The Yacht Party (Lara Stone)

e’s a photojournalist. We need photographic evidence of what is going on at the mine.’

Stella looked at Lara. If she had been in a bad mood this morning, this definitely wasn’t going to help; Eduardo seemed to be sidelining Lara’s efforts.

‘And I’m going to Geneva,’ said Stefan with a hint of apology. ‘We have a contact there who knows Philippe Marsaud.’

Lara looked at them both, then nodded to herself.

‘Well, it looks like you’ve both got it all in hand,’ she said, picking up her bag. The tension was so high, Stella could almost hear a hum.

Eduardo took a step towards Lara. ‘Are you…?’ he began but Lara silenced him with a shake of her head.

‘I don’t care who does what or who goes where,’ she said, ‘so long as we find out what’s going on. We should all remember that this is about Sandrine, not about anyone else.’

She looked at Eduardo, then down at her watch.

‘Anyway, I’ve got to go. I have lunch with Simon Meyer. Let’s see if he knows anything for sure.’ She looked at Eduardo as she said it, emphasising the last two words, then walked out.

Chapter 20

Lara walked quickly, turning corners left and right. Where the hell is it? She had parked her bike on a side street off Brick Lane and for the life of her, Lara couldn’t remember which one. They all looked the same; narrow stone terraces with the same white-slab doorsteps and cast iron drainpipes. She stopped on a corner and took a deep breath, trying to calm her whirring mind. Eduardo had wound her up with his superior attitude, but actually, Lara had meant what she said. If Eduardo’s thread had a better chance of getting to the bottom of Sandrine’s death, then she was happy for him to go ahead. Even so, she still believed Meyer’s yacht was the key to it all – and she was determined to prove it.

She turned as she heard urgent footsteps behind her.

‘Stefan? What’s up?’

‘You walk fast,’ he gasped, out of breath. ‘I didn’t think you were going to leave so soon.’

Lara shrugged.

‘I have a thirty-minute window with Simon Meyer so I’ve got to shoot. He’s fitting me in before seeing a client in Mayfair.’

‘Great, sure. I just wanted to check you were okay.’

Lara gave a half-smile. Even with pink cheeks, she couldn’t deny how good he looked. The Monaco tan brought out the blue in his eyes; he looked more like an off-duty surfer than an investigative reporter, even with a pencil tucked in the top pocket of his shirt. Which, now she noticed it, was adorable. Geeky, but adorable.

‘I called you last night,’ said Stefan. Lara nodded. She’d got his message but hadn’t been in the mood to speak to him. Alex and the ring had unsettled her. Another friend gone.

‘I’m sorry, Stefan,’ she said quickly. ‘I had to meet Josie, then I had to go to my friend’s birthday thing… I just went home and flopped.’

He nodded, like he understood.

‘And the meeting,’ he pointed his chin back in the direction of the office. ‘I’m sorry if Eduardo sounded harsh. He gets like that.’

‘Seriously, Stefan, I understand. I’m a big girl; it’s not the first time I’ve had a tricky editorial meeting.’

‘So come to Geneva with me,’ he said suddenly.

‘Geneva?’ she laughed. ‘Why?’

‘Why not?’

‘Because I’m sure you’ve got the whole thing covered. You don’t need me.’

‘It’s not a matter of “need”, it’s a matter of “want”, he said. ‘The hotel I’ve booked isn’t fancy but the lake is beautiful at this time of year and I know this great bistro…’

Lara gave a soft laugh. There was a time when she would have jumped at the chance to go to Geneva with a sexy, talented and adorable Dutchman. In fact, she wouldn’t have thought twice about it. So why was she hesitating now? Was it because she liked Stefan more than she wanted to admit? If she went off on a romantic mini-break to Switzerland, they might well come back as a couple. And then where would she be? Happy?

‘Lara, when was the last time you had fun?’