Page 96 of Risky Obsession

“I can’t tell you. He’ll kill me and my wife.”

“Five seconds.”

“You don’t understand.”

“Two seconds, Gunter.”

“Okay.” He raised his hands. “Just, just step back.” He let out a rushed breath.

“Who is he?” I asked in the sweetest voice I could muster.

“He said his name was John Smith.” Gunter’s shoulders sagged. “He’s Australian. Like you.”

Australian! My thoughts bounced all over the place.

Kane tugged his phone from his pocket, swiped through the screen, and then kicked Gunter’s foot. “Is this him?”

Gunter peered at the screen. “I never met him.”

“How did he contact you?”

“He . . . he rang me.”

“When?” Kane barked.

“What did he say?” I asked, keeping my tone softer.

“He said if a man and woman from Australia come into my shop looking for a map, I had to call him.”

“Why?” I asked.

“He didn’t say.”

I glanced at Kane. “When did he call?”

“Saturday morning.”

“Why you?”

“I don’t know.” Gunter’s huge eyes flitted from me to Kane.

“After you saw us, what did you do?”

“I rang him.”

“On what number?”

“I wrote it on a note, but I . . . I threw it away.”

“Why?” Kane said through clenched teeth.

“I don’t know.”

“Why did you do what he asked?” I said, offering a soft smile.

Gunter’s eyes swoopedfrom me to Kane.

“Why?” Kane barked.