After the Fire (15 page)

“Is it safe for you to continue this big case of yours?” Deb’s voice was tinged with worry.

“We have to. We’re close to solving it and sending someone new in now would set us back days.” He paused. He didn’t want to frighten his sister unduly, but the more she and Vic knew, the better they could pray. “Our rooms were broken into a couple of nights ago, while we were sleeping.”

“Jason? Did they hurt you? Why didn’t you move to a different hotel?”

“And go where? Like Freddie said, it’s summer and everywhere’s full.” He paused. “We weren’t hurt, slept through it all, including the perp stealing the necklace Freddie was wearing. It’s likely someone drugged us somehow, as I am a light sleeper, and Freddie passed out completely dressed.”

“Jason...” Debs voice shook and tailed off.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s fine, Jason. The more informed we are, the better we can pray. Do you have any back up with you?” Vic’s voice was calm.
Did anything ever shake that man?
Jason pictured him sitting on the arm of the chair, his arm around Debs.

“If you mean weapons, no. I refuse to carry one unless I have to. The office knows where we are, but we’re here alone. Just promise me you’ll pray for us.”

“Of course we will.” Debs regained control of her voice. “Vic’s nodding in agreement. We’ll pray now and keep praying.”

“Thank you.”

“Jace, do you mind if I inform the elders, get the prayer circle going. I’ll give them no details. Just tell them you need urgent prayer cover for the next few days.”

“That would be great, Vic. Thanks.”

“What are you going to do now?”

“Grab a coffee and then go back to sit with Freddie. Try to make her rest. She’s adamant about leaving the hospital and getting back to work.”

“She sounds as stubborn as ever. Just like you.” Debs sounded resigned. “Coffee won’t help on its own. You need to eat, bro.”

“Yes, Mum.” He laughed. “All right, I’d better go. Love you both. Bye.”

****

Finishing his coffee and roll, Jason headed back to the ward, to find Freddie arguing with her doctor. He crossed the room in three long strides, and stood next to the bed, setting the bag on the side. “Is there a problem?”

“Yeah. He wants me to stay in. At least tonight and maybe tomorrow as well.”

“And that’s a problem?”

“Yes, it is. I have too much to do.”

“Ms. Flynn, you need to calm down and rest or you might precipitate another attack.” Dr. Jameson looked at her over the top of the file.

“I’m perfectly calm.”

“Freddie, shut up.” Jason stepped in, opting for a teasing tone, needing her to be quiet and listen to him.

“Did you just tell me to shut up?”

“Yes I did. I assume her test results weren’t what you wanted, doctor?”

“No. Her blood oxygen levels are still too low.”

“Fair enough.” He looked at Freddie. “Then you follow what the doctor says and stay.”

“Jason—”

“Freddie, that’s two attacks in two days. This one almost killed you. Work isn’t going anywhere. Plus, if you huff and puff like the big bad wolf you’ll make it three in three days.”

“Your boyfriend’s right—”

“He’s not my boyfriend, doctor. He’s my boss.”

“See, I’m right. Stay here tonight, and I’ll come pick you up in the morning.”

“I have no intentions of staying here. I’m fine.”

“It’s not up for debate, Ms. Flynn. If the doc says you’re not well enough to leave, then you stay. He’s the expert.” He raised an eyebrow and used his corporate voice.

“Yes, sir.” Freddie sighed.

The doctor left, and Jason sat next to the bed. “Right, as your boss, there’s something we need to discuss. I held off informing the police at your request, but things have changed. The more I think about it, the more likely I feel your inhaler was punctured deliberately.”

“It worked fine on Saturday.”

“Were you listening to what the doc said? Puncture it with a needle and you get a slow leak. You used it just a few hours after the rooms were trashed. But by the time you needed it on Sunday, a good thirty hours had passed. That’s plenty of time for it to have emptied itself.”

“Yeah. Makes sense.”

“Things have gone from a simple room trashing and theft, to attempted murder. Under the circumstances I really think—”

“Jason. We give in now, and they’ve won. They’re trying to make us give up and go home. I won’t do that.”

“Freddie, don’t argue. I am trying to do what’s best for everyone here. If the fact that they know we’re here and on to them is enough to make them do this, I don’t want to think what else they are capable of doing.”

