by Debbie Behan
Alina had fallen for Ricco, big time, her lonely future far from her mind. She was living for today and loved every minute of it. Over the past days they had swum, snorkelled, pulled up on islands and stayed at tourist resorts. Here they went on scenic bush walks, went on evening strolls along the beach and dined and danced in the finest of island restaurants.
On the boat again, they headed back. Alina climbed up the ladder to wander the deck and get some fresh air. Her mood was despondent. It was the end of the trip and the end of the road for them. Ricco would have responsibilities and couldn’t hide away with her forever. He had said days ago he would take care of her, but hadn’t mentioned it since. Alina knew this was over once they hit the shore and it hurt.
Silence met her on topside, with not a soul around, just the hissing sound of the motor and the movement of the gentle glide through water. The view at the stern riveted her as the moonlight picked up the wake. The shimmering patterns held her interest. The water sliced apart and feathered out behind them, and reminded her of her life. She was forever being parted from all she loved. She shook away the dream that Ricco might stay with her always.
She breathed out, frustrated; as if he would stay once he saw the game of cat and mouse she played with the authorities. She paced about before deciding to take the few extra steps up to see the captain. Maybe they could have a chat.
That’s when she heard a voice come over the two way. The voice prickled at her senses. It was her old enemy, Detective Berry.
‘Where are you?’ His voice sounded annoyed.
‘About half an hour out.’
‘Where is she?’
‘Safely on board.’
‘The prince has had long enough. If he hasn’t got what I need by now, he isn’t trying. Tell him he is out of time; we’re coming to get her.’
Cold with shock, Alina couldn’t believe Ricco betrayed her. He didn’t love her.
Breathe! She tapped at her chest, her heart breaking. The devious bastard, how could he? Allowed me to think he loved me too.
At that moment if she had a gun she would shoot them both. Rage burned inside her, a fire out of control.
‘Half an hour! Do you hear me; tell the Prince that’s the extent of my patience. Then I’m coming to get her myself.’
‘Understood. Over and out.’ The Captain clicked the speaker switch off.
With no time to think, Alina dived into the water and prayed they had not heard the splash. With one arm after the other she kicked hard with her legs and swam with all her might, tears frozen in fear, a heart in tatters.
Her stupidity for believing in Ricco fuelled her stokes and only after she reached the beach did she collapse, letting the tears fall. The fear of them finding her finally had Alina up and on the run again. The sobs and anguish were sucked in and kept quiet as she came across a camp site. Her senses were alert, looking for clothes. When she jumped overboard she had on nothing but a towelling gown that she struggled out of in the water; the weight when wet made it too heavy to keep. Naked, she tiptoed through the tents. She took pants off the line, and did them up with rope and pulled a t-shirt over her head as she ran off. Then she tripped over a sleeping bag. These campers were sprawled around her. They smelt like fish and stale alcohol and must have passed out from a night on the booze.
Alina picked herself up and crept quietly over bodies. Then someone grabbed her from behind. A hand went to her mouth to muffle her scream, and a drunk leered at her, holding her around the throat.
‘Whatcha lookin’ for lady? Must be me then.’ His slurred voice was so quiet she knew he was planning to do more than just talk.
Angry at him, at the prince, at everything, she kicked hard. The man doubled up, let her go and in the split second she was gone.
Run legs, run, she ordered them as the weariness of the swim and the bout of crying took its toll.
Still smarting from the betrayal of the prince, she didn’t think anyone could make her feel any worse, but yes that did.
Pull it together girl. This is nothing compared to what Detective Berry will do if he gets hold of you–now move.
‘I’ll get you for this, Prince Arsehole,’ she muttered furiously as she trudged along. When there was enough distance between them, she curled up under a tree. Even anger couldn’t keep her awake any longer.
~ Chapter Four ~
Knight in Shining Armour
Alina woke to the sound of a helicopter overhead, She realised she had slept far too long. There was a commotion on the beach. She groaned, slapping a hand over her mouth as a scream threatened to escape her lips. She realised she had somehow walked through the bush and circled back.
