On Trial

by Zanna Mackenzie

  “I’d love to,” I gush, wanting to hug Victor and Colin right now but managing to resist.

  “Why don’t you and Charlie head round to the marquee now?” James says, steering me back towards the door. “The guys who have helped stage this case are all round there already. Everyone else will be there shortly.”

  “What about Esme and Mitch? Did they pass too?” I ask, lowering my voice to a whisper.

  “Sorry, I can’t tell you,” James replies as he opens the door to the corridor.

  Charlie is lurking outside, pacing up and down, as he hears the door open he wheels round, an expectant look on his face. I smile and in two steps he’s whisking me off my feet and twirling me around. “I knew you could do it!”

  I laugh as one of my shoes flies off and lands about five feet down the hall. Charlie puts me down and I hobble to retrieve it. Slipping it back on my foot, I turn around to see James and Charlie high-five each other as though some plan they’d hatched up has come off successfully. Icy dread replaces my elation. Have I truly achieved this on my own or has Charlie ensured I’m offered a job? Did he tell me things he shouldn’t have? Did he plant clues in our conversation to help me with the assignment? I want this job so much, but not if I’ve cheated. I don’t want to pass up this opportunity to work for the agency and I don’t want to get Charlie into trouble, but I can’t spend forever wondering…

  James and Charlie are chatting ten to the dozen and I look around, debating what to do. There’s a door right next to where I’m standing and I wonder if it’s another door into the lounge. I edge closer and push at it tentatively. It opens, so I peer inside. It is the same lounge, but from the other side. Victor and Colin are chatting over biscuits and coffee. At the sound of my heels on the parquet flooring they look over.

  “Miss Reed?” Victor says. “Was there something you wanted?”

  Now or never. I step forward decisively. Here goes everything I’ve worked for. “Yes, there is. I wanted to ask who the official people from the agency involved in this case were. Is the woman who played Poppy from the CCIA?”

  Looking a little confused, he nods. “Yes, she is. She works in agency support back at HQ.”

  “Were there any other people from the agency who were briefed to casually supply clues, you know, snippets of information to help us solve the case?”

  “Most of the other people were actors we hired or hotel staff who volunteered to help out.”

  I gulp. “So nobody else was officially tasked with supplying specific clues about the case?”

  Victor and Colin exchange glances. “Yes, there was one other person. Charlie Huxton.” Victor pushes his glasses down his nose and looks over the top of them at me. “I believe you know him?”

  I nod, and gulp nervously.

  “Charlie was brought in as, shall we say, an additional test for you. We are, of course, aware of your relationship with Agent Huxton. He declared, as required by the agency, that the two of you were involved when he first recommended we consider you for support officer training. We thought that, should his caseload allow, it would be useful to have him here whilst you underwent your final assessment. It enabled us to see if you allowed him to distract you from the task at hand. It also allowed us to check if you would blindly believe he was incapable of being the kidnapper. He was instructed to test your commitment to this assignment. He was also told to drop clues into your conversation to help you and the others solve this case. He was told to tell you about the lake, the islands, the fishing and the opportunity to catch all sorts of things out there on the water. I trust that he did that?”

  A noise makes me turn and I see James and Charlie standing in the doorway.

  “Miss Reed?” Victor prompts.

  I turn back to him and nod. “Yes, sir, that’s exactly what he did.”

  “Excellent. We wanted to throw in some red herrings and additional complications to add layers to this assignment. Now, perhaps you’d care to go and join the little celebratory party in the marquee? We’re expecting Agent Hargreaves at any moment to discuss his assessment.”

  I scurry out of the room, past Charlie, head down. He knows what I was doing in there. He knows I was checking up on his involvement in the whole kidnapped bride case. I’m out of the hotel and taking deep calming breaths of fresh air on the lawn before Charlie appears at my side.

  “I’m sorry,” I say, looking everywhere but at him. “I had to be sure I’d got the job on my own merits.”

