Chapter Eight

 

 

 

The quiet, narrow streets of Balmain were a contrast to the traffic they’d driven through for the last hour and a half since arriving in Sydney. The quaint terraces were so small compared to the large family homes of Turramurra where Beth had lived all her life. Daniel parked the car on the wrong side of the street in front of a high sandstone wall.

“Why are you parking that way?”

“This is how everyone parks around here. They call it a ‘Balmain’ park,” he said, as if she should know what that meant, which she didn’t. But it didn’t really matter. She was curious to see who it was they were there to see.

She followed him through the gate and up to the imposing wooden door. After ringing the doorbell, Daniel turned to her and took her hand.

“It’ll be all right, just follow my lead and let me do the talking.”

Hearing footsteps approaching, Beth just nodded and pulled her hand back hastily. Someone peered through the peephole at them.

The door opened swiftly and a tall blond man stood in the hallway. His expression was one of extreme shock.

“Danny—Holy shit!”

Daniel chuckled, then pulled Beth’s hand and dragged her into the house, pushing past his friend.

“Kevin, it’s good to see you too.”

“I heard you were out of action.”

“Yes, well, you should know you shouldn’t always believe what you hear.”

“Well, hell, this is fantastic news, but I suspect a long story. Grab a pew. I think I need a drink.”

Beth gazed at Daniel and back to his friend as she sat in a large overstuffed chair opposite the couch where Daniel sat. Other than his name, she didn’t have a clue who he was. It was obvious they were good friends and Daniel trusted him. He was staring at her now, smiling. His brown eyes held a sparkle and she thought maybe she could trust him, too.

“Daniel? Are you going to introduce me to this gorgeous woman, or do I have to jump in myself?”

Beth saw Daniel stiffen slightly and frown, just for a fleeting moment. He recovered quickly however and his usual devastating smile returned.

“Of course… Kevin, this is Beth Hamilton. Beth, Kevin Donnelly.”

Kevin held out his hand and took hers in a firm grip. “Pleased to meet you, Beth.”

She retrieved her hand, and smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet a friend of Daniel’s.”

Kevin laughed. “I suppose you could call us friends, although we’ve tried to kill each other many times in the past.”

“What?”

Daniel glared at Kevin. “He means on the rugby field. I played for Riverview and he played for Joey’s.”

“Ah…” said Beth, understanding at last. Riverview and St Joseph’s, the traditional enemies of the elite private school rugby union competition.

Kevin laughed again, the corners of his eyes crinkling wickedly. “Yes, so you see, Beth, Danny boy and I go way back.”

Danny boy? Who would have thought? Beth looked at Daniel again just in time to see him scowl at Kevin. He didn’t like that nickname. Interesting. Beth filed away that titbit for a rainy day. She caught Kevin staring at her expectantly.

“Beth?”

She blinked. “Sorry. What did you say?”

“I’m crushed, Beth. I don’t usually have that effect on women.”

“Quit the flirting, Kev. Beth, he asked you what you’d like to drink.”

Beth gulped and shifted in her seat. Obviously there was some serious rivalry going on between these old friends. “Sorry, Kevin, I’m just a little tired. A coffee would be great, thanks.”

“Okey-dokey…and, Daniel? The usual?”

Daniel nodded as Kevin headed down the hall, presumably to the kitchen. He fell back into the couch and exhaled deeply. Beth could see the tension in the stiffness of his jaw and his hands, which he was clenching and unclenching as if to hold off stiffness. No doubt he was tired as well. The drive from Canberra had taken just over four hours and he hadn’t let her take the wheel once. She’d at least dozed a little, but he’d been driving practically nonstop, the whole time alert to see if they’d been followed.

“You’ve known each other a long time.”

“It seems a lifetime. He can help us, Beth, but you have to let me handle what we say. I don’t want to draw him in too deep.”

“This sounds serious. Don’t want to draw me in too deep with what?” said Kevin, as he re-entered the room with a tray of drinks.

“You don’t want to know all the details, Kev,” said Daniel as he leaned forward. “Suffice it to say I’ll fill you in on a need-to-know basis. You should be used to that, considering the crowd you work for.”

“Danny, we’re friends. You know I’ll help all I can,” said Kevin, handing Daniel a glass of Scotch.

The sound of a whistling kettle broke the silent tension that had suddenly filled the room. Beth jumped to her feet. She needed some fresh air…and fast.

“I’ll get the coffee, Kevin. I’ll find my way. You two need to talk.”

Daniel gave Beth a tight smile and mouthed a thank you as she exited. Even though she wanted out of there, she still would have loved to hear what Daniel and Kevin were saying.

The hall offered her two choices—the room on the right or the room at the end of the corridor. Beth opted for the end of the corridor, thinking that the kitchen would logically be at the rear of the house.

