Jake went over what had just happened. To his mind, it felt as though Emily had been building bridges. Maybe she’s hated the last few weeks just as much as I have. And he couldn’t deny he liked the idea of spending time with her away from work.
He’d missed her.
Jake glanced at the window. Get your arse into gear, Matthews! There was cake to be had.
And more bridges to build.
“Don’t eat all the carrot cake,” Emily admonished. When Fran gazed at her in surprise, Emily grinned. “Just in case we should have anyone joining us… later… who might like a slice of carrot cake.”
A slow smile blossomed on Fran’s face. “I see. And would I need three guesses as to the identity of this person?”
“Probably not,” Emily murmured. She shrugged. “He might not turn up. I kind of left things up in the air.”
“At least you asked him.”
Emily wanted to share more, but at that moment Serena walked over to their table. She gave Emily a polite smile. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you for a while now. You do have planning permission for these alterations you’re doing to the house?”
For a moment Emily was struck dumb, unsure why on earth this was Serena’s business. Then she found her voice. “Of course I do.”
Serena nodded condescendingly. “Good, good. Then I’m sure you know you need parish approval for the change of use, if you’re going to turn it into a B&B.” Emily opened her mouth to speak, and Serena narrowed her gaze. “I happen to know you haven’t sought that approval, because I’m on the parish council. Strictly speaking, you should have done that before you began work on the house. We’re talking hygiene certification, safety regulations, electrical certificates… I can propose this to be discussed at the next PCC meeting. I’m sure there won’t be any problems.”
“There’d better not be.”
All three turned their heads at the gruff voice. Jake stood in the doorway of the tea shop, glaring at Serena as he removed his jacket. He’d changed into jeans and a shirt.
Serena swallowed. “I have no idea what you mean.”
Jake walked slowly over to their table. “I mean, that if it comes before the meeting, we’d like to be informed in advance so we can attend.”
Emily stilled. “Why do I feel like I’m missing something here?”
Jake didn’t take his gaze off Serena. “Just before Christmas, I was informed by Serena that you intended to turn the house into a B&B.”
“What? But how could she—” Emily stared at Serena. “You overheard Fran and I talking in here.”
“Not only that—she told me you might not find it so easy to get permission.” Jake’s eyes were icy. “I’m not saying that Serena would deliberately steer the council into a decision to disapprove the plans. I’m just making it very clear I’d like to be there at the meeting, to ensure it was conducted fairly and above board.” He shook his head. “I always thought a little competition was good for business.”
Fran gasped. “Wait—you think she’d try to block it, because Emily would be competition for her B&B?” She gave Serena an accusing glare.
Serena straightened. “This is all some… fantasy of Jake’s. I don’t know what on earth he’s talking about.” She turned around and walked stiffly out of sight.
Jake watched her go, before turning to Emily. “Sorry, but after that conversation we had in December, I’ve been worried she’d pull a stunt like this. You need to be careful with that one.” He placed his jacket over the back of a chair. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need the bathroom.” He glanced at the table and grinned. “At least you two haven’t polished off all the cake yet.” He left them and headed for the toilets.
No sooner had the door closed behind him, than Serena approached their table, walking briskly. She bent down to speak to Emily in a hushed voice. “A word of friendly advice, my dear. Keep Jake Matthews at a distance. He’ll only end up hurting you, like he hurt me.” When Emily stared at her, Serena nodded slowly. “I didn’t think you knew about that. We were close once. I wouldn’t like to see you make the same mistake I did.” Then she hurried out of sight again, the beaded curtain jangling as she passed through it.
Emily’s heartbeat raced, and cold spread out over her skin. Jake—and Serena? Then she recalled Jake having mentioned some history between them: clearly they’d dated at some point. And what did she mean about him hurting her?
The door opened, and Jake returned to the table. “Any coffee left, or did I need to bug Serena for some more?” He sat next to Emily, and gave a friendly nod in Fran’s direction.
