The Wells Brothers: Aaron

by Angela Verdenius

  Yes, the police would investigate but Aaron wasn’t one to wait around, to go through hoops. He knew back ways, shady perhaps but when push came to shove could seem lawful. Would be deemed lawful. Was lawful, if you knew what you were doing.

  He knew what he was doing. For those he loved he’d go into the grey zones, use those back ways, wouldn’t flinch at whatever he had to do to get safety back into his loved ones’ lives. Find out who was stalking his woman and the boy he’d come to regard as a younger brother.

  Aaron looked up at Ryan out of cold eyes, his voice hard. “Report.”

  “Traced the call to Border Town on the Nullarbor Plain. Darren’s down there now checking out the area the stalker was using the phone.” Something pinged and Ryan took the mobile from his pocket, swiped it, studied the text. “He’s found the mobile in a bin, it’s a burner phone, no finger prints so the stalker used gloves or wiped it off. No one appears to know who dumped the phone. Darren’s checking the surveillance camera feeds. He’ll get back to us as soon as he has something.”

  “Keep me informed.”

  Nodding, Ryan started to leave the room.

  “One more thing.”

  He paused.

  “Depending how dangerous this stalker is, how determined he is to get close to Shea, he could use her friends to get to her. I want security on my father, Aunt Lora, Jim, Luke, Mikki, Jason, Izzy, and Elspeth Arkwell. No need for them to know at this stage.”

  “I’m onto it.” Ryan left.

  The quiet of a Sunday afternoon filled the office. Ginger jumped down from the desk, trotted over to Aaron to jump onto his lap. Aaron stroked him absentmindedly, making plans, going over what had been put in place to protect Shea and Cole.

  He had done what he could so far. He’d do whatever it took to keep them safe, including his family. No one touched those he loved.

  Knowing his security team, every man and woman be they working out of his office, in other towns, states and even out of the country, he had faith they’d unearth information quickly, so he wasn’t surprised when an hour later Ryan appeared and stated, “Got him.”

  Aaron went straight to the computer, saw Darren’s email, read it, opened the attachment.

  The tape was a little grainy but right now he just needed to pin-point the person. He watched as people passed back and forth, spotted the man straight away as he sat down on the wooden seat beside the bin. Dressed in a business suit, he was talking into a mobile, his expression angry and movements jerky until he seemed to remember where he was, then he relaxed though the tension was evident. After a few minutes he hung up, wiped the phone carefully, stood up with it clutched in a cloth and walked out of frame. Aaron waited, and sure enough he came back, glanced around, casually brushed against the bin and kept moving.

  “Dropped the burner,” Ryan said. “Walked.”

  “No proof.”

  “We know it’s him.”

  “That’s all we need to know.”

  “Facial recognition?”

  “That’s where I come into it,” a voice announced from the doorway.

  Not really surprised, Aaron watched as Edward strode across the floor carrying an envelope. Stopping, Edward took out a photo and laid it on the desk. It showed a middle-aged doctor, smug in his own importance, smiling widely. “Philip Cartwright. Pre whistleblowing he was successful, on the way up, respected.” A second photo joined the first, this one showing a bitter man outside a courthouse. “Post whistleblowing he was stripped of his registration, his marriage broke down, lost his house, reputation in tatters.”

  Got you.

  Dropping the envelope on the desk, Edward stuck his hands in his pockets. “Mind telling me what this is about?”

  “A hunt, Edward.” Leaning back in the chair, Aaron smiled chillingly at him. “A hunt.”

  “Oh shit.” Edward’s gaze flicked to Ryan, and what he saw in the dangerous man’s eyes made him wince. “Oh shit.”

  Yeah, oh shit.

  Chapter 14

  “This is seriously cramping my love life,” Cole grouched.

  Doing inventory, Shea tapped the end of the pen thoughtfully against her teeth as she contemplated ordering more packets of sage. “You thought it was way cool.”

  “That was before I realised that I had someone watching my every move. And I do mean my every move. With Debbie. If you catch my drift.”

  “I catch your drift. Can I just say - ew?”

  “There’s no way I can go further. Aaron’s security is really blunting the lead in my pencil.”

