Leila shook her head.
Damn. Im sorry. She was putting the poor girl in an awkward position. Can we carry on with the tour?
Leila looked relieved.
They carried on down the barn hallway. Now that she knew there wasnt a phone to be found, Julia paid more attention to her second mission.
Millions to Spare.
Five hallways later, she spied the horse and abruptly stopped at the stall.
You mind if I She flipped the latch and slipped inside before Leila could protest. Dont worry, she called back. Im really good with horses.
That was a stretch. But since shed survived a ride across the UAE cuddled up with Millions to Spare and his friends, she figured she was safe in his stall for a couple of minutes.
I dont believe you should-
Ill just be a second. Its not like he has a phone, Julia joked.
She didnt have a cotton swab. But shed seen enough crime dramas to know hair would work, too. Particularly if she got the roots.
Under the guise of petting the horses neck, she plucked out a few hairs from his mane, tucking them into the pocket of her dress.
Leilas voice was worried. Julia, really, you must-
On my way, Julia told Leila, slipping back out of the stall and latching the door. Hes a beautiful animal. Im going to feature him in the article.
Leila gazed at her with what Julia could have sworn was disappointment.
What? Julia asked.
Even I can tell youre lying.
Julia stopped. I promise you, Leila. Im not going to steal anything or hurt anybody.
Leila still looked skeptical.
Julia took a breath. I have a friend whos in trouble, she said, being as honest as she could. Im here to find out more about Harrison and Millions to Spare. Nothing else.
The two women stared at each other for a long minute.
Would you care to join me in the pool? asked Leila.
Feeling the sweat trickle down her neck in the oppressive heat of the barn, Julia nodded to accept the invitation.
Harrison watched from a second-story window while Julia jackknifed from the diving board into the crystal-blue water of the estates main pool. She wore a sleek, navy one-piece suit, her creamy skin flashing beneath the clear water.
She was an extremely attractive woman, lightly tanned, her body toned from some kind of an active lifestyle. Her auburn hair looked darker when it was wet, and he could imagine her deep-blue eyes flashing as she surfaced and called something to Leila.
Leila grinned as she shouted something back.
Harrison clenched his jaw.
Julia was down there co-opting Leila, gaining her trust. Which was exactly what a good operative would do.
Thered been a thousand signs that Julia wasnt a spy. She wasnt anywhere near alert enough to her surroundings. She didnt look around when she emerged from a doorway, didnt scan the distance or check for blind corners. She didnt even glance to see if any of his staff were concealing weapons, and she hadnt paid the slightest attention to his security guards while they toured the garden.
But then, just when hed become convinced she was nothing more than a klutzy reporter, shed raised his suspicions all over again.
Leila was vulnerable. She was young, impressionable. Shed be interested in someone from America. Julia had figured that out, and was obviously ready to exploit it.
Your grandmother and Brittany are on the way from the airport. Alex joined Harrison at the window.
He followed the line of Harrisons gaze down to the pool. So whatever it is youre going to do about Julia, you might want to do it in the next fifteen minutes.
Why?
You being sarcastic?
Harrison shook his head.
Because, old man, Alex said with exaggerated patience. Brittany may ask-oh, I dont know-something along the lines of, Harrison, who is that gorgeous woman swimming in your pool? to which you would reply?
Harrison got Alexs point. Right.
Alex clapped him on the shoulder. If shes a spy, Im a ballerina. Kick her loose, lock her up, send her back to the police station. But if you want a chance in hell with Brittany, get Julia out of the way.
and I need to see him right now, Nuris voice roared from the hallway.
Harrison and Alex both pivoted toward the sound. They were halfway across the room when a breathless Nuri appeared in the doorway. Its Millions to Spare.
What about him? Harrison demanded.
Hes been poisoned.
What? How? Wheres the vet? Harrison elbowed his way past Nuri and into the hallway, striding for the main staircase.
Nuri immediately turned and kept pace, while Alex fell in behind them.
The vet is attending the animal, said Nuri. But, I am sorry to say His pause was coldly ominous. It is too late.
What do you mean, too late? Harrison demanded, knowing full well what that had to mean. But his heart wasnt ready to accept that his horse was dead.
He was found down, with tremors, said Nuri. The vet came immediately, but the poor beasts heart and lungs gave out. The stable manager took a breath. There were flecks of blood in his nostrils and his eyes had yellowed.
Fannew?
The tiny cactus grew wild all over the area, but the spines kept horses from eating them. Someone would have to have deliberately-
Julia.
Harrison hit the staircase and broke into a trot, marching through the great room and across the veranda.
