by Sofia Grey
She was on the verge of giving her heart to him. She wanted to believe him.
“—the fuck?” Yanni’s fury was visible. “You tried to trick me, Julien. You and your boyfriend. I will not tolerate this. You hear me?”
She shrank back, her teeth chattering like castanets.
“Why don’t I take care of him?” In contrast to Yanni’s anger, Jack was calm. “I know just the place. A ravine we found this afternoon.”
Yanni nodded.
Jack held out his hand, and Yanni gave him a pistol.
This could still be part of Jack’s plan. He’d whisk Jean-Luc away to safety.
Only he didn’t.
“My pleasure,” said Jack. He swung out, smashing Jean-Luc on the side of the head with the gun.
Juli couldn’t breathe. Time seemed to slow down. Everything happened in slow motion.
Jean-Luc grunted. He sounded surprised. Blood spurted out, catching Jack’s hand and cascading down Jean-Luc’s face and clothes.
“Merde,” he whispered, and then slumped to the floor.
They were supposed to be friends. How could Jack do this?
“Why?” She found her voice and yelled. “Why are you doing this? What has he done?”
In answer, Jack pointed the gun down and fired at Jean-Luc’s head.
The noise of the shot filled her ears. So loud. It hurt. She screamed, her throat rasping. So much blood. It spilled across the floor.
Dropping to her knees, she tried to shield Jean-Luc’s body, but Jack pushed her away. She landed on the floor, sitting down hard and off balance, unable to see for the tears streaming down her face.
Nick and Jordan were shouting, their voices clashing in the background.
Jack killed Jean-Luc. His friend. His workmate.
He was talking again. She struggled to hear over the ringing in her ears. He looked across at one of the guards. “Scarab can help me. We’ll be a couple hours.”
She watched in disbelief, as Jack hauled Jean-Luc’s limp body over his shoulder out of the barn. “No.” She screamed again. “No.”
The guards dragged Nick and Jordan out, before lifting Juli to her feet and hauling her back to her cell—for that was what it was. She had no illusions any more.
How was she so wrong about Jack? He’d just murdered Jean-Luc in cold blood, right in front of her. Beat him around the head. Shot him.
She trusted him. This pitiless stranger.
If he would do that to his friend, what chance did Nick have? Or Jordan?
Or her?
*
It was the hardest thing Jack ever had to do.
Seeing Juli’s face as he supposedly executed Lucky tore his insides to shreds. Her horror and disbelief would haunt him for ever.
Jack had to hit Lucky first, somewhere that would bleed profusely. The temple was ideal. He fell convincingly, hopefully just dazed from the blow. Jack prayed he’d lie still when he fired close to his head. There was so much blood, it’d be difficult to tell if he had a bullet there as well.
He slid Lucky’s body into the open back of the pickup truck, and then drove with Scarab to a ravine he found earlier in the day. It was far enough away to give Lucky a chance to come round, but close enough there was a hint of twilight left.
While Scarab watched from the truck, Jack hauled out his friend’s body and carried him to the edge of the cliff.
With his back to Scarab, Jack spoke urgently. “Lucky, you still with me?”
“Yeah. Just about.”
Thank fuck for that. “Sorry, bud. I had to make it look realistic. Listen up. I’m going to roll you over the edge. There’s plenty of vegetation along this stretch, so get ready to grab it. If you miss, there’s a ledge about five feet down, but after that, it’s over a hundred feet to the bottom. The tracks are lethal in the dark, and you’re best to hole up until morning, then head west. The compound is to the east. Watch out for Yanni’s patrols. You should be four or five hours’ trek from the nearest village. When you get there, find a phone and call Tanner. I haven’t been able to check in yet. Now Yanni trusts me, I might get some more freedom, but I have no idea what’s going down at the moment.”
Lucky grunted assent, and Jack bent down and slipped him to the ground. “Get back here for them,” he continued, “but warn Tanner I may have to stay longer. Ready? I’m gonna push you over.”