  “Gee, what a shame. And, oh yes, thank God.”

  “It’s okay for you. You’re dating the security boss so when he comes over you can canoodle without witnesses.”

  “Pays to know people in high places, doesn’t it?”

  With a sigh, Cole slumped over the counter. “Debbie thinks I’m gay.”

  “She does not.”

  “I had to tell her I have a cold sore.”

  “Your lips are perfectly fine.”

  “On the inside of my mouth.”

  “Gross.” Shea paused. “Can you get one inside your mouth?”

  “No idea, it was the first thing that came into my mind when she wanted to smooch.”

  “Fast thinking.”

  “I nearly panicked. She was horrified. I thought she was going to dump me.”

  “You went out with her after school yesterday.”

  “Yeah. Rather than be grossed out, she was fascinated. Did I tell you she wants to be a virologist when she leaves school?”

  “Ah, that explains it.”

  Cole propped his head on his fist, effectively distorting his speech as he grumbled, “A week. It’s been one whole week. Surely if anything was going to happen it’d have happened by now.”

  Putting the inventory down, Shea looked across at him. “This is crappy for both of us, not to mention Aaron having security 24/7 on us.”

  Cole sighed again.

  “He’ll let us know when it’s clear. I’m sure it won’t be long.”

  “He’ll take as long as it takes, you know that, right?”

  “Yeah, I know that.”

  “I don’t think I can play this cold sore much longer without Debbie getting suspicious.”

  “Maybe it can spread?”

  “I want to hold her off not chase her off, all right?”

  “Hey.” Shea raised her palms. “I was just trying to help.”

  With a groan, he dropped his forehead onto the counter top. “My love life is finished. Kaput. Dead as a dodo.”

  At that moment the shop door opened and Marietta strolled inside. “Hey, what’s up?”

  “Not my penc-”

  “Cole!”

  Marietta looked inquiringly at Shea.

  “Apparently you’ve destroyed his love life.”

  “Really? He has a crush on me?”

  Cole’s jaw dropped.

  “Girlfriend issues to do with voyeurism and security watching and stuff like that,” Shea explained.

  “Oh. Well.” Marietta shrugged. “You could just get your girlfriend to come here for the evening, security is outside, your sister and Aaron can go out to the movies or something, and you can neck all you want in private.”

  Shea cut her eyes to Cole. “As long as it’s only necking.”

  “Yes!” Cole’s face lit up, only to drop as he dramatically slumped over the counter once more. “Noooo.”

  Shea and Marietta looked at him with raised eyebrows.

  “Cold sore, remember?” he groaned.

  Marietta squinted, frowned. “I can’t see a cold sore.”

  “Inside my mouth.”

  “Inside? Jesus! Gross! Wait, can you get a cold sore there?”

  “We’re not sure.” Amused, Shea strode across to the shop door and locked it, flipping over the ‘closed’ sign.

  “But!” Cole bounced up with renewed energy, sending Carrot scrambling out of the shop into the hallway. “I can mi
raculously get better so by the time your date with Aaron comes around Saturday night, I can get Debbie here!”

  “Yes, I’m sure her Dad will be really happy with his daughter coming to spend the evening alone in the house with her boyfriend,” Marietta commented.

  “Uhhh…” Cole frowned, groaned, flopped back over the counter. “He’s got a tighter grip on her than a pair of pliers.”

  “Poor baby.” Shea laughed.

  “It’s not funny. He only lets her go on dates out in public. Do you know the one time I went to her house he sat on the sofa glowering at me the whole time?”

  “I thought he was nice.”

  “I know he was glowering behind that smile. I could feel it.”

  “Cripes,” Marietta said. “I never want to be a teenager again.”

  “Restrictions, right?” Cole agreed pathetically.

  “Dramatic.”

  “It’s in the teenager contract.”

  “In your hormones, more like.”

  “That’s exactly what I’m afraid of,” Shea muttered. “Mad teenage boy hormones.”

  Marietta picked up a statue of a cat waving one paw. “Who buys this stuff?”

  “People looking for something different.”

