Hot Lawyers: The Lee Christine Collection

by Lee Christine

  Dear God, don’t let me be too late.

  “No one’s seen Allegra. She didn’t sign the visitor’s log and her mother’s fine. The Director confirmed the identikit as being Brian Morag, a volunteer under suspicion for stealing prescription drugs, among other things, from residents.”

  That explained the prescription under Audrey’s seat.

  Luke checked the GPS app. The signal from Allegra’s phone was still coming from the wagon. He blew out a huge breath and revved the engine, the rear wheel kicking up a plume of dust as he took off.

  She had to be in that car!

  “Clements stole the identity of a dead guy.” The roar of the Harley just about drowned out Nat’s voice. “How do the photographs tie in?”

  “Keep digging.” Luke yelled his final instructions. “And call the police. The parking lot at the old military base.”

  “It’s crawling with tourists.”

  “Not on a Monday.” Luke had the bike on a lean as he rounded the corner, his heart throbbing in time with the engine. “It’s closed.”

  ***

  Allegra tore at her bindings, her own carbon dioxide sending her dizzy. She slowed her breathing and pressed her face into the floor, waiting for the light-headedness to pass.

  Morag made a sudden turn and she pitched sideways as they left the bitumen. She winced as her shoulder slammed into something hard as the car bumped over a potholed surface.

  This was it! Her fate a done deal if Morag had his way.

  A cold draft of terror blew through her heart. Her poor mother would never survive the trauma of outliving both her children. And Luke would live his life believing he’d failed her brother twice.

  She couldn’t let that happen!

  With a strength borne of desperation, she ground her teeth together and shut out the agony in her bruised and bleeding hands. Biting down on her bottom lip to prevent any sound from escaping, she managed to drag one hand free. She clawed at the ties securing the hood with her broken nails. Thank God he hadn’t tied her feet.

  She was tough goddamnit! She was a Greenwood—and she wasn’t going down without a fight.

  Morag brought the car to a stop.

  Allegra’s heart boomed as she clawed at the knots and wrenched the crude cover from her head. She dragged oxygen into her lungs, squinting in the sudden light, eyes scanning the confined space.

  Morag killed the engine.

  She ran her shaking hands over the carpeted surface, feeling for something, anything she could use as a weapon.

  Morag opened the driver’s door.

  A whimper rose in her throat, the deafening roar in her temples drowning out all other sound. The car was old, damaged in places. Frantically she ran her hands over the plastic trim.

  The car shook as Morag slammed the door.

  Footsteps crunched on gravel.

  Allegra tore at the trim in desperation. A piece came away in her hand and she stared into a hollow cavity.

  Her captor moved to the rear of the car.

  She thrust in a hand and groped around. Her fingers touched something hard.

  A key sliding into a lock.

  A tool kit!

  A cocktail of chemicals surged into Allegra’s bloodstream as she dragged the heavy vinyl pocket containing the tools from its hiding place.

  Then sunlight streamed in as Morag raised the tailgate and everything moved in slow motion.

  She fought back the retractable load cover and sprang to her haunches, her gaze drawn to the carving knife in his hand.

  A feral grin split an evil face.

  Her fingers tightened on the cold wrench.

  Luke rounded the corner, the bike on a lean.

  Clements stood under the tailgate, something in his right hand.

  Pushing aside all kinds of unimaginable horrors, Luke opened the throttle and revved the engine. The distraction worked. He was halfway across the deserted lot when Clements wheeled around.

  Luke sprang from the bike. The Harley toppled over, wheels spinning noisily as it skidded across the parking area. Clements’ gaze followed the path of the bike.

  Time passed in seconds. One… two … three.

  By the time Clements saw him, it was too late. Luke was down on one knee.

  “Step away from the car,” he roared, his pistol trained on Clements. Much as he longed to shoot the bastard, he needed to find Allegra. If she wasn’t in the car she could die somewhere, hidden. Never to be found.

  Clements didn’t move. He didn’t panic, didn’t even make a run for it. He just stood there, a grin spreading across his face, his wild eyed stare turning Luke’s blood to ice.

