Page 105 of Don't Believe A Word

‘Shall we?’ Lukas suggested, holding out a chair for Cristy to sit next to Gabe.

David took the other side and immediately a server was there ready to take orders for drinks. Arnold Palmers all round. As the server departed Evie began extolling the club’s many virtues, gamely backed up by Lukas, while Gabe sat quietly in his chair, smiling benignly and gently tapping his fingers on the table. Other diners began to appear, filling nearby tables, some waving a hello to Evie, while Lukas discreetly provided names and status. High flying lawyers, real estate agents, CEOs of multi-nationals …

The list went on and Cristy couldn’t help wondering how he’d describe Gabe were he giving a commentary to someone else.Gabriel Bailey, old English aristocracy, ex-human trafficker no longer sought by law enforcement?

Seizing a pause in Evie’s lengthy plaudits (was she nervous, or always as chatty as this?) and Lukas’s asides, Cristy said, ‘I have to confess we weren’t expecting to see you, Lukas. You’re a very welcome surprise.’

He smiled in a way that made him appear both apologetic and pleased by the compliment. ‘We weren’t sure until this morning,’ he said, ‘that I was going to make it back in time to see you. I’ve been in New York, on business, but here I am now, and delighted to meet you.’

Still trying to get a through line on things, Cristy said, ‘Can I ask, before we go any further … Two colleagues of mine are in Vilnius searching for your sister Audra …’

‘Ah, yes. Am I able to help with this? I can let you have her phone number and email and I’ll make sure she knows it’s all right to speak to them. I’ll need their names, of course.’ He was already poised to tap into his mobile.

After providing Clove and Jacks’s details, Cristy waited for him to relay them to Audra, while Evie and Gabe smiled on and David looked as amazed as he did amused. Cristy recalled Natalie Irwin saying that Lukas had a way with him that ‘kind of cheered you up’, and it didn’t seem he’d changed, for she had to admit he really was likeable.

Lukas looked up from his phone, grinned and saluted them:mission accomplished.‘I’ve been listening to your podcast since we found out about it,’ he told her. ‘I’ve got so much to ask … We’ll come on to it, of course, but I want to apologize for being so difficult to find. It’s just that when Evie and I took this job, with Gabe, one of the conditions at the time was that we didn’t let anyone know where we were. There were some very good reasons for it, but things have changed over the years …’

‘Not completely,’ Gabe put in.

‘No, not completely,’ Lukas agreed, ‘but there’s no harm in us talking to Cristy and David now.’

Cristy half-expected Gabe to object, but he only nodded absently, so she said, ‘Just before coming here I spoke to an old friend of yours, Natalie …’

Lukas nodded. ‘Ah yes, Nat. How is she? I’ve always felt terrible about cutting contact with her. She was such a very good friend to me when I needed one most.’

‘You should be in touch,’ Evie told him. ‘At least let her know you’re still alive.’

‘I think she’d appreciate that,’ Cristy said.

Clearly glad she thought so, Lukas said, ‘I should do it before she has chance to hear the interview we give you. It seems only fair for her to find things out before everyone else, don’t you think?’

‘Absolutely,’ Evie agreed.

‘I’ll arrange for her interview to be sent to you,’ Cristy said, ‘so you can hear her in advance as well.’

‘Thank you,’ he smiled. ‘I’m already looking forward to hearing her lovely voice. I used to try to mimic her Yorkshireaccent, and the way she laughed at my efforts …’ He laughed himself and gave a sigh of nostalgia.

When no one seemed inclined to say anything else, Cristy said tentatively, ‘Will it be OK to record here?’

‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ Evie jumped in, ‘I should have explained right away. No phones, or anything of that sort, are allowed in public areas. I hope you don’t mind. And we thought that rather than dive right in, this would be a nice, relaxed get-to-know-you lunch before we go back to the house. We can talk about anything you like there. Is that OK with you?’

‘Of course,’ Cristy replied, embarrassed that she’d rushed into asking when it should have been obvious that a recording device would be close to offensive in a place like this.

‘We’re happy to talk to you,’ Gabe told her. ‘And we want to hear all about Sasha.’

‘I’m sure they’ll tell us everything,’ Lukas said. ‘After all, we want a two-way exchange here, don’t we?’ He was looking at Cristy, apparently seeking assurance that she wasn’t going to hold back on them.

‘Of course, we’ll tell you about her,’ she promised, ‘but I hope you’ll explain things to us first.’

Lukas’s eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. ‘A very reasonable request,’ he agreed, ‘but please keep in mind that no one here intends her any harm – if that’s what you’re afraid of.’

‘No one ever did,’ Gabe put in.

Lukas grimaced. ‘Well, that’s not exactly true, but let’s leave it until later.’

Gabe nodded and let the subject drop as easily as if they’d been discussing the weather. ‘What would you like to eat, Cristy?’ he asked. ‘Can I recommend the Cobb salad? Or perhaps you’d prefer lobster? It’s always very well prepared here.’

As Cristy scanned the menu Evie said, ‘I think I’ll have the snow crab,’ and smiled up at the server, as he brought the drinks.