A Job From Hell (5 page)

"We're not leaving until we have the stones," Dal as said.

I grabbed his shoulders and shook. "Listen, idiot! Someone armed is fol owing me. Either you move now, or I'l drive without you." For a moment he just stared at me, then opened his mouth to speak. I cut him off, "Get in, Dal as. Don't tick me off. From al the stupid ideas you've ever had this was by far the worst."

He mumbled something that sounded like, "I don't believe it," then held the passenger door open for me, got in and started the engine. I peered out the window into the darkness stretching behind me, only then realising the ful impact of what just happened. My heart started to race again. I could only hope my pursuer didn't see my face inside the shed.

Dal as switched on the overhead light. I spun toward him. Why wasn't he driving?

"You're sweaty and look like you've seen a ghost. Tel me what happened," he said. "I'm not going anywhere until you do." I could see the stubborn line between his brows.

"You and your stupid ideas," I shouted. "Only you could get lost going to the bathroom."

He glared. "You had the flashlight. I didn't see the way back from al the trees. When I returned you were gone."

"I cal ed your name. You didn't reply." I took a deep breath and dropped my voice a notch.

"I didn't hear you. What happened?" Dal as prompted.

I pushed my trembling hands underneath my thighs to stop them from shaking. "I found the hut."

He shot me a disbelieving look. "You did? Did you get the gemstones?"

"Yes."

"Woo hoo!" Dal as laughed, then stopped when he registered the expression on my face. "What?"

"I told you someone fol owed me. We might end up dead any minute if you don't drive soon."

"What? Did they see you?"

Moistening my lips, I shook my head. "Don't think so. It was too dark, but I had the flashlight switched on inside the hut. He could've peered through the window. He fol owed me to the clearing where you disappeared—" I glared at him "—and asked me to drop the backpack."

"How did you get away?" Dal as asked.

"I took off like the wind." I let out a long breath.

The lines around Dal as's mouth smoothed a little. "He didn't fol ow you to the car, so we've nothing to worry about. At least he didn't carry a gun.

No one could ever outrun a bul et, not even a cheetah like you." I shot him an irritated look. How could he be joking when I just escaped sure death?

Dal as squeezed my hand reassuringly as he continued, "Listen, I'm sorry. I won't ask you to do anything like this ever again." He grinned. "Come to think of it, I won't have to because we're rich. We'l be sipping tropical drinks on a white sand beach in Mexico soon. I'l get a giant Margarita with one of those fancy umbrel as."

I rol ed my eyes. I had just added jewel thief to my résumé and almost got kil ed by some thug, and al my brother could think of was fancy umbrel as and tropical drinks on a beach. I wasn't convinced the thug wouldn't be able to identify me, but Dal as's confidence didn't fail to rub off on me. It felt good to have someone else in charge now. "What're you going to do with the stones?"

"I'l have them inspected and then put them up for sale. I may be gone for a while until everything's sorted out. Wil you be al right?"

I nodded.

"Good," he said. "Just keep cool. No one knows you."

We drove in silence. The way back to the mansion seemed much shorter. Before I knew it, Dal as stopped the car and turned to face me, smiling. "We'l be living the sweet life soon. You just wait and see."

"If you say so." I opened the car door and jumped out, my skin instantly turning into goose bumps in the freezing air. "You'l cal ?"

Dal as snorted. "You think I'l cut you out? Fat chance. Next time, Milady, I'l have you picked up in a limousine driving you to your mansion."

"Just be careful," I mouthed as the car sped off down the street. With a sigh, I turned and headed for the gate, hurrying down the path to the back of the house.

The lights were turned off. The windows on the second floor gleamed black in the dim moonlight. It al felt so surreal, my old life in London, my new summer job, the chase through the woods. Were the last hours real or nothing but a figment of my imagination? Didn't matter, because I was safe now. With a flick of my hand, I opened the door to the kitchen and entered when the lights flickered on and someone said, "Been out?"

I leapt back at the sound of Aidan's voice, almost bolting out the door again. My heart skipped a beat as I peered at him. His cheeks were flushed, his hair was in disarray. Something burned in his gaze, a nerve twitched just below his right eye.

"You scared me to death. I'm sorry I'm getting in so late. Did I wake you?" I tried to keep my voice nonchalant, but I failed.

