Richard approached a young woman tying a silk scarf around a mannequin’s neck. He gently tapped her shoulder. “Excuse me – Sophie,” he said, glancing at her name badge, when she turned. “Could I have a word with you, please?”
“Of course,” she swooned, mesmerised by Richard’s dancing blue eyes. “How can I… help you?”
He led her out of earshot. “Do you work on commission?”
“Yes, I do.”
“I assume the shop has access to the Internet?”
“Yes, we do.”
“I need to borrow your computer for a couple of minutes.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Mr…” she hedged.
“It’s Richard, Sophie,” he smiled.
Sophie’s cheeks showed some colour. “I can’t let you do that, Richard,” she shyly smiled. “You would need to speak to the manager, and she’s not here on Sundays.”
Richard grinned. “What if I were to make you an irresistible offer. Let me use your computer for ten minutes, and I’ll buy one of everything you have in the shop.”
Sophie’s mouth gaped. “Everything? Including the perfume and jewellery departments?”
“Everything… Sophie, as long as it doesn’t have anything to do with spiders. Do we have a deal?”
Sophie gave Richard an incredulous stare. “Are you for real? You’re going to buy one of everything if I let you use the shop’s computer?”
“OK. To be on the safe side…” he smiled, sweetening the pot, “…make it five minutes. I wouldn’t want you to get into trouble.”
“Are you kidding? I was going to let you have it for ten minutes, but you’ll have to use the one in the stock room, and you’ll need to look like a worker – as if you could ever do that,” she grinned, flirting with him. “Come with me,” she said, crooking her finger.
Richard softly chuckled. “You’d be surprised what I’ll do to get what I want,” he teased, following her.
Sophie stopped at one of the lockers. “I’ll loan you one of my friend’s uniforms. He’s about your size. Here, try it on. I don’t think you’ll need the trousers. They would be too short on you, anyway,” she smiled, avoiding his dancing eyes. She pointed. “Through that door is where you’ll find the shipping department.”
Richard laid his hand on her wrist, disarming her. “Thank you Sophie,” he said and placed something in her hand. “The sizes and the address I’d like them delivered to are on that card. This is for you,” he said, slipping some folded bank notes in her uniform pocket.”
Sophie looked at the address on the card. She furrowed her brow. “You want them delivered to the Newcastle Stem Cell Research Centre?”
“Yes, please. I’d like it delivered by FedEx. You can add the extra delivery charges to the bill.”
“It won’t go out until tomorrow.”
“That’s fine.”
“Then I guess I’d better get busy boxing your things.”
“Thank you, Sophie,” Richard smiled and walked away.
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Richard took a USB drive out of his pocket and plugged it into the shop’s computer. Quickly keying in the access code, he ran the program and downloaded the camera feeds to his USB key. Smiling, he undocked it and put it back in his pocket. He scanned through the images, searching for the right time index and brought up a picture of Sam and Donna, cuddled on the sofa reading their Kindles. “How boring,” he mused. “Looks like someone has been badly misinformed. If I were in Sam’s place, Donna and I wouldn’t be reading a Kindle. I wouldn’t give her time to read. This may be easier than I thought. ” He chuckled and shut off the computer. “Now what to do with the rest of my day…?”
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Sam wrapped his arms around Donna, just below her breasts, holding her as he kissed the side of her neck. “That has to be one of the most erotic things I’ve ever done,” he groaned in her hair.
Donna leaned her head to the side, giving him better access to her neck, enjoying the feel of his soft hot lips skimming over her pulse. She stroked the back of his head, pushing her fingers through his hair, grazing and massaging his scalp with her fingertips. “It was pretty exciting for me, too,” she said turning her head. Sam bent his head and kissed her.
The mare stopped drinking, lifted her head, perked her ears and snorted, catching Sam and Donna’s attention. Sam chuckled. “I think she’s jealous of you,” he teased.
Donna leaned forward, patting the mare’s neck. “What’s wrong baby,” she cooed. The mare snorted again and stomped nervously. Donna furrowed her brow. “I think something spooked her, Sam. She keeps looking across the river toward that patch of bushes just below the bridge.”
Sam thought about the gun Gary had given him, concealed in the saddle bag, by his right hip. He hooded his eyes and scanned the area. “I don’t see anything. Maybe she just got water up her nose.”
