Smoking Gun (Adam Cartwright Trilogy Book 1) Read Online Free
Author: Dennis Debney
laughed. “Of course. Her name is Kate. Kate Moore. Anyway, when can you come down and meet her?”
I hesitated. “Today. I can catch the Qantas flight at five to four this afternoon and arrive at Sydney airport at ten to eight this evening.” I knew the Saturday and Sunday flight schedules south from Cairns without having to check. “Brian. I’d love to meet Kate but the reason for my call was to see you. I have something that I need to talk to you about.”
He was immediately serious and solicitous. “Sure Adam. What’s the problem? You know that if there is something that I can do for you that you just have to ask.”
“Thanks. Brace yourself. The fact is that someone has tried to kill me.”
“Bloody hell!” His voice boomed out of my cell phone. “Are you okay? What did the police say?”
“I’m fine. But I haven’t told the police and don’t intend to. Not yet at least.”
“Why not?” Brian demanded.
“It’s complicated. That is why I want to talk to you. I’ll explain when I see you.”
He gave a slight chuckle. “It wasn’t a jealous husband, was it?”
I smiled and decided to keep it light. “I don’t think so. At least I hope not.”
Brian laughed loudly. “As if. Don’t forget just who you are talking to. I know you too well.” He then hesitated before continuing. “Kate and I were planning to have dinner this evening at her apartment. I’ll pick you up at the airport and bring you back here. You’ll have dinner with us.”
“Congratulations. I know that you will have made an excellent choice of a life partner. But in regard to the dinner invitation, thanks but no thanks….”
Brian interrupted. “Adam, I will not take no for an answer. I only popped the question last night. Kate and I are leaving in a few minutes to go shopping for a ring. Tonight is a special occasion for us. It’ll be a sort of engagement party, just the three of us.”
I acceded. “Thanks Brian, I’d really like to be there.” I laughed and added. “Even if it is just to warn Kate that it’s not too late to back out.”
“Good. You and Kate should get on well together. You both have a lot in common.”
I was puzzled and probably sounded it. “Lot in common? What do you mean?”
Brian laughed. “You both like living in your apartment. Kate is your tenant. My next door neighbour.”
I exploded with laughter. “Brian, you old dog. The poor girl. She didn’t have a chance with you dropping in to borrow a cup of sugar or whatever every hour or so.”
“Hey, I need every break that I can get. Anyway, I’ll see you at the airport around eight tonight.”
I terminated the call laughing. For a few minutes I had forgotten the predicament that I was in. Last night’s attack was not something that I could simply laugh off and forget. As I thought about it I started to feel nervous. There were forces at play that I did not understand and did not know how to respond to. Talking to Brian was the best first step that I could think of. Hopefully it might help me to develop a plan of action.
During the next five hours I motored steadily towards Cairns. The sea was calm and the breeze light. As I got closer I passed quite a few boats on their way out to the Barrier Reef no doubt looking forward to a day’s fishing, snorkelling or scuba diving. Everything was so peaceful and ordinary that the previous night’s events seemed to be a dream rather than a likely ongoing threat to my life.
After I terminated the call to Brian I rang Qantas, booked a flight to Sydney and then packed an overnight bag to take with me. Then, since I needed an activity to ensure that I stayed awake, I got out my laptop and sat in the cockpit with my back to the cabin writing down a detailed account of the events. From time to time I would stand and check that there was no danger of a collision with another vessel. I described everything, starting with me finishing work at the project site and driving down to Cairns. I
I hesitated. “Today. I can catch the Qantas flight at five to four this afternoon and arrive at Sydney airport at ten to eight this evening.” I knew the Saturday and Sunday flight schedules south from Cairns without having to check. “Brian. I’d love to meet Kate but the reason for my call was to see you. I have something that I need to talk to you about.”
He was immediately serious and solicitous. “Sure Adam. What’s the problem? You know that if there is something that I can do for you that you just have to ask.”
“Thanks. Brace yourself. The fact is that someone has tried to kill me.”
“Bloody hell!” His voice boomed out of my cell phone. “Are you okay? What did the police say?”
“I’m fine. But I haven’t told the police and don’t intend to. Not yet at least.”
“Why not?” Brian demanded.
“It’s complicated. That is why I want to talk to you. I’ll explain when I see you.”
He gave a slight chuckle. “It wasn’t a jealous husband, was it?”
I smiled and decided to keep it light. “I don’t think so. At least I hope not.”
Brian laughed loudly. “As if. Don’t forget just who you are talking to. I know you too well.” He then hesitated before continuing. “Kate and I were planning to have dinner this evening at her apartment. I’ll pick you up at the airport and bring you back here. You’ll have dinner with us.”
“Congratulations. I know that you will have made an excellent choice of a life partner. But in regard to the dinner invitation, thanks but no thanks….”
Brian interrupted. “Adam, I will not take no for an answer. I only popped the question last night. Kate and I are leaving in a few minutes to go shopping for a ring. Tonight is a special occasion for us. It’ll be a sort of engagement party, just the three of us.”
I acceded. “Thanks Brian, I’d really like to be there.” I laughed and added. “Even if it is just to warn Kate that it’s not too late to back out.”
“Good. You and Kate should get on well together. You both have a lot in common.”
I was puzzled and probably sounded it. “Lot in common? What do you mean?”
Brian laughed. “You both like living in your apartment. Kate is your tenant. My next door neighbour.”
I exploded with laughter. “Brian, you old dog. The poor girl. She didn’t have a chance with you dropping in to borrow a cup of sugar or whatever every hour or so.”
“Hey, I need every break that I can get. Anyway, I’ll see you at the airport around eight tonight.”
I terminated the call laughing. For a few minutes I had forgotten the predicament that I was in. Last night’s attack was not something that I could simply laugh off and forget. As I thought about it I started to feel nervous. There were forces at play that I did not understand and did not know how to respond to. Talking to Brian was the best first step that I could think of. Hopefully it might help me to develop a plan of action.
During the next five hours I motored steadily towards Cairns. The sea was calm and the breeze light. As I got closer I passed quite a few boats on their way out to the Barrier Reef no doubt looking forward to a day’s fishing, snorkelling or scuba diving. Everything was so peaceful and ordinary that the previous night’s events seemed to be a dream rather than a likely ongoing threat to my life.
After I terminated the call to Brian I rang Qantas, booked a flight to Sydney and then packed an overnight bag to take with me. Then, since I needed an activity to ensure that I stayed awake, I got out my laptop and sat in the cockpit with my back to the cabin writing down a detailed account of the events. From time to time I would stand and check that there was no danger of a collision with another vessel. I described everything, starting with me finishing work at the project site and driving down to Cairns. I
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