Samantha scanned the area, as she left the Blue Orchid, the street was quite, nothing out of the ordinary.

'Now let's head for the Mozambican border,' she grinned at Boyd.

'The State Prosecutor bit my head off __'

'There's no way Tobias could get to the border faster than us,' Samantha replied,' when we get there we'll view the surveillance tapes, although he could be in disguise,' she cautioned.

'So we're looking for a needle in a haystack,' Boyd complained.

'Quite frankly, I don't know why we're assuming he'll head this way. But I've put out an APB on the N3 to Durban and the N1 to Cape Town. Riley is on top of that,' Samantha added.

'My bet is he'll head this way. He has an extensive network in Mozambique,' Boyd stated.

'That's exactly why he won't go there. He knows, we know that,' Samantha disagreed with Boyd.

Samantha meticulously studied the footage for the last three hours and none resembled Tobias. She tried visualizing him with different coloured hair, and eyes, with and without facial hair, but none on the footage resembled Tobias. She'd been trailing him long enough to expertly profile him. There was an edginess about Tobias, and he shifted his eyes quite frequently. She was quite certain he had not yet passed this border point.

'Let's call it a day,' she called out to Boyd.

He rubbed his blurry eyes that ached from studying the monitors for too long.

'I was beginning to think you planned on spending the night here,' he grinned, pleased that she was ready to leave.

'We could if you are that enthusiastic,' she teased.

'Let's go,' he hauled her out of her chair. 'Say, you want to grab a few beers at NewsCafé?' Boyd invited with a charming smile.

'I don't drink beer,' she reminded him.

'You could have a soda,' he murmured.

'I'll have one at home on my own,' she responded, dialing the State Prosecutor.

Boyd shook his head and grinned.

'Justin, Tobias has not passed here,' Samantha informed the State Prosecutor.

'Are you sure,' he questioned.

'Yes, as sure as I was that I had sufficient evidence to keep him locked up for a very long time, when I booked him in,' she needled the State Prosecutor.

'Samantha__' Justin Scott did not get to finish his sentence.

'You better make sure you double the security around Hernandez,' Samantha demanded of the State Prosecutor.

'Where are you off to now?' Justin Scott deflected.

'To C Max. We'll see whose head is going to roll,' Samantha replied.

'I thought we're done for the day,' Boyd moaned.

'Drop me off at HQ, you can sign out after you park this bird,' she offered.

Samantha instructed the head of the prison to meet her at his office. He wasn't too pleased to have the match between his two favourite soccer teams interrupted for questioning.

She wasn't pleased, that a killer and drug lord was freely roaming the streets because of incompetence. As she had guessed, the video footage did not pick up anything.

Six different guards had accessed Tobias' cell in the twenty four hours before his escape. She would have her work cut out interviewing each one personally.

The next afternoon Samantha sat at a desk in their assigned luxurious Operations Room at Platinum. She had printed a few pictures of the rogue diamonds, and had found matching information from the various informative books Blake Tresscott had on display.

There were four rogue diamonds in circulation, three from Sierra Leone and one from Namibia, and Tresscott did business with both companies. Her mobile beeped and she noted it was an international call.

'Samantha St. Claire,' she answered.

'Good morning sunshine,' a beaming voice with a London accent greeted her.

'Peter Stewart?' she smiled.

'That's right luv. How you doing?'

She could just imagine that lopsided grin of his.

'I'm doing great Peter. To what do I owe the honor?'

'I'm investigating this Platinum diamonds case of one of your countrymen,' he informed her.

'My countryman is not in your jurisdiction,' she threw at him guardedly.

'When his illegal diamonds are working the streets of London, I'd say he's in my turf.

'Are you sure it's his diamonds?' Samantha questioned.

The line was quiet for a bit too long.

'Peter?'

'Do I detect a conflict of interest?' Peter questioned.

What? No! Is there a conflict?

'I'm just playing devil's advocate,' she murmured.

'So you know of the case?' Peter enquired.

'I've been assigned it,' she murmured.

'You've been promoted to a desk job?'

'You know I've told you before, to learn when to shut up?' she smiled.

'Sam, come to London, I have some interesting information to share with you?'

'About Platinum?' she enquired, her interest sparked, and just as she spoke those words the said owner barged through the door.

'There's a pattern, you would find quite interesting,' Peter piqued her interest.

'I'm in,' she murmured, 'Pick me up at the airport.'

