After the Fire (17 page)

“Wanna bet?”

“You shouldn’t bet if you’re a Christian. Isn’t it a commandment or something? ‘Sides you’re an old and unfit man. You’d never catch me.”

“Right, you asked for it.” He got to his feet.

“No way, José.” She started to run, not sure what he had in mind, but determined not to cooperate.

“So who’s José, then?” Jason gave chase, reaching out and brushing against her arm.

“That’s for me to know and you to find out.” Freddie dodged, laughing.

Jason launched with a flying leap, bringing her down to the sand. He rolled her onto her back and grinned. “Got you.”

“No you haven’t.” She reached up and tickled him. He let go, laughing. Freddie pushed him off and rolled over, scrambling away, but was tackled to the sand again before she had gone two paces. She squealed as he started tickling her. “I won’t tell you anything.”

“Really?” His eyes twinkled. “We’ll see about that. We PI types have a way of making you talk.”

“Uh huh. That I’d like to see. Jason, the PI, working for once.”

“All right, you asked for it.” Jason pulled her to her feet and led her to the water’s edge. “Stay there.”

“What are you doing?”

“This.” He backed into the water and bent down, then straightened and tossed a handful of water at her.

Freddie squealed. “Jason, that’s cold!”

“Baby.” He kept scooping water.

She moved to the ocean’s edge and splashed, laughing as she got him in the face. He spluttered and gasped and not missing a beat, splashed her right back. Freddie took a deep breath and coughed, bending over.

“Freddie? Are you all right?”

She coughed again, one hand on her chest, the other by her knees.

“Freddie?” He dropped a hand on her shoulder, concern filling his voice. “Are you all right?”

Freddie launched a handful of water straight at him. “I’m fine.”

“That’s not playing fair.” Jason turned, trying to escape.

“Who said anything about playing fair? You started this game. But if you think I’ll tell you anything because you got me a little wet, then you have another think coming.”

“So I did. Well in that case…” He leaned down and scooped his cupped hands through the water, throwing it up into an arc over her.

Freddie screamed and then laughed. “All right, mister. You asked for it.” She retaliated, turning the game into a full blown water fight, splashing and laughing until they were both soaked and out of breath.

“Well?” Jason wrapped his arms around her.

“Not telling you anything.”

“Hmmm, have to try another tactic then.” He pulled up a handful of water and tipped it down the back of her neck.

“I don’t like you at all now,” she teased.

Jason picked her up, cradling her in his arms. “Like you less.”

“Do you carry everyone you don’t like?” she asked.

“Only you.”

Jason carried her back up the beach, then set her down on the towel. He pulled the other one from the bag and wrapped it around her shoulders. His arm snaked around, and she leaned against his strong chest, listening to his heart beating. She shivered and pulled the towel closer, her breathing gradually returning to normal. His fingers moved slowly though her hair as the sun began to set.

“Well, you did want to go in the water, Freddie.”

“Yeah, but I was only going in up to my knees.” She leaned against him contently, letting his familiar scent wash over her.

“Can I ask you something? You can tell me to shut up if you don’t want to answer.”

“Sure.”

“I know you never married, but did you ever date anyone after I left?”

“Once—his name was Simon. It was a disaster. We got a flat tire, which he had no idea how to change. We missed the film, so he took me for a burger instead. That was cold, the chips were soggy, don’t even get me started on the coffee, and I ended up with food poisoning. Needless to say, I didn’t go out for a second date. Or at all, after that.”

“Well, I promise next time I take you out to lunch or dinner there’ll be no cold chips or dodgy burgers.”

“Good…I’m sorry we lost three days because I got sick.”

“It’s not your fault. Your health is far more important than work. And we have tomorrow.”

“I guess.”

“Freddie?” Jason tilted her face towards his. Concern filled his voice.

“Jason, what are we going do? Who can we tell? There isn’t anyone, is there?”

“I don’t know. I want to verify the information first, triple check it to make sure of the facts and then I guess we have to involve the police.”

“Do you think there’s a chance it’s wrong? That someone planted the information as revenge for getting fired?”

“Anything’s possible. Although I do the firing, so if anyone gets framed, it should be me.”

Freddie looked out over the water, the sun casting an orange glow over it. “Nothing will be the same though, will it?”

