After the Fire (5 page)

“Not really. What are you going to do?”

“I’m not lying for you.”

“I’m not asking you—” His hand shot up, cutting off her protest.

“If I get asked directly I’ll tell him. But because you’re with me and promised to keep me in the loop…along with the fact that we’re undercover—you have a week. The condition is that you’ll be up front with me about everything. And I mean
everything
. If we can’t solve it between the two of us by then, I’ll reconsider.”

“Thank you.”

“One other thing. If you
ever
speak to me like that again, disobey an order or disrespect
anyone
in authority over you—you will be fired. Is that understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Consider this an official verbal warning.”

Freddie raised her coffee and sipped the scalding liquid, wincing as it burned the inside of her throat. She’d gotten off lightly and knew it. He’d watch her like a hawk now. Her eyes burned with tears she didn’t want to let fall.

Jason let out a deep breath. “Look, fifteen years ago I messed up. I hurt you. I admit that. I also admit I was wrong, and I don’t deserve your forgiveness. However, having said that, we have to work together here. Please, can you at least try to be civil for the next few days until this case and the next one is over?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “What next case?”

“The Constantine case. You know the one we’re supposed to be working on.” He finished his coffee and put the empty cup in the bag with the trash.

“So, how much do you know about the Rafferty case?”

“Nothing. Well, not very much. You had all the files, and I was only told I was working with you at nine this morning. On the Constantine case, which I could tell you heaps about.”

“You really know nothing? The boss told you nothing about Rafferty?” Freddie looked at him over the rim of her cup, not sure whether to be relieved or grateful, but she had to be sure.

“Nope, not a thing. Apart from the fact he’s missing and was last seen in Cornwall, which I learned from you about an hour ago. I’ll need you to brief me fully.”

“Of course I will.”

“All right, you can fill me in on the road. Otherwise, we’ll not make it by dark, never mind five o’clock.” Jason started the car.

She shook her head. “It’d be easier to show you, which is why I said...”

“Freddie…”

“Jason…I’m not brushing you off here, I promise. It really would be easier to show rather than tell.” Freddie leaned back in the seat, not sure how to handle things from here. Was he being honest with her about knowing nothing? The one thing she did know was that she couldn’t trust him. Not now, perhaps not ever.

4

The guesthouse was cozy—with gingham curtains in the windows and comfortable looking furniture. Freddie carried the holdall containing the box up the steep, winding and narrow staircase to her room. Jason insisted on taking her suitcase as well as his own, and she could hear him panting behind her. She smiled. He hadn’t been kidding about being unfit. At least she hadn’t let him carry the holdall, too. He might have collapsed in a heap and needed reviving...

Not going there, girl. Been there, done that, and got the broken heart to prove it
.

Mrs. Bowman beamed at her as they reached the landing. “I put you in this one, Miss Price. And your gentleman friend is in the room opposite. I hope that’s all right.”

“It’s fine, thank you.” Freddie smiled back. She always used her grandmother’s maiden name when on assignment and answered automatically to both that and her real name.

“There’s a connecting door to a single room from your bedroom. We set it up as a study for you. Just as you asked.” Mrs. Bowman’s hands waved around as she spoke.

“Thank you so much, Mrs. Bowman. You’ve been really kind in accommodating the changes at such short notice.”

“No problem at all. It’s lovely your friend was able to join you, after all.” She glanced around as if confirming that everything was in place, and then stepped back towards the stairs. “Well, you just let me know if there’s anything else you folks need. Dinner will be in an hour in the dining room. I’ll ring the bell when it’s ready.”

“Thank you.”

Freddie took her case from Jason, unlocked the door and went into her room. Pink curtains hung at the windows, with matching bedspreads on the twin beds. A rose china water jug and bowl sat on the stand by the sink. A single wardrobe and nightstand completed the room. She turned around slowly, taking it in…so warm and welcoming. It seemed unthinkable that someone could just vanish from here without a trace. Maybe from this very room. Shivering, she pushed the thought aside.

