The Longest Time Without You (Gold Streaks Book 3) by Sylvie Nathan Page A

voice is small.
     
    “I'll be there soon. You just hold on. Don't go anywhere.”
     
    “I won't.”
    Half an hour later, and Titus is at the door of Susan's stylish home at the top of the hill, overlooking the dark stillness of the nighttime town.
     
    “You've called the police?”
     
    Titus asks, sitting in Sue's sitting-room, a mug of hot coffee held between his cupped hands. Sue is on the elegant white sofa opposite, her legs curled under her, a cup of tea on the counter behind her. She looks worried, exhausted, but still beautiful; the pale light from through the window shining on her pale hair and making it glow softly.
     
    “Yes. They said they'd send a team here to ask for information, and another to town, to her office.”
    Sue pauses, then continues. “That was almost an hour ago, now.”
     
    “Yes. They take their time.”
     
    Titus' voice is mild, inscrutable. “We'll just have to wait.”
    They sit in silence for a moment.
     
    “Lisa...” Sue starts; pauses to clear her throat, tight with emotion. “Lisa was...she felt in danger on this case she was working on. Said she was being watched.”
     
    “I think she was. She showed me the car outside.”
     
    “Did you...did you see her leave work?”
     
    “No.” Titus looks pained; his head lowered as he watches the liquid reflections on the coffee's surface.
     
    “No. She never left before me. Ever.” He smiles at that. “You know Lisa...she was addicted to her work.”
     
    “Yes. She was. Is. Titus? She is...she is going to be alright, isn't she?”
     
    A small voice; asking for reassurance as a child might ask it; with hope mixed with terror.
    “I...I don't know. We can't know.”
    Titus looks down, shakes his head. Then continues,
    “...But I do know I will stay here tonight...If you like, that is. If they've come after one of you...I can't risk that I let them hurt you as well.”
    “I don't...I don't think they even know me, Titus.”
     
    “If it's the people from the case; maybe no.”
     
    “It must be.”
     
    “We don't know.” Titus says reasonably.
     
    “No. We don't know.” Sue agrees. “Thank you, Titus. I would like it if you stayed here tonight. I would feel...safer. Less...alone.”
     
    “No problem, Ms M.”
    They sit in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts and worries.
     
    “I...” Sue starts. Downstairs, the doorbell rings.
    “It's the police, I think.” Sue is half-rising to answer the door; her white dress gathered in one hand as she swings her legs from the couch.
     
    “I'll get it.”
     
    “No...no. It's alright, Titus. I'll go and let them in.”
     
    Sue lifts herself to her full height, squares her shoulders and sniffs, stiffly. She might be lost in the sheer nightmare of Lisa's kidnapping, but she is Susan Montmorency, CEO of Gold Ridge Mines, and she is redoubtable. Remote. Unassailable. Her face is stiff and still as she walks down the stairs, a slight, slim woman with achingly-straight posture; pale and slender in the wan light from the windows.
     
    “Hello?”
    “Inspector Nozamo from the police. You are Mrs Montmorency?”
     
    “Ms Montmorency.” She is about to shake hands, somehow the structured politeness of introduction is reassuring; automatic. Something she does every day.
     
    “Right, Ms Montmorency. Let's get down to business.”
     
    There are three policemen in the hallway now; boots on the white carpet; their eyes roaming over the pictures, rare china and porcelain decorating the hallway walls. Sue feels strangely uncomfortable with their presence here.
     
    “If you'll come up?” She gestures to the stairs, smiles with forced brightness; reverting to perfect, chilled hostess polish.
    She leads the way up the stairs to the main sitting-room, where Titus is already rising from his seat to greet them.
    “Hello. Titus Mogkotsi. Naidu and Marsden law firm.” He says it smoothly.
    The inspector looks unimpressed. Blinks once. “You worked with Ms