was hers.
“It’ll take a day or so for this paperwork to go through and be fully registered,” the agent said, holding out the keys. “I’ll pass everything on to your solicitor to be double-checked, of course.”
She took the keys, an odd feeling of elation bubbling through her. “Thanks.”
He nodded. “You going to hang around for a while?”
She glanced at her watch and regretfully shook her head. “I can’t. I’m working tonight.”
He nodded again and held out his hand. “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you.”
The relief in his voice made her grin. “They make you say that, don’t they?”
His startled smile showed a hint of true warmth. “First lesson,” he said cheerfully.
She checked the doors, ensuring everything was locked, then followed him out. At her rental car, she stopped and breathed in the heady aroma of eucalyptus and the salty hint of sea. Excitement pulsed through her. The scent of
home.
God, how she wished she didn’t have to go back to the city and Wetherton.
Before the call to stay overwhelmed her common sense, she climbed into the car and headed back to the city. She hadn’t yet reached the tollway when she spotted the Toyota again.
Okay, so it wasn’t a thief and it wasn’t a tourist. It was someone
tailing
her. That meant the SIU. She watched the car in the rearview mirror for several minutes, then tapped her wristcom.
“Christine,” she said, when the SIU’s electronic receptionist came online, “Agent Ryan here. Patch me through to someone in operations.”
“One moment, please.”
The screen flickered and a thin-looking black man replaced Christine. “Agent Donner here. What can I do for you, Agent Ryan?”
“I think I’ve picked up a tail. Four cars back from my current location. White Toyota.”
“Hang on while I do a trace.”
He turned away and she glanced at the rearview mirror. Whoever was driving the Toyota was damn good. She could barely see the driver behind the green four-wheel drive.
“Okay, got you. Fourth car back, you said?”
“Yep. I’d like a license plate and registration search done, if possible.”
“I’ve gotta zoom in the satellite. That could take a few minutes.”
“I’ll wait.”
Donner whistled tunelessly for a good five minutes, then gave a satisfied grunt. “Got him. Or her, as the case may be.”
“Who’s the registered owner?”
“One Jessie McMahon, from Eltham.”
Sam swore softly. Jessie McMahon. Gabriel’s sister.
The bastard was having her followed.
FIVE
“ Y OU WANT ME TO ARRANGE an intercept?” Agent Donner asked.
Sam flexed her fingers in an effort to relax her grip on the steering wheel. “No, I think I’ll handle it. Thanks, Donner.”
He nodded. “Give me a call if you need help.”
“Thanks. I will.” She flicked off the wristcom and stared at the white Toyota through the rearview mirror.
Why was Gabriel having her tailed? And why have his sister do it when he practically had the entire SIU at his beck and call?
She doubted that he’d provide any answers if she confronted him, but Jessie might. The few times she’d met his sister, she’d seemed more upfront, more accessible, than her brother.
A green-and-gold sign came into view, indicating there was a side road half a kilometer ahead, on her left.
Perfect.
She leaned forward, switched the computer from auto-drive to manual and moved into the left-hand lane. Leaving the indicator on, she slowed and glanced in the rearview mirror. The Toyota had also switched lanes and was sitting behind a red Commodore.
Sam turned left. Not far ahead, the road did a sharp turn right and disappeared behind some trees. She put her foot down, accelerating around the corner. Once around it, she braked hard, the car shuddering as the tires struggled for purchase on the dirt road. As dust puffed around the car, she threw open the door and climbed out. A quick glance confirmed that the beginning of the road was hidden by the trees.
“It’ll take a day or so for this paperwork to go through and be fully registered,” the agent said, holding out the keys. “I’ll pass everything on to your solicitor to be double-checked, of course.”
She took the keys, an odd feeling of elation bubbling through her. “Thanks.”
He nodded. “You going to hang around for a while?”
She glanced at her watch and regretfully shook her head. “I can’t. I’m working tonight.”
He nodded again and held out his hand. “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you.”
The relief in his voice made her grin. “They make you say that, don’t they?”
His startled smile showed a hint of true warmth. “First lesson,” he said cheerfully.
She checked the doors, ensuring everything was locked, then followed him out. At her rental car, she stopped and breathed in the heady aroma of eucalyptus and the salty hint of sea. Excitement pulsed through her. The scent of
home.
God, how she wished she didn’t have to go back to the city and Wetherton.
Before the call to stay overwhelmed her common sense, she climbed into the car and headed back to the city. She hadn’t yet reached the tollway when she spotted the Toyota again.
Okay, so it wasn’t a thief and it wasn’t a tourist. It was someone
tailing
her. That meant the SIU. She watched the car in the rearview mirror for several minutes, then tapped her wristcom.
“Christine,” she said, when the SIU’s electronic receptionist came online, “Agent Ryan here. Patch me through to someone in operations.”
“One moment, please.”
The screen flickered and a thin-looking black man replaced Christine. “Agent Donner here. What can I do for you, Agent Ryan?”
“I think I’ve picked up a tail. Four cars back from my current location. White Toyota.”
“Hang on while I do a trace.”
He turned away and she glanced at the rearview mirror. Whoever was driving the Toyota was damn good. She could barely see the driver behind the green four-wheel drive.
“Okay, got you. Fourth car back, you said?”
“Yep. I’d like a license plate and registration search done, if possible.”
“I’ve gotta zoom in the satellite. That could take a few minutes.”
“I’ll wait.”
Donner whistled tunelessly for a good five minutes, then gave a satisfied grunt. “Got him. Or her, as the case may be.”
“Who’s the registered owner?”
“One Jessie McMahon, from Eltham.”
Sam swore softly. Jessie McMahon. Gabriel’s sister.
The bastard was having her followed.
FIVE
“ Y OU WANT ME TO ARRANGE an intercept?” Agent Donner asked.
Sam flexed her fingers in an effort to relax her grip on the steering wheel. “No, I think I’ll handle it. Thanks, Donner.”
He nodded. “Give me a call if you need help.”
“Thanks. I will.” She flicked off the wristcom and stared at the white Toyota through the rearview mirror.
Why was Gabriel having her tailed? And why have his sister do it when he practically had the entire SIU at his beck and call?
She doubted that he’d provide any answers if she confronted him, but Jessie might. The few times she’d met his sister, she’d seemed more upfront, more accessible, than her brother.
A green-and-gold sign came into view, indicating there was a side road half a kilometer ahead, on her left.
Perfect.
She leaned forward, switched the computer from auto-drive to manual and moved into the left-hand lane. Leaving the indicator on, she slowed and glanced in the rearview mirror. The Toyota had also switched lanes and was sitting behind a red Commodore.
Sam turned left. Not far ahead, the road did a sharp turn right and disappeared behind some trees. She put her foot down, accelerating around the corner. Once around it, she braked hard, the car shuddering as the tires struggled for purchase on the dirt road. As dust puffed around the car, she threw open the door and climbed out. A quick glance confirmed that the beginning of the road was hidden by the trees.
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