Final Justice (Lorne Simpkins thriller (Book Three)) (25 page)

‘So what changed? Why did Michel turn on Baldwin do you think?’

‘My take on things is, the last straw for Michel came when Baldwin killed Rene in cold blood and left that note on her body …’

‘Note? What note?’ It was the first she’d heard about how Rene had died — it had happened just before she’d been abducted.

Tony sighed and turned away avoiding eye contact with her.

 Lorne could tell he was trying to avoid her and repeated quietly, ‘Tony, what note?’

‘I didn’t want to tell you.’

‘It’s over now, he’s gone. You can tell me now, surely.’

‘I can, but I don’t want to.’

‘I want you to. We’re a partnership now, Tony, and partners are supposed to share both the good and the bad.’

‘Good God, your father was right. You don’t ever give up!’

‘You’ll learn.’ She kissed him, and held his hand while she waited for him to tell her the one thing he was struggling to divulge.

‘The note said that you were next.’

She gasped, but the shock registering on his face made her brush her own feelings aside. ‘I’ll always be grateful to you, Tony for dragging me out to France,’ she said softly, a tiny tear escaping the corner of her eye.

‘Is that why you asked me to move in with you?’ he teased, wiping the tear away as he held her face between his hands. They shared a deep kiss and both of them knew his words had been spoken in jest and without foundation.

‘Get a room, you two,’ Luigi shouted, from the doorway before he disappeared again. They laughed as they parted, and Tony gave him a delayed finger in response.

She turned solemn once again, and said, ‘I have regrets about Michel you know that, don’t you?’ He nodded and she continued, ‘I don’t know why I slept with him, maybe it was his accent, maybe he reminded me of Jacques …’

Tony raised his hand to pause her mid-sentence. ‘There’s no need for you to explain, Lorne. We weren’t involved then, it’s not like you cheated on me with him. Despite me knowing that I loved you.’

He smiled at the shock on her face. ‘You, what?’

He rose from the sofa and pulled her up on her feet. ‘Come on, let’s get back to the party, we’ll talk later. Oh, I forgot to mention, the countries that had their money recovered have agreed that you should be honoured in some way. I told them you wouldn’t appreciate that, that you were just pleased to rid the world of Baldwin.’

‘Wow, that was nice of them, but yes you’re right, I have all I need in more ways than one. What’s going to happen to Michel?’

Tony shrugged. ‘That’s up to Interpol, I doubt he’ll get away with anything though, once his stay in hospital is over. He lost a lot of blood, you know.’

They re-joined the party just as Tom set fire to the bangers on the barbeque.

‘Now people, you can see why I divorced
him
, can’t you?’

Everyone roared when Charlie threw her glass of coke on the fire trying to extinguish the flames. Tom flung his tongs down in disgust and stormed into the house.

Lorne looked at Tony and whispered, ‘Same old, same old. I think he needs a course in anger management.’

Later, after the party had died down and their visitors had drifted away, Tony and Lorne made love in her bed for the first time. Exhausted, Lorne rested her head on his chest, which was rising and falling from his own exertions.

‘Penny for them?’ Tony asked, stroking her arm.

Lifting her head, their eyes met and she traced a line down the scar on his cheek that had always fascinated her. ‘I was just wondering …’

‘Oh, what about?’

She chuckled softly. ‘I was wondering if we’ll have matching scars.’

He ran a finger gently down the large padded plaster covering her pretty face and replied, ‘I hope not, I’d hate you to end up as ugly as me.’ His arms enfolded her and effortlessly pulled her on top of him. ‘Have you had any thoughts on my proposition yet?’

‘Your marriage proposition, you mean?’ she asked, puzzled.

‘No. Not that. Why have you changed your mind? Don’t you want to marry me now?’

She kissed him hard, letting him know how ridiculous his question had been. Then she let out a long satisfying sigh.

‘No. I meant about joining me at MI6?’

‘They wouldn’t allow it if we got married, would they?’

‘Probably not, but at least I’d have sex on tap for a change.’

‘You’ll pay for that, agent boy!’

