Page 33 of Taming His Honeydoll
Chapter 8
She didn’t recognizethe number but she knew it wasn’t Henry’s old number so she punched the answer button. “Hello?”
“Hello, this is the Aston Fern Insurance company calling for Emma or Henry Brassington.”
“I’m Emma Brassington,” she replied. “Or was—I’m divorced now.”
“That doesn’t matter,” the cool voice on the other end of the line replied. “I’m calling about the claim your husband filed regarding the fire at 2106 Fairview in Bevier, Maine. I tried to call the number he left and it’s been disconnected.”
Emma frowned. “Did you call the right number? I just talked to Henry the day of the fire and his mother has the phone now. Besides, she’s taken back ownership of the house so how does that affect me or Henry?”
She glanced across at Sawyer and saw he was listening intently. Quickly she pushed the speaker button on her phone so she wouldn’t have to repeat the conversation back to him.
“Excuse me?” the voice asked in surprise. “Your names are the only names on the insurance papers for the house.”
“Really?” Emma asked, shocked. “I was under the impression the insurance on the property was taken out by Marlene and Henry Brassington.”
“I assure you, that is not the case—you appear to have been misinformed. However, I need to send an inspector to the property. I’ve already requested a report from the Fire Inspector after your husband called Friday afternoon. I just need to get a date from one of you as to when we can be out there. And a working number from your husband to correct my files.”
“I don’t have another number for him—we’re divorced. I only knew the number you have and I haven’t heard from him myself since last week.”
“I see. Well—when you get a number, please supply us with it. My inspector can be out there tomorrow if you like, since our business is located in Boston.”
“Sir, the damage to the home was extensive and right now the fire department isn’t allowing anyone inside. We are waiting for the go-ahead ourselves so we can try to retrieve anything that’s worth saving.” Her breath caught slightly. “As of right now, it looks like a total loss.”
Emma looked up when Sawyer tapped her on the arm and mouthed, “Get his name.”
She nodded. “May I have your name, Sir? I’ll give you a call as soon as I know something.”
“My name is Daniel Matson,” he replied. “I’ll wait for your call then. And if I don’t hear from you before I get the inspector’s report, I’ll call you when I do get it. Thank you, and have a good day.”
The phone disengaged back to the dial tone and Emma’s mind whirled. “We were told the insurance policy was in Henry’s parents’ name,” she said with a frown. “How is that possible that it isn’t”
“Better yet, why would Henry call the day of the fire to report the claim? How did he know there was a fire?”
Emma’s eyes widened. “Because I told Marlene when I yelled at her. She must have told Henry to call after we hung up. If that’s the case, why was Henry’s phone number disconnected? It doesn’t make sense.”
Sawyer frowned. “Unless it wasn’t Henry who called?”
Emma put her phone on record and immediately pushed the speed dial for Henry on her phone.
“Have you finally come to your senses?” Marlene’s voice poured into the cab with purring satisfaction.
“I was hopingyou’dcome to your senses and given Henry his phone back,” Emma replied sarcastically. Sawyer’s hand on her arm and the warning shake of his head kept the accusations from coming out.
“Hang up,” Sawyer mouthed.
“But since that’s not the case, fuck off,” she added and hung up the phone.
“That’s two,” Sawyer growled, shooting a glance in the mirror at Levi. Levi was busy with his toy and wasn’t paying attention.
Emma’s chin shot up and she sent Sawyer an angry glare. “I can’t help myself with her,” she said defensively. “Besides, I was going to ask her about the claim.”
“Yes, but if Henry didn’t call the insurance, then who called and then disconnected the phone line they called from? It stands to reason it wouldn’t be Marlene, she already knew the truth, so why would she even call?”
“I-I don’t know,” Emma replied with a frown. “Could Henry have called secretly? From a burner phone maybe to keep Marlene out of it?”
