Viper's Nest (25 page)

‘What will happen to Johnny James?’ he’d asked her. They had been sitting on the beach at Santa Monica, cuddled close together on a rug and watching the silvery waves as they
pulled back and forth on to the white sand.

Cate picked up a stone and flipped it around her fingers. ‘He’s denying everything,’ she explained. ‘Said he was used, that he knew nothing about it. Apparently Novak had
access to his emails and knew exactly who he was sponsoring, and James said he sent Novak to El Tajin because he thought so little was being done by the authorities and he genuinely believed Novak
was the man to find the twins. He’s got the best lawyers in town working for him and he’ll probably get away with it.’

‘But what about Burt?’ asked Michel. ‘Couldn’t he implicate James? Marcus spoke to him yesterday – I saw him at your mother’s house.’

‘Burt was just a bit-player.’ Cate shrugged. ‘He knew Gabriel from way back and let him use Mexicano Magic for storage. He didn’t know what for and he didn’t ask.
But when he opened a crate by accident and discovered Gabriel was bringing in genuine artefacts, he was too greedy to report him. Thought he would help himself to a few objects.’

‘His greed could have cost him his life,’ said Michel thoughtfully.

‘That’s right.’ Cate threw the stone towards the water. ‘Gabriel must have been furious when he found out that Burt was selling his stuff on the side. That’s why
Burt was so frightened. He knew what Gabriel was capable of.’

A group of schoolgirls in shorts and T-shirts had pranced by like a posse of thoroughbred ponies, all long-limbed and glossy hair. One of them shot Michel a flirty glance. Cate gave him a
sideways look and was gratified to find he hadn’t even noticed them.

‘My God, Cate,’ he asked suddenly, ‘does your mum know about Burt? That their shop was being used as the stop-off point for these treasures?’

Cate winced. ‘She says she’s never going to trust another man again. That they’re all crooks, especially the American ones.’

‘Mmm,’ said Michel with grin. ‘Wasn’t she getting on very well with Dave Osbourne in the bar last night? He’s American.’

Cate dissolved into laughter. ‘I thought I was the only one who noticed.’

She grew serious again. ‘Poor old Burt. He’s been arrested for handling stolen goods and it looks like he could be up for manslaughter as well.’

‘Manslaughter?’ Michel stared at Cate. ‘What on earth’s that about?’

‘He confessed to Marcus that he killed Gabriel. He overheard Gabriel talking to someone on the phone about what a threat I was to the operation. He spotted Gabriel later, near the Erin,
and he guessed he was after me and tried to stand up for me. When Gabriel wouldn’t back off, Burt lost his temper and hit him. He didn’t mean to kill him – it was a complete
accident. He panicked and left him there. It explains why he was so nervous that day, so edgy when we were in his car. And then when he got the text telling him that Gabriel was dead, well . . . no
wonder he went so pale – and tried to do a runner. He must have been terrified.’

‘In his way, Burt is a brave man,’ said Michel seriously. ‘I owe him. He saved your life.’ He gave Cate a long kiss.

‘And now, Cate, I have to ask you.’ He stared at her intently. ‘Your friend, Ritchie. Is he really just a friend?’

Cate looked at her feet, buried in the warm sand. She thought about Ritchie’s face, etched with misery, as the helicopter had taken off from El Tajin.

‘Poor Ritchie, he’s completely distraught,’ she said sadly. ‘I got a text from him last night. He doesn’t know who to believe any more. His uncle is swearing his
innocence, yet Ritchie heard what Marcus said about him in the helicopter. He’s no fool. He says he’s going backpacking for a while to sort his head out. To Australia and New
Zealand.’ She gave Michel a quick grin. ‘I told him about our romantic holiday in Snapper Bay.’

They smiled and Michel planted another kiss on her lips. Then he looked at his watch. ‘Oh no!’ He jumped to his feet, dragging Cate up with him. ‘We have to go. The charity
concert starts in less than two hours. Lucas is sending a limousine for seven.’

The applause died away as Lucas and Nancy took to the stage, the rock star’s stark black jeans, hair and T-shirt contrasting sharply with the bright colours of
Nancy’s Gucci maxi-dress and her platinum-blond hair. She looked, thought Cate, like one of those macaws she had seen in Mexico, an exotic bird ready to take flight.

‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ said Lucas, ‘thank you for coming and for giving so generously to such a great cause. I know that you have been moved by
Street Life
. Please
don’t forget those images and do anything you can to help those children – give money, lobby your politicians, write to the Mexican Embassy. Please, do it and keep on doing it.

‘I have so many people to thank. My lovely girlfriend, Nancy Kyle, and all her fabulous fashion friends for putting on such an amazing show.’

The stadium erupted again as Nancy treated Lucas to a lingering kiss.

‘And of course to my band – magic as always.’

He raised his hand to quell another cheer from the crowd.

‘And I’d like to mention one more person. She’s brave as a lion, sharp as a knife, she wants to save the world and sometimes I think she will.’

The crowd was silent now, listening intently to his every word.

‘She’s only sixteen, not much more than a kid, and I haven’t known her for long. But she has shown me what bravery really is.’

Cate felt the blood drain from her face. She felt faint and clutched at Michel’s hand for support. Surely Lucas couldn’t mean her? He had wangled everything out of her, so knew all
about what had happened in El Tajin. Please no, Cate thought. She would die of embarrassment if he mentioned her name. And then she’d kill him.

‘I won’t give you her full name, because she’ll die of embarrassment,’ said Lucas. ‘And then she’d kill me.’ The crowd laughed. ‘So I’ve
written a song for her instead. It’s called “Just Cate” and this is the first time we’ve ever played it for an audience.’

A huge roar ran through the stadium as the keyboard player struck up the first few sweet, melodic chords. Then Lucas was playing a short guitar riff and the song was away. Soulful, funny, witty,
the entire stadium was up on its feet dancing to the irresistible rhythm of the music.

Cate turned to Michel, then to Marcus, Henri and her mother. They were all smiling at her, huge proud smiles that made Cate want to burst with happiness.

‘That’s for you, Cate,’ Lucas said, looking up at her seat as the final chords of the song faded away. ‘You’re one heck of a girl.’

Once again I owe so many people so many thank yous. To the fantastic team at Piccadilly – Brenda Gardner, Ruth Williams, Melissa Hyder and Andrea Reece for all their
continued enthusiasm for Cate and her adventures.

To my terrific sons George, Conrad and Lucas who, as always, have been invaluable with their honest advice and creative ideas and most importantly, my amazing husband Graeme, who quite simply,
keeps me writing! I couldn’t have done any of this without you.

I have been lucky to receive such generous support from an amazing group of friends and family who have bought the books and spread the word.

Finally huge thanks go to the kind readers who have taken the time and trouble to review The Cate Carlisle Files and to all of you who keep coming back to read about her escapades. I’m
thrilled that Cate is giving you so much fun!

School’s out and sixteen-year-old Cate Carlisle lands a job
on board a gorgeous yacht, moored in the south of France.
She’s working for the glamorous supermodel,
actress and pop star Nancy Kyle!