Page 58 of A Simple Mistake
“Motion carried.Cecily, Ronald—please forward all company materials and assets at your earliest convenience.I’m sure you’ll understand if I do not express my thanks for your service and support.”
It was the most unforgiving speech Gareth had ever heard Julian make to members of his family, and he wanted to cheer.
Before he could do so, his phone rang.
Correction.
It screamed.
And so did Aidan’s.
Gareth snatched the phone and took in the map, flashing red.“Break-in at mine,” he said, pushing away from the table.“Need to go.”
“I’m right behind you.”Aidan was standing, too.“You talk to the boys.I’ll raise the cavalry.”
“Anything we can do?”Julian understood the emergency.Maybe Alex had briefed him at some point.Or Jack.
“Thank you,” Gareth managed, mind already in Kingston.“I just need to get home.”
“Drive safely.”
Gareth sprinted from the room, blew past his office to collect his car keys, and took the stairs to the garage, because running beat waiting for the lift—or that was what Jack always said.
Gareth gunned the car out of the garage and joined the traffic heading west.He pushed his speed and kept his mind on the road, the traffic, the stupid idiot who cut in front of him without a care…
His finger flickered over the call button, switching from number to number, but neither Daniel nor Nico replied.Not on their home phones, or their mobiles.
“Pick up.Pick up.Pick up.”
Gareth repeated the words like a mantra, repeated his actions while hoping for different results.It was like Jack lost in the Romney Marshes, but a thousand times worse.What the fuck was going on over there that Daniel and Nico couldn’t call for help?Were they hiding?Running dark?But even then, they had instructions to keep their phones on so Gareth could listen in.
He wanted to plan his approach, optimise each step before he got there, but to do that, he needed data.Without it, he’d be walking blind into a situation.With Aidan right behind him.
He reviewed the equipment he had in the car—tyre irons, road flare, jump leads, fire extinguisher.Windscreen washer fluid was useful in a pinch.He carried an extensive toolkit, and—of course—he had knives.Nobody who lived with Jack would ever be without a knife or several.
Tyres screeched, and a horn blared as he ruthlessly cut in front of a lorry.That lumbering crate could take its time delivering its load.Gareth didn’t have that luxury.
Ten miles.He needed to cover ten miles, and he’d be home.
Nothing and nobody would get in his way.
Jeopardy
Thesmellofvanillaand sugar filled the kitchen, warm and sweet, teasing Daniel’s nose as he cradled the mixing bowl.Jack would be home in time for his birthday, and while he didn’t want a big party, he wouldn’t turn down Daniel’s Black Forest Gateau.Not when Daniel’s secret ingredient was a bowl of cognac-soaked morello cherries.He gave the vanilla cream another stir, mind on the two rounds of chocolate sponge cooling on the rack—
Glass shattered.
The alarm blared.
Not a smoke alarm.Not the oven timer.The alarm.
Its shriek sliced through the house, shrill enough to make his teeth hurt.Daniel flinched, heart slamming against his ribs.Bowl forgotten.Hands frozen.Comfort and sense of safety evaporated in an instant.
Nico.
He moved like an automaton.Don’t panic, but don’t stop.His feet skidded on the tile as he bolted for the hallway.
“Nico!”
