I Stand With You (Gold Streaks Book 1) Read online

  She sits for a moment, enjoying the feeling of sheer contentment. She can feel a smile on her lips, tingling its warmth through her. She sighs; leans back into the pale leather of the seat. Lets herself rest for a minute, enjoying the sensation.

  “What's next on the list?” She murmurs, quietly to herself. Turns to her day planner; set up on a tasteful wooden notestand on the right side of the desk.

  The phone on the left side of Sue's desk rings. Almost no-one calls her in her office. Just their main investor; in emergencies, the head foreman; her financial adviser...and Lisa.

  Sue frowns. Lifts the receiver.

  “Sue Montmorency, Gold Ridge Mines. Hello?”

  “Sue! So sorry to disturb you at work. Are you still with the men from Life and Times?” Lisa.

  “No...no they just left. What is it, L?” Sue is concerned at once.

  “Nothing big...or I think nothing big. Just...I can't really tell you here. Could I ask you to come and fetch me after work? I know it's far...but....”

  Lisa's voice is tense; she sounds nervous; jumpy. Not her usual confident, cheerful self. Sue is worried as well, now.

  “Of course, Lisa. It's not a problem. I can send someone around to fetch you now?”

  “No...no. It's fine. Thank you. I can stay until five-thirty.”

  “I'll be there...around six, with this traffic.”

  “See you then. And...thank you, Sue.”

  “No problem. Love you.”

  “Love you.”

  Sue smiles, distracted. Replaces the phone. Sits back to think for a minute.

  Whatever has happened, Lisa sounds very worried. Shaken. And it is unlike her to ask for something like that. Whatever it is must be worrying. Sue frowns. Whatever it is, she will find out tonight.

  She sighs; looks over her calendar for the day. Calls Elspeth on the intercom.

  “Elspeth? Would it be possible to put forward the meeting with the men from Buildings and Resources? I am going to have to leave early today.”

  Chapter 6

  It is dark in the kitchen at Sue's home; lit just with the warm light of some candles and the light from the stars; the electric light turned down low. The kitchen is warm and close, the candlelight gold-red and muted; shining in two points in the still darkness. The air is scented with spices and warmed with wine and the sweet scent of wax from the candles.

  About an hour ago, Sue fetched Lisa from work. She was visibly agitated, but as solid and steadfast as always. She and Sue even enjoyed the drive back; speeding a little on the highway; laughing like girls. Now, over a meal of Thai noodles and crisp vegetables; washed down with a light white wine, they are relaxed enough to speak freely.

  “...and you're sure it's the same man?”

  “Yes. I would remember a face like that. I know I saw him yesterday as well. Maybe even the day before?”

  Lisa has just told Sue that she thinks she was followed to work, and that it seems like someone is keeping watch on her office. She noticed someone in the carpark, in a car like the one she thought followed her; sitting there in the morning after she arrived. Halfway through the day, she noticed another man in a similar place; waiting in the car. Since people don't usually sit in carparks outside law-firms, she noticed particularly. She dismissed it from her mind, but the next day, noticed it again. Now she feels convinced that someone is having her watched.

  “...Do you think you should tell someone? Call the police?”

  “Not enough evidence for that.” Lisa replies, wryly. “What am I going to tell them? That I think I'm being followed? All they need is the head of the local law-firm getting paranoid on them.” She grins. “Perhaps I am being paranoid? What do you think, Sue?”

  “No.” Sue shakes her head, emphatically. “No, my dear. You're not that kind of person.”

  Lisa smiles, relieved. “I suppose not.”

  “You're not paranoid, and you could be in danger.” Sue adds.

  They both pause, for a moment. Reluctant to think about that further.

  “You think it's someone from a case?” Sue asks.

  “It must be.”

  “Any ideas who?”

  “I only have one case on at the moment; only one where anyone involved would have the kind of backing to follow me.” Lisa replies.

  “That's this car-firm case?”

  “Yes.”

  They think for a moment; silent with concern.

  “Lisa? I don't think you should take risks with this.” Sue says, concerned. “These people...they're not the sort to play around. Raju Patel....he's not the kind of man I'd trust.”

  “No.” Lisa, emphatic. “No...that's true.”

  They both think for a while, silent.

  “You should get some help with this. This whole thing is really...unsafe.” Sue, concerned.

  “Maybe.” Lisa agrees reluctantly. “I find it hard to imagine what someone can do in broad daylight outside a law firm.” Lisa smiles.

  “You'd be surprised.” Sue. “It could be serious.”

  “I could take on one of them, I think.” Lisa says, considering seriously.

  “L?” Sue smiles, gentle and exasperated. “Promise me you won't do anything stupid?”

  “I'll try.”

  Sue's hand slides over Lisa's; gently. “I don't want to lose you.”

  Lisa turns her hand to hold Sue's; her fingers wrapping her wrist. “I don't want to lose you, either.”

  They kiss. Sit a long time together in the darkness and silence of the kitchen. Feeling the closeness of each other, the shared sounds of their breathing; their heartbeat.

