Billionaire's Island Bride(34)

Dare’s lips tightened but he nodded. He’d been hoping for the best, that he’d find some way to redeem his long-time friend and absolve him from any wrongdoing, but it was not to be.

“Bart Reynolds had a serious conflict of interest in this deal.” The blond giant leaned over and dropped a large brown envelope in the center of Dare’s desk. “It’s all there. He was a primary shareholder in that property with full knowledge of its dilapidated state. You did him a favor in taking it off his hands.”

The news almost floored Dare. So that was why Bart had pushed him so hard on this deal, giving him all kinds of assurances. The bastard.

Then he thought of something. “Wait a minute. You said the buildings were dilapidated but I didn’t see any evidence of that.”

“Bart took you on that tour of the property, right?”

Dare nodded.

“Just as I thought.” Ogilvie’s face was grim. “He deliberately took you to the sections that had been spruced up for your visit. Half of those structures are hollow shells, eaten out by wood termites. He wouldn’t have taken you to those.”

Dare puffed out his cheeks and blew out his breath. So that was it. He’d put all his trust in Bart and had been taken for a hell of a ride. If he couldn’t trust a friend of over ten years who in the world could he trust? “So where is he now?”

“Last information we got he’d left the island for the south of France with a former model on his arm. He set himself up for a pretty sweet life.”

“And this is?” Dare jerked his head toward the envelope.

“Photos, bank records, papers showing his connection to the property.” The P.I. shrugged. “Nothing I haven’t already told you. They’re just for your records.”

There was nothing more to be said. Nothing more to be done. He probably didn’t even have the option of suing. He’d signed in good faith and now he was paying a high price for his trust.

“Thank you for your help.”

As Dare held out his hand Paul Ogilvie stood and shook it. “Any time, Mr. DeSouza. If you need any more checks done you know where to find me.”

Dare nodded and gave a grunt of acknowledgement. That was as much as he could manage.

Right now his mind was consumed with the issue at hand - how in the blazes to recoup two hundred and fifty million dollars.

***





Erin tapped her rolled-up magazine against her leg as she waited for Robyn to exit the customs and immigration department. The days had flown by much too fast and Sunday had arrived, bold and bright, the day her nemesis would appear. When the flight arrived crowds of people came through the doors, people waving to family members who had come to pick them up and professionals decked out in business wear. This went on for almost an hour and still there was no sign of Robyn. And there was no answer from her cell phone.

Finally, when Erin had paced the airport lobby for the umpteenth time, she heard a squeal.

“Darling. There you are.”

She turned to see a bundle of red rushing through the double doors followed by a porter pushing a trolley with bags that looked like they had enough clothes for a year-long stay.

Within seconds Robyn was upon her, kissing her on both cheeks. “You’re looking so good,” the redhead said with a laugh. “And you’ve put on weight. Married life agrees with you.”

Erin stepped back and adjusted her loose jacket so that it fell away from her body. Robyn didn’t know she was pregnant but she would, soon enough. But now was not the time. She’d let the girl gloat, thinking she’d simply grown plump from lack of exercise. She pasted a smile on her lips and looked Robyn up and down, from the red beret on her head to her red suit and matching shoes. She looked almost European in her elegant pencil skirt. She must be going through one of her European phases. At times she considered things European to be en vogue and so she dressed the part and even adopted their accents and expressions.

“You look beautiful, as usual,” she told Robyn and watched her face light up even more. She never tired of receiving compliments.

“Thank you,” she said and looked around. “So where’s that husband of yours?”

“Aah, he’s very busy at the moment. Our chauffeur will take us home.” As she spoke she dug into her purse for her cell phone. She’d have to call for the car to come around.

Robyn’s mouth set in a pout she probably thought was cute. “Aaw, I was looking forward to meeting him.”

“You will,” Erin said. “Soon.” That was what she told Robyn but, in truth, she wished to delay that meeting as long as possible. Robyn was a notorious man stealer and the fact that this was a married man was little consolation. Everyone was fair game on her playing field.