I’ve been sharing snippets from THEIR BOND THROUGH JADE, a story set in Australia and New Zealand. This snippet is Mat’s POV.
ENJOY ♥
Today’s Snippet
Mat’s laughter echoed in the small car as he turned off the engine and got out. With a few long strides, he headed towards the café. “I thought Jess is more than your girlfriend. I’m talking about Tiffany.”
There was a groan on the other end of the line. “I heard about your phone call. You must’ve left some impression, but if you start any rumours by calling her my girlfriend I will kill you.”
As he stepped inside the cafe, Mat asked, “You heard?”
“I’ve already spoken to her, but I don’t—”
“I’m glad you did. Tiffany was desperate to talk to you. I hope you were able to help her.”
Mat held his phone away for a moment, smiled at the young woman behind the counter, and ordered his coffee.
‘‘You’re still there?” Steve asked with a loud voice.
Mat shook his head with a smile and explained, “Yes, mate, just ordering a much-needed coffee.” His friend’s resigned sigh gave him another chuckle. “If you’ve already talked to her, we’re all good, ay.”
Blurb
When Tiffany Cahill opens the door to the police, memories of the past return to haunt her. She calls her friend Steve for help, only to be surprised by the voice of a stranger on the other end of the line. She never anticipates the impact this New Zealander is going to have on her life, even more so when she becomes the victim of an assault just a few hours later.
Mat Apanui, owner of a helicopter tour company in New Zealand, can hear the urgency and despair in Tiffany’s voice. They have never met before, but he feels compelled to help her. After an assault on her, he invites her to travel with him to his home in Queenstown, New Zealand, where he believes he can provide her with the temporary safety and security she needs until the situation is resolved.
But can Tiffany overcome her reservations and trust a stranger like Mat enough to fly across the Tasman Sea?
I’ve been sharing snippets from THEIR BOND THROUGH JADE, a story set in Australia and New Zealand. Today I move into Mat’s POV.
ENJOY ♥
Today’s Snippet
The GPS voice in Matiu Apanui’s car had as little of a clue as he did about the directions to get to his meeting place, and after half an hour, he was still on the western side of Melbourne instead of in the city. The reason for it was Tiffany, who was on the threshold of his thoughts. He replayed the phone conversation over and over in his head. It was clear something must’ve upset her. Even though she’d relaxed during their short conversation, he’d been able to sense her tension.
“Shit,” he shouted as he pressed the speed dial button on his phone, remembering he’d never left a note for his friend.
“Mate, where are you?” Steve asked, by way of answering.
“I have no idea. Near a big park. Looks pretty with the trees alongside the walking tracks. Had no idea Melbourne had all these deciduous trees—”
“Mat!”
“The lovely GPS lady took me on a sightseeing tour first it seems. I’m considering stopping for a coffee and to reboot her at the same time.”
“And you called me to tell me that?”
Mat noticed the frustration in his friend’s voice and asked bluntly, “Tell me about your girlfriend.”
There was a brief silence, before Steve asked, “You want to talk about Jess?”
Blurb
When Tiffany Cahill opens the door to the police, memories of the past return to haunt her. She calls her friend Steve for help, only to be surprised by the voice of a stranger on the other end of the line. She never anticipates the impact this New Zealander is going to have on her life, even more so when she becomes the victim of an assault just a few hours later.
Mat Apanui, owner of a helicopter tour company in New Zealand, can hear the urgency and despair in Tiffany’s voice. They have never met before, but he feels compelled to help her. After an assault on her, he invites her to travel with him to his home in Queenstown, New Zealand, where he believes he can provide her with the temporary safety and security she needs until the situation is resolved.
But can Tiffany overcome her reservations and trust a stranger like Mat enough to fly across the Tasman Sea?
I’d like to introduce you today to one of my books which is set in Australia and New Zealand ~ THEIR BOND THROUGH JADE
Today’s snippet is in Tiffany’s POV. ENJOY ♥
Today’s Snippet
“Thanks, Mat. Yes, I’ll be fine.” It wasn’t a big lie, because at that moment she was feeling better.
