“Suspect four. Four years ago Joshua’s company developed an app and sold it to a company for millions. Unbeknown to him another man had made a similar program and the company was in talks with him first. They bought Joshua’s instead of his. His name is Julian O’Reilly. He has tried to kill Joshua on three occasions and Adrian on one. This is why bodyguards follow the two of them everywhere they go.”
Nicholas’s horrified eyes meet mine.
“Each time it has been by a shooting in a public area. Adrian was coming out of a restaurant when he was shot at and Joshua the same the other three times. Luckily Julian’s a hopeless shot. He has not been seen for eighteen months and is mentally unstable. He has paranoid schizophrenia and as far as the pharmaceutical records go he is not taking any medication. His estranged wife and children have no idea of his whereabouts.”
“Suspect five,” Ben carries on.
“Oh for fuck’s sake,” Jesten snaps. “You can’t be serious.” He runs his hands over his head. “How many people hate this prick?”
Cameron glares at him and I drop my head to hide my smile.
“Joshua hooked up with a woman in Sydney a few times before he got back with Natasha. She came to his house a few times. Then months later when he was in a relationship with Natasha she contacted him and demanded money. She had filmed them together and was going to take it to the press.”
Jesten laughs. “Dumbcock.”
“It was revealed that she was a high-end prostitute and was blackmailing many men for money. Before it came to a head she was found murdered, hogtied and shot in the back of the head.”
“Bloody hell.” Nicholas sighs. “This is ridiculous.”
I nod and raise my brow. It sure is.
“Why is she a suspect?” Cameron frowns.
Ben shakes his head. “We don’t think that-she’s dead.” He raises an eyebrow at Cameron and the room snickers at Cameron’s stupid comment.
“Oh right,” Cameron answers, embarrassed.
“But we don’t know who murdered her and if someone else is under investigation maybe they are throwing off the scent by setting Joshua up?” He shrugs. “It’s a long shot, but we are clutching at anything.”
“We are also currently screening security footage of one of Adrian’s ex-boyfriends, Ross,” Ben adds.
I frown, huh? What the hell? I didn’t know this.
“Joshua and he hated each other so we are just going through old vision of his house to try and piece together any more information available. He mentioned in passing conversation the attempted hit on Joshua but there was no way he could have known that. I want to know how he does.”
Natasha
I pace backwards and forwards in my room as I try to work out who has me captive and what the motive is. It’s been twenty-four hours and nothing has been said to me other than don’t make Carl angry or he will hurt me. They gave me a blood transfusion.
Why? Why are they keeping me alive? They must be going to ask for money but according to the television reports Joshua is still in hospital. Maybe Adrian is organising the money? I have seen Cameron on television at the hospital, and he looks frantic. It’s seriously not worth having money to go through this. I hear the key in the door and I stand back in fear over near the bathroom door.
The young man puts his head around the door and gives me a stifled smile and then picks the tray up off the ground and brings it in. “Lunchtime,” he says gently.
I stand still watching him. What the hell is he doing here? He’s a nice guy, I can tell.
“Can I look at your arm please?” he asks.
I swallow my fear and walk over to him and he unwraps the bandage slowly.
“Are you a doctor?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “I’m a student doctor,” he replies.
“Did I have a blood transfusion?” I ask.
He nods with his head down, unable to make eye contact with me, and produces something from his pocket. “I have some antibiotics. You need to take some tablets so that you don’t get an infection.
My eyes search his. “Is your job here to keep me alive?” I ask.
He swallows nervously.
“Because they cut my main artery. I could have died,” I whisper.
He frowns as he wraps my arm back up. “I know and I’m sorry. I don’t know why they did that, but it’s my blood we gave you. You don’t need to worry.”
“Do you know who I am?” I whisper.
He keeps his head down and turns to attend to my food. “Yes,” he murmurs.
“Can you help me?” I whisper.
His eyes flick to the window and he looks at something above the windowsill. I frown. Fuck, I’m being filmed. I nod softly to acknowledge what he has just told me. Ok. Shit.
He takes the lid off my meal and with shaky hands gets out some salt and pepper.
“Can I get you anything else?” he asks softly.
“Diet coke,” I ask hopefully.
He smiles. “You want some diet coke?” he asks, surprised.
I nod and give him a stifled smile. If I’m going to get out of here alive he is my only chance. I need to make friends with him.
“I don’t have any here now but when Carl takes over I will get you some and bring it back.”
I nod. “Are you staying in the house here?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “No, we are doing shifts watching you.”
I nod and bite my bottom lip as I think. I gesture to the camera with my head. “Is the monitor in this house?” I whisper with my head down away from the camera.
“Yes,” he replies.
“Are there others elsewhere?” I whisper with my face away from the camera again.
His eyes meet mine and he shrugs. “Not sure,” he mumbles.