Jack watched as Lucky disappeared over the edge. His heart in his mouth, he waited for a few seconds, supposedly catching his breath. Stepping forward, he peered down. Lucky caught the first branch and had already moved into a good exit position, a few feet below.
“Good luck.” He ambled to the pickup, where Scarab waited.
“All done.” Jack nodded to him and slid behind the wheel. “What are the chances there’s any dinner left?”
Scarab laughed. He seemed in awe of Jack. Was he starting to trust him? Jack could take advantage of that.
While it was one thing executing Lucky, a trained soldier and survival expert, Jack didn’t know what he’d do if he was called on to repeat this on one of the others.
THURSDAY 18 JANUARY
Chapter Twenty-One
Daisy’s phone beeped, waking her from an uneasy night’s sleep. It was a message from Charlie.
Hi. Landed early at Auckland! Catching the 9am flight, ETA Wellington 10am. See you soon x
If anything could wake her properly, it was this. She reread it. Not only would he be home earlier than expected, but this was also the first message he signed with a kiss. She lay in bed and pressed the phone to her chest. If she looked in the mirror right now, she’d see a silly, happy grin on her face.
No. It wasn’t right to feel happy, even briefly, after the horrible news yesterday.
Not when everyone else was in pieces.
And just because Joni had gone quiet, it didn’t mean Callum was out of danger.
Nobody had slept, by the look of it. Kate and Lara were ghostly pale, with red swollen eyes. Lara curled in a chair and hugged a cushion, while Kate cuddled Poppy longer than the little girl wanted. Callum picked up easily on people’s emotions, and he wandered back and forth, a much-loved teddy bear trailing by one ear. He insisted on giving it to Poppy, along with a clumsy hug.
Kate was trying to persuade Aiden and Tanner to go with her to the South Island, to be closer to the search site. “I can’t stay here and do nothing. I need to be there.”
It took Alex, to make her think again. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. “Whatever happens, Kate, you are carrying Jordan’s child,” he said. “One of the most precious things in his life. You need to stay here. Stay with us. Let us support you and Lara.”
The plane crash was still headlining on all the news channels. They’d have been found by now, if they were still alive. As the hours ticked by, the horrible inevitability of their deaths drew closer. Daisy didn’t know how Kate and Lara would cope when the bodies were found. It broke her heart to think about it.
There had been a flood of calls from TM-Tech people and the media, once Jordan’s name was released. Kate’s sister was here with her husband. Lara had spoken to her parents and in-laws. Daisy heard Kate talking to Marcus Reeve, one of the senior TM-Tech people in Houston and a long-time friend of Jordan, who announced he was flying straight over with his estranged wife, Jordan’s cousin, Louisa. Somebody phoned Juli’s parents, and Tanner contacted Lucky’s next of kin. But still, as Kate insisted, there was no proof.
“Why don’t I take Poppy and Cal to the airport with me, to meet Charlie?” Daisy looked up at Tanner, who towered over her. “We’ll be fine with Tanner there, and it gives Pops a distraction.”
Kate hesitated. “Okay,” she said. “But you come straight back here.”
“Of course.”
It was selfish of Daisy, but she couldn’t wait to get away from the house for an hour.
Tanner helped load up a car with two child seats, but they set off late. It was hard enough, trying to get s
omewhere on time with one child, let alone two, and Daisy jiggled with impatience as they drove along. The short-stay car park was full, and Tanner had to cruise around to find a space, but eventually they disembarked and set off for the Arrivals Hall. Tanner carried Poppy, and Daisy held Callum in her arms.
As they walked into the crowded area, Tanner automatically reached for her hand. They were playing happy-family again. She didn’t think anything of it. They did this so often in public, it felt normal.
She paused under one of the announcement screens and searched the list of incoming flights. Charlie’s plane landed twenty minutes ago. They were so late. He wouldn’t be waiting for luggage on the carousel, as he only took hand baggage with him.
She tugged Tanner’s hand, to get his attention. He was busy, scanning the crowd, presumably for any threat.
And then, suddenly, he was there. Charlie. He stepped out from behind a potted palm, locking his gaze onto hers.
