White Gold (10 page)

Dan stepped through the automatic glass doors into the hotel reception area and walked across the polished wooden floor.

Mitch followed, glancing around at his surroundings. ‘You’re doing all right if you can set up camp here,’ he said.

Dan glanced over his shoulder, smiled and shook his head. ‘Not me. Sarah’s planning on running a story on our findings so she reckons her editor will cover the expenses.’

Mitch caught up with Dan, grabbed hold of his arm and pulled him to a stop. ‘No-one said anything about her printing this, Dan.’ He looked around to make sure no-one could hear them. ‘Some of this stuff you say Peter’s notes include could be highly classified, you do realise that, don’t you?’

Dan shrugged. ‘Well, we haven’t got anywhere with it yet, have we? Let’s just see what we find out first, yeah? Then let’s talk about what does and doesn’t get published.’

He began to walk away from Mitch but then turned back. ‘And, Mitch? Friendly word of advice – don’t go saying things like that to Ms Edgewater. There’s a very real chance that if you do, you and I will never see those notes again.’

Mitch nodded. ‘Fair enough. Just be very careful who knows the content of them – no flashing them around, okay?’

Dan nodded. ‘Come on. I’m betting she’s still working away on one of the computers in the business centre down here.’

Mitch followed him to the end of the corridor. A frosted glass double door blocked their way. The outline of a figure could be seen, sitting at a low desk.

‘Stay here,’ murmured Dan, and pushed the door open.

‘Hey,’ he said, taking off his jacket and strolling over to where Sarah sat, her face illuminated by the light of the computer screen. ‘They ran out of canapés.’

Sarah glanced up and smiled. ‘If I relied on you to feed me, I’d be ten kilos lighter by now.’ She held up an empty plate. ‘Luckily, they make half decent sandwiches here.’ She put the plate back down on the desk and went back to work.

Dan pulled out a chair next to her and watched. ‘Are you having any luck?’

Sarah scrolled through the latest search string she’d entered, hit a key and sighed. ‘I just wish I knew what half this stuff meant – I feel like we’re going round in circles.’

‘Maybe not,’ said a voice behind them.

Sarah turned and saw a thin, wiry sun-tanned man with a gold stud in his left ear, wearing board shorts and a surf t-shirt. He leaned against the door frame, looking fed up.

Sarah looked at Dan. ‘Does he belong to you?’

Dan shrugged. ‘I’ve been known to feed him occasionally. Mitch – I thought I told you to wait outside?’

The tall man wandered over. ‘I know – I got bored.’ He stuck his hand out to Sarah. ‘Mitch Frazer.’

Sarah glared at Dan, and then shook Mitch’s outstretched hand. ‘And you’re here because…?’

Dan interrupted. ‘He’s our secret weapon. There are only so many websites you can access before a flag’s going to go up with Delaney’s security. You should’ve seen them crawling over that press conference – god knows who he’s got on his payroll. Mitch here is what we call, shall we say, a back-door man.’

Sarah smiled at Mitch, who grinned and sat down at her computer, and then she turned to Dan and pulled him over to a corner of the room.

‘Where exactly do you know Mitch from?’ she asked in a low voice.

‘Army days,’ he said, not wanting to elaborate and not sure why. ‘I bumped into him outside Delaney’s press gig. Turns out he’s working here for some people who want Delaney monitored very closely. I figured we might as well use him.’

Sarah folded her arms and stared at Dan. ‘What’s the trade-off though? We tell him everything we know so far?’

Dan nodded. ‘We have to stop Delaney, Sarah – no matter what it takes. We’ve been looking at this for over a week now and we’re no closer to working out what he’s really up to, are we?’

Sarah’s shoulders slumped. ‘I know… really, I do. It’s just, well, I was sort of looking forward to breaking the story myself.’

‘Sarah, this isn’t just about a news story, you know better than that. Delaney’s dangerous. We have to try to stop him.’

‘Anyone fancy going to a party?’

Dan and Sarah turned round to look at Mitch.

Dan frowned. ‘What?’