'Till tomorrow luv,' Peter Stewart cut the call.

Blake Tresscott stood behind her shoulders, studying the pictures on her desk. She set her mobile on the desk but did not turn around, actually her mind had gone blank, a rare event for Samantha St. Claire.

'You're very good,' she heard him applaud behind her.

When was the last time she heard a sincere compliment? Her principals expected her to be good at her job. Her male colleagues paid her compliments, hoping it will get them into her bed. Very slowly she turned around, Tresscott was not even looking at her he was intently studying her copies where she had, it seemed accurately labeled the origins of the rogue diamonds. A distantly recognizable warm fuzzy feeling enveloped her.

'I'd like you to accompany me to London,' she stood up.

The attractive eyebrow arched questioningly. Attractive! What was she thinking?

'Care to enlighten me about your proposal,' he murmured.

'Scotland Yard has some information that needs to be viewed.'

'Is that a summons, Ms St. Claire?' he asked softly.

'You're not facing any charges there,' she spoke equally softly.

'So why do you need me to accompany you?'

'I'd like a colleague to interview you.'

When that eyebrow shot up again, she offered an explanation.

'A colleague at Scotland Yard is working on the rogue diamonds. He claims there's a pattern that may shed some light.'

'So how do you plan on travelling?' Tresscott enquired.

'Business Class. South African Airways.'

'I can have my own jet fuelled and ready to leave this afternoon,' he offered.

'The State will not pay those costs,' she warned.

'Consider it my civic duty, Ms. St. Claire.'

She nodded, wondering what madness made her agree so preposterously to his crazy idea.

'Do I need my attorney?' Tresscott enquired.

'That's not necessary, she looked up into his face, and his eyes held her attention, until her mobile beeped again. She had to drag her attention away from him.

'St. Claire word on the street is, Tobias is looking for you,' her Director cautioned without preamble.

'What do you know, the feeling's mutual,' she murmured into the handset.

'This is not a joke,' he yelled.

She held the handset away from her ear. When her Director was annoyed, his voice became piercing.

When she was too quite, he barked again, 'Sam I'm putting a tail on you.'

'I don't need a babysitter!' she turned her back on Tresscott, trying to keep her voice calm.

'It's not your decision,' he grounded with finality.

'I'm following a lead in London on the Platinum case. So I'm of the radar for the next forty eight hours,' she informed her Director.

'That's excellent, when you're back, expect a shadow until Tobias is back behind bars,' the call was cut before she could respond further.

Samantha turned around and faced Tresscott again.

'You lead an interesting life Ms. St. Claire.'

He was able to hear every angry word of her Director.

'Occupational hazard,' she shrugged her shoulders.

'So what's our itinerary?' he enquired.

'We will spend forty eight hours in London , examine the evidence presented, and probably do some field work.'

'Field work?'

'Yeah, we will try and infiltrate the network that's trading the rogue diamonds.'

'So I'm not under suspicion any longer?'

I'm still conducting my investigation Mr. Tresscott.'

'I am not a criminal,' he clasped his hand around her wrist.

'Let go of me,' she spoke quietly, trying to get her breathing under control, before jerking her hand out of his hold.

But he was in her face again, towering over her refusing to let go, 'there's a passion burning inside you  behind that cold exterior you project, isn't that so Samantha,' he pinned her in his arms. She could get out of his vice grip. She could do it blind folded. This was elementary stuff she had learnt in year one of her training.

But her training hadn't covered how to deal with the sudden wave of heat now rushing through her body. Their eyes locked, the nerves of her fingers tingled with its own lustful desire to touch him. Their lips drew closer to each other, his head lowered, automatically her lips parted, and they were exchanging the most passionate and explosive kiss. As his tongue found its way past her lips sending her pulses racing, her arms wrapped around him pulling him closer.  Her fingers raked wildly through his hair. His arms gripped her waist, moulding their bodies together.  His hard arousal pierced between them. A soft moan escaped her throat as his long sensuous kiss set her body ablaze. His lips, his kisses, his tongue was so much more volatile and sensational than she had anticipated. She knew chemistry existed between them.  She had felt it the very first second her eyes had connected with his. She had refused to dwell on the spark that could ignite if they came into physical contact.

