by Zara Chase
“She was suspicious of me and seemed awfully interested to learn who attacked your grandfather.”
“Well, I guess even she has some finer feelings. Don’t read anything more into it than that. She’s never shown much interest in the farm and has nothing to gain from it if it’s sold.”
“Well, at least we know where she is now. I prefer my suspects to be in one place.”
“How can she be a suspect?”
“No idea,” he said, grimacing. “Yet.”
Chapter Nine
“How’s your grandfather?” Marty asked, sliding into a seat opposite Bay and Athena in the café close to the hospital, where they’d agreed to meet.
“They’re keeping him in,” she said, “and he’s not happy about it.” She gulped, stirring her coffee so frantically that it slopped over the edge of the mug. “He has a linear skull fracture.”
“Which is good, as skull fractures go,” Marty assured her. “It’s the least serious type and will fix itself over time.”
“Yes, but he has a blood clot on his brain, which is what concerns his doctors.”
“Don’t worry too much, sweetheart.” Marty gently removed the spoon from her fingers, before she could distribute the entire contents of her coffee mug over the plastic tablecloth. “Not if they aren’t doing surgery.”
“They’re putting him on anticoagulant drugs and are monitoring his situation. They’re worried that if the clot doesn’t disburse it might cause a stroke.”
“They would be,” Bay said, “but if they don’t feel the need to operate, then there’s no immediate cause for concern.”
Marty examined her features, which were taut with worry. But there was something else there, lurking beneath her discomposure. Marty had seen eyes glowing that way too often to doubt the reason for it, and flashed an enquiring glance Bay’s way. He responded with a smug half smile that told Marty all he needed to know. Not that he should have doubted it. Bay alone with an attractive female all night was only ever going to end one way. The thing was, would he and Dex get to play, too? Bay’s smile broadened and he nodded, just once.
Way to go! Marty’s dick stood to attention, and his eyes lingered on the outline of Athena’s impressive tits through the fabric of her top. Marty was a breast man through and through, and the prospect of getting his hands on Athena’s tempting assets had now passed from fantasy status to downright urgent.
“No, that’s what the doctor told me,” she said, staring through the window, her eyes suspiciously moist, “but I can’t help fearing the worst. Gramps is no longer young.”
“He’s in the right place,” Marty said, covering her hand with his own.
“How did you get on at the bank?” Bay asked in an abrupt change of subject.
“Dex’ll be here any minute. I’ll tell you then, save going over it twice.”
Marty had no sooner said the words than Dex burst through the door, scattering envious female glances in his wake as he made for their table.
“Hey.” He leaned in to kiss Athena’s brow. “How’s your granddad?”
Athena repeated the dispiriting news about her grandfather’s condition.
“Tell us about the bank,” Bay said when she ran out of words.
“In a word, it was interesting.” Marty pushed his chair back so that he could cross one booted foot over his opposite thigh. “It’s left me with a lot of unanswered questions, and grave suspicions about Jennings. He was businesslike to start with and keen to attract our business. Then I mentioned that our organisation was in final negotiations with your grandfather to purchase Blackridge Farm, Athena, and he couldn’t hide his surprise.”
“Well, he wouldn’t,” Athena reasoned. “Gramps tells him everything.”
“But it was more than just surprise,” Marty said contemplatively. “I’d say he was definitely worried about a deal that ought to have made him salivate. I mean, the bank would stand to profit twice over if it handled the funds for the purchase on our side and then dealt with the proceeds on your grandfather’s behalf.”
“There wouldn’t be much left, once we’d discharged our debts to the bank.” Athena frowned. “Anyway, that makes no sense. Jennings being worried, I mean.”
“Even so, I went with my gut,” Marty said. “I figured that if I’d rattled his cage, if he’s somehow involved in what’s happened to your granddad, then he wouldn’t be in it alone. He just didn’t seem the type. Anyway, I left the bank and waited outside. Jennings came out ten minutes later and made straight for the local pub.”
“I expect he takes lunch there,” Athena said. “Most people do. It’s about the only place in the village that does decent food.”
“No, he didn’t have food on his mind,” Marty said. “Besides, it was too early for lunch. The good thing about old English pubs is the low ceilings and dark corners. He didn’t see me follow him in, partly because he didn’t look at anyone else in the place.”
“Too self-obsessed,” Bay suggested.
“Probably. Anyway, it looked like he was waiting for someone, and a few minutes later another guy came in, all suited and booted. They spoke in low voices for about ten minutes. Whatever they were talking about, it required lots of hand waving and gesticulation. It was more of a disagreement than a conversation, from the looks of things. I couldn’t get close enough to hear what they said, but I did manage to get a picture of the other guy when he left the pub.” He produced his cell phone and showed Athena the picture. “Any idea who he is, babe?”
Athena studied the picture carefully. “Not a clue,” she said. “Don’t think I’ve ever seen him before.”
Dex peered at the small screen. “Send it to me, Marty. I’ll see what I can do.”
“I already did.”