She hung up and noticed a smile on her face. And instead of a churning stomach, butterflies had made themselves comfortable. She thought of how easy the conversation had flowed and how attentive he’d been. And his voice. She liked his voice. It was deep and calm, smooth and articulate. She closed her eyes and lost herself in his accent. It hadn’t been strong, but still obvious to her.
And then there’d been his laugh. God, his laugh. It had turned her inside out.
With a big exhale, she covered her face with her hands, surprised that on a day she had to face the police, she was drooling over a man she’d never met, but only talked to.
For a mere few minutes, at that.
The police. A ripple of worry went through her, and she stood to search for her phone to give Steve another call. This time on his mobile.
Blurb
When Tiffany Cahill opens the door to the police, memories of the past return to haunt her. She calls her friend Steve for help, only to be surprised by the voice of a stranger on the other end of the line. She never anticipates the impact this New Zealander is going to have on her life, even more so when she becomes the victim of an assault just a few hours later.
Mat Apanui, owner of a helicopter tour company in New Zealand, can hear the urgency and despair in Tiffany’s voice. They have never met before, but he feels compelled to help her. After an assault on her, he invites her to travel with him to his home in Queenstown, New Zealand, where he believes he can provide her with the temporary safety and security she needs until the situation is resolved.
But can Tiffany overcome her reservations and trust a stranger like Mat enough to fly across the Tasman Sea?
I’d like to introduce you today to one of my books which is set in Australia and New Zealand ~ THEIR BOND THROUGH JADE
Today’s snippet is in Tiffany’s POV. ENJOY ♥
Today’s Snippet
“You tell me first how Steve knows someone from New Zealand.”
He laughed again, and it was one of those contagious laughs, which told everyone of his love for it: deep, heartfelt, and infectious. She liked him already for his laugh alone.
“You picked up on that, ay?”
“Educated guess.”
There was silence before he explained. “Steve and I went to school together in Sydney, and we’ve stayed in contact.”
She remembered Steve had grown up in Sydney but then moved to Melbourne in his early teens because of his father’s job. Mat’s voice brought her back from her thoughts, before she was able to reply.
“Darling, I love talking to you, but I’ve got to be somewhere in an hour. Can you promise me you’ll be okay?”
Blurb
When Tiffany Cahill opens the door to the police, memories of the past return to haunt her. She calls her friend Steve for help, only to be surprised by the voice of a stranger on the other end of the line. She never anticipates the impact this New Zealander is going to have on her life, even more so when she becomes the victim of an assault just a few hours later.
Mat Apanui, owner of a helicopter tour company in New Zealand, can hear the urgency and despair in Tiffany’s voice. They have never met before, but he feels compelled to help her. After an assault on her, he invites her to travel with him to his home in Queenstown, New Zealand, where he believes he can provide her with the temporary safety and security she needs until the situation is resolved.
But can Tiffany overcome her reservations and trust a stranger like Mat enough to fly across the Tasman Sea?
I’d like to introduce you today to one of my books which is set in Australia and New Zealand ~ THEIR BOND THROUGH JADE
Today’s snippet is in Tiffany’s POV. ENJOY ♥
Today’s Snippet
“Who are you?”
‘‘My name’s Mat, but I’ve already told you that.”
There was no malice in his voice. She sat on one of the chairs, her body relaxing bit by bit. “Steve never mentioned someone called Mat.”
He laughed. “You know all his secrets?”
“No. But, considering I’m his best friend, I believe, he would have mentioned a friend staying with him.”
“Let me think, I can’t recall him mentioning your name, either.”
His voice had a teasing tone, and Tiffany was starting to like him. It was exactly what she needed after opening the door to the police.
“After his girlfriend, I’m the next most important person in Steve’s life,” she said, trying hard to match his humour. “And there’s never been a mention of a person named Mat. I’m pretty certain of that.”
