TENDER DECEIT (Romantic Suspense Mystery Novel): First Love Series ~ Book 1 (18 page)

“Leah…” Toran hesitated. “I think it might be better if I go speak to her alone. They can be suspicious of other women. She might open up more if she’s speaking to a man.”

“Especially a very attractive man,” said Leah with a teasing smile. “Okay, no problems. I’ll just wait for you over there.” She indicated an empty sofa seat by the club entrance.

“I hate to leave you alone, though,” said Toran, looking doubtfully around.

“Stop worrying, Toran,” laughed Leah. “You can’t protect me all the time, you know. And besides, I can look after myself. I have spent the last twelve years of my life without you watching over me and I’ve been fine. Go on. The quicker you speak to her, the quicker we can get out of here. I’m beginning to feel like I need a shower again,” she said with a mock shudder.

Toran nodded and was gone. Leah watched him make his way to the table in the corner. She saw Pranee’s eyes light up as Toran approached her and smiled to herself. Somehow, she was sure that Toran’s dark good looks and easy charm would convince the ladyboy if nothing else would.

Leah wandered over to the sofa seat by the entrance and sat down. She tried not to watch Toran and Pranee too obviously, but she couldn’t help sneaking glances every so often. Toran was leaning forwards in his chair, his tall frame relaxed, his lips curved in a reassuring smile, but the ladyboy’s body language had changed from inviting to defensive. She sat back in her seat, her arms wrapped around herself, her face stiff as she listened to Toran speak. Leah’s heart sank. Would Pranee help them? She saw the ladyboy glance across the room at her, suspicion in her eyes, and Leah quickly looked away.

Worried about scaring Pranee off, Leah resolutely turned around to face the other way, scanning the other side of the club instead. After a few minutes, Leah wished she had bought a drink—something to occupy her or at least to give the illusion of occupying her. She was becoming uncomfortably aware of several men nearby eyeing her with interest. One bearded man in particular was staring at her in a way that made her skin crawl.

She hadn’t given much thought to what she was wearing, but now Leah regretted not rummaging through her old wardrobe at the villa earlier for a change of clothing, instead of still wearing her outfit from yesterday. The top and shorts—while nowhere near as skimpy as the outfits worn by the prostitutes—still showed too much flesh for her comfort. It wouldn’t have mattered out on the streets in the daytime—women in Singapore dressed fairly boldly—but in here, it was like waving a red flag.

The bearded man got up and sauntered up to her. “How much?” He leered.

“What?” Leah stared at him. “No! You’re making a mistake.”

“No mistake,” he grinned. “I like Russian girls.”

“I’m not Russian,” snapped Leah. “And anyway, not every Russian girl is a prostitute, you know.”

The man seemed unperturbed. Maybe he didn’t understand or maybe he just didn’t care. He grinned again and reached out a hand to stroke Leah’s bare thigh.

“Hey!” Leah jumped up, furious. She raised her hand to slap him in the face, but someone else got there before her. It was Toran, looking angrier than Leah had yet seen him. His hands whipped up and spun the bearded man around, twisting the man’s arm behind his back.

“Keep your hands to yourself,” Toran said with soft menace. Then he released him and the bearded man staggered back, his face red. It was obvious that his pride had been hurt more than anything else. He started to say something, then he caught sight of Toran’s face. Whatever he saw in there made him think twice. Adjusting his clothes, he went off in a huff.

“Are you all right?” asked Toran.

“Fine,” said Leah, a bit breathlessly. “He wasn’t really doing anything, you know. I could have handled him.”

Toran gave her a look.

“I could,” insisted Leah, feeling slightly annoyed. “We’re not in Sixth Grade anymore and that isn’t Eric Hu pulling up my skirt. I don’t need you to fight my battles for me.”

“I’ll remember that the next time another man’s groping you,” said Toran dryly.

Leah cleared her throat. “So did you get anything out of Pranee?” She glanced across the room. The table in the corner was now empty.

