The Candidate (21 page)

‘You don’t need to. Most men wouldn’t bother — they’d be over the moon to have sex on tap without having to put in the hard yards.’

He smiled to himself; she really didn’t have a clue. ‘I am over the moon, Ginny,’ he kissed her lightly, ‘and I’m not most men.’

No, she thought, that was most definitely true.

‘Okay,’ she said slowly. ‘That would be lovely. I’d love to. I don’t know a thing about boats, though. I won’t be much use.’

‘No worries. I know lots about them. All you have to do is wear that bikini. And let me take it off you at some stage.’

‘Deal,’ Ginny said and, as the crowd behind them started counting down to the New Year, she kissed him, not resisting as he pulled her in close.

Falling, she thought, yes, I can understand why they call it that. But really, it’s more like flying, and she wondered how much of the floaty, dreamy sensation running through her she could pin on the champagne. As the kiss ended she pulled back. Looking at him, Ginny felt something inside trip and tumble, and then take off.

Early the following evening they walked slowly back to her building, sated and sleepy after a day on the water in the hot sun. Mac’s arm was loosely around her shoulder, Ginny’s around his waist. I feel like part of a couple, she thought, making a mental note to work out what that meant … at some stage.

‘What do you want to eat?’ she asked, as they wandered down High Street.

‘Don’t mind. You?’

‘I have a drawer stacked with takeaway menus; let’s have a look when we get in.’

‘Sure.’ Mac was very pleased with how well the date had gone. His status seemed to have been elevated from booty call recipient to something slightly more established. He had a feeling the word ‘boyfriend’ would have her heading for the hills, but he could tag himself that way.

As they approached her building she faltered. He followed her gaze and saw the open front door.

‘Ginny,’ Mac said slowly, ‘did you …’

‘Of course I did! I may have been a bit lax but I’m learning from my mistakes. I locked it. I know I did.’

‘Okay — well, wait here then.’

‘No way. It’s my building.’

‘Ginn.’ He faced her and placed a hand on each shoulder. ‘If someone is still up there, I think I’m slightly better qualified to deal with it, don’t you?’

She blinked. ‘I guess that’s true. Do you think there is? Someone there?’

‘Not sure — but why don’t you call the police and I’ll have a look around.’

He was back within a couple of minutes wearing a look she didn’t like.

‘What is it? What did you find?’

‘I don’t think you want to go up there, Ginny.’

‘Bullshit I don’t.’ She stepped around him and headed through the door.

‘Just don’t touch anything,’ Mac instructed as he followed her up.

It was shocking to see what was left of her office. Both computers had been smashed to pieces. As had the server, she realised. Steve the IT guy would be thrilled that the decision for a replacement had been made for her. The drawers of both desks had been hauled out, the contents scattered across the floor. As had her files; the filing cabinet lay on its side, dented from what might have been a couple of solid kicks. The files themselves had been ripped to pieces — she hated to think how much client and candidate information she’d lost.

Both desk chairs lay on their sides, their padding spewing from rips that criss-crossed the fabric. The few pleasant, albeit generic, prints had been pulled down from the walls; their glass shattered and frames broken. Even the main doors had been taken to and spider-web-like cracks spread up both panes of glass.

The interview rooms hadn’t been spared: the chairs similarly ruined, the lightweight tables broken into kindling.

‘Holy shit,’ Ginny breathed out shakily. ‘It’s been trashed.’

She turned to Mac behind her. ‘What about my place? Oh, hell!’ Ginny looked at the chairs again. ‘Not my couch.’ She bolted up the stairs but stopped short at the door which hung open, kicked in beyond repair. Looking inside she sighed in relief; everything looked to be intact.

And yet the door was wide open so there had been nothing to stop the whirlwind of chaos that had ruined downstairs from doing the same to her flat. And why had it been kicked in when bright, shiny keys hung from the lock? Something started to compute as she checked her pocket and felt her own set of keys. She reached out, but Mac stopped her. They must be copies.

‘Don’t touch them, Ginny. There may be some prints.’

Mac was surprised, and impressed by the look of determined fury on her face.

‘Someone’s fucking with me, Mac. And it’s starting to piss me off.’

He nodded. ‘Come on — the police are here. Let’s go and let them get started.’

Chapter 25

It was late by the time they had the place to themselves again. Despite Mac’s attempts to get her to stay with him at his dad’s, Ginny point-blank refused.

