Jealous Storm by Jack Stroke (book recommendations .txt) 📕

a grand old time. She didn’t fully process what it actually was until she saw them.

There in the deck chairs on Vaughan’s boat was Grubby and Vaughan and Ellis, having a few beers. Not only was Ellis on board, he was sitting in Amber’s chair. It was invasive and stung.

Grubby spotted Amber first. “Oh, look out,” he said, having the time of his life. “Your woman’s here, Vaughan. Now you’re in trouble.”

“Shut up, Grubby,” Vaughan said, standing. He at least had the decency to look sheepish, aware he had been caught out.

“Whoa, can’t keep having a good time then.” Grubby made a sound like a whip cracking.

“Looking good, Amber,” Ellis said. “Been for a run? Meegs was saying you’re some kind of crazy fitness freak these days.”

Meegs. It was like a spike digging into Amber’s eyeball. She hated it when Ellis called her that back then, and she hated it now.

“Good run?”

To his credit, Ellis did a pretty good impression of a polite person, if you didn’t know him. If you weren’t aware of the reality of what he really was like. Amber didn’t trust herself to respond. Instead she simply turned and strode away.

“Amber, you don’t have to go,” Ellis said. “If you want me to, I can leave.”

He may have continued talking. Amber couldn’t hear him anymore.

She’d made about halfway back to Paradise by the Bay before Vaughan caught up with her.

“Amber… Amber… Wait.” He grabbed her arm and she stopped. “Are you okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be okay?”

“That wasn’t… That wasn’t what it looked like.”

“What did it look like?”

“Be serious. No games. Grubby just showed up with him and the beers. There was nothing I could do.”

“Nothing?”

“No, I mean, sure. I could have done things, but I didn’t want to be rude.”

“Well, as long as you weren’t rude, Vaughan. I would hate you to be impolite.”

“Amber…”

“It’s fine. You can have beers with whoever you like.”

“I wasn’t having… I mean…”

“I said it’s fine.”

“It doesn’t look like it’s fine.”

“What does it look like?”

He studied her. “It looks like everyone within a five-mile radius better take cover.”

She chuckled and kissed him on the cheek. “Go back. I wouldn’t be leaving those two alone on your boat if I was you.”

“You sure you’re okay?”

“I won’t be if you ask me again.”

She strode away, leaving Vaughan standing dumbfounded where he was.

Vaughan was correct about one thing. Amber wasn’t about to let this stand. There was no way.

35

Over time, Amber had evolved into a compulsive stretcher. The older she got, the more she stretched, doing so religiously after every run or physical activity. She could count on one hand the amount of times she hadn’t stretched after exercise in the past few years and attributed her lack of injuries to her devotion. However, she didn’t warm down at all after her beach run. She returned immediately to her cabin and located her phone.

“Diamond Logistics,” said the voice in her ear.

“Hey, Tony,” Amber said, doing her best to keep her voice light. Strictly speaking she wasn’t supposed to call. Tony preferred messages. Amber had to balance making this seem important enough to call, yet not sound like she was in trouble.

“Wow, how does she do it?” Tony said.

“Who?”

“Mother. It’s uncanny. She told me you’d call. I didn’t think you would, but here we are. Guess that’s why she’s the big boss.”

“What? Why would I —”

“Sorry, Amber. I can’t tell you anything.”

“Tony, you’re not making any sense.”

“About Ben. Where he is, what he’s up to.”

“Oh. Right. Of course. That’s not why I’m calling.”

“It’s not? Okay. Is everything all right?”

“Maybe. Not sure. Possible developing situation here.”

“What? At Paradise Cove?” His voice was almost as disdainful as Mother’s would have been.

“Yes, at Paradise Cove.” Amber paced as best she could in the confines of cabin six. “It might be nothing. I just need a quick background check on someone.”

“No worries. Shoot.”

“The name is Ellis. Ellis Nixon.” She spelt it out to make certain he didn’t think she said Alice.

“Uh-huh,” Tony said, typing away. “And what sort of information are we looking for?”

“Anything. Criminal history. I’m sure there’s something.”

“Huh,” Tony said. “Just give me a sec.”

Hold music took over. Cabin six was too small so Amber exited, circling the perimeter instead. She should have known something was up. The music went on for too long. Finally:

“Amber?”

Amber’s heart jumped into her mouth. “Mother? I didn’t mean to… You’re not…”

“What’s going on?” Mother’s tone was sharper than usual.

“Nothing. Just a background check.”

“Nonsense. Ellis Nixon? We remember who Ellis Nixon is, Amber.”

“What? No. It’s no one. Nothing.”

“Don’t lie. It demeans us both. If Ellis is back, you need to get out of there.”

“What? No, I don’t. I’m fine. ”

“We’re not so sure that’s true.”

“Mother…”

“Do we need to bring you in?”

“Bring me in? Why?”

“For your own protection.”

“What? Don’t be silly. No. I can handle Ellis.”

“Not for protection from him. Protection from yourself. His reappearance is not a positive development.”

Amber furrowed her brow. “Is… Is Ellis flagged in the system or something?”

“Why not? Wouldn’t it be logical to tag anyone who makes our agents act irrationally?”

“I haven’t seen this guy in almost twenty years.”

“Until now. And here we are. Let us bring you in.”

“I’m fine, Mother. I’ve gotta go.”

“Amber —”

Amber hung up before either of them could say any more.

36

Ben awoke on the most uncomfortable mattress he had ever slept on. What was it stuffed with, cans? Not that he had much experience with mattresses other than his, but this had to be in the top ten least comfortable mattresses in the world. How could it possibly be this lumpy? Some of the lumps were springs, while others were God knows what.

Shake had driven them to the dive of a motel after the party - the type of place they should pay people to stay. The ’Ropicana, as Shake took great delight in calling it. It should have been the Tropicana, but the ’T’ on the buzzing neon sign out front was faulty.

There were two levels overlooking the car park and an