Page 64 of A Box of Wishes
“I need to go check on Ryan,” he told the cat while he topped up his food. “I’ll be back in time for breakfast. You look after the house for me, okay?”
The trees along the High Street, still draped in their strings of lights, guided him into Rothcote. He sped up the hill, flew around the roundabout, and pulled the car to a stop before the archway.
Two police cars blocked access to the coffeehouse and Ben crossed the courtyard at a run. Worry ate at him until he burst through the backdoor and found Ryan sitting on the break room sofa talking to his cousin.
What was Alastair Donohue doing in the coffeehouse at this hour of the morning? Had Ryan called him instead of Ben?
“Ryan?”
“Ben!” Ryan met him in the middle of the room. “Breathe, Ben. We’re okay. We heard someone trying to pick the lock on the back door and called the police. Your colleagues were here in minutes.”
“We were just coming down the High Street,” Rob added from Ben’s other side. “And guess what? It’s the same two guys who attacked Mr O’Shaughnessy the other day. I doubt the judge will give ‘em bail this time around.”
“Did they say anything?”
“The usual.” He made a face. “I know me rights,” he grumbled in an atrocious Brummie accent. “I don’ say nothin’ without me solicitor.”
“Of course.” Ben listened with only half his attention. The rest was focussed on Ryan, who seemed far too awake, and Alastair, who appeared as if he wished he were anywhere but here.
“Your chief is coming in early to question the two,” Rob said. “He wants them processed right away. He’s convinced there’s something here they want, and the sooner you find it the better.”
“Fair enough,” Ben said. Then he caught sight of Ryan’s face. “What?”
“You keep saying there’s something here,” he said. “I still can’t think what it’d be.”
“Let’s see if they tell us. If they don’t, we may have to search for it.”
“Oh joy!” Ryan’s shoulders sagged. “I’ve no idea where to start looking. Or how I’d know I’ve found… whatever it is. Let me put some coffee on.”
Ben held him back. “How come you’re here? Were you working so late?”
“That’s my fault,” Alastair said before Ryan had a chance to open his mouth. “I had dinner with my uncle and popped by on my way home. We got chatting.”
“Alastair was trying to convince me to stay at his place,” Ryan cut in.
“Why? Did you expect a disturbance?”
“No, nothing of the sort. Alastair’s been on at me for the last two weeks about it.” He took a deep breath. Then another. “Ever since my landlord booted me out of my flat.”
The dark circles under Ryan’s eyes and his less than impeccable clothing suddenly made sense to Ben. Not a lot else did. “You’ve been living here?”
“I thought it’d be just for a few nights until I found a new flat. But January and February are unpopular months to move.”
“Where’s all your furniture?”
“My uncle’s storing it for me.”
“And you never once mentioned that you’ve been moving house? Or that you’re technically homeless? We’ve been seeing each other twice a day, and that never came up?” Ben didn’t want to imagine Ryan sleeping on the break room sofa, with none of his personal possessions close by and only the barest of comforts. Ryan worked hard. He took care of people. He deserved somewhere to relax at the end of a day.
Ben struggled to make sense of the situation. Why had Ryan’s landlord turfed him out? And why hadn’t Ryan mentioned it? Did he think Ben wouldn’t help, or worse, turn away from him?
Thoughts tumbled about like chaff in a breeze, until one of them snagged on another loose end. “You’re sleeping here? In the coffeehouse? Why would you do that? I would have offered you my spare room if you’d asked. You’re surrounded by family. I’m sure they would have done so without you even asking.”
Ryan didn’t meet his gaze. “I didn’t want to tell anyone. I didn’t want them to feel… obligated.”
Alastair scoffed. “Hogwash. You didn’t want to be beholden. Not even to those of us who won’t take advantage of you.”
Ben ignored that. “One break-in, one attempted break-in, plus common assault. And you’re sleeping in your break room. Do you know how this looks? Like you’re protecting something. A recipe maybe?”