Emily did her best to eat a scone, but it stuck in her throat. She didn’t know what to make of Serena’s warning, coming so soon as it did after Jake had revealed her possible intentions.
Is this just lies she’s spinning—or is it a timely warning?
“So why didn’t you bring Emily this time?” Taylor demanded as he basted the turkey.
Jake sighed. “Give it a rest, will you? She was here three weeks ago.”
“Uh huh. What bothers me is the fact that she’s not here now.” Taylor closed the oven door. “What did you do?”
Jake gaped at him. “Who says I did anything?”
Taylor snorted. “Oh, now I know you cocked it up. What happened?”
“Is he talking about Emily?” Simon asked as he came into the kitchen. “I was about to ask the same thing.”
Jake could see he wasn’t going to get a moment’s peace until he told them everything. He related the conversation he’d overheard, Phillip and Brian in the pub, Emily’s proposition… He left nothing out, including his own fears. They listened in silence, Taylor leaning against the fridge, Simon seated at the table. When he was done, Jake sagged into an empty chair.
“That’s it.”
Taylor rubbed his chin. “Let me see if I’ve got this right. You’d say yes like a shot to her idea, except… you think she’s dodgy?”
Jake shrugged. “I can’t be sure.”
“Wait a minute.” Simon gave him a hard stare. “You believe this guy Phillip? Who we never see? Who never came to visit Jane? Who Jane never even mentioned? The same Jane who couldn’t stop talking about Emily?”
“Did you trust Jane’s opinion?” Taylor interjected.
“You know I did,” Jake responded quietly.
“Then do you think Jane would have spoken so highly of Emily if she didn’t think she was trustworthy?” Taylor demanded.
That was a no-brainer. “No,” Jake admitted, his voice still quiet.
“But you’ll believe this Phillip over Jane?” Simon rolled his eyes. “And people say you’re the smart one of the family.”
Jake looked from Simon to Taylor. “I’ve been an idiot, haven’t I?”
“Yes,” they shouted in unison.
Jake put his head in his hands. “I can’t believe I screwed up like this.”
A gentle hand squeezed his shoulder. “So now you put it right. Tonight. You need to go talk to Emily,” Taylor said in a firm, low voice. “And hope she’s prepared to listen to you while you grovel.”
Jake jerked his head up. Simon nodded, grinning. “And we’re talking some serious groveling here, mate.”
As if Jake cared about that. He wanted more of what he’d tasted so briefly that blissful weekend—Emily in his life.
Only this time, he wanted her there permanently.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
It wasn’t until he pulled out his phone and peered at the lit screen, that Jake realized he’d been walking for nearly an hour. He’d been restless all evening, going over and over in his head what he was going to say to Emily when he saw her. When he was finally as tense as a coiled spring, he’d had the idea of taking a walk through the village. He hadn’t had a specific destination in mind, but maybe something in his subconscious had taken over, because there he was, in the lane, not ten feet from Emily’s house.
It seemed his brain had decided to step in.
The lane was silent, but for the occasional shriek of an owl. A lamp post near the house lit up a portion of the street, which was empty except for a Land Rover parked across from the house in a lay-by. A light glowed in one of the upstairs windows of the farmhouse, so Jake surmised Emily was in there. I could go and talk to her now, I suppose. He took stock of the situation. The sky was dark, as it was almost ten o’clock; it was late, it was Sunday, and such conversations would be better taking place in daylight. Then he pushed the thought aside. He was there, and how did the sayings go?
No time like the present.
Strike while the iron is hot.
There were plenty more where they came from, but if there was a gold medal in procrastination, Jake would be a serious contender.
He walked around the back of the house, to where the street light didn’t penetrate—and came to a dead stop. Off in the distance, a dark figure moved silently, the only thing giving away their position the bouncing beam of the flashlight on the ground. Whoever it was, they were heading for the barn.
Then he came to his senses. It was probably Emily, going to bed. Probably.