Toran nodded and took her elbow. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

Outside Orchard Towers, they turned down the quieter side street of Claymore Road and walked rapidly in silence for a while. Finally Toran slowed and stopped under a darkened shop awning.

He turned to Leah. “Pranee took some convincing. She’s been terrified since she found out what happened to her friend. She thought Warne’s men would come after her too. But she feels better now that she knows Warne never saw the footage and doesn’t realise that she was involved. She’s agreed to testify on the condition that she can be protected from him.”

Leah smiled with delight. “But… that’s great!” She looked at Toran. “You don’t seem very happy.”

He made a sound of frustration. “It’s still not enough. We need the murder weapon. We need to go to the zoo and break open that locker—”

Leah frowned. “The only thing is, we don’t know which one it is. There are hundreds of lockers. You would need the key with the number on it to know which one my father put the dagger in. We can’t stand there and start trying to break into each and every one. And if we draw too much attention to ourselves, we’d alert Warne’s men too, which is the last thing we need.” Leah looked up. “What we need is that bunch of keys they t
ook from my father’s safe—”

“Which is probably locked up in Warne’s own study in that mansion of his, behind security gates and bodyguards,” said Toran with a humourless laugh. “Good luck getting past those.”

“Wait…” said Leah, thinking furiously. “Listen, maybe that’s not as inaccessible as you think.”

“What do you mean?” Toran looked at her sharply.

“I have an idea,” said Leah. “Bentley Warne is giving a big society party tomorrow night. My friend, Julia, told me about it. She can get me an invitation. If I can get into Warne’s house, I can look for those keys.”

“What?” Toran stared at her like she was mad. “No! No way. That’s a ridiculous idea. I’m not letting you go and risk being caught by Warne. The man is dangerous.”

“It’ll be a big party,” argued Leah. “I’ll be surrounded by people.”

“It’s still too dangerous,” said Toran, turning and pacing away.

“Do you have a better idea?” Leah retorted.

Toran swung around. “Yes, we take all this to the police.”

“No,” said Leah immediately. She repeated her own thoughts about going to the police, adding, “It’ll be our word against Warne’s too. We might not be transsexual hookers, but you won’t be particularly trustworthy in anyone’s eyes now, after faking your own death. Plus, everyone knows you’ve been gunning for Warne since those articles you wrote about him last year—he could say that you’re trying to frame him. And as for me, Warne could say that I’m looking for someone to blame for my father’s death.”

“It would still be enough to start an investigation into his—”

She shook her head and said urgently, “We can’t give Warne any chance to do damage control, to throw doubt on us or Pranee’s statement—or even, heaven forbid, to try to silence her. If we just take all this to the police and they start an official investigation, things will move too slowly. Warne will have time to think of countermeasures.”

Toran shifted impatiently. “Leah, you don’t know who you’re dealing with. I’ve tangled with Warne. The man is ruthless.”

“Don’t you get it?” Leah threw her hands up. “I’ve tangled with Warne too! He tried to have me kidnapped, for God’s sake! I know too much now. I’m never going to feel safe anymore while Warne is still free.” She took a deep breath. “I’m tired of running, tired of constantly looking over my shoulder and wondering if I’m being followed. I can’t live like that.”

“You could go back to London.”

Leah felt a chill run though her. She took a step back from Toran. She told herself that he was just thinking of her safety, but a small voice inside her head whispered,
Was that what he really wanted? For her to leave, to get out of his life? To never see her again?

“Warne could still get
to me in London,” she said quietly. “You know that. Look how easily he eliminated my father—someone who had served him loyally all these years—and look how quickly he moved to silence you. The man is a control freak. He’s never going to let me go now. Don’t think a bit of water and distance is going to stop him. Curtis was shadowing me at Heathrow. And besides…” She took a deep breath, surprised to find herself thinking this. “I… I need to do this for my father. Whatever his faults were, he didn’t deserve to be murdered.”

Toran said nothing. His handsome face was closed, remote.

