Seven Days Grace (A Grace Rose Novel Book 1) (13 page)

She bore holes into his eyes
,
‘
I
’
ll give you five minutes.
’

The Voice looked around as if he wanted to case the joint.
He couldn
’
t look more conspicuous
.

‘
I
’
ve no idea who you are
,
however
,
if you
’
re expecting me to work with you on a top-secret mission to crack a political scandal then you better tell me what
’
s going on and quickly.
’
He said nothing.
‘
Otherwise
,
I have better things I could do with my mornings
,
like sleeping.
’

While Grace had no idea the sort of information The Voice would tell her
,
or how he would make the pieces of the puzzle of the photographs
,
emails and letters fit together
,
she was quite excited. She refused to call him John for now. As her stomach churned with butterflies she imagined an intricate investigation into the life of Minister Sleen and she inched forward to the edge of her seat in anticipation of The Voice
’
s revelations. Outwardly
,
she was as calm and serene as the harbour water outside.

‘
Grace
,
I don
’
t want to scare you
,
yet
,
simply by talking to me your life is in danger
,’
The Voice said.

‘
Let
’
s start at the beginning
,’
she said. Obviously
,
‘
John
’
was a beginner at covert operations
,
Grace thought. Although she hadn
’
t been involved in anything like this before
,
she was renowned for her nerves of steel. Okay
,
so not when it came to dating but that was another story.

‘
Why did you give me the information on Monday?
’

‘
Sleen is lower than the mud on the bottom of this harbour and dirtier
,
too
,’
he said as he looked out the window.

Are those tears in his eyes?

‘
He
’
s as crooked as a dog
’
s hind leg. He
’
s a murderer and an embezzler. This is what I can
’
t prove right now but I
’
m getting closer to the truth. I need you to print this story at the right time and expose this thug for who he is and the terrible crimes he is committing. Hopefully
,
he
’
ll be put in jail and they
’
ll throw away the key for a long
,
long time.
’
Different viewpoint from Nick
,
however
,
I still haven
’
t made up my mind about him.

‘
Wait a minute
,
wait a minute. I don
’
t know what you
’
re talking about. Who did he kill? What did he embezzle? Money? Drugs? Guns? There
’
s no evidence even hinting at this in the information you gave me
,’
Grace said.

‘
I know you want to know what
’
s going on
,
however
,
I can
’
t tell you everything right now. Please trust me. I
’
ll call you again and we
’
ll make another time to meet
,
on both our terms
,
and I
’
ll tell you everything then. Grace
,
I cannot stress enough how careful I have to be. They
’
re after me. Please don
’
t take this lightly
,
these people are dangerous. I
’
ve been here long enough and someone
’
s going to see me. They
’
re following me
,
I
’
m sure of it. I still need to find evidence that will reveal everything and then it will all make sense to you. I will call you when I can. In the meantime
,
please look at all the information I gave you again plus what
’
s in here.
’
He handed her another small package.

She pushed it into one of her jacket pockets
,
glanced at the harbour and thought of how she might unknowingly be participating in a web of espionage that may turn out badly for her. Seconds later
,
when she turned back to talk to him
,
he had left. She caught his back as he stepped out of the revolving hotel foyer doors.
Man
,
this is frustrating
. Grace hit her hand on the table
,
noticed he had left money
,
half smiled
,
then rose and ambled back to her car. She was exhausted and hungry. When she finally arrived home
,
almost an hour later
,
she threw the package on the table with the other documents
,
made some grain toast with honey and headed back to bed. The thought of facing Nick made her feel physically ill.  This would be her second sick day this year.

She desperately wanted to look at the package though exhaustion took over. She had no choice. She would look at it later.

15

The gnawing
in the pit of his stomach almost made him stop following her. They had hit it off better than he expected last night. She was his constant thought until he fell asleep. As soon as he awoke in the morning
,
she had sprung back to life in his mind.

And here she was again at another meeting
,
this time at a five-star hotel. What information was he giving her? Would he find it useful for his own investigation? And why was the guy constantly nervous?