  Resisting the temptation to put a bullet in the guy’s leg, he kept the gun trained on what looked to be a knife. McGregor’s physical description had been spot on.

  He looked like any regular punter man.

  “I know you’ve got her Clements.” Luke pushed the words past the blockage in his throat. “She’ll be in good shape or I’ll have your pathetic arse.”

  From the back of the wagon Allegra’s face swam into view.

  “Luke!”

  Sunlight flashed on metal. There was a dull thud and Clements staggered sideways holding his head.

  “Ally.” Luke’s voice was a hoarse croak.

  He lowered his weapon and took off at a run, his heart soaring at the sight of her. She leaped to the ground, moving with a drunken gait.

  Was she hurt, drugged?

  Then her legs buckled and she pitched forward.

  It was the opportunity Clements needed. He grabbed her and pulled her round in front of him, the knife pressed against her throat.

  Luke raised the gun again.

  “Back off, Neilson.”

  Everything around him faded and receded. Everything, except the small patch of Clements’ forehead visible behind Ally’s terrified face. A severed carotid artery would bleed her out in two minutes.

  Clements moved and he lost the line of his shot.

  “I said back off Neilson or I’ll kill her.”

  White hot fury coursed through Luke’s veins as he closed one eye and found another spot on Clements’ forehead. “Let. Her. Go.”

  The guy kept moving around and he couldn’t get a clear shot.

  Shit! No way would he risk shooting Allegra.

  “Drop the gun,” Clements screamed. “Or she’s dead.”

  She whimpered as Clements pressed the point of the knife into the soft spot under her ear.

  All at once Luke was back in Afghanistan. He tuned out the sounds escaping Allegra’s lips, tuned out her glorious face as a familiar calmness settled over him. He’d been here before, more times than he cared to remember. Only this time the woman he loved was in the line of fire.

  I can’t lose her. I’ve only just found her.

  He shut down the voice in his head. Right here, right now, there was only him and Clements.

  Luke steadied himself. “It’s not a video game, Clements.” Beneath the bike leathers, sweat trickled down his chest. “There’s no pause and replay. No second chances.”

  A snarl. “So hotshot, you know my name.”

  “Wasn’t hard,” Luke replied smoothly, stalling for time. He could hear sounds behind him and it wouldn’t be long before the police arrived. “I got your landlady’s number plate on camera, found Merle Anderson’s prescription under the seat. Sloppy.”

  He noted the way Clements’ gaze moved past his shoulder. What was going on back there?

  Focus! One mistake and she’s dead.

  “It’s a low act Clements, preying on the vulnerable and elderly.” He spoke neutrally and unemotionally, his finger curled on the trigger. “You’re going back inside. Just don’t make me put a bullet in you.”

  Allegra’s breath was coming in short, shallow gasps.

  Come on, baby. Remember what I taught you. Don’t let him drag you into that scrub.

  “I’m not going back,” Clements yelled, squeezing Allegra’s ribs s
o hard she screamed in agony. “Drop the gun.”

  Fury scorched Luke’s flesh as Clements dragged her backwards, pulling her closer to the tangle of tea trees.

  The gun was Allegra’s only chance. One slice of the knife and it would all be over.

  Manly Hospital was close.

  Not close enough for the paramedics to save her.

  Only he could do that.

  And he had to save her. If she died, his heart would bleed out with her.

  Luke stepped closer to his prey, controlling the raging beast inside him.

  This was personal.

  No one hurt his woman.

  No one touched his woman.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Allegra shuddered, her stomach heaving as ‘Clements’ pressed his sweaty body close up against her. Rough fingers drilled into her ribs, her head forced back at a painful angle by the lethal weapon at her throat.

  Luke’s features were indistinguishable, but she could hear the aggression roughening his voice as he advanced on them.

  And Morag was revelling in it.

  Only Luke kept calling him ‘Clements’.

  As Luke closed the distance between them, her captor tried to drag her towards the scrub. She back peddled, the loose gravel grazing her heels as she searched for a foothold.

