Page 146 of The Black Trilogy

“Giving me a whole estate is very generous, but do you not think there were easier ways you could have asked me to leave?”

“Leave? Why would I want you to leave? I was planning to live in the new place with you—we can share both houses.” He sat on the edge of a broken fountain. “You always wanted a modern house, and when the old lady who owned this disaster died, the opportunity seemed too good to pass up. If you prefer, we can just take down the fence and use the extra land for riding.”

You see why I loved him? He might have been cold, and he might have been slightly sadistic, but he knew me. And he wanted me to be happy.

“In that case, thank you!” I jumped up, wrapping my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck, clinging on like a demented monkey much to his amusement.

“That’s more like it.” He smiled, eyes twinkling, and hugged me back. “Let’s go home and find an architect.”

After Bradley and I finished lunch, I helped him to clear the plates into the dishwasher then he headed into town to run some errands. That left me at a loose end, which was why when Mrs. Fairfax returned with the groceries later in the afternoon, she found me cleaning my guns in an attempt to distract myself.

I wanted to do anything but think.

“What are you doing, child?” she scolded before giving me a welcoming hug. “You’ve got oil all over the table.”

“I needed to do something mind-numbing.”

“Things must be bad if you’ve resorted to polishing.”

She was right. Of course she was right. But at least my Colt .45 was really, really shiny.

“I should get back to the office.”

I couldn’t put it off forever even though the prospect was daunting. Almost like the first day at a new school, and I’d had a few of those, what with having been expelled most years. Not only did I have to slot back into doing a difficult and dangerous job, I needed to do it without my number one partner in crime by my side.

My husband had always acted as my sounding board, and now the whole dynamic of how I did things, planned jobs, and thought them through would have to change. A rocky road lay ahead, one I wasn’t sure I could navigate alone.

“No need to rush into work before you’re ready,” Mrs. Fairfax said. “How about I make you some supper?”

“Uh…”

Thankfully, Bradley arrived back and saved me from an evening of second-guessing myself.

“We’re going out for dinner. I’ve made reservations at that Thai place you like,” he told me.

I didn’t relish the idea of dining out, but it was better than staying home alone. Home had too many ghosts and memories.

“I’m driving,” I said.

“No, you’re not. I’ve left my Valium at home.”

“I’ll drive slowly.”

“Last time you said that, Mack had to hack into the police database and erase your speeding ticket.”

“If you drive, we’ll get there in time for breakfast.”

We compromised and took a town car, which turned out to be a good move. Roadworks had left downtown in chaos. Rather than wait as our driver fought his way through road closures and detours, we decided to walk the last part. At least on foot, we could take a shortcut through the park. Fresh air and exercise were good for us, right? And I always carried a flashlight in my purse. Be prepared and all that.

Bradley and I were halfway to the restaurant, discussing the merits of green curry versus red curry, when I picked up on the soft pad of footsteps coming up behind.

I lapsed into silence while Bradley kept chattering enough for the both of us. The moon reflected off the metal bollards bordering the path, the only light at that time of night. I glanced around—the place was deserted. Only us and our new friend walked the narrow avenue between the overgrown trees and bushes, long past needing a trim. The tall evergreens and the damp air muffled any sounds. If anybody shouted for help, not a soul would hear.

Good. I never liked to have an audience.

I blocked out Bradley and concentrated on my surroundings. Our companion matched our pace twenty yards behind. I felt rather than heard him, and my sixth sense told me it wasn’t simply someone out for an evening stroll.

Bradley realised I’d stopped speaking and turned to me. “What?”

---