He glanced back to the house. One way to find out.
Jake walked up to the back door and tried the handle. It was unlocked. His heartbeat picked up a little speed as he opened the door and entered the house, moving as quietly as he could. He was confronted by Emily as she came down the stairs, frowning when she caught sight of him.
“What are you—”
Jake pressed a finger to his lips, and she fell silent. “Someone is going into your barn,” he whispered. Her eyes widened. Jake beckoned her with his hand. “Follow me, but stay back when I tell you, okay?”
She nodded, before grabbing a heavy walking stick from the stand by the door. It had a metal lion’s head on the end. Jake nodded. “Let’s hope you don’t have to use it. Have you got your phone on you?”
“Yes.” She removed it briefly from her pocket. Then she darted into the kitchen, returning with a flashlight that she handed to him.
He led the way out of the house, and they crept through the garden. The door to the barn was slightly ajar, enough to reveal the flashlight inside. When they reached the door, Jake gestured for her to hang back. He paused at the door, listening to the sounds emerging from inside. Jake took a deep breath, flung the door wide, and aimed the flashlight’s beam into the dark interior.
“Stop right where you are!” Jake dashed inside and found a large figure dressed in black, their face covered by a balaclava, kneeling beside the paintings. Jake flung himself at the figure, knocking them to the ground. “Em! The lights! Then call the police!” Beneath him, the figure struggled, trying to throw him off, but Jake wasn’t about to let that happen. “You stay put,” he growled. Suddenly the barn was bathed in light. “That’s better. Now let’s see what you were up to.” Behind him he heard Emily on the phone. Thankfully she sounded calm, not that he’d expected her to be any other way. Emily was amazing.
“The local police are on their way,” she told him. “Shouldn’t be long. So….” She drew closer. “Who is it?”
“Let’s find out.” Jake grabbed hold of the balaclava and tugged it off. He recognized the man instantly.
“Phillip?” Emily said incredulously. “What on earth…?”
“Get off me, you bastard,” Phillip gritted out, trying to get to his feet, but Jake settled his whole weight on Phillip, pulling his arms roughly behind his back and pinning them there.
“You are going nowhere, at least not until the police get here.” Jake gazed at the floor, where he saw a framed drawing, and a folder, from which emerged the corner of a white piece of paper. “Emily, take a look at this. Try not to touch whatever’s inside. It could be evidence.”
She crouched down beside him and opened the folder, holding it gingerly by the edges. Her eyes widened. “Now, what would you be doing with a copy of Rachel’s drawing?”
Phillip said nothing, but Jake pulled his arms a little tighter. “I believe you were asked a question.”
“I have nothing to say to you,” Phillip said, his voice dripping with venom.
Emily peered closely at it. “How did you get this?”
When Phillip remained silent, Jake pulled once more on his arms, and he snarled out, “I took a photo of the original. I managed to sneak in here when there was no one around. I couldn’t just take it—I’d be the first person you’d suspect.”
“When, Phillip? When did you take a photo?” Emily leaned in close, her face inches from his.
“What does it matter? Last week. You’d gone out, and this moron went not long after you.”
Emily sat back on her haunches, a smile playing about her lips.
Jake was lost. “What the hell is going on here, Emily?”
She sighed. “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you when he’s safely on his way into police custody.” Emily stared at Phillip, shaking her head. “And you thought Jane brought disgrace to the family name? Look at you. From commodities broker to cat burglar. That’s a step up for you, I’d say. But why didn’t you go for the full effect? You know, the striped sweater, the bag with SWAG printed on it?” She huffed. “I can only imagine the stink this is going to create when it gets out. And for what, Phillip? Just to get your hands on a Dalí drawing?” Phillip’s eyes bulged, and she nodded. “Oh yes, I know. I have done since that week when you visited.”
Just then the wail of a police siren pierced the quiet night, and Emily looked toward the rear of the house. “I’ll show them where we are.” She left Jake and walked toward the house.