Mitch grinned and inclined his head towards the computer screen. ‘Party. At Delaney’s. Tomorrow night.’

Sarah glanced sideways at Dan. ‘Shall we?’

Dan shrugged. ‘Probably – but how the hell are we going to get in?’ He looked at Mitch. ‘What’s the occasion?’

Mitch looked at the computer screen. ‘It says here he’s celebrating the launch of the new joint venture. It’s probably just another way of persuading the right people to provide financial backing after they’ve consumed copious amounts of free alcohol.’

Dan walked over to the screen and looked at the news report. ‘Where did you find this?’

‘More to the point,’ said Sarah, ‘I thought you were supposed to be helping us with our research, not bumming around on the news sites?’

Mitch grinned and turned to the computer. He scrolled up the web page until Dan saw a familiar banner across the top of the screen.

‘ABC website,’ he murmured, and looked more closely. He glanced up at Sarah. ‘It says Hayley filed this story half an hour ago.’

Sarah smiled. ‘And you want me to find out if she can get us in there, right?’ She had already pulled out her mobile phone from her bag. ‘I just hope she doesn’t think we’re after invites to every event in town.’

Dan grinned and slapped Mitch on the back. He lowered his voice, aware that Sarah was chattering away in the background on her phone. ‘It’d be a perfect opportunity to have a look around.’

Mitch nodded. He glanced out the corner of his eye at Sarah. ‘It’s going to be heavily guarded, you realise that?’

Dan smiled. ‘I always did like a challenge.’

‘Good grief, Mitch – where’d you get the suit?’ laughed Dan.

Mitch looked hurt and pointed at Sarah. ‘She made me do it.’ He looked down at his outfit. ‘I can’t remember the last time I couldn’t see my legs.’

Sarah rolled her eyes and grabbed his arm, propelling him towards the elevator. ‘There’s no way I’m letting you walk in there wearing board shorts. We’re trying to blend in, remember?’ She waited until they were all in the elevator car then pressed the button for the underground car park.

Mitch looked at Dan, who just shrugged.

‘She’s the boss. Better do as you’re told,’ he said and stepped out into the basement parking area.

‘Help me,’ pleaded Mitch as Sarah dragged him out of the elevator and towards the car.

Dan drove the car north, and within half an hour they had left the bright lights of the city. The dual highway narrowed and Dan checked the GPS – they were now heading westwards, away from suburban civilisation. Large properties lined the roads, mailboxes at the end of long hidden driveways providing the only indication anyone lived in the area. He took a left fork in the road and slowed down, wondering what sort of damage a wallaby would do to a car out here. He didn’t talk, just drove and listened to the banter between Sarah and Mitch go quiet as they settled in for the ride. The adrenaline was beginning to kick in. Dan had no idea how Delaney would react if he found out they were at his house.

Mitch began to snore contentedly on the back seat. Dan smiled.
Sleep whenever you get a chance
. It appeared Mitch hadn’t forgotten the old rules either.

Dan spotted the house from several miles away. It was huge, even at a distance. It sat perched on a promontory carved out of the volcanic landscape, overlooking the valley and its distant neighbours. He wondered what the views were like and tried to guess how far up the coast he’d be able to see from there.

He slowed, turned on to a minor road and spotted the gates to Delaney’s property after a couple of kilometres. Tall granite pillars supported a wrought-iron security gate, guarded by two hired hands. Ornate lanterns fixed to the pillars bathed the entrance in a warm yellow glow, moths and bugs fighting for position on the light bulbs.

‘Wake up, Mitch. Party time,’ he said.

Mitch stirred on the back seat. ‘Ready when you are.’

Dan stopped the car, left the engine running and lowered his window. He took the invites from Sarah and handed them to the security guard who approached the car.

The man used his torch to read the invites, then shone the light into the car, careful not to shine it right in Dan’s face and blind him. He nodded, handed the invites back to Dan, then turned and walked back towards the gate. He hit a switch and the gates slid open silently. He waved the car through and stood back to let them pass.