  “Even if it meant losing the job as soon as you’d been given it?” he asks, his voice surprisingly soft.

  Is he mad at me or not?

  “Yes,” I reply, still avoiding direct eye contact.

  “You actually thought I’d fed you clues I shouldn’t have to help you pass? You thought I’d rigged it so you’d get offered a job?”

  “Yes,” I say again, more quietly this time.

  He takes my hands in his and turns me to face him. I finally look up and into his eyes. “I’m sorry. I know I could have got you into all sorts of trouble but I had to do it. I had to ask the question.”

  “I understand why you did it.” He smiles and relief floods through me. “You don’t shy away from a challenge. It’s one of the many things that makes you excellent for this job. Of course, I might have been tempted to try to blackmail somebody, but I knew there was no need, not with you. Luckily for me, I got myself involved with a brave, smart, sexy, resourceful and honest woman. So, am I forgiven for trying to distract you on behalf of the agency?”

  For a moment I don’t reply, looking thoughtful. “Maybe…” I eventually say. “I think you’re going to have to make it up to me though.”

  “Anything you want, name it,” he says, leaning forward and whispering in my ear, making me go all goose bumpy.

  As he steps back I stand on tiptoe and move to plant a kiss on his cheek.

  Charlie turns his face at the last second so my kiss lands on his mouth rather than his cheek. What I’d intended to be a quick peck swiftly turns into a full blown kiss. The wind swirls around us and it starts to rain, but neither of us takes any notice. We are lost in the moment. All the pressure, the worry, anxiety, the nerves are gone now, replaced with relief that I’ve got the job and that I did it without Charlie’s help.

  “Break it up, you two,” a voice says behind us. Reluctantly we end our kiss.

  James is grinning at us as he pulls me into a hug. “Congratulations, Amber. My record of trainees that I’ve worked with being offered employment with the agency remains intact. Thank you for that.”

  “You’re very welcome,” I laugh. “Joining us for a celebratory drink?”

  “Sorry, no,” James says, pulling two envelopes from the pocket of his jacket. He hands one envelope to me. “Can you sign this?”

  “What is it?” I take the envelope and open it. “My contract of employment? Already?”

  “Yep.” He hands me a pen. “It’s all pretty standard, nothing untoward. Charlie will vouch for that. We’d like you to sign it straight away.”

  “Now?” I say. “What’s the rush?”

  James waves the other envelope in front of us. “This is the rush. I have your first case.”

  “What?” I gasp, taking a step back and stumbling slightly as my heels sink a little in the damp grass of the lawn.

  “It just came in and we thought it would be perfect for you guys,” James explains.

  Charlie moves to take the assignment envelope, his fingers closing around the edge. He shoots a questioning look at James, asking, without words, if he is allowed to open the envelope or not. If Charlie has been assigned to this case with me, then he can open it. If he hasn’t, he can’t read what the note says. This is where we’ve now got ourselves involved in a whole other level of complication. Whether we’re working cases together or apart, life is definitely not going to be a picnic.

  James nods his approval and Charlie grabs the envelope and opens i
t. I step closer to read what it says but James places a restraining hand on my arm. “You can’t see that until you sign the contract and officially become an agency employee.”

  I scribble my signature without so much as attempting to scan through the five page contract of employment. I trust James, and I trust Charlie, if they say the contract is fine, then it’s fine. I push the signed document back at James, excitement bubbling inside of me. This is it. My first case. Even better, I’ve been assigned to work with Charlie. For now, anyway. I read though the details of the case.

  “Dynamo Monsoon? I love their music!” I say, as I see their name mentioned on the piece of paper. Then I read the rest of the note. The band’s former lead singer Flynn Garrison has been found dead on a beach on a remote Scottish island. My stomach dips and whirls. No more playing at cases with fake kidnapped brides. This is real. A man has been murdered. “When do we leave?”

  “You should already be on your way,” James replies. “You’ve got five minutes to pack and get out of here.”