"No need to apologise. There's no curfew here." He wiped a smudge of mud off my face. "What happened? Got into a fight?" Regarding me through pale blue eyes that seemed to smoulder, he pointed at my hands.

"Huh? Yeah, you should see the other guy." He had avoided me for five days. Why in the world was he up now, talking to me when I was al sweaty and looked like crap? I smiled and shrugged as if the bloody scratches were nothing to worry about.

"Real y?" He cocked a brow. "How did you get home? Did he drive you after you beat him up?"

I could feel the guy wasn't going to let up, and a mistrusting boss's never a good boss. Sighing, I closed the door behind me as I set my brain in motion, imploring it to come up with a good excuse. "Okay, if you must know, I was stargazing." I cringed inwardly. Was that the best I could come up with?

"At three in the morning?" Aidan's lips curled into a sarcastic smile.

"Why, that's the best time to see the stars. Unfortunately, it was a bit dark and I tripped." I laughed a little too loud, hoping it didn't sound as forced to him as it sounded in my ears. "I'm such a klutz, always fal ing on my nose." I winced at my choice of words. Now he'd think I was the worst housekeeper in the world and too stupid to walk on two legs.

"I'm a sucker for staring at a sky ful of shining stars." His gaze narrowed. "I love to watch them twinkle like diamonds."

Diamonds. It brought back al the guilt of helping Dal as steal the gemstones. I gulped, heat rushing to my face.

"It's not too late," Aidan said, softly.

I peered at him. It wasn't too late for what?

"I guess it's a no then." Aidan's jaw set as he turned away, cal ing over his shoulder, "You should clean those scratches before you catch an infection. There's a first aid kit in the top cabinet of your bathroom."

I waited until he was gone before walking up to my room. The wounds would have to heal without Band-Aid because I couldn't be bothered to rummage through the bathroom at this ungodly hour. I considered taking a shower, but I couldn't drag my aching feet beyond the bed. So I just dropped on it, exhausted but too agitated to fal asleep. By the time the sun rose through the clouds, I was stil tossing and turning. With a sigh, I threw the covers aside and rose, giving up any hope on finding sleep, even though my eyes felt swol en and dry from the lack of sleep.

It was Saturday, my first day off. After a quick shower, I searched through my stil unpacked suitcase for something wearable, maybe a shirt that didn't smel of McDonald's. In al the week's frenzy, I had forgotten to wash my clothes. After slipping into a black, long-sleeved top that emphasized my narrow waist and a pair of blue skinny jeans, I strol ed to the kitchen for a cup of tea and a bowl of cornflakes.

The fruit basket was fil ed with fresh apples and bananas. Three smal bowls of ripe blueberries occupied the upper shelf of the fridge. The other shelves were jammed with vegetables and dairy products. Whoever went shopping didn't penny-pinch. Particularly since no one but me seemed to ever consume anything.

I rinsed some blueberries under the cold-water tap and sprinkled them on top of my cornflakes, then sat down for breakfast, my thoughts returning to last night's events. Someone had given chase. Someone had been sneaking around the hut while I was inside. Hopeful y, Dal as was right and we had nothing to worry about, because I sure couldn't deal with one of my mother's lectures if I landed in jail.

I finished eating, drained the bowl and cup, and headed out the backdoor in the hope to meet someone. A cold October wind rustled the leaves; the ground was stil damp with last night's dew. I scanned the garden. Apart from two squirrels, I saw no one, but the loud clanking of metal carried over from the garage on the other side of the house.

As I inched nearer, I saw the large shape of a man bowed over a lawnmower, hammer in hand. I knocked on a piece of metal to announce my presence. "Hel o. I'm Amber."

The old man turned, exposing a pair of remarkably red cheeks and a friendly smile. "Wel , hel o. I'm Harry, the gardener. You met my wife Greta the other day." He held out a dirty hand and shook mine with enthusiasm.

"Yes, I did. She made me breakfast."

"That's my Greta, always cooking. That's why I look like this." He patted his round bel y. "Before marrying her I actual y had a waist."

I smiled.

"Greta said you were from London."

"That's right." I changed the subject, uncomfortable talking about me. "You don't sound Scottish."

Harry wiped his greasy hand on a stained cloth. "I'm from the south. Cornwal ."

"Beautiful place," I said.

