contact. Call me and don’t do anything stupid.’
Unable to sit still now, he logged on to Facebook and checked Ellie’s status. No update for two days. It didn’t even look as though she’d visited regularly as there was little activity on her page.
He checked Teisha’s. Still the same photo of her and Sammie from last Friday night. Sammie’s page, on the other hand, was full of comments about Teisha’s disappearance. One friend thought she’d seen her at a restaurant in the Blue Mountains, but no one else had any idea.
A ‘message received’ icon flashed up on his mail provider. He clicked on it, relieved to see it was from Ellie. That relief was short-lived. There were some pics attached. Where the hell had she found these photos? One in particular scared him. It was a black-and-white scene with all the major players in the shot.The Afghani opium farmer, the go-between for Beyond Borders Strikeforce and O’Sullivan’s wretched son were all there along with the muscle.
He cradled his head in his hands. It was too late. She’d never back away from this story now. He knew who all the main players were in that operation bar one. What he didn’t know, and Nina had still been investigating, was who headed the Australian operation. Could it be the man calling himself Lachlan?
Alex went back to Teisha’s page and clicked on her photo album. There were hundreds of snapshots and he flicked through them looking for something – anything – recognisable or odd or out of place. He stopped on one where Teisha had her cheek pressed against an older guy’s face whose compelling blue eyes burned from the screen. Alex hovered the mouse over it, but there was no tag. Something in Teisha’s expression sent a tiny frisson of alarm up his neck. He kept scrolling and found several more photos and each time Teisha was glued to the guy’s side. On the sixth one, Alex struck gold. The tag said Lachy.
‘Fuck you,’ he breathed. ‘Did you set me up, you prick? Who the hell are you? Did you use Teisha as well?’
He froze. Someone was knocking on his door. Too late for a social call. Please God, don’t let it be another delivery. Or had Lachlan sent his heavies? His heart rate spiked. If it was, then the least he could do was send Ellie access to all the information. He thought he heard a noise outside the window too. The knock came again. This time it was hammering on the door. ‘Fuck, fuck, fuck,’ he swore, frantically typing in the numbers long committed to memory for Nina’s back accounts and safety deposit box. Ellie would find all the answers she needed there. The front door rattled and he hit send.
His hands were steady now. Whatever the hell happened from here on in, he’d given Ellie the ammunition she needed. She deserved so much better, but the truth would have to suffice.
Something heavy hit the door this time. He was out of options. He either had to face whoever was breaking in or he had to make a run for it and accept the consequences. Wood splintered and he grabbed his jacket, shoving the old phone into his pocket. He’d run out of time. He heard the back door smash open as the front door finally surrendered also. He sprinted for his office and shoved the window up, cracking his shin as he vaulted through it. He hoped his invaders didn’t have all the exits covered.
30
Ellie knew what fear felt like. It was a visceral gut-churning reaction to a threat and she’d experienced it before. This time it was due to the gun pressed to her temple. It was not the first gun she’d had waved at her, but in the past Nina had been there bluffing and charming and scheming their way out. Now she was on her own and her knotted stomach wasn’t going to let her forget it. Her heightened senses were in overdrive. She could smell the heated perfume on her body mingled with the stale sweat of the two intruders. No deodorant, no aftershave, no manners. Her muscles were locked as she fought to keep control of her voice. Where the hell was Shadow?
The mobile phone stopped ringing and she glared at her captors. ‘We’ve been over and over this. I’ve already told you I don’t have a Toshiba computer. I only have a Mac.’ She jerked her head at the slim case sitting on the kitchen table. ‘Tell O’Sullivan I will not be intimidated.’
The rumble of laughter held a menace that raised goosebumps all over her body.
‘Missy, we’re here to make sure you stop poking into matters that are way bigger than you. If the computer’s not here, then you know where it is. You have no option but to do it our way. Did I forget to mention your dog’s dead? So don’t be waiting for it to rescue you.’
Ellie clenched her jaw, fighting the prickle in her eyes. The pain must have showed on her face and the younger man giggled. Ellie wondered what drugs he was on to give him courage. Her phone beeped. Whoever had called had left a message. Maybe they’d come
looking for her since she hadn’t answered? It bolstered her courage.
‘Yeah, well, they can pin that charge on you as well.’ Her voice was steady. ‘I’ll say it again. I don’t have a Toshiba laptop. You’re wasting your time. Ron’s going to be here soon and he will raise the alarm.’
Both men laughed again. The younger one spoke. ‘Hey, Critter, I think she likes us.’
