The Negotiator (23 page)

Usually dark and dank and smelling of mildew, they were not the sort of place you’d be proud to call home.
Was that why he’d been so reluctant to show them?
Was he ashamed of where he lived?

She didn’t know and at the moment, she didn’t care. The money he’d given her would go a long way to easing the pressure of her financial situation. It would be more than enough to cover her outstanding bills and even allow her to get a little ahead on her home loan.

It was what she’d wanted.
So why wasn’t she jumping with joy?

Cally sighed. Was he stooping to subterfuge to win her approval? She hated to think he thought her so shallow that she’d judge him on the size of his bank balance. She, of all people, knew what it was like to find herself short. That usually had nothing whatsoever to do with the kind of person she was.

“Mom, can we go now?”

With an impatient sound in the back of her throat, Cally turned the key in the ignition and reversed out of the driveway, but it wasn’t long before her thoughts returned to Andy. This time, they were far more erotic. She remembered how it felt to have her breasts crushed against his chest, with shivery warmth spreading from her belly to her breasts, hardening her nipples. She’d never been so aware of her own body…or so aware of a man’s.

She recalled making out in the car and the feel of Andy’s hand molding her breast. She blushed when she thought of her wantonness. Considering her only experience with a man had been with Stewart, she hardly recognized the woman she’d become in Andy’s arms. She could no longer deny she wanted her roommate. With a passion.

She’d thought keeping her distance would be easy, even when the thought of having him near made her heart pound. She hadn’t counted on how quickly she’d fall under his spell.

She smiled softly. For the first time in a long, long time, happiness warmed her from the inside out. Money or no money, heartache or not, she no longer cared. For Andy, she was willing to risk it.

* * *

Nikki tipped the rum bottle to her lips and greedily drank the last of it. Tossing it to the floor, she let the slow burn of alcohol do its magic.Her head thumped. She felt like shit. She’d felt like shit for a week. No—more than a week. He’d dumped her on a Friday.

It was early Monday evening and she could barely get off the floor. A pile of vomit pooled on the carpet nearby and she could only presume it was hers. She lived alone. It didn’t take much figuring to work out where it came from.

Images of Andy whirled through her head, speeding up like a rollercoaster on the downhill run. Seconds later, the dull glow of anger that had burned inside her for over a week ignited into fury.

He’d dumped her, and for what? Time to sort out his problems, time he needed on his own. She laughed mirthlessly at the memory, knowing it was a load of shit. She’d gone online and had tracked down some stories in a paper that had been written about a tragic incident in his hometown.

She’d been shocked to discover Bob Warwick was a loser and a drunk and that Andy’s family had been dirt poor. It was so far removed from the suave man-about-town she’d dated, she’d initially doubted the reports. But the more she investigated, the more truth she uncovered, right down to the final, shocking tragedy.

There had been a picture of Andy and his mother in the paper. It was easy to see the resemblance. The blond hair, the solemn eyes—there was no mistaking it was him. She’d thought the shootings were the end of it—as if they hadn’t been bad enough. But then she discovered the later article, detailing his mother’s suicide.

According to the newspaper report, she’d cleverly managed to save up her meds until one night, she took them all. Quietly and without any disturbance Marion Warwick drifted out of this world and left her only surviving child alone, to battle out his life in foster homes until he reached his age of majority.

For some, it might have elicited sympathy, but for Nikki, it only triggered her disgust. How could he have dated her for more than twelve months and not have the guts to tell her about his past? Mental illness could be hereditary and while domestic violence wasn’t, the stats supported the claim that a person who was abused often became an abuser.

She’d intended to spend her life with this man; would have jumped at the chance if he’d offered. She shuddered now at her lucky escape and wondered how she could make him pay for all that she’d suffered—or more precisely, would have suffered.

Dragging herself to her feet, she stumbled to the liquor cabinet and pulled down her last bottle of rum. Unscrewing the lid, she took a healthy gulp and tried to come up with a plan.

A little while later, she had it.

