To Deceive Is To Love (Romantic suspense) (26 page)

His eyes narrowed sharply. “Jenny talks too much about things she knows little about. I made a mistake once by trusting the legal system. I did what I thought was right at the time and would do it again. No damn lawyer will decide my fate.”

“Listen to yourself! You are eaten up with revenge and forgetting what you could lose. If you won’t do it for yourself, do it for me. You told me you loved me. If that wasn’t a lie, don’t do this. Let us have a future together.”

His words came out in a flat, drawling tone as he deliberately withdrew from her emotionally. “I said I loved you. As for there being a future for us, I’ve never looked that far ahead and don’t plan to, at least not yet. Besides, you might be better off setting your sights on someone a little more conventional; if it’s marriage you’re after.” As soon as he said those words, he knew the effect it would have on her.

Fiddling with some papers on the desk, he avoided eye contact. Faced with the prospect that she might be right and he could end up dead, trying to lessen the blow made him appear a bigger bastard than he was. He felt the full force of her pain and disappointment without having to look at her. The silence said it all. Looking up, he watched the door close behind her.

Picking up the receiver, he punched out a number, uttered the code required by the operator and waited. Hendersson came on the line within minutes.

“David, so nice to hear from you. We heard you were dead.” Hendersson’s tone was cautious.

“You obviously had your doubts, since this line was kept open.” David tried to keep his anger at bay. “I think we need to talk. I have something of yours in exchange for what I’m owed.”

“I’m listening. Just keep it nice and simple.”

David did that, putting his terms and conditions across in one sentence. He promised to ring back in ten minutes to tell him where the meet would take place. Hendersson wouldn’t admit to anything over the phone, his line was scrambled and regularly swept clean, but he couldn’t risk his words being recorded from David’s end. Also to avoid a trace being made, David timed it to the second, cutting off as the minute hand moved on his watch.

****

Chantelle was fuming when she walked out of the study. She felt humiliated and betrayed. Pig headed, arrogant, selfish crazy bastard were some of the names that came to mind for David. It was obvious he didn’t care for his own life and that the love he claimed was temporary came second to revenge.

If he thought she would accept what little he had to give her and wait around while he attempted to get himself killed, he thought wrong. Going up to the bedroom, she glanced at the underwear and sweaters Jenny had left draped over the bed. It was a painful reminder of the helpless, pitiful situation she was in.

When Jenny returned for a brief stop before she left again to do some shopping, Chantelle assured her that her paleness and withdrawn behavior was due to a headache and that she and David would be fine in the house alone. It was obvious they were avoiding each other as she and Jenny had lunch alone while David had his in the study. After a brief search for the cell phone she’d misplaced, Jenny finally left.

Feeling a little guilty, Chantelle removed the phone from the bedside cabinet where she had hidden it and dialed Paul’s number.

On hearing her voice, Paul sounded both relieved and concerned. “When the number you gave me in France was a dead line and your cell phone was the same, I almost contacted the French authorities.”

“You didn’t, did you?” Chantelle interrupted.

“No, but what’s going on? It’s so unlike you not to check up on Chat every day. Besides, you said a couple of days and it’s been almost a week.”

“I can’t explain Paul, not now. Has anyone been around asking questions?

“No, should there have been?”

She gave a small sigh. “No, forget I asked.”

“Listen, Chantelle, I’ve got a three day stopover in New York. I leave tomorrow early. What can I do with Chat?”

Hearing those words finally made the decision for her. “Paul, I’ll be up tonight to collect Chat.” She took a small swallow before adding, “And, Paul, I need to ask a really big favor.”

“For you, darling, anything.”

“I need you to go into my apartment and pack a suitcase for me. Sweaters, trousers, underwear, pack as much as you can or at least what I can carry. I took my weekend case, so it will be the large suitcase under the bed.” She hesitated before adding, “Can I borrow some money? Just temporary until I get access to my bank accounts. My passport and credit cards are all in France."

Paul was true to his word, she knew that, but it was obvious he had a million questions, especially when she added that he must make sure he told no one she had been in touch. She also warned him to be discreet about going into her apartment. If, as David claimed, her flat was being watched, they would not be able to see past the entrance door. Besides, Paul would hardly look suspicious to anyone besides David.

“How clandestine and very intriguing. Tell me; is this to escape a lover or to hide with another? Chantelle, you have always been a little bohemian, so I won’t be shocked, I promise.”

“Paul, this is important and believe me, is no game.”

The serious, fearful tone of her voice as she continued with other instructions caused no more flippant comments. Instead, Paul ended the conversation by telling her to be careful and that he would expect her in an hour or so.

Keeping hold of the phone and grabbing the ignition key to the Mini, which lay on the bedside cabinet, Chantelle came down the stairs. She froze when she heard movements from the kitchen. Quickly, she placed the phone back on the hallway table. The key she slipped into her trouser pocket and entered the kitchen.

David was in the process of making a cup of coffee. “Want some?”

“No, thanks.” Her eyes avoided his.

