In Safe Hands

In Safe Hands

Lee Christine

She thinks she needs him, but she doesn't know the secrets he keeps...

Threatened with the publication of naked photographs taken in her law student days,

defence attorney Allegra Greenwood enlists the help of former SAS Commander Luke

Neilson, unaware of his involvement in her brother’s death in Afghanistan.

In a race to stop the photographs appearing on the Internet, Luke battles a hidden

enemy, his growing feelings for Allegra, and his conscience, which demands he protect a

fallen comrade’s sister. As the stakes increase and more sinister motives unfold, Luke not

only has to fight to save her career, he has to fight to save her life.

About the author

Lee Christine is a former legal practice manager and corporate trainer. An amateur

songwriter in her teens, she is passionate about music, and plays the alto saxophone.

In 2011, In Safe Hands won first place in the Romance Writers of America Silicon Valley

Gotcha Contest, followed in 2012 with first place in The Smoky Mountains Laurie Award and

the East Texas Southern Heat Writing Contest. The novel also received a Commended in the

2012 Romance Writers of New Zealand Clendon Award.

In Safe Hands is Lee’s first novel, and she is currently writing her second, another gripping

romantic suspense. She has two grown children, and lives in Newcastle, Australia.

To Damian, Danielle and Adam

For their unwavering support and steadfast belief in me.

In Safe Hands

Chapter One

“You want me to locate and recover naked photographs of you?”

It took all of Allegra’s self-control not to squirm in the plush leather seat as she

stared at Luke Neilson across the polished surface of his office desk. To his credit, the man

didn’t bat an eyelid, and why would he? Former Special Air Services, he’d probably seen

everything, and more.

Breaking eye contact, she reached for the glass of water he’d poured for her at the

start of the meeting, dismayed to find her hand unsteady. “Does your company handle such

cases?”

His gun-metal grey eyes narrowed and he gave her a sardonic half-smile.

“Reconnaissance and retrieval? Come on Ms. Greenwood. You know we do.”

Unable to meet his eyes, Allegra sipped her water and glanced beyond his rugged

features, to where the Sydney Harbour Bridge arched resplendent in the window behind

him. If the photograph appeared on the Internet, she’d lose her position at Grace and Poole

Lawyers. And losing wasn’t an option.

With an effort she looked squarely at him, hoping her desperation didn’t show in her

eyes. “I wondered whether you’d agree to see me.”

Lee Christine

He lifted his eyebrows and leaned back in the chair. “I was curious. We should have

won the contract for your firm’s investigative work, but you drew a line through our name.”

Allegra’s face flushed with heat. “You kissed me at the Meet and Greet. You left me

no option.”

He shrugged his broad shoulders. “It’s not often I misread the signals. And I did

apologise, though I don’t remember you accepting.”

“It was unprofessional.”

He drummed his fingers on the desk, his eyes turning a colder shade of grey. “You

broke your own ‘don’t mix business with pleasure’ rule. It spooked you into signing a second

rate firm. Now that’s unprofessional.”

How could she argue with the truth? Neilson’s were the most highly qualified team

of ballistics experts in the country, their services sought after. A veteran of Iraq and

Afghanistan, Luke Neilson’s evidence had sent many a criminal to prison. His agency was top

notch, his security and investigation service second to none.

Allegra took an unsteady breath. “I was angry. I thought you were trying to charm

me into granting your firm the contract, with the promise of a—a physical relationship.”

His eyes flashed and he gave an exasperated shake of his head. “You insult me, Ms.

Greenwood. What made you change your mind?”

Allegra’s face burned. God, could this be any more embarrassing?

“What can I say?” She took an unsteady breath. “I allowed my personal feelings to

influence my decision. Is that going to pose a problem now?”

He leaned back, completely at ease, short cropped, dark blonde hair glinting in the

sunlight, broad shoulders encased in an expensive striped business shirt.

In Safe Hands

“I never let personal feelings interfere with business, so no.” A shadow of a smile

touched his lips, his observant eyes never leaving her face. “Tell me more about the naked

photograph, and we’ll see if we can work something out.”

Allegra studied the contours of his face, the faded scar on his right cheek. It made

him look sexy as all hell, the imperfection giving his handsome features an interesting edge.

She swallowed, her mouth dry. There was no turning back.

“Any time today will do...”

His dry tone jolted her into action, and she looked down at the leather satchel in her

lap. She lifted the flap, and slowly withdrew a printed sheet of paper, which she passed

across the desk.