He had been watching Sleen for months. He had left a trail of evidence
,
admittedly cleverly hidden
,
from Africa and Dubai to the USA
,
England and now Australia. All they needed was the last piece in the puzzle to tie it all together. Then they could arrest this guy after a lengthy and tough investigation. He could taste it
,
they were so close. His phone vibrated in his pocket.

‘
Christian
,
what
’
s up?
’
Jake asked.

‘
You better get into the office
,
new evidence you
’
ll want to see.
’

He wondered how many more times he would have to tail her. While it was his job
,
it troubled him. His superiors didn
’
t know he knew her and there
’
s no way they would have put him on the job if they did. Unfortunately
,
now he
’
d started
,
they wouldn
’
t give the task to someone else. He had no choice. Business was business and he would ensure under no circumstances would she ever find out.

16

‘
H
i
,
Grace
?
’
A male voice said when Grace answered her phone in a husky voice.

‘
Yes?
’

‘
It
’
s Jake
,
from last night.
’

‘
Hi
,’
she yawned.
How did he get my mobile number?
She remembered now
,
she gave it to him as she climbed into the taxi.

‘
Have I called at a bad time?
’

‘
No
,
no. What time is it?
’

‘
It
’
s ten
,
in the morning
,
in case you were wondering.
’

‘
Oh great
,
a comedian.
’

‘
I was trying to cheer you up. Actually
,
you don
’
t sound well. Would you like me to call you back later?
’
he asked.

‘
No
,
it
’
s good.
’
Guys did not call you back if you gave them the cold shoulder
,
she
’
d learnt that long ago. She was about to remind him about her early morning appointment to explain her fogginess
,
instead she said
,
‘
I didn
’
t get much sleep so I
’
ve taken the day off.
’

‘
I
’
m sorry. How
‘
bout I take you out for lunch then?
’

‘
Today?
’
Now I
’
m awake.

‘
Yeah.
’

‘
What happened to the guy who could barely ask me out last night and wanted to go out on the weekend for
,
what was it
,
coffee and a trip to a museum?
’
she said the last word with a high pitch in her voice.

‘
He
’
s been replaced by the new and improved I-slept-well-last-night guy.
’

‘
I see
,’
she laughed.

‘
What are you doing today if you
’
re having the day off?
’

‘
I don
’
t know. I hadn
’
t given it much thought. Laze around the house
,
do some laundry
,
you know
,
lots of fun activities planned.
’

‘
Yeah
,
sounds like a riot.
’

‘
I
’
m supposed to sound sophisticated and unavailable
,
aren
’
t I?
’
She put on her best posh voice
,
‘
You know
,
I
h
a
ve so much to do today and I do not have time to talk to a lowly private investigator that has all the time in the world on his hands. I am not sure I can fit you into my already too full schedule.
’
Back into her normal tone
,
‘
How was that?
’

‘
Not bad. Does that mean you
’
re free then?
’

‘
You
’
re certainly all confidence on the phone.
’

‘
For us guys
,
if you say no it won
’
t be as bad as hearing it in person. Besides
,
we
’
re still going out on Saturday. However
,
as we
’
re both free I thought
,
ah
,
maybe you
’
re not free?
’

‘
Let me think. I could squeeze you in for about an hour at say one but aren
’
t you at work?
’

‘
Yeah
,
I
’
m in the office now
,
although
,
if I
’
m clever
,
I can escape for a long lunch on an important assignment we organised. Remember?
’
he said softly.

‘
Of course
,
sounds good
,’
she giggled.

‘
Great
,
where
’
ll we meet? Do you want me to pick you up? I
’
ll understand if you want to meet somewhere more public though
,
I mean
,
you haven
’
t seen me in a couple of years so I
’
m not a complete stranger but it
’
s been a while and –
’

‘
Rela
x.
I
’
ll meet you down at the Quay. That
’
s Circular Quay for you
,
Mr American. Wharf 3.
’

‘
Okay
,
see you then.
’

She placed her phone back on the bedside table
,
snuggled under the blankets and immediately fell asleep for another hour. She awoke to Shadow licking her nose and pawing her neck. He wanted under the covers.