“Damn that little bugger. Here I thought we were best buddies.” He paused for a second then added, “Tell me, Tiffany, why were you so upset?”
Blurb
When Tiffany Cahill opens the door to the police, memories of the past return to haunt her. She calls her friend Steve for help, only to be surprised by the voice of a stranger on the other end of the line. She never anticipates the impact this New Zealander is going to have on her life, even more so when she becomes the victim of an assault just a few hours later.
Mat Apanui, owner of a helicopter tour company in New Zealand, can hear the urgency and despair in Tiffany’s voice. They have never met before, but he feels compelled to help her. After an assault on her, he invites her to travel with him to his home in Queenstown, New Zealand, where he believes he can provide her with the temporary safety and security she needs until the situation is resolved.
But can Tiffany overcome her reservations and trust a stranger like Mat enough to fly across the Tasman Sea?
My latest release “In the Shadows of a Lie” will see the light of day next week and I’m celebrating this ‘book birth-day’ by giving away copies of my first NZ book “Their Bond through Jade” ♥
Come on over, do the “one click” and let me take you to the wonderful country of New Zealand ♥♥
Pikorua, the Maori name for the symbol, is a twist that is said to symbolise the strength of the bond between two people. Mat is certain there is something between Tiffany and him.
When Tiffany Cahill opens the door to the police, memories flood her mind of the previous year and a relationship gone bad. Frightened, she calls her friend, Steve, for help, but instead a stranger answers the phone. Little does Tiffany know how much this New Zealander is going to impact her life, especially after she is assaulted only a few hours later.
Mat Apanui, the owner of a helicopter tour company in New Zealand, can’t ignore the worry in Tiffany’s voice when he answers Steve’s phone. Before he knows it, he is spending most of his business trip to Melbourne with her. Desperate to keep her safe after an attack, he invites her to stay with him in Queenstown, NZ.
With her safety at risk, how will Tiffany overcome her reservations and trust the sexy stranger enough to fly across the Tasman Sea?
♥♦♥ EXCERPT ♥♦♥
When Tiffany Cahill opened the door and laid eyes on the police officers, memories flooded back of the horrid day the year before when she’d been dragged to the police station. Everything inside her tensed as she checked the lever for the screen door to make sure it was locked. She rubbed her damp palms against her pants. “Miss Cahill?” the male police officer asked, his dark brown eyes focussing on her. Scared, she wasn’t able to find her voice, she bit her lip and simply nodded. “Miss Tiffany Cahill?” the female, and younger, officer asked. Tiffany nodded again. If she focussed on the officer’s flaming red hair beneath her cap, she wouldn’t have to meet her eyes. But she allowed herself a cautious peek at the officers’ faces. Their expressions were unreadable, which was worrying. “I’m Senior Constable Jones. This is Sergeant Harris.” The officer paused for a moment. “We would like to ask you a couple of questions in regard to Thomas Terrill.” “Who?” Tiffany asked, hardly above a whisper. Her whole body shook, and she knew she had to sit down soon or she’d faint. “Thomas Terrill,” Jones repeated. “He was up on charges last year for the possession of drugs. The file states you were involved—” “There’s no way I’ll come with you.” Her voice was louder than intended, panic rising within her. “You can’t make me—” “Miss Cahill,” Jones said with a calm voice. “We’re not here to take you with us, but to ask you a few questions,” Sergeant Harris explained, pulling out a little notepad from his shirt pocket, opening it with an expert snap. “Is there anybody with you at home?” Tiffany frowned as she shook her head. Anxiety raced through the pit of her stomach, and she had to resist the urge to step back to shut the door. “Anybody you can call?” His voice was soothing, and when Tiffany met his eyes through the screen door, she noticed something that conveyed trust. And there was a need inside her to trust him, yet every fibre in her told her to not open the door. Never again would she let the police take her to the station and treat her like a criminal. She bit her lip again, desperate to figure out whom to call, when she replied, “My brother.” Harris nodded. “Thomas Terrill was charged with possession of drugs last year. You are noted as a witness.” He paused, checked his little notepad, and continued, “He’s also known as Hudson Ford.” Leaning her head against the door, Tiffany took a deep breath to steady herself. “Are you okay, Miss Cahill?” Harris asked. “Please open the door,” Jones requested. Holding up her hand, Tiffany replied, “I haven’t seen him since last year. I have nothing to do with whatever trouble he’s in.” Her entire body trembled, anxiety rushing through her like a tidal wave. She took another two deep breaths before standing straight to meet Harris’ gaze. He searched her eyes before he assented with a nod and held out a business card. “We need to talk to you. I can assure you you’re not in trouble, but we need your help.” He squeezed the card into the small gap of the doorframe. “This is my number. Please call in when you have somebody with you, and we can have a talk.”