‘It’s my home, and my business. I’m not leaving.’

Knowing it was futile to argue further, he nodded. ‘Fine — but you’re not staying here on your own.’ Gaining her agreement, he did what he could to rig up the door to her flat while Ginny crashed around angrily in the bathroom getting ready for bed.

The police had found nothing besides the mess downstairs. They’d done a sweep for fingerprints in her flat, too, when Ginny admitted she’d noticed a few things moved around but, as with Shine, there was nothing useful. Ginny had spoken to the lead guy for a while and gone through the whole sorry saga about Miles, but she could think of no other cause or suspect.

Having secured the place as best he could, Mac climbed into bed and slid over, gently pulling Ginny close. He waited patiently until he felt her start to relax against him. When her muscles finally unclenched and the tension, which had been flying around her like a swarm of angry bees the last few hours, started to dissipate, he spoke.

‘I understand why you couldn’t tell me all that happened with Miles, because I wasn’t here to be told. And I understand — I think — why you didn’t want to tell me what happened with your car, or when you thought someone had been in here over Christmas.’ He felt her bunch up again, and he ran a hand down the length of her, trying to quiet her: he wasn’t about to tell her off. ‘I know you can handle yourself, Ginny, and your life. I heard you loud and clear when you said you don’t need a white knight, but you mean a lot to me and you have to understand that I’ll do everything and anything I can to look out for you.’

She rolled over to face him. ‘You always have, Mac.’

He nodded. ‘I haven’t been here a lot. I know I don’t have the right to come in and tell you how to live your life, but I need you to be safe. So please, Ginny, can you just let me in a bit? I need to know you’re telling me enough so I can make sure you’re safe.’ He thought back to what his dad had said. ‘I can’t protect you if I don’t know what’s going on.’

‘Not every girl has her own personal NZSAS soldier. I’d be a fool not to take advantage of that.’ She gave him a grin, but he didn’t reciprocate. ‘I don’t know what’s happening here, Mac,’ she said, and he was unsure if she was referring to more than just the break-in. ‘But I don’t like being messed around, and I’m not about to put myself — or my business — at risk. So — sure. I can see what you’re saying, and thank you. But, Mac …’ Ginny put a hand against the familiar contours of his face. ‘I’m not about to get used to having you around either. I’m not going to set up a new way of doing things that doesn’t work when you leave again. That’s risky, too.’

‘Ginny, I—’

‘Shhh.’ She put a finger up to his lips. ‘I’m not asking you for anything, or expecting anything. You don’t have to tell me how much you love your work — it’s written all over you. I know that, and I figure you’re itching to get back to it. You’re my friend and I want you doing what makes you happy. We’re having a good time here, and having had my place trashed so soon after being attacked, I’m not averse to you keeping an eye out. But, to be clear: I won’t get used to having you around,’ she repeated. ‘There’s an endpoint to this.’

He couldn’t speak, couldn’t find the words. So he kissed her instead, pulling her close and put all he felt, all he wanted and needed, into that kiss. And hoped she could hear him.

Mac woke late the following morning after a restless night, listening out for every sound, tensed and ready to leap out of bed and fight, attack, if he had to. Eyes closed against the bright sun, he reached out an arm to Ginny. Feeling only the coolness of an otherwise empty bed he groaned softly and opened an eye.

No sign of her. He pulled on his shorts and quickly established that she wasn’t in the flat. Downstairs, he opened the doors of Shine Consulting where Ginny and Mads were crouched over the mess, sorting through it.

‘Morning.’

They both looked up.

‘Hi,’ Ginny said. ‘You were sleeping like a baby so I left you to it. Mads just got here; we wanted to get started early.’

‘That’s very kind of you, Mads. Considering the state of the place.’

‘This is nothing. You should see what sort of havoc George and Molly can create.’ She smiled, but he saw the worry in her eyes. ‘And, anyway, it’s the least I can do. It’s a horrible thing to have happen.’

‘Yep.’ He surveyed the room. A nuisance, he thought. A callous, petty nuisance. And the upstairs door busted open with the key in the lock, yet the flat untouched — it seemed like a message: whoever had done this to Ginny could have done more, much more, but had chosen not to. And they wanted her to know it.

‘I’m going to grab a shower and get some coffee on, then I’ll come and help.’