What greeted her, however, was the furthest thing from a kitchen she’d ever seen. Two of the walls were covered in books, some fallen sideways in their shelves, the others stacked up horizontally, as if there was not enough room for them all. The third wall was awash with technology. A large, flat computer screen sat on a desk that was scattered with files and papers. A fax machine, printer and scanner sat on a smaller table to the side of the desk. A window from floor to ceiling, offering a view of a small patio garden. But that was not what caught Beth’s attention. It was the cover of one of the files on the desk. There, in plain writing for all to see, was the logo for ASIO—the Australian Securities Intelligence Organization. Kevin Donnelly, Daniel’s friend, was a spy.

Beth quietly closed the door as she left and moved to the other room, which thankfully was the kitchen. Thinking about it, it probably wasn’t a bad thing to discover. Having someone with Kevin’s connections could be an advantage, as long as it didn’t get him in trouble with his superiors. That must be what Daniel meant by getting in too deep. She didn’t like the idea of anyone else embroiled in her troubles. She wanted to think of a way to get out of it herself, but she wasn’t so stupid as to think she didn’t need help from people who were used to dealing with this sort of thing.

She carried her steaming cup into the room to join the men. They both stopped talking as she entered. She felt as if she was intruding.

Well, bad luck. It was her life they were discussing and it was her right to be involved in whatever they were planning.

“Danny tells me you’ve had a bit of an adventure over the last few months,” said Kevin, as she sat back in her chair.

She took a sip of her coffee and placed it on the table in front of her before she answered.

“One that I’d rather not have had, I can assure you.”

“I can understand that. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be flippant.”

“I didn’t think you were.”

“Beth, Kevin is going to help keep you safe while we sort this all out,” interrupted Daniel.

“What? You’re going to hide me away while you get to play your spy games? This is my life we’re talking about here. Don’t I get a say in how it plays out?”

She glared at Daniel then shifted her gaze to Kevin. Okay, so that was probably too much, but it was too late now. She’d already said it.

He placed his hands in the air in mock defeat. “Hey, don’t look at me. It was all Danny boy’s idea.”

“Thanks so much for your support, Kevin,” said Daniel through gritted teeth. “Beth, you’re in over your head with this. You should to leave it to us. We have the connections and the resources. You don’t.”

Ouch. What he said was true, thought Beth as she slumped back into the chair. But it still didn’t mean that she couldn’t have a say in what happened to her. She wasn’t stupid and she had damn good computer skills. And she’d done a pretty good job at protecting herself this morning in Canberra.

“I agree I don’t have the resources you have, but I still think I can help. I didn’t do so bad this morning, did I? And I don’t like decisions being made about me without being consulted.”

“What happened this morning?” asked Kevin.

Realizing she’d probably said too much, Beth fell silent.

Kevin glared at Daniel then Beth. “Well, is someone going to tell me what happened? I’m really curious now.”

“I—”

“Let me handle this, Beth,” cut in Daniel. “She was followed and managed to get away. That’s why we hightailed it out of town and came here.”

“How the hell did they find you?”

“We need to find out. Then we’ll be able to work out the whos and whys of it. That’s why I need access to a secure computer and for you to make some discreet inquiries.”

“I’ll do everything I can, mate. Just ask.”

“That’s what I’d hoped you say. First thing I need is to get Beth out of sight. I want her safe.”

Beth was stunned. He was shutting her out again and she couldn’t let that happen. Not if she could help it.

“What about you, Daniel? They’re after you, too. Who’s going to keep you safe?” said Beth, her voice rising.

She could almost see fiery sparks coming from Daniel’s eyes as he glared at her and began to speak. But before the first word left his lips, Kevin burst into laughter.

“I fail to find any humor in this, Kevin,” said Daniel

“Sorry, mate, it’s just that now I see why you want to get Beth under wraps.”

“What the heck is that supposed to mean?” demanded Beth.

Daniel stood up, grabbing the car keys from the table. “I don’t have time for this right now, Beth. Kevin, I need to get rid of the car. I’ll bring in our gear and go.”

“Wait a minute, Daniel. We haven’t finished talking yet,” said Beth, following him toward the door.

“I have. Remember, Kevin and I are the pros here. We know what we’re doing. Stay put. I’ll be back in a couple of hours, maybe sooner.”

“No problem, Danny. Beth and I’ll get acquainted while you’re gone. It’s been a while since I had such a beautiful woman in my pad.”

Daniel flinched and inhaled sharply.

“I find that hard to believe, Kevin. I’m sure you’ll keep her company for me. You do remember how to do that, don’t you?”

“Of course,” said Kevin, a glint of humor in his eyes. “Beth and I will be joined at the hip until you get back.”