“Charlie.” She dropped Tanner’s hand and threw her free arm around Charlie’s neck, pressing kisses along his face. He hadn’t shaved for a few days, probably since he left on Saturday, and a soft fuzz covered his cheeks. She rasped her fingers across his chin, enjoying the new feel of him.
“You’re here,” she said, unable to contain her delight. “We’re late. I’m so sorry. Have you been waiting ages?”
He didn’t say anything, just stared at her, a frown cutting grooves into his forehead.
“It’s been awful, with all the news and everything. I’m so glad you’re here. Alex will be too.” She paused. He still hadn’t spoken. “Are you okay? I missed you so much.”
“Clearly,” he muttered, and then slung a duffel over his shoulder. “Let me take Cal.”
Daisy passed the child to him, puzzled. Was he jetlagged? His hands were full, and she couldn’t tangle their fingers together like she wanted to. She needed the contact, but when she tried to kiss him, he twisted away.
“Not now, Daisy,” he said. “Let’s get outta here. I want to see AJ.”
The unspoken message was clear. He didn’t want to see her.
*
Juli huddled on the narrow bed and gazed at nothing. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw again that single moment, frozen in time, where Jean-Luc was murdered. Gunned down.
The way his body crumpled.
His blood spilling across the floor.
The cocky look on Jack’s face when he killed his friend. As though he didn’t have a care in the world. As though he was playing a game with her.
She wrapped her arms tight around her body and curled into a ball.
Her mind spun in useless circles, coming back to the same question over and over again. Why did he do that?
Think, Juli. She was a scientist. She dealt in hard facts. What did she know? Really know?
Jack knew Jean-Luc to be a security guard, as indeed he claimed to be. Was Jean-Luc a threat to Yanni’s operation here? Or did Jack think Jean-Luc would expose him? God only knew.
Her ears buzzed, and her head pounded so hard she might throw up. She needed painkillers, but those would only help with her imminent migraine; they couldn’t calm the fears running riot in her mind.
She was so easily fooled by Jack. Shame flooded her body. Was that part of his plan? To swoop in and set everyone looking for Yanni, while persuading her she needed protection. His protection? Clever.
A noise jerked her awake. Pain ran down her shoulders. She must have dozed after all, with her neck at a weird angle.
The cell door opened. Another guard brought in a plate of bread and fruit, and more bottled water. “I’ll come back for you in one hour,” he announced, and then left again. The lock clicked shut. Whatever. This wasn’t the movies. They wouldn’t forget to lock the door and allow her a chance to escape.
Yanni wanted something from her. He’d almost certainly kill her when she outlived her usefulness. Was there any point in stringing him along? Nobody would come to find them. Tears pricked at her eyes, but she brushed them away. No crying. She wouldn’t cry over Jean-Luc or Jack’s betrayal or the pain her family must be going through. Not until it was over.
She drank the water and picked at the fruit. She needed painkillers. And a shower. Her suit jacket and skirt were wrinkled, and her shirt had great rings of nervous perspiration under the arms. She must stink of her own sweat. She was a mess. Her braid had come undone at some point, and her hair probably resembled Medusa’s snakes the way it was matted and tangled.
Did it matter?
The guard returned as promised and escorted her to another room, deep in the heart of the main building. This was an airy office with sun-filled windows, whiteboards and computers, and a long desk with six chairs around it.
Juli was handcuffed to a chair again. She sat and waited. She was alone, apart from the armed guard in the doorway.
She passed the time by staring at the plans roughed out on the whiteboards. One held a timeline, with milestones shown as stars. Another had lists of items, too small to read from where she sat. It looked bizarrely normal. Like she’d stepped into a corporate office.
Yanni strolled in. He wore jeans today, with a striped cotton shirt. He prowled toward her and rolled up the cuffs a little way, showing tanned, muscular arms, dark with hair. His expression could only be described as satisfied.
“Where are my colleagues?” Juli used her most authoritative voice.
He ignored her, took one of the empty seats, and swivelled to face her.