Leah stepped closer to him, putting a gentle hand on his arm. “Toran, you can’t protect me from everything. And I don’t need you to.” She paused, then said in a firmer voice, “So I’m going to do this whether you like it or not. You can either help me or you can leave and let me get on with it.”

Toran stared at her for a moment, his eyes angry and frustrated, then he gave a sharp nod. “I’m with you.”

They found a public phone to make the call to Julia. Leah thought she would never get a word in edgeways at first as her friend spluttered in disbelief.

“You’re
where
? And what do you mean you’re with Toran James? I thought he was dead! This is totally crazy! Is this some kind of stupid joke? Because if it is, it’s not funny, Leah. What the hell is going on? First, you disappear from that lunch with no word of explanation and then I don’t hear from you again for days—”

“It’s only been two days, Julia,” said Leah.

“
Days
!” repeated Julia. “When I rang your hotel, it kept going to answer mail and nobody had any idea where you were. And now you’re calling me with this crazy story about being with a dead man—”

“Julia, look, I can explain everything,” said Leah. “But I need your help first. Can you get me an invite to Bentley Warne’s party tomorrow night?”

“What? Bentley Warne’s…
what?
”

“I can’t tell you the whole story now, Julia, but it’s really important—”

“No,” her friend said. “No, I’ve had enough. I’m not helping until you tell me exactly what’s going on.”

“Julia…” Leah pleaded.

“I can get you the invitation no problems,” said Julia. “But I want an explanation first. I want the whole story. I’m coming to pick you up and bring you back here. Stay where you are.”

Click.

“Julia—”

Too late. She had hung up. Leah put the receiver back in the cradle and sighed. She might have known that her friend would take things into her bossy hands. She glanced at Toran. “I guess you heard most of that, huh?”

He made an angry movement. “We shouldn’t be involving Julia. And we definitely shouldn’t go back to her place. What about her husband? What if she tells—”

“We can trust Julia!” said Leah. “She’s a good friend. And I need her help on this.”

Toran’s mouth tightened and he seemed about to say something, then changed his mind. They waited on the darkened street in silence. Leah could feel Toran seething beside her, but she herself felt strangely calm. It was as if all the fear and worry of the last few days had finally lifted off her shoulders. She was done with reacting, she thought grimly. Done with waiting around to see what people were going to do to her. This time, she was doing something first—taking fate into her own hands—and it felt good.

Car headlights swung around the corner and swept across them. A sleek black Mercedes pulled up by the curb. Julia peered out through the window and did a double take when she saw Toran. Leah opened the door and got in next to Julia—and after a moment’s hesitation, Toran followed her example, folding his tall frame into the back seat.

“Leah! I thought you were joking, but…” Julia’s eyes went to Toran’s reflection in her rear-view mirror. Leah glanced back and was surprised to see hostility on Toran’s face as he met Julia’s eyes in the mirror. She looked at Julia. Her friend’s face had stiffened too and her mouth was compressed in a thin line.

They rode back to Julia’s house in a tense silence. Julia parked the black Mercedes in the double garage and made sure that the garage doors had swung down before they got out. She led them into the house through an internal door. With the dark, tinted windows on the car, it was unlikely anyone would have seen them arrive at Julia’s house. Still, it was better not to take any chances. Leah didn’t know if Warne’s men would be watching Julia’s place as well, but since her escape, they must have been wondering where she was and trying to find her. Watching her old friend would have been a logical step.

Julia led them through a dizzying array of rooms and hallways—the house was practically a small mansion—to an enormous lounge facing out onto the pool in the back garden. Throwing her keys onto the coffee table, Julia went over to the bar, scooped some ice from the bucket into a glass, poured herself a large drink, and tossed it back before finally turning around to look at Leah and Toran.

“Arnold is away on a business trip.” She waved her empty glass. “The maid sleeps in another part of the house. So it’s just us now. Tell me everything.”