I became an Australian Citizen last week and I wanted to celebrate this wonderful occasion with you by giving away copies of one of my books. There’s no favourite book, but “Their Bond through Jade” does come close ♥
Come on over, do the “one click” and let me take you to the wonderful country of New Zealand ♥♥
Pikorua, the Maori name for the symbol, is a twist that is said to symbolise the strength of the bond between two people. Mat is certain there is something between Tiffany and him.
When Tiffany Cahill opens the door to the police, memories flood her mind of the previous year and a relationship gone bad. Frightened, she calls her friend, Steve, for help, but instead a stranger answers the phone. Little does Tiffany know how much this New Zealander is going to impact her life, especially after she is assaulted only a few hours later.
Mat Apanui, the owner of a helicopter tour company in New Zealand, can’t ignore the worry in Tiffany’s voice when he answers Steve’s phone. Before he knows it, he is spending most of his business trip to Melbourne with her. Desperate to keep her safe after an attack, he invites her to stay with him in Queenstown, NZ.
With her safety at risk, how will Tiffany overcome her reservations and trust the sexy stranger enough to fly across the Tasman Sea?
♥♦♥ EXCERPT ♥♦♥
When Tiffany Cahill opened the door and laid eyes on the police officers, memories flooded back of the horrid day the year before when she’d been dragged to the police station. Everything inside her tensed as she checked the lever for the screen door to make sure it was locked. She rubbed her damp palms against her pants. “Miss Cahill?” the male police officer asked, his dark brown eyes focussing on her. Scared, she wasn’t able to find her voice, she bit her lip and simply nodded. “Miss Tiffany Cahill?” the female, and younger, officer asked. Tiffany nodded again. If she focussed on the officer’s flaming red hair beneath her cap, she wouldn’t have to meet her eyes. But she allowed herself a cautious peek at the officers’ faces. Their expressions were unreadable, which was worrying. “I’m Senior Constable Jones. This is Sergeant Harris.” The officer paused for a moment. “We would like to ask you a couple of questions in regard to Thomas Terrill.” “Who?” Tiffany asked, hardly above a whisper. Her whole body shook, and she knew she had to sit down soon or she’d faint. “Thomas Terrill,” Jones repeated. “He was up on charges last year for the possession of drugs. The file states you were involved—” “There’s no way I’ll come with you.” Her voice was louder than intended, panic rising within her. “You can’t make me—” “Miss Cahill,” Jones said with a calm voice. “We’re not here to take you with us, but to ask you a few questions,” Sergeant Harris explained, pulling out a little notepad from his shirt pocket, opening it with an expert snap. “Is there anybody with you at home?” Tiffany frowned as she shook her head. Anxiety raced through the pit of her stomach, and she had to resist the urge to step back to shut the door. “Anybody you can call?” His voice was soothing, and when Tiffany met his eyes through the screen door, she noticed something that conveyed trust. And there was a need inside her to trust him, yet every fibre in her told her to not open the door. Never again would she let the police take her to the station and treat her like a criminal. She bit her lip again, desperate to figure out whom to call, when she replied, “My brother.” Harris nodded. “Thomas Terrill was charged with possession of drugs last year. You are noted as a witness.” He paused, checked his little notepad, and continued, “He’s also known as Hudson Ford.” Leaning her head against the door, Tiffany took a deep breath to steady herself. “Are you okay, Miss Cahill?” Harris asked. “Please open the door,” Jones requested. Holding up her hand, Tiffany replied, “I haven’t seen him since last year. I have nothing to do with whatever trouble he’s in.” Her entire body trembled, anxiety rushing through her like a tidal wave. She took another two deep breaths before standing straight to meet Harris’ gaze. He searched her eyes before he assented with a nod and held out a business card. “We need to talk to you. I can assure you you’re not in trouble, but we need your help.” He squeezed the card into the small gap of the doorframe. “This is my number. Please call in when you have somebody with you, and we can have a talk.”