 

* * * *

 

Daniel slammed the car door shut just as he turned the key in the ignition and drove away. He needed speed. He couldn’t think while Beth was around. She was so exasperating, so reckless. So damn beautiful. Fuck, she didn’t need him distracted. She could wind up dead.

Like Lisa.

He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel while he waited at the traffic lights. But Beth wasn’t Lisa. This was different. He’d never felt this way about Lisa. They’d been friends. They’d cared about each other, but this was more than that. Every time he thought about her he felt hot. And after that kiss…whoa!

The blast of a horn jolted Daniel back to reality. Damn! This was what he’d been trying to avoid. Shaking himself, he put the car in gear and drove on a little too forcefully. The property where he was meeting Will was about forty minutes out of town. After he exchanged cars again, he was hoping he could get some answers. Maybe Will had some ideas as to who may be leaking their position to the bad guys, whoever they were. After the train crash it had been pretty much accepted that they knew who the target was—the British Prime Minister. But now he wasn’t so sure. And, until they’d confirmed who they were dealing with, Beth was in extreme danger.

 

* * * *

 

The sun was low and darkness was not far away when Daniel took a right turn off the main road from Dural and passed two large properties. Man, there is some big money living around here. At the end of the road he continued on a dirt track until he came to a driveway, partially hidden by the thick undergrowth and a couple of gum tree saplings, which he swerved to avoid.

The gate to the property was open as he drove through, but he stopped to close it before continuing on. The house—if he could call it a house—was small like a cabin, and old. The paint job on the worn weatherboards showed the original owners were well acquainted with the sixties. Each board was a different color, ranging from faded purple to green and orange, and peeling much like the fruit. The front door had a large flower painted on the middle panel. The porch posts were covered with an overgrown creeper, twisting and falling over the edges of the veranda.

The scent of jasmine was almost overpowering as Daniel cautiously got out of the car. Where the hell was Will? He should have heard him pull up, so why didn’t he come out to meet him?

The hairs on the back of his neck stood to attention. Something wasn’t right here. He surveyed the land around the house. Nothing was obvious at this stage as Daniel concentrated on the sounds around him. All he could hear was the chirping of the native birds that made their home in the bush, and the distant sound of traffic from the highway.

He cursed himself for not recovering his Glock from the gear he’d left with Kevin. Not being a field agent anymore meant that he didn’t have clearance to carry a weapon, except in extreme emergencies, and he sure as hell hadn’t expected trouble here with Will. What a stupid decision that had been. Someone seemed to be following his every move. He should have known better.

He scanned the ground for anything that could double as a weapon. He spotted a block of wood over near the step to the veranda. The termites had gotten to it, but he picked it up anyway. He hit the wood against his palm to test, and it didn’t disintegrate. It’d do until he found something better.

There was a small wooden building just visible to the right of the house. It could be a storage shed or even a garage. He listened carefully as he walked toward the double doors. They were locked with a rusting chain and padlock. He pulled on it firmly. Locked tight. He peered through a crack between the two doors. A late model Subaru Outback was parked inside, but it took up so much room he couldn’t see anything else.

Turning to his left, he spied the rear entrance to the house. The ancient screen door was open and the door behind ajar. He approached it slowly, checking from side to side as he went, listening hard for any sound of unwanted company.

The house was silent. Entering the kitchen, he took in the signs of occupation. There was an open loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter on the counter. A coffee cup sat next to an electric kettle. He touched the kettle. It was still warm. Someone had been in here and recently. Where are you, Will? This was bad. Very bad.

Moving slowly up the hall, he noticed a wet stain on the wall. The drops continued across the floor toward the front room. He touched the stain on the wall then sniffed the liquid staining his fingers. Metallic. It was blood. Fuck.

He raced down the hall to the front room and stopped dead in his tracks at the doorway. There he found Will, face down on the floor. A pool of blood had formed at the side of his head. Daniel didn’t need to feel for a pulse. He could see what was left of his head and he knew.

 

* * * *

 

Beth was just finishing washing the cups and glasses, placing them on the drainer, when Kevin came into the kitchen after making several phone calls in his study.

“You hungry?” he said, as she turned around just in time to see the mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

She couldn’t help but smile back. “Not really. Shouldn’t we wait for Daniel?”

“Aw, do we have to?”

Beth laughed. “It would be the polite thing to do, wouldn’t it?”

Kevin grinned back at her. “Aw, jeez. I suppose we should wait for Danny boy. But he wouldn’t mind. He’s used to feeding himself.” He gestured for her to return to the lounge room.

“So I’ve noticed,” she said, going back into the hallway. “He manages pretty well for a desk jockey.”

“He wasn’t always a desk jockey, you know.” He followed her into the lounge and smiled at her as she sat down on the couch. “He used to be pretty good at fieldwork. In fact, he was one of the best.”