Leah took a deep breath and gave Julia a brief summary of everything that had happened, including their plan for finding the keys in Bentley Warne’s house. When she finished, Julia splashed some more vodka into her glass, then offered the bottle to Leah and Toran, who both shook their heads.

“This is absolutely crazy.” Julia shook her head. “Like something from a movie or something. Seriously. Crazy. You’re telling me that Bentley Warne—the Bentley that I see at the tennis club and charity do’s and things—is involved with ladyboys and
murder
?”

Leah lifted a pleading hand. “Julia, you don’t have to get involved—you just need to help get me an invitation.”

Julia sighed. “I don’t know what to think. I mean… okay, I can get you an invite to the party, but—”

“Two,” cut in Toran. “Two invites. I’m going too.”

Leah turned to him in alarm. “But your cover—”

“Is blown now anyway,” said Toran. “You saw the newspaper. Warne knows I escaped the explosion.” His voice hardened as Leah opened her mouth to protest. “I’m not letting you go to that party alone.”

Leah bristled at his tone. “I’m not a child, Toran—”

“You’re not some special operative either,” he snapped.

Julia looked from Leah to Toran and something came and went in her face. But all she did was put her glass down and say briskly, “It’s late. Why don’t we sort the rest out in the morning? We’ll have to get costumes for you. The party is fancy dress, actually, and the theme is ‘Hearts and Hospitals’. I’ve got a sexy nurse outfit already. I suppose I can see if I can get you a similar one, Leah—”

“No,” said Leah quickly. “I don’t want anything that might call attention to me. How about if I go dressed as a patient, with bandages on my face or something?”

Julia made a face. “You’ll probably stand out for the wrong reasons, then. It’s like celebrity Halloween parties. Nobody’s going to wear a costume that actually makes them look ugly, you know. Most of the women will be in sexy nurse outfits—I can guarantee that.”

Leah sighed. “All right. We’ll discuss it in the morning. I’m too tired now to think straight.”

“We’ll come back in the morning,” said Toran. “What time—”

“Leah should stay here tonight,” Julia said quickly. “I’ve got the room and she’ll probably be much more comfortable.”

Leah hesitated as Toran looked at her. Julia was right—she
would
be more comfortable here. Aside from anything else, she had no toiletries and no other clothes. It had been all right for one night, but she cringed slightly at the thought of putting on the same clothes again tomorrow.

But Leah knew that wasn’t the real reason she was reluctant to return to Dieter’s hotel. The real reason was that she would have to share a bed with Toran again. Heat rose to her cheeks as she remembered what had nearly happened last night. She had been completely wanton and she knew it wasn’t just the flunitrazepam. Yes, the drug had probably lowered her inhibitions—that was the standard excuse people always made, especially those looking to offload responsibility for their actions—but the thought had to have been there in the first place. And then there was what had nearly happened in her old bedroom earlier this afternoon…

Leah didn’t know what would happen if she returned with Toran tonight. Actually, no, she did know what would probably happen and she wasn’t sure if she wanted it to happen. Things were moving too fast and it was frightening her. A few days ago, Toran was still just a distant memory of a boy she had never expected to see again, and now he was here, too close, too real, too
male
.

“I think Julia is right. I’d better stay here,” Leah said.

Toran gave a tight nod. “Fine. I’ll come back in the morning.”

Julia hesitated. “I suppose you can stay here too.”

Toran stiffened. “No thanks. I’d be grateful if you could call a taxi.”

When the taxi arrived, he gave Leah a last, long look, then stalked from the room. After he had left, Julia showed Leah one of the guest bedrooms and then went to her own room to rummage for clothes.

“Here,” Julia said as she returned with an armful of things. “I got you some travel toiletries and a nightie… and some underwear and clothes for tomorrow. Lucky that I’d bought some things which were slightly too big for me—I was going to return them, but you might as well use them. They might be a bit tight, but you should be okay.”

Leah took the things gratefully and headed into the en suite bathroom, thinking longingly of a hot shower. But Julia followed her in, leaning in the bathroom doorway and watching Leah brush her hair.

