Page 16 of Lela's Choice

Chapter Three

Lela preceded MacGregorout of the office, emerging into the fantastically cobbled streets of Valletta. The temperature had risen since she’d left the hotel earlier this morning, another jolt to a system grappling with jetlag. She considered retreating to the hotel to continue her research in air-conditioned seclusion, to escape more of Hamish’s probing questions.

“Let’s walk, Miranda.” He took off without waiting for an answer.

“Why do you keep calling me that?”

“Walking helps me think, and I’m guessing there’s a lot going on in your head at the moment.” He’d earned the right to challenge after her behaviour in Marty’s office. He slid her a sideways glance. “Miranda reminds me of how illogically contrary you can be.”

“I could go back to the hotel.” She had reason for her caution.

“To brood?”

“I have work to do.” Lela needed to reassess her options.

“A merchant banker never takes a break?”

“If you say so.”

“Or to pursue your own line of inquiry. How did you know Marty’s name?”

“Someone mentioned it to me.” Asking for the investigator’s help was a gamble, not desperation, Lela told herself.Ok, I’m desperate. If the director of the youth agency was right, she needed Marty on her side.

“And you trust whoever this someone is, whereas you don’t trust me.”

“I don’t know you.” Her major, and maybe her only, gripe about him was the link to her father. Long experience had taught her Giovanni Vella’s people were not her friends.

“What would you have done if Marty had said yes?”

She halted.

He spun on his heel to face her. “Did you think that through? Or if he switched allegiance to you without hesitation, would you have doubted his integrity? What were you doing? Testing him or trying to give me the flick?”

“I didn’t plan it.” Lela threw a hand in the air, letting out a frustrated breath, which lifted the fringe on her forehead.

“I’m sure you didn’t. That’s the only reason I’m prepared to give you another chance.” He was infuriating.

“You’ll give me a chance!”

“You want access to Marty’s information, don’t you?”

Lela trusted the director of the youth charity to put out feelers through her network, but she wanted any information Marty could find as well. “Yes.”

“Then walk with me. It’s time you answered a few questions.”

“Don’t push your luck, MacGregor.” But Lela was in his debt. He hadn’t cut her loose.

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