The Negotiator

  THE NEGOTIATOR

  Book Six of the Munro Family Series

  Chris Taylor

  When ten-year-old Andy Warwick witnesses the murder/suicide of his sister and father, his world is torn apart. Twenty years later, despite his tragic childhood, Andy’s a highly respected police negotiator based in North Sydney. He’s living a comfortable life, but still suffers from guilt-ridden nightmares from his past and yearns for a family to replace the one he lost.

  Sixteen, pregnant and abandoned by those she loved, Cally Savage has learned early to fend for herself, but raising a son on her own hasn’t come without a price. It’s a decade after Jack’s birth, but she’s struggling to make ends meet, despite taking on a second job as a cleaner at the North Sydney Police Station. On top of her financial woes, her house has recently been burgled and she’s terrified the perpetrator might return…

  In desperation Cally turns to the hot looking detective at the station and seeks Andy’s permission to place a “roommate wanted” advertisement on the noticeboard in the squad room. Attracted to Cally’s innocent beauty and intrigued by the vulnerability in her eyes, Andy offers to move in with her. The more he gets to know her, the more he wants to be part of her life. But first, he has to break through the barriers she’s erected around her heart.

  Just when things appear to be on track, the man who believed for more than ten years that his child had been aborted, discovers Cally’s deceit. Enraged, he vows not to give up until he’s found his son and punished the woman who lied to him…

  This book is dedicated to all of the Police Negotiators who daily put their lives on the line for others and as always, to my sexy, real life hero, my husband, Linden.

  The Munro Family Series

  (in order)

  THE PROFILER

  (Book One—Clayton and Ellie)

  THE INVESTIGATOR

  (Book Two—Riley and Kate)

  THE PREDATOR

  (Book Three—Brandon and Alex)

  THE BETRAYAL

  (Book Four—Declan and Chloe)

  THE DECEPTION

  (Book Five—Will and Savannah)

  THE NEGOTIATOR

  (Book Six—Andy and Cally)

  THE CHRISTMAS VIGIL

  (A Munro Family Series Novella)

  THE RANSOM

  (Book Seven—Lane and Zara)

  THE DEFENDANT

  (Book Eight—Chase and Josie)

  THE SHOOTING

  (Book Nine—Tom and Lily)

  THE MAKER

  (Book Ten—Bryce and Chanel)

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  Read the back cover blurb of each of the Munro Family stories by visiting Chris Taylor’s website at: http://www.christaylorauthor.com.au/about/books

  PROLOGUE

  Stewart Brady strode down the sidewalk of Watervale’s busier-than-usual main street, his long steps eating the pavement. He barely had enough time to grab a sandwich and a coffee from the deli around the corner before he was due back in court. The trial was only two days in and promised to be more than tiresome.

  It was obvious the Crown Prosecutor had it in for him. The man seemed to be going out of his way to antagonize him: all those snide remarks; all those digs at his character. How dare the asshole insinuate Stewart was nothing more than a spoiled brat who’d only managed to stay out of jail this long because he had a daddy who stepped in and bought his son’s way out of his problems, including the jam he was in today.

  So what if his father had offered the mouthy little prick a few Gs? Cold hard cash had always worked to quiet things down in the past. If it had been up to Stewart, he wouldn’t have offered the asshole anything. He was the one who’d started it. It was only when he’d made that fucking comment about the size of Stewart’s biceps, that he’d been forced to belt him with the barbell.

  It was a little unfortunate Stewart’s aim was spot on: The barbell had connected with the side of the little prick’s head and he’d been put in a coma for a week. The cops felt obligated to lay charges against Stewart and here he was today, enduring yet another headache.

  Pushing aside the annoying thoughts, he came to a halt beside the newspaper stand and nodded a silent greeting to the proprietor.

  “What can I get for you, Mr Brady?” the man asked, lowering his gaze respectfully.

  “The Sydney Morning Herald,” Stewart growled and waited impatiently for the man to hand it over. Tossing over a few coins, he snatched the newspaper out of the man’s hands and tucked it under his arm. A glance at his watch told him he’d have to hurry if he wanted to make it back in time.

  Rounding the corner, he sighed in relief when he spied the short queue at the deli. The bailiff was an asshole and would probably become alarmed if he arrived late. There was no sense breaching his bail unnecessarily.

  A woman with a pram and a man dressed in jogging sweats were the only ones in line. Within moments, the woman reached across the counter and collected her coffee. She nodded her thanks and moved aside, juggling her change along with the baby.

  The jogger stepped forward and placed his order: a whole wheat ham, tomato and bean sprouts sandwich, no butter, and a bottle of mineral water. Stewart couldn’t believe anyone would eat that kind of crap. Not bothering to hide his smirk, he flicked open the newspaper and scanned the headlines. A little lower, the picture of a woman and a child standing outside a house snagged his attention. The story mentioned something about another burglary. There’d been a spate of them in one of Sydney’s better parts of town.

  He stared at the woman in surprise. His heart thudded hard and his mouth went dry. It was her. He was sure of it. Even from the black-and-white newspaper photo, it was obvious she’d blossomed from the pretty teenager he’d known a lifetime ago into a woman who could steal his breath.