“What’s going on, Leah?”

“What do you mean?” asked Leah, meeting Julia’s eyes in the mirror. “I told you the whole—”

“I mean with Toran. It’s obvious there’s something going on between you two.”

Leah shrugged. “It’s… it’s nothing. Like I told you, we met up again; he had been in touch with my father and he needed my help.”

“Aw, c’mon—I’m not blind, Leah.”

“I…
well, okay, I guess there might still be some attraction there. You know, it’s only natural, if you meet someone you once had a crush on… but it doesn’t mean that—”

“You haven’t slept with him, have you?”

“Julia!” Leah gave her friend an exasperated look. “I… no, of course not!”

She shrugged. “You spent last night together. Lots of people would have—”

“Well, I didn’t!” Leah snapped. “I’ve barely just met him again and it’s all too soon and besides…”

“Besides what?”

“Well, it would… mean something,” Leah said lamely.

“Mean something?” Julia laughed. “Honestly, Leah, you sound like you’re still fourteen. It doesn’t have to mean anything. People do it all the time. Sex is no big deal. It’s just like… scratching an itch. And finding someone who can scratch it real good for you.”

Leah winced slightly at the crude words. “Are you telling me that you follow this philosophy too?”

Julia gave a coy smile. “Maybe.”

“But you’re married,” Leah said.

Julia rolled her eyes. “What does that have to do with anything? I still have my needs. And there are loads of men around happy to do the scratching.”

Leah drew a breath as realisation hit her. “Steve?”

Julia smiled. “Sometimes. Why not? He’s good-looking and fun… and available.”

“Does Arnold know?”

Julia shrugged. “Probably not. But even if he did, it probably wouldn
’t bother him. As long as I keep it discreet. Don’t look so horrified.” She laughed at Leah’s expression. “It’s the way these things work. Arnold gets what he wants—a trophy wife that he can take out and show off—and I get money, status, a luxury lifestyle… Look in any wealthy Asian community and you’ll see a dozen marriages like ours.” She shrugged again. “I’m sure Arnold’s got his own little flings on the side. As long as he remembers that I’m Number One Wife, I don’t really care.”

“You can’t mean that,” said Leah.

“I do,” said Julia. “Anyway, we’re not talking about me. We’re talking about you and Toran. I’m glad you haven’t slept with him. You’re too soft, Leah, and you take things too seriously. It might ‘mean something’ to you, but it sure as hell won’t to him. That bastard already broke your heart once.”

“Julia, that was years ago—”

“Yeah, and I still remember it,” her friend said sharply. “Have you forgotten? The way he ignored all your messages? The way he just forgot about you as soon as you left?”

Leah shook her head miserably. She hadn’t forgotten. In the back of her mind, she had never forgotten and maybe that was why she was so hesitant to get too close to Toran again. He had torn her heart out last time and she couldn’t bear the thought of going through it again.

“You’re hoping things will be different this time,” said Julia. “I’ve seen it in your eyes. But don’t be a fool, Leah. I know men better than you. They’ll say anything to soften you up. Toran is probably just looking to scratch that itch.”

Leah winced
again. “No, Toran is different—”

Julia rolled her eyes. “Leah, trust me. No man is different. Stay away from Toran James or you’re going to get hurt. You know, he was engaged to some girl until a couple of months ago?”

Leah stiffened. “What?”

“He didn’t tell you?” Julia raised her eyebrows. “Yeah. I heard from my friend at the
Straits Times
. Pretty little thing. Angela, I think her name was. I think she worked for one of the women’s magazines. Anyway, everybody was waiting for them to announce the wedding date and then they just broke up suddenly.”

Leah looked down at the sink and said nothing.

“So you see? You can’t trust anything Toran says. Whatever he promises you now, it’ll be like last time, when you were fourteen and he made all those promises too.” Julia pushed away from the doorjamb. “You’ve got a new life back in London now. Remember that. You should just be getting ready to say goodbye to Toran as soon as this is over.”