The biggest pain in the arse, Ginny realised, was that she couldn’t get at her work. Both computers were trashed and, although the insurance company had been great, Steve the IT guy was on holiday and she had no clue how to get up and running again. And she needed to, quickly. Robert was expecting her to make contact again soon — if not today, then tomorrow — and the uni role started the following week. All of her files were backed up, but that was no use without a system to run them on.

The office was back in as much order as possible and Mads had just left, making Ginny promise to come for dinner that night.

‘Do you need to get going, too?’ she asked Mac, as she looked at what was left of Shine Consulting.

‘No. I’m all yours. What’s next?’

‘Do you know anything about computers?’

‘Not my field of expertise I’m afraid. Why?’

‘Isn’t it obvious? I need new ones.’ She scrubbed her face with her hands. ‘Soon. And my IT guy is on holiday until next week.’

Mac pulled out his phone. ‘Dad has a couple of guys on full-time. I’m sure someone would be available to go shopping with you and get things sorted.’

Ginny looked at him, horrified. ‘That’s way too much of an imposition, Mac.’

‘Didn’t you hear a word I said last night?’

‘Yes, but I thought you were referring to beating up the bad guys.’

‘Yeah — but this is a given, too.’

‘It’s the first week of January, Mac. You can’t interrupt his holiday, or anyone else’s, because of this.’

‘Dad will have been at his desk since seven, therefore half the firm will have been.’ He hit call.

Mac quickly explained to his father what had happened. After the call, he smiled at Ginny nibbling on a nail and looking uncomfortable.

‘Done. Dad’s going to get Benny to come over straightaway.’

‘That’s very kind. Make sure you tell your dad to invoice me for this … Benny’s time.’

‘Nope. Dad wouldn’t hear of it. He started out small once, too. He remembers what it’s like. Just smile and say thanks.’

She smiled. ‘Thanks.’

Benny was bespectacled, efficient and turned up almost immediately. He eyed Ginny’s business credit card lasciviously when he heard what she needed.

As he hustled her out the door, Ginny turned to Mac.

‘Want to come?’

‘Nah, I’ll leave you to it. I thought I’d go and get you a new door and new lock while I’m at it.’ A locksmith had arrived first thing to re-key the street door but Mac intended replacing the one into the flat.

She smiled. ‘Thanks. That would be a great help.’

‘You’re getting the hang of this nicely.’ He started up the stairs.

‘Mac?’

‘Yeah?’

‘Get a good lock, okay? I need to know no one can get in.’

Mac took in the expression on her face; she’d been hiding her fear well. He walked back and wrapped his arms around her. ‘Of course.’ He placed a kiss on her forehead. ‘Of course I will, Ginn.’

She arrived back a couple of hours later exhausted and brain-dead from deciphering the options Benny had presented to her. With her business having a growth spurt, she had to think strategically and, in an odd way, this had been a blessing; she’d be well set up as Shine stepped up to the next level.

Benny was happily setting up the new computers. She offered lamely to help but he gave her a disparaging look and waved her away.

‘I’ll do the basics now, and come back in tomorrow to finish off, if that suits?’

Ginny nodded. She sure as hell wasn’t going to work today. Tomorrow would be soon enough.

Heading upstairs, she saw Mac in the doorway, drill in hand, fitting a new lock onto a new door.

‘Wow!’ She checked out its shiny sturdiness, clocking the peep-hole in the door, and the chain that he’d already attached to the inside. She knocked on the door; it sounded a hell of a lot more solid than the previous one. ‘Steel panel inside, Mac?’

‘Not quite, Ginn. But it’ll be slightly harder to kick in.’

She tinkled the chain and smiled. ‘Thanks.’

‘You’re welcome. Let me show you the lock.’ He put down the drill. ‘This is a night-latch. And this,’ he flicked up a small switch, ‘is a snib. When it’s up, you can’t open the door from the outside, even with a key.’ He looked at her. ‘It means you can lock yourself inside.’

She nodded. That’s what she was after. ‘Can I put one on downstairs?’

‘Of course. I’ll get one tomorrow. I need to get more keys cut, too. For Ange and the twins. Maybe a set for Mads?’

‘Great.’ Ginny smiled up at him. He really was a bit of a star. ‘Thank you.’

