Seven Days Grace (A Grace Rose Novel Book 1) by Kellie Merriman Page B

were pleasant which is why I picked you this morning. You ’ re ethical and you ’ ll do the right thing. I ’ ve been in the media a lot over the years , however , with some of those stories , no-one even bothered to interview me. I don ’ t know how they get away with it. ’
    ‘ That ’ s quite a compliment , thank you. And I agree with your sentiments on media. It ’ s a catch-22 for me. ’
    ‘ You love it yet there are some parts you detest. ’
    ‘ How did you know? ’
    ‘ I feel the same about what I do. I think we all do in some way. I must say , ciao , my dear. Thank you for your time. Please call me if you have any further questions. You have my numbers? ’
    ‘ Yes , though will you answer the phone when I call? ’
    He handed her his phone with jerky movements. ‘ Program your number in , please? ’
    ‘ There it is and thank you , Antonio. ’ Will he remember this meeting?
    ‘ Let me offer you some unsolicited advice , my dear. Don ’ t buy into the trap of money buying you happiness. ’ He nodded , sipped the liquor and slipped back into his strange state.
    ‘ So for you , money doesn ’ t buy happiness? ’
    ‘ I don ’ t believe it buys anyone happiness. No ,’ he mumbled to himself again , ‘ the simple answer is no , it certainly does not. ’
    ‘ Thank you. ’
    ‘ Please feel free to put that in your story , too. ’
    Now he appeared alert again. Grace thought he was manic.
    ‘ I wish you all the best , my dear , and I trust you ’ ll uncover who is behind this nasty business. I ’ ll see you on the other side. ’

11
    ‘ That was too close. She looked straight at you. ’
    The two men were waiting outside Mr de Silva ’ s door when Grace exited.
    ‘ We ’ re permitted into his house when nobody else is , that ’ s why. She ’ s probably wondering what sort of credentials we have to be allowed in. Look at all the media still waiting. I wonder why they let her in. ’
    ‘ Who wouldn ’ t? ’
    ‘ True. There ’ s something about her , for sure. ’
    ‘ Yeah , it ’ s those legs that go all the way up to her neck. I ’ d let her in , too. ’
    ‘ No , there ’ s more to it. She ’ s enchanting. ’
    ‘ Sounds like you have a thing for her? You ’ re supposed to be following her , finding out how she ’ s involved. Be careful. ’
    Silver Shirt opened one of the large , double doors and nodded to the two men. He closed the door behind them and the three of them stood in the marbled foyer lined with expensive paintings.
    ‘ Gentleman , Mr de Silva will see you now ,’ Silver Shirt said.

12
    Grace felt like a journalist turned private detective. She was back in the office at her desk. Nick was wrong about getting information from the courthouse , they ’ d told her nothing. She had enough from Antonio anyway. She pulled her keyboard forward and explored the Parliament House site. In the search box she typed ‘ Sleen ’ . Not knowing what she was even looking for , she had to start somewhere. Forget this business about sitting idly by waiting for something to happen. If there was a story in all of this mess The Voice had presented to her , she would find it.
    She hoped to find some dirt on Sleen. He could be up to mischief , although , if he kept a low profile it would be easy for anyone to turn a blind eye to his antics. Yet , the Voice wouldn ’ t have given her any information on this guy if there wasn ’ t something to it. She needed to think more laterally. She was excited now and scanned the minister ’ s site to learn as much as she could about his portfolio. Richard Sleen was the Minister for the Environment and had recently been granted the position after the previous minister , Michael Crow , had died. Everything Grace read added up.
    However , she felt conflicted and she wasn ’ t sure she could rely on her gut instincts any more. After bumping into Sleen yesterday , she sensed he was a good man. Although , this was where her mind played