Deceit. [COMPLETED.]

Chapter 81

'Uri told me,' she said her eyes falling to the floor. 'He also said that Mr Nakamura had died.'

She lifted her head back up and saw my face hardened.

'Did you kill him?' she asked.

My life had changed so much in just a few short weeks it was unrecognisable.

I had faced death. I had witnessed death. I had been the instigator of death and I know I should be appalled at what I had done but instead after a few seconds of deliberation I merely offered a brief nod as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

I told her what Adam had said to me.

'He loved you, you do know that don't you?' I said. 'He was sorry for not being there and,' I added scripting as I went along, 'he told me to say that he forgave you.'

Geoff had turned round at that point becoming increasingly impatient.

'Hey. Look. Kirk. As much as I am the first to say live and let live; we didn't come here for any small talk. We've outstayed our welcome. Keep your book on the shelf and let's take your daughter and get out of here.'

I looked at Max still unable to believe her capable of so much destruction and my heart cried out to understand.

'You know why we are here?' I asked softly.

She nodded.

'And you are not going to fight us?'

'She's your daughter,' said Max. 'I did want her, truly I did, but not now; not like this and in a way I'm glad it's you who's come to find me.'

I went to speak but she reached out and placed a finger to my lips in the same way she had done before and my whole body responded passionately to her touch. I closed my eyes trying to shut out what we had come for and in that moment inhaled her scent sending it down as far as it would go.

'I'm free,' she continued. 'You have shown me the joy of love again, something I didn't think possible. You have shown me compassion and loyalty and I cannot begin to tell you how I feel right now seeing you here before me.' 

My own eyes were beginning to respond as tear ducts started to fill.

She smiled.

'I'm free. Last night having put your daughter to bed, I saw my own mother again when I was a child. I saw her face smiling at me. I saw her offering me her love and I finally realised what I was missing.'

She shook her head.

'It wasn't your daughter. I could never harm her. No. It was the feeling of being wanted, of being loved and I found that last night sat right here,' she said pointing to a chair by the fire. 'I found my life again, as it was before and I have finally found peace.'

I listened, the turmoil of the last few days slowly ebbing away, the hate I felt for her evaporating and it was Geoff again who finally broke the spell.

'Well. That's all fine and dandy lady,' he cut in, 'and pardon me if I don't puke on your nice clean floor but does Mr Takiyoma know about this sudden change of heart?'

She nodded.

'And he didn't say anything?'

'No.'

'Did he tell you why we were coming?'

'To hand over the money from the Cayman Island account.'

'And that's it?'

'Yes.'

He was about to say something when the lights went out leaving only the flickering glow of the fire.

Geoff turned immediately towards Max's friend Tina who was rising from her chair.

'Has anyone else been here?'

She nodded pensively.

'Just an electrician,' she said casually. 'We had a power cut early on. It was along the whole street. He came to fix the fuse box. It's not a problem. He showed me what to do if it happened again. You just open the door and throw a switch.'

My stomach tightened as I saw the look of fear slowly stretch across Geoff's face. 

He looked around in rapid fashion.

'Oh what a fucking idiot.'

He looked at me.

'We've been duped. He was never interested in the money. He just used that as bait.'

He turned and looked out of the front window.

'He's here to kill us and we've fallen for it hook line and sinker.'

+ + + + + + + + +

So this is it then.

How on earth is anyone going to survive this one.

As always.

Your comments make my day :)

JU