CHAPTER 10

Brian sighed and pinched his eyes. They felt gritty and dry and he was bone tired. It had felt like days since he’d slept and he couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten.

As if summoned by his empty stomach, Madeline knocked on his office door lightly before walking in and placing a wrapped sub on his desk. He looked up and thanked her with a tired smile. She was a good - no, great - assistant and knew him better than he knew himself most of the time.

“There’s an email from the PR firm in Melbourne that I need you to look over and your mother is on line two.”

“Thanks Madeline,” he replied. “Are our flights home booked for tomorrow?”

She nodded and smiled. “Yes, the pilot has been notified and we are cleared to take off at five. Your last meeting is scheduled for three-thirty and a car will be waiting to take us straight to the airport as soon as it wraps up.”

“Excellent,” he said, unwrapping the sandwich. “Thanks.” She nodded and left the office.

Colleen Aviation had off