“A non-disclosure means nothing,” Liam snapped.“If Suzie is in danger, we need to move fast.Now.”
Niall straightened, irritated at how they’d brushed off his demands.He ground his teeth together to halt the quick words he wanted to spew and forced himself to pause.
Liam and Scott stared at him, their expressions set.
It was a standoff.
Finally, Liam said, “You don’t know us, but you know Suzie.She is honest and loyal and would never sell out a friend.It’s easy to see you’re more than friends.Suzie is an excellent judge of character, and she doesn’t take crap from anyone.For her to spend time with you, you must be decent.We’re loyal to Suzie because we know and trust her.We’re not sure about you, but because of Suzie, we’re willing to give you the benefit of the doubt.I’m sure you’re worried about her, and that’s why you’re acting like a moron.Scott and I are farmers.We have ties to New Zealand and want to return home.Besides having it on our morning toast, we’re not interested in your honey.Let us help you find Suzie.”
Niall studied the man with his scarred face.His blue-green eyes blazed with sincerity, and when Niall turned to Scott, he wore a similar expression.He trusted Suzie.At least, he did now.After a lengthy and fraught pause, he dipped his head.
“All right.This is what I know.”He explained about his brothers, how they’d turned up, and his relationship with them.He described his business and his recent problems.
When he finished, Scott said, “Your honey sounds amazing.I hope we can sample it before we return home.”
“Do you think they’ll hurt Suzie?”Liam asked.
Niall frowned.“If my brothers have her—I don’t think they’d hurt a woman, but I haven’t seen them since I was fourteen and left home.They’re motivated by greed and money.”
“You said the private investigator has been checking into them.Do they have gambling debts at home or something like that?”Scott asked.
“That might change the situation if they were desperate to repay debts,” Liam said.
“That’s what worries me,” Niall said.“Especially since they’ve been known to gamble.”
Angus tapped on the door and entered.“A young boy gave the housekeeper this note when he and his boss delivered a load of meat to the kitchen.He told me a man had paid him ten pounds to deliver it.”
Niall’s breath seized before he opened the envelope with trembling fingers.Part of the note comprised letters cut from a newspaper.They formed two sentences: Giveme a jar of your honey for the girl.Midnight tonight at the far end of the lake.Someone else had added inhandwriting below this, plus two hundred thousand pounds in cash.
16
You're Criminals
Suziejoltedawake,hermouth so dry she had to swallow four times before anything happened.Thirst was a nagging craving, and it affected her thought processes.Where was she?
Memories came crashing down on her without warning.She tried to sit up and flapped about like an ungainly fish because someone had bound her feet and her hands behind her back.Suzie ceased wriggling and took a deep breath to counteract the panic gathering in her.
Someone had drugged her.
Euan and Colin.She’d thought she’d caught a whiff of their scents before someone had clapped that stinky cloth over her nose.
In the dark room, Suzie couldn’t make out much.She got the impression of furniture, dust, and decay.A deserted building, perhaps?
Footsteps sounded outside the room.Suzie tensed.Dithered.Should she pretend to be asleep, or should she hurl insults at her captors and scream for help?At the last second, she feigned unconsciousness.She could always magically awaken if she judged that wiser.
Suzie closed her eyes not a second too soon.The door flew open.Her heart leaped, adrenaline surging through her.She fought the urge to give her visitor a tongue-lashing.
Their scent gave them away.Colin and Euan.Niall’s brothers were causing trouble again, and it was no wonder a younger Niall had given up on his family and left home.It must’ve been difficult for him at the start, and she respected him for the success he’d made of his life.It made her even more determined to help him get his honey to market.
Footsteps came closer, and a lamp switched on.Suzie found it difficult not to lash out with a pithy diatribe about why Colin and Euan were useless individuals.
“She should be awake by now,” Euan murmured, his voice sounding close.Too close.“I thought the boss said it was a weak dose and wouldn’t hurt her.”
Suzie stopped herself from giving an indignant sniff.He sounded as if he cared.
“Doesn’t matter,” Colin said.“She’s breathing, right?As long as she’s alive, we have a bargaining chip.We can’t fail.”
Euan sighed.“Yeah, you’re right.We have half our payment.Ma should’ve paid off our debt by now.”