  Lisa's fingers brush gently over Sue's pulse; making small circles. Sue draws in a breath; sharply. Leans in to her embrace. Her hands run over Lisa's shoulders; searching out the skin beneath her blouse.

  “Upstairs?” Lisa asks it, breathless.

  Sue nods.

  They help each other to their feet; breathless.

  Upstairs, the light in Sue's bedroom is muted; silvery. Starlight pours in through the horizontal strip of window running the length of the wall opposite the bed. All else is dark and charcoal shadow. Enticing.

  The window at the end is open; the fresh breeze from outside carrying in the scent of flowers and night and damp earth.

  On the bed, Sue is sculpted in pewter by the light and charcoal shadows; her pale skin glowing where the blouse has slipped off one shoulder; unbuttoned down to the rise of her breasts. Lisa sits beside her; kisses her throat as her fingers unbutton her shirt. Kisses her down the chest to her small, firm breasts.

  Sue tugs at Lisa's shirt; undressing her even as they fall back on the bed, arms entwining each other. Their pale skin glows in the soft light. Lisa's body is entwined around Sue's who is beneath her on the bed. The curves of her body glow softly in the muted light; breasts and hips and thighs and the gentle swell of her smooth belly. Lisa kisses her way down her body; tongue gentle.

  Sue gasps; draws her closer. The muted light glows on their skin; two writhing bodies, sweat-slick.

  Then the room is whirling and everything else has melted back, just light on skin and curves and hair mixed together – blonde and red entwined – and the gasp of desire and the slide of skin over soft skin, and the thrust and meet and part and thrust of cresting longing, filling them and making them both cry out with the sheer wonder of it.

  The soft track of starlight marks time as they lie there sated in each other's arms. The cool silver picks out the gentle motion of breathing stilled with sleep; the rise and fall of two connected heartbeats. All is at peace.

  Chapter 7

  “...and can you get me those documents? I'll need a copy for archive.” Lisa calls it out to their secretary in passing.

  “Yes, Ms Marsden.” The secretary calls out as she rushes past, hurried.

  Lisa sits back for a moment; leaning into the red upholstery of her chair. The firm is thriving, with cases pouring in; and the case she will be defending in two day's time is turni
ng out to be high-profile. She had a call from the newspapers the other day; but declined to comment. Another newspaper called this morning, offering her a deal, for the story. She refused – client confidentiality is something she respects; something their firm is well-thought of for maintaining.

  “L? I'm off for the Weyrich case in about five minutes?” Titus puts his head in round the door; his black suit fresh-laundered, his tie slightly skew. Lisa grins.

  “Sure, T. Good luck with that. Do you think you have time for lunch?”

  “We'll probably be finished around two...”

  “Good. I can wait.” Lisa smiles.

  “Chilli-curried chicken and fried rice?” Titus asks; brows raised.

  Lisa laughs. “If you like.” The Vietnamese restaurant that has opened up around the corner has proved a favorite with Titus, who is in there often for lunch. They do takeaway meals, and are close enough for anyone to slip out for ten minutes to fetch a hearty lunch.

  “This case should be concluded quite fast.” Titus grins.

  “I'm sure it will be.” Lisa smiles. “I'll fetch the lunch round two.”

  Titus grins; retracts his head from the doorway and walks off, whistling; on his way to court.

  Lisa smiles.

  The firm has become so popular in the last months that they have had to hire a new junior member to handle some of the less high-profile work. And with three bar students, the practice is thriving. Their accountant, Rochelle, has had positive reports, and the budget is looking better than it has in years. They might even, Lisa smiles, have enough to re-paint the buildings. Get the place looking truly stylish. Their building should reflect their increasingly-prominent client list. Lisa grins. In front of her on the desk is a pile of papers to work through – reports to read, documents to sign. She lifts her pen; ready to start in earnest.

  “Ms Marsden?”

  An earnest, freckled face appears in the doorway. One of the students; Ben Greenberg.

  “Yes, Ben? I'm kind of busy right now...”

  “Only two minutes?”

  Lisa sighs. “Very well. I thought Anthea was supposed to help you with queries?”

  “Anthea's...busy right now.”

  “Anyone else, who isn't busy?”

  “No.”

  Lisa grins. He is probably right. The place is so busy she can barely breathe without a new job appearing on her desk. Everyone is feeling it, so help for students is fairly thin on the ground now.

  “Alright, then. What's the matter?”

  “It's like this...”

  Ten minutes later, the student has left, looking relieved.

  Lisa leans back, breathes deeply. The first uninterrupted breath in what feels like hours. Silence. The rest of the firm is either working silently, at the court or out to lunch. Lisa smiles. Looks down at her desk. A pile of papers waits for her to sign; there are accounts to read through, updates to make note of; thanks from clients to reply to; reports to read. So much to do. She bends over the desk and gets to work. Lunchtime is the perfect time to do it; when the building is silent and still.

  The phone on her desk rings.

  “Lisa Marsden, Naidu and Marsden law firm. Can I help you?”

  “Lisa.” The voice on the other side is deep; rich. Disconcerting.

