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“The one she’s moving in with?”
“Yes, and Rowan too. She’s a single mum.”
“You find it har
d talking about them.”
“I guess so, only because I left it all behind, and then my Mum and step dad left too, so I feel bad about the ones left behind.”
“Maybe you can use part of your earnings to go visit?”
“Maybe.”
“Something I wanted to ask…why is it you think my brothers might be implicated in the fraud?”
“Timing. They were given inside information, a head start on a proper fraud investigator, and they still haven’t rolled anything out as yet, have they? I can only assume they’re complicit in some way—one or both of them. Either that or they couldn’t care less about it. Having met Charles I’m beginning to think it’s the latter. He’s too busy enjoying himself to give a toss about it.”
Her mouth opened as if to deny his remarks, then she quickly snapped it shut and glanced away, her eyelids lowering. It hadn’t been obvious to her. Wishing he hadn’t been the one to give her the wake-up call, he reached out and grabbed her hand. “I’m sorry, I don’t really think they’re guilty. Why would they mess up a golden opportunity to get ahead in the family business? It doesn’t make any sense. Although I have to say I can’t figure out why they haven’t got to the bottom of it yet.”
Lara turned back. “You think they should know the answer already?”
Draco shrugged, wishing he hadn’t said so much. “They had a few days before you got in touch with me, didn’t they?”
“At least four. You really think they could’ve worked it out in that time?”
He squeezed her hand again. “Someone who had the skill set, probably.” Once again he wondered if he was saying too much. “And of course open access to all the systems and records, the way they do,” he added, to cover his back. “However, I doubt they’ve figured it out, or you’d have heard. That cousin of yours seems to be keeping his ear to the ground.”
She nodded. “Yes, Harry would know if they’d figured it out.”
The taxi pulled up outside an ostentatious set of gates.
Draco glanced around the street. The two properties he could see were each surrounded by tall pillars and metal railings, security systems on the entrance. Lara was paying the taxi driver. He reached into his pocket.
“Don’t be daft,” she said, “this is my treat.” She gave a nervous laugh.
He hadn’t realized quite how nervous she was, but he could see it now. The taxi light had come on. She looked pale. He climbed out of the cab and when the car drove away, he took her quickly into his arms and kissed her. “We’ll walk this, don’t worry.”
“You’re not stressed about this are you?”
He shook his head. “You’ve got more to lose, I know that.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb wanting desperately to reassure her. “I want this to work because I care about you.”
He nodded at the gate. “How the hell do we get into Fort Knox?”
Lara pressed a button on an intercom located on one of the pillars and spoke to whoever answered. The gate opened.
Draco kept hold of her hand as they walked up the gravel driveway. The sweeping drive led round to the front of a large house, a modern manor, he supposed. It looked like a recent build done in a traditional style. He hadn’t known what to expect, nor did he have an opinion on it. It did make him wonder what he would spend his millions on if he ever had the chance to make any.
As they mounted the steps to the doorway, he looked at the door, perplexed. It was a grand affair with a huge brass handle and a knocker—which seemed pretty redundant since no one could get in to knock on the door without the householders already knowing there was someone on the way up the drive.
Jamie, the younger brother opened the door. “Welcome to the high table,” he commented as he ushered them in. “Enjoy it while it lasts.”
Lara seemed surprised by the comment.
It was odd and it sharpened Draco’s attention.
Jamie drifted off, having let them in.
A glamorous woman in her thirties came out to meet them.