“Okay,” Bay said. “So we suspect Jennings. How have you gotten on tracking down the other likely candidates, Dex?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” He grinned at Athena. “I liked your farmhand George Bailey for this, but annoyingly I can’t find anything on him. He’s everything you said he was. Far as I can tell, he’s just a local who’s followed in his father’s footsteps and knows farming inside out. He’s lived alone since his mother’s death, has no debts, and no expensive habits that might make him willing to take risks. There are a couple of women in the village who have their sights set on him, but he’s not interested.”
“Because he wants Athena,” Bay said, curling his upper lip disdainfully.
Dex shot him a look and then grinned at Marty. “I see,” he said.
“George doesn’t want me,” Athena protested, blushing. “Well, he’s never tried to do anything about it if he does.”
“Perhaps he prefers men,” Marty suggested.
“Don’t think so. I haven’t had time to do much digging, and there were only so many questions I could ask of the locals in the pub last night without arousing suspicion. Even so, I tend to get a feel for a person quite quickly, and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t do much with his life other than work, eat, sleep and play darts in the pub.”
“Sounds too good to be true,” Bay said suspiciously. “What about the other guy?”
“More of the same. He and his wife also live in the village. They have four kids and a whole heap of grandkids. Two of the kids are settled locally. The other two have gone to big cities. Absolutely nothing suspicious so far, I’m afraid.” Dex paused to sip at his coffee. “That leaves your mother, Athena.”
“Who turned up at the farm this morning,” Bay said.
“Oh dear.” Marty struggled to suppress a grin. “That must have been embarrassing.”
Athena grimaced. “She’s a pain but has nothing to gain from hurting Gramps.”
“Even so, I ran her down.” Dex smiled his apology to Athena. “I know she’s your flesh and blood, but I like to be thorough. Did you know she’s living with a convicted felon?”
“No, but it wouldn’t surprise me.” Athena shot him an inquisitive glance. “Who is she living wi
th this week, just as a matter of interest?”
“A guy called Steve Walker.”
“Still?” Athena’s surprise was evident. “She brought him to the farm about a year ago, and now that you mention it, he did seem to take an active interest in the place. Still, I’d have thought he’d be long gone by now. Her men never last for long.”
“Nope,” Dex said. “They’re playing happy families in a house near Portsmouth.”
“What did Walker do time for?” Bay asked.
“Aggravated assault. He buried a broken glass in some guy’s face following a brawl in a pub.”
“Charming,” Marty said.
“Wouldn’t think twice about clouting an old man over then head then,” Bay said.
“I didn’t know that about him,” Athena mused, “but it doesn’t surprise me. I didn’t like him much nor did Gramps. He’s good-looking, and younger than Molly, which he seems to think makes him God’s gift.”
“I don’t know why, but I like this Walker guy for it,” Bay said, rubbing his chin as he thought it through. “Violence seems to be his stock in trade. It might also explain why Molly appeared out of the blue, anxious to know if the police were getting anywhere.”
“You think she suspects her boyfriend might be behind the attack?” Marty asked.
“Wouldn’t surprise me. Hell if I know what he’d hope to gain from it though.”
“Unless he thinks that with your grandfather out of the way, he and Molly could move in and take over the farm.”
Athena harrumphed. “Molly knows way better than that.”
“If you’re right,” Marty said contemplatively, “it would mean Walker attacked Mr. Lloyd with the deliberate intention of killing him.”
Athena shuddered. “It’s too far-fetched,” she said decisively.
“I’ll dig deeper,” Dex said.
“How did you find out all this stuff so quickly?” Athena asked.
Dex’s grin swivelled between her and Bay. “Unlike some I could mention, I didn’t get to see much of my bed last night.”
“Dex does a lot of stuff online for us,” Bay explained. “If we’re interested in acquiring a property, we like to get as much information about it and the circumstances of the people behind it before we make a bid. He’s built up a lot of contacts over the years.”
“Yes, but even so.” She smiled at him. “I’m impressed.”
He picked up her hand and kissed the back of it. “Anything for you, angel.”
“There’s still something I don’t understand,” she said. “I explained to Gramps about the three of you this morning and he insisted upon meeting Bay. He isn’t supposed to have more than one visitor but—”
“But Bay sweet-talked some little nurse,” Dex finished for her, waving a hand like he’d expect nothing less. “For some reason that escapes me, women find it hard to say no to him.”
“Something like that. Anyway, Bay told him what you were doing to try and find out who had it in for him. If Jennings visits him, he’ll say that he really is in negotiations with you for the sale of the farm. If Molly gets to him somehow, he’ll tell her that he did employ you guys to look after me.” She frowned. “But I still don’t understand how that will help.”
“I’m not sure it will,” Bay admitted. “But if someone really is desperate to get their hands on the place, then it might draw them into the open.”
“It did send Jennings rushing off to the pub to meet mystery man,” Marty said.
Athena shrugged. “That might be completely unconnected.”
“True, but I happened to notice his appointment diary on his desk,” Marty said. “Fortunately he still uses an old-fashioned paper one, and he had appointments backed up all the morning. There were definitely two immediately after me. In fact, I saw his next one sitting outside his office when I left it.” He signalled to the waitress for a refill of his coffee mug. “If he only sees important clients, makes you wonder why he ran out on his next one, doesn’t it?”
