Read Online Thunder in the Night (Crimson Romance) by Kate Fellowes - Free Book Online
Authors: Kate Fellowes
Ads: Link
disturbing the evidence.
“Good thing you woke up so early,” Mart said, “before he could get your money and your computer. You can buy another camera tomorrow.”
I nodded forlornly. “It was a good one. Kind of expensive. Maybe that’s why he wanted it,” I said.
Mart caught his lower lip between his teeth. “He probably couldn’t even see it that well in the dark,” he said, one hand moving up to push through his hair in a gesture I was beginning to recognize. “No offense, Allison, but plenty of other people on this trip have more elaborate camera set-ups. And your laptop is worth a lot more money.”
“Maybe the burglar didn’t know that.”
Mart was shaking his head again. “If he was a burglar, he’d know,” he said with conviction.
“Well, maybe he was in the wrong room, then?” I suggested, hoping it was true.
Mart sighed, all his breath coming out in a long rush. “Look, I know you’re upset and you’ve got good reason to be, but be logical. I think,” he said at last, “that he did want your camera. More specifically, he wanted the images on it.”
Suddenly, I recalled what I’d witnessed that afternoon in the jungle. The zoo director and the Guatemalan meeting secretly, speaking cryptically. Wide-eyed, I turned to Mart knowing he could read my expression.
“What did you see today? What did you photograph at Tikal? Anything that struck you as odd?” He spoke urgently, his voice a raspy whisper.
“I …I … .” What had I seen? I didn’t know. How could I explain? An unexpected wave of fear rose in my throat and I swallowed hard.
Mart was on his feet in an instant, crossing the space between us and taking me by the shoulders. “Allison, what? What was it?”
I gulped and found my voice. “It was Clark. Clark and a local. Talking. Just talking.”
“Talking?” Mart picked up the word. “About what? Could you hear what were they saying?”
I had to shut my eyes to recall the scene, but the words wouldn’t come. “I can’t remember!”
“This could be very important. You have to remember.”
“I’m trying — ”
There was a tentative knock on the door and we both looked up. The police had finally arrived.
I moved away from Mart, greeting the officer with a shaky smile. For the next hour, I went over old ground, repeating the story I’d already told several times and answering questions as best I could. Only one made me hesitate.
“Do you know any reason this man would choose to break into your room, Miss Belsar?”
“N-no,” I spoke haltingly. “I don’t know why.” I wasn’t lying, I told myself. I didn’t know.
Finally, an eternity later, as I stifled yawns and blinked scratchy, bleary eyes, the official visit was concluded. Nothing but the camera had been stolen, a quick inventory revealed. I’d been lucky, the policeman said.
Lucky, indeed.
I closed the door behind him and turned to face Mart. When he opened his mouth, I held up a hand. “Please, no more,” I begged, leaning heavily against the wall. “It’s so late and I’m so tired, I can’t think straight.”
He shut his mouth and nodded. “Tomorrow’s a free day,” he reminded me, rising from the chair and stretching a bit. “Meet me for a late breakfast? Ten o’clock?”
“Yes, sure, fine.”
Walking over to the balcony, he shut the opened door, fiddling with the latching mechanism. “Pretty clean work, here,” he said and I heard the click of the lock.
“I’m changing rooms in the morning,” I stated. “The ones on the other side of the hallway don’t have balconies.”
With a reassuring smile, Mart gave me a chuck under the chin, as if he were the big brother I never had. “You’re okay,” he told me. “You can take care of yourself.”
“Highest praise, seeing that you’ve rescued me twice today,” I said, feeling a quiver at my own words.
Opening the door to the hall, he didn’t debate me. “See ya.” One hand flapped in a wave then he headed off
“Good thing you woke up so early,” Mart said, “before he could get your money and your computer. You can buy another camera tomorrow.”
I nodded forlornly. “It was a good one. Kind of expensive. Maybe that’s why he wanted it,” I said.
Mart caught his lower lip between his teeth. “He probably couldn’t even see it that well in the dark,” he said, one hand moving up to push through his hair in a gesture I was beginning to recognize. “No offense, Allison, but plenty of other people on this trip have more elaborate camera set-ups. And your laptop is worth a lot more money.”
“Maybe the burglar didn’t know that.”
Mart was shaking his head again. “If he was a burglar, he’d know,” he said with conviction.
“Well, maybe he was in the wrong room, then?” I suggested, hoping it was true.
Mart sighed, all his breath coming out in a long rush. “Look, I know you’re upset and you’ve got good reason to be, but be logical. I think,” he said at last, “that he did want your camera. More specifically, he wanted the images on it.”
Suddenly, I recalled what I’d witnessed that afternoon in the jungle. The zoo director and the Guatemalan meeting secretly, speaking cryptically. Wide-eyed, I turned to Mart knowing he could read my expression.
“What did you see today? What did you photograph at Tikal? Anything that struck you as odd?” He spoke urgently, his voice a raspy whisper.
“I …I … .” What had I seen? I didn’t know. How could I explain? An unexpected wave of fear rose in my throat and I swallowed hard.
Mart was on his feet in an instant, crossing the space between us and taking me by the shoulders. “Allison, what? What was it?”
I gulped and found my voice. “It was Clark. Clark and a local. Talking. Just talking.”
“Talking?” Mart picked up the word. “About what? Could you hear what were they saying?”
I had to shut my eyes to recall the scene, but the words wouldn’t come. “I can’t remember!”
“This could be very important. You have to remember.”
“I’m trying — ”
There was a tentative knock on the door and we both looked up. The police had finally arrived.
I moved away from Mart, greeting the officer with a shaky smile. For the next hour, I went over old ground, repeating the story I’d already told several times and answering questions as best I could. Only one made me hesitate.
“Do you know any reason this man would choose to break into your room, Miss Belsar?”
“N-no,” I spoke haltingly. “I don’t know why.” I wasn’t lying, I told myself. I didn’t know.
Finally, an eternity later, as I stifled yawns and blinked scratchy, bleary eyes, the official visit was concluded. Nothing but the camera had been stolen, a quick inventory revealed. I’d been lucky, the policeman said.
Lucky, indeed.
I closed the door behind him and turned to face Mart. When he opened his mouth, I held up a hand. “Please, no more,” I begged, leaning heavily against the wall. “It’s so late and I’m so tired, I can’t think straight.”
He shut his mouth and nodded. “Tomorrow’s a free day,” he reminded me, rising from the chair and stretching a bit. “Meet me for a late breakfast? Ten o’clock?”
“Yes, sure, fine.”
Walking over to the balcony, he shut the opened door, fiddling with the latching mechanism. “Pretty clean work, here,” he said and I heard the click of the lock.
“I’m changing rooms in the morning,” I stated. “The ones on the other side of the hallway don’t have balconies.”
With a reassuring smile, Mart gave me a chuck under the chin, as if he were the big brother I never had. “You’re okay,” he told me. “You can take care of yourself.”
“Highest praise, seeing that you’ve rescued me twice today,” I said, feeling a quiver at my own words.
Opening the door to the hall, he didn’t debate me. “See ya.” One hand flapped in a wave then he headed off
Similar Books
