The Betrayal Read Online Free PDF Page A

paced the length of the open-plan kitchen and living room. The stylishly appointed apartment boasted impressive views across Lake Burley Griffin, but he hardly registered the sparkling brilliance of the early spring sunshine as it bounced off the clear, wind-rippled water.
    Starting at the beginning, he told Clayton about the accusation, then of the shock, the confusion, the disbelief and the anger when Gary Julian’s words had sunk in.
    He told him how he’d wracked his brains over the weekend following his meeting in his boss’ office, trying to figure out who could be responsible, but had come up with nothing. And then he told Clayton about Senior Investigator Sabattini.
    “Christ, Declan,” Clayton muttered, running a hand through the disheveled length of his blond hair. “Who the hell would do something like this?”
    Declan laughed humorlessly. “I’ve spent the last seventy-five hours or so asking the same thing and I still come up blank.”
    “Why didn’t you call me earlier? I can’t believe you’ve carried it around with you all this time.”
    Declan shook his head, his lips compressed. “I thought it would blow over. I know darn well I didn’t do it. I assumed I’d meet with IA, set the record straight and be back at work in the morning. Never in my wildest dreams did I see it panning out this way.”
    Clayton pushed himself away from the kitchen countertop and went to stand near the floor-to-ceiling glass doors that led out onto the balcony. He gazed out at the view, but showed no signs of seeing the sparkling display from the lake below. Moments later, he spun on his heel to face Declan. “What about now? Have you called any of the others? Brandon? Tom? Riley?”
    Declan shook his head.
    “Tell me you’ve at least told Mom and Dad?”
    “No, you’re the first one to know. Like I said, up until now, I thought it would be resolved at the first meeting. When the IA investigator mentioned talking to other witnesses before she wrote her report, I started to panic. That’s why I called you. You’ve been in the AFP longer than any of us. Besides, you live in the same town.”
    “You need a lawyer. I’ll call the family. They’ll want to know what’s going on.”
    Declan opened his mouth to protest, but Clayton waved him off. “They’re your family, your mom and dad. Wouldn’t you want to know if it was one of your kids?”
    “I don’t have any kids.”
    Clayton ignored him. “We need a lawyer from Sydney. The best there is. Tom and Brandon will know who to call. Sydney’s their turf. And that’s before we talk to Dad about calling in a few favors.”
    Clayton tugged out his phone and scrolled through his contacts. Declan eased out his breath, already feeling better than he had since he’d been given the news. He moved back toward the kitchen and collected his mug from where he’d left it on the counter. His phone vibrated in his pocket.
    Taking a slug of coffee, he checked the caller ID and then answered the call.
    “Charlie, how are things?”
    “Shit, mate, what’s going on? I can’t believe it. The things they’re all saying at the office… That IA’s all over you. I won’t believe it. I told them all to shut the fuck up. I wanted you to know I’m here for you, mate. If there’s anything I can do…”
    Declan puffed out his breath on a heavy sigh and took another mouthful of coffee.
    “Thanks, mate. I appreciate it. And thanks for the vote of confidence. I thought after working with those other blokes for more than a year, they’d know me better than that, but apparently not. I guess you never can tell.”
    “Well, as some poor bastard said, ‘It’s when you’re down that you find out who your true friends are.’”
    “Isn’t that the truth,” Declan replied with a grimace.
    “I mean it, mate. If there’s anything I can do…”
    “Yeah, thanks. Do you fancy hitting a bar on the foreshore tonight? I know it’s the beginning of the week, but right now, all I