“It came this morning by bicycle courier.”

He slid open a drawer and took out plastic tweezers. Using the instrument, he

snared the sheet from her, carefully unfolding it so he could look at the picture.

It took a superhuman effort to sit still as he looked at her naked image, much the

way a doctor would look at a patient’s sore throat. Allegra went hot all over, then icy cold,

sweat breaking out on her brow. Digging her fingernails into the palms of her hands, she

watched as he carefully folded the sheet and set it to one side.

What was he thinking?

Avoiding her eyes, he rose and turned to a filing cabinet a few steps from the desk.

“Who took possession of this?” he asked.

She cleared her throat, gripping the handle of the satchel. “Our receptionist at Grace

and Poole. From there it came to my office on the fifth floor.”

Lee Christine

He pulled out a drawer and extracted a manila folder. Sliding the steel drawer closed

with a bang, he sank down into his chair, eyes averted as he turned to stare at the computer

monitor on his desk.

Allegra got the distinct impression he was giving her time to compose herself, and if

that were the case she was grateful for the small courtesy he extended. The former SAS

Commander had found his inner gentleman. Who would have thought?

“Anyone else see it?” He jabbed at the keyboard.

“No, my PA knows anything marked Private and Confidential is never to be opened.”

Finally he turned to look at her. “Do you have the envelope?”

She nodded, reaching into the satchel again and sliding it across the desk. “What do

make of this?”

She watched his eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “That’s a relic.”

“I know.” She leaned forward and peered at the old brown envelope with the brass

fastener. “It must be, what, fifty years old?”

“Easily.” He snagged the envelope in the tweezers, turning it this way and that as he

checked it out. “It’s an old document packet.”

“Yes, the type used to store wills and deeds. We have some like this in our safe

custody. No unused ones though—I checked.”

“They weren’t exclusive to legal offices.” His brow furrowed in thought. “Banks,

building societies, government departments have all used these in the past.”

He set it next to the photograph. “It won’t be easy, but we might be able to get a

print.”

She nodded, continuing to watch as he switched on a handset recording device and

placed it between them on the desk.

In Safe Hands

“Want to give me the background story on this Ms. Greenwood?”

Allegra exhaled slowly in an attempt to slow her breathing, a tactic which worked

well before the opening statement of a trial. As a criminal lawyer, she should find this

interview a breeze. Still, it felt weird being on the other side of the desk.

“Could we at least drop the formality?” she asked, moistening her dry lips with her

tongue. “Ms.Greenwood sounds like a dorm matron.”

His exasperated look suggested she tested his patience. “All right, first names it is.

Can we get on with this now?”

She nodded, the small victory satisfying.

“Okay.” He depressed the button on the recording device. “Who took this

photograph and when?”

“This is one of fifteen.” Her cheeks grew warm again as she watched for a change in

his expression, but it appeared to be painted on, Venetian mask style. “They were taken in

Melbourne eight years ago when I was twenty-one. I was a law student at the time. My

boyfriend, Chris Noble, took them.”

He gave a derisive snort. “Noble?”

Allegra narrowed her eyes. “Very funny.”

He glanced at the folded sheet on the desk, though he didn’t take a second look at it.

“It’s hardly a snapshot taken by a sleazy ex-boyfriend, it’s professionally done.”

“It is. He’s a professional photographer.” Allegra moved her heavy satchel onto the

floor and crossed her legs, uneasy at discussing her private life. “We met while working on

the launch of a new hair product. I made ends meet with promotions work, waitressing,

anything really.”

Stop babbling, just answer the questions.

Lee Christine

“Nothing unusual there.” He shook his head, the white flash of even teeth

complimenting the golden tan of his face. “God knows I turned my hand to anything that

would earn a buck. But posing naked, were these a gift to him?”

Allegra shook her head.

His eyes narrowed. “Because if you did gift them to him, legally they’re his property.”

“I know that.” Did he doubt her word? “I’m aware some women give photographs of

themselves to their partners, but that’s not me.”

God, now she sounded like a prude. “I gave Chris permission to take the shots, but

they were never a gift. They were taken purely for the purpose of making money.”

And that sounded worse, but she struggled on, determined to be straight with him.

“Having said that, let me point out, I’m not ashamed of them.”

His look turned shrewd. “But you’d hate anyone else to see them.”

