From The Shadows (Blaze series Book 1)

by David Carter

  “What about James?”

  “No, we never told him.”

  “Why not?”

  “The right time never presented itself. And you boys never really got along. I didn’t want another reason to drive a wedge between the two of you.”

  “Is that why Trinity has always treated me so differently to everyone else?”

  “How do you mean?”

  “She’s the kindest person I’ve ever met. She’s always looked out for me and accepted me for who I am.”

  “It could be, Bobby, but that’s also Trinity’s personality. She is truly one of life’s beautiful souls.”

  Blaze leaned forward with his elbows on the table and his head between his hands. “So where do we go from here; you and I?”

  She looked him in the eye. “What is it you want, Bobby?” she asked him back.

  He took a moment before he answered. “I want to move on.”

  She wasn’t entirely sure what he meant. “Are you saying all is forgiven and we can leave the past where it belongs?”

  He got up from of his chair. “Stand up,” he said sternly, “it’s time we ended this.”

  She did as he asked, unsure of what was about to happen. Then, unexpectedly, he wrapped his arms around her. “I’m sorry I’m such a shitty son,” he whispered in her ear. “And I swear I’m gonna make that son of a bitch pay for what he did to you.”

  She rested her head against his muscular chest as tears streamed down her cheeks. “I know you will, Bobby,” she said emotionally, “I know you will.”

  Blaze tilted his head down to look at her and comically said, “You do know how much I hate being called, Bobby, right?”

  She just smiled to herself and held him tight.

  Chapter 61

  Four weeks passed.

  “What’s the matter, sweetie?” Sharon asked Ryan as he stormed inside and slammed the door to her apartment.

  “It’s over,” he said bluntly.

  Sharon looked visibly upset. “What? Why? What did I do?” she replied, almost in tears.

  Ryan’s face turned from sour to panic stricken. “Sorry! I didn’t mean us!” he apologised. “I meant the case is over.”

  Relieved, Sharon took him by the hand and led him to the kitchenette. “Tell me what happened,” she said as she sat him down at the table.

  “I need a drink first.”

  “I’ve got some beer in the fridge.”

  He took off his suit jacket and tossed it on the floor. “I think I’ll follow Blaze’s lead and have something a little stronger.”

  She poured him a large whisky.

  “Blaze’s theory was a bust,” he started. “We searched the last house today and came up empty handed.”

  She handed him his drink. “So you mean the last month where I’ve barely seen you was a complete waste of time?”

  He drained the glass in one gulp, grimacing as it burned his insides. “Unfortunately, yes,” he replied hoarsely. “After Steve and I had gone through all the past and present registered members of the vintage car club, we’d narrowed our list down to thirty-four possible names.”

  “That’s still a fair few.”

  “You’re right. But after I’d sweettalked Matthew Jones into letting me see the blueprints to all the houses belonging to those names in search of any that had basements we managed to eliminate a further fifteen.”

  “But that’s good, right?”

  “It gave me something to work with, so I called in a favour from a guy a few rungs up the ladder in my department, literally begging him to apply for a search warrant on all nineteen properties on my behalf.”

  “And...?”

  “And somehow he came through for me.” He hesitated.

  “But...?”

  “But I was warned that it was my last shot, and if we found nothing concrete I was to return to headquarters and start on a new case.”

  “Does that mean you’re leaving Glendale?”

  He exhaled heavily. “Unless the Watcher suddenly reappears from wherever he’s hiding, yes. I’ve got till the end of the week to tie off any loose ends before I return to the city.”

  “But that’s only three days away!”

  “Five if you include the weekend,” he corrected her.

  “What about us?” she asked him nervously. “Long distance relationships can be hard work, especially as we both have crazy work schedules.”

  He pulled her in close, picked her up, and carried her to the bedroom. He laid her down on the bed and said, “I think I can handle a thirty-minute drive to and from work.” He kissed her softly, and added, “especially when I’ve got you to come home to.” He gently pulled her T-shirt up and over her head, exposing her phenomenal midriff.

