Page 10

Chapter Ten

K rystal massaged suntan lotion onto her legs, then lay back on her deck chair and adjusted her bikini top to make sure her tanning didn’t leave a strap line. But even with the music playing from the iPod buds in her ears, she still heard the whirr of the pool gate opening.

She turned, surprised to see Thomas walking toward her. Her father’s business partner was already an enormous man but his obsession with body building made him seem even bigger. His thick arms barely fitted into his stiff suit and with eyes as black as bat’s wings that showed little emotion. He’d make a good hired-killer in some crappy movie.

But today he looked uncomfortable and as he approached, pulling up his trousers, straightening his tie and smoothing his hair, she had a creepy feeling about him.

“Hello, Krystal.” His voice was tortured. Her mum said it was from years of smoking and drinking overproof rum.

“What do you want?” She reached for her juice and flipped over a page of the magazine in her lap.

“I need to talk to you.”

“So, talk.”

“I think we should discuss this inside.”

“If I wanted to go inside, I would.” Krystal tossed her magazine onto the glass tabletop and looked up at him. “I’m staying here so spit it out.”

Thomas seized a chair, positioned it at Krystal’s side and straddled it.

She inched as far away as she could without getting off the lounge. “Hurry up, I’ve got things to do.”

His hands gritted like sandpaper as he rubbed them together. “Your parent’s plane has disappeared.”

“What?” Jesus, why doesn’t he just get to the point?

“They didn’t arrive at Jabiru and are currently listed as missing.”

“So what? You know what Dad is like. He probably did it on purpose just to scare Mum.”

“There’s been no contact with the plane for two days.”

“This is nothing! Dad went missing for over a week in the Amazon.”

“I hope you’re right.”

She cringed as his eyes lowered to her breasts. “You can go now.” Krystal shifted in her seat.

“Actually, I’m here to take you to your grandmother’s.”

She glared into his dark eyes. His pupils were tiny pinpricks against the glare of the shimmering pool. “No, you’re bloody well not.”

“Yes, I am. Your parents are missing, and I have to take you to her.”

“There’s no way I’m going to live with that bitch.”

“You don’t have a choice. The company’s emergency plan has been activated and your father made specific instructions regarding you. It’s for your own safety.”

She’d heard enough. To show him she had no intention of moving she reached for her magazine.

Thomas snatched it off her and tossed it aside.

“Hey!”

“Get up. I’ve finished with your games.”

“Get stuffed.”

She squealed as his fingers bit into her upper arm.

“Get up!” He dragged her to her feet, sending his chair flying.

“Let go of me,” she screamed.

His fingers squeezed tighter .

“Let me go!”

He shoved her toward the gate. “Get to your room and pack a bag. Mrs Mulholland is waiting for you.”

Krystal rubbed her arm and knew it was going to bruise. “I’m not going,” she yelled over her shoulder as she sprinted along the path.

She ran upstairs to her bedroom, locked the door, dived onto her bed and punched Tina’s number into her phone. “Tina, it’s Krystal. Have you heard?”

“I know, it’s horrible. They don’t know where he is.”

Krystal heard her sobbing and it suddenly hit her what Tina was talking about. “Dad will be okay. I’m talking about me. They’re sending me to Grandma Mulholland.”

“Oh. Well, they have to follow?—”

Krystal couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “I can’t live with her. Tell them you’ll look after me.”

“I can’t … They won’t let me.”

“You bitch.” Krystal tossed the phone onto her bed. Moments later, someone banged on her bedroom door. “Go away.”

“Open the door or I will,” Thomas barked.

Krystal kept quiet and as the knob turned, she smiled, knowing it was locked. Footsteps retreated from the door, and she turned her thoughts to who to ring next.

The door slammed open, and Thomas stepped into the room.

“Get out!” She jabbed a shaky finger at him.

Thomas strode to her wardrobe and yanked her suitcase from the top shelf. “Do you want to pack it or shall I?”