Blue Moon #3 (Story of Us Series - Into the Blue) - Sydney Jamesson Page 0,8
turns sideways to observe my response.
“It was staged,” I state plainly.
“Staged!” she exclaims in disbelief. “For whose benefit?”
“For the benefit of those who are looking to kidnap and kill me.”
She is dumbstruck for several seconds. “Holy shit!”
“Exactly.”
She leans back into the sofa. “So, you’re telling me that your husband has discovered some kind of plot to kidnap you?”
“He was contacted by MI5. They’d been tracking two insurgents—I believe that’s what they’re calling them—who’d come into the UK from the Middle East with the sole purpose of getting back at Ayden for something he was involved in last year. They wanted retribution, and either getting their hands on me or blowing us up seemed to be their intention.”
“Excuse my language, but what the fuck?” She is shaking her head.
“I think I said something similar when I found out.” I’m thinking back to Jake’s revelation over our dinner in Oslo.
“So, what you’re telling me is that while you’ve been sitting it out over here, your husband’s been living it up back home? His final fling and all that?”
“No, nothing like that. The plan was to convince them that getting a hold of me wouldn’t hurt Ayden in the least.” I fiddle with my rings. “I believe the most appropriate metaphor is drawing fire.”
Thinking deeply, she asks, “So, the airport fallout, the wild nights and the outings with Alenka have all been a ruse; a way of convincing your would-be kidnappers that you and he have no connection—the marriage is over?”
A silent nod is all that’s needed.
“Well, that brings me to the crux of the matter. Why am I here? To perpetuate the deception?”
“No. To help me keep Ayden alive.”
Rocked by the thought, we both turn towards the sea and wait for the silence to be broken by something other than a crashing wave or a seabird.
I put us out of our misery. “At first, I confess, I was worried about our marriage. I saw the photos of Ayden in the clubs, then with Alenka and they upset me. He flew out here and, as you can imagine, I was angry with him.” I contain my rising emotions and continue, “He would do anything for us—me and the babies—”
“Babies?”
“Yes, we’re having twins.” I rest my hand on my stomach, now protruding beneath the silken pleats. “Sending us away was the hardest thing he’s ever had to do. I didn’t realise how much it was affecting him until he came here and explained everything.”
“I see.”
“Now he’s found out that all his partying had made no impression on our enemies. They broke into my apartment looking for clues as to my whereabouts. He was so concerned he’s agreed to go through with some kind of plan MI5 have set up—another sting operation.”
Her expression is serious, her eyes piercing as she listens intently. “Like what?”
“Like a presentation where he’ll be visible—in the firing line. He’s hoping to flush them out before they get to us.”
“Oh my God, Beth. You must be worried sick.” She rests her hand on mine.
I nod and lower my head. “That’s where you come in. I need you to raise me from the dead—to draw them to me.”
There’s no disguising her horror. “What! Isn’t that a little risky—to say the least?”
“It is, but it’s less risky, and that’s all that matters.”
“How so? What have you in mind?” Her blanket slides from her knees and lands on the deck. She makes no move to pick it up.
“I want you to use your contacts to put me out there in the public eye on multiple media platforms, so they can’t help but notice. Then they’ll come for me. We’ll give them a specific place and time where I’ll be and then…”
She holds out her hands. “Then what?”
“We’ll be waiting.”
“With what?”
I spell it out for her. “Look! Every person on this boat except my doctor is an experienced soldier or a specialist of some sort. I have my own mini-army here. Ayden has no one, except Lester and the British Secret Service who haven’t done much to protect either of us.”
“Who’s Lester?” she asks seriously.
“His bodyguard. My bodyguard, Bernice, who’s on board with me, is his daughter. I’ll introduce her to you tomorrow.“
She’s scratching her head. ”I don’t know, Beth. This could be life threatening for you. You have to think of your babies. And imagine what Ayden will do when he finds out!”
“It’ll be too late for him to do anything,” I state sternly. “He’s not the only one with friends in high places.