  “Are you saying you want to move in with me?” she said in between moans of pleasure as he caressed her neck and unlatched her bra.

  “If you’ll have me...” His hands started wandering down towards her waistline, unzipping her jeans and working them down past her ankles.

  She writhed with pleasure as his hands went to work. She reciprocated, slipping a hand inside his suit pants, arousing him instantly with her delicate touch. Then just before he made his move, he heard something he didn’t expect. “You can’t move in here, Cam...”

  He pulled away from her and sat up. “Why not?” he asked, disappointed.

  “This place is too small.”

  He wouldn’t take no for an answer. “It’s fine, honestly; I like it here. I’ll only bring my clothes, and I’ll store or sell the rest of my things.”

  She sat up and took his hands, placing them on her abdomen. “It’s not too small for you…” She smiled sweetly. “I meant it’s too small for the baby...”

  Ryan had to double take. When his brain finally connected the dots, he said, “You mean you’re...?”

  “That’s right, Cameron Ryan.” She beamed. “You’re going to be a daddy.”

  She squealed with delight as he pinned her to the bed.

  Chapter 62

  The Watcher stepped off the plane and made his way into the Milton City airport terminal. He waited patiently in line at the customs desk, before finding his luggage on the carousel, then walked outside into the parking lot where his beloved little car, Angela, awaited him.

  He was anxious to get back to Glendale, as he had been gone for a little over a month. He hoped more than anything that Blaze was still a free man after his sudden departure. He had received an unexpected invitation to attend an overseas conference where he would join and mingle with other men of his job title. Attendance was compulsory, and as much as he’d wanted to continue his pursuit of Blaze in Glendale, he’d faithfully packed his bags and gone on his all-expenses-paid trip halfway around the world.

  The Watcher’s devotion to God was so strong that he would normally have been worried about missing four consecutive Sunday services during the month he was abroad. But after the murder of Duncan Walters, the church had been closed due to Ryan’s investigation and out of respect and mourning for Duncan. The church community had been so badly shaken up from the news of his murder that the elders of the church had unanimously decided to close the doors for as long as the members of the congregation deemed necessary. The coming weekend was when the church members had agreed enough time had passed to resume normal proceedings. This brought a smile to the Watcher’s face as he heard the wonderful news while sitting at a table in the Blue Lagoon Cafe, halfway through catching up with Elizabeth over coffee.

  “That’s enough about all my family issues,” said Elizabeth after informing him that she and Blaze had finally called a truce. “I want to hear about your trip!”

  He beamed as he said, “It was like being transported back in time! Rome is such an amazing place. I also had the chance to tour Paris and see the Mona Lisa; it was truly breathtaking. I can honestly say it was the trip of a lifetime.”

  Elizabeth listened intently. “You make it sound almost magical!”

  “
That’s because it is! Oh, Elizabeth, you must visit Europe sometime if you ever get the chance.”

  “Oh, I would love to! For years, a trip to Paris has been high on my ‘things to do’ list. Perhaps while the new school is being rebuilt I might splash out and finally fulfil that dream...”

  He was pleased to hear this. “You must take somebody with you,” he encouraged. “Paris is not a place one should explore alone. It’s an experience that should be shared with someone special. Why not take Trinity? Or perhaps your new gentleman friend, Steve, would accompany you?”

  Elizabeth blushed. “Trinity is just getting her life back together after her terrible ordeal, and as for Steve, well, we are just taking things nice and slow.”

  The Watcher nodded and sipped his coffee. “Surely there must be someone who can go with you?”

  Elizabeth took a moment to think about any potential companions. “I wonder if Sharon would like to come with me before she has her baby?” she considered out loud.

  The Watcher nearly jumped out of his seat. “Sharon is pregnant?” he asked, mortified.

  “Yes! Sharon and Detective Ryan told me this morning! I think it’s so lovely; they are madly in love; they are going to have such a beautiful baby together.”

