Keep Me Safe by Duka Dakarai Page A

feeling right now. And it isn’t just about me. I need to do this for my mother too.” I walk into the on-suite and splash my face with cold water.
     
    As I pat myself dry, Kane is leaning against the door frame. His face is etched with confusion. “I don’t understand. Your mother? What did Alexei whisper to you?”
     
    “You really don’t know? Didn’t I say anything last night?”
     
    He shakes his head. “Lots of words, but they were all jumbled. Fucking hell, Sky, what did he say to you?”
     
    I wrap my arms around his waist and inhale his smell. I reach up and brush a small kiss on his lips. I begin to pull his t-shirt away from his body. “Is this fresh today?”
     
    “It’s clean on this morning, why?” He raises an eyebrow.
     
    I pull it over his shoulders and begin to pull it over my head. “Can I borrow it? Maybe, in some symbolic way, it will pass on strength.”
     
    “It’s a bit late to ask. You’re wearing it now. But if it’s what you need, be my guest. You sure you’re up to talking to Jack?”
     
     
     
    ***
     
     
     
     
     
    Jack Mercer looks more jaded and weary than I have ever seen him. That makes two of us. Unusually, he abruptly stands as I enter the living room. His face is marked with concern. He and Kane share a nodded greeting as he leads me into a chair. The others then seat themselves until we are all settled. I feel like I am on display.
     
    Jack coughs lightly. “I’m concerned that you are too involved in this investigation, Sky. We need to pull you back. You have been invaluable but you need to leave it to us now. And yesterday…..”
     
    I shake my head interrupting him. “I’m more involved than you think, Jack.”
     
    “I don’t follow? Alexei agreed to tell us everything if you were there. We have warrants out for the arrests of Natalya and Georgy, and are combing every inch of the city for them as we speak. As predicted, they were not at their residences and have gone into hiding. All airports and escape routes out of the UK are on alert……”
     
    “But that doesn’t answer my question…….and only Alexei knows. That was what he whispered to me yesterday. This is what this whole mess has been about and the whole investigation has been about…….it is not about money or greed. They wanted him dead because he was going to tell me the truth……” I gulp back a quiet sob as Alexei’s words spin around in my mind. I take a couple of deep breathes in an attempt to compose myself.
     
    “That’s enough, Jack. She’s exhausted.” Kane wraps a protective arm around my shoulders.
     
    I pull myself out of his grasp. “No, Kane. I need to finish. This investigation has been about silencing Alexei…..and preventing me from getting to the truth…..and I would have got there in the end. And I still will…..now more than ever. I must. But subsequently, it led to me becoming a target too along with Alexei…….”
     
    “Tell you the truth about what? What did he whisper to you?” Jack urges me on.
     
    “He knows who murdered my father…..” As the words come, so do the tears.
     
     
     
    ***
     
     
     
     
     
    When Jack had eventually left the house, I immediately opened up my laptop. The Consultant at the Chelsea and Westminster had informed Jack that Alexei was too weak to be interviewed and that he was to receive no visitors for a full day.
     
    Until he is well enough to communicate, I must play the waiting game. So now as I scroll through website after website, news reel upon news reel, all the emotions surrounding my father’s death are resurfacing. But I must keep busy…..to keep strong. Page after page slowly begin to blur together.
     
    I rake a f rustrated hand through my hair cursing out loud. I palm each eye to refocus. The front door slams causing me to jump momentarily as I see Storm enter carrying a wicker picnic basket. He offers his easy smile as he makes his way towards the others in the kitchen.
     
    I hear