Dan steered the car carefully up a paved driveway which had once been an earth path cut between tall eucalypt trees. The driveway continued to wind its way up the hill. It had been widened so cars could pass each other. A procession of sports cars and luxury sedans lined the driveway, their owners parking over to one side so others could pass.

Dan pulled over and switched off the engine, then turned to face Sarah and Mitch. ‘Right, there are a few rules tonight,’ he said. ‘First, no risks. Absolutely none. Second, use your real names – might as well. People can tell when you’re lying and if Sarah bumps into someone she knows from the media, she’s going to have problems if she’s using a false name.’

Mitch and Sarah nodded their assent.

‘Lastly,’ said Dan. ‘I’m going to be the only one searching Delaney’s property.’

Sarah opened her mouth to protest and Dan put his hand up to stop her.

‘That’s the rule. Otherwise we turn around now. If anything goes wrong and I get caught, I need you two to get back to the car and get out of here. Mitch – try to keep an eye on the security guards for me once we’re in. I might need you to distract them while I get away from the party and take a look around.’

Mitch nodded. ‘Sure.’

‘Okay,’ said Dan. ‘Let’s go party.’

They got out of the car and Dan handed Mitch the keys. ‘Look after them.’

They began to walk up the driveway to the house. Ornate pots containing exotic plants lined a gravel path which led to a wide stone staircase that swept upwards towards the double front doors which were open, guarded by two more security men as wide as rugby players.

Dan could see holsters strapped to their waists. They looked capable of using them if they had to. As he glanced behind him, he realised more security guards probably prowled the grounds, watching from a distance, and he wondered if they’d shoot first and ask questions later.

The house was extraordinary. It loomed up over the gardens. Built from sandstone brick, two storeys high, a wide deck began at the top of the front steps and wrapped itself around the whole building. The railings were painted to complement the natural stonework of the house. The front doors were open, so as they walked up the front steps they were confronted with the enormity of the hallway. A polished wooden floor gleamed from the lights which swung from the ceiling. It was stylish, Dan had to admit.

The beat of a sound system greeted them as one of the security guards at the door held up his hand to stop them and checked the invites, before motioning them towards a reception room. The gorilla of a doorman stood to one side and Dan led Sarah and Mitch through to the crowded room. An eclectic crowd laughed, drank, and swayed to the music. A few people stared as they walked towards them.

Dan smiled, giving the impression that, like them, he belonged there. He nodded to a man as he stepped out of the way to let them pass, then turned to a passing waiter and took drinks from the proffered tray.

‘Here,’ he said to Sarah under his breath as he handed her a glass of wine, ‘this will help steady your nerves.’

He turned to Mitch and they clinked their beer glasses together.

‘Well,’ said Mitch, ‘you’re in. Now make it count.’

Dan left Sarah and Mitch and began to walk a slow circuit of the room. He smiled at people when he passed, and made occasional small talk, while he glanced around and checked his surroundings.

Once all the guests had been accounted for, the two security guards on the front door made sporadic forays into the room, checking on their employer while they tried to maintain a low-key presence.

Dan looked out onto the terrace. A few guests lined the ornate railings, while another security guard appeared to be walking a regular circuit around the enclosed deck and patio area, keeping an eye on the guests. Several couples had taken advantage of the pool facilities – the sound of splashing water and laughter carried through the open windows and cut through the music playing in the background.

He turned back to the room, caught the attention of one of the waiting staff, and handed his empty glass to her. He smiled his thanks as she walked away, then glanced around the room. He moved his eyes slowly, taking in his surroundings, sweeping the crowd of guests at regular intervals. He stepped out into the hallway. Standing to one side to let a giggling couple run past him, he took a sip of his drink and contemplated his next move.

He thought quickly. Whatever he did here tonight, he’d have to make sure he got out with something. Once Delaney found out who was on his trail, they wouldn’t get another chance.

He had seen Delaney at the far end of the reception room, but he hadn’t yet been spotted. Glancing down the hallway, he glimpsed a staircase guarded by ostentatious ornaments, both of them in bad taste. Taking a glass of champagne from a passing waiter’s tray, he nodded to a couple who would now spend the evening wondering how they’d previously made his acquaintance, before he turned and climbed the stairs.