“Look, Chantelle, about earlier. I didn’t mean to put it quite how it sounded. It’s just…”

“Have you changed your mind?” she cut in.

“Well no, but…” He stopped what he was doing.

“Then there’s nothing more to be said, is there, David? You have made your decision and I have made mine.”

“What do you mean by that?” In two strides, he was in front of her, grabbing hold of her forearm as she turned.

“Damn it, Chantelle, don’t walk away.” He spun her around to face him.

“Let go of me, you bully. It’s over. Do what you have to do, but from now on, don’t touch me.” The pure savagery in her voice caused him to drop her arm as if it was on fire.

“Fine, if that’s how you want it. But that doesn’t stop what we feel for each other, what we have together.”

Her hand came up and slapped him hard across the cheek, tears stinging her eyes as she turned and fled the house.

As she hopped into the Mini, David hobbled toward her. Reaching the car, he clung to the door handle, trying to wrench it open as the engine roared to life. He yelled at her, but she couldn’t tell what he said through the closed window.

She refused to see or hear him and crunched the gear into first and shot forward. David still clung on until he was forced to let go or be swept under the car as she skidded across the driveway and out onto the road, just missing an oncoming car.

****

“What did you say to her to make her take off like that? It must have been pretty bad.” Tony had abandoned his meeting the second David called. Now, he was in the hallway, looking perplexed by David’s uncustomary indecisiveness. “What are you going to do? Do you know where she might have gone? She’s obviously sensible enough not to return to her flat.”

“The way she was behaving, anything is possible. Especially because she was so bloody concerned about that damn cat of hers.” The discomfort in his leg had become nonexistent next to the anguish he felt.

Between the time Chantelle had taken off and Tony returned he had placed another call to Hendersson. Instead of arranging for the meet to take place the following day as planned, David had insisted they meet that evening. It meant he didn’t have a lot of time to set things up, but he couldn’t risk the delay now Chantelle had disappeared. Damn the woman! He knew it was partly his fault. He should have realized how fiery and irrational she could get when upset and hidden the car keys.

Now, he had to borrow Tony’s car to get to the meet, which was in three hours. He had wanted surveillance equipment already in place at the hangar and backup. Instead, he had to conceal a recording device on his person, something Hendersson would be looking for, and hope he reached his friend in time to provide the necessary backup. At least this friend was unconnected to Hendersson and had enough influence in Customs and Excise to make an arrest if Hendersson gave him what he wanted, which was a confession. The paperwork could be sorted out later.

“David, what do you plan to do?” Tony demanded.

“About what?” David replied, glancing again at his watch.

“Chantelle. That is why I’ve rushed back here, isn’t it?” Tony walked toward the bar. “This isn’t me needing a drink in the afternoon, but you are making me damn nervous.” He poured himself a shot of whisky and held the bottle toward David. “Want one?”

David shook his head.

“Please yourself, but from where I’m standing, you need something. I’ve never known you to show your emotions. You’re always so calm and collected. What’s going on, David? Is Chantelle going to be all right? You don’t look so confident.”

“I’ve got to make some phone calls. I’ll make them in your study if you don’t mind.” He paused at the doorway as Tony’s question registered. “Chantelle will be all right. I’ll sort it out between us when the time is right. For now, there’s something far more important to take care of.”

“I hope she’s the patient type and can understand your priorities.” Tony raised the glass of whisky to his mouth as David stormed off.

When David finally emerged from the study, he felt more confident. With just two hours to go before the meet, he had finally managed to track down his friend in Customs. It was an incredible story, one that his friend had called too bizarre not to be true. It helped that Hendersson and Customs had clashed in the past. With the location details and his friend’s assurance they wouldn’t move in until fifteen minutes after the start of the meeting, it looked like his plan might work.

He could hear Jenny returning with the children from the loud voices coming from the lounge. When he walked in, Tony turned to him.

“I was telling Jenny that Chantelle has returned to her flat now that she is convinced you’re on the road to recovery.”

Jenny threw them both a distasteful glance. “I wish I could believe the two of you. For the sake of the children, we will talk about it later. Now, if you don’t mind, Tony, since you finished early today, you can help me prepare dinner.”

David gave a discreet sigh of relief. He would be leaving straight after dinner, letting Tony to do the explaining. The accusing looks thrown in his direction as Tony left the room confirmed Jenny was no fool.

Dinner was an awkward, silent affair with the children providing the barricade from a barrage of questions. When David finished his meal, he asked Tony if he could use his car for the evening. Tony followed him, directing him into the study and closing the door behind them. Nothing was said as David retrieved his knapsack from a locked cupboard and placed it on the desk. Bringing out the SIG 9mm pistol, he checked the magazine was in place and the safety catch remained on and then dropped it back into the knapsack.

“Don’t do this. I’m pleading as your one and only best friend. I want you to live long enough to become a partner and yes, I’m talking about our own chartered airline.”

David had placed his leather flying jacket on and was reaching for his knapsack when Tony’s words caused him to stop and look at his friend. “What changed your mind? When I talked about it before, you said the investment and risks were too great.”