How long has it been since she'd buried those desires? How long had she denied her body the pleasure of being with a man? Simply because she knew she was a threat to any potential partner's life.  Four years.  Four long years of celibacy and a complete absence of any relationships or a social life, and it had all become undone in a single minute in the irresistible arms of Blake Tresscott. Could she take the risk now? Could she open her heart to indulge in what her body clearly and demonstratively desired?  No, it would only end in tragedy. Giving vent to those emotions would only bring pain and loss. She could not allow them a free reign ever again. She could not allow herself to indulge in those kisses or enjoy it, or dare to hope for any happiness. Not with this kind of career, and this was all she knew. It was in her blood.

Samantha shoved him away from her. She was shaking. She needed some space between them. She needed to get away from him. She turned away, but he saw her shoulders rise and fall unsteadily. She ran the back of her wrist across her mouth, trying unsuccessfully to wipe away the desire still rampantly firing through her body. Damn but they were going to spend ten hours on a flight together. How the hell was she going to survive that?

'I am not going to apologize,' Blake Tresscott informed her.

'I didn't ask you to,' she killed the fire, her icy cold stare was back on, as she turned to face him again.

'I knew there was a raging fire inside you waiting to be ignited,' he murmured as his fingers trailed up her arm.

Instantly she felt the heat rise up in her body all over again, like liquid energy running through her, wanting an escape. She so wanted to go back into those warm tempting arms.  No, she can't. She didn't do relationships, not anymore.

'I will meet you back here in two hours,' she shoved against his shoulder and hurriedly escaped.

They were airborne now for about four hours. Blake Tresscott's plane was like a five star hotel, opulence, style and class explicitly on display.

She took the seat in front, there were two behind her. He sat on the seat furthest away, busy on his laptop. They had not spoken much since that kiss. And she could think about nothing else but that sensuous kiss. Heck she had kissed many men before Blake.

Blake? They were on first name basis now?

But then he'd called her "Samantha", before he'd kissed her.

It had sounded so sweet and endearing. What the heck ___ she was gushing over a man! For heaven's sake, she was twenty eight years old!

Samantha tried to think about Errol Tobias. She racked her brain trying to figure out how to trap him again, but her mind kept going to the figure sitting two seats behind her. She had some files opened on her lap, but it did not hold her attention .

She could not become emotionally involved with a man ever again. They just hurt you and left you with the pain to bare all by yourself.

How clearly she remembered that part of her life and that fatal night when it all ended. Brad Shepherd had been her lover for two years. He had been an auditor for an accounting company. She had just come back from military training in Afghanistan and had started at NPS. Brad was handsome and gentle like a lamb. She had loved everything about him. They had spent every free moment together, going hiking, abseiling, to the theater, browsing the flea market stalls on Sundays. They had made the decision to buy a home and had lived together for a month before that fateful day. Samantha had just put a notorious gangster behind bars in a much publicized case, she and her team had gone out to celebrate, and then she had received the call from Emergency Services that Brad had been gunned down at their home, by the brother of the convicted gangster. She had rushed home, dropped to her knees, and had just managed to hold Brad in her arms before his last breath. He'd whispered, "I love you" before he'd closed his eyes. Since that night, Samantha had locked the gate to her heart and destroyed the key.

Her Director had put her on mandatory leave for a month. She had taken two extra months and went on the trail of her lover's killer with the sole purpose of ending his life the way he had ended Brad's. It took her all of three month's when she found him holed up in a sleazy motel with a prostitute. She'd uncorked the gun, but just could not pull the trigger, she could not kill the man. She was trained to uphold the law, and live by it. She'd killed men before in cold blood but only in self defense. She could not pull the trigger on a defenseless man, even though he was not an innocent man. Fortunately there was a charge sheet longer than her arm to put him away for life, including that of the murder of her lover.

She dare not fall in love again. People close to her became victims. That's why her file kept no information on her. Her dad had been a General in the army, but had since died. Her mother had remarried and lived far away from Johannesburg. They only met occasionally at Christmas or during family functions.

What would our lives have been like if you were still around Brad?

Strangely when she tried to picture Brad's face, all she saw was the arresting face of Blake Tresscott. She closed her eyes trying to picture Brad, but all her memory would bring forth was the explosive kiss with Blake in his office.  She and Brad had had a wonderful and pleasurable sex life, but his kisses had never ignited such a fire in her.  She wondered what Blake was doing in the back. Was he working? Concentration was something she never previously lacked, but now?

Blake! Blake! Blake!