“So, we’re suspicious of Jennings and this Walker character,” Bay said.
“If Max and George are no longer considered suspect, then I’ll be safe at the farm on my own.”
“No you won’t!” three male voices said together.
“Your grandfather was attacked when the workers were there,” Marty added alone. “What makes you think you’ll be safe by yourself?”
“I’m not by myself,” she said, grimacing. “Molly’s there.”
“My point exactly.”
“She’s not exactly mother of the year, but she’d hardly attack me.”
“No, but I wouldn’t put anything past that partner of hers,” Dex said, scowling.
“Me neither,” Bay said. “You’re not going to spend a moment of your time alone at the farm, or even alone with your mother, and that’s final. Besides,” he added softly, incorporating Marty and Dex with his eyes and grinning, “you have to start your lessons, and there’s no time like the present.”
“Lessons?” Dex perked up considerably. “Does that mean what I hope it means?”
“Athena is keen to learn more about the life,” he said, winking at her.
“Is she now?” Marty leaned an elbow on the table and sent her a smouldering look. “Well, I guess she’s come to the right place.”
“No question,” Dex agreed, smiling like he’d just won the lottery.
“Only one problem, guys,” Athena said with a sweet smile. “Molly’s at the farm.”
“Oh, I’m sure we can find a way to get rid of her.”
“Besides, you didn’t want to be seen there.”
“That was when we thought Max or George might be behind the attacks,” Bay reminded her. “We’re fairly sure they’re not, so we’ll simply tell them that your grandfather hired us to look out for you, which is kinda the truth. He is worried about you and is glad that we’re there.”
“You appear to have thought of everything,” she said, plucking at her lower lip but not quite managing to suppress a smile.
“It’s what we do.”
“I still don’t get why you’re putting your own affairs aside to sort mine,” she said stubbornly.
“Yeah you do.” Marty ran his fingers gently down her arm. “You know that—”
Athena’s cell phone rang and she checked the display. “It’s the farm,” she said. “It must be Molly.”
“Best see what she wants,” Bay said.
Athena took the call and exchanged a few curt words with her mother.
“Well, gentlemen,” she said, “it seems as though you’ve gotten your wish. Molly can’t stay at the farm. In fact, she’s already on her way elsewhere. Seems Steve needs her back home right away. Something about a market stall where they sell…whatever it is that they sell.”
“How convenient,” Marty said. “I don’t like it.”
“Me neither,” Bay agreed.
Dex scowled. “We want her out of the way, but it seems a bit odd. She arrived, full of concern for Athena and her father, but then takes off and leaves without really seeing either of you.”
Athena shrugged. “That’s Molly all over.”
“But she did see me,” Bay said. “My guess is that she’ll stop by the hospital and try to see your granddad to find out what’s really going on.”
“No she won’t because I said I was still with him and intended to stay for a while.”
“Clever girl,” Marty said approvingly.
“Okay, babe,” Bay said, “I guess you’re keen to get back to the farm.”
“Yes, I’d feel happier there.”
“Go with her, Marty, and don’t let her out of your sight.”
“That,” he said, fixing Athena with a sexy smile, “you can count on.”
“Hey,” Dex protested. “What about me?”
“Something wrong?” Marty asked, flipping Dex the bird behind his back.
“You get all the best damned assignments.”
“We’ll join the
m later,” Bay said, “and then you get to look after Athena.”
Dex winked at her. “It’s a date.”
“We need to make sure George and Max have left for the day first,” Bay added. “Best not make them too suspicious by going in mob-handed. Besides, I have stuff to catch up with, and Dex has more leads to run down.”
“We’ll bring supper,” Dex said, blowing Athena a kiss.
“And booze,” Bay added, doing the same thing. “Not to mention a few toys.”
Athena blinked. “Toys?”
“You’ll see.” Marty grinned, took her hand, and helped her to her feet. “Bring the clover clamps, Bay.”
“Like I could forget them,” he said, rolling his eyes.
“Behave yourselves, children,” Dex said as he got up to leave. “And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Marty leaned close to Athena and whispered loud enough for the others to hear. “That means we can do pretty much anything we damned well like.”
Chapter Ten
“Here, let me.”
Marty took Athena’s keys and drove them back to the farm. Since forcing herself upon their notice it was as though she’d lost the ability to do anything for herself. It was rather nice to have her life taken over by these three overachievers, she decided, but she wasn’t sure if it was wise to let them have complete autonomy over her every waking action.
“You okay?” Marty asked, taking a hand off the wheel and placing it on her thigh. “You’re kinda quiet.”
She shrugged. “I have a lot to think about.”
“Don’t let it get you down, babe. Your grandfather will be fine, and no one, absolutely no one, will take this farm away from you unless you’re ready to let it go. Bay, Dex, and I will make sure of that.”
She flashed a wan smile. “I wish I shared your confidence.”
“Are you questioning our competence?”
“No, it’s just that—”
“I know.” He tapped the thigh he was still caressing. “Come on, we’re here.”
He pulled up outside the house and Athena stepped from the car to an enthusiastic yet subdued greeting from Rowan.