Happy Wednesday everyone. The publisher pulled the stories from retailers quicker than I expected, so there won’t be any more snippets from the Australian Sports Stars Series until I made a decision what to do with the stories. I know I have shared from “Their Bond through Jade” before, but the book’s on special this week and I’d like to share a teaser from on of my favourite scene. ENJOY ♥
Today’s Hook:
After he disconnected the call, he opened the pack of chips and went back to the lounge room. His mouth edged up as he stared at the two camping chairs and the foldout table in the middle of the big room. It looked odd and reminded him that he had to buy some furniture sooner rather than later. He sat on the old camping chair, crossed his legs as he leaned back, and thought of Tiffany. His gaze drifted across the lake to the Remarkables, the mountain range along the shore. A sense of contentment spread through him. You’re about the luckiest man in this world. He fidgeted in the chair as he took a little box out of his pocket. With a flick of his thumb, he opened it and looked at the necklace in front of him. Carefully, he pulled the pikorua out of the small box and ran the necklace through his fingers. He’d come up with the idea when he’d rushed through the airport and saw the duty free shops. It hadn’t taken him long to figure out what to get her. The jade pikorua was a twist symbolising the strength of the bond between two people, and Mat was certain that there was something between Tiffany and him. He’d make sure to mail it the next day. He reached over to the small camping table for his phone. Her number was already stored on the speed dial … and she answered after one ring. The relief at hearing her voice gave him an immediate lift.
BLURB:
When Tiffany Cahill opens the door to the police, memories flood her mind of the previous year and a relationship gone bad. Frightened, she calls her friend, Steve, for help, but instead a stranger answers the phone. Little does Tiffany know how much this New Zealander is going to impact her life, especially after she is assaulted only a few hours later. Mat Apanui, the owner of a helicopter tour company in New Zealand, can’t ignore the worry in Tiffany’s voice when he answers Steve’s phone. Before he knows it, he is spending most of his business trip to Melbourne with her. Desperate to keep her safe after an attack, he invites her to stay with him in Queenstown, NZ. With her safety at risk, how will Tiffany overcome her reservations and trust the sexy stranger enough to fly across the Tasman Sea?
“This blood-pumping novel will keep the reader hooked until the very end.” InD’tale Magazine
“Do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this wonderful book and fall in love.” (5 star review)
Mat is a sexy, tattooed New Zealander with a strong sense of family and duty and Tiffany is a woman with a past that continues to haunt her. Can Mat help her overcome her demons and move on with the next phase of her life? Come for the romance and stay for the breathtaking scenery. (5 star review)
4 stars – NEW BEGINNINGS is a very emotional read, one that is heartwarming as well as heart wrenching. It gives you hope in the act of human kindness and that good things do happen to good people. I highly recommend this book.
Pikorua, the Maori name for the symbol, is a twist that is said to symbolise the strength of the bond between two people. Mat is certain there is something between Tiffany and him.