  The Watcher’s mind went crazy, as if a time bomb had exploded in his head. He asked, “Are they getting married?”

  Elizabeth put down her coffee mug. “Not that I’m aware of. They didn’t mention it. I think Cameron is going to move to Glendale and buy a house so they can live together as a family. That way Sharon can still run her business.”

  The Watcher could barely contain the beast within him. It scratched at his skin from the inside. He felt it best to leave before he made a scene. He hurriedly gulped down the last of his coffee. “I’m sorry to cut our morning tea short, Elizabeth, but I must leave at once. I have an appointment and I just realised I’m running late,” he lied.

  “That’s okay.” She smiled. “I’ll see you at church on Sunday?”

  “God willing,” he replied, and hurried outside.

  His mind was in a frenzy as he angrily drove home. “Sinners! Defilers! Blasphemers!” he shrieked as he turned off the road and into his driveway, parking Angela in the garage. He scurried inside, then stomped down the stairs to his basement. He buckled at the knees with excitement as he opened the door to his secret hideaway—to prepare for his next and unexpected guest of honour.

  Chapter 63

  Blaze lay on his bunk, gazing at the ceiling above his cell in the knowledge that he was most likely headed back to Winterhill at the end of the week. Ryan had informed him the DOC had reached a decision; returning him to prison to complete a greatly-reduced sentence as compensation for his part in Trinity’s safe return. Blaze wasn’t worried about the fact he’d been ordered to go back inside, but he wished more than anything that the Watcher would show himself at the eleventh hour, as it was he who summoned him from Winterhill in the first place. He wondered why the Watcher had answered his call, then suddenly vanished into thin air; it just didn’t add up. And on top of this, the original deal was still on the table; if he found or killed the Watcher within the time he had remaining, he was as good as a free man.

  Ryan walked into the station with Danny, who had finally overcome his injuries, carrying three steaming hot breakfasts on paper plates covered with aluminium foil, courtesy of Sharon who still showed no signs of morning sickness They had just returned from an overnight excursion where they had driven for four hours north to Brighton. They had threaded their way through the suburbs surrounding the giant city, finally locating Blaze’s house before retrieving fifty grand from his safe to pay for Danny’s new identity—which they had purchased on their way back to Glendale, stopping in Woodridge where they tracked down Danny’s computer-geek friend and completed the transaction.

  Ryan was curious to know why Blaze had refused to go with them, and as to how he had had a lazy fifty grand lying about in his safe. As they all sat down in Blaze’s cell to devour their breakfasts together, Ryan, for what seemed like the hundredth time, said, “Come on, Blaze, tell me where you got the money. Fifty large doesn’t just grow on trees, you know.”

  Blaze ignored him and tucked into his breakfast.

  “What about telling us why you refused to come with us?”

  He just shrugged.

  “Okay, okay, just thought I’d try my luck, again,” Ryan conceded.

  Danny’s new surname was Foster. He didn’t care for it, but it was a trade-off to keep his preferred first name. His computer-geek friend had given him a choice between Danny Foster or Timothy Randall and he gratefully chose the former.

  “How can I repay you, Blaze?” Danny asked him between mouthfuls of scrambled eggs. “I’m officially a free man, thanks to you.”

  Blaze looked up from his plate. “You don’t owe me shit, Danny-boy. You were there for me in prison, and you were by my side when we raided Archer’s mansion. It’s no big deal, really.”

  Danny wasn’t so easily palmed off. “Fifty-fucking-grand is a big deal, Blaze! I can’t just take it from your personal safe and leave you out of pocket.”

  Blaze’s face softened as he looked at him with a half-smile. “Fifty grand is only a drop in the bucket compared to what I can lay my hands on. So, would you please stop whining, say thank you, and shut the fuck up about it?”

  Ryan nearly dropped his breakfast on his lap as Blaze revealed his financial status. He said, “Okay, now you have whet my appetite. Just how much cash have you got tucked away? I saw, maybe, a hundred grand in your safe.”

