Betrayal of Innocence (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 1)

“Oh? Is Mr Weeks not capable of looking into it himself then?” she asked dourly.

Angus coughed around his smirk and ducked his head for a moment.

“Do you have any information on the disappearances?” Niall asked with a wary look at Justin, who had yet to take his gaze off the young woman.

If there had been any hint of appreciation in Justin’s avid glare, Niall would have given his friend and colleague a difficult time in the tavern later. As it was he sensed Justin didn’t like the chit, although he could see no reason why.

Miss Vanessa Clarkson could only be described as a classical beauty. With high cheekbones, a smooth, pale complexion and a knowing twinkle in her hazel eyes, there was something captivating about her, even though she appeared to be no more than two and twenty. He sensed she had a pleasing personality with a quick wit and steady maturity, but that would be something he would have to find out in time. Right now, it was difficult to tell just how pleasing a personality she did have given how she kept glaring at Justin.

“Do you two know each other?” he asked without thinking.

Justin glared at him, not least because it momentarily gave him somebody else to look at. He knew he was making a fool of himself. He would undoubtedly get teased for his stupidity later, when he was alone with his friends, but it was impossible to resist the invisible hold Miss Vanessa Clarkson had over him. Every time he tried to look away, he just couldn’t. His attention was locked solely on her, and there was nothing he could do about it. Intriguingly, the irritation he felt over his unwanted attraction toward her was not aimed at her, but at himself, for being so helplessly captivated by the first truly stunning young woman he had met in a long time. He had never felt like this about any woman before, and he didn’t like it – at all.

“I don’t believe so,” Vanessa replied hesitantly. She tried to keep her gaze averted, but could do little about her attention, which remained locked firmly upon him. So much so, she could positively feel every breath he took.

Don’t be such a fool, she sighed. Of course I cannot feel him breathing. What a ridiculous notion. I must focus on something else, that’s all.

That was easier said than done because when she tried, everything else faded and her attention was inevitably drawn to the person she was trying desperately to ignore.

“No. We have never met before,” Justin announced briskly. It was clear from the tone of his voice that he had no regrets over it either.

Vanessa felt her cheeks heat, which then prodded her annoyance. Defiantly, she squared her shoulders and looked at Weeks.

“I came to enquire if you have made any progress finding my sister,” she said.

“Miss Clarkson,” Weeks began. “I have told you before that you need to leave the investigation to us. As soon as we have any information to give you we will speak. Meantime, there is nothing more I can offer you.”

“So, am I to take it you have made no progress then?” It wasn’t a question. Vanessa made no attempt to hide her disgust. The look she gave him could only be described as condescending. “Well, I can tell you that I have made progress.”

“I beg your pardon,” Weeks growled.

His cheeks reddened beneath the force of his anger, but Vanessa was undeterred.

“It is unsurprising you have found nothing. You made it perfectly clear last time that you had no idea what is going on around here but had no intention of taking my views on my sister’s disappearance into consideration. I, therefore, did have the foresight to do something practical to locate my sister.”

?

??Have you found her?” Oliver asked in his usual calm and unflappable manner.

“Not yet, but I have discovered that my brother-in-law doesn’t expect my sister to re-appear,” she declared calmly but firmly.

The arrogant contempt on Weeks’ face as he glared at Miss Clarkson was disturbing to the men from the Star Elite, who all tensed. The unprofessional animosity from the magistrate was shocking but told them everything they needed to know about the man’s true character. Justin was glad now that this meeting had been held in Weeks’ home. The man was, if nothing else, in the place where he felt most comfortable, and was more likely to reveal his true nature – and he had.

When Weeks snorted and opened his mouth as if to condemn Miss Clarkson’s findings, Justin stepped in front of him, effectively silencing him. Justin then perched on the arm of the chair closest to her and forced himself to ignore the delicate scent of strawberries that teased his nose. There was little he could do about his voice, though, which unwittingly dipped and turned husky when he eventually spoke.

“What did you find out?” he asked quietly, his voice low and intimate.

They all watched her withdraw a small gold locket out of the purse she carried.

“What’s that?” Oliver asked as he leant closer.

“My sister’s locket. I saw my brother-in-law in town the other day,” Vanessa replied.

“That is hardly unusual, Miss Clarkson,” Weeks protested. “That doesn’t make the man guilty of kidnap. I don’t think it is even possible for a man to kidnap his own wife.”

“He could kill her though,” Vanessa challenged. “That is illegal, do you not agree?” She lifted her brows and met Week’s annoyed look with a hard stare.

“What does the locket have to do with your brother-in-law being in town? Surely, he can go wherever he wants without putting himself in any suspicious light?” Angus interrupted before Weeks completely lost his temper.