thrust a bundle of money into her hand. She looked at it bewilderment. “It’s the five hundred dollars you gave me to take you to Seagull Island. Doesn’t look as if I’ll need it where I’m going.”
She opened her mouth to speak but he was already being led away accompanied by four of the uniform police. Rushing to the window, she watched as they made their way toward the beach and the waiting launch.
She turned to face Hawkins and the remaining two policemen. “I have left some of my cases on Jack’s boat,” she said quietly as she tried to gather her riotous thoughts. What was going to happen? How could the police think he had kidnapped her? True, he was a poor fisherman but she believed him to be honest and the last thing he would do is hold her hostage.
“We have your cases already, Your Highness.”
“The generator needs to be switched off and Jack’s boat shouldn’t be left here, Agent Hawkins.”
“You don’t need to worry. We will see to all of that.”
Lara picked up her handbag and moved toward the door. But, I am worried. This is Jack’s special place. It needs looking after and Jezebel should be towed back to the harbor.
Hawkins walked at her side as she made her way to the beach while the other officers followed behind. He appeared awkward as he explained what was to happen. “Several media wait at the quayside in Port Margaret so we have arranged to land further up the coast. There you will be met by your own security and flown by private plane to Adelaide and taken to a secret location.”
“This cloak and dagger stuff is outrageous. Mr. Lucas and I have done nothing wrong.” She knew she was being at her most difficult as the realization hit her that she would never see Jack again.
Hawkins assisted Lara into the police launch and made sure she was safely seated inside the small cabin. She peered at the departing beach as the powerful boat drew away from the shore. “Oh, Jack, I’m so sorry. I’ll come back to you,” she whispered under her breath, as she pressed her face against the window.
As Hawkins sat opposite her, she waited for him to speak. “Princess Lara, if what you say is true and your story about how you came to be on the island was in all innocence.” He stopped as she glared at him, but then continued, “Then I’m sure it can be sorted out. However, you would be unaware of the concern your disappearance has caused in the past twenty-four hours. I’m afraid it has rapidly become a diplomatic incident between Australia and Challoner with an expectation that you could be murdered, or at the very least, held hostage for a huge ransom.”
She gave a very un-princess like snort. “I’ve never heard such rubbish. I told the queen, my mother, where I was going.”
“But you never arrived.”
“Jack radioed and left a message.” Lara hesitated as a sudden thought came to her. Had he done this? She only had his word for it. Would he have kept her there? No, of course not. He was ready to leave and she was the one that had begged to stay. But, had he tricked her, leading her on, seducing her…? She was so naïve and he was a poor fisherman who probably needed money. She unclasped her hands and stared at the wad of notes he had returned to her.
“I need to speak to whoever is in authority and explain everything,” she said abruptly.
“We can arrange that when you arrive at the safe location, Your Highness.”
~ * ~
Jack could see a throng of reporters and cameras as the police launch drew close to the quay at Port Margaret. What a strange situation to be in. So his Lara was a royal princess. It all fell into place now. The regal bearing, that proud, almost haughty attitude when they had first met and later, her shy reserve. There had been such innocence about her…innocence which he had almost taken from her. As it was, they knew each other intimately, very intimately.
What could have gone wrong with his communication to cause this storm? Surely his mates would have told the police who he was? That he could be trusted. That he was one of the wealthiest men in Australia and the last thing he needed to do was to kidnap a princess from a foreign country for money, or anything else.
He wished she