She placed the holdall on one bed and moved to sit down on the other. Feeling the firmness of the mattress, she shifted and lay completely on her back. Freddie closed her eyes, allowing herself a moment to enjoy not being cramped in the car. Why Jason? There were dozens of agents the boss could have paired her with if he saw fit—although he knew her preference for working alone and why.

Maybe he doubted her loyalty, too? It would be ironic if Jason fired her for trying to prove the innocence of—

A sharp knock at the door jerked her awake. She opened her eyes, and scrambled off the bed to open the door. “Hey, Jason, come in.”

“Nice décor. It’s the same as mine only mine has green furnishings,” he said as he entered.

“You must have a different definition of ‘the same’ then,” Freddie said lightly. She shoved her hands behind her back.

“You look shattered.” Jason looked at her, concern filling his gaze.

“Hmm? Oh, no I’m fine—just ironing out the kinks in my back from sitting awkwardly in the car for the past four hours, or so. You did all the driving.”

“Yeah. So, got time for that briefing you promised me?”

All right. Straight to work it is, then.
“Sure. Could you bring that holdall through to the other room for me, please?”

“Sure.” He pulled a face as he moved the holdall. “Whoa, that’s heavy. What on earth have you got in here? The kitchen sink or something?”

“I was tempted to bring it, but changed my mind.” Freddie laughed as she followed him through to the study. “It’s evidence. Everything we have on Rafferty.”

His eyes narrowed in displeasure as he put the bag on the table. “What?”

“It’s what was left in Gerald Rafferty’s house the night he vanished. It’s the reason why we’re here.”

“You removed evidence from the locker and took it out of the building? After being told not to work on this case? Before you spoke to me? Did you have any intention of doing as you were told?”

He wasn’t listening to her. Freddie faced him, trying not to raise her voice in irritation. “It’s signed out, and I followed protocol. And I explained my reasons—albeit after the event. Well partly, but please, Jace, I have to finish this one.”

“I wasn’t questioning your use of protocol. Just answer the question. Do you ever follow orders as far as caseloads are concerned? Or are you the maverick I’ve heard you are? Someone who can’t play ball or work as part of a team?”

“Jason, please don’t make this harder than it already is. I’ve gotten to know Mrs. Rafferty. She’s a sweet old lady who just wants to know where her husband is. No one else cares, Jason. No one—except me.”

His gaze pieced her very soul. “I, I, I. There is no I in team, Frederica. If you haven’t learnt that by now…” He threw his hands into the air in exasperation. “It doesn’t matter how good you are at your job, in this line of work you share information. You know that. If you don’t, then information gets missed or you piece things together badly, leap to the wrong conclusions or just screw things up completely. That’s why we work in teams of at least two. Not on our own. No one does, no matter how good they think they are or how many cases they can juggle at once.”

“I’m sorry.” Freddie looked down at her feet. She tried to swallow past the lump in her throat, heart pounding and stomach churning. This no doubt would count as a second warning.

Jason reached out and gently lifted her face to his. She looked at him, waiting for the hammer to fall.

“All right, lecture over. All I ask is that you try. Can you do that?”

“Yes. I’ll try.”

“Good. So—do we need the contents of the holdall that badly?” His smile lifted her spirits a little.

“Yes.” Freddie unzipped the holdall. “This is too crucial to be left behind. I believe we need it to solve this case.”

“That sounds good.”

“What does? Solving the case? It’s what we’re paid to do.”

“Not just that. You said ‘we.’ Twice.”

“Well you’re here and I’m here. No better time to try that team thing of yours.” She paused, gesticulating as she spoke. “It’s not just you. It’s this whole partner thing. It just makes me uncomfortable. I’m sorry.”

He nodded, pushing a hand through his hair. “It’s fine, you don’t need to keep apologizing. So, what’s in the box?”

Freddie pulled out the Rafferty file.

Jason took it and raised an eyebrow as he read the front cover. Before he could say anything, the clanging of the dinner bell echoed up the stairs.

Relief filling her, Freddie looked at him, wondering what he wanted to do.

Jason put the file back into the holdall and zipped it shut. Lifting it, he slid it under the table. “Let’s go eat, I’m starved. I listen better on a full stomach, anyway.” He paused, pointing a finger at the holdall and then her. “But this isn’t finished. I want an explanation before you go to bed.”

