BLOOD DRAGON by Freddie Peters (books to get back into reading .TXT) 📕

She secured her yellow pashmina around her neck, fastened the belt of her black and white chequered Chanel woollen coat and started walking.

Pole had taken unimaginable risks and, although she loved him more then she had anyone else, she hoped it was not solely for her sake. The thought made her so uneasy she had to stop for a moment.

Marsh was an egotistical bully who, like all bullies, liked to have it his own way. But as long as the high-profile cases kept coming. and his thirst for fame was assuaged, he could be kept under control.

The ping of her phone told her she had a message. She took a cursory look. Philippe had sent her a text. She hesitated, but decided she would pick up the message once she had returned to her car. She turned to the left out of the carpark, following a red asphalted lane. She followed it for a while and the thought of the text awaiting her reminded her of China.

Everything seemed to converge on the awakening dragon. The Ollie Wilson case, her father’s last sighting in Hong Kong, Amy’s disappearance.

She had passed through Hong Kong many times in the past on her way to other destinations, but had never spent much time there except on business, always keen to avoid awakening old memories.

Nancy sat down on a lonely bench. The wind made her shiver. She was giving herself another 24 hours to obtain as much information as she could from Yvonne’s various contacts. She would need to convince Cora to stay put.

Nancy doubted Jared Turner was the sort of man who left sensitive files lying around, or even inside a locked desk.

Nancy placed her elbows on her knees in a sudden move and let her head drop into a hand. “… Jonathan … why?”

Was her next move the only way she could diffuse the tension … send the hunting dogs on another trail?

The gusts of wind became more vicious. Nancy stood up and resumed her walk around the desolate lawn. She slowly returned to the car park. There was still time to change her mind.

She reached the Aston Martin and sheltered into it, happy to be able to call on an efficient heating system. She placed her phone in the dashboard holder and dialled Philippe’s number.

The phone rang and after a few moments a muffled voice answered.. “Nancy, this is so timely. I’m about to depart.”

“Are you going home early today then?” Nancy reversed her car and slowly moved towards the exit.

“No … I’m on a BA flight to Hong Kong. They are about to ask us to switch off. I’ll call you when I arrive.”

The phone went dead. Nancy stopped the car suddenly. The officer manning the gates took a step back at the abrupt movement of her car.

Nancy squeezed the car wheel and inhaled deeply. She resumed a more sedate course towards the gates, lowering her window and apologising.

As she eased the Aston Martin into the flow of traffic, she thought about her latest plan. She did not have twenty-four hours.

* * *

“I’m sure one box will be enough. “Cora was standing in front of Ollie’s desk. She bit her lip.

His personal effects had already been transferred to a cardboard box … to make Cora’s task easier. She didn’t believe this was just thoughtfulness on the part of his company.

She tried not to imagine him at his desk, calling her to tell her about small things … forgetting to put the laundry into the washing machine, or wash his breakfast plate … or to spring a surprise dinner en tête à tête in a nearby restaurant.

Cora quickly cast an eye over the items in the box, not noticing what they were.

“Do you mind if I take a look in his desk to make sure I’ve got everything?”

“Of course not.” Nikki’s fair skin turned a little paler. She was not enjoying the task. Cora sat down at Ollie’s desk, her feet barely touching the ground. She opened the drawers to look inside.

“How long did you work with Ollie?” She was now reaching towards the back, checking to make sure nothing had been missed.

“Almost three years. It’s been … it was …” Nikki’s voice caught in her throat and she couldn’t finish the sentence.

Cora found a few pieces of stationery, plastic ballpens, yellow post-its. She fingered them and her throat caught her too.

“Jared … I mean Mr Turner made an announcement about Ollie’s health yesterday.”

“Ollie spoke a lot about his colleagues here and in Hong Kong.”

Nikki nodded. “They too are aware.” She was twisting a crumpled tissue.

“Do you think I could have a cup of tea, please?” Cora was not faking her need for something to ease her tight throat.

Ollie’s office was small but light. His desk and PC had been set up so that he could see both the corridor and his door, and still benefit from the window view that looked upon the small garden that was growing up the walls of the building. The office seemed quiet. Cora had seen only a couple of people walking past his door. They had made an effort to avoid looking in on her.

Cora’s fingers coursed over the keyboard. Ollie always made sure Cora had his up to date password in case of an emergency. She thanked him mentally for it.

The screen came to life and the screensaver gave Cora a shock. A picture of her and Ollie, taken on holiday in Bali … the first big, expensive holiday they had looked forward to for so long. She had argued against it in, unhappy to be spending thousands on luxury hotels. But he had been so keen to treat her with his first bonus, that she had relented.

Much to her surprise she had enjoyed the beautifully presented rooms at the Raffles Hotel in Janberan Bay, and the spectacular Four Seasons in Ubud, with its breathtaking entrance that invited guests to walk over a bridge suspended over the jungle treetops.

It had been