Allegra’s stomach clenched. “Exactly! I head up the criminal division of a very

conservative law practice. If these turned up on the Internet, there’s no question I would

lose my job.”

His eyes slanted towards the photograph and envelope. “But you’re the public face

of the firm, somewhat of a celebrity in your own right. You really think the partners will

hang you out to dry while the media crucify you?”

She watched as he tipped back his head and loosened his tie, long dexterous fingers

working away at the knot. His cold summation of her situation hurt.

“Feeling a little—hot under the collar?” The words were out of her mouth before she

could engage her brain.

His blowtorch stare said it all. “That would be foolish of me, Allegra. I’ve been

frostbitten by you before.”

In Safe Hands

“Well that hurt,” she said, trying to deflect his stinging barb. God, she was better at

verbal sparring than this.

She’d thought about that night on the terrace, even regretted running away from

him. For a whole five minutes. No way would she get involved with a real life G.I. Joe. Not

after what happened to her brother.

He gave her a steely look. “Your boyfriend took the photos, why?”

Shame washed over her in waves. “I was desperate for money. Chris was a

commissioned photographer for a number of publications, among them a men’s magazine. I

wasn’t thinking logically. How it might affect my future career didn’t even register on my

radar.”

He didn’t comment, just waited her out.

She shifted in her seat. “Things were tight back then.”

“I’m listening.”

She closed her eyes for a long second. All these years later, the images were still

imprinted in her mind. An Australian flag, draped over her brother’s coffin, a guard of

honour in the shadow of a Royal Australian Air Force Hercules. The urgent wail of an

ambulance.

She coughed, a lump forming in her throat. She hated recounting the horrible time

where she’d moved like an automaton, overwhelmed with grief while the rest of the world

went about its business.

“My brother, Martin, was killed in Afghanistan. My mother suffered a total

breakdown on the tarmac when they brought his body home.”

He stilled, then slowly leaned forward to rest his elbows on the desk, waiting

patiently for her to continue.

Lee Christine

“I had university fees, rent and text books.” She didn’t want to sound defensive, but

her words came out that way. “I became responsible for my mother’s care costs. They were

extensive, continue to be.”

Suddenly weary, she leaned back in her chair and stared past him at the window.

“After treatment, she needed a low care facility, so I put down a substantial bond. She

deserves to be somewhere nice. I often have to travel, and when we’re running a big case, I

can be at the office all night. Knowing she’s properly cared for gives me peace of mind.”

She paused, the room silent, save for the hum of the air conditioning.

“I’m sorry,” he said eventually.

The disquiet in his voice made her look at him. Did his empathy stem from her

brother being a comrade in arms?

“I don’t need your sympathy, I need your help.”

He let go of a breath and looked away. “The photographs weren’t published. If they

were you wouldn’t be sitting here now, they’d be on public record. What happened?”

She shook her head. “I couldn’t go through with it. I sold my car and borrowed the

rest from a money lender at an exorbitant interest rate.”

“So, what became of the negatives or digital files I guess, depending on what storage

device he used?”

She’d been wondering the same thing. “I don’t know. Chris promised me he’d

destroy them, and I trusted him to do it.”

His eyes widened in disbelief.

“I was young—I believed him.”

To her surprise he swivelled his chair around and stared out the window.

In Safe Hands

Allegra sat quietly. Silence didn’t come naturally to her. She thrived in the combative

atmosphere of the Court, loved duelling with her opponent for the sympathies of the jury.

But this was Luke’s domain—and he wasn’t big on feedback.

She bit her lip, impatience bubbling away inside her as she stared at the back of his

fair head. Was he looking for flaws in her story?

“You have hard copies of these photographs at home?” he asked.

Oh no! Did he really need to see the others?

“Yes.” There was sentimental value attached to those photos, and she hadn’t

wanted to destroy them. It had been Chris’s way of trying to help her.

“Have you had a break-in recently?”

She sucked in a breath, his question taking her by surprise. “No.”

He swivelled around to face her. “But you haven’t been home today?”

Allegra’s heart stuttered in her chest at the thought of someone breaking into her

apartment. “No. I came straight from work. I bluffed my way in, hoping you’d think I wanted

to discuss the contract.”

“I did think that.”

Allegra’s mouth went dry. “Will you help me, despite everything?”

It was as near as she could bring herself to plead with Luke Neilson. “I’ll pay good

money. I want the best man you’ve got.”

“I’m the best man I’ve got.”

