CHAPTER THREE
TORISTAREDATthe data before her, wishing she could blame her lack of concentration on a post-lunch slump. Stretching, she leaned back in her chair and took in the view of Perth’s Swan River, sparkling in the sunlight.
It had been tough, moving from Sydney to Western Australia. She’d had to find a new home, start a new job, create a new life, all on top of the trauma that still haunted her.
If her father had been at all supportive she’d have settled in Sydney. Family was supposed to be there for you during difficult times, after all.
Tori shuddered, remembering the last time she and her father had spoken. It was pointless wishing for the impossible—like a caring father—but his icy disapproval on top of recent events had made Tori miss her mother more than ever. She’d been warm, practical and supportive. Tori could have done with the unconditional love that had died years before, with her mother.
Yet it wasn’t any of those things distracting her now. Or even last night’s broken sleep. She was used now to perennial tiredness.
It was the date. Fifteen months to the day since she’d been kidnapped in Za’daq.
She’d been about to leave Assara, her geological survey complete and her companions already gone. She’d spent her final afternoon investigating an outcrop that hadn’t been in her survey zone but had looked promising.
Until she’d found herself surrounded by armed men.
Fifteen months since she’d last seen Ash.
Fifteen months since the sharp rattle of gunfire had echoed across the arid landscape, raising the hairs on her arms and neck and devastating her.
She’d never forget that sound.
Or the gloating chuckle of the leader of the small party that had left the bandit camp to make its way across the foothills.
He was the one Ash had knocked aside after the man had grabbed her, his hands insinuating themselves under her shirt. When gunfire had sounded from the camp the man had leered, slicing his hand across his throat in a violent gesture. He’d spat out words she hadn’t understood but his meaning had been clear. Ash was dead.
Even now the nightmare reality was almost too much to take in.
The fruit smoothie she’d had for lunch curdled in Tori’s stomach and she swallowed hard, trying to keep it down.
Traumatic memories were normal, her counsellor said. And, what with having been up half the night, it was no surprise that Tori was susceptible today to distressing flashes of memory.
They’d pass. They always did.
Meanwhile she had a report to sort out.
Breathing deep, she turned back to her computer.
She was frowning over an anomaly when a waft of pungent aftershave reached her.
‘Head down, Victoria? Good to see you making the most of the time you’re actually in the office.’
Tori repressed a sigh. Itwouldbe Steve Bates—leader of the other team on this floor. He always carped about her part-time hours, implying that she took advantage of the company instead of actually working harder than some of her full-time colleagues. And that never stopped him staring at her as if he could see through her clothes.
She needed to tackle him about his attitude. But not today, when she felt so low. Besides, she’d survived far worse than Steve could dish out.
The thought steadied her.
Tori swung around in her chair to meet his stare. Naturally it wasn’t her face he was looking at. She sat straighter and his eyes lifted.
‘This new survey data is intriguing. Is that why you’re here? I’ll have the report ready by—’
He stopped her with a dismissive wave. ‘I’m not here for that.’ He paused, his X-ray stare focused on her face, his gaze sharply assessing. ‘You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?’
Tori frowned. ‘Sorry?’
Steve smiled, but instead of putting her at ease his calculating expression made disquiet flicker.