Penmort Castle (Ghosts and Reincarnation #1)(157)
“I didn’t attempt to kill my nephew,” Alistair lied.
“You did and there’s proof,” James cut in, everyone looked at him and he carried on, “Mick Johnstone recorded your conversation.” Alistair’s face blanched and James’s eyes moved to the policemen. “He records all of his conversations for insurance and future extortion. Ask him about the tapes.”
“And you came across this information how?” one of the policemen queried.
James shrugged. “He told his girlfriend then cheated on her. She kicked him out but he owed her money and never paid. She was willing to talk and she did.”
“Did you offer her money to talk?” a policeman enquired and James shook his head.
“No, she was happy to talk.” His eyes moved to an Alistair who no longer looked pompous but was having difficulty hiding his fear. “She’s pretty annoyed.”
“You men,” Suzanne remarked, “I hope you’ve learned from tonight’s events that it’s best never to cross a woman.”
“Amen to that,” Honor muttered.
One of the policemen approached Alistair saying, “You need to come with us.”
“I will not leave my home!” Alistair declared, pulling his arrogance around him like a shield and stepping back.
The other policeman moved forward. “You come willing, or we’ll be forced to arrest you and you’ll come in cuffs, your choice.”
Alistair stared, the police braced and everyone watched.
Tense moments slid by.
Finally Alistair’s shoulders straightened and his chin tilted back.
“I’ll want to call my attorneys immediately,” he demanded.
The policemen moved forward, one of them took Alistair’s arm.
“Of course,” he muttered.
Abby waited and watched Cash’s uncle, hoping he’d turn, say something to Cash, maybe apologise for being such a jerk or say something to Nicola, again something like apologising for being a jerk.
But he didn’t look back as the police led him away.
James glanced at Cash then followed the police.
Everyone stood silent as the police car drove Alistair Beaumaris from Penmort Castle hopefully, Abby thought, for the final time.
“Well, it appears all’s well at Penmort,” one of the other set of policemen commented.
To which Suzanne muttered, eyes still at the gate where they last saw Alistair, “You can say that again.”
Again everyone stood quiet and watchful as the second set of police took their leave.
Abby’s mind was so blank, all thoughts forced out likely in an effort at self-preservation so she could keep her sanity, that when Nicola spoke, she jumped.
“Honor, my dearest, I think now we could all use some champagne.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Cash Claims Penmort, His New Family and Abby
Cash woke early, Abby’s warm, soft body a dead weight heavy against side. Her arm was draped across his midsection, her thigh thrown over his.
Last night after they made their way through an alarming amount of champagne or more accurately, the women and Angus had, Kieran and Cash stayed sober because someone had to just in case party guests, the police or any supernatural beings returned, Cash had led a drunken, giggling Abby to bed.
He’d taken off her extraordinary dress, slid her black nightgown on her body and guided her to bed.
She’d curled into him and fell asleep as if she hadn’t a care in the world however this was likely because it was less falling asleep and more passing out.
As he did every morning, Cash gave himself a moment to experience the intensely pleasant, peaceful feeling of Abby in bed at his side before he carefully moved away, trying not to disturb her.
The minute she lost purchase on his body, her arms snagged his pillow and she curled around it. There was something moving about her doing that every morning when Cash left her side but he didn’t give himself time to dwell.
Cash nabbed his dressing gown, shrugged it on, tightened the belt and walked from the room, soundlessly closing the door behind him.
He went directly to the kitchens where a woman named Jane, who he knew did the cooking for the castle, was sitting on a stool reading the paper and sipping coffee.
The minute she saw Cash, she jerked straight and jumped from the stool.
“Mr. Fraser,” she murmured, “you’re an early bird. No one is ever up this early. It’s always just me.” Then she blathered on nervously, “I come in early to get myself sorted and because I like the castle when it’s quiet. It never feels peaceful, except in the mornings.”
Jane would, Cash hoped, find things different from this day forward.
“I’m always up this early,” Cash informed her of a fact that she would need to know as she was now in his employ. He didn’t, however, share that with her but instead requested, “Can you prepare breakfast for myself and Ms. Butler, please?”
“Of course, what would you like?” she replied.
Cash considered the question and smiled to himself when he could say with authority what Abby’s preferences were for breakfast. “Coffee, strong, and something light. Croissants and fruit.” She nodded and Cash continued. “Give it some time, half an hour or more and, if you would, please deliver it to our room.”
She nodded again and busied herself with her task. Cash watched her a moment then looked about the vast kitchens, rooms used to prepare food for his line for centuries.