“I’ve faced bigger than this in my time and so have you.” She reached out and gripped his arm tightly. “Please? With both of us on the case, they don’t stand a chance. You promised me a week.”

Jason sighed heavily. “Fine, but let me make one thing crystal clear. Anything else happens, and we leave the guest house.”

“That’s fine. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Jace…You said you’d spoken to the boss. You didn’t tell him where we were?”

“No. I just told him you’d had an asthma attack and were in hospital. I rang him again just now and left a message to say you were better. And I bought you something.” He handed her the bag.

Freddie smiled as she opened it. “Chocolate—that’s much better than grapes. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Right, I shall let you get some rest. I would sleep here again, but they might not be so amenable now you’re out of danger.”

She wrinkled her nose. “You could do with a shower, anyway.”

“Thanks.”

“Any time. And you need a shave.”

“Oh, I do, do I?” He leaned in, scraping his chin along her neck, laughing as she squirmed.

“Beast.” She pushed him away.

Jason caught her hands. “I thought I was going to lose you.”

Freddie held his gaze. “I thought I was dead. And just as I gave up all hope, the phone rang and it was your voice. And although I knew I was dying…I wasn’t alone because you were there. If that makes any kind of sense at all.”

He took a deep breath. He had to know, one way or the other. “Freddie, I love you. I know I don’t deserve it, but if there’s the slightest chance that—”

Freddie pulled off the mask and held his gaze. “No, you don’t deserve it, but I love you. I never stopped loving you. I’m not saying things can go back to the way they were...”

Elated, he hugged her. “One day at a time.” He smiled. “Now rest up, keep the mask on, and I’ll come pick you up in the morning.”

15

Freddie sat on the bed, impatient. It had been an hour since she called Jason to say she could leave. Where on earth was he?

Footsteps clicked across the floor. She turned and smiled at the tall figure, resisting the urge to run into his arms, not wanting to give him the wrong impression, no matter how much she’d enjoyed the brief hug the night before.

“Hey, Jace. You look better than you did last night.”

“So do you.” A smile lit his eyes. “I shaved just for you. Although the stubble did have a certain charm to it. You ready to go?”

“Yeah, they gave me two new inhalers. Along with a lecture on how to take proper care of them.” She caught the look on his face and narrowed her eyes. “What?”

“I checked your spare inhaler when I got back to the rooms last night. That was empty, too.”

“What?” She shook her head.
This can’t be happening
. “It was full.”

“When? Before or after the rooms were turned over?”

Freddie tried to think. “I check them every day. I’m sure I did. I wouldn’t have packed an empty one. Either way, the one in my bag worked on Saturday.”

“It had a slow puncture. It’s a fairly safe bet the other did, too. I’ll send them both off to the lab and get them examined.”

“All right.”

“So, let’s get you out of here and back to the guest house to rest.”

“No way. I’ve rested enough to last a lifetime.” Freddie got to her feet and picked up the bag of meds.

“I’m sorry?”

“Jace, it’s Tuesday. We’ve lost three days and you only gave me a week. That leaves me two days. I want to go out to the island today.”

“You are not fit enough to go gallivanting around the island today.” Irritation echoed in his voice.

“I’m not planning on “gallivanting” anywhere. I was actually thinking more of a slow walk.”

“You are still not fit enough. You almost died on Sunday.”

“Rubbish. I’m perfectly fit or they wouldn’t be discharging me.”

“You’re impossible.”

“You can talk.”

“Yes, I can and I am, funnily enough.” He winked at her. “Does this count as our first fight?”

“Jace, please, I need to get out there and back to work. We can’t allow whoever did this to get away with it.”

“They won’t, I promise. We’re going back to the guest house. You are going to lie on the bed and rest, while we review everything we’ve learned so far.”

“Then can we go to the island?”

“Tomorrow. It’s not up for debate.” He held out a hand. “I’m pulling rank, Freddie. You’re taking the day off. Or I’ll get the doc to keep you in for another twenty-four hours. I’m taking you back to the guest house. We’ll sit in your room, while we discuss the case. Then maybe go out for a walk after dinner. I might even let you take notes.” He paused. “Oh, sorry, you’re not my secretary, are you?”