****

They ate in silence, both hungry after the long drive. Despite the way Freddie irritated him with her continuous demeaning attitude, Jason found his gaze constantly drawn to the woman opposite him. She was as beautiful as he remembered. Did she need her glasses fixed? Or was the way she frequently pushed them back up her nose a habit? The coffee came and Jason poured them both a cup. “What’s the plan of action for tomorrow?”

“You’re the boss.” Freddie added cream to her cup and stirred it slowly.

“It’s your case. I’m not here to interfere in the way you want to run it. I’m here to watch you work and help in any way I can. For the next few days I’m your partner, not your boss.” He offered her the sugar.

“No, thank you. I gave up sugar years ago. I figured we’d walk around the village. Be tourists, take photos.”

“Freddie?” He raised an eyebrow at her as the conversation buzz around them dimmed slightly.

“Jason,” she replied, matching his tone. She looked at him over the rim of her cup, the steam swirling and blocking his view of her eyes for a moment. She lowered her voice. “My favorite part of field work is blending in. Dressing in a way I daren’t do in the office. And as this is my first holiday in well over eighteen months, not to mention my first summer break for years, I intend to make the most of it. Take photos, visit tiny teashops, eat too many cream teas and gain weight, buy lots of souvenirs, find the beach, and at the same time see if anyone remembers our mutual friend.” She raised her voice back to its normal level. “Maybe start with the harbor.”

Tempted to tell her he wouldn’t have made vice president without knowing how to do undercover work, Jason decided against it. The sooner she proved herself, the sooner he could give up on this stupid idea of her being disloyal and incompetent, and get on with the real work. Her attitude grated, but at least she was talking civilly to him. He’d give her a day to improve before lecturing her again.

“All right, Freddie. A trip to the harbor sounds good.” He smiled up at Mrs. Bowman as she appeared to collect the pudding dishes. “That was the best apple pie and cream I’ve had in a long time. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, dear. It’s so nice to see a young couple with morals. It’s so rare these days, don’t you think? Most people wouldn’t think twice about sharing a room.”

“Oh, we’re not a couple.” Freddie tried to explain.

Jason took pity on her and shot Mrs. Bowman what he hoped was his most charming smile. “We’re nothing more than friends. Actually we were hoping you could recommend a Baptist Church we could go to on Sunday.”

“The pin board in the hallway has a list of churches, along with some maps of the local area, and plenty of pamphlets of places to go and visit.”

“Thank you. We’ll be sure to check them out.” He watched her go and looked back at Freddie.

“I didn’t think she believed us until you mentioned church. I don’t go to church anymore, but if you want to go on Sunday, that’s fine.”

He nodded. “I would. I make it a habit not to miss a Sunday if I can help it. So many people go on holiday and take a holiday from church, too. It doesn’t take much effort to find a local one to attend. When did you stop going?”

“When you left me.” Freddie set her cup down. “I didn’t see the point anymore. And with everyone gossiping and making comments…it was easier just to stop going. ‘Sides if that was how a Christian acted, then I didn’t want to be one anymore. I stopped reading my Bible and praying and…” She broke off, shaking her head.

Jason laid his hand on top of hers, his heart sinking. That hadn’t been his intention.
Oh Lord, what have I done?

“Freddie, I’m sorry.”

“Please don’t make this any harder than it is.” Freddie’s eyes glistened. She pulled her hand away from his.

“I’m sorry.” Had he made her cry? His stomach turned at the thought.

“It’s fine.”

No it isn’t. It’s never fine to make someone cry, especially not her
.
Being the cause of Freddie losing her faith is the last thing I wanted. I never imagined she’d react that way. I need to help her find it again somehow. But gently, not forcing it down her throat. A still small voice perhaps, rather than a fiery onslaught.
Maybe he should give her some space for a few minutes.

“I’m going to go take a shower. I’ll come find you when I’m done. I thought we could continue the conversation from earlier.”

“Actually, I’m really tired. Can we talk in the morning?” She took a deep breath. He caught a glimpse of something in her eyes. Knowing how his own memories returned at inopportune moments, he wondered if the past was haunting her as it did him.