Page 68 of A Simple Mistake
Nico held up a hand, and Jack pulled him to his feet as if he were too feeble to rise from a bench.It was an apology as much as anything.
“It’s frustrating,” Nico admitted as they settled into the car.“I get these vibes, and then nothing happens.”
“Explain that.”Jack forgot all about starting the engine and driving home.Understanding Nico was far more important.
“Well, like Manville.We know he’s a danger, but we can’t do anything about it until we have proof.And then Manville gets pushed aside by Mrs McTavish, and we work on that for a while.And then Pavel comes after us and now we’re going to—I don’t know—try to work out how he found us.I want to help you hunt and investigate, but everything piles up and nothing ever gets resolved, and my mind is just full of loose ends and—that’s a mess.”
Jack sighed.“Welcome to the real world, where problems arrive in a mess and leave in an even bigger one.I can hear how frustrated you are, but if you want to hunt, you’ll have to make your peace with this.Some hunts take years, and it’s not reasonable to expect that nothing else happens during that time.In fact, I’m sure there’s a law that says just as you’re making progress on a problem, someone will call in an emergency.”
“Like you being dragged to Japan to help?”
“Like that.And I had three things on the go before I went.”Jack sighed.“You’ll better get used to it right now and cultivate mental flexibility.”
“Aidan keeps saying that.”
“He’s right.Ask him what it’s like spending a day in court arguing three different cases.Or better yet, go and watch him.I’m used to juggling jobs, and I don’t understand how his head doesn’t explode, or how he doesn’t mix up his facts and arguments.Speaking of Aidan… we should make time to review his case.Gareth said you’d spent a lot of time on it, and I want to hear what you found.”
Nico brightened.“We told you last night.”
“Before or after I nodded off?”
“If you don’t remember, then probably after.So we keep working on this?”
“Of course.It makes for an uncomfortable head, but nothing leaves mine until it’s fully unravelled.Manville, Mrs McTavish, stuff from work, Pavel, anything you tell me about or need help with.Okay?”
Nico leaned across the centre console for an awkward hug.“Okay,” he said.“I will learn to do that, too.But now I understand why you get migraines.”
Fractured Guard
IfGarethhadwantedto envisage failure, the image of Nico and Daniel in the back seat huddling as close as the seat belts allowed would have made the top of his list.Right alongside Jack’s face when Gareth had told him of his discussion with Daniel and his suggestion to take the two to Aidan’s for the night.
That failure burned like acid in his gut.He was a strategist, a problem-solver, a thinker.He was supposed to be observant, damn it!So how had he missed this threat to his family?And why were all his senses on high alert now the crisis was over?
He stopped at the crossroads to give way to traffic flowing in the other direction, almost flinching when he found himself caught between a van on his right and a young man with a squeegee and bucket on his left.He had the engine revving at amber and shot across the junction as soon as the lights changed.The young man with the squeegee didn’t try to keep up, and the van only followed him as far as the middle of the junction, where it waited to turn right.
Gareth wanted to bang his head on the steering wheel.This was getting ridiculous.Daniel and Nico had stayed with Aidan before.There was no need to make more of it than that.
He started an observation exercise, noting anything happening around him as he drove.It helped him to shut down pointless musing and focus on the present, but even as he noted potential hazards, signs, pedestrians, animals, and the actions of other road users, unease and frustration bubbled in the back of his mind.If he kept going at this rate, he’d give himself a migraine in short order, and migraines were Jack’s domain, not his.
A wave of profound compassion for Jack swept through him.If this was what his lover’s mind was like, it was surprising he hadn’t turned to drink or violence.
Gareth stomped on that thought.Violence was far too enticing a prospect at that moment.If he had Pavel Mitrovic and his friend in front of him again, he’d do more than incapacitate and restrain.He’d use the knife he’d contemplated dropping to far better purpose.
“Gareth.Are you okay?”
Gareth stopped fantasising and breathed.Had Nico caught sight of his face in the mirror?But then, why was there no alarm or fear in his voice?
“Yes, I’m okay,” he said, aiming for calm.“I’m not happy with this whole situation, obviously.”He didn’t elaborate, and Nico subsided.
A short while later, he pulled into Aidan’s drive and supervised the unloading, as if either teen had brought more than just their small overnight bag.He fussed—he knew it—making sure they had their phones and chargers, their headphones, and e-readers as if Aidan couldn’t supply all these things if required.
And through it all, Aidan stood in the open door watching him.
“You’re coming in?”he asked when the boys had hugged Gareth and disappeared up the stairs to settle in their room.
“Don’t think I will,” Gareth said roughly.
“You look like a thunderstorm about to slip its moorings.You should talk to me.”