  “Yes?” Lisa asks, unsurely.

  “It's Cedric. Brinkman. We met at the Gold Ridge event?”

  “Yes...is this involving something you want to discuss about the case?” Lisa enquires.

  “Yes...yes it is. Do you have time to meet today? Or perhaps tomorrow evening? I have a meeting with shareholders the entire day then.”

  “Well...today is full. Tomorrow – I'm full all day tomorrow.” Sue has asked her to leave the evening free as there is a possibility of dinner with new work partners, and she wants Lisa to attend.

  “Okay. Thursday? How about dinner?”

  “Thursday..? Yes. I can make it.”

  “Good.”

  “Seven thirty?”

  “Yes.”

  They say goodbyes; hang up.

  Once he has gone, Lisa leans back in her chair; disconcerted. Something disturbs her about Cedric.

  Nothing she could point out; but he makes her feel uncomfortable. And she doesn't trust him. He seems like someone it would be unsafe to trust.

  She sighs, shakes her head. Too much work to stop and think about it. She bends over her desk again and returns to work. While there is still some silence to concentrate in.

  An hour later, she looks at the clock. One thirty. She had better fetch lunch, if she and Titus are going to eat before three.

  She fetches her handbag, car-keys, tweed jacket. Waves to Mrs. Henderson at the front desk, and leaves.

  There is a queue at the restaurant, and it is almost two by the time she drives back to the law firm. She stops the car; rushes to open the door; slams it; two stryrofoam boxes of curry balanced in the one hand; precarious. Rushes across the tarmac, high heels clicking. Past the green Volkswagen at the centre of the carpark. Stops. Turns back.

  She feels a sweat break out on her back; fear suddenly flowing through her. She is rooted to the spot for a minute; then feels herself moving to the office.

  She puts the boxes on the desk, find her chair. Collapses into it. Her hand, when she lifts the telephone, has a tremble. She grits her teeth; holds it still. Come on, Lisa. Be strong. You're overreacting. She takes a deep breath. Dials Sue's number. Waits for her to reply.

  “Sue?”

  “Hi, Lisa! I'm...I'm about to go to a meeting. Are you alright? What is it? You sound worried.”

  “I am. I wouldn't disturb you at work for something less. It's that man, again. In the carpark. The same as on Monday.”

  “Lisa? Are you safe there?” Sue sounds concerned.

  “Well, the door downstairs is guarded; and there are lots of people around. And Titus can walk with me to the car.”

  “L? I think you should call someone. The police. They can at least post someone at the car-park; see if they can catch this man.”

  “They could...but with this case...It's so high-profile. I don't want more press attention than we've already got.”

  Sue sighs. “I understand. But...stay safe, will you?”

  “I will.”

  Three minutes later, and Titus is back from the case; glowing with triumph. It has been a good day. He and Lisa have their lunch; discuss the case, the work, the day. Lisa mentions her worry. Titus frowns.

  “L? You think someone's going to try and take you out?”

  “It had crossed my mind.” Lisa, wryly. She smiles at his honesty. “Do you think it might happen?”

  “It could.” He frowns again. Thinks a bit. Then,

  “I'll tell you what we can do. You leave your car here; I'll drive you home. Nothing like confusing these people a bit.” He grins. “You can get a lift in to work tomorrow. Then, you're going to have to decide what to do. The police?”

  “Maybe.” Lisa sounds reluctant.

  “Good.”

  They sit for a moment, silent.

  Chapter 8

  Sue's office is warmly-lit with pale sunshine through the high windows. She and Lisa are at the long table on the one side of the office; which lies under the full glare of the windows. The gauze curtains mute the light, making it warm but not too bright; shining pale silver on Sue's hair and haloing Lisa with ginger-red where her curls have escaped the confining French braid. The air-conditioning is on, making a barely-audible hiss and keeping the room pleasant and cool.

  “So...gentlemen...If we could just look over the contract?” Sue spreads her hands, indicating the document on the desk before her.

  Lisa has read and worked on the contract; although she is not Sue's lawyer anymore. She is here in her capacity as a legal witness; along with Sue's new lawyer, seated now on the left.

  The three men around the table each read their copy. Someone has a query. The lawyer answers. Sue smiles. Each of the men come forward
to sign. Sue signs, and then the witnesses.

  Everyone shakes hands.

  The new prospecting on the northern slope has shown a possible mineral deposit. Not gold, but bismuth. Sue is excited to broaden the company, and has invited new expert engineers on board to help dig the minerals. The company, Norton Engineering, has just signed a five-year contract with Gold Ridge. It should, in everyone's opinion, be profitable for all concerned. The room is filled with a sense of promise, interest and excitement.

  “So, gentlemen. I propose a dinner, at Casini's?”

  “Very good.” The CEO of Norton, an older man, smiles approvingly.

  The whole room has a good atmosphere, of mutual contentment. Lisa smiles. It has been a good day.

  They spend a few minutes in discussion. Lisa talks to the other lawyer; complimenting him on his work. He blushes. Then everyone is shaking hands, and the engineers and lawyer take their leave.