A shriek of laughter came up from the pool.
He took the stairs two at a time, closing on poolside, where the two women were wrapped in towels beside one of the umbrella tables.
Did she touch Millions to Spare? he demanded of Leila.
Both women turned, and Leilas jaw dropped open at the sight of Harrisons expression.
Did she touch Millions to Spare? he repeated to another stunned silence from Leila.
Yes, Julia cut in. I was in his stall. Why-
Without breaking his stride, Harrison grabbed her upper arm, pressing his other hand against her neck, and backed her into the wall of the pool house, his mind fogging red.
Her towel dropped, and she scrambled to keep her footing on the slippery deck.
Leila shrieked, and Alex shouted something unintelligible. But Harrisons rage was focused on Julia.
How had he been so stupid? Why had he trusted her out of his sight? Out of her locked room? For even one second?
You killed my horse, he ground out.
Alex shouted his name again, but Harrison knew nobody would dare lift a finger to stop him.
Julias jaw worked, her blue eyes wide in panic.
She couldnt speak, but she frantically shook her head.
This is the Middle East, he told her, moving his face in close to hers, bombarding her with his rage. Not America. I could kill you here and now.
No, she rasped.
Yes, he countered.
I didnt- She struggled to get the words out.
Yes, she did. Shed sneaked onto his land. Shed fixated on that horse from minute one. Then shed sweet-talked her way into a tour of the barns.
No! It was Leila.
Her small hands dug at Harrisons back before somebody, certainly Nuri, dragged her away. But her actions jolted him back to some semblance of reality.
Leila was Nuris daughter, and hed surely punish her for intervening.
Harrison turned to look at the pair. Leave her, he commanded.
Nuris eyes narrowed.
Have to talk to you, came Julias hoarse voice.
Harrison turned back. Huge tears had formed in her eyes, magnifying her terror. She looked young and vulnerable, all but naked in the wet bathing suit.
He could have kicked himself.
What the hell was he doing?
This might be the UAE, but he was British, raised on the principle of justice, not revenge. There was no way in the world hed kill somebody over a horse.
He loosened his grip.
I didnt, she rasped again, her gaze going frantically around to Alex, Nuri, Leila and the other staff who had assembled.
Please, she said to Harrison, those shimmering blue eyes getting to him. I need to talk to you. Alone.
Harrison turned to Leila again, jerking his head to motion her forward.
The poor girl was shaking with terror.
Thank you, Harrison said, making sure Nuri heard the words. Now, can you tell me what she did?
Leila was obviously incapable of speaking, so Harrison looked to her father. Shes a good girl, he told Nuri, a wealth of meaning in his tone.
Then he looked back down at Leila. She went into the stall?
Leila gave a shaky nod.
Did she feed anything to Millions to Spare?
I dontI dont think so.
How long was she in there?
Two minutes, maybe.
Harrison nodded. Then he took in the assembled staff, selecting Darla. Darla. Have Leila help you in the office for the rest of the day.
Darla quickly nodded and came forward for the girl. She would understand what Harrison wanted. He wasnt about to risk Nuris wrath on Leila before the man had a chance to calm down.
Harrison turned back to Julia. Ill have the whole truth, and Ill have it right now.
Harrison? came a puzzled, female voice.
All eyes turned to gape at a crisp and proper Brittany Livingston, standing frozen on the pool deck in ivory pumps, a knee-length, pleated, white skirt and a frosted pink, eyelet blouse with three-quarter-length sleeves. She stared at Harrison and Julia in obvious confusion.
Harrison immediately dropped his hand from Julias throat, while Alex quickly intervened.
He positioned himself between Brittany and Harrison, blocking the womans view.
You must be Brittany, Alex put in smoothly, as if nothing out of the ordinary was going on. He offered his arm, deftly turning her back up the veranda stairs. Please, introduce me to your grandmother. Harrisons tied up for just a short time.
Julia rubbed her chafed throat while Harrison watched the woman named Brittany walk away with an American man. Julia was more stunned than hurt, but she was becoming very frightened.
Julia rubbed her chafed throat while Harrison watched the woman named Brittany walk away with an American man. Julia was more stunned than hurt, but she was becoming very frightened.
Now that she knew she wasnt about to die, her mind grappled with the news that Millions to Spare was dead. Who could have done such a terrible thing?
I need to talk to you, she began.
Harrison shot her a glare that shut her up. You can bet your ass were going to talk.
Alone, she said. There was no reason not to tell him the whole truth now. But she didnt know what on earth could be going on, nor did she know who she could trust.