had told him about her background then he would have been more alert to the possibilities of what might have happened. And yet, why would she? He hadn’t told her who he was. And for her it wasn’t the sort of thing to broadcast—the fact that one was a princess and worth a fortune. He needed to know more. He was puzzled, and he had to admit, intrigued as to why she would wish to holiday alone on Seagull Island.
He turned to one of the police officers. “I would like to use my cell phone,” he said, the police having taken it from him earlier. He decided he would need his lawyer present.
“Sorry, sir.”
“Come on, Constable. An accused man is entitled to one phone call.” Jack smiled but privately he thought this situation was now ridiculous.
“I expect that can be arranged at the police station, Mr. Lucas. Meanwhile, would you please make sure you don’t speak to the media and certainly don’t mention the princess?”
Jack nodded. He didn’t want to talk to them, besides he was sure his story would be an anticlimax compared to what they thought had happened and the possibility that he was a criminal.
He didn’t enjoy his arrival at the quayside. Although his guards protected him, he was still jostled and pushed by an overexcited media and was glad when he was driven away in a police car to arrive at the station a few minutes later.
“Mr. Lucas, the government of the country of Challoner has brought some very serious charges against you.”
He studied the two men opposite him, more federal police officers but very high up the ladder this time, he gathered.
“You don’t need to answer, Jack.” His lawyer, Lawrence Hayward, who had now joined them, butted in.
“Lawrence, I appreciate the fact you’re here, but I’ve got nothing to hide.” Jack’s usual calm nature began to boil.
“Then perhaps you’ll explain why you took the princess to this island, Mr. Lucas.”
He did explain succinctly and patiently, but left out any reference to his and Lara’s very close relationship. It took several hours of questioning as they went over things time after time, but things improved when a report came in that Jack’s friend, Dave Shelton, had confirmed he’d received a message from Jack. Unfortunately, he had forgotten to contact the resort on Seagull Island and relay the message.
“When the resort owners reported the young lady hadn’t arrived, it started a chain-reaction, Mr. Lucas,” the police officer explained in an apologetic voice. “You’re free to go, and I’m sorry this has caused you such problems. I will inform the Challoner officials as to what happened.”
“Where is the princess now? I’d like to see her before she leaves Australia…to say goodbye,” he added at the look of perplexity on the officers’ faces.
“That’s not possible. Her security people have taken her into hiding to protect her, mainly from the scrutiny of the media.”
Jack left the police station, avoiding the media by exiting through the rear entrance. Well, that’s that, lovely Lara, he thought as the police drove him through the town and up the steep hill to his huge villa overlooking the bay. “I would have liked to have brought you here, sweetheart,” he said as he stood on the cliff at the edge of his property. The sun was dipping low in the sky and dusk had begun to gather. “Perhaps one of these days I need to head to Europe for a break. Challoner perhaps?”
~ * ~
“I would like to talk to Jack. This is not good enough.” Lara was at her imperial best but was getting nowhere. Mark, her detective, was adamant she needed to speak to her parents.
“I have placed a call to the palace, Your Highness,” he replied.
She wandered around the elegant room of her secret location, which turned out to be a large rambling house in the prestigious suburb of Springfield on the outskirts of Adelaide. She had no idea to whom the house belonged and at this time, didn’t really care.
On the flight from Port Margaret, Mark had explained in detail what had happened and how the nation’s media had grabbed hold of the story making it instantly front page news. When they had landed in Adelaide, she had been whisked away by the federal police to this safe house.
It was mid-day now and Mark had taken pity on her long enough to tell her that Jack was still be interrogated by the police. Even though she had repeatedly told Mark that