Sharp Turn - Marianne Delacourt [70]
My phone rang. It was Lloyd Honey.
‘Tara, I have that information for you.’
‘Yes?’ I said.
‘It took a little digging but Instant Security is a partnership between Jensen Bridges and John Viaspa.’
‘Jensen Bridges!’ I nearly choked. He was the crooked politician who’d been turning a blind eye to Viaspa’s mining lease rort. Crap, this just got worse. I mentally added Lena Vine to my to-call-today list.
‘I see you know him.’
‘Of him, yes.’ Of his dirty exploits.
‘I’m also emailing you a list of the companies owned by Riley and Ignatius. I hope it is of some help.’
‘Lloyd, I think I love you,’ I said by way of thank you.
‘My pleasure, Tara. Be safe. These are not pleasant people you are dealing with.’
‘I will, Lloyd.’
I opened my laptop and waited impatiently for it to boot up. Then I scanned Lloyd’s list. The only name that even vaguely rang a bell was Tex-E but I couldn’t think why. I sighed, shut the lid of my computer and put my beeping phone on charge. Then I told Cass I’d be back in an hour.
Brains squawked at me for a scratch as I walked past, while Hoo hung from one leg and flapped his wings. I opened the door and tickled his belly, which got him screeching in mock protest. Brains didn’t like losing the attention and crawled over and bit the foot he was hanging from. Hoo screeched again and fluttered to the floor of the cage.
I headed out to Mona. She positively glowed in the morning light. Soon as I could afford it I vowed to get her resprayed. The orange body and black flames along the bonnet were way too loud for a girl doing undercover work.
A quick glance up and down the street and back at the house told me that no one was around. I could hear JoBob in the family room with the TV on.
As soon as I passed the first cross-street on the way to the gym, though, I saw the dark sedan. My heart started to hammer and I had an overwhelming desire to plant my foot on the accelerator and just flat out race away. Instead, I took the next random corner and ducked and weaved in and out of all the side streets I knew.
I suddenly wished I’d brought my phone with me. If Viaspa had set this guy on me it wouldn’t be to watch out for my wellbeing. I lost the sedan somewhere near View Street and headed on to the gym without being followed.
‘Tara!’
It was Josh, waving to me from the back wall of the underground car park. He was standing close to a car with an open boot. Creepily, it looked like the one that had been following me.
I found a parking spot near him and locked Mona up.
‘Are you okay?’ he asked as I joined him.
‘It’s nothing. Just some bad drivers on the road,’ I said, trying to catch a glimpse of the licence plate in the car park gloom.
‘You look like you need a hug.’
He reached out and pulled me into his arms. It wasn’t a Nick Tozzi bear hug, but it was comforting and he smelled nice, like . . . oh my fricking Lord . . . My bag was wrenched off my shoulder, and my head and shoulder hit something hard.
Next thing, the boot lid slammed on me, shutting out the light.
Fuck!
I kicked and shouted and thumped until my voice went hoarse and my hands and feet hurt too much to continue. And even then I kept going. I probably should have kept still and tried to count turns and listen for sounds that gave away my destination, but I was too freaked.
Freaked, and mad with myself for not realising that Josh had been my stalker.
Eventually, the car began to slow and lurch, as if going over speed humps. I felt around for anything that I could use as a weapon. Might only get one chance. But he’d taken out the jack and spare tyre and I found nothing except what felt like a hessian shopping bag.
The car stopped and a few seconds later the boot opened.
‘Get out. Quietly,’ said Josh, shoving a gun against my ear before I could unstick my tongue from the top of my mouth.
I thought about launching at him,