“It feels like we’re being watched.” A cold chill went down Donna’s spine, and she shivered.
“We are,” Sam laughed. “Look. It’s a hare. That’s probably what spooked the mare.”
Donna frowned. “Horses aren’t spooked by rabbits, Sam, and neither am I.” She took her cell phone out to check the time. “I think I need a new battery,” she groaned.
“Battery down?”
“Yeah, and I just charged the damn thing last night. I had two bars before we left.” She checked the time on her watch. “We’ve been gone over two hours. Gary should have called before now. I don’t like this.”
Donna was used to the security at Wisteria Hall. Jared’s ten-foot fence boxed in the whole area, and she knew she was safe with him. She didn’t feel safe with Sam. “I have a bad feeling about this. Let’s go, Sam.”
“What are you afraid of?” Sam growled and nibbled her shoulder. “Honey, the only wild animal you need to be worrying about is me.”
Donna swallowed the lump in her throat and clenched her teeth. “Sam, take me back now!” she said sternly and pushed his head away. “Don’t ever call me that name again!” she snapped, blinking her stinging eyes.
“What did I do this time?” Sam frowned, confused. “I can’t call you honey?”
“No, Sam!”
“Can I still call you sweetheart?”
“That I will tolerate, but you could stop being so chauvinistic and try calling me by my name.”
Sam chuckled. “I usually don’t call women by their name.”
Donna sighed. So I’ve noticed. “Do you take me home, or do I walk?”
Sam kept an arm under Donna’s breasts. Making clicking sounds, he tugged on the reins and gently nudged the mare toward the Hall. “You’re a bit moody for some reason. I didn’t relax you as much as I thought I had.” Sam rubbed his cheek against hers. “I must be losing my touch. Maybe I should try some of that Euphoria, after all.” Donna didn’t respond.
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“Drop me off at the guest house,” Donna said. “I want to change into some more appropriate clothes. I’ll meet you back at the Hall.”
Sam got off the mare and reached up for Donna, grabbing her on the sides of her waist. He stood her in front of him. Donna circled her arms around Sam’s neck and turned her face up, so she could see into his eyes. “Donna… I’m sorry if it upsets you, but why don’t you want me to call you honey?”
Donna tucked her chin. She swallowed hard. “It’s what… he called me, Sam, and the memory still stings. I didn’t mean to lose my temper with you.”
“No worries, sweetheart.” Sam lifted her chin and pressed his lips to hers, giving her a slow, tender kiss. “I’ll find a way to take the sting and the memory away,” he whispered and kissed her again.
Donna deepened the kiss, pressing her body against his and stealing his breath. “I’ll be up there just as soon as I get on some jeans and a T-shirt.” She kissed him thoroughly again. “You don’t need Euphoria, Sam, and you haven’t lost your touch.” She smiled softly and went inside the guest house.
Sam walked the mare back to the stables, took her bridle and saddle off and gave her rump a firm slap. The mare reared up, whinnied, pawed at the air and galloped off to the back with the other horses. Sam chuckled and went inside the Hall.
“Afternoon, Dr. Kaliea,” Alan said, glancing around Sam’s shoulder. “Where is Miss Donna?”
“She went back to the guest house to change. She got a little… mushed up.”
“Would you like another scotch, Sir?”
“Yes, thank you Alan.”
“Should I fix Miss Donna another glass of lemonade, the way she had before?”
“Yes, please. Donna probably would like that, I’m sure. Where is – ah – where is Dr. Browne?”
“I believe he’s in the library, Sir. Shall I bring your drinks in there?”
“Could you please take them to the music room? When Donna comes in, could you ask her to join me in there?”
“Of course, Dr. Kaliea. Will you and Miss Donna be dining at the Hall, with Dr. Browne tonight?”
“Yes, Alan, as far as I’m concerned, but you’ll need to check with Donna. I’m flexible. I’ll let her decide.” Sam smiled and made his way to the library. He tapped on the doorframe, before entering.
Gary glared at Sam and turned his attention back to his laptop. “I thought you were taking your cell phones with you.”
Sam frowned. “We did.”
“Where’s Donna?”
“At the guest house – changing.”
“Why didn’t you or Donna answer your cell phones?”
“Because they didn’t ring. When did you try to call?”
“When I finished loading the feeds to the cameras. About half an hour ago. I was fixing to come after you.”