  Charlie grabs my hand and we sprint through the drizzle to the hotel so I can get my things.

  “What about Esme and Mitch?” I ask, stopping in my tracks. “I can’t leave without saying goodbye to them, and I want to know how they got on. Did they pass the test too?”

  “There’s no time for that,” Charlie says.

  “I have to know.” I turn to spot James heading into the marquee. “James!”

  He jogs back over. “What’s up?”

  “How did Esme and Mitch get on? I haven’t got time to speak to them now.”

  James sighs. “I shouldn’t be doing this but, between us, Esme passed too and has been offered a job. She’s still in with Victor and Colin.”

  “And Mitch?”

  “Sorry,” James shakes his head. “The powers that be thought he needed to do some teamwork training. They think he’s a good agent but just needs to polish up his people skills, with colleagues and with his clients. He’ll stay as the same level agent he is until he completes the allotted extra training, then we’ll assess him again.”

  I nod. “OK, thanks for telling me. Will you say goodbye to the others for me?”

  “Yeah, sure. Good luck,” James says. He nods to Charlie. “And you look out for her, OK? You’re her mentor on this Flynn Garrison assignment. You know the drill. Keep her safe.”

  Charlie tilts his head in agreement. “Will do.”

  Soon, we’re whizzing along the motorway on our way to catch a ferry to the remote Scottish island of Farra. My emotions are all over the place. Excitement about my new job is mixed with sadness that somebody has been murdered, and regret that I didn’t get to say goodbye to the others before we left. We didn’t even get to spend five minutes at the marquee party. I wonder if that cake I saw when we first arrived for this assignment is real or not. It looked delicious. Ah, well, even if it is real, I won’t be getting to sample it. I suppose this is how my life will be from now on. Having to dash off to help on a case at just a moment’s notice. Beside me in the car, Charlie changes gear then reaches across and squeezes my knee in a gesture that is both comforting and encouraging.

  “OK?” he asks.

  “I’m nervous, terrified and excited all at once,” I reply.

  “You’ll be fine. We’ll do this together, every step of the way.”

  I nod and reach for his hand, relieved I’ve got Charlie by my side to help me face whatever scary stuff lies ahead of us as we track down a murderer.

  Find out what happens next in Precious,

  Amber Reed Mystery Book Two – out now.

  Read on for a sneak preview of the first chapter of Precious…

  Precious

  Amber Reed CCIA Mystery Book Two

  Who would want to murder former pop star Flynn Garrison?

  That’s exactly what Amber Reed, the Celebrity Crimes Investigation Agency’s newest recruit, needs to find out.

  She’s desperate to get to grips with her first assignment and prove she’s up to the job but there’s a lot at stake… and it’s not only her new career that’s on the line.

  Is mixing business and pleasure ever a good idea? Will her relationship with fellow CCIA agent Charlie survive the challenge of the two of them working together?

  And then there’s agent extraordinaire Martha, a man-eating six foot blonde goddess, also assigned to this murder investigation, who clearly has designs on Charlie.

  Trying to uncover who killed Flynn and why whisks Amber from glamorous red carpet film premiere, to learning Scottish dancing at a Highland party in a grand country house - and the distinct possibility of becoming the murderer’s next victim.

  Can Amber solve the case and still keep her relationship with Charlie on track?

  Read on for an extract or check this book out on Amazon

  CHAPTER ONE

  “So is this your first time?”

  I nod and turn away, feeling decidedly queasy.

  “It could be worse,” the man continues. “My first time, there was blood everywhere and…”

  “OK thanks I’ll sort things from here, Constable McKenna,” Charlie says, strolling over and interrupting the local policeman before things get too gory.

  Charlie slips a hand into mine and leads me away from all the commotion and, much to my relief, away from the dead body. The wind is whipping up white tops on the waves as we walk slowly along the stretch of pristine pale sand. Who knew beaches in the wild and isolated islands of the Scottish Outer Hebrides looked like this? We could be on a beach in the Caribbean if it wasn’t for a bitingly cold wind and the miles of moorland and desolate nothingness which surround us.

