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

“So he does his job, but only just.”

Vanessa nodded, and then told him about no search party being raised for Geraldine when it was realised she had vanished.

“Everyone just assumes she has run off,” Vanessa cried.

“But you know she hasn’t.” Justin put just enough hint of doubt in his voice to make her look at him.

“You don’t believe me either,” she whispered with an air of defeat.

“I am not saying you are wrong, but just don’t get upset if you are found to be wrong,” he replied cautiously.

“You don’t believe Curtis has had anything to do with her disappearance, do you?” She stopped in the middle of the road and looked at him. “Might I remind you that I know my sister better than both you and Weeks? Surely that should be taken into consideration.”

Justin sighed. “I just want you to consider all options.”

“Who are you by the way?” Vanessa demanded. “Why do you speak with such authority about murders and the like. Why, anybody would think you have experience of kidnapping people.”

If she hadn’t just met him in the magistrate’s house, Vanessa would have run all the way home, but there was little reason to doubt his integrity.

“I work in London, on major cases such as kidnap, blackmail, burglary, pick-pocketing gangs, gang masters and crimes of that nature,” Justin warned

her.

He waited for her to absorb that for a moment. He didn’t mind answering her questions, to a point, as long as she didn’t object to him finding a few things out about her.

“Tell me, Miss Clarkson, what does your father do?”

“Nothing. He was injured in the war and has never fully recovered,” Vanessa replied honestly. “He doesn’t get out much.”

“I am sorry,” Justin replied. “Might I meet with him?”

“I think it is inevitable, don’t you?” Vanessa replied ruefully. “Seeing as you are going to be neighbours.”

With a wry smile, Justin escorted her home.

CHAPTER SIX

Justin entered the somewhat small yet cosy sitting room and looked about curiously. His gaze fell immediately onto the dapper gentleman seated beside the fire, a thick woollen blanket across his legs. Given what Vanessa had told him, he didn’t expect the elderly gentleman to rise out of his seat to greet him, but he did.

“Sir, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Justin murmured with a polite bow.

“This is Mr Silverton, father. He has come from London to help us look for Geraldine,” Vanessa added hastily.

“Oh?” Vanessa’s father perked up, then looked at Justin as one would size up a horse.

He was subjected to such valuating scrutiny, Justin had to bite back a wry smile. There was astute wisdom in the man’s gaze which held a hint of battle-hardened weariness that made Justin immediately empathise with the man. He instantly felt a connection to him that he had only ever felt with his colleagues in the Star Elite. It was enough to make him look at Graham Clarkson with renewed interest.

Justin had little doubt that Vanessa had been truthful in that her father had served his time in the army. While he bore the scars that proved as such, he didn’t speak of them, of that Justin had little doubt. They were a closely guarded secret, each one with a story to tell and each one leaving a lifelong scar upon body and soul time would never erase.

“Please accept my apologies for the intrusion,” Justin murmured. “But I asked your daughter for an introduction. We met at the magistrate’s office.”

“Weeks is a damned fool,” Graham boomed. “Wouldn’t know his backside from his ear.”

Justin’s lips quirked.

Vanessa cringed and began to tug her father’s blanket straight when he slumped back down into his chair and waved Justin to the seat opposite.

“Sit down. Sit down. I don’t stand on damned ceremony here you know,” Graham blustered.