aHunter4Trust (20 page)

Tamsin shut the restroom door, scrambled
back into the office, and plopped herself down on one of the chairs in front of
his desk. She straightened her blouse and jacket, and took a deep breath to
slow her breathing.

Winchester entered the room with a scowl on
his face. “Do you always bring that goon with you?”

Tamsin fought the urge to jump to Darrogh’s
defense. Instead, she put her brightest smile on and fluttered her eyelashes.
“He makes me feel safe.”

“I’d think big and muscular would get old
after a while.” Winchester pulled out the seat behind his desk. “Why are you
here?”

“I’ve been thinking about our chat
yesterday. Did you really mean your suggestion that we try to be a couple
again?”

Winchester stopped fiddling with his pen
and gave her a penetrating look. “Come to your senses have you?”

“I was attacked.”

“When?” Winchester leaned his elbows on his
desk.

“That’s not important.” Tamsin swallowed
back her memories of the confrontation in the alley. A part of her wondered if
Winchester was aware of the incident. Looking at him across his desk, she found
it hard to believe that he would be able to sit here and talk to her calmly if
he’d been behind the attack.

Winchester shrugged. “I warned you.”

“That’s why I’m here.” Tamsin clasped her
hands together. “If we married, would they leave my father and me alone?”

Winchester leaned back in his chair. “I
already told Albirsion Corporation that your answer was no.”

“So there’s no reasoning with this
corporation?” Tamsin’s voice was low. “Surely if you went to them, they’d make
an exception. The last time we talked, you made it sound as if you had an
inside track with them.”

“They make the rules.” Winchester picked up
his pen. “I’m not a fool. I keep my mouth shut and do what they tell me.”

“So you’re refusing to help.”

Winchester tapped the pen on the glass
surface of his desk. “My offer to wed you was very generous, especially
considering that you’re frigid.”

Tamsin jumped back as if she’d be slapped.
“I didn’t want to consummate our relationship until we were married. That
doesn’t mean I’m frigid.”

Winchester smirked. “You couldn’t stand to
let me touch you.”

Tamsin didn’t bother to argue. She’d hated
his hands on her, and she’d foolishly thought that once they were married that
would change. There was no doubting that it was a blessing that she’d found Liz
and Winchester together in bed. It had given her a reason to stop the wedding.

“You’re right.” Tamsin stood. “It was
foolish of me to come here.”

Winchester’s eyes widened. “I’m certain we
could work something out.”

“Like an open marriage that would let us
both go our separate ways.” Tamsin shook her head. “Not even for my father’s
sake am I willing to do that. I’ll fight these people on my own.”

“They’re too powerful.”

“Perhaps.” Tamsin raised her chin. “At
least I’ll sleep better knowing I tried to do something.”

“You’ve always been difficult, Tamsin. I
can’t say it’s been a pleasure knowing you.”

“We’re agreed on one thing.” Tamsin turned
and left the room.

Darrogh was waiting for her.

She tilted her head.

He gave her a searching look before leading
her toward the elevator. They rode down in silence. A sense of peace and safety
enveloped her. It felt as if Darrogh was holding her close. Everything she
wanted from life was standing right beside her. It had been less than two weeks
since she’d first met Darrogh, and yet she felt as if a lifetime of emotions
and love had happened in that time.

There was only one man for her.

Darrogh.

They headed for the tube once they were
outside. No words were spoken until they were safely inside the train. Darrogh
found a seat for her, and then stood in front of her so that his body protected
and blocked her from the view of others.

“
Did you get it
?” She felt the
words, rather than heard them.

She handed him the paper she’d written
everything on. “We should take this to Savis right away.”

Darrogh shook his head. “Too dangerous.”

He frowned down at the paper for a few
seconds and then folded it. He glanced behind him before shoving it into his
front jacket pocket. When he turned back, she could see the tension in his
eyes. Something was wrong.

She shifted in her seat to try and look
around him.

He took a step closer. “We are being
followed.”

Her heart beat quickened and she clenched
her hands into fists. They’d been so careful in making certain that no one had
followed them to Winchester’s office. If the Albireons had guessed their
purpose, then speed was even more important than before.

“How did they find us?”

“I sensed them the minute we left
Nethercott’s bank.”

“Were they there before we arrived?”