Critter? Ellie tried not to react. Shit . . . She pushed her chair, edging away from the rough hand that held the gun.
‘Sit, little missy. You’re not going anywhere.’ Critter leered at her, his breath stirring her hair. She felt tiny pieces of spittle fleck her face. Revulsion gave her strength and irrational courage.
‘Get out now and I’ll forget I’ve ever seen you.’ She barely got to her feet before Critter lashed out with an open hand. The force of the slap knocked her backwards into the chair. Quick tears flooded her eyes, but she ignored her stinging cheek. ‘Fuck off out of my house,’ she hissed at him, her vision misting with rising rage. She surged to her feet again, ready to fight back.
‘Yeah, right.’ He laughed in her face. ‘Funny, I’m the one with the gun here. Who’s going to make us leave?’ His sycophantic sidekick giggled again.
‘That’d be me. You heard what Ellie said. Get out.’ The words were low and slow, but the undercurrent of anger was unmistakeable. Both men froze, the older man with his face centimetres from Ellie’s. Neither of them spoke. Ellie half turned. Nick, water dripping from his sodden clothes, stood in the front doorway. Relief flooded her. Like an avenging warrior with hair slicked flat, his eyes burning in a face all angles and shadows, he dominated the room. But her relief was short-lived. What was he doing here?
‘Move, arsehole. Now.’ Nick’s words were soft, but the gun in his hand added to their menace. The younger man was the first to stir and he edged towards the back door.
‘And you.’ Nick motioned with his gun. ‘Out!’ He steadied the weapon aimed at the man’s chest and Critter’s resolve gave too. He leaned away from Ellie and she broke clear.
‘This is bullshit. O’Sullivan’s not going to be happy. You’ll be seeing us again. Both of you.’ He hawked and spat on the floor at Nick’s feet. ‘Haven’t got the balls for a man’s job, sonny? Pussy-whipped, are you?’
‘Ellie, over here.’
She shook her head and skirted around the kitchen table, putting space between all of them. If her heart beat any faster it would blow a valve. If Nick was in partnership with the mayor, why was he now waving that gun around and rescuing her?
Nick and Critter were still eyeballing each other, although Critter’s gun was slack in his hand. Ellie was ready to hit the floor if the shooting started. She touched her cheek, feeling the raised weal from the slap. She couldn’t stop her legs shaking.
‘Come on, Critter – out. Now.’ Nick’s face was stony. ‘Take your filth away before I forget all my manners.’ The knuckles on the hand holding the gun were white and his finger moved the trigger a fraction. The intruders finally capitulated, the younger one diving out the door while Critter walked away with a string of curses. Nick followed them and Ellie heard the lock on the back door snap closed. She steadied herself against the benchtop as Nick returned.
‘Did they hurt you, Ellie?’ He moved towards her, but she snatched up her computer and backed up as she shook her head.
‘No.’ She couldn’t banish her fear or suspicion. He knew the two men. He’d called Critter by name.
He stopped short, the gun still loose in his hand, still radiating urgency, but he didn’t try to touch her. ‘Ellie, I’m sorry. They’ve baited Shadow.’
She couldn’t stifle her cry of distress and he flinched.
‘Where is he?’
‘In the yard. He’s still alive. Ring your vet while I call the police. Tell him I think it’s strychnine. Shadow’s convulsing. And grab some blankets. Go. It’s our only hope of saving him.’
She didn’t need telling twice. The vet’s number put her in a queue for an operator at a call centre.
Nick too was on the phone, talking as he hurried through the house locking windows and doors. ‘Bob? Yeah. Sorry to bother you, mate, but there’s been a situation out at Ellie’s place. No . . . No, but I let down a tyre so they shouldn’t be far away. Pretty sure you’ll be able to tie it into the hit-and-run on her this afternoon.’ He was still talking as he went out the back door.
Ellie pulled a blanket out of a camphorwood chest, phone tucked under her chin. Her call was finally answered. She left details for the vet and shoved her laptop into her bag. If someone was keen enough to be searching for it and the missing Toshiba, she wasn’t going to make it any easier for them. Grabbing her coat and keys, she headed after Nick.
The cold rain came as a relief from the overheated air in the kitchen. She turned the outside light on. Nick crouched beside a black shape on the ground. Shadow! Before she reached them Nick scooped the dog up in his arms and strode for his car. Ellie managed to get a hand on Shadow’s nose. It was burning hot.
‘Back seat.’