“No. But I hear fried notes and custard make a pretty mean dessert.”

“Well?” He held out his hand.

“If you think I’m walking out of here, holding the boss’s hand, you’ve another think coming.” She winked at him. “After all, you are my boss and not my boyfriend, remember?”

“Good point. I’ll carry your bag for you. Now let’s get out of here before they change their minds and keep you in a while longer.”

****

Freddie lay on the bed, her gaze following Jason as he wandered around the room reviewing what they knew. She half expected him to spout Shakespeare or something profound. Her mind wouldn’t focus on work.

The way his hands moved in time with the cadence of his voice captivated her. Her gaze was held hostage by the way his shirt creased along his neck and shoulders then fitted across his chest and angled into his waist.

What keeps drawing me to this man? His looks? His personality? Both?

His hand descended on her shoulder, her skin warming under his touch. “Pay attention double-oh-Ef. We have the mine and the island, both owned by Rafferty and Nick Steele. Why didn’t Rafferty tell his wife and move her into the cottage here?”

“Maybe he didn’t want her to know. Maybe he had another wife down here.”

“Now you’re being silly.”

“Have you checked?”

“No. Add it to the list.”

She nodded and wrote it down. “All right. Assuming he doesn’t have a second wife in his second home, maybe he just didn’t want his wife to know. I mean, not everyone tells their significant other everything.” She shot him a half smile. “Birthday and Christmas presents, surprise parties and so on would be no fun if we knew what they were in advance.”

“That’s not it.” He brought the laptop over. “See, according to this, Rafferty and his wife are broke. They’re overdrawn at the bank.”

“Isn’t everyone? There’s always too much month left at the end of the money.”

“Not for me. Yet, this chap has enough funds to buy a cottage, a mine and an island. Maybe he was the front man.”

“Go on.” Freddie studied the screen.

“With the tax man on his back, Steele can’t be seen to be the major share holder in anything. So, he gets someone else to sign the papers and own the property—in name only. Who’s going to double check where the money came from?”

“Interesting idea.” She paused, her mind racing. “Especially if the money wasn’t acquired from legitimate sources—we know those gems weren’t found in that mine. Or there are other ways of funding it. Could you make some tea, please?”

“Sure.” Jason crossed the room and turned on the small kettle. “Are you talking laundered money?”

“Not necessarily, but Rafferty didn’t have the funds. I was thinking more along the lines of your idea of Steele owning it and Rafferty being the name-only bloke. Thus, Steele isn’t responsible for the taxes legally, but rakes in a nice profit, while Rafferty takes the fall.”

“Where do the precious stones fit in? Not from a tin mine, that’s for sure.”

“No, unless...” She broke off.

“Unless what?” Jason paused with the milk in his hand.

“It can’t be imports, or else there would be records, and I’m assuming there aren’t any.”

“Not that I’ve come across.”

“Besides, the bloke in the shop was adamant they’d all come from the mine itself. In which case, they have to be bringing them in from someplace else. The question is where.”

“Add it to the list.” He handed her a mug of tea. “Here you go.”

“Thank you.” Freddie studied the tea. The answers had to be there somewhere. She’d wanted to disprove where the trail seemed to be leading, but the evidence seemed to be careering the other way.

“Welcome.” He sat down and sipped from his own mug. “I know that look. What are you thinking?”

“I’m trying to work out where Carn Finance fits into all this. You said it was involved, but the question is how deep?”

“I spoke to Edwin, and he doesn’t want any information about Carn Finance leaving the office. I told him you needed to know, but he wouldn’t even give me permission to verbally tell you what I know.”

The cup paused partway to her mouth.
I hope that doesn’t raise a red flag back at the office and tip him off.

“What? Why ever not, Jace? I learned some from Mr. Hooker at the mine. You have to tell me. The boss won’t know.”

“I know, but I will know. So, I did the next best thing. I emailed Patsy. I know she’s your PA, but as you already contacted her, I figured it’s one less person in the loop than asking my secretary.”

“That makes sense. And what do you mean, you know? I know you know—that’s the point. You know and I don’t. You said no secrets.”