  Blaze finally gave in. Exasperated, he said, “That was only my rainy day stash.”

  “You mean you have more?”

  Blaze scraped his plate clean and purposely chewed his last mouthful slowly, before putting his plate on the floor, then said, “I got shit-loads more.”

  “And just how much is ’shit-loads’?”

  Blaze grinned. “Probably close to a mil in loose change.”

  Ryan’s jaw hit the ground. “But I looked at your work history before I bailed you out of prison, and I seem to recall that you’ve never worked a day in your life.”

  “Oh, I’ve worked all right...”

  “And just what field do you specialise in, exactly?”

  Blaze hesitated. “Look, man, I like the fact that for a man in your position you look the other way sometimes, but if I told you what I did for a crust, well, I’d just be incriminating myself and my former MC brothers.”

  Ryan was offended. “Come on, Blaze, if you can’t trust me by now, you never bloody will. I think we’ve been through enough already to know we have an exclusive understanding when it comes to all things concerning you. So believe me when I say, I’m asking you as a curious friend, not as Detective Ryan.”

  “Plus we really want to know what crazy shit you’ve been up to!” Danny chimed in.

  Blaze relented. “Fine,” he said through a heavy sigh. He looked at Ryan, and asked him, “Apart from last night, have you ever been to Brighton?”

  “Recently, actually; I worked a murder case up there with Steve about six months ago.”

  “Okay, so then you’ve probably heard of the notorious Lombardi family?”

  The look of surprise on Ryan’s face answered his question. “As in—Brighton’s equivalent of the Italian Mafia Lombardi family?” he replied.

  “That’s the one.”

  “Why would you ask me about them?”

  “Because that’s who I work for, well, at least I used to. Now they want to hunt me down and put a bullet in my skull.”

  “What!” exclaimed Ryan and Danny in unison.

  “That’s why I wouldn’t go to Brighton with you last night. I can’t go anywhere near the place. It’s also another reason why I burnt down the boarding school. I thought I’d be safer in prison, well, for a little while at least. No doubt they’d have caught up with me eventually, but at least I’d have seen them coming. I figured a
jail cell increased my odds of survival. I was hoping to be put in isolation after headbutting Archer’s face when I arrived, but never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined he would put me in a place like The Wolves’ Den; though it all worked out for the best.” He motioned towards Danny.

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa, back the truck up, mate,” said Ryan. “Are you telling me that all this time you’ve been in Glendale helping me, your life’s been in danger?”

  “Is the Pope fucking Catholic?”

  Ryan ran a hand through his hair in disbelief. “Jesus, Blaze, is there anything else you’ve neglected to tell me?”

  “The whole thing’s a bit of a long story...”

  “Then you’d better get comfortable, because you aren’t leaving this cell until I’ve heard every bloody detail.”

  Blaze stood up and aggressively said, “You gonna make me?”

  Ryan took a step towards him, then said, “Need I remind you that trouble tends to follow you, causing bad things to happen to innocent people?”

  Blaze thought about Franks’ wife and daughter and quickly dropped his hostile attitude. He sat back down on his bunk, leaned against the wall behind him, sighed, and said, “You’re right. It’s just that it’s a touchy subject for me.” He looked sadly at the name engraved on the ring on his finger.

  I’m sorry, Zoe, he thought.

  Chapter 64

  “I’ll go put the kettle on,” said Ryan. He walked off to the kitchenette, returning a few minutes later with three steaming mugs of coffee. “All right, let’s hear it, Blaze; out with it,” he said.

  Blaze got straight to the point. “I think someone in the Lombardi family killed my old lady,” he blurted out.

  “You have a girlfriend?” Danny asked, astonished. “You never mentioned her before.”

  “Had a girlfriend,” Blaze corrected him. “And her name was Zoe; I guess the subject just never came up.”

  “Shit, I’m sorry, man.”

  “So am I,” added Ryan. “Tell us what happened.”