“No.”

17

The moon shone brightly from a cloudless sky, as Jason parked outside the guest house. Freddie glanced up. Her stomach plummeted. “Jason, the light’s on in my room.”

“Did you leave it on?”

“No. It was daylight when we went out.” She sighed. “I hate being right all the time. The question is, is it Nick Steele, or someone else?”

“Stay here.” Jason got out of the car.

Freddie followed him up the path. “Jason…”

“I thought I told you to stay put.” He paused as he opened the front door.

“I’m not going to let you walk in there alone. You might need back up, unless you’re armed.”

“No, I’m not. I never carry unless I have to.”

“I can go first if you like.” She ignored the look he gave her.

“What I’d like is for you to do as you’re told and stay put.”

“Just because I’m a woman—”

“This has nothing to do with that. Let me handle things for once. You want a reason, other than a “macho bloke thing”, how about you’re only just out of hospital and I’m the boss?”

“Fine, after you, then.”

Jason took the stairs two at a time. Freddie gave a count of ten before she followed. She pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed the emergency services. “Police, please.”

She gasped as Jason put a hand on the door knob, opening it and bursting inside in the same movement. “Yes…someone’s broken into my room…Daybreak Guest House, Victoria Drive.”

Jason flew across the room towards the masked figure standing by her dresser, going through her things. He grabbed the intruder and swung him around, lashing out with a left hook.

Standing in the doorway, she watched Jason spin and fight, returning the punches and kicks. The two men whirled around the room, smashing, thuds and grunts filling the air. “He’s attacking my friend...Please hurry.” Freddie caught her breath as she ended the call.

Mrs. Bowman arrived on the landing, flustered and out of breath. “What’s all the noise?” She jumped and cried out as the rose jug flew from the room and smashed at her feet. “Gracious. Miss Price, any breakages will have to be paid for.”

“Someone’s in my room. He attacked Mr. North. The police are on their way.”

A loud crash turned Freddie’s attention back to the room. A lamp lay broken on the floor, next to Jason, the assailant hitting him with his fist. Something glinted in the light. A knife.

Freddie gasped. “Jason...knife.”

Jason pushed off his assailant and scrambled to his feet. The two men whirled and moved as if taking part in a macabre dance, Jason trying to avoid the outstretched knife.

The front door burst open. Running footsteps and loud voices preceded the two uniformed officers up the stairs.

Freddie stood to one side as they ran into the room. “He’s got a knife.”

****

Jason sat on the bed in his room after the police left. His left eye had swollen shut. He winced as Freddie pressed a cold cloth to his jaw. It felt broken, but probably wasn’t. “Agh.” He reached up to hold the cloth in place.

“I’m sorry. I’m being as gentle as I can.” Freddie dabbed cotton wool on the cut above his eye. “Are you sure you don’t want to go to the ED?”

“I’m fine.”

“Uh huh. You look anything but fine.”

“I’m fine, honestly. The last thing I want is for them to admit me, keep me in overnight and leave you alone.” He paused and glanced around his room. It hadn’t been as badly wrecked this time. “At least it wasn’t someone we knew.”

“Doesn’t that make it worse? I’d almost rather it was.”

“I can’t find any steak.” Mrs. Bowman came back in, holding a pack of peas in her outstretched hand. “Will this do?”

“That’s brilliant, thank you.” Freddie wrapped the bag in a towel and placed it over Jason’s eye.

“That’s cold.”

“It’s meant to be.”

“I really am sorry. I feel this is my fault. I don’t know how they got in. I’ll find you both new rooms.” Mrs. Bowman started trying to tidy up.

Jason shook his head, his face creasing as the pain upped a notch. “There’s no need. We’re leaving, as soon as we can pack up. How much do we owe you?”

“But Miss Price is only just out of hospital and you’re injured. Where will you go?”

“We’ll head home.” He just didn’t feel safe staying any longer. “The food’s been wonderful, and I’m sure I’ve put on weight. I intend to recommend this place to my work colleagues. Could we have the bill, please?”

“The recommendation would be nice, thank you. Are you sure you don’t want to stay until morning? I can find a room in another hotel if you’d rather.”