Darrogh shook his head.

There was only one explanation.

“Winchester alerted them.” Tamsin closed
her eyes. “I tried not to do anything that was suspicious.”

“It is not your fault.” Darrogh braced
himself as the train came into the next station. “We will exit and take a taxi
to your house.”

Tamsin was jostled by the crowd on the
platform as they left the train. People were everywhere. She felt a hand grab
her, and looked up into the hairless face of a man wearing a black overcoat and
hat. He looked identical to the men who had attacked them in the alley. Panic
rose inside her. Before she could react, Darrogh pulled her close and elbowed
the offender in the face.

He half carried her up the stairs and out
of the station. Once outside, he hailed a cab and rushed her into it. Only when
they were moving, did he release his hold on her.

“Are you hurt?”

Tamsin shook her head. “They’re getting
bolder.”

“They are desperate.” Darrogh pulled out
the crumpled sheet of paper she had handed him earlier with the passwords on
it. “I have already sent Savis the information. He will have found his way into
their financial records by now.”

“So everything will be okay.” Tamsin sagged
back against the seat.

“Not until I get you out of London.”
Darrogh clasped her hand. A frisson of heat went up her arm. She leaned her
head against his chest and let his strength ease her fears. “I will always
protect you.”

“Thank you.” Tamsin looked into his eyes.
“When I sat across from Winchester today, all I could think about was how lucky
I was to have found out about his betrayal before I married him.”

“He is a man without honor.”

“I should never have agreed to marry him.”
Tamsin lowered her voice. “I realized today that you’re the only man I want to
be with. I love you.”

A glint of excitement flared in Darrogh’s
eyes.

His hold on her tightened.

“I am bonded with you.” His voice was
husky. “It would be an honor to be your mate. I will not ask you to make such a
serious decision until we have defeated the Albireons and you are safe.”

Before Tamsin could reply, the taxi came to
a stop. She looked out the window and saw that they had arrived at her house.
With a sigh, she straightened up and waited until Darrogh had paid the cabbie.
He stepped outside the cab and assessed the area, before helping her out of the
vehicle. Jehon joined them at the sidewalk.

“The Albireons have set up a position in
the rear.”

Darrogh nodded and held the front door open
for her to pass through. “They will not attack as long as it is daylight. We
will keep them under surveillance.”

Jehon locked the door behind them. “We also
have guests.”

Tamsin frowned. “I wasn’t expecting
anyone.”

“The police have returned.”

A shudder went through her. Had they found
evidence that linked her to Saxby’s death? With a trembling hand she brushed
her hair back from her face and let out a shaky breath. She had no memory of
what had happened in the apartment, and Peter Newton had already given a statement
that she wasn’t there.

The police had to be here for another
reason.

It must be the attack in the alley.

“I’m ready.” She walked into the reception
room.

DI Milton and DS Barton were standing with
their backs to the fireplace and notebooks in hand. When she entered the room,
DI Milton walked toward her.

“We have more questions.”

Tamsin sat on her couch and motioned for DI
Milton to sit across from her. The police officer shook her head. She looked
down at her notes.

“We are having difficulty recovering CCTV
footage from Saturday night. Do you have any idea why that might be?”

For a second Tamsin thought she’d misheard
the inspector. “Are you suggesting that I tampered with video feeds?”

“Someone did.”

“It wasn’t me.” Tamsin smiled. “I know
finances not computers. I wouldn’t have a clue where to start.”

“What about your security team.” The
inspector’s expression was grim as she glanced at Darrogh who was standing
beside Tamsin. “I suspect that your team would do anything to protect you.”

“That is true.” Darrogh’s voice was cold.
“We would die to protect Tamsin.”

“That’s hardly an answer.” DI Morton
frowned. “Does your protection include murder or covering up a homicide?”

“I am a warrior. I follow the Sacred Code.”

“Is that a yes?”

“We do not murder innocent people. There is
no honor in that.”

Tamsin cleared her throat. “He answered
your question. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

DI Morton looked at her. “Was there
something you forgot to tell us about Saturday night?”

“I told you everything that I know.” Tamsin
shook her head. “George was a friend. Surely you have other suspects besides
me?”

DS Barton flipped her notepad closed.
“That’s the problem. We have too many suspects and no evidence that anyone was
ever at his apartment Saturday night.”

