A Chance Encounter by Rae Shaw (best ereader for academics .TXT) 📕

discomfort – the iciness within had melted and the warmth had returned to her veins.

‘In the last forty-eight hours numerous arrests have been made, here and abroad,’ Jackson explained. ‘In this country a dozen women and girls plus two boys have been removed from forced prostitution. Many others hopefully will follow. His big mistake was going to the farmhouse to see you in the flesh – he broke his own rules.’

‘The two women held with me?’ Julianna asked.

‘They both would like to thank you in person, especially the family of the younger Portuguese girl who was taken from a train station not long after she arrived in London. They’ve been frantically trying to trace her.’

‘I’d like to meet them.’

‘Good. Saddler isn’t in a good shape: comatose with major bleeding on the brain. I admit I underestimated his role in Zustaller's organisation. The assumption me and Chris made was that he was being blackmailed or manipulated in some way.’

‘I still can’t believe it. I wish I had been more curious about those girls vanishing. You assume it's the nature of their lives and the lack of stability. We’re too complacent and uninterested sometimes.’

‘You’re being hard on yourself. Sophia is feeling guilty, too,’ Jackson said. ‘You can’t be everyone’s guardian angel.’

He slid his laptop to one side and leaned on his elbows, narrowing the distance between him and Julianna. ‘Things are going to change for you, Julianna – it’s unavoidable. Both Chris and I agree that you can't work as a protection officer any longer.’

She hadn't expected to be stripped of her bodyguard responsibilities. After all she had done for Haynes, the wealth of skills she had demonstrated, she was once again worthless. As she shifted to the edge of her seat, Mark rested his hand on her thigh and pressed her back down.

‘I don’t understand. Why?’ she demanded.

Jackson held up a placating hand. ‘You’re too close to my wife. The role requires impartiality and no emotional attachments. Empathy taints judgement.’

‘I don’t think that’s the case, sir,’ Julianna said sharply.

‘This isn't something I've decided lightly. My opinion was shifting before your abduction, and now it’s immovable. You’ve been threatened by violent people, you’ve shot a man, and had your driving skills put through an extreme test. Your post-trauma status will require professional evaluation. I don’t want you driving my wife, Julianna, or being her bodyguard. This is no disrespect to your powers of recovery; it is my personal decision and there is no negotiation.’

His points were horribly valid. Jackson the executive decision maker was back in residence. She slid backwards on her chair. ‘Very well, sir. I respect your decision.’

‘That being said, you’re not out of job. You'll be given special investigations to carry out. You won’t be working for Chris’s team or in Mark’s department. You will be working for Opportunitas full-time. We’ve rescued many women, recently and hopefully in the coming weeks. They’re not all British, some are deeply traumatised, others are unable to trust anyone. Regretfully some are also mentally impaired. There are also families searching for missing loved ones. You will be tasked with tracing relatives for the women and children in the refuges. Also repatriating those who wish to go home. How does that sound to you, Julianna?’

Emotions, especially joy and relief, battled with incredulity; this was where she wanted to be – a woman with a valued role. ‘It sounds a worthy job. Would that have been the option prior to my abduction?’

‘It was one of two. The other was to give you more managerial responsibilities. But somehow I don’t think that will appeal to you.’

She laughed. ‘No, it doesn’t.’

‘Good.’ Jackson leaned back in his chair. ‘Ellen’s staying up in Scotland, according to Derek. So, Mark, don't ignore your sister. Family is everything.’

‘Yes, sir,’ Mark said.

Jackson chuckled and rose to his feet. ‘Stop calling me sir, at least outside of work. Hettie counts Julianna as one of her friends, which by default, means I am too. We share everything, as good partners do.’

Mark stood up and came over to offer his hand to Jackson. ‘Thank you, Jackson. For everything you've done for me and Ellen. For helping me see my dad in a different light, for introducing me to Julianna. I’m very grateful to be counted as your friend.’

Jackson came over to a rather overcome Julianna and crouched down in front of her.

She finally found her voice. ‘Strange world, isn’t it? I thought you chose me because of Alex. I've struggled to let people into my life since him. So, I hope I can do this friendship justice. Thank you for finding me, for all you’ve done.’

‘Julianna, you found yourself. Both in your remarkable escape and beyond. Don’t judge yourself harshly. You’re an amazing, resilient and confident woman and I can’t think of anyone better to have about me and my family.’

Mark coughed awkwardly. ‘We should go home then.’

A phone trilled and Jackson reached over to pick it up. ‘Wait! Yes? Good, let them through.’ He replaced the handset. ‘Right on cue,’ he said mysteriously.

He led the couple to the front door, calling out for Hettie at the same time. She appeared with Evey on her hip and Noah running about her legs, his chin plastered with vanilla ice-cream.

The door opened and Julianna was blinded for a moment by the bright sunshine. She shaded her eyes and peered at the car pulling up in front of the house. She recognised the make and registration plate.

She bounded down the stairs just as the car doors opened. There at the bottom step, she paused, disbelieving, and flung her arms wide open. ‘Mum, Dad! You’re here!’

  47

Julianna

AUTUMN

It had been a few years since she had been in a prison and back then, it was usually a remand centre to interview a suspect