Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Raine leaned toward her. “Tell me.”
“There was a small package on the bench beside my gate, where packages sometimes are left. I exited my car. The dogs always come with me and they alerted instantly. Bale confronted me. The cameras were recording; we were right in front of them. I haven’t checked to see if audio was on. I thought it better if I had you do that. I’m okay at handling them but not the best. I want to make sure that we have the best recordings. He threatened to burn down the café with the dogs and me inside. He told me he intended to make my life a living hell, and this time I believed him. He really hates me, Raine.”
“Were you afraid for your life?”
“I think if the dogs hadn’t been there, he would have attacked me. I had my gun and would have shot him. He was armed. There was no doubt that he was. Had he pulled his weapon, I would have shot him. He left, but I know he’s planning something big to exact his revenge for what he considers me humiliating him.”
“I can get the security video and audio, no problem. I’ve been collecting proof of his harassment from the feed here at the café. I have permission from Alek Donovan at the Grill to collect the feed there as well.”
“Does Lawyer know you’re doing it?” Lawyer Collins had been the person to install Shabina’s security cameras in the café. Not at her home, but he’d installed most of the security networks in town. He’d been born and raised in Knightly, which meant he’d known Bale Landry since they were boys. Lawyer sold laptops, cell phones and computers out of his store as well as repaired them. He was brilliant when it came to technology. He was always open and friendly. He often came into the café to eat and recommended it to everyone. Shabina liked him, but she didn’t altogether trust him. But then she didn’t trust many people. Lately, that trait in her had worsened, she feared, growing straight into paranoia.
“You aren’t telling me everything.” Raine made it a statement.
“I know. I’m thinking what to say about the package. I just left it sitting outside my gate there on the bench. I really did think Bale put it there to get me to stop when the gates were open, but now I don’t.”
Raine, being Raine, just waited. Shabina pressed her fingertips into the aching muscle of her thigh. She could count her heartbeats there.
“In Saudi Arabia, oud is a perfume created from the aquilaria tree. It’s considered a luxury perfume, and many of the top brands are extremely expensive. You can go into most marketplaces, and you’ll smell oud everywhere. Small packets of oud perfume and chips are sold as souvenirs to tourists. The scent of oud is said to strengthen the body and mind, so it’s used often for aromatherapy.”
Raine’s intense blue eyes moved over her face, missing nothing. Shabina was certain that her friend could see she hadn’t slept at all. It hadn’t been Bale’s threat of burning down the café, although it should have been; it was the idea that Scorpion had sent his agents to kidnap her. She was certain he wouldn’t just kill her outright. He would try to put her in the worst state of fear possible. He was a true sadist and took great pleasure in watching others suffer. He would want to see her slowly losing all confidence—just as she was—before he had her taken.
“When I smelled the package, I identified the oud fragrance immediately. I left the package on the bench. I didn’t know what to think. Bale has no way of knowing what that scent would trigger in me. At least, I don’t think he does. And what if it’s something else? A bomb? Just the outside packaging might have been tainted with the scent. It wasn’t heavy. It was subtle. Faint. But it was definitely oud. There was no mistaking it.”
“I’m sure after all the time you spent in Saudi Arabia, you would recognize such a familiar scent, faint or not. There’s no doubt the package had that perfume on it. It will be easy enough for one of my guys to pick it up. We can scan it, see what’s inside, and if it’s harmless, return it to you.”
“Will you have to report it to anyone before we know?”
“Meaning Rainier? He oversees your security.”
“I feel like I have to be certain something is really threatening me before I involve him.”
“That isn’t the way he feels.”
A shadow fell across the table, and both women looked up. Zahra, as always, looked sophisticated dressed in her professional clothes, her hair windblown and her wide smile giving her a slightly seductive look. “I’m dying of starvation. I called in my order for your famous zucchini sticks and then added a hundred other items. Now I’m going to be late for my meeting. Sheesh.”