“You’re certain it wasn’t suicide?”

DS Barton and the inspector exchanged a
look.

Tamsin held her breath as she waited.

“It’s possible,” DI Morton admitted. “In my
gut, I don’t believe it. He wasn’t the type of man to kill himself.”

“How do you know that?” Tamsin’s voice was
hesitant.

“There was no suicide note, and nothing in
his apartment to indicate remorse for his violent treatment of women.” DI
Morton tapped her notebook. “It’s more probable that one of his victims took
their revenge.”

“He does not deserve your efforts.”
Darrogh’s voice was harsh.

“It’s my job to find the truth.”

Darrogh crossed his arms. “You will not
find it here.”

“My instinct tells me different.” The
inspector paused for a few seconds and then turned toward the door. “Without
any evidence, I have nothing to go on.”

When the detectives had left the house
Tamsin leaned back. “For a few seconds I thought you were going to tell her the
truth.”

“I would not have lied,” Darrogh admitted.
“I would have hated to leave you here alone, but I would have escaped. Your
laws cannot hold me.”

There was a loud pounding on the front
door.

Darrogh motioned for Jehon to check it out.
He came back with Peter Newton. Newton’s face was pale and his hands shook as
he put his camera down on the table. Tamsin guided him to a chair and asked
Jehon to get some water. When Peter had gulped back the liquid, he put the
glass down with a rattle.

“Henry Kingsley has just been killed by a
hit and run driver.”

“What happened?” Tamsin asked.

“I followed Kingsley after he left the
bank.” There was a tremor in Peter’s voice. “He made a phone call so I thought
he might lead me to his contacts.”

“That was a dangerous plan,” Darrogh said.
“Did they see you?”

Peter shook his head. “I was too far away.
They talked for a few minutes and then his contacts left. I was about to follow
them, when I heard the screeching of tires behind me. I ducked into a doorway
and started clicking pictures.”

“You saw it happen. How horrible.” Tamsin touched
Peter’s arm. “Did you get a good look at the person behind the wheel? That
should help the police find the driver.”

Peter held up his camera and started to
scan through the pictures he’d taken. The images flickered by like a movie and
Darrogh was not surprised when he saw that the man behind the wheel was wearing
a black coat and black hat. His face was emotionless as he raced toward Henry
and ran him over.

“The Albireons are covering their tracks.”

Darrogh had known it was only a matter of
time before the Albireons took notice of their activities and tried to
eliminate them. The attack this morning had been their first real attempt to
silence Tamsin. The shooting of the tire had only been a warning and scare
tactic. There would be no restraints now that they knew Henry Kingsley’s
sabotage had been discovered.

They had waited too long to leave London.

“It is not safe for us here.” Darrogh
straightened away from the camera.

At that moment, Firbin entered the room.
“Breanon is in position at the rear.”

“What about the front? We need a clear line
on the house from the park,” Darrogh said.

“I will go and take up a position.” Firbin
left the room just as Kerm entered with Savis.

“Were you successful?” Darrogh asked.

“Yes.” Savis put his laptop down on the
table in front of Tamsin. “There is a direct connection with Winchester
Nethercott. Once the Creighton’s funds reached his bank, he transferred them
into Albirsion Corporation banks.”

“You were able to stop that from happening
I hope?” Tamsin’s voice cracked.

“Yes, but I found other irregularities in
Nethercott’s files.” Savis glanced up at Darrogh, who nodded for him to
continue. “Nethercott has been laundering money from illegal operations setup
through Albirsion. He has been instrumental in increasing their wealth. There
was more.”

Tamsin sat down and shut her eyes for a few
seconds. “Tell me the rest.”

“Nethercott has been systematically
draining other banks around the world of their funds just like he did with
Creighton’s.”

“The Albireons plan to control Earth’s
global economy.” There was no doubt in Darrogh’s mind that this was one of the
thrusts in their takeover of the planet. “They have probably been planning this
for years.”

“They do not know that I have infiltrated
them.” Savis’s voice was quiet. “It will take me a few hours, but I should be
able to plant a backdoor into their system that they will not find. That way I
will have future access and time to correct what they have done.”

Darrogh did not hesitate. “Do it. We need
to stop them wherever possible.”