“Oh.” She jumped, nerves jangling. “I assumed you’d be too busy for such a small

job. I thought you’d hand it on.”

Lee Christine

He studied her through narrowed eyes, knuckles pressed against his mouth, an

expensive dive watch strapped to his powerful wrist. “Never assume anything, Allegra. I fail

to see what’s in it for me though, other than the money.”

She raised her eyebrows, not bothering to hide her surprise. “You normally get fringe

benefits with the job?”

He gave an amused laugh, the corners of his mouth curling up, the smile softening

his strong features. “Not the kind you’re implying, no. It’s just that I’m in a position to be

selective about the work I take on.”

So her visit had been a waste of time. He only accepted clients where a mutual

benefit was involved. Well, she couldn’t promise him the contract next time in exchange for

taking her case. It would be unethical.

“I see,” she said finally. “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.”

“No. I select clients I believe I can work with. And we don’t have a good track

record.”

She bit back a retort and trailed a forefinger along the edge of the desk. She’d

apologised for her knee jerk reaction to that kiss, but what about the part he’d played in the

whole fiasco?

“Then why didn’t you put in a complaint about my decision?” She lifted her gaze to

his. “I half expected you to.”

A smile played at the corners of his mouth. “Because I was equally to blame, and I’ll

tender next time. I’m surprised to see you here though, asking for my help.”

His surprise could hardly match her humiliation. Having to front up here was one of

the hardest things she’d had to do. But she was drowning in a sea of debt, with no time to

In Safe Hands

waste on a second-rate investigator. If the photographs surfaced, she’d never work for a

reputable law firm again.

She drew in a jagged breath. “So where does that leave us?”

His eyes narrowed to slits of silver. “I haven’t decided yet.”

From the expression on her face she didn’t much like the sound of that. Too bad, he

needed to get his head around what he’d just learned.

She was Martin Greenwood’s sister. How had he not made the connection?

Winning the contract next time was hardly a priority. Allegra was in serious trouble,

her career on the line.

And his conscience left him no choice.

Luke studied her symmetrical face, the halo of golden blonde hair, the now obvious

resemblance to her brother. The corporate suit she wore was well cut, clinging to her slim

figure and showcasing a set of killer legs. She wore tasteful jewellery, nothing too blingy,

and natural make-up. The impression was sexy ice maiden wearing a ‘don’t mess with me

attitude.’

But the woman the press dubbed the ‘perfumed steamroller’ had a skeleton in her

closet. Who knew?

She clicked her tongue, looking irritated all of a sudden. “Look, do you want the case

or not?”

He dragged his thoughts away from her physical attributes and concentrated on the

job at hand. “Here’s what we’re going to do.”

“We?”

Luke sighed at the interruption. Sharp, she missed nothing.

Lee Christine

“It feels good to have an ally, that’s all.” She smiled, her body almost sagging with

relief. “And thank you.”

He ignored the way his heart shifted up a gear. “We, we’re a team until we catch this

loser.”

He pushed a notepad and pen across the table. “Write down Chris Noble’s full name

and his last known address in Melbourne. It’s logical to start there.”

As she scribbled down the details he noticed her absence of rings. He hadn’t got

around to asking about partners and such, but it appeared from her bare hands she hadn’t

succumbed to the last legal form of slavery.

She slid the notebook back to him.

“Go home and make sure the original photographs are where they should be. Phone

me immediately if they’ve been disturbed. I want a list of every person who’s had access to

your home since breaking up with Noble.”

“Okay.”

Strange, she didn’t seem at all phased by his request. Most people groaned and

objected, daunted by the task. “I mean everyone you can think of Allegra. Family, friends,

boyfriends, girlfriends, work colleagues, tradesmen, landlords, cleaning staff, anyone who

could conceivably have gained access to those photographs.”

“In Melbourne they were locked in a safety deposit box, but since moving to Sydney

I’ve kept them hidden in my apartment.”

“Then I only need a list of people who’ve visited your Sydney residence.”

She nodded. “When do you want it?”

“Is seven in the morning too early?”

In Safe Hands

She shook her head, blonde highlights shining under the fluorescents. “I’m used to

deadlines.”

“Then I’ll come by and pick it up, check out your security,” he said in an offhand

manner, trying to give the impression it was standard procedure. It wasn’t. From cases he’d

worked, extortionists were predictable, demanding money straight up. No demand for cash

pointed to something more sinister.