  But we aren’t. We’re on the island of Farra because Flynn Garrison, the former pop star who made women around the world drool over his gorgeousness, who quit at the height of fame to become a scientist and TV presenter, has been found dead, washed up on this very beach.

  Just over six months ago I started my employment at the Celebrity Crimes Investigation Agency - otherwise known as the CCIA - where Charlie works. I finished my support officer training last week and this is my first assignment. It looks as though I’m not prepared – emotionally or mentally – for coming face to face with a dead body yet though. Are you ever?

  “You OK?” Charlie asks, turning to face me.

  I nod but stare out to sea. The sea which has just washed up a dead man.

  “No you’re not.” He pulls me into a hug and much as I need a cuddle right now I feel a flicker of embarrassment and awkwardness. Are the other guys on the beach – the police, some medical people and a few locals having a nose at what’s going on – all laughing at me right now? Laughing at the agency officer sent to help investigate a death when she can’t even cope with seeing the victim. The woman who needs to go off and have a cry whilst getting a cuddle from her fellow CCIA agent and – though they don’t know this – also her boyfriend.

  “It’s perfectly normal,” he continues, as he strokes hair out of my eyes. “I’d love to be able to say it gets easier with time but the truth is it doesn’t. It does help a little if you try to focus on the fact we’re here to work out what happened to him and, if it is murder, then find out who did this and get them locked up.”

  I bury my face in Charlie’s jacket and sniffle, fighting back the tears. He says nothing, just holds me.

  What seems like an eternity later a voice says, “Er, excuse me, sorry to interrupt but…”

  We turn to see one of the medics looking at us. I hastily wipe my eyes with the back of my sleeves and try to put a capable and professional expression on my face.

  The woman looks at me. “Are you all right, sweetie?” she asks in a strong Scottish accent. “Did you know the man?”

  “No.” I sniff and try to get a grip of my whirl of emotions. “I’m the support officer on the case. I work for the agency, CCIA.”

  “Oh, right, sorry, I…”

 
Charlie chips in to explain. “First case, first time seeing a dead body.”

  The woman gives me a sympathetic smile. “Ahhh, I see. Sorry.”

  “So, any ideas what happened to him?” Charlie asks with a nod towards the screened off area where our victim is.

  “It looks as though he could well have been strangled,” she says. “Then he fell or was put in the water somewhere. Could have been inland, edge of a tidal river or something and the body was washed to sea at high tide. The local police will look into tidal patterns and then we’ll have a better idea. I definitely don’t think we’re looking at an accident or suicide here though.”

  “Pretty much as we expected then.” Charlie shoves a hand into the pocket of his jeans. “Thanks for letting us know.”

  “We’ll remove the body and carry out some proper tests back at the medical centre. I have your mobile phone number, Mr Huxton. I’ll be in touch as soon as I have any further news.”

  “Thanks,” Charlie nods. “And please, it’s Charlie, not Mr Huxton.” He turns to me and adds, “And this is Amber.”

  “OK then, Charlie and Amber it is. If we’re on first name terms then I’m Gwyn.” The woman leans forward and places a hand on my arm. “Why don’t you head back to wherever you’re staying, sweetie and get a nice soothing cup of tea and take it easy for a little while eh? It’s always a bit of shock, you know, seeing the victim. If you want I can give you a sleeping tablet or something to calm your nerves?”

  I shake my head. “Thanks but I’ll be OK.”

  Gwyn nods. “Fine but if you do need me for anything just ring.”

  Charlie wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Thanks, we will.”

  “Let’s go back to the bed and breakfast for a while. I want to call a few people and there’s some stuff we need to look up on the Internet as well,” Charlie says. “Might be best to see if we can rent a cottage too, it looks as though we could be here longer than originally expected.”