Page 52

‘Are you sure?

‘One hundred per cent.’

Fairweather paused, and then seemed to come to a decision. ‘You have one way to redeem yourself, and one way only. She knows too much and she’s threatened to go public with it. You let me down with her father. You won’t let me down again.’

Perspiration rolled down his neck and a sharp cramp clenched Panos’ bowels.

‘Helicopters can be very unsafe. Especially over the wild gorges of Kakadu National Park.’ Fairweather’s voice hardened and Panos looked at the drop of perspiration that had rolled off the end of his nose and landed on a piece of paper on the desk. He watched as the circle spread and blurred the text.

‘I don’t understand.’ The numb feeling had spread to Panos’ mouth and for a moment, his vision clouded at the edges. A strange, stretching numbness pulled at his cheeks.

Am I having a stroke? Please, God.

‘I’m really not very happy with you, Panos. For the past six years, I’ve continually bailed you out of the problems you’ve made for yourself. I’ve been very patient, but now it’s time to repay that debt. Even if you have to be up there with her and bring the bird down yourself, her helicopter will crash. Do you understand me?’

‘I can’t do that.’ Panos shook his head from side to side. He was dead either way.

‘You will.’

‘No.’ His voice was a bare whisper.

‘What did you say?’

‘I can’t do this anymore.’ Panos sniffed, not surprised to feel the tears on his cheeks. ‘I can’t. It’s over. I’m out.’

‘I am disappointed, Panos.’ Fairweather’s voice was even, almost chatty.

‘I’ll get a loan. I’ll hand over the property. I’ll sign it over to you. It’s yours anyway, we both know that. That’ll clear all my debts.’

‘Oh no. I’m afraid it’s far too late for that.’

‘I’ll –’

‘Goodbye, Panos.’

The cold silence of the disconnected call surrounded him as Panos dropped the phone and lowered his head to the cold leather-topped desk.

Chapter 16

Tuesday night

Makowa Lodge

Ellie pushed open the door to her apartment and kicked her heavy boots off as soon as she was inside. She’d picked up a hamburger at the bistro on the way past and the smell of the onions was making her mouth water. At this rate she’d have to ramp up the exercise. Pizza for lunch and hamburger for dinner. At least she’d managed to resist the hot chips.

The lunch with Kane had sent confusion spiralling through her again. When he’d reached over and wiped that piece of cheese from her chin, it had taken every ounce of willpower not to reach up and hold his hand against her skin. She’d tried to ignore the warm feeling that coursed through her blood every time their eyes had met. Instead she’d lowered her eyes and focused on the pulse in his neck, remembering the steady beat of his heart against her cheek as she’d lain in his bed.

She didn’t trust these unfamiliar feelings. As she crossed to the sink to wash her hands, she glanced up at the clock. Half an hour to eat and then Skype Emma and Mum, and Dru. Maybe hearing about the family stuff in that box would cheer Mum up. After wiping her hands, she dropped the towel on the sink, and bent down to pull a plate from the cupboard. The aroma of the onions won out and she unwrapped the burger, unable to resist taking a bite before she took the plate into the living room.

Ellie stopped dead in the doorway and grabbed for the plate as the hamburger slid to the edge.

The sofa was empty. She put the plate on the coffee table, casting her mind back to the night before, and trying to remember exactly where she’d put the small box. Standing with her hands on her hips, she slowly scanned the room before continuing into the bedroom. The top drawer of the chest of drawers was open and her underwear was hanging over the edge. Her neck prickled as she walked over and bent down, picking up two pairs of her lace panties from the floor. Her mouth dried and she threw them back down to the floor. Ragged cuts had been sliced through the crotch of each pair. Hands shaking, she walked quietly over to the small bathroom and peered in. The shower curtain was pulled closed across the small bath. She always left it open because she hated the feel of the wet plastic against her skin when she showered. Slowly, she reached out, poised to run.

The soft plastic slithered against her fingers as they curled around the edge and she yanked the curtain back.

Nothing. No one was there.

She checked that the windows in the bathroom and the bedroom were locked before she walked back to the living room. Leaning over each end of the sofa, she looked for the box on the floor, but there was no sign of it.