Page 70 of Stockman's Showdown

‘So, you took on the bullies in the Army?’

‘No. Instead, I used it as a lesson.’

‘How?’

‘I learned quickly in the Army to never trust too fast, to quit no task too early, and to never expect too much from those around you. Most of all, to never talk too much.’

Well, that made a whole load of sense as to who he was now.

‘But that simple woollen blanket was not some child’s crutch, it was a small piece of home for me. It shaded me from the sun in the Afghan desert and sheltered me from the cold rains in Ireland. It was a beach blanket down in Mexico. The perfect pillow for a train ride through the Swiss Alps, and it was the cushion that saved my arse from getting burned on the ferry ride in Morocco. I thought I’d hang it up when I found a home…’ Leaving that sentence hanging in the air for a moment. ‘Yet, for something as simple as a blanket, it taught me the biggest lesson of all.’

‘What’s that?’

‘To understand the true value in things, which has nothing to do with the price tag,’ said the self-made billionaire who looked at her so deeply it unnerved her. ‘And when you find something worthy, you do your best to hold on to it.’

‘Here, take it back. It obviously means a lot to you.’

‘No. It’s yours, Bree.’ He tenderly squeezed her arm. ‘I want you to keep it.’ He stared at her for a long time, as if trying to say something. It was a look that revealed how truly and deeply he cared about her.

No one had ever looked at her like that before, it set her heart hammering in her chest. ‘We’d better get going.’

Twenty-seven

The front doors of the Elsie Creek Police Station slid open, releasing a brush of cool office air that blended with a rich coffee aroma greeting Ryder, Charlie, and Bree.

‘Policeman Porter,’ called out Charlie to the officer behind the large counter. ‘Just the fella I came to see.’

‘It’s Senior—’

‘Whatever. Have you solved the mystery yet?’

‘No. Morning, Bree.’ Porter came around the counter to give her a friendly peck on the cheek, shaking Ryder’s hand as the security door clicked shut behind him. ‘Look out, you two are in the same room together—you’re not going to fist it out or something?’

‘We’re playing nicely,’ said Bree. ‘But I’ll be selling tickets later if you want the sunset show. I’m sure there’ll be fireworks by then.’

Ryder hoped not. With a clink of glass, he tucked the plastic bag he was carrying under his arm to remove his hat and straighten his hair. ‘Is Marcus in?’

‘Yeah, go on through.’ Porter swiped his card to open the security door. Charlie bustled through, but Bree hesitated. Which was unlike her.

Ryder gently placed his hand on her lower back. ‘Do you want to come with me or stay with Charlie?’

‘How do I do both?’

‘I’m all right, kid. I don’t need a babysitter.’ Charlie poked up the brim of his hat, to squint at the large table covered with assorted evidence.

Ryder recognised some of it from the cave they’d found after the landslide.

‘Now, Porter, please indulge an old man and tell me what you’ve learned.’

‘Um, well…’ Porter gave Bree a pleading look for help.

Ryder could see she was torn. ‘How about I fill you in later on what Marcus tells me and you tell me what Porter tells Charlie?’

‘Deal.’ She gave Porter a brotherly tap on his upper arm. ‘Porter, did you say that Charlie needed to sign something?’

‘I did.’ Porter sighed with relief as he escorted Bree to the large evidence table.

Ryder left them to it, rapping his knuckles on Marcus’s open office door. ‘Morning.’

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