With a smile, she thought through the details. She’d make an anonymous phone call to his station and make sure he was rostered on. Then she’d set up a mock-suicide nearby, knowing he’d get the call. She’d make him think she was going to do it and watch him beg and plead for her life. Of course, in the end, she’d let him save her and then she’d tell him the truth: She’d only been fucking with his head. It was no more than he deserved.

* * *

Andy dumped his wallet and keys in his locker and made his way through to the squad room. It was a little after six. His twelve-hour nightshift was about to start. He passed Tom in the corridor and nodded a friendly greeting.

“How’s it going, Andy? How did your moving go?”

“Yeah, it went well, thanks Tom. And thanks again for the use of your truck and trailer.”

“Anytime, mate. I was happy to help. I’m glad to hear it worked out.”

Andy nodded and smiled and then grinned wide. “Yeah, it’s going to work out. I think it really is.”

“So, you’re ready to tell me about her. That’s progress, no doubt about it. I’m happy for you, mate. I really am. It’s about time I saw a smile on your face.”

“Yeah, lately, it’s been a tough gig. But I’m coming out the other side and a lot of it has to do with you. I want to thank you for listening and for encouraging me to keep going. After losing Wayne Tucker, I wanted nothing more to do with the job and you managed to change my mind. I owe you one, Tom. I won’t forget it.”

Color crept up Tom’s neck and he averted his face, but from the grateful smile that played around his mouth, Andy could tell he was pleased. He had every right to be. He’d done a good job of convincing Andy he had a lot more to offer the team. There were plenty of other lost souls who would rely on his skills to save them. They were the ones he had to keep in his sights, not the ones who chose to end it.

On his way back to his desk, Andy glanced up at the clock. Six-twenty. His gut tightened in anticipation. Cally was due in ten minutes.

He hadn’t spoken to her all day and was way past eager to see her. The house had been lonely without her and time and again, his thoughts had strayed to their moments in the car and later, on the couch. He wanted to hold her again, to press kisses all over her skin, but his shift had only just started. It would be hours before he’d be home.

Home.
That’s how he’d started to think about it. Home was with Cally and Jack. They belonged together, he was certain of it. He only had to convince her.

The squad room door opened. He swiveled around in his seat and caught sight of her. His heart jumped. Jack trailed in behind her.

* * *

Cally spotted Andy as soon as she walked through the door. He was in his usual position at his overcrowded desk and she couldn’t help the thrill of excitement that raced through her at the sight of him.

He was dressed in the same work clothes she’d seen him in before, but now she knew what he felt like beneath his clothes, she found herself blushing furiously.

“Hi, Andy!” Jack went straight up to him.

Cally was grateful for the few moments it gave her to compose herself.

“How was school, buddy?” He ruffled Jack’s hair.

“Pretty good. It was my turn for news and I told everyone about you and the huge TV and about going to Bondi with Jimmy and snorkeling and stuff.” Jack grinned up at him. “Everyone thought it was so cool!”

Andy smiled. His gaze flicked up to hers. “Hey.” His voice was soft, questioning.

She blushed again under the impact of his heated gaze. “Hey.”

“How was school?”

“It was okay.” She paused. “I missed you this morning.”

“Yeah, sorry, I didn’t set an alarm. I was on nightshift, so I didn’t bother. I spent all day wishing I had.”

“So did I,” she whispered, and when she leaned in close his groin flooded with hot desire.

Before he could respond to her admission, Tom strode up and halted near Andy’s desk, his expression grim. “I’ve just taken a call from emergency services. There’s a woman on the Harbour Bridge. Christ knows how she climbed up there, but she’s threatening to throw herself off.”

Andy’s heart pounded and adrenaline surged through his veins. He glanced at Cally and she nodded, understanding in her eyes. He squeezed her hand briefly in acknowledgement and headed straight for his locker. The mental preparation required for a negotiation had already begun.

* * *

“Do we have a name?” Andy asked, as soon as he and Tom and the other negotiators had arrived at the scene. They’d been met by a couple of general duty officers, who’d been sent on ahead to secure the stronghold. Already, a crowd had gathered, all straining to catch a glimpse of the woman who stood high above them on a girder that formed part of the Harbour Bridge.

“Yeah,” a young constable identified by his badge as “Williams” replied. “I’m afraid she’s one of our own. “It’s Senior Sergeant Nicole Simons. She’s currently stationed at Penrith.”