How did I end up back at the fishermen’s camp? She had walked for hours.
The fishermen from the camp she scored clothes from were getting the third degree from Ricco. Oh bloody hell, and Detective Berry was there.
‘Don’t lie! She was here.’ He lifted the towelling robe that must have washed ashore.
‘We had passed out,’ said the guy.
Ricco let out a growl.
‘What clothes did she take?’ was the last thing she heard Berry saying to him before she turned tail and ran.
Alina slid down the embankment. The sun was breaking dawn as she thrashed through the bush and stumbled across a lake. At least running in water might cover her trail and make it harder for them to track her, she hoped.
Alina’s feet were sore and cut by the time she got to a different campsite where her luck changed. A glance behind to ensure nobody followed had her ram straight into an elderly woman, almost knocking her over as she folded a tent. A man reached out and steadied both of them. ‘Gee lady, steady on.’
‘So … sorry,’ she stuttered.
‘Where did you spring from?’ he asked.
‘Thank goodness I found someone. My car broke down miles back. I need a lift if anyone is going to town.’
The woman was a sweetie. ‘We were just leaving honey.’ She put an arm around her. ‘You’re exhausted. Come with us, and we’ll see you get there safe and sound.’
Alina finally got a break.
The moody husband grumped that he had to go out of his way, but the woman just laughed at him. They dropped her off at Jupiter’s casino. The car park was closed off so they left Alina around the front and the wife waved madly until they were out of sight.
Alina guessed why there was so much security. They were looking for her. As soon as her lift disappeared from sight she ducked into the underground car park unnoticed.
Alina’s thoughts were on the nerdy desk clerk who had re-booked her back into a room under a fictitious name. She now hoped that if he was on duty he was keeping that secret safe. Alina tried to figure out how to get her hands on that passport in her room.
That morning he had put the bogus details in the computer to hide her identity was nothing short of a miracle at this point.
* * * *
The casino entrance in the car park crawled with police and undercover agents as well. Alina was having trouble finding a way inside without being noticed. Not looking anything like the Chad who booked in a week ago, she sat huddled behind a car.
How will I get to my room? She chewed on her nails nervously. In her daze of confusion she hadn’t noticed someone approaching her until the vehicle she hid behind moved. Someone unlocked the door and she felt the car rock as the driver’s side opened. What now! Her heart pounded. Had they seen her? Maybe she could slip behind another car once the motor started. Her thoughts raced.
A sound on the ground made her jump. The driver of the car dropped something. He swore as he bent to pick up his keys and it was then he saw her. As their eyes locked the driver looked at her with a strange glare.
‘Sleeping Beauty is that you?’
Phew, it was Jay, the nerdy desk clerk.
How lucky I am it was him. She breathed out a sigh of relief.
‘Yes, it’s me. I’m hiding,’ she whispered. How stupid that so
unded. She felt exposed and unsure what to do next. What if he screamed out, here she is boys. Alina felt like a caged cat as he came around and sat beside her.
‘What are we doing?’ he asked, whispering back to her with a goofy grin.
He was leaning so close, enjoying the secrecy of her hiding.
She nudged him. ‘Hiding from the bad men.’
‘I’m not surprised to find you are a girl. You were far too pretty for a boy. Damn it girl, I had the hots so bad for you…well the boy …not you the girl.’
Alina liked him being so honest. ‘Did you give me up? Tell them I was Sleeping Beauty?’
‘Bull. No way! I wouldn’t tell that cop a thing. He looked at me like I was a piece of garbage. Nope, your secret is still safe but I’ll be blowed if I can work out how to get you in there the way you are dressed. I have to be honest Sleeping Beauty, you look like something the cat dragged in. What did they do, chase you half way around Queensland? Damn it girl, you look like crap if you don’t mind me giving it to you straight.’