Pretending to admire the artwork on the walls, he glanced up towards the rooms on the next floor as he climbed – all the doors were shut. His eyes wandered across the landing then back down towards the stairs.

He frowned as a familiar figure came into view, climbing the stairs towards him. He walked over and took Sarah by the arm as she stepped onto the landing.

‘What the hell are you doing here?’ he snapped. ‘I thought I told you to stay with Mitch?’

Sarah shrugged off his grip. ‘He’s fine,’ she hissed. ‘I wanted to help you.’

Dan shook his head. ‘It wasn’t Mitch I was worried about,’ he said.

Sarah smirked. ‘I know. I told him to create a scene if any of the security guards looked like they were heading this way. What’s the plan?’

Dan looked down the hallway. ‘Try a door I guess.’

He put his champagne glass down on an ornate dresser to one side of the landing, and then wandered along the hallway. He kept close to the wall and tested the door handles as he went. Three of the rooms led to what appeared to be guest bedrooms, the next one a lounge area with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the airport and docks in the far distance.

Sarah tapped him on the shoulder. ‘What are you looking for?’ she whispered.

Dan glanced along the hallway, then turned to her. ‘A man like Delaney won’t keep all his secrets at the office. He must have a study or something at home. And I’ll bet it’s locked.’

Sarah nodded and gestured for him to continue, looking behind her as they carried on. They passed a large media room, the surfaces of various appliances glinting in the reflection of the light from the hallway, then stopped at the next door. Dan twisted the handle. It held fast. He turned and nodded at Sarah.

Taking a small multi-tool from his pocket, he pushed a sliver of steel into the lock and moved it from side to side. He figured it worked in the movies, so it was worth a try. He glanced up at Sarah. The dress suited her, he thought, the peach tones complementing her pale skin.

She stared intently at his hands, holding her breath as he worked the lock, then realised he was watching her. ‘What?’

Dan nodded his head towards the empty hallway. ‘Keep watch – we can’t risk anyone seeing us here.’

She nodded, turning her back to him. He risked another glance at the dress, smiling to himself as he worked.

‘Dan – there’s someone coming!’ Sarah hissed.

He looked up from the door, just as the lock clicked open. A man and woman had just left one of the rooms and were walking towards them along the hallway, talking and laughing. Sarah glanced at Dan, fear in her eyes.

He improvised.

Grabbing Sarah’s hand, he laughed and dragged her into the room after him, pulled her into an embrace and planted a lingering kiss on her lips. He looked up and winked at the couple as they passed the room, then slammed the door shut.

As the door closed behind her, Sarah pulled away from Dan, stunned. Then she slapped him across the face, hard.

‘Hey!’

‘What the hell are you doing?’ she hissed, flicking on the light switch.

Dan rubbed his cheek, blinking in the sudden light. ‘They would’ve found it suspicious, us sneaking around like that – now they won’t think twice about what they just saw,’ he said, glaring at her, then laughed, seeing the confused look on her face. ‘Don’t tell me you thought I was serious.’

Sarah stared at him. ‘S-sorry. I – no,’ she stumbled, then pushed past him into the room, trying to look busy.

Dan grinned to himself and shrugged. It was a good kiss. He looked around the room, which appeared to be Delaney’s private office.

‘Bingo,’ he murmured. ‘Right,’ he said, pulling two sets of gloves out of his pocket and handing a pair to Sarah, ‘use these. Move things carefully. Put things back where you found them,’ he added.

‘What are we looking for?’ she asked, slipping the gloves on and wandering over to a bookshelf.

Dan walked over to an ornate hardwood desk and switched on a small lamp, illuminating papers, reports, files. ‘Everything and anything. Photos, business cards, the lot. Has your phone got a camera function?’

Sarah nodded, patting her bag.

‘OK, get it out and for Christ’s sake, make sure you’ve got it switched to silent and the flash is off. We’ll just have to hope the detail shows up without it.’