  “I won’t tell you again, Neilson,” Clements bellowed. “Drop the gun or she dies.”

  Allegra’s heart boomed like a bass drum.

  For God’s sake think!

  She was Clements’ armour, Luke an expert marksman. But he wouldn’t risk hitting her, wouldn’t risk spilling more Greenwood blood. She didn’t have a choice. She had to move, had to give him the required seconds to fell Clements with a disabling shot.

  Words. Words were her speciality.

  She moistened her parched lips and forced the words out. “Why me, Brian?”

  It worked!

  Clements stop moving when he heard her voice. He straightened, pulled back slightly.

  Keep talking!

  Gritting her teeth, Allegra steeled herself to the blade at her throat. She turned her head, making eye contact.

  His stance shifted. He angled his head to look at her, his voice an unrecognisable whine. “I tried talking to you, but you never had time for me. Always busy.”

  Across the car park, Luke could have been a statue.

  “I’m sorry Brian. I didn’t mean to be rude.” In her peripheral vision she saw Luke creep forward. “I’m—time poor.”

  “You brushed me aside,” he screamed, eyes bulging, the cords in his neck straining with the effort.

  Allegra fought against the urge to cower.

  Then his voice dropped to a whisper and he looked at Luke. “You were beautiful.”

  Allegra swallowed, the blade cold and threatening.

  Were.

  “And a lawyer—even better.”

  “You hate lawyers?” she bit out, her mouth devoid of saliva.

  Clements’ mouth curved in a cruel grin. “I hate unfaithful women.”

  Unfaithful women.

  Allegra stared into the eyes of a fanatic. Her left arm was pinned by his, making it impossible to move. But his right arm was raised, holding the knife to her throat, exposing the right side of his torso. She had to ignore the knife. If she could just turn one more inch she could drive her elbow into his ribcage.

  Groggy, she wondered whether she had the strength. Would it be enough?

  There were more people in the car park, and Clements still hadn’t moved. Allegra gazed into his eyes, read the resignation there.

  The man was prepared to die. And he intended taking her with him.

  She swung her eyes towards Luke, trying to convey her love, hoping he’d read the apology in her eyes.

  Do it now.

  Praying Luke would somehow read her mind, she curled her right hand into a fist and tried not to think of the knife. With every ounce of strength she possessed, she flexed the muscles in her right arm and drove it backwards. Hard.

  Clements grunted, sagged as her elbow impacted his ribs. For the briefest moment he loosened his hold.

  Allegra contorted her body, thrashing about as she tried to break free. Stronger than he looked, he recovered quickly, his iron grip tightening. Instinctively she went ragdoll limp, sinking to her knees, making it harder for him to control her body.

  Someone yelled, “Freeze.”

  Stars burst behind her eyes as his knee landed in the small of her back. Her breath whooshed out of her lungs. She pitched forward, sharp stones slicing her palms as she tried crawling away.

  Cruel fingers plunged into her hair and her head was dragged back. Someone screamed. A gunshot rang out. A sting on her neck.

  Behind her, Clements thudded to the ground.

  Allegra turned her head. He lay sprawled on his back, a bullet hole in the centre of his forehead. Blood pooled from beneath his head, rivers of red cutting a path through the dust and stones.

  Sightless eyes stared at the sky.

  Her ears ringing from the gunshot, Allegra touched her neck. Her fingers came away, wet, warm and covered in blood. The landscape tilted and she slumped sideways, her vision patchy. She clutched at the dirt, her head too heavy to hold erect.

  Luke called her name.

  She was cradled in his arms.

  “I’ve got you, baby,” he whispered.

  Something pressed against her neck.

  Allegra tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t form. She could hear him saying her name again, and again.

  The darkness swallowed her.

  ***

  Luke’s fingers were digging into her upper arm. “Come on, baby, come on.”

  Allegra tried pulling her arm free. “You’re hurting me.”

  He tightened his grip, sending her arm numb.

