In Safe Keeping (23 page)

But to her, now, he was an exposed tough guy who wore a well-cut suit Monday to Friday like a uniform. And he was blessed with enough smarts to only use his impressive brawn when necessary.

She could see it all, and she wondered at its origin, wished she knew. Because maybe it would explain why he’d manipulated her, despite saving Mike, despite enlisting Luke Neilson’s help, despite coming here today.

Suddenly Dickson addressed Moulder again.

‘You want to give me your version of what happened in the park? Because I’m a little confused. And I suggest you start talking, if you want to save those pretty teeth of yours.’

When the man didn’t answer, Dickson tried a different tack. ‘Okay. We will contact your superior when we get to the station. The three of us can have a nice conversation.’

‘Don’t bother.’ Moulder said. ‘They’ll give you a blanket denial.’

Dickson leaned in closer. ‘Who? Who gave you orders to watch her?’

Moulder hesitated, then said ‘Reuben Lawrence.’

Laila looked up. ‘I know him. He was the commander involved in the Blackhawk enquiry. A man with a very big ego.’

‘Luke Neilson visited Lawrence at Holsworthy this morning.’ Evan held up his phone and pointed to a photograph. ‘Fifteen minutes after he left, Moulder showed up.’

‘What’s Lawrence after?’ Dickson asked.

‘Names.’

‘Go on.’

‘Someone put the word around she was taking a class action on behalf of some of the guys who’d died. It’s hard to keep secrets on the base. Everyone finds out everything in the end. He wanted to know who was giving her information, and details of the case, who was taking part, how much money, that kind of thing.’

‘Were you in her office last Saturday?’

‘I was snooping. Had nothing to do with that fire though.’ He looked at Evan. ‘I wouldn’t have hurt her. I know she’s a good person.’

‘But you hurt John Holt?’ Dickson jumped in, as if fearing Evan was going to have another go.

‘That his name?’

‘Where’d you dump the body?’

Moulder’s one eye widened. ‘I didn’t kill him. He was out cold, that’s all.’

‘Come on Moulder, don’t dick me around. Laila’s a witness. She says you killed him.’

Laila closed her eyes and turned away.

‘She’s wrong. I checked his vitals.’

‘So why was Holt watching her?’

‘I don’t know. I noticed him a week ago. I think he started the fire.’

‘See anyone else with him?’

‘Nope, but he’s no good.’

‘I know he’s no good, he’s a bikie on my “most wanted” list.’

Cross got behind Moulder this time, leaning down and speaking in his ear. ‘What piece was he carrying?’

‘A Ruger LCP .38.’

Dickson straightened up. ‘Where is it?’

‘Parramatta River, off Silverwater Bridge.’

‘I’ll send in the divers. You better not be jerking me around, Moulder.’

‘Laila?’ Evan cocked his head in the direction of the kitchen. ‘You too, Cross.’

Dickson rolled his eyes, but he joined them at the end of the hallway. ‘This better be good, Barclay. I’ve just about had it with you.’

‘The Parramatta River’s tidal. That piece could be in Sydney Harbour by now. Bikies trade in illegal firearms, you know it won’t be registered in his name. Wouldn’t your resources be better spent looking for Holt?’

‘Listen.’ Cross poked a finger at Evan. ‘Stick to football and the law and leave the detective work to me. I might be searching for a weapon, but I’m hoping for a body.’

Laila turned and looked at Moulder. The man had his fingers in his mouth, checking for more loose teeth. ‘You really think Holt’s dead?’

‘He hasn’t turned up.’ Dickson fished in his pocket as his phone started playing the Beatles’ ‘Drive my Car’. ‘We’re watching his home, and the Altar Boys compound, plus a stack of businesses they’re involved in.’

***

While Dickson took the call, Evan studied Laila, heart pumping fear through his veins. She was aloof, her body angled away from him, eyes focused elsewhere. And there was a coldness in her eyes he didn’t like, as if she didn’t know him, as if
he
was the bad guy here.

What had happened?

Why had she come back?

Trying to curb his impatience, Evan thought about Moulder’s impending arrest. It proved that Laila’s problems were linked to the military, and that should have reassured him — but it didn’t. Moulder had only been after information, whereas Holt had emerged on the scene a week ago, around the same time Laila had taken instructions from Scarlett.

