Open Wounds (Harbour Bay #2)(70)
“I’ll call Aidan and get the ball rolling,” she said. “It may be late, but I bet he’ll be at his office. He has less of a life then we do.”
Darryl tensed at the familiarity Kellie seemed to have with the prosecutor. He’d never considered himself a jealous or possessive man, but she brought those emotions out in him.
Nick flashed him a grin, as if knowing exactly what was going through his mind, then rocked back on his heels, thoroughly enjoying himself at Darryl’s expense.
“Not that a warrant or subpoena is any good without a person to serve it to,” Kellie stated, taking Darryl’s mobile from his belt, her fingers brushing lightly against him.
Donovan grinned recklessly. “But we do know where he is, Kellie. He'll be with Coleani.”
Chapter 34
Amelia turned off the ignition and surveyed her surroundings. Coleani’s restaurant was located south of the beach in a prime location along the promenade beside an array of tourist shops, ice-cream parlours, and a fish and chip take-away overlooking the water.
During the day, seagulls waddled along the wharf cleaning up spilled food before flying away, leaving white splats all over the footpath. Children ran, playing, screaming with laughter before they spent a day on a boat with their parents or enjoyed a picnic down on the rocks watching for whales.
At night, the area was deserted.
The only sign of life was the nightclub pumping out a steady beat a few blocks away. The parking lot was dark, the lack of security lights making it difficult to see. Shivers ran up her spine as she searched the square, ensuring they were alone and not about to get an unexpected surprise. A sense of foreboding washed over her. She tried to shake it off.
“So, what exactly is the plan?” Kellie asked as she moved her body to lean between the two front bucket seats of Amelia’s vehicle.
“We ask Coleani politely where Burton is and hope he gives us lip so I can haul his arse in on obstruction of justice charges,” Amelia replied, a dark edge to her voice.
All she needed was a reason. Just one, and Coleani was toast. He’d put Kellie through so much pain over the years that Amelia burned to punish him.
Above them a thunder clap rolled across the night sky, dark grey clouds blocking out the moon, telling them a weather change was coming and a storm would soon be upon them. She squinted into the blackness. There was no sign anyone had seen them pull up. No faces showed at the windows of the building nor did any lights turn on. She turned in her seat and watched the back door of the restaurant as if expecting a full frontal attack.
A lone light glowed in the back, which she assumed was Coleani’s private office. She stiffened her spine and unclasped her seatbelt before making a move to open her door. Darryl grabbed her arm, halting her from his position in the passenger seat. A white van pulled up beside the restaurant and blocked their view. Two young men exited and opened the back double doors. Another man she recognised as Aaron Huber—Coleani’s muscle—joined them. They spoke for a bit, but the sounds of the water crashing against the wharf nearby masked their words.
She sensed Kellie freeze between her and Darryl, as if afraid any movement would make the three men look their way.
Amelia watched as the young men unloaded the van in a few short trips while Huber guarded the vehicle. She didn’t have any doubt as to what the packages contained. Coleani was one of the biggest drug distributors in the state.
They waited until the van had driven off and Huber had gone inside before climbing out of the car. Amelia felt the usual anticipation course through her body with every step toward the building. She was eager for a faceoff with Coleani.
As they neared the restaurant’s side door used primarily for deliveries, they heard a raised voice penetrate the wall. “That f*cking little bitch. She’s determined to bring me down. Starting with you,” the livid voice fumed.
“What the hell are you talking about?” someone asked.
“The end of you, the end of us. A subpoena, Wayne. For your f*cking DNA, that’s what I’m talking about. What have you done? What evidence have you left behind?”
Amelia recognised Coleani’s voice this time. Aidan Carmichael had obviously filed the paperwork in preparation, so they could arrest Wayne Burton. Clearly there was a rat in their house if Coleani knew about it just moments after the fact. She filed away that thought for another day.
“I told you to sort her out years ago,” Coleani shouted. “The little bitch should’ve been bug food. Nothing but bones by now. Instead she’s causing me more problems than ever.”
A chill went down Amelia’s spine and she looked over at Kellie. “One guess as to who they’re talking about.”
Darryl’s expression darkened as he latched onto Coleani’s threats. Amelia could see he longed to pull Kellie into his arms and hold her but he was on the job and couldn’t afford such distractions.
Exactly why it was never a good idea to hook up with a colleague.
One moment of hesitation could prove fatal.
Darryl’s gaze found hers, and she noted his professionalism. Not one hint of inner turmoil showed. Good. She’d have left him behind otherwise. “To me that’s probable cause,” he said.
She smiled ruthlessly. Coleani’s outburst had not only verified that Burton was inside but had given them sufficient reason to search the restaurant and seize any evidence linking to a crime, such as the cache of drugs that had been delivered just a short while ago.