  “Huh. Anyway,” she replaced the statue on the shelf, “you ready to roll?”

  “Yep.” Shea led the way back into the depths of the house, Marietta following and Cole bringing up the rear herding Ginger and Red through the connecting door and closing it behind them. “Cole, can you feed the cats?”

  “Yep. Along with doing my homework all by myself.”

  “You can come to Elspeth’s with us if you like, I told you that already.”

  “Elspeth’s a good sort, but watching a bunch of chicks sitting together nattering over dainty cups of tea? I’d sooner do my homework.”

  “Oh, the horror of it all,” Marietta intoned blandly.

  “Does your boss know you treat me like this?” Cole queried. “Because I don’t think he does. I don’t think he’d like it.”

  “Sonny, I treat everyone like it.”

  “Huh.” With a grin, he went to the ‘fridge. “And here I thought I was special.”

  Slinging the strap of the shoulder bag over her shoulder, Shea headed for the back door. “Thanks Cole. I won’t be long. My mobile’s on if you need me.”

  “Ben’s out there somewhere, too, so you’re not totally alone.” Opening the back door, Marietta added before stepping out in front of Shea, “You need anything, just yell for him.”

  “Pizza?”

  “Only if you want your neck wrung.”

  “So not just anything, then.”

  “Take it up with the boss.”

  “Your boss won’t give permission for security to do a pizza run, says it’s not in their job description.” Cole stood in the doorway, the three cats winding around his ankles as he locked the security screen. His teasing trailed away as he looked at Shea. “Be careful.”

  “You too, boyo. Keep the door locked.”

  Marietta slid into the driver’s side, Shea giving up the car keys as agreed upon earlier.

  “You go out further than your normal limit and a bodyguard will drive,” Aaron had stated when she’d revealed her plan to visit with Elspeth, Mikki and Izzy.

  “A bodyguard?”

  He’d looked at her.

  “Seriously? I need a bodyguard?”

  The level look continued.

  “Okay, okay. But drive me? Sheesh, Aaron.”

  “Phillip Cartwright has crossed the border, he’s now in WA. We’ve picked him up twice on different surveillance cameras at stop lights, but he’s not leaving us much to track. We know he’s heading this way. He hasn’t attempted to contact you since the last call in Border Town but he’s getting closer. From now on, if you or Cole go out of your normal zones security won’t just be watching you, a bodyguard will be accompanying you.”

  Hence Marietta driving her to Elspeth’s mansion two suburbs away. Going through the industrial section, they passed closing factories and sheds before going over a small bridge to enter an elite area. Mansions set back behind high fences, elegant gardens peeping out to viewers as they drove past.

  The big, wrought iron gates to Elspeth’s house were closed. Marietta pressed the intercom and waited. The surveillance camera on the top of a post behind the gates zeroed in on them before the gates slid open.

  “Elspeth just loves all this security tech stuff.” Shea waved cheerfully to the surveillance camera as they went up the drive, the gates closing behind them.

  “The woman raves about Aaron.” Marietta smoothly steered the small car up the drive. “If you hadn’t happened along, I think she had intentions of making him her toy boy.”

  “Really? Aaron?”

  “Yeah.” Marietta parked beside Mikki and Izzy’s cars.

  She glanced at Shea and they both burst out laughing.

  “Yeah,” Shea choked out, “like he would be anyone’s toy boy.”

  “Man, I’d love to post something in our internal email about that.” Marietta snickered. “But I like my job too much. And, you know, my life.”

  “Aaron would sack you, not kill you.”

  “Yeah, but Ryan?” Marietta did a see-saw of her hand.

  “You think he’s that bad?”

  “Are you kidding me? I’ve had to read the harassment policy four bloody times already in the last year alone.”

  “Would that be because you harass Raymond?”

  “The man needs to get a sense of humour.” Marietta got out of the car.

  She might have laughed and joked, but Shea didn’t miss the way her gaze scanned the area, nor the fact that though Shea was dressed in a cool dress due to the summer evening, Marietta, though not in uniform, was dressed in no-nonsense clothes of jeans, sneakers and t-shirt. Managed to look cool, casual and gosh-all-darned friendly, though Shea knew behind the sharp wit was a security professional.