Sam grinned wryly. “That might not have been such a good idea,” he softly chuckled. “Donna checked hers when the horse got spooked. Her battery is flat, but mine is working fine. Try ringing me now.”
Gary pushed Sam’s speed number and waited. Nothing happened. He narrowed his eyes. “Well…?”
“Hmm,” Sam said and took his cell phone out of his back pocket. He winced. “Sorry. I guess I bumped the switch. It’s on silent.”
Gary raised an eyebrow. “I’m not going to ask how that happened.”
Sam grinned. “Probably best not to.”
“Sam, can I ask you a question about you and Donna?”
“Sure – shoot!”
“Are you two getting serious about each other?”
Sam frowned. “What do you mean by … serious?”
“Oh, let me see. How can I put this? Let’s try the direct approach. Sam, you get around a bit. You’ve probably slept with every woman in the Centre – possibly Newcastle and Whitley Bay, as well.”
Sam narrowed his eyes. “I think that’s a mild exaggeration, Gary.”
“OK, maybe,” Gary agreed, “But you get the picture. Donna has just been through an extremely painful breakup. She does not need someone to come along and do it again.” Sam opened his mouth to speak; Gary held up his hand. “Let me finish. Being with you seems to be… helping her, to some extent, and that’s good. Donna hasn’t had an easy childhood. I don’t care who she’s with, as long as she’s happy. If that turns out to be you, we’ll learn to get along- somehow - but if you’re not planning on the long haul, do us all a favour. End it now, before she gets in too deep, and ends up hurt again.”
Sam swallowed hard. “I am in for the long haul.”
Gary raised an incredulous eyebrow. “That would be a change.”
“For the first time in my life, I finally feel like I want something permanent, and I want it with Donna. She’s my equal in every way. I intend to stay with her as long as she’ll let me.”
Gary scoffed. “I’m sorry Sam, but knowing your reputation with women, that sounds a bit strange. I’m not suggesting you can’t change, or that you don’t mean what you’re saying, but let me tell you something,” he warned wagging a finger in Sam’s face. “Hurt Donna, and you and I become instant enemies. I won’t ask questions. She is like a little sister to me. I’ve always looked out for her, and I always will. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Sam grinned. “Yes, Gary, I do.”
“What’s so funny?”
“Donna said you would be blunt. She wasn’t kidding.” He motioned to Gary’s laptop. “Have you had any nibbles?”
“See if Donna is coming,” Gary said quietly.
Sam leaned out the doorway. “No. She’s not. What’s up?”
“Come look at this.” He pointed to the screen. “You see this red arrow that keeps jumping from one point to another?”
“Yes….”
“That is someone accessing all fifty cameras at random.”
“Can you tell where it’s coming from, or who’s doing it?”
“No, that’s what’s puzzling me. It’s like a loop of some kind, but it doesn’t appear to be running from a single terminal. Every fifteen seconds, its origin changes. I’ve got Jeff Wein, at the complex, running this through VICi.” Gary shook his head. “Even she can’t figure it out. Every time I get close to pinpointing its location, it either drops or jumps, right before I can grab it. I don’t think this is Richard. If it is, he’s been doing a snow job, on his computer knowledge for years.”
“I wouldn’t put it past him.”
Gary frowned and forced the air from his lungs. “Neither would I, but we can’t just point the finger at him. The problem is this. I don’t know how we would ever prove it’s him.”
“Then maybe what you should be doing is proving it’s not him.”
Gary laced his fingers behind his head and leaned back in his chair. Fascinated by its design, he watched as his visual trace route blinked from one hop to another, like an Indiana Jones map. “Unfortunately…” he sighed, “…unless I can pinpoint the original signal, I can’t do that either. However…” he said, looking up at Sam. “Whoever it is, I think it’s fairly obvious they’re extremely interested in yours and Donna’s relationship. To me… that suggests that it could be Richard, or someone trying to make us believe… that it’s Richard.”
“So your trap didn’t work?”
“Oh no – it worked. If you hadn’t had your cell phone on silent – you would have known that, too.” Gary narrowed his eyes in concentration. “You said D’s battery was flat. When did she last charge it?”
“Last night. Why?”
Gary’s eyes widened. “Call her. Tell her to turn her cell phone off and bring it to me now! I think I need to tweak my virus code.”