‘I need help and I can see you are nobody’s fool. I had to jump overboard to avoid capture and swam to shore. I lost my robe in the water and had to lift clothes from a drunken mob of fishermen. Thank goodness they didn’t move even after I tripped over a couple of them except one, who got a swift kick for trying to grope me. After a mad dash to get away, I walked in the bush for miles before I hitched a lift. Now I’m here and just want to go upstairs and get my gear and take off.’
‘Well I can see you’re in deep trouble of some kind.’ He put up his hand to shush her. ‘And I want to help but no way can I get you up there looking like you.’ He scratched his head, his eyebrows pulled together as he considered what to do. ‘I’ve got a plan and it will involve food. You see I’m guessing you’re hungry too?’ he said with a bright smile.
‘Didn’t you just hear me say I was on the run?
‘I find that hard to swallow!’
‘I could be a killer.’
‘Yes and I’m sure.’
He seemed so unconcerned. Alina considered his help. Dang, he was a nice kid; how could she refuse when she had nowhere else to go?
‘Well, I am hungry. And I could do with a shower.’
He sniffed the air around her. ‘Smelt worse… you’re not so bad. Let me get you fed and in some sort of disguise and we can come back later. My sister is about your size and she won’t care if we pinch something of hers. She’s got lots of stuff.’
Her eyes met his with a little apprehension. ‘You remember the man that left me the message?’
He nodded.
‘Well I went away with him and he was the one that double crossed me. Can I trust you, Jay the desk clerk?’
‘Come on Sleeping Beauty, do I look like an oversized bore or a creepy detective? You know you can trust me or you would have run from me too.’
‘I want to know why you’re not scared to death of me seeing the place is swarming with police trying to find me.’
‘Christ SB. The only thing you might be capable of would be to give me a little scratch if I get too close. Nothing more.’ He pulled another twig out of her hair. ‘Geez girl, stop stressing over what I think and come back to my place before anything else serious happens to you. ‘
He made her relax, and feel cared for and this was what she craved. She grinned at his kindness and put out her hand. His smile was cute and his touch gentle, and she welcomed the help of one so endearing.
‘Here, lie on the back seat.’ A rug covered her. ‘Don’t move until I get you through security.’
Why is he being so kind? She blinked the tears away and lay still.
The engine started.
‘The windows are a dark tint so they shouldn’t notice where the seat starts or finishes. They’re checking all the cars but the guy on at this checkpoint is a friend so I’ll get us out. Please, no talking until we’re clear.’
* * * *
Jay was good. He talked his way past the guards by chatting intently about a game that was on later that night. The guard was so engaged in the conversation that he waved Jay through without so much as a second glance. The boot was all that was checked.
‘We’re free SB. Come up the front where it’s more comfortable,’ Jay called to her.
Alina threw the cover off and squeezed through the bucket seats, easing into the passenger seat.
‘My name’s Chadalina, but my friends call me Alina.’
‘Hi, Alina.’ His smile was warm.
‘I owe you big time Jay.’
‘I know.’ He drove in silence.
They pulled up at his house and she was pleasantly surprised to find he was a little rich kid. As she stepped out of the car, the fragrance of the blossoming roses and manicured lawns and shrubs filled her senses. ‘Nice, Jay.’ She looked up at the two storey house.
‘Live with my folks still. Don’t worry, nobody is home.’
‘Phew, glad of that.’
Inside the home it was richly decorated. He moved so quickly she had to take long strides to keep up with him. In the kitchen he opened the fridge door.
‘Mum and Dad are away working and my sister rarely comes home. So we’re on our own. Well, that is until they decide to show up, which isn’t too often, so please relax.’
He talked as he made them ham sandwiches and poured two juices. If it concerned him who she was, he sure didn’t show it. This guy was a dream come true. He just liked her and didn’t even question why.
He plonked himself next to her on the bar stool engulfing his sandwich while chatting non-stop about the conversation between him and the detectives that questioned him.