“Thank you for the offer, Mrs. Bowman, but we’ve made up our minds to go tonight. If we drive overnight we’ll miss the traffic and cut about an hour off the journey.”

“That makes sense. I was doing the bills this morning. Yours comes to six hundred and fifty for the three rooms, minus what Miss Price already paid, but I’ll reduce it to compensate for the troubles.”

“There’s no need for that. You’ve more than earned it. The break-ins were hardly your fault. Charge the rooms to Miss Price’s card. This is an extra fifty to cover breakages, new locks and so on.” Jason pulled out his wallet and held out several crisp ten pound notes.

“But Mr. North...” She looked at the money, not taking it.

“I’m not going to take no for an answer.”

“I’ve tried arguing with him before now and lost. He’ll only try to give you more if you do.”

“Thank you. I’ll go and do your receipt.”

Jason let out a deep breath as she vanished down the stairs. He closed his right eye, pain soaring through his stiff and beaten body.
I must be getting old, Lord. I never ached like this from a fight before, and I’ve been in a fair few scrapes in my time. Thank You for preserving my life.

A gentle touch to his cheek caused him to look up into concern filled eyes. He tried to reassure her. “I’m fine. It’s not as bad as it appears.”

“It looks really bad. You should see a doctor.”

“If I can’t open my eye in the morning, then I will. Go pack. The sooner we leave the better. I want to go somewhere they can’t find us.”

“Are you sure you’ll be all right?”

Jason nodded, rubbing his jaw as pain from his split lip coursed through it. “Yes, I’m fine. Now go and pack. I’ll leave the door open.”

“Then I’ll come back and do yours.”

“There’s no—” He broke off as she hushed him and sat still as she left. Then he stood up and walked slowly over to the sink. He gazed at his reflection.

He certainly did a number on you. I can see why Freddie is so concerned. Maybe we can go to Debs place. She’s a doctor, and it’s safe there. Only problem is, Lord, I don’t want to put them in danger by staying there. Maybe they know of somewhere we can go.

He pulled his phone from his pocket. He held the phone in one hand, the other still holding the cold compress to his face.

The phone picked up on the second ring. “Hello.”

“Vic, it’s Jason.” Relief filled him at the calming tone of his brother-in-law’s voice.

“Hey. How are you?”

“Not good. I need a favor.”

****

Five minutes later, packed and everything sorted, Jason left his room for the last time and crossed the hall to Freddie’s. “All done?”

“Yeah.” She looked at him. “You packed? I told you I would do it.”

“I’m big enough to pack my own bags. Some things are best unseen by your fragile female eyes.” He shrugged, regretting the movement.

Freddie snorted. “I’ve seen boxer shorts before, mate. They advertise them on the TV. It’s your choice of tie that’s scary. Where are we going?”

Footsteps crossed the landing and he shook his head almost imperceptibly. “Home. I don’t know about you, but I’m going back to work for a rest.”

The footsteps paused long enough for a light tap on the door, and then came into the room uninvited. The lilting voice didn’t hide his identity for long. “I heard there was trouble.”

“You could say that.” Jason turned to face him, taking a little comfort from Nick’s shocked reaction.

“My goodness, are you all right?”

“I’ve been better. We’re leaving.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. You haven’t had much luck here.”

“Not really.”

“Have a safe trip back.” Nick offered a hand.

Jason shook it, the same feeling of foreboding flooding him as before. “You, too.” He turned to Freddie. “Ready to go?”

She nodded and picked up her suitcase, heading down the stairs.

Jason followed her, very glad they’d put the holdall and laptop in the car before they’d gone out for the evening. He unlocked the car and handed her the keys. The slight touch of her hand against his fingers sent warmth through his chilled body. “You can drive.”

“You sure you trust me with your baby?”

He laughed, regretting it. He put a rueful hand on his bruised and sore ribs. “I’m sure. Not that I have much choice as I can’t see out of my left eye.”

“True. That would make driving rather difficult. Are we really going home?” Freddie loaded the cases into the trunk.

“I wouldn’t ask you to drive that far the day you come out of hospital. No, we’re not going home. We’re going to Debs’ place in Penarth.” He shut the trunk. “I just don’t want anyone else knowing that.” He got into the car, each small movement jarring his battered body. He shut the door and did up his seatbelt.