Savis reached for his computer. “I have
left the evidence of Winchester’s money laundering on the books. I can correct
the money siphoning from other banks just like I did at Creighton’s, but the
best way to stop it from happening again, is to stop Winchester.”

Darrogh did not have a problem with seeing
the man pay for his actions. “What do you propose?”

“Leak evidence of the money laundering,”
Savis said.

Tamsin frowned. “Is that wise?”

Savis picked up his computer. “The alternative
is to kill Winchester, but that will leave his contacts alive.”

“I don’t want him killed.” Tamsin was
definite. “Involving the police isn’t going to stop Albirsion Corporation.”

“It will delay the Albireon plans and stop
the flow of money to them,” Savis’s explained.

“So Winchester, and the people he is
laundering money for, will be arrested.” Darrogh liked the idea. “Send the
information anonymously to the authorities. If they are not controlled by the
Albireons, then they will stop the illegal activity.”

Savis nodded. “I will continue to monitor
the Albireons’ finances so that we will know when they find new sources of
money.”

“We will shut down those operations as they
occur.” Darrogh nodded.

“It is a good plan.”

“Is it necessary to send Winchester to
jail?” Tamsin’s voice was unsure.

“He committed fraud. Do not your laws have
a penalty for this?” Darrogh asked.

“I suppose it is fitting.” Tamsin sighed.
“It’s impossible to believe. Nethercott’s used to be such an upstanding
institution.”

“Winchester had a choice. He decided to
join with the Albireons.”

“You’re right.” There was still doubt in
Tamsin’s voice. “He might not know how horrible Albirsion Corporation is.”

“The people he launders money for are
criminals.” Savis’s voice was matter of fact.

“He is also the one who alerted the
Albireons that you had been in his office.” Darrogh clenched his hands at the
thought of what might have happened to Tamsin if he had not been with her.
“That is the reason your house is under surveillance and we are being
followed.”

Tamsin looked up at Darrogh. “He couldn’t
know what they intend to do.”

“He knows.” Darrogh waited until he saw
acceptance of the truth about Winchester’s betrayal in Tamsin’s eyes.

Tamsin gave him a shaky nod. “You’re right.
I told him that I was attacked and he showed no surprise.”

“He needs to be stopped.”

“The Albireons are preparing to attack.”
Kerm glanced toward the windows. “It will be dark soon.”

“You cannot stay here.” Darrogh’s stomach
tensed as a sense of unease shot through him. “Savis, tell Ardal your plans and
then execute them. Ask for reinforcements as soon as possible. I need to get
Tamsin away from London.”

“We still have a house in the north of
England.” Kerm’s voice was curt. “When we were hiring out as mercenaries, it
was essential to have a safe location in every country. It hasn’t been used in
the last year, but it should be protection until we can get more Hunters here.”

“We will go there.” Darrogh turned to
Tamsin. “Pack only a change of clothing. We leave in five minutes.”

“Can’t we wait until morning?” There was
obstinate refusal in Tamsin’s voice.

Darrogh sent her a wave of calm and
reassurance. There was no time to debate. The Albireons were close to attacking
and he needed to get her out of this house.

“No.”

Tamsin gave him a long searching look.

He sensed her unease.

A second later, it was gone. She nodded and
left the room. Only then, did he turn to the others.

“What is the best way to get out of London
unseen?”

“The underground.” Peter Newton spoke in a
decisive voice. “Let me see the map of the London tube system.

Savis pulled up the chart on his laptop.

Peter looked at the screen. “There are
entries into hidden tunnels beneath the city. If you can access one of them,
then you will be able to avoid detection.”

Peter pointed to Chancery Lane Station.
“There is a secret entrance to an underground tunnel that will connect you with
this station. It’s only about half a mile long, but if we can get you there
without being followed, then the Albireons won’t know where you are.”

“What do we do once we are there?” Darrogh
asked.

“Stay on the tube until the Central Line
ends at Epping Station. From there, you’ll have to take a car and get on the
A1. That will take you north.”

“We’ll need a car waiting for us.”

“I will arrange one to be there. I’ll pull
Tamsin’s vehicle up to the front of the house and drive you.” Kerm left the
house.

Darrogh looked up from the map that he had
committed to memory. “They are planning to attack tonight. I can feel it in my
bones. You will have to hold them off.”

