AS THEY PASSED THROUGH the automatic doors, Nick helped me over to an empty set of chairs screened from the main waiting room by a row of large potted palms.
‘You were right about a connection between Viaspa and the exploration lease,’ he said, as we sat down.
‘What do you mean?’
‘I didn’t tell you, but the lease was about to expire. The regulations state that if you don’t start mining your lease within five years, you lose it. I was about to let the lease lapse because the assay report had said it was worthless. Your suspicions made me have a second assay done in Sydney. The lease is actually gold rich.’
My mouth dropped open. ‘Gold? Truly?’
‘Shh,’ he warned. ‘It’s not something I want to advertise. Anyway, I think Viaspa has had Lupi pulling this scam for a while. Lupi falsifies an assay report then Vogue acquires the lease under a different name, trucks his mobile plant up there and rips the mineral out of the ground. The industry’s been so buoyant these last few years that small mines have been springing up everywhere – so it’s been a perfect time to go undetected.’
‘So now what?’
‘I’ve told the police about the false report. They’re questioning Lupi but I don’t know that an association with Viaspa will be found. You’re the only person who saw Lupi at the warehouse; the only person who could connect them.’
Nick bent closer until his breath was hot on my lips. The damn cord appeared, and started pulsing between us, chest to chest. ‘What do you want to do, Tara? Will you go to the police?’
‘What do you want me to do?’ I asked. He looked so concerned and caring that I almost melted onto the floor.
‘Whatever you can live with. I’m worried for you. If Vogue knows you can pin Lupi to his warehouse then he might try and . . .’
‘Run me over?’ I ate up his concern like a starving person falling on a piece of pork roast and salt crackle. ‘Actually, that wasn’t him. Turned out to be Delgado’s crazy wife.’
He raised his eyebrows. ‘Carlotta Delgado?’
‘You’ve had the pleasure?’
‘It was no pleasure. The woman’s spiteful. She tried to hit Toni one time at a charity fashion parade.’
‘If only she’d tried to punch me,’ I lamented, ‘I could have taken her. Anyway, I’ve just spoken to the police. They’ve got nothing on Johnny Vogue. They’re pushing for something. Anything. But I’ve found a way to make Vogue leave us both alone without involving them.’
Nick stared hard at me. ‘Seriously?’
I met his look without blinking. ‘Deadly.’
‘I won’t ask.’
‘Don’t. But I promise he won’t be bothering you.’
‘So you’re happy to leave it at that then? Lupi goes down, Vogue walks?’
I sighed. ‘Not really. Viaspa deserves jail and more, but I’m just getting a business started. I’m broke.’ I gave a weak smile. ‘I don’t want to spend the next five years in a witness protection program. Does that sound pathetic?’
‘No. It sounds practical.’
‘But what about you, and Antonia and . . . ?’
His face closed over, the warmth fading from it, his aura listing like a damaged ship. ‘The estimated value of the lease gives me a new asset. It’ll keep the bank happy and get me over my short-term money issues. Thanks to you we’ve avoided the drug plant. I’ve employed security for the new house. Toni and I will be fine.’ He smiled. ‘Means I can keep the Reventon. I’d offer you a drive but –’
‘You don’t trust me.’ I smiled back. ‘Look, I didn’t mean to be –’
He took my hand. ‘I know, you didn’t, but I can manage my marriage.’
Fair enough. ‘Well that’s that then?’
A silent moment.
‘Umm, we’re going off to celebrate our win. Would you like to come with us?’ I asked politely.
‘Maybe another time. But I won’t forget what you did to help me. I’ll never forget.’ His voice deepened and his expression changed again. This time he seemed emotional. ‘Tara, I – look, there’s something –’
The cord of energy between us brightened and tightened, as though it was pulling us together, and I felt my lips parting in preparation for what he might say.
‘Tara!’ Edouardo’s voice.
It cut through the moment, and I drew back. He was looking for me on the other side of the line of palms.
I smiled at Nick and stood up. As I’d just told him, I didn’t need complications in my life right now. ‘Maybe another time,’ I said.