‘Eat!’ He encouraged her to get a wiggle on. ‘I want to do laps before it gets dark.’ He stood up and packed his plate and glass in the dishwasher.
‘Full.’ Alina handed her half eaten food on the plate to him.
‘Good, follow me then. I’ll find a cossie of my sister’s for you. You can have a spa if you don’t like swimming.’
She eyed him. This was too much. He treated her as an old friend. He saw her hesitation and grinned.
‘I always do at least fifty when I get home. I have to stay fit just in case I find a lady stranded and have to protect her,’ he said, making Alina smile. His dry humour suited hers.
‘That’s better. I figured you had one in there somewhere.’ He nudged her in a friendly way.
‘Actually a spa sounds just perfect,’ she said, looking up into his gentle hazel eyes. His sun bleached hair flipped each side of his face as he leant down to clean her plate. Up until now, the impression was that he was a geek. Now in his own home, uniform off, hair not tied back and chatting with ease, he was quite handsome. Another feature she liked was that he didn’t ask questions. He just seemed happy to hang with her and he was definitely putting her at ease. It was as if she had known him a lifetime yet that was crazy.
He stopped talking and studied her. ‘That’s the way Ali; you’re starting to relaxed. Trust me; you are safe here with me.’ He rolled his eyes.
Jay had already explained he preferred her as the man so his helping her wasn’t about sex.
‘We can go get what you need later.’
He easily picked up on her mood change and that was an uncanny trait that Ricco also possessed. And he turned out to be a monster…
Her mind drifted. How unusual meeting two such men in one week.
* * * *
Jay found her a swim suit and she lay back in the spa trying to work out where she went wrong. She was sure she had lost the detective. How did they keep finding her?
Closing her eyes she re-enacted the night. Now that she was not so pumped up looking for just a good night out, she could see them hiding behind martinis and dark shadows of each corners. They had followed her to Australia.
She opened her eyes and breathed out a heavy sigh. Was Jay a set up as well? Will the cops come charging in here any minute and drag me from the spa? Sweat started pouring out of
her as her mind went wild.
She was counting Jay’s laps to take her mind of freaking out when a loud siren rang out alerting them someone was at the door. Jay stopped and as she watched the colour drain from his face, she was sure he was not a part of it.
‘Hide, Ali. In the little hut! It covers the pumps but you should fit in.’
Alina jumped up and hid as Jay grabbed towels and hastily wiped away her wet footprints.
‘Don’t make a sound,’ he whispered and headed off inside the house to answer the door.
There was a commotion, footsteps running through the house and now around where she hid. Her heart pumped like crazy, trapped with nowhere to go. She cursed herself for not taking notice of her usual instincts to run when her woman’s intuition was telling her.
Jay laughed at them saying he had no bloody fugitive living in his father’s home.
‘You’re kidding. My old man would have a fit.’
‘Yes it’s wet because I’ve been out here swimming laps. Are you all that bloody stupid?’
Looking through a little crack she saw the detective swipe his hand across his face at that remark.
‘You guys will be so sorry when my dad gets home and I tell him you barged in here and slapped me around and without a goddamn warrant.’
Alina had to hold in a giggle. Jay wasn’t a big guy but he stuck up for himself. Smart too. The cop would be in trouble if Jay told on him to authorities. She wondered if the detective would back pedal. They must have been pretty sure she was there for them to go to those lengths, and they weren’t wrong. She silently thanked her new friend the desk clerk for putting up such a convincing stance. He’s good.
The cop’s voice got firmer and he was trying to rattle Jay now. ‘Look buddy, you’re in deep trouble. You were the last to speak to her. We watched the tapes. Tell us where she went or we will haul your arse up to the station.’
Jay stood strong. ‘Hell, how was I to know the person in that room was a she not a he? You’re confused mate. That was no girl. Anyway I don’t keep tabs on the guests. Not my job once they sign out and pay me buddy. He, I mean she, jumped in a cab and left. Can’t you track down the cabbie?’