‘
Bub
,
what are you doing?
’

He climbed in and she gave him a cuddle before she headed to the shower.

Grace strolled around the walking path that bordered the gardens and harbour
,
the same route she had taken on Monday morning to and from her first meeting with The Voice. It had been a hectic couple of days and on this rare day off she was glad for the reprieve from the craziness of work and relished the sights this splendid world-class city offered.

As she approached the ferry terminal she saw Jake out of the corner of her eye. She completely forgot about her vow of not dating. He stood against a pole wearing jeans and a casual shirt as he surveyed Circular Quay and its scenic surrounds. He looked confident
,
ready for the adventure of the lunch ahead. She watched him for a minute
,
without him realising
,
before she approached.

‘
Hi Jake
,’
Grace called.

He turned around and greeted her with his Cheshire cat smile and a kiss on the cheek.
‘
Good afternoon. You look great.
’

Slightly taken aback
,
Grace said
,
‘
Thanks.
’

‘
I
’
m touchy-feely a little too soon sometimes. You cold?
’
He was referring to her jacket.

‘
It
’
s a bit cool today and around the water I suffer from goose bumps so I
’
m playing it safe. You
’
re not obviously. Must be great being a guy sometimes
,’
she smiled at him already enjoying her day.
‘
What would you like to do today? You
’
re the visitor
,
you have the privilege of choosing.
’

‘
How
‘
bout we catch a ferry over to Manly for some fish and chips by the beach? I
’
ve heard it
’
s a definite on the to-do list when you
’
re a visitor in Sydney town.
’

‘
Great. I know the perfect place.
’

Jake paid for their ferry tickets and they found a spot on the top deck of the two-storey vessel. They sat at the front of the boat on the open-air deck to enjoy the scenery.

‘
It
’
s certainly an impressive sight. It dazzles your senses in a way that calms the soul. I don
’
t know quite how to explain it
,’
Jake said.

‘
That was pretty good
,’
Grace replied.

Grace loved it when people saw Sydney Harbour for the first time. She could almost live vicariously through their experience which was difficult given she had lived there her whole life. After some quiet time absorbing the serenity that being on the calm water offered
,
Grace began to feel self-conscious. It was the sudden feeling of someone staring at you.

‘
Jake?
’

No answer.

‘
Jake?
’

‘
Yes
,
what?
’

‘
Um
,
you
’
re staring at me with an odd expression.
’

‘
Sprung. I was lost in another world.
’

‘
Anything I can help with?
’
she would give anything to know his inner thoughts.

‘
No
,
it
’
s a beautiful day. Do you feel better after catching up on some sleep this morning?
’
he asked.

He deflected the conversation back to her. Apart from work she hated talking about herself. She found people like that tiresome.

‘
Of course
,’
she said.

‘
Hey
,
we
’
re here
,’
he said as the ferry docked at the wharf.

Manly Beach during spring was pristine. The clarity of the aqua marine water was endless. They talked about life
,
work
,
friends
,
family and even religion until they were all talked out. They sat down in the quiet on a bench by the boardwalk and watched the waves caressing the sand. The sun caused them to squint and they shared in a Mother Nature moment. They both put their sunglasses on.

After a few moments Grace spoke first.
‘
Time for some fish and chips.
’

‘
Sounds good to me. My treat
,
visitor pays.
’

‘
Is it worth even arguing with you?
’

‘
No. I
’
m the tourist and this money is burning a hole in my pocket.
’
He pulled his wallet from his jeans and tossed it in his hands like a hot potato.

She loved the way he wanted to make her laugh.
‘
Tell me
,
funny guy
,
what
’
s with men and their corny jokes?
’

‘
That
’
s a bit severe
,’
he smiled.

Grace was surprised just how much she was enjoying herself.

They ordered their meals from a seaside café and this time headed down onto the sand and sat as close to the water
’
s edge as they could without getting wet.

‘
This is a famous Aussie dish
,’
Grace said.
‘
When I was growing up this was a weekend regular. Fish and chips shops were on every other suburban street corner with lines of people waiting for their Friday night treat.
’