‘Doing this got me thinking … have you thought about putting access control on the street door?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘A locksmith can wire this up,’ he tapped the striking plate, ‘so that you can release the lock from up here or in your office. Means you can keep the door locked all the time. People have to buzz downstairs first, and you or Ange get to say whether they come in or not. I could get someone to come by tomorrow and link it up.’

‘I’d love that. Thank you.’ She watched as he picked up the drill again. ‘Do you want to come tonight? To Mads’ for dinner?’

He looked up with a surprised smile. ‘Sure. I’ll have to meet you there, though. I need to go home and get changed.’

‘No problem.’ And with that, she headed for the shower.

He watched her go. Unless he was mistaken, Ginny had just asked him out on a date. Things were going well, he thought. Very well, actually.

The next morning Ginny woke early. Determined to put the events of the last few days behind her, she dressed and headed downstairs.

Benny had done a great job. Email was up and running and all of her files were loaded; she seemed good to go.

First things first.

Robert sounded relaxed and pleased to hear from her. ‘So where are we at, Ginny? Any luck with the other referee?’

‘No, Robert, I’m sorry to say I haven’t heard anything.’ Not from Daniel either, but that was no surprise. ‘I’m not calling it done yet,’ she continued. ‘What are you thinking? Is it getting too hard? Do you want me to chase Stella up?’

Robert sighed. ‘I don’t like how this is playing out with Daniel, but he is bloody good. Just what I had in mind. What do you think?’

Ginny grimaced, but was resolute to not let her growing antipathy for Daniel get in the way of what her new client needed. ‘It’s Thursday now so why don’t you give me until Monday to chase up his second referee, and in the meantime I’ll talk to Stella. I can explain the situation to her and if she’s comfortable, I’ll start talking to her referees.’ She paused, waiting for Robert to say something. When he didn’t, she went on.

‘I don’t want to see you starting again, Robert. Daniel’s resistance to this is puzzling, and it’s possible he’s playing your role against something else. If we line Stella up, at least you’ve got another option. If you think she’s good enough.’ Always hard, Ginny thought, to sell a number two when the number one was still flirting around the edges.

Robert agreed, and Ginny promised to keep him in the loop. The rest of the week after New Year would be quiet, which meant she had a couple of days to go head down, tail up and see if she could pull a bunny out of a hat.

Ginny’s plan was simple, if not a little desperate. Unless Mark Hutchinson had made a complete career change, there were only so many places in Edinburgh he could be working. She had the days to research online, and the nights to call the UK firms and banks to try to track him down. It was a long shot, especially at this time of year, however she had found Vanessa Masters using a similar approach. More importantly, she had no other option. Opening up her web browser, Ginny got started.

Mac stumbled downstairs in much the same fashion as the day before, sometime after ten.

‘Morning, sleeping beauty.’ Ginny smiled, taking a break.

He yawned. ‘What did Mads put in that curry? I slept like a log.’

‘Paul’s curry,’ Ginny corrected. ‘And, yes, I don’t think anything could have woken you earlier. I certainly tried.’

‘Really?’ Mac’s eyes took on a distinctive light as he walked over. ‘I’m awake now.’

Ginny laughed and put her hands up, palms out. ‘Back off, cowboy, I’m working. What about you? Don’t you need to get back into the office?’

Ignoring her attempts to keep him at bay, Mac took her hands and pulled her to her feet.

‘No, Dad doesn’t need me until next week. I thought I’d call someone about the glass on your office doors, and get a locksmith to wire up the street door.’ He moved fast and took her mouth for a hard kiss filled with intent. ‘Then,’ Mac continued, moving to her neck, roaming his hands over her, ‘I have a few things of my own to get done, but tomorrow I’m heading down to Gibson’s, and Ginny,’ he pulled up to look her in the eye, ‘I’m not taking no for an answer this time. You’re coming to the bach with me. I’ll get you back in plenty of time on Sunday.’

‘Okay.’

He pulled off her T-shirt.

‘That sounds nice.’

‘Great.’ He picked her up, swung her over his shoulder and carried her, laughing, back upstairs.

By the time they left on Friday afternoon, Ginny had absolutely nothing on Mark Hutchinson’s whereabouts, except that he was at none of the places she’d called the night before. She’d crawled into bed sometime after two and was shattered. She had been thorough: with every call she’d angled to speak to a person in the relevant department so that even if Mark didn’t work there she could ask if anyone knew of him or where he might be.