“Let. Me. Go,” Phillip ground out. “I can have you arrested for assault.”
“This, from the man in black, with a balaclava and a flashlight, breaking into a barn, about to perpetrate some underhanded act.” Jake snorted. “Yeah, good luck with that.”
“It’s all right, Jake. We’ll take it from here.”
Jake smiled at the sight of Dave Halloran, the village constable, and another officer. “I haven’t touched anything apart from the door to push it open. Miss Darrow opened this folder but didn’t touch its contents. Oh, and I knocked our ‘friend’ here to the ground.” He climbed off Phillip and allowed the two officers to haul him to his feet.
“You can’t arrest me! On what grounds?” Phillip blustered.
Dave looked him up and down before responding. “We got a call from the owner of this property to say that you’d broken into her barn. You’re dressed totally in black, with a balaclava, gloves, and a flashlight. I’m pretty confident that adds up to breaking and entering—sir. At the very least, it’s trespassing. You’ll be taken down to the station for questioning.” He nodded to his colleague. “Take him to the car. I’ll talk with these two.”
Jake picked up the folder with the copy, and handed it to them. “You’ll want this for evidence.”
Dave nodded again. “Thanks.” He slipped it into a plastic wallet and handed it to the officer, who led Phillip from the barn, Phillip growling at Emily as they stepped past her. Then Dave got out his notebook. “So, what happened here?”
Jake gave him the details of spotting the flashlight and how they’d found him. Emily told him about Phillip’s previous visit, and showed him the drawing. When she told him about Jane’s will, and Phillip’s violent reaction to its reading, Dave gave a slow nod. “Ah, now I get it. So he was after this drawing?”
“Yes, officer. Why else would he come here at night, looking like some sort of—”
Dave chuckled. “Yeah. Bit of a giveaway, that part.” He closed his notebook. “Okay, I’ve got enough details for my report. If you could both stop by the station in the morning to give your official statements? We’ve got enough to hold him on suspicion of breaking and entering, by the looks of things, so he’ll be staying put in the cell for tonight at least.” He gave Emily a polite nod. “Good night, Miss Darrow.” Then he winked at Jake. “And next time you’re in the Vale, let’s have a pint, okay?”
&nb
sp; “You’re on,” Jake said with a grin. Dave left them and walked toward the car.
When it had pulled away and silence had fallen once more, Emily gazed at Jake, her face almost serene. She closed the barn door firmly.
“I don’t know about you, but I need a drink. There’s some Scotch in the cabinet above the sink, if you’re interested.”
Jake took off his jacket and sank onto the couch. “You read my mind.”
Emily grabbed the bottle and two glasses, then joined him. “Well, I certainly didn’t see that coming.”
“So what was he doing here? And what the hell was all that about a Dalí drawing?”
“Like I said, it’s a long story.” Emily poured out at least three fingers of Scotch for both of them, but paused in the middle of handing him the glass. “Are the police going to have to arrest you tonight for drunk driving?”
Jake chuckled. “That might be a little difficult, seeing as my truck is in my driveway at home.”
She blinked. “You walked here?”
Jake took the glass from her. “That, too, is a long story. You first.” He sipped the warming Scotch and listened as she told him what had been happening. “So… by the look of things, we caught him about to swap the original for his copy.”
Emily nodded. “I can only assume he’d been watching the house, waiting until there was no one around, before sneaking into the barn to take a photo of it.”
“Wait a moment. You kept a signed drawing by Salvador Dalí… in your barn?”
She chuckled, then sipped her Scotch.
Jake shook his head. “You know, you are taking this remarkably well.”
“Do you think so?” She gazed at him, eyebrows raised.
“Well, yeah! I mean, what would have happened if we hadn’t caught him? You’d have been none the wiser. You’d never have known he’d done it.”
Emily bit her lip, then a peal of laughter burst from her, blossoming into a crescendo as she laughed hysterically, holding her sides.
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