The Forgotten Holocaust (Ben Hope, Book 10)

The Forgotten Holocaust (Ben Hope, Book 10) by Scott Mariani Read Free Book Online

Book: The Forgotten Holocaust (Ben Hope, Book 10) by Scott Mariani Read Free Book Online
Authors: Scott Mariani
modern woman toted about with her was mystifying. Brooke had somehow always been the exception.
    Kristen was apologetic and flustered as she stooped down to retrieve her fallen things. ‘If you have a dustpan and brush, I’ll clear up the broken glass.’
    ‘Leave it,’ he said. ‘You’d best be heading back. Your phone call, remember?’ He thought she still looked a little unsteady as she stood up again, and reached a hand out to help her. ‘Are you okay? Sure you don’t want me to walk you back?’
    ‘I’m not completely plastered,’ she laughed. ‘I’ll be fine.’
    ‘See you in the morning, then,’ he said. ‘Say seven o’clock, outside the guesthouse? Then we’ll have more time to talk.’
    ‘I really appreciate this, Ben.’ She touched his hand. ‘Seven o’clock it is.’
    Then she was gone. Ben watched from the doorway as she hurried off. He closed the door and went back to his drink.
    ‘Now that,’ he said to the empty room, ‘was one of the strangest conversations of my life.’

Chapter Six
    Kristen kept glancing at her watch as she headed quickly back towards the guesthouse, leaving the cottage out of sight behind the tall rocks. She felt giddy and light-headed from the rocket-fuel whisky.
Sober up. Sober up. You have work to do
. Just twelve minutes to get back, close herself in her room and get on the phone. She’d make it, just.
    She had to. There was a hell of a lot riding on this.
    If she hadn’t been in such a rush, she’d have paused to admire the sunset. This really was a beautiful spot. And so tranquil, not a soul in sight. Apart from the waves and the birds, the only movement was the faraway car she could see, a black Range Rover or something like it, tracking slowly along the lane running parallel with the beach in the distance.
    She hoped that Ben hadn’t thought that she’d made up her pressing business call as a pretext to get away. The fact was, the call really was every bit as important as the need for discretion. It was a chance that wouldn’t come again, and she needed to stick to her plan.
    Yet, she regretted having had to break away from Ben so soon. She’d gladly have stayed with him all evening. She pictured his face. A nice face. Not too craggy or butch. Thick blonde hair, blue eyes. Seemed a bit sad and lonely, which maybe accounted for the drinking.
    Single, too. And not gay, apparently.
    She was definitely interested. Question was, was he?
    She wished she could have hung around here for a few more days rather than have to rush back to Newbury. She might have got to know him better. The thought was exciting. But again, business was business. Right now was no time for amorous distractions. Maybe – just maybe – those could come later.
    Get your head straight, Kristen.
    She cleared all thoughts of Ben Hope from her mind and focused instead on the other man in her life right now, who was sitting by the phone half the world away, just waiting for her to call at the appointed time.
    This would be the second contact. The first, thirty-six hours ago, seemed to have gone perfectly according to plan. She’d had the element of surprise, had heard the total amazement in the man’s voice when she’d called him like that out of the blue.
    So far, so good. The sum of money involved made her ears pop. She tried to imagine it all sitting there in front of her, a mountain of cash. She couldn’t. But if all went smoothly, she wouldn’t have to imagine it. It would be there, real, all hers.
    This second call was even more critically important to carry off right than the first. By now his shock and surprise would have worn off. He’d be ready to talk business. There was a lot riding on this for him, too.
    He might even be so eager to talk business that he’d tried calling her while she’d been with Ben. There’d been no message from him earlier – but there might be one now. As she strode over the pebbles, she dipped her hand in her bag for the leather pouch in

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