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Gabriel and Alistair stared at each other. Heidi’s job as assistant to both of them meant that she had access to almost everything on the system.
‘No. There must be some mistake.’ Alistair was the first to speak.
‘Unless... Heidi works from home sometimes. Maybe
she had someone round to her place and he found her password...’
‘He? What are you suggesting, Gabriel, that someone seduced our assistant and she told him her network password? I’d be surprised if even you could get away with slipping an enquiry about a woman’s network password into a romantic conversation. And Heidi’s a very sensible person, as you well know. It’s all a little cloak and dagger, isn’t it?’
Gabriel shrugged. ‘I don’t mean to imply that Heidi told anyone. She might have written it down somewhere.’
‘Enough!’ Gabriel and Alistair’s way of starting at polar opposites to each other and working their way to a conclusion was effective but frustrating to watch, and Clara brought her hand down on the table with a little more force than she’d intended. ‘Will you leave this to us? Our team will make discreet enquiries and see what they can find out. If and when they come up with something, I’ll let you know.’
Gabriel nodded. ‘All right. With one proviso, though. Heidi’s worked with us for five years, and we presume her innocent unless there’s irrefutable evidence to the contrary.’
‘Yes,’ Alistair agreed. ‘We’d have to be one hundred per cent sure. One hundred and ten per cent. I don’t believe that Heidi would do anything to hurt us.’
‘No. Neither do I. She’s clearly the victim in this, and we must do everything we can to protect her.’
Clara took a deep breath. ‘That goes without saying. No one’s going to start accusing anyone unless there’s solid proof, and there could well be a perfectly innocent explanation for this. Let’s just concentrate on the good news, shall we? Knowing who’s behind all of this is a major step forward.’
‘Yes. Major step forward.’ Alistair leaned back in his seat, yawning.
‘It should never have happened in the first place.’ Gabriel’s face was dark. ‘I always said I’d take a step back if the charity or any of our people were compromised. I think it’s time I did that. I’m going to Italy in the morning, I’m a liability here.’
Alistair shook his head. ‘You don’t have to do that, Gabriel.’
‘Yes. I do.’ Gabriel had obviously made his mind up.
‘Well... I suppose you could do with a break, after all that’s happened. You’ll love it there, Clara.’
‘I’ll be staying here, and I’ll liaise with you, Alistair. There’s a protection team from our Italian office in place at Gabriel’s parents’ home,’ Clara interjected quickly.
Alistair turned the corners of his mouth down. ‘Shame. You’ll be missing a wonderful beach...’
‘I’m not going for the beach, Alistair.’ Gabriel seemed unable to sit still any longer, and got to his feet, opening the kitchen cupboard doors and then banging them closed again, as if he was looking for something.
‘No, of course not. But you’re never a liability.’ Alistair finally said the words that Clara had been wanting to say.
‘I’m not exactly an asset either. If Heidi or any of our staff have been compromised because of me, I won’t forgive myself. I’ll stay at my parents’ place until this is all over.’
Which meant that he wouldn’t need any more protection in England. He wouldn’t need her any more. Clara felt as if she’d been punched in the stomach.
‘If that’s how you feel. I wish you’d stay but I can understand why you’re going.’ Alistair didn’t seem to be putting up much of a fight to keep Gabriel here and Clara wanted to shake him.
‘You’ll cover for me while I’m gone?’
‘Of course. I’ll let Mike know you’re out of the country for a while, and keep an eye on him. We can set up a daily conference call to keep you up to speed.’
‘Thanks. I think this is the best way to handle it.’ Gabriel found what he was looking for, pulling a bottle of brandy from the back of one of the cupboards.
Alistair stretched his arms, yawning again. ‘If you say so. We’ll talk in the morning. I’m beat, I’d better call a taxi...’
‘I’ll get one of my team to take you home, Alistair. I’ve got to speak to my office to let them know what’s going on, and arrange the car for the morning, so I’ll be here until they get back.’
‘Great. Thanks, I appreciate that.’ Alistair got to his feet and reached for his jacket, following Clara out into the hallway. She needed to talk to Gabriel. If he was leaving tomorrow then she had to find some way of saying goodbye to him and keeping it professional, even if it did feel as if her heart was breaking.
* * *