“Yeah, he mentioned that he used to have a different job.” She moved to the edge of the seat. “So why did he give it up?”

Kevin shifted from one foot to the other and looked out of the window, avoiding her gaze. Taking a deep breath, he turned to her again. “I think that’s something you need to ask Daniel.”

“I did.” She glanced down at her hands, inspecting her nails. “He wouldn’t say.”

“Then I guess you’ll just have to wait until he’s ready.”

She shifted her gaze to Kevin again. “But you know.”

Daniel nodded. “Yeah, I know, but it’s not my story to tell. Ask him again when you know him better.”

“I don’t think I’ll be around him long enough to know him better.”

Kevin smiled then and peered over his shoulder at her as he made his way to the door. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that.”

What the heck did he mean by that? She hesitated before following him back to the kitchen. He surely couldn’t think there was anything going on with her and Daniel, could he? Is there something going on? Nah, of course there isn’t. It was just a few kisses. A few hot, fiery melt-your-bones kisses, but still just kisses. That’s what Daniel had said anyway. That’s what she thought, wasn’t it? She couldn’t afford to think anything else. She didn’t know him well enough and he came from a different world to her.

Hell, what am I doing? It was ridiculous even thinking about this. She was just a job to him—a means to an end. Once they caught whomever it was who shot that man on the train—presumably the same man who was following them—he’d have no reason to hang around. And the sooner the better, so she could get on with her life. Now if she could only forget how devastating his kisses were and stop fantasizing about his body doing amazing things to hers.

As she walked into the lounge, she caught the tail end of Kevin talking to someone on his mobile.

“Fine, we’ll be ready, mate. See you soon.” He shoved the phone into his jeans pocket.

“Daniel?” she asked expectantly.

“Yep. We need to get ready. Apparently we’re moving.”

“We’re moving? You’re coming, too?”

“Seems so.” His manner was so matter-of-fact she was left thinking this was all in a day’s work for Kevin the spy. Nothing seemed to faze him. Not so her. She had questions—a million of them.

“Why now? We just got here.”

“Danny says it’s necessary and I believe him. He’ll tell us when he gets here. Come on. Let’s get this gear of his out to the back lane. He’ll be here in a few minutes.”

Kevin disappeared into his study and reappeared in a couple of minutes with a backpack of his own. When Beth started lugging the tent bag, Kevin stopped her.

“We won’t need that, just the smaller duffel bags. Don’t forget your clothes and pretties.”

Beth smiled. “Pretties?”

Kevin grinned. “Whatever it is you ladies need for—you know…personal stuff.”

“No problem, I haven’t even unpacked yet.” She smiled to herself. This guy was cute. Not her type, but cute all the same.

It was less than ten minutes later as Beth was waiting behind the gate to the back lane that she heard the car approaching. The laneway was dark and the car’s lights were turned off. Beth opened the gate after she saw Daniel through the gap in the fence.

Without stopping to speak, he picked up several bags and headed back to the car. She followed and joined him at the boot. It was a dark station wagon—their third car in four days. This must’ve been something of a record.

As Beth went back to the yard to collect her last bag, Daniel finally spoke. “Where’s Donnelly?”

“He’s getting the last bag. He should be here any minute.”

“Good, we need to get out of here.”

“What happened, Daniel?”

Beth could see Daniel’s eyes narrow and his face draw tight. “I’ll tell you when I’m sure we’re safe.”

The sound of the back door closing had them both turning back to the path and at Kevin while he approached. Without speaking, they all got in the car with Daniel driving, Kevin riding shotgun and Beth in the back, resting her leg on the bench seat after she’d clicked on the seat belt.

Kevin glanced over his shoulder. “What’s up with the leg?”

“I damaged my knee in the crash. It still gets a little stiff now and then.”

“She’s had major reconstruction work on it. She should be in rehabilitation.”

Beth laughed. “I think it’s gotten a lot more exercise these past few days than in a month of rehab. It’s moving better than it was before.”

“At least you’re finding something beneficial in all this excitement,” said Kevin.

“Just call me Pollyanna,” she answered.

“I hate to interrupt your private joke, but you should really get some sleep, Beth. We have a long night ahead of us.”

“Why? Where are we going?” she asked.

“Brisbane.”

“Brisbane? That’s over a twelve hour drive! We don’t have time for that. The Conference is in three days.”

“We’re not driving all the way. Just go to sleep, and I’ll wake you when we get to the next stop.”

“Okay, but if we’re going to be traveling great distances, we need to eat. Can we stop off at a drive-through? I’m not sleeping until I know you’ve eaten something.”

Kevin coughed, but stopped quickly when Daniel glared at him. Kevin glanced over his shoulder at Beth and winked.

Beth’s stomach called again. Loudly.

Daniel snorted. “Okay, you win. Food it is.”