"Not as beautiful as Scotland. Aidan left a note you might want to do some shopping today." He raised his eyebrows as if to question the sanity of the idea of driving to town. I could understand why. It was two hours away. "He asked me to accompany you."

"He did? That's very kind of him." I couldn't remember asking him, but I felt grateful for the opportunity, particularly since I hadn't made any plans for the weekend. Money was tight, but what the heck? I stil had my student loan. Besides, I wasn't planning on spending a fortune, and Aidan would pay me soon.

"I can drive you now. The shops are open until six, but I'm tired of fiddling with this old thing." He pointed at the lawnmower.

"I'd love that." I ran back to the house to get my handbag and coat. When I returned, Harry was gone. I waited until he appeared a few minutes later with a jacket around his broad shoulders and a pair of dangling keys in one hand.

"That's the car." He pointed at a white van, the only vehicle in the driveway. He puffed al the way to the van and opened the passenger door to let me in. I jumped on the wide passenger seat and fastened the seatbelt. Harry squeezed his large body behind the steering wheel and started the engine. The car spluttered to life. Harry pul ed out of the driveway before he resumed our conversation. "Greta always says a bit of exercise wil do me good. But I say al this walking's of no help if I don't cut back on the beef."

I didn't want to point out that we weren't walking but driving. "You couldn't pay me to give up beef. I just try and watch my portions."

Harry laughed, gaze fixed on the road. "It's a short drive to Inverness. The streets are usual y empty after ten o'clock but before ten it's hel ."

"Do you drive to town often?" I inquired.

Harry snorted. "Often enough. I'm taking care of two houses since Aidan's hardly ever home, always busy with his work. Every day, there's something for me to mend. Old houses aren't so different from old people, they constantly need a doctor." He laughed. When I joined in, he continued, "Last week it was my rheumatism, this week it's my spine and next week it might be the grave."

I peered at him, horrified. "Don't say that."

"I'm tel ing you, my dear mother was as healthy as a horse. One day, she felt poorly and wouldn't get out of bed. A stroke, said the doctor. She spent a week in the hospital before she closed her eyes and never woke up again."

"I'm so sorry." I leaned in to squeeze his hand resting on the steering wheel.

"Wel , that's life. Enjoy it while you're young. You never know what you might miss if you lock yourself up like Aidan."

So Aidan liked to stay indoors. Funny, I hadn't seen him al week. "What does—" I hesitated saying his name "—Aidan do?"

Harry shook his head. "Something with buying and sel ing, I think."

We drove for nearly two hours with Harry talking most of the time. Eventual y, he pul ed the car into a parking lot in the middle of Inverness and kil ed the engine.

"See the corner over there? That's High Street with al the trendy shops. I'l be at the pub." He pointed at a green building with a sign outside advertising a pint for a pound and Karaoke night.

"Thanks." I felt embarrassed for wasting the old man's time, particularly since I didn't real y need anything from the stores. "Are you sure you don't mind?"

"You're doing me a favour, dear." Harry winked and slapped my shoulder lightly. "Greta would never let me waste a perfect Saturday morning sitting in the pub, unless I came up with a good excuse for having a pint of beer at this time of the day."

"I'l be back in an hour, then."

"No need to hurry. Take your time," Harry said.

"Thanks." I stepped onto the grey asphalt, overwhelmed by something I couldn't pinpoint. I swal owed hard, trying to calm down my racing heart at the outlook of adding my rising paranoia to my money worries. "I'l be back in two hours," I cal ed after Harry as he crossed the street, heading for the pub on the other side of the road.

***

When I returned, laden with countless shopping bags, Harry waved from across the street through a crowd of people. I waited until he reached me and unlocked the car.

"Did you find everything you came for?" He grabbed my bags and tossed them on the backseat.

"I wish I didn't." I held up a clutch, ignoring the guilty feeling in the pit of my stomach. "I got this for half the price. The sales here are great."

"Pretty." Harry nodded appreciatively and locked the car. "You girls always find something. You must be famished. What do you say to lunch?

My treat."

My stomach rumbled in response. "Sounds great. Thank you."

From outside, the pub looked deserted. Inside, most seats were occupied. A high shelf with various wine and beer bottles lined the wal behind the bar. The wal s were covered in mirrors and posters advertising various drinks. Harry guided me to an empty table near the kitchen and handed me the menu. "This place has the finest beef and mash in town. Almost as good as my Greta's."