When Tiffany Cahill opens the door to the police, memories flood her mind of the previous year and a relationship gone bad. Frightened, she calls her friend, Steve, for help, but instead a stranger answers the phone. Little does Tiffany know how much this New Zealander is going to impact her life, especially after she is assaulted only a few hours later.
Mat Apanui, the owner of a helicopter tour company in New Zealand, can’t ignore the worry in Tiffany’s voice when he answers Steve’s phone. Before he knows it, he is spending most of his business trip to Melbourne with her. Desperate to keep her safe after an attack, he invites her to stay with him in Queenstown, NZ.
With her safety at risk, how will Tiffany overcome her reservations and trust the sexy stranger enough to fly across the Tasman Sea?
♥♦♥ EXCERPT ♥♦♥
When Tiffany Cahill opened the door and laid eyes on the police officers, memories flooded back of the horrid day the year before when she’d been dragged to the police station. Everything inside her tensed as she checked the lever for the screen door to make sure it was locked. She rubbed her damp palms against her pants.
“Miss Cahill?” the male police officer asked, his dark brown eyes focussing on her.
Scared, she wasn’t able to find her voice, she bit her lip and simply nodded.
“Miss Tiffany Cahill?” the female, and younger, officer asked.
Tiffany nodded again. If she focussed on the officer’s flaming red hair beneath her cap, she wouldn’t have to meet her eyes. But she allowed herself a cautious peek at the officers’ faces.
Their expressions were unreadable, which was worrying.
“I’m Senior Constable Jones. This is Sergeant Harris.” The officer paused for a moment. “We would like to ask you a couple of questions in regard to Thomas Terrill.”
“Who?” Tiffany asked, hardly above a whisper. Her whole body shook, and she knew she had to sit down soon or she’d faint.
“Thomas Terrill,” Jones repeated. “He was up on charges last year for the possession of drugs. The file states you were involved—”
“There’s no way I’ll come with you.” Her voice was louder than intended, panic rising within her. “You can’t make me—”
“Miss Cahill,” Jones said with a calm voice.
“We’re not here to take you with us, but to ask you a few questions,” Sergeant Harris explained, pulling out a little notepad from his shirt pocket, opening it with an expert snap. “Is there anybody with you at home?”
Tiffany frowned as she shook her head. Anxiety raced through the pit of her stomach, and she had to resist the urge to step back to shut the door.
“Anybody you can call?”
His voice was soothing, and when Tiffany met his eyes through the screen door, she noticed something that conveyed trust. And there was a need inside her to trust him, yet every fibre in her told her to not open the door. Never again would she let the police take her to the station and treat her like a criminal.
She bit her lip again, desperate to figure out whom to call, when she replied, “My brother.”
Harris nodded. “Thomas Terrill was charged with possession of drugs last year. You are noted as a witness.” He paused, checked his little notepad, and continued, “He’s also known as Hudson Ford.”
Leaning her head against the door, Tiffany took a deep breath to steady herself.
“Are you okay, Miss Cahill?” Harris asked.
“Please open the door,” Jones requested.
Holding up her hand, Tiffany replied, “I haven’t seen him since last year. I have nothing to do with whatever trouble he’s in.” Her entire body trembled, anxiety rushing through her like a tidal wave. She took another two deep breaths before standing straight to meet Harris’ gaze.
He searched her eyes before he assented with a nod and held out a business card. “We need to talk to you. I can assure you you’re not in trouble, but we need your help.” He squeezed the card into the small gap of the doorframe. “This is my number. Please call in when you have somebody with you, and we can have a talk.”
“Their Bond through Jade” was probably the toughest story to write and at the same time is my favourite one. It was written during a time when I needed to escape reality … what a better place than New Zealand.
But it was also the story when something could go wrong with it, did go wrong.
Please do the “one click” and let me take you to the wonderful country of New Zealand – FREE for KU subscribers or only $2.99 ♥♥
$2.99 or FREE for KU Subscribers Contemporary Romance Read More
♥♦♥ BLURB ♥♦♥ Pikorua, the Maori name for the symbol, is a twist that is said to symbolise the strength of the bond between two people. Mat is certain there is something between Tiffany and him.