  Meeting them at the door, Elspeth was not at all surprised to see Marietta. “Marietta, sweetie, so nice to see you. Come in, both of you.”

  As usual, Elspeth was dressed in sky-high heels that would have made Shea’s arches scream for mercy, a gauzy, floaty skirt, sleeveless lace top, flowing pastel scarf, several gold bracelets on one arm and a black pearl necklace that probably cost as much as Shea’s entire shop stock.

  Herding them ahead of her into the large lounge room tastefully decorated in white, gold and pale blue, Elspeth started talking. “Got a wonderful idea, Shea, a most wonderful idea.”

  “Geez, Auntie,” Miki complained from the big armchair into which she curled. “Give us time to say hello.”

  “Fine. I’ll call for drink refills and some food while you all do the polite thing.” Elspeth pressed a small button on the little table holding an elegant lamp that stood at one end of the long sofa.

  “Hi,” Mikki said cheerfully.

  “Hi,” Izzy echoed. “Nice to see you, too, Marietta. Aaron let you off the work leash long enough to come, huh?”

  “You know how it is,” Marietta returned easily, sitting in another armchair which put her back towards the wall and her facing the window where the late afternoon sun shone outside. “Gotta give a girl a break sometime, even if we do actually carry the whole business on our little feminine shoulders.”

  “I like you,” Mikki declared. “Come any time.”

  They all laughed.

  A dour-looking man dressed in a white shirt, black suit pants and shiny black shoes appeared in the doorway. “You rang, Mrs Arkwell?”

  “I did. Harry, would you please bring a refill of what we all had last time, plus our two newest arrivals will have -” She raised her eyebrows inquiringly at Marietta and Shea.

  “Cup of tea, please” Marietta replied.

  “Diet Coke if you have any, thanks,” Shea added.

  “Dear, I always have Diet Coke in the house for Mikki and Izzy. Harry, if you could, please?”

&
nbsp; “Yes, Mrs Arkwell. Would you like your finger food now as well?”

  “That would be lovely. Thank you.”

  He disappeared into the corridor.

  “Holy crap,” Mikki said after giving the man time to get out of ear shot. “Is he related to Wally DeOvert, that decrepit so-called butler who likes to think he’s second-in-charge of your Willock Mansion Hotel?”

  “Now, sweetie, Harry is perfectly suitable.” Crossing long, elegant legs, Elspeth settled back on the sofa. “He’s my cook’s husband and my butler, as well as taking on evening chores such as serving us when the housekeeper has left for the night.”

  Izzy shook her head. “Having someone cook your meals and do your dishes, that’s just Heaven.”

  “I thought Jason was Heaven,” Mikki said slyly. “Are you saying you’d trade him in for a dishwasher, cook and butler?”

  “Only if I could have him on tap for nefarious activities and to cuddle up to every night.”

  “Fair enough, I can accept that explanation. Might have to do the same with Luke.”

  Elspeth snorted.

  “It’s something to think about.” Thoughtfully, Mikki pursed her lips.

  “And thinking is all you two would do. You worship the ground those boys walk on.”

  “Yeah, well, don’t tell them that. Luke will get his own button and start pressing it for my fast attention.”

  “Jason wouldn’t.” Izzy smiled a little dreamily.

  “That’s because he worships the ground you walk on.”

  “Good grief.” Elspeth rolled her eyes. “Luke would do anything for you, Mikki.”

  Her niece grinned unrepentedly. “I know. Great, right?”

  “Now that that is over - thank God - down to business. Shea.” Elspeth directed her attention to Shea who, as usual, was entertained by Mikki’s sharp wit. “These readings you did, it could come in useful to us.”

  Immediately her smile vanished. “I don’t do those anymore, Elspeth. You know that.”

  “I don’t want you to do readings, sweetie.”

  “How could it possibly be of help to you otherwise?”

  “You can teach us what to look for.”

  “Look for?”

  “In a fake clairvoyant.”

  Shea looked at her blankly. “Why would you want to know that?”

  “So we won’t get conned. No offence, but you could help us a lot.”