  She gasped. “Luke…

  Allegra could hear voices. She was lying down, and people were touching her. Luke had hold of her arm and she wanted to see him again, wanted to touch him again.

  Like a diver surfacing from deep water, she gasped and opened her eyes.

  “Welcome back.”

  She stared into the face of a stranger, a reassuring stranger in a doctor’s gown, standing beside the bed she was lying in.

  She’d been dreaming of Luke. This time in colour.

  “That’s looking better.” The doctor pulled at the Velcro strips and unwound the blood pressure cuff strapped to her upper arm. “You have a fairy godmother sitting on your shoulder.”

  Allegra had the urge to laugh hysterically. What would Luke make of that comment? She felt amazingly clear headed for having her…

  She inhaled sharply and raised a shaking hand to her throat.

  “He didn’t get a chance to do any major damage. Had he cut an artery…” The doctor shook his head. “You are one lucky lady. You escaped a murderer with five stitches. The scar shouldn’t be too noticeable.”

  Allegra struggled into a sitting position. She was in a busy emergency ward. The last thing she remembered was Luke, distressed, holding her.

  “Where am I? How long was I out?”

  The doctor checked his watch. “Not too long. You’re a little shocked up.” He leaned closer, speaking quietly. “You’re in Manly Hospital. You have multiple lacerations, nothing too serious, but you’ve lost some blood. There are contusions on your lower back which will need to be X-rayed.”

  A nurse appeared behind him. “Doctor, you’re needed out front.”

  The doctor gave her a courteous nod. “Rest up a while. We’ll give you something for your pain shortly.”

  He disappeared around the curtain.

  Allegra didn’t care about cuts and bruises, X-rays or pain relief. She was alive!

  Luke hadn’t given up on her. He’d come through. Saved her life. Who needed a fairy godmother when she had Luke watching over her?

  God she loved him. He was the only drug she needed.

  “Could you get Luke Neilson for me
please?” she asked the nurse who brought water a little while later.

  “Is he out in the waiting room?”

  Allegra nodded. “I expect so.”

  As the nurse went to fetch Luke, Allegra tested her body. The edge of her skirt rubbed her grazed knees and her scalp burned from Clements’ brutal hand. And though her limbs were heavy, she could move everything without a problem.

  She sank back against the pillows. She’d cheated death and come though relatively unscathed. If not for Luke, she’d be dead.

  “Allegra?”

  She looked up to see Nat’s head poking through the split in the curtain. “Can I come in?”

  “Of course.” Allegra tried hiding her disappointment. Where was Luke?

  Nat moved to her bedside. “Am I glad to see you alive and breathing.”

  Allegra struggled to sit upright. “What’s happening? Where’s Luke?”

  “One thing at a time.” Nat pointed an index finger towards the ceiling. “Hear that? It’s the media choppers. North Head is crawling with television crews and police.”

  Pain knifed through Allegra’s heart, more painful than any injury Clements had inflicted. Had Nat accompanied her to hospital, while Luke attended to the aftermath of the shooting?

  Before she had a chance to voice the question, another thought crashed into her mind and she stared at Nat in horror. “Oh my God, my mother. Does she know anything about this?”

  “No, she’s absolutely fine. They have a nurse with her until you can get to see her.”

  Allegra relaxed a little. “I can’t believe it was Brian Morag.”

  Nat shuddered. “I tell you, you can’t pick them.”

  Allegra couldn’t wait any longer. “How did Luke find me?”

  Nat’s glance was wary. “After Clements attacked you in the apartment, he installed tracking software on your phone. While you were packing. You were so pissed off at him for hacking into the firm’s computer system, he didn’t tell you.”

  “You keep calling him Clements. Why? And how did he get the photographs?”

  “We found a letter in Clements’ locker at Groves Hill. It was addressed to you from Chris Noble. He tried to contact you when he was out here, but you were away. He wanted to return his copy of the photographs, so he packaged them up and took them to your mother to pass onto you. But she wasn’t well that day, and Clements took them. He must have said he’d pass them onto her, but he kept the disk. The packaging was still in his locker.”