  Despite the irritations of the morning, a surge of desire hardened his cock. The feeling was both familiar and distant. It had been a long time since he’d fucked her. Way too long.

  His gaze slid to the boy who stood beside her. The child’s eyes were wide and solemn in his pale, heart-shaped face. A lock of messy blond hair had fallen across his forehead. The boy stared at the camera as if mesmerized.

  Shock ricocheted through Stewart. All at once, he found it difficult to breathe. The boy’s features were as familiar as his own. The hair was much lighter, but there was no doubt about it. The resemblance was so strong it was like looking into a mirror and seeing himself as a boy.

  His face burned with anger. She’d told him she’d had an abortion. He’d even driven her to the clinic. For ten fucking years, he’d believed she’d gone through with it.

  Rage erupted inside him, flooding his veins in a fiery river of fury and disbelief. His hands clenched into fists.

  She’d lied to him.

  The fucking bitch had lied to him. He had a son.

  A son.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Detective Senior Sergeant Andy Warwick gazed at his reflection in the bathroom mirror and made a silent vow: I’ll tell her tonight.

  Smoothing his hair back with a hand that wasn’t quite steady, he brushed his teeth, taking care not to splash his pristine white dinner shirt. He used the mirror to adjust his bow tie and then picked up his jacket and shrugged it on. He’d bought the Armani suit three weeks before his lottery win and it had set him back almost a month’s wages, but his best friend and fellow New South Wales Police Officer, Will Rutledge, had managed to convince him every man needed at least one decent suit.

  His condominium was another luxury, but it had been purchased after the win. Three-bedroom units in the popular Sydney suburb
of Bondi didn’t come cheap. In fact, no property in Bondi did, particularly those with a view of the water. The condominium had cost him a fair chunk of his winnings, but apart from splashing out on a top-of-the-line Audi A9, he’d been careful to invest what was left. After the poverty that had permeated his childhood, he’d been determined to have something behind him, something to call his own.

  He grimaced. Despite his flourishing career as a police negotiator and his recent lottery win, life hadn’t always been so good. He remembered his childhood years spent living in cheap government housing, never knowing whether there would be enough money for his mother to put food on the table. And that wasn’t the worst of it…

  He strode back into his bedroom, determined to thrust the unhappy memories aside. From near the double glazed sliding glass doors that led out onto a balcony, he took a moment to contemplate the lights that spilled out of the shopfronts that lined the promenade along Bondi Beach. The dark shadows of a dozen or so hulking ocean liners smudged the horizon where it met the Pacific Ocean.

  It was a view he never tired of. His girlfriend, Nikki Simons, loved it too, and commentated on it every time she was there. She’d been dropping hints for the past few months about how much she’d like to move in with him, but he’d managed to sidestep the question whenever she brought it up.

  He wasn’t stupid. Taking their relationship to the next level would inevitably lead to a quest to share his innermost secrets and she wouldn’t give up until she’d achieved her goal. He’d come a long way from the nightmare of his childhood, but he wasn’t prepared to open the vault—even for Nikki. Now, he was more than grateful he’d resisted the pressure. She was demanding more and more of his time.

  In all of his twenty-eight years, he’d never been in love. He wondered if he was even capable of such a depth of feeling. A renewed wave of nervousness surged through him. By the end of the night, he’d be single again and he wasn’t entirely certain how Nikki would take it. He’d worked beside her for months and had always admired her professionalism, but this was personal. He wished he felt differently, felt more connected to her, but the truth was, he didn’t.

  Of course, he still believed in love. Something deep inside him yearned to know what it felt like. He saw Will and Savannah, the way they looked at each other—the special spark they had—and was saddened he didn’t have that, or anything like it, with Nikki.

  He’d made his mind up a couple of weeks ago to end it, but somehow, he hadn’t found the right time and working together made it tough to deal with. Now that he’d transferred to the North Sydney Police Station, it would be easier to make a clean break. He’d let her enjoy the annual Emergency Services Ball and then he’d tell her. He’d take her home afterwards and let her down as gently as he could.

  It was nearly seven. Time to call for a cab if he wanted to arrive at the Hilton on time. He’d felt a little under the weather when the last ball was held, so he hadn’t been there on the night Will had officially been introduced to his wife, Savannah. Tonight, Savannah would be sharing their table.

  Andy grimaced at the irony of the situation. A little over twelve months earlier, his best friend had fallen in love and was now looking forward to fatherhood. Andy and Nikki had been dating almost as long, and after the ball they would go their separate ways.

  He hoped she was aware his feelings had cooled. After all, they hadn’t had sex for a fortnight. Surely, she’d read something into that? Weren’t women good at picking up signals?

  With a sigh, he picked up the phone and dialed a cab. Far be it for him to try and determine what went on in a woman’s mind. He hoped she’d take their breakup calmly and without tears. He was a sucker for tears. They did him in every time.

