“She knows what the police know, which will be useful in putting them off our scent.”
“Why would she help you?”
He gave her a helpless look, begging her to understand that he wasn’t telling the truth. “Because I seduced her a few months ago. It wasn’t difficult to rekindle the relationship. Decent men are hard to find in Retribution Bay.”
“So you didn’t kidnap her?” Lucas didn’t sound convinced.
“She arrested me, but it wasn’t difficult to escape the cuffs and overpower her. I convinced her she’d be better off working with me.”
Nhiari’s expression went hard, but Lucas’s next words captured Lee’s attention.
“I’m coming to Retribution Bay.”
“When?”
“Soon. Andrew heard Oliver talking with the boat owner. It won’t be long before they share details of the treasure with him. They’ll want to do the right thing and ensure the treasure is returned to the state.”
“Do you need a place to stay?” No way Lucas would lower himself to camping, but Lee wanted to know where he was.
“I’ll make my own arrangements. I expect you to know where the treasure is being kept by the time I arrive.” He hung up.
Lee made sure the phone was disconnected before he spoke. “I’m lying to him, not to you.”
She ignored the comment and strode to the table. “We need to go through everything Dot sent us. This might be our only chance to arrest Lucas while he’s in Australia.”
“Nhiari, I swear—”
She held up a hand. “That isn’t what’s important right now. We have to stop Stonefish.” She sat down, focusing on the envelope Dot had sent them.
Lee bit his tongue to stop himself from rambling on, begging her to believe him, telling her Stonefish wasn’t what was important. He rocked back on his heels.
Shit.
At some stage over the past couple of days, stopping Stonefish had lost its all-encompassing importance.
Now Nhiari took centre stage.
He was in so much trouble.
Chapter Nine
NhiarilinkedDot’smaterialwith the other information, not daring to look in Lee’s direction. The plea in his voice pulled at her heartstrings but they’d plucked the wrong note before. He could easily play both her and Lucas. He lied so convincingly.
Finally Lee moved over to the car to unpack the groceries and she let out a small sigh of relief.
She needed space from him.
The best thing would be not to let her guard down and to focus on the case.
“I got you these.” Lee held out a reusable shopping bag.
Nhiari glanced at the bag and then at him but didn’t take it.
He placed it on the table in front of her. “I thought you might like something else to wear.” He walked away.
Nhiari peered into the bag. Inside were a couple of T-shirts and shorts, and a six-pack of cheap cotton underwear. She stared after him. There was no reason for him to get her clothes. How was she supposed to stay impartial when he did things like this? “Wouldn’t Steven think it odd you were buying women’s clothing from the supermarket?”
He turned. “I asked Lindsay to pack them amongst the food so it wasn’t obvious.”