Coincidence?

Someone wants you dead bitch!

Evan fought his way out from under the blanket of anger that enveloped him every time he thought of the bikie with his hands around her throat.

He sucked in a breath, steadied himself, only to hear George Peyton’s voice in his head.

Everyone has a secret.

He was in no doubt George was alluding to something in Laila’s past, something that might be exploited, something she was ashamed of. Like him, wanting to hide the fact that his mother had once been the town bike.

Evan’s heart gave a painful twist. He’d forgiven his mother her shortcomings long ago, but he’d always believed George could do no wrong. Now, he could see it for what it was, a hero worship developed in childhood and fast becoming an illusion. The pedestal he’d put George Peyton on was looking shakier by the day.

And then there was Laila.

Loyal, honest and caring.

Keep me informed.

He hadn’t kept George informed. He’d done the opposite, and kept away. He’d sought out Luke Neilson, used his connections to help Laila, even taking her to his place to ensure she came to no further harm.

Emotional decisions, based on his feelings.

For the woman on the other side of the Peyton case.

Evan raked a hand through his hair.

The Peytons were his family, his livelihood and his
clients
. It was his responsibility, as their lawyer, to go hard for them in this divorce case.

How in god’s name could he do that, fearing they were involved in the threat on her life?

How could he do it, feeling the way he did?

4 p.m. Friday

The day was overcast and dismal, as Evan and Dickson shook hands out on the curb. Then the detective walked around the back of the patrol car, opened the driver’s door and slid behind the wheel.

From the veranda, Laila could see a handcuffed Jason Moulder sitting in the back seat. He had a long night ahead of him, certain to be charged with a string of offences, two of breaking and entering, two for illegal phone taping, as well as one for installing illegal spyware. He would also be charged for copying intellectual property from Mike’s computer, and anything else Dickson Cross could throw at him.

Still, he’d saved her life last night, and she was glad she’d thanked him again.

‘Cross thinks Holt’s dead.’ Evan came up the front steps and joined her. ‘Or at least gone to ground, as bikies tend to do. He’d have to know there was a chance he’d be caught on CCTV the day of the fire, and now you and Moulder can identify him. If he’s alive, he’s probably out of the city by now.’

Laila watched the patrol car pull away from the curb, lights flashing though Dickson didn’t put the siren on. She stiffened as warm hands touched her waist.

‘What’s wrong?’ Concerned eyes studied her face, reminding her of the way he’d looked the afternoon she’d gone to Poole Greenwood. ‘Why didn’t you stay at the apartment?’

Laila turned and went inside, heard his exasperated sigh as he followed her. But he didn’t ask her again, just pointed to the blood on the floor.

‘I’ll clean this up, then we’ll sit and talk.’

‘Don’t worry.’ Laila waved a dismissive hand and walked into the lounge room. ‘I’ll see to it after you’ve gone.’

There was silence.

When she turned around, he was standing in the room, hands on hips, jaw tight, a questioning look in his eyes. ‘Why would I go anywhere?’

Laila slid the card from her jeans pocket and handed it to him, anger boiling in her veins at the sight of Scarlett’s curling scrawl.

Holding the note between his thumb and forefinger, his eyes locked on hers. Then he lowered his gaze and read. After a few seconds, he looked up.

‘Where’d you get this?’

‘In your coat pocket, the one you left in my office. The dry cleaner pinned it your lapel. I was putting it away. I wasn’t snooping, I was just hanging it up.’

‘Okay.’ He stared down at the note again, a mystified expression on his face. ‘I’ve never seen this.’

‘
Don’t
lie to me.’

‘I’m not lying.’

His words were punched out, fast and hard. Laila took a breath. ‘I know it’s from Scarlett. She said a friend recommended my practice, but I had no idea that friend was
you
.’

He brought his gaze up to meet hers again, the colour draining from his face, a muscle ticking in his cheek.

Laila held her breath, hoping he’d say something that would make sense, wanting him to wave a magic wand and make things right between them.

‘It didn’t happen that way.’

She’d steeled herself for the blow, but nothing could have prepared her for the shaft of pain that seemed to slice through her body, puncturing her heart, like she was bleeding inside. She brought a hand to her stomach.

He moved, grasping the tops of her arms in a strong hold. ‘Listen to me. It didn’t happen that way.’