'Sam!' Peter Stewart hauled her into his arms swinging her around.

'Peter,' she laughed, still trying after all this time, to fathom this rather unconservative Londoner.

Peter guardedly looked at Samantha's companion. Blake studied Peter Stewart with idle curiosity.

'Peter, I'd like you to meet Blake Tresscott. Blake Tresscott meet Peter Stewart,'

The men exchanged handshakes, weighing each other up.

'Peter, Blake Tresscott is Chairman and President of the Platinum Diamond Company.'

Peter Stewart just stared at Samantha.

'Shall we go to your office, or you plan on us freezing to death in this ghastly inclement weather,' she smiled.

She blended and fitted in nicely with the Londoners with her long designer trench coat and tweed slacks. Only when she spoke, would one know she was not British.

'Where's my manners,' he mumbled running to open the passenger door of his vehicle for her.

'You don't have any, if memory serves me well,' she smiled, 'remember the time you got plastered at the pub, and left without me, and I had to find my own way back to your place.'

'Must you remind me of that? Me mum still gives me grief about that!' he groaned.

'How is Charlotte?' Samantha asked fondly.

'She said to tell you she's making your favourite cottage pie for supper tonight, and that she's turned up the guest bedroom for you.'

Samantha turned around to talk to Blake, 'Would you like to come to Peter's mum for dinner, she makes the most wonderful pie?'

'No thank you, I have plans,' Blake shot back.

She searched his eyes, gazing into them, but after a moment Blake dragged his eyes away looking out the window.

This weather must have some kind of effect on him!

'Tell me what you see,' Peter spread some documents across his table, then expectantly rubbed his hands together.

Samantha picked up the documents, put on her accountant's hat and set her analytical brain into gear. To the untrained eye it had Platinum written all over it.

'I think I should call my attorney,' Blake announced guardedly.

'Not yet Mr. Tresscott,' she murmured, 'study these documents.'

'I'm looking at them,' he said irritatedly, 'these documents clearly indicate the rogue diamonds are from my factory.'

Samantha shifted closer to Blake. She placed the three documents with the scanned bar codes in front of Blake.  'Do you see the date on the documents that claims to have receipt of the diamonds in London,' she murmured.

'Yes.' That's all he saw he could not make the connection.

'Mr. Tresscott what is the quickest turnaround time for delivery from South Africa to London? Peter prompted.

Samantha waited patiently for Blake to make the obvious deduction, but he still did not catch it.

'From the time it leaves my premises, the quickest turnaround time after security verification via our London underwriters is three days,' Blake responded.

'No chance of same day delivery service?' Peter mocked

'No.  We're not a pizza delivery __'

And finally he got it.

'These diamonds went on sale, on the very day it was scanned into my stock, back in South Africa.'

Samantha and Peter clapped their hands in applause simultaneously.  Blake looked sheepishly from one to the other. Peter tapped Blake consolingly on the back, 'you're an expert on diamonds, not forensics.'

'So what does all this mean?' Blake asked in confusion.

Samantha and Peter exchanged glances.

'Okay out with it you two, and speak to me in layman's language,' Blake demanded.

Peter folded his arms across his chest, leaving Samantha to be the bearer of the bad news.

'It means,' Samantha began cautiously, 'that somebody inside Platinum is feeding information to our rogue traders.'

Blake stood up, for a fleeting second there was angry rage in his eyes, but it was instantly masked. Samantha could see him doing a process of elimination trying to figure who is betrayer was.

'Mr. Tresscott when we return to South Africa, you are to continue treating all your staff as if nothing is untoward.'

He glared at her as if she was talking gibberish. 'Somebody is destroying my life, my career and you__'

'I will bring them down,' Samantha cut him of, 'that's a promise. But this is a game of patience. You have to let me do my job, the best way I know how to,' she added softly.

He studied her for a very long moment, their eyes locked on each other, both looking for common ground, Samantha refused to back down, finally, but reluctantly, he relented and nodded assent.

'Good,' she nodded, 'it's the only reason I brought you to London, I knew I could appeal to your better judgment.'

'Wow a compliment and they're so rare!' Blake quipped.

That didn't take him long! Regular Jekyll and Hyde!

Samantha ignored the barb, instead she walked away and called her office in South Africa. She was almost finished with her call, when she turned around and saw Peter place his hand on Blake's shoulder.  Blake seemed to ponder about something then nodded it seemed, reluctantly. Slipping her mobile back into her pocket, she joined the men.