‘Promises, promises, soon-to-be,
Mrs
Agent
Boy
.’

Lorne drifted off to sleep, content that her family were safe. She could think about the future now and what that may hold, knowing happily that Tony would be at her side.

If you’ve enjoyed this book you might want to read other books by this author.

CRUEL JUSTICE (DI Lorne Simpkins Book 1)

A serial killer taunts the police...And he has his sights on DI
Lorne Simpkins
The headless body of a wealthy widow is discovered decomposing in
Chelling Forest.
Detective Inspector Lorne Simpkins and her partner, DS Pete Childs
are assigned to the case.
A few days later another victim, this time a young girl, is
discovered. Who could the killer be and what's the connection
between the two victims?
Then after a third murder, the killer contacts Lorne with a grisly
surprise. It looks like Lorne has a serial killer on her hands - and
one that has become fixated on her.
As she tries to solve the crimes, Lorne is also coping with a
failing marriage and a new, unsympathetic boss with whom she has a
secret past. Then, as she begins to despair at the lack of clues,
help arrives from an unlikely source.

Approx 88,000 words

http://www.amazon.com/Cruel-Justice-Lorne-Simpkins-ebook/dp/B005QOY4FM

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cruel-Justice-Lorne-Simpkins-ebook/dp/B005QOY4FM

IMPEDING JUSTICE (DI Lorne Simpkins Book 2)

He's a  remorseless killer... 
DI Lorne Simpkins has him in her sights
She's been on his tail for eight long years, but the ruthless
criminal known as 'The Unicorn' has always been one step ahead.
Now, after he lures Detective Inspector Lorne Simpkins into a trap
in which her partner is killed, she's more determined than ever to
hunt him down.
And when her nemesis kidnaps her teenage daughter, Lorne vows not to
rest until she brings him to justice.

http://www.amazon.com/Impeding-Justice-Simpkins-thriller-ebook/dp/B0045UA6F0

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Impeding-Justice-Simpkins-thriller-ebook/dp/B0045UA6F0

A Time To Heal (A romance novella)

Family Liaison Officer, Chloe Fullerton is helping hero pilot, Captain Steve Ewing, recuperate from injury after he landed his stricken plane, avoiding a major disaster.
Chloe's sworn off love ever since she lost the love of her life. But the spark between her and Steve makes her feel she may yet love again. There's turbulence ahead though--Steve's ex-wife is determined to wreck his and Chloe's blossoming relationship.
Novella approx 33,000 words.

http://www.amazon.com/A-Time-To-Heal-ebook/dp/B005I4OUV8

http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-Time-To-Heal-ebook/dp/B005I4OUV8

A Time For Change. (A romance novella)

Based on a true story.
Danielle Pires's life is going well. She has a boyfriend who wants to marry her and is building a reputation as a talented and hard-working interior designer. Keen to expand her portfolio, Danielle is delighted by a request to breathe life back into the Victorian Mansion that handsome Scott Jordache is renovating.
Her parents, meanwhile, have organised a surprise Caribbean cruise to give her a much-needed break.
Danielle sets sail only to discover Scott aboard the same ship, but mysteriously travelling under a pseudonym. Intrigued, she feels torn between mistrust and being drawn in by his charm.
Should she let herself fall for Scott or return to the security of the man she left at home?
33,000 words.

http://www.amazon.com/A-Time-for-Change-ebook/dp/B005M1OQJS

http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-Time-for-Change-ebook/dp/B005M1OQJS

A Twist in the Tale.

Five short stories with a twist at the end.

http://www.amazon.com/twist-Tale-Short-Stories-ebook/dp/B0058VGFLY

http://www.amazon.co.uk/twist-Tale-Short-Stories-ebook/dp/B0058VGFLY

High Spirits.

This is a true account of a paranormal experience I encountered when I moved into my first house in France.
The cover is a true picture relating to the story.
This story is 5000 words.

http://www.amazon.com/Spirits-paranormal-short-story-ebook/dp/B00579F9Z0

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spirits-paranormal-short-story-ebook/dp/B00579F9Z0