Read Online Heat Vol. 5 (Heat: Master Chefs #5) by Kailin Gow - Free Book Online

ordeal you went through as a girl,”
Darlene said.
    “Yes,
it was quite difficult.  Traumatic, you could say.”
    “You
seem to be holding up well this time,” Daniel said.
    I
looked to my father and reached for his hand, then looked to Rial.  “As I’ve
told Rial, I refuse to allow those men to ruin my life again.”
    “That’s
very admirable,” Darlene said as she finished off the pastry and glanced at the
tray, contemplating another.  “People of your status… from such an aristocratic
family… it’s insane that such a thing should happen.  N’est pas? ”
    “Indeed,”
Rial said.
    Detective
Daniel looked down at his notes.  “We already know that you were snatched from
Monsieur Errol King’s restaurant, right in front of dozens of patrons.  Could
you tell us what happened once they took you out of the restaurant?”
    For
the next twenty minutes I told them, in as much detail as I could remember,
every little thing that had happened.
    “If
I may say,” Daniel said, “you are a very attractive young lady.”
    Rial
immediately snaked his arm around my waist and pulled me closer.
    “Thank
you,” I said.
    “Did
any of those men try to take advantage of… the situation?”
    Rial’s
arm tensed.  We hadn’t discussed that possibility and I could sense his fear as
he awaited my answer.
    “No. 
None of them touched me.”
    “Are
you sure?  I know this may be difficult to discuss.  Perhaps you would rather
talk this out with Darlene, in private.”
    The
young lieutenant smiled.  “That’s what I’m here for.”
    “No,
really.  There’s nothing to say.  I mean, one of them might have insinuated
and…”  A chill ran over me as I found myself once again sandwiched between
Horace and Constantine in the limo.  “One of them put his hand on my knee.”
    “Only
your knee?  Nothing more?” Darlene said with gentle understanding.
    “He
did try to go a little higher, but the older man told him to stop.”
    “Godfrey?”
    “Yes.”
    “Who
touched you?”
    “My
eyes were bound at that time, but I’m sure it was the man named Constantine. 
He was the one making crude remarks.  And I believe Godfrey mentioned his name
when he reprimanded him.”
    “You
poor thing,” Darlene said.  “For one to come out of the convent for so many
years and have to go through something like this.  I will tell you,
Mademoiselle Cooke.  I will do everything within my power to make sure these
men spend a good long time in jail.”
    “I
hope they will.”
    “You
were in a convent?” Detective Daniel said.
    “Yes,
Detective…”
    “Please,
you can call me Daniel.”
    “Daniel,
I was at Sainte Anne ’s for a number of years.  I even considered
becoming a nun.”  I smiled at them all, hoping to erase the look of pity that
seemed to cling to their faces.  “Those years made me strong and prepared me
for the trials and heartache of life… probably much more than I had ever
thought.  I guess I have a different perspective on life than most people, and
I think it’s that perspective that got me through this.  I was able to overcome
the fear.”  I looked to my father.  “Much more than I was capable of doing back
then.  You see, bringing me to that convent was a good thing after all.  It
taught me how to draw on my inner strength.”
    He
gave me an affectionate squeeze.
    “They’ve
attempted to blame you for the whole fiasco,” Daniel said.  “They say you
brought it on yourself, but it’s clear they’re fighting a losing battle.  They
won’t be able to talk their way out of this one.”
    “And
we’ll also be looking into those embezzlement charges, Monsieur Cooke,” Darlene
said.  “It might be of little consolation, but these men were very good at what
they did, and you weren’t their first victim.”
    “You
mean, they’ve done this type of thing before?” I said.
    She
turned to me.  “The men who kidnapped you are only a small part of a very large
criminal ring.