Laila twisted, fighting her way out of his grasp. She stumbled backwards, hands curled at her sides. ‘How did it happen then?’

He turned away, moving restlessly around the room like he had when Dickson had questioned Moulder, like he had in the mediation, when she said they wanted thirty million dollars.

‘Scarlett’s threatened to leave Duncan before. She’s called me numerous times, asking what to do. Each time, I made it clear that first and foremost I act for Duncan and George, and she should get independent advice. I’d given her the names of a couple of lawyers she could contact, but nothing ever happened.’

He raked back his hair and turned to face her again.

‘She rang me, the morning of the negotiations. It was crazy in the office, we had a million things on. The Chinese consortium was in town and we had back-to-back meetings. We’d been working on it for months, staying up at night so we lined up with the northern hemisphere’s work day. When she called — I thought it was like all the other times. A girlfriend had given her your name, and she wondered if I knew you.

‘I told her I did, said you were competent. That’s all. After that, I left for the meeting. It might have crossed my mind, once, but like all the other times, Duncan didn’t say a word to me. There was no way I was going to broach the subject. I could have scared the shit out of him over nothing more than Scarlett having a rant because he wouldn’t buy her the latest model Merc.’

His nostrils flared as he pulled in a deep breath, eyes cutting back to her. ‘I’ll admit, it crossed my mind again, in terms of how it could affect the contracts, but I took a gamble and signed off anyway, always taking my cues from Duncan, my
client
.’

‘As for
this
.’ He held up the card and dropped it on the coffee table. ‘I have no idea how it got in my coat.’

Laila watched him, thinking back to the day she’d applied for the orders. She’d walked out of the courtroom ahead of Scarlett.

Then Evan spoke again. ‘The only thing I can think of, is that she must have put it in my pocket on her way out of the court. My jacket was hanging on the back of the chair. She must have slipped it in my pocket somehow. But honestly, I’m only guessing. I know about as much as you.’

Laila wanted to scream and shout and pummel his chest with her fists. He’d known from the beginning she hadn’t won Scarlett on her own merits. He’d had a hand in it. And despite his explanations, she didn’t believe him. The evidence was right there in front of her.

‘Scarlett told me it was hard to escape the Peyton web.’ Laila gave a sarcastic laugh, unable to disguise the bitterness in her voice. ‘She said she wanted someone who couldn’t be manipulated. God, what a joke.’

‘I did not manipulate you.’ He rubbed a hand down his face, tension radiating off him in waves.

‘Yes, you did. You manipulated me, manipulated the entire situation from the start.’ Laila couldn’t have stopped herself if she’d wanted to. ‘What did you think? That I’d go soft if you were on the other side? Or were you hoping for inside information you could use to Duncan’s advantage?’

‘Give me some credit.’ His voice was low, but his chest rose and fell with the effort of holding himself in check. ‘I’m not so bad at family law I have to pump you for information while we’re screwing.’

‘That’s exactly what you thought.’ Laila spat out the words, voice rising as she grew more agitated. ‘I must have derailed your plans though when I broke it off. I bet that wasn’t factored into your deal-making strategy, Mr Hotshot.’

‘There was no deal making where you were concerned.’ He swallowed, Adam’s apple shifting in his throat. ‘I might have made a poor decision that day, but I did so based on prior experience.’

‘Don’t give me that crap!’ Furious, she stepped forward and shoved him in the chest. ‘You did it based on your own self-interest.’

‘Come on.’ He raised both hands then and beckoned her forward. ‘Give it to me. You’ve come this far, why not get it all off your chest?’

‘Duncan left a message on your machine.’ She clenched her hands at her sides. ‘You’re to be at the house at five. He’s assuming that will be okay, seeing as you have
five
percent
.’

His eyes narrowed, and he stared at her for a full five seconds. Then he checked his watch. ‘Fine. That gives me about an hour.’

‘Is that all you can say?’

He shook his head, pursed his lips, eyes glittering with anger. ‘You know I’m not obliged to disclose my personal assets and investments to you, just as I would never ask how you structure the Blackhawk Foundation. I had a ten-year football career. It set me up. My investments are diversified, and if I think one of the Peyton investments is a good one, and there’s an opportunity to invest in it, I’ll always consider it. It’s not illegal.’