Free Ultimate Justice by M A Comley Page B

of the sofa Lorne was sitting on and went back to her own seat.
    Lorne moved to the seat next to Jai San. “There really is no need to worry. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions about your sister?”
    Water filled eyes met Lorne’s and her heart went out to her. Jai San nodded slowly.
    “I’m sorry for your loss. It must have been a great shock to you.”
    “My baby sister was coming here for a better life…‌like me. Now she’s gone.”
    Lorne reached for her hand and held it firmly in her own. “Can I ask how your sister came to be on that ship?”
    “The lady at the agency arranged it.”
    Lorne looked over her shoulder at Angela, who quickly rose and left the room to find something. She came back seconds later and held out a business card for Lorne to take.
    “Here you go—forgive my absentmindedness. This is the agency we contacted to employ Jai San.”
    “Ah, that’s very helpful, thank you.” Lorne sensed that Jai San was beginning to feel uncomfortable. She proceeded with caution. “How did you come to work for the agency?”
    Jai San fidgeted in her seat for several minutes, and Lorne was about to ask the question again when the young woman’s head lifted and their gazes met. “I met a man.”
    Lorne continued to smile at Jai San to put the girl at ease. “Where did you meet this man? In the UK?”
    “Yes. I came here with three other girls. A man promised us a better life in England and gave us a lift in his boat.” She fell silent until Lorne squeezed her hand to urge her to go on. “It was a trick. When we got here, he…‌he sold us.”
    “Sold you!” Angela cried out.
    Lorne had suspected as much, so she wasn’t as surprised as Angela by the revelation. She turned to see Angela shaking her head a look of disgust on her face. Lorne gave her a warning glance, hoping that Angela would restrain her emotions.
    Jai San took a little coaxing to continue her woeful tale. Lorne felt the young girl was just on the edge of divulging valuable information when they heard a noise out in the hallway.
    “Get out of my way, old man.” The door to the lounge swung open, and in stomped Roger.
    On a Thursday! Angela has already told me that Roger never comes home during the week. How odd, Lorne thought. The instant Jai San heard his voice out in the hallway, her grip tightened on Lorne’s hand. Was that out of fear?
    Angela bolted out of the chair and ran to greet him. “Roger! What are you doing here? Not that it isn’t lovely to see you, of course, but you’re not due home until tomorrow.”
    He gave his wife a half-smile and kissed her briefly on the lips before he walked over to where Lorne and Jai San were sitting. He held out his hand and introduced himself. “Roger North, and you are?”
    Lorne shook his hand and noticed his shake was firm but clammy. Her father had drummed into her at the beginning of her police career that you could tell a lot from a man’s handshake.
    “Now, Roger, you naughty man, you know very well who this is; I told you Lorne was coming.”
    Lorne rose from her seat so he wasn’t towering over her, and their gazes locked. She felt his eyes burning their way through hers. She was determined not to look away, to hold his stare until he broke contact.
    Eventually, he turned to his wife. “That’s right—I totally forgot. I had an appointment in the area and thought I’d drop in to surprise you, sweetheart.”
    Well, your gullible wife might believe that story, mate, but I’m afraid I don’t. What have you got to hide? Lorne dropped down in her seat again and automatically reached for Jai San’s hand, but the girl fought to pull her hand away, Lorne refused to give up, and eventually, the young girl let out an exasperated sigh and stopped struggling.
    She watched Roger’s reaction to the incident with interest. His eyes narrowed, but a slight smile remained on his face. Lorne glanced sideways and saw Jai San’s head bowed, her focus lingering on a spot on