“I’m not saying or doing anything, until I know they’re alright,” she continued. “You murdered one of my friends last night. I need proof that Jordan and Nick are still alive.” Her anger was energising. And way better than her being paralysed with fear.
“Your colleagues are fine. At the moment.” He paused, focusing on her face. “If you help me, I’ll let you see them.”
Juli blinked at him, composed herself, and spoke again. “No. You’re going to kill me anyway. Why should I do anything for you?” Her voice was firm, the tone she’d use on a junior assistant that just screwed up a week’s worth of data.
An amused smile played across his face. “You think I’m extremely uncivilised. However, that really isn’t the case. You have something I want. I have something you want. Mutual cooperation is the key to everyone being happy.”
“Jean-Luc will never be happy again,” she snarled at him.
“Your boyfriend tried to trick me.”
For a second, she thought of Jack. He’d tricked her only too well.
Yanni grabbed her free arm and held it tight, as he rolled his chair closer. His eyes were black as coals. “As did you, Miss Lambert. You tried to play me for a fool.”
She held her tongue.
“Hmm. If I threatened to execute Jordan Merrill or Nick Anderson, would that help put you in the right frame of mind? Merrill has a young child, I believe. Anderson is married. Of course, if I’d waited a few more hours, your deception would have been exposed, when the media identified you all. Your boyfriend died for nothing.”
He released her arm with a jerk and rolled away from her. “There are many ways of ensuring cooperation, and I am a patient man, up to a point. We’ll talk again later.”
*
Charlie wanted to push Daisy away. She was all over him like a rash. He staggered off the plane, still hungover from the flight into Auckland, and there she was, holding hands with fucking Tanner. Did he need another demonstration of how fickle women were? Five fucking days away—that was all. She missed him so much that she had to start getting cuddly with Tanner. Perhaps she went for bronzed skin and rippling muscles after all?
Fuck the lot of ’em.
He hid his disgust by carrying Callum—his nephew, he realised with a sense of wonder—while she chattered on. He glared at Tanner, who didn’t seem to notice. Charlie would love to smash his shiny white teeth down his throat but common sense stopped him from trying. He’d get one hit if he was lucky, before Tanner man
gled him like an old dishcloth.
Back at the Plimmerton house, AJ gave him a man-hug, and they thumped each other’s backs. AJ looked like shit, but being the great guy he was, he asked Charlie first if he was okay.
“Been better, mate. But that’s nothing compared to what you’ve all been going through. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No.” AJ shook his head. “There’s not a goddamn thing anyone can do. We have to wait. That’s all we’ve been doing. It’s a fuckin’ nightmare.” He twisted his lips and gazed out at the sea beyond the windows. “Go and catch up on your sleep. You’ve had a rough time as well. Or spend some time with Daisy. She’s missed you. We all have.”
The last place Charlie wanted to be was anywhere with Daisy.
AJ squeezed his arm. “Charlie, you’re like a brother to me. You know that, right?”
Oh shit. Charlie gazed back, feeling like a rabbit trapped in the proverbial headlights. He wanted to blurt out his momentous news, but he had to swallow it down. “Yeah, mate. You too.” More than AJ could ever know. His voice was choked.
“I can’t believe that Jordan’s gone. He was an amazing guy. I’m really glad you’re here. I don’t think I could cope, otherwise.” AJ gave him a crumpled smile. “Thanks, Charlie.”
It felt freaky weird to be talking about this kinda shit with AJ. They never did this.
“Go get some sleep,” repeated AJ, his voice firm. “We need to go to Christchurch in the morning for the sound checks. It’ll be full on again, tomorrow and Saturday.”
“Yeah.” Charlie nodded. Escaping to his room sounded like the best idea. He needed to process everything that happened.
Was Daisy stupid, not realising how upset he was, or was she just another hard-faced bitch who didn’t care? Either way, she was history.
*
Locked in the bunkhouse again, Jack took a long shower, the only place he had any privacy. He stood under the water, his thoughts spiralling out of control.
Juli was here. With Jordan and the others. What the fuck had happened? They hadn’t been alone, but somehow even Lucky had been outwitted.