He watched the colour drain from her face, his nonchalance not fooling her for a

second.

“You think they could come to my home?”

Nothing to be gained by sugar coating it. “A photograph without a demand for cash

smacks of a stalker or a psychological blackmailer.”

Her eyes widened, and for the briefest moment she looked truly frightened. He

waited, letting his words sink in. She needed time to accept the ugly truth. A hidden enemy

intended doing her harm.

“I hoped it might be a prank,” she said finally, her voice thick and shaken.

“Could be, but I doubt it. Having it delivered by bicycle courier shows it’s well

thought out.”

She stared at him, a bemused expression on her face. “It doesn’t sound like Chris at

all.”

A spurt of anger surfaced at her stoic defence of the photographer. Despite her

position, she didn’t appear all that street smart, or men smart.

“Not the Chris you remember, but people change.”

Luke shifted in his seat, longing to undo the top button of his shirt but unwilling to

draw another comment from the body language expert. Would he ever feel comfortable in

Lee Christine

business attire? Probably not, too many years spent in camouflage gear and paratrooper

pants.

She blinked, drawing his attention to the amazing blue of her eyes. Not that he

needed reminding. They were seared into his memory.

“So, what’s your take on it, Luke?”

An unexpected charge jolted through him at her use of his name. “There’s been no

demand for cash or threats to expose you.”

“So they aren’t motivated by money?”

“I doubt it. They know you understand the harm they can do. They could be getting

kicks from causing you mental anguish. But we won’t know for sure, until we get the next

one.”

She swallowed, and in her eyes he saw helplessness and resignation. “That was my

next question. You think we will?”

“I’m fairly certain. We know they have one photograph. If they’re in possession of

the others, it’s more a matter of when.”

She nodded, then reached down with unsteady hands and slung the satchel

diagonally across her body. “If we’re finished, I might go home and check the apartment.”

Luke pushed himself out of his chair. “That’s it for now.”

He strode to the door and held it open for her.

“Thank you for seeing me,” she murmured, brushing past him.

“No problem.”

He watched her walk towards the elevator, paying attention to the hip satchel slung

across her body and the skyscraper heels she wore. Yes, if you looked hard enough, there

were signs Allegra Greenwood had a non-conformist streak in her.

In Safe Hands

As she pushed the elevator button, she turned to look back at him, and he hurriedly

closed his office door. He didn’t want to be caught spying. He slid the lock and moved back

to his desk. Feeling a little guilty, he picked up the tweezers and shook out the folded sheet

of paper still lying there. He felt his heartbeat crank up and the breath catch in his throat at

the glorious image staring back at him.

Much as he hated to admit it, Noble had done a fine job. Allegra lay reclined on plush

velvet, one long leg bent at the knee and crossed with the other in a manner that revealed

nothing, though an arm thrown languidly above her head exposed the sloping outside

curves of her breasts. Her blonde hair, so much longer then, swept over one shoulder and

cleverly covered a nipple, while the other lay hidden behind a strand of expensive looking

white pearls looped numerous times around her neck.

Stunning. Enough to make any red blooded man salivate.

Pushing it aside, he shoved his hands deep in his pockets and stared through the

window at the Opera House, its pearly sails poised on the water’s edge a masterpiece of

human creativity.

He’d often thought about their first meeting, the day fresh in his mind for all the

wrong reasons. A horror case involving children. A couple of drinks to ease the pain of the

gruesome images he couldn’t wipe from his mind. Not the smartest move when trying to

make a good impression. Then, as he stood on the terrace, wishing with all his heart he

could just go home and avoid the Meet and Greet, a vision in blue walked up and introduced

herself. They’d talked, and at some point he’d suffered an overwhelming urge to kiss her.

It was inappropriate, out of character, and far from his finest hour.

Still, he’d been angry when she’d blackballed him.

Lee Christine

Luke sighed. His job required an extensive assortment of intuitive skills, and it wasn’t

often someone left him astonished. But she had. Smart and alluring, never in a million years

would he have put her name, together with the word centrefold, in the same sentence.

He shook his head in disbelief. Nude photos. Who would have guessed?

With another heavy sigh, he closed his eyes, blanking out the memories of a mission

gone wrong. There was no way he could let anything bad happen to Allegra Greenwood.

He owed her brother that much.

He’d been Trooper Martin Greenwood’s Commanding Officer in Afghanistan, and as

such, the man ultimately responsible for his death.