When Tiffany Cahill opens the door to the police, memories flood her mind of the previous year and a relationship gone bad. Frightened, she calls her friend, Steve, for help, but instead a stranger answers the phone. Little does Tiffany know how much this New Zealander is going to impact her life, especially after she is assaulted only a few hours later.
Mat Apanui, the owner of a helicopter tour company in New Zealand, can’t ignore the worry in Tiffany’s voice when he answers Steve’s phone. Before he knows it, he is spending most of his business trip to Melbourne with her. Desperate to keep her safe after an attack, he invites her to stay with him in Queenstown, NZ.
With her safety at risk, how will Tiffany overcome her reservations and trust the sexy stranger enough to fly across the Tasman Sea?
♥♦♥ EXCERPT ♥♦♥ When Tiffany Cahill opened the door and laid eyes on the police officers, memories flooded back of the horrid day the year before when she’d been dragged to the police station. Everything inside her tensed as she checked the lever for the screen door to make sure it was locked. She rubbed her damp palms against her pants. “Miss Cahill?” the male police officer asked, his dark brown eyes focussing on her. Scared, she wasn’t able to find her voice, she bit her lip and simply nodded. “Miss Tiffany Cahill?” the female, and younger, officer asked. Tiffany nodded again. If she focussed on the officer’s flaming red hair beneath her cap, she wouldn’t have to meet her eyes. But she allowed herself a cautious peek at the officers’ faces. Their expressions were unreadable, which was worrying. “I’m Senior Constable Jones. This is Sergeant Harris.” The officer paused for a moment. “We would like to ask you a couple of questions in regard to Thomas Terrill.” “Who?” Tiffany asked, hardly above a whisper. Her whole body shook, and she knew she had to sit down soon or she’d faint. “Thomas Terrill,” Jones repeated. “He was up on charges last year for the possession of drugs. The file states you were involved—” “There’s no way I’ll come with you.” Her voice was louder than intended, panic rising within her. “You can’t make me—” “Miss Cahill,” Jones said with a calm voice. “We’re not here to take you with us, but to ask you a few questions,” Sergeant Harris explained, pulling out a little notepad from his shirt pocket, opening it with an expert snap. “Is there anybody with you at home?” Tiffany frowned as she shook her head. Anxiety raced through the pit of her stomach, and she had to resist the urge to step back to shut the door. “Anybody you can call?” His voice was soothing, and when Tiffany met his eyes through the screen door, she noticed something that conveyed trust. And there was a need inside her to trust him, yet every fibre in her told her to not open the door. Never again would she let the police take her to the station and treat her like a criminal. She bit her lip again, desperate to figure out whom to call, when she replied, “My brother.” Harris nodded. “Thomas Terrill was charged with possession of drugs last year. You are noted as a witness.” He paused, checked his little notepad, and continued, “He’s also known as Hudson Ford.” Leaning her head against the door, Tiffany took a deep breath to steady herself. “Are you okay, Miss Cahill?” Harris asked. “Please open the door,” Jones requested. Holding up her hand, Tiffany replied, “I haven’t seen him since last year. I have nothing to do with whatever trouble he’s in.” Her entire body trembled, anxiety rushing through her like a tidal wave. She took another two deep breaths before standing straight to meet Harris’ gaze. He searched her eyes before he assented with a nod and held out a business card. “We need to talk to you. I can assure you you’re not in trouble, but we need your help.” He squeezed the card into the small gap of the doorframe. “This is my number. Please call in when you have somebody with you, and we can have a talk.”
Mat Apanui, owner of a helicopter tour company in New Zealand, can hear the urgency and despair in Tiffany’s voice. They have never met before, but he feels compelled to help her. After an assault on her, he invites her to travel with him to his home in Queenstown, New Zealand, where he believes he can provide her with the temporary safety and security she needs until the situation is resolved.