Ellie slid into the car with the blanket in her arms and Nick handed her the dog. She wrapped the fabric around Shadow, feeling shivers racking his lean body. His warm tongue touched her hand and the tears she’d held on to so tightly spilled down her cheeks. She bent over the dark head, dropping kisses between his ears. ‘Shadow, baby, you can do this.’
The car door slammed and Nicholas started the engine. ‘Can you give me directions?’
‘Okay.’ She stroked her dog’s sodden fur, rubbing limbs that were too stiff. They drove out of her front gate, already in second gear. Up the road they passed the Commodore. Critter and his mate were arguing on the side of the road. Ellie didn’t care if they broke into her house again. Shadow was all that mattered right now. Nick muttered something under his breath but she didn’t catch the words.
Shadow went rigid in her arms, his back arching like a bow. ‘Oh God, he’s fitting.’
31
Nick focused on the inky blackness ahead, his headlights reflecting off the curtain of rain. He should have seen the danger coming and pre-empted it. He knew what stakes these guys were playing for.
‘I’m almost at the main street. Where to now?’
‘Left. Red building with white paw prints on the outside.’
He pulled up in front of the surgery and had barely turned off the engine before the back door was yanked open by a waiting figure.
‘Here, hand him over, Ellie. Yep, I’ve got him.’ The middle-aged vet gathered the big dog into her arms. She didn’t stop to check who was following, her skirt flapping round her legs as she swept into the surgery.
By the time Nick was at the passenger side, Ellie was out, her face pale, her eyes red-rimmed. His arm went instinctively around her. ‘Come on.’ He could feel her shaking.
The harsh surgery lights illuminated Shadow’s obvious distress. The vet barely glanced up. ‘I’m injecting him with drugs to stop the convulsions first. I think it is strychnine. It just depends how much they gave him. Temp isn’t too high yet so that’s a plus and he’s a big dog with plenty of muscle mass. We’ll know by morning.’
‘Oh, Liz, please . . . I couldn’t bear it . . .’ The sob caught in Ellie’s throat and this time Nick turned her into his chest. She didn’t resist. He stroked her hair and his eyes met the vet’s in mute appeal.
‘You can stay if you want. There’s coffee in the kitchen – strong black and two sugars for me.’ Liz’s words were gruff.
Nick nodded and steered Ellie to the kitchen. He sat her in a chair and crouched down in front of her.
‘He’s in the best possible hands, Ellie. But what about you? Do I need to track down your doctor? Someone else for you to talk to, to be here with you?’
‘I’ll be fine. I’ve seen worse, much worse.’ Her face was taut. Her hands trembled, but she’d stemmed the tears.
He folded her close and rested his chin on her head. For a mo
ment she was stiff, resistant. He ran soothing circles over her back and with a tiny hiccup of a stifled sob she relaxed against him. God, he wished she’d just break down properly. She had to crack some time. He wanted to take away her hurt, kiss the pain from her eyes. He wanted desperately to tell her the truth, but now? It wasn’t possible.
If she realised that he’d been there when Nina was shot, had been involved in the clean-up and he hadn’t admitted it, she’d hate him, and who would blame her? Bad enough the other lies he’d told her about his business in Half Moon Bay, but if she knew they’d met before, in Afghanistan?
‘Kettle boiled yet?’ The vet’s voice brought Nick back to the present. Ellie pulled away.
‘Sorry, I think it just clicked off.’
‘I’m Liz and you’re Nick.’ The hand that grasped his was firm.
‘Shadow?’ Ellie asked. She looked dead on her feet.
‘He’s as well as can be expected, love.’ Liz busied herself with the coffee. ‘Here, drink this, Ellie. The caffeine will give your heart a quick shot. And how do you have yours, Nick?’
‘White and two, but I can get my own.’
‘NATO standard issue, huh,’ she joked, eyeing him up and down. ‘I was in the military once. Started life as a doctor before deciding I’d seen enough of the horrors humans inflict on each other. Animals are much more appreciative.’
‘Is there any point in us sticking around or should I get Ellie home for some rest?’
Ellie bridled next to him. ‘No. I’m not leaving.’
The vet shrugged as she handed him his mug. ‘It’s good for the dog to know his humans haven’t deserted him so maybe wait till I’ve got him sedated. After that it’s in the lap of the gods. Sorry. All you can do is stop the convulsions and then pump their stomach out. Temperature control can only really work once the unabsorbed chemical is out of the body.’
Half Moon Bay Page 20