  Ten minutes later, the taxi’s horn sounded from the street below. He collected his cell phone and entry ticket off the hall table and slid them into his pocket. With a last fortifying breath, he closed the door behind him and made his way down the concrete steps and into the balmy evening.

  * * *

  “You’re awfully quiet tonight, Andy,” Savannah Rutledge murmured less than thirty seconds after Nikki stood up from their table and excused herself to go to the bathroom. The four-course dinner was finally over and the end of the night was drawing closer. Will had left for the bar.

  Andy gave Savannah a tight smile and tried not to squirm under the concerned regard of his best friend’s wife. Since Will’s marriage, Andy had gotten to know Savannah pretty well. Both Will and Savannah were fond of Nikki, and Andy was afraid they’d be disappointed when he told them he was ending it.

  Savannah continued to watch him expectantly. He sighed and decided to come clean. After all, the first phone call he’d make after talking to Nikki would be to Will. Glancing in the direction of the restrooms, he leaned in closer and pitched his voice low. “I’m breaking it off with Nikki.”

  Her eyes widened in surprise. “Oh, Andy, I’m so pleased.”

  He frowned in confusion. “But, I-I thought you liked Nikki.”

  She shrugged and looked down at her hands where they lay across her protruding belly. “It’s just… She seems to like you as much for your car, your clothes and your beachside condo as she does for you. Does she know about your lottery win?”

  He grimaced. “Yeah, she found out about it from one of the guys at work.”

  Savannah nodded, her lips compressed. “She’s a nice girl, Andy, but I guess… Will and I want more for you than that.” She looked at him. Her face was tinged with embarrassment, but her eyes flashed with determination.

  Andy looked away, uncomfortable with her regard, despite the fact that she was on his side. He didn’t want to discuss it; all he wanted was to get it over with. He swallowed a sigh and wished he’d told Will, instead of Will’s wife. His mate would have accepted his decision with barely a comment. It’s what guys did.

  To his relief, Nikki’s return saved him from further conversation. He jumped up as soon as she reached them. “Let’s dance,” he murmured close to her ear and studiously ignored the narrow-eyed look Savannah shot his way. No doubt she thought he’d be better to keep his distance, rather than encourage Nikki’s feelings by showing her too much attention.

  “Oh, Andy, I’d love to.” Nikki’s hand caressed the expensive cloth of his jacket and her eyes gleamed. “Are you wearing Armani?” Her smile widened. “You are. No wonder you look so hot tonight.”

  He remembered Savannah’s comment and frowned. He’d been aware of Nikki’s interest in his financial status, but he’d never before noticed how obvious she was about how he spent his money. Irritation shot through him and it was all he could do not to break it off with her, there and then.

  But, he couldn’t do that. Not in front of everyone. Not when she’d gone to so much trouble with her dress and her shoes and her hair. He’d asked the taxi to stop by her place on the way in and she’d told him all about her lengthy preparations for the evening.

  Swallowing a sigh, he turned away from their table. Taking Nikki’s hand, he pulled her toward the dance floor. He hated to prolong the impression they were a couple, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to break up with her in a room full of people. He wasn’t a complete jerk.

  He held her at a respectable distance and tensed when she moved in closer, flattening herself against him. When she rested her cheek against the lapel of his jacket, he had no choice but to hold her close. At last, the song ended and he had an excuse to move away. Knowing he couldn’t endure another minute of enforced intimacy, he drew her off the dance floor and leaned down so she could hear him.

  “Are you ready to go?”

  She looked up in surprise and then smiled, a knowing gleam in her eyes. “I’ll go and collect my bag. I left it under the table.”

  Andy suppressed a groan, aware of the conclusion she’d drawn. With nothing to be done about it, he ushered her through the press of bodies and threaded their way back to their table.

  Will returned with fresh drinks. He frowned
when he saw them. “What are you two doing back so soon? You’re usually the regular John Travolta out there, Andy. What’s going on, mate?”

  Andy forced a smile. “Not tonight. In fact, Nikki and I are going to call it a night.”

  “But it’s not even midnight,” Will protested.

  Savannah poked him discreetly in the side with her elbow.

  Andy was grateful for her intervention. As he waited for Nikki to retrieve her evening bag, he tried to stem his impatience, now just wanting to get it over with.

  “I’ll catch up with you later,” he muttered. “Goodnight.”

  * * *

  “Is everything all right, Andy? You’ve barely said a word all night.” Nikki reached for his hand. The taxi was headed toward her house in Newtown, a few miles west of the city.

  “Just tired, I guess,” he muttered as he disentangled his fingers.

  “Really? Is that all?” Her eyes sought his in the dimness.

  He kept his gaze fixed on the back of the driver’s head and swallowed a sigh. It seemed, despite his best efforts, he was destined to break up with her in public. “You’re a great girl, Nikki.”

  She tensed and inched away from him. “Why can I hear a “but” coming?”

  “I’m going to be honest with you, Nikki. I think we both deserve that.” He took a deep breath. “You’re a special girl, but I’m not the guy for you. There are things about me you don’t know, things from my childhood that aren’t…good. I need some time on my own to work through them.”