~~~
He ducked behind a pillar as he saw them emerge from the lift.
"Get that back-up here now," he growled into the phone. "They've got hostages. A woman and a youth."
Leaving the call connected, he stepped out into the open, his hands wide. "Let them go, Barlow. They're nothing to me."
"Oh, sure, Buchanan. The boy's the image of you."
"Yeah, maybe. My brother left a few brats around." Would she understand the reason for his pretended uncaring? She knew he had no brother. With his life expectancy measuring only minutes now, he had to explain fast, while maintaining his undercover persona. "Didn't we meet at that pub in Fraserburgh? Before Danny informed on the old man for smuggling?" He threw Barlow a grin. "Idiot didn't know we were picking up weapons and explosives that trip. Something went ka-boom when the cops raided. Sheesh, that water was cold."
That would have to be enough. Witness protection, and his new identity and police career in Australia – no easy way to explain that to her, with their guns aimed and patience evaporating.
"Give us the data, Buchanan. Or I shoot your brother's girlfriend."
Ten seconds, he figured, before Barlow and his mate started shooting. He doubted he could stretch it much longer. He shrugged and started walking forward. "You can have your data. No need to waste a pretty woman."
He heard the car park door winding up, and saw the door of the stairwell opening a crack. Mairi and the boy watched him, maybe for some sign, but all he could do was keep the men's attention on him.
"I'm going to take the drive from my jacket pocket, Barlow."
"No! Get it from him," Barlow ordered his off-sider.
The thug let go of the boy, and the boy – his son, whose name he didn't know – shifted closer to Mairi. The door behind inched open, and with one last glance at Mairi, he made his move.
~~~
She saw the silent goodbye, and cursed him for thinking he could leave her. Catching Barlow by surprise, she threw herself at him, dragging his arm down as he aimed at Daniel. Sounds exploded around her – yells, shots – and her knees hit the cement as Barlow toppled. The gun dropped, and she scrambled to him, pounding her fists into him.
"Leave him to us, ma'am," someone said. "We're Federal Police."
Men swarmed the area. Rohan stood over the fallen thug, grinning and safe. And Daniel limped towards her, a blood-stained hand against his thigh.
She met him half-way. "Let me look at that."
"It's only grazed. Thanks to you."
He stood before her, no longer twenty, a police officer in a business jacket instead of a youth in a fisherman's pullover, yet still the same Daniel she'd loved. Rohan slung his arm around her shoulders.
"Would you..." She steadied her voice, "have time for coffee or lunch with Rohan and me?"
His smile sparkled in his eyes. "We three have a lot to catch up on. How about coffee and lunch?"
Thank you!
Thank you for reading Echoes of Daniel. I hope you enjoyed it!
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My new novel, Storm Clouds, published by Hachette Australia, is out now.
About Storm Clouds:
Life is falling into place for National Parks ranger Erin Taylor. She has a job she loves, she's falling for her colleague, Simon - and she is finally leaving the past behind. Until a woman is murdered. But the victim is not just any woman - she's Simon's wife, Hayley. The wife he's not mentioned to Erin. The wife he's not seen in fourteen years.
On the edge of the national park, the alternative lifestyle community of 'Simple Bliss' denies knowing Hayley, but Simon and Erin suspect otherwise. As Simon uncovers shocking details about the group, Erin is drawn further into their midst and finds a web of lies, decades old - and a charismatic, manipulative, dangerous cult leader who will let nothing and no-one stand in his way. On the wrong side of a river in flood that has become a lethal torrent, Erin and Simon must race to expose the truth and prevent a tragedy.
Storm Clouds is available now in e-format at all major online booksellers, and in print at book shops in Australia and New Zealand
Other books by Bronwyn Parry
Please note that while the books are in loosely-linked series, each book does stand alone.
Dungirri series:
As Darkness Falls
Dark Country
Darkening Skies
Goodabri series:
Dead Heat
Storm Clouds
Free short story:
Dear Ruth
About the author
Bronwyn Parry’s gritty romantic thrillers set (mostly) in Australia’s wild places have been finalists twice in the Romance Writers of America RITA Awards and won two Australian Romance Readers Awards for favorite romantic suspense. Bronwyn lives in beautiful bush land atop the Great Dividing Range in northern New South Wales and loves to explore rural and outback Australia.
Bronwyn’s website is:
https://bronwynparry.com
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https://www.facebook.com/BronwynParryAuthor
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