Andy reeled back in shock and shook his head. “Nikki Simons—are you sure?”

“I think so, sir. One of the other officers recognized her. They went through the Academy together.”

Tom stared hard at Andy, concern etched into his brow. “Is this the same Nikki I met the other night? The one I escorted outside?”

“Yeah, I think so.” He squinted up to where the figure of a woman could be seen high above them. “It looks like her.”

“Leave this one to me. I’m not sure you should even be here.”

“She keeps asking for Andy Warwick,” Williams interrupted. “Which one of you is he?”

Andy’s stomach plummeted. “It’s me,” he offered quietly. “I’m Andy Warwick.”

Tom grabbed hold of his arm and pulled Andy away from the others. “No, Andy. You can’t do this. I don’t give a fuck who she’s asking for. You’re way too close to the source. Think about Nikki. How can you give it your best? Your judgment will be clouded by your relationship. You need to leave this one to me.”

“But, she’s asking for me. I can’t just ignore her. She’ll know I’m here. She probably planned to do it on my turf.”

“That might be so, but it doesn’t change anything. We need to get her down. That’s the only thing that matters and today you’re not the best one for the job.”

Andy stared at Tom a moment longer and then nodded. Tom was right. Apart from the fact Tom was far more experienced, he didn’t have a history with their jumper. There was nothing to interfere with his concentration and that could mean life or death.

“Okay, she’s all yours. Do what has to be done. I’ll be down here if you need me. Give me a sign and I’ll come up.”

Tom sighed with relief. “Will do, Andy, and thanks. I appreciate you seeing sense about this. I can only imagine what you’re feeling. Ex-girlfriend or not, no one wants to see someone they know in this kind of situation.”

“You’re right. It sucks.” He looked Tom squarely in the face. “Do what you do best. Bring her back down for me. No one deserves to die like that.”

* * *

Nikki watched the officer negotiate his way up the cement and steel pylons until he reached the spot where she stood. She was balanced on a beam of steel which was a little more than three feet wide. Plenty of room, really, which was a good thing. After all, she only intended to scare him. She didn’t intend to die.

As the man got closer, she realized it wasn’t Andy but she recognized him just the same. It was the cute one who’d escorted her from Andy’s building when she’d dropped by there last week to pay him a visit. Tom, he’d said his name was. When she asked him, he told her he was married.
Too bad.
There was something about his smile and the way he made her feel that made her wish he were single…

“Hey, Nikki,” he called to her and she was pleased that he remembered her name. The rum she’d consumed was blurring her vision and for a while, there seemed to be two of him.
Two Tom Munroes; that would be nice.
Perhaps only one of them was married? She giggled at the thought and blinked her eyes in an effort to bring him into better focus.

“What are you doing up here, Nikki? You’re scaring us all to death. This is no place for you to be. Come on, reach for my hand and I’ll help you down.”

“Where’s Andy?” she asked truculently, knowing he must be nearby. She’d called his station earlier. Someone had confirmed he was there.

“He’s waiting for you down on the ground. If you hurry, you’ll catch him. He wants to talk to you, Nikki. He misses you.”

“Bullshit, he doesn’t miss me and if he does, that’s just too bad. Now that I know what I do about him, I wouldn’t take him back if you paid me. He deserves to die lonely and sad, just like his mother.”

* * *

Tom heard what she said and swallowed a gasp. He knew about Andy’s family and the tragedy of their past. He couldn’t believe anyone could be so callous as to talk about it the way Nikki was. With an effort, he set his anger aside and concentrated on getting the inebriated woman down. She swayed alarmingly on the girder and his throat constricted in panic.

“Whoa, Nikki. Hold on a minute. That girder you’re standing on is not wide. If you’re not careful, you’ll over balance and fall and I know that’s not what you want.”

Nikki smiled. “You’re right. I’m not going to kill myself. I’m just having some fun. It’s just a little fun between me and Andy. It’s nothing less than he deserves.”

“That might be so,” Tom quickly agreed, “but come back down and tell him. There’s no point doing it from here. He won’t even hear you.”