'I think we need some fresh air,' she tucked her arm into Peter's.

'Some coffee first perhaps?' Peter offered Samantha and Blake.

'Scotland's Yard's coffee is atrocious,' Samantha murmured to Blake.

'Perhaps we can grab something outside,' Blake came to the rescue.

'I can take a hint,' Peter shot back, slipping on his jacket.

It was late, and for some reason Samantha could not sleep. Could it be because she knew Blake Tresscott occupied the bedroom next to the one she was in, in Peter's home. He'd claimed he'd had plans, when she'd invited him to try Charlotte's delicious pie, but somewhere along the line, he changed his mind, not only to dinner, but to spend the night as well.

Samantha took out the Platinum files she had brought along. She had developed a fascination about diamond mining since she browsed the captivating books in Blake's display cabinet. She spread the duvet over the carpet and splashed the documents over it, dropping down on her tummy. She flicked through the informative book, learning about the diamonds each country produced. She scribbled notes of interest on the files as she read. Her tired body reminded her it needed rest, she yawned, deciding to call an end to the day, when there was a knock on the door. From habit she reached for her firearm.

'Who's there?' Samantha questioned.

'Room service,' came the distinctive voice.

She yanked the door open, 'I didn't order any,' she murmured.

Blake stared at her, unashamedly taking in the beautiful mane of hair cascading down her shoulders. He caught his breath when he realized she had no bra on under her vest. His eyes traveled down to the running shorts which offered him a more than ample view of her sexy legs.

'So what are you delivering?' she enquired curiously, trying hard not to smile.

'May I come in?' he requested.

He was obviously hiding something behind his back. She opened the door wider to allow him entry. He was dressed in casual slacks and a polo shirt.  He smelt divine, bath soap and after shave.

'You do realize it's like well after midnight,' she threw at him, shutting the door.

'I saw the light still on, and thought you'd like to join me in a nightcap,' he produced a bottle from behind his back and two glasses.

'Cape Velvet in London?' she enquired.

'My personal stock, though it is available in many parts of the world including London,' he replied with a grin, pouring her a glass of the chilled creamy liqueur.

'Thank you,' she accepted the glass.

'You're working?' he enquired apologetically.

'Not really, I'm beginning to find this subject rather fascinating,' she dropped on her tummy again, flicking the pages of the book.

'Have you pinched my reference book from my display Samantha?' he arched that eyebrow again.

'Just borrowed,' she shook her head, 'it will be replaced when we return.'

Blake lowered himself next to her, his shoulder brushed hers, as he followed her example lying on his stomach.

Her eyes followed as he brought his glass to his lips, she watched him swallow, watched in fascination as the muscles at his throat went to work.

'Are you aware of the fascinating diamonds that are mined in our very own country?' Blake asked enthusiastically.

Samantha dragged her eyes back to the book, commanding her brain to pay attention.

Blake gave her an interesting and informative account of the country's diamonds, including the largest diamond in the world found in Cullinan, just outside Pretoria that had pride of place on the Queen of England's crown. It was a dazzling stone, blue-white and unblemished, named after Thomas Cullinan who found it in 1902. The Cullinan was 3106 carats, interestingly its shape suggested it was broken from another, though its other half has never been found.

'That's amazing,' she murmured sleepily, 'so why is the Cullinan not in a museum in South Africa? She rested her cheek on her arm.

'Billion Dollar question,' he grinned.

'And what's the value of this Cullinan?'

But she did not hear his response as her droopy eyes shut and she dozed of. Blake gazed at the stunning woman lying next to him. He could still recall the day she stormed into his office, cold and unfriendly. But he had found her fascinating and attractive then and more so now, especially after that earth shattering kiss they had exchanged, which he had been unable to forget. He contemplated whether he should leave her on the uncomfortable floor or carry her to her bed. Surely she would prefer the comfort of the soft mattress. He rose up to his knees, slipping an arm around her neck. And instantly she was awake, whipping her weapon out of her pocket, and simultaneously had Blake on his back and her knee against his throat.

'Blake!' she groaned, putting her firearm away, 'please don't ever surprise me, and don't ever sneak up on me,' she warned dropping her forehead on his chest. Her heart was pounding so fast, for in less than a fraction of a millisecond she could have fatally wounded him.

                                                                           -end Chapter Three-