Free Half Moon Bay by Helene Young Page A

addiction and a passion for interior design. The perfectly matched lounge and dining setting were largely covered in newspapers, books and discarded clothes. His cleaner was a miracle worker who deserved a medal. This week she was on holidays.
    Everything he needed in his life fitted into a small bag and the tiny boot of his car. Travelling light was a lesson he’d learnt early. Truth be told, once he’d become addicted to Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books he’d made it his mission to be unencumbered. It made Teisha and her passion for shopping and accumulating an even bigger anachronism in his life. The Wilding girls understood the need to be free. Always had. They travelled light too.
    The roller door rattled up in its track and the lights on the Porsche blinked as he keyed the remote. He slung his bag onto the passenger seat, seeing his reflection in the high red gloss on the boot as he walked around to the driver’s side. Ruby was a 911 and all his. A man was allowed to have one indulgence.
    His tight smile was still in place as he hit the motorway heading north out of Sydney. There might be plenty of sports cars in Sydney, but Ruby still turned heads. The joy of driving her was like a precursor to sex. Probably some of the appeal that kept Teisha glued to his side.
    Maybe Ruby would work her magic on Ellie. He frowned. Was it Ellie or Nina who loved sports cars? The more he thought about it the more he decided it was Nina, but surely no woman was immune to the throaty growl of the V8 and the thrusting acceleration when he jabbed the pedal. It did something for him every time. He could always pretend it was a rental if Ellie didn’t approve.
    His mobile rang. ‘Hiya.’
    ‘Alex, it’s Jan. I’ve remembered who that contact was for the defence force.’ His colleague was renowned for being a terrier when it came to research.
    ‘Great. I’m driving on hands-free, so can you text it through to me as well?’
    ‘Sure, sure. His name is Dave Miller. He was in Afghanistan when Nina was shot. I’m pretty sure he was the liaison officer at the time. I don’t know why he managed to stay out of the inquiry’s limelight, but he did.’
    ‘So he would know Nicholas Lawson well?’
    ‘Have to. They were both there when Ellie flew Nina out of Kandahar.’
    ‘Right. Thanks for that.’
    ‘I’ve only got an email address on him and he’s OS at the moment. He’s officially stationed in Canberra. Don’t know whether that’s relevant or not.’
    ‘Great. That’s fantastic, Jan. Appreciate it.’
    His colleague laughed. ‘I’ll appreciate the favour when I call it in too. Oh, and one more thing, a guy named Lachlan phoned here this morning. Wouldn’t talk to anyone else. Just said to let you know he’d called.’
    A tiny frisson of alarm threaded up Alex’s spine. ‘Really? Wonder what he wants this time.’ He was going to play it cool. Jan was very good at sniffing out stories. He was happy to share some stuff, but not everything.
    ‘If he’s a friend of yours that’s okay then, because the girl who took the message thought he sounded weird.’
    ‘Plenty of weird friends and contacts in my back pocket.’
    She laughed again. ‘You’re so right there. Teisha didn’t bother to show up for work today. Is she with you?’
    ‘No, not likely. She went clubbing last night with her girlfriends.’
    ‘Ah, at least she could have phoned.’
    ‘You know what she’s like.’
    ‘That I do. Anyway, better run. Leads to follow, headlines to make. Catch you.’
    Alex watched the signs for Newcastle flash by. What information did this Lachlan have? Could it be payback for something? His jaw clenched involuntarily. Possibly.
    He settled back into the firm leather curves and relaxed his hand on the steering wheel. At least four hours driving ahead of him, with plenty of time to ponder.

11
    By a quarter to four the Bowls Club was packed. Nicholas Lawson found a space at the back of the open room and sipped his drink.