“Not a problem. I will go and get the
weapons ready,” Jehon said.

“I’m coming with you.” Peter Newton stood.
“You’ll never get access to the hidden underground system without me.”

“It will be dangerous.” Darrogh appreciated
the offer of help, but he did not want the man risking his life. “I might not
be able to protect you.”

“I can take care of myself.” Peter’s voice
was strong. It was obvious he had recovered from the harrowing experience of
seeing Kingsley run down in broad daylight. “I didn’t believe you guys at
first. I can’t deny what I saw with my own eyes today, though.”

Tamsin came back into the room. She was
carrying a small leather backpack over her shoulder and had changed into jeans,
comfortable shoes and a woollen sweater.

“I’m ready.” She pulled her hair back into
a ponytail. “Are we driving?”

“Peter is coming with us. It is risky, but
we need to get to Furnival Street near the Chancery Lane tube station.” Darrogh
took the pack from Tamsin. “We will drive there. It will take the Albireons a
few minutes to follow. Once we reach the underground, we should be able to lose
them.”

Jehon came back with a couple of pistols that
he handed to Darrogh. He also added a box of bullets. Peter’s eyes widened when
he saw the weapons and he shook his head. “I’m not going to ask if they’re
legal.”

“These are primitive but effective.”
Darrogh hid one of the guns in his jacket. The bullets and second pistol he put
in Tamsin’s pack. “We use what we must. If they attack, then I will defend.”

Tamsin shuddered. “Let’s hope we can outwit
them.”

“You need to delay the Albireons from
following us.” Darrogh looked at Jehon. “Use whatever tactics you think
necessary, including shooting out the tires on their vehicles.”

“I will alter the angle of the CCTV cameras
at Furnival and Epping Station,” Savis added. “If they have access to the video
feed that should stop them from finding your route.”

“The main goal is to delay until Ardal’s
reinforcements arrive.” Darrogh turned to Peter. “Ready?”

Peter picked up his camera. “When I’ve got
you two away safely, I’m going to lay low for a few days. It sounds as if
you’re planning a battle.”

They left the house by the front door.

Darrogh could feel the eyes on them as they
climbed into Tamsin’s car. Kerm sped off the moment the door shut, and swerved
around cars on his way to Furnival. When they reached Chancery Lane, Kerm
barely stopped as he let them off at the corner of Cursitor Street.
Construction was on both sides of the road and only pedestrian traffic was able
to get through. This would make it impossible for anyone to pursue them in a
car.

Kerm sped off. Darrogh took Tamsin’s elbow
and led her down the walkthrough that went into Cursitor. Peter followed. When
they reached Furnival Street, Peter took the lead, stopping at a building with
a black loading door. Tamsin leaned against the building and took a deep
breath.

Peter rummaged in his pockets and pulled
out a ring heavy with keys.

Darrogh stood guard in front of both of
them and looked over his shoulder. No one had followed them. They were safe for
the moment, but they could not delay.

“We cannot stay outside long.”

“Give me a second.” Peter started flipping
through his keys. He stopped at a small bronze-colored one and inserted it into
the door’s lock. The door opened and he went in. Darrogh motioned for Tamsin to
follow. He gave another cursory look up and down the road and when he was
certain no one had seen them, he entered and shut the door behind him.

Peter turned the lock in the door. “We
don’t need anyone getting curious.”

“This is the old telephone tunnels.”
Tamsin’s voice was a hushed whisper. “How did you get access here?”

“I did some security work for the group
that owns it. They were having problems with trespassers.” Peter moved his hand
in front of a motion sensor and the lights came on. “When the work was
finished, I kept a key. You never know when something like that might come in
handy.”

“How far do we have to go?” Tamsin
shivered.

There was a spiral staircase a few feet in
front of them and Peter started down it. “It’s less than a mile.”

Tamsin followed and Darrogh brought up the
rear.

Their footsteps on the metal stairs were
the only sound. No one was following them. When they reached the bottom, the
first thing that Darrogh noticed was the damp, musty smell. His nose also
detected a faint odor of diesel. The roar of trains could be heard above them.

“How long has this place been abandoned?”
Darrogh glanced up at the ceiling. Bright lights glowed at regular intervals.