Relentless (Benson Security 2)

“Wait.” Julia was shocked. “Shouldn’t we stay until the authorities get here? There has to be an investigation. Rachel will need to claim insurance on the plane. What about the plane crew? We can’t just leave them here.”

Joe put a hand on her cheek as Elle shuffled in place and Ryan became stony-faced.

“Babe, if we hang around we’ll be tied up in a police investigation for months. That means months sitting in a cell while we wait for someone to sort through this mess. I don’t think your gran or Alice could handle it. You’ve seen what the prisons are like.”

“But we can’t walk away.” It was wrong. It felt too much like running. And the plane crew? What would they tell their families? That they’d abandoned their bodies in Peru?

“The crew,” she said.

“They’re in the middle of that.” Joe pointed at the blaze that was sending a thick plume of dense black smoke into the air. A signal for everyone for miles around that disaster had struck. It wouldn’t be long before the police arrived.

Elle brought out her phone, pressed a key and held it up for everyone to listen on speaker.

“Julia doesn’t think we should leave without dealing with the police,” she told Callum.

“Get that bloody road clear. I want out of here in five minutes, tops. Julia, I understand your sentiment and I know it’s the legally correct thing to do, but it isn’t the wise thing to do. Lake has a contact in the British Embassy that will forward all of our findings here and keep our business out of it.”

“What about Rachel’s plane and the crew?” Julia said.

“It will be dealt with later.”

“But—”

“No buts! Get the road cleared!”

Elle shut the phone off. “He’s touchy because he can’t get out of the car—it isn’t set up for a person who doesn’t have legs. He has to wait for someone to drive him.” She looked at Ryan. “We need to get him new legs, and fast. He’s going to be hell to deal with if we don’t.”

“You know those curved blade ones that runners use?” Ryan said as he started to clear a path. “I think he should get a set of those. Very cool. Did you see the movie with the woman who wore a set and they doubled as swords?”

“I can see Callum chopping people up with his prosthetics,” Elle said.

“Joe?” Julia didn’t like this situation one bit.

“I know it’s hard,” Joe said. “But this is the best for everyone. Lake and Callum will make sure justice is done here and that the remains of the crew are sent back to their families. You know if there was an investigati

on we’d eventually be cleared. But it’s the ‘eventually’ that’s the problem. It could take years and a helluva lot of money to sort this out. It’s better to give the Peruvian government Esteban’s head and strike a deal that leaves us out of it.”

“It doesn’t feel right,” she whispered.

“I know, baby, I know. We’ll get them home. And we’ll make sure Ed’s buried in Lima too.”

“I hate this,” Julia told him.

He kissed her forehead, and together, they went to help clear a space for the car.

“Joe?” Julia had another worrying thought. “How are we all going to fit in one car?”

He grinned at her. “Either we cosy up, or we see what we can hot-wire.”

“And now I’m a thief too.” She let out a sigh and carried on clearing the road.

“I’ll pay someone to bring it back here. Does that make you feel better?”

“Yes.” She stuck her nose in the air. “Yes, it does.” She dared him to laugh at her.

Instead, he kissed her hard.

Epilogue