31

It was almost eight in the evening before Evan got back home. He’d left his team from Xenon at the dam. They’d be working around the clock in shifts to oversee the run off and start repair work. His phone would stay on all night, and he could drive to the dam whenever they needed him.

Ira met him in the hallway. “General Fitzgerald is in the lounge. I’ve put his bags in the room next to his daughter. I’ve also arranged for an armed guard outside her ward at the hospital.”

“Thank you.” Evan paused. “Ward? I thought I asked for a private room.”

“Four beds, only two of which are occupied, including hers. The west wing here is secure. Did you want a guard posted there as well?”

Evan shook his head. “There’s no need. The staff knows to keep away from there.”

Ira nodded. “And Dr. Carter said he’ll be back this evening to check on Lilly.”

Evan hung up his coat, really hoping the vet would bring good news this time. The dog had been struggling to stand since being caught in a trap a few days ago. “OK. Let me know when he arrives.”

“Of course, sir. Mrs. Jefferson kept a plate of dinner for you and General Fitzgerald in the kitchen. She said to ring for her when you’re ready to eat.”

“Thank you. I’ll get it in a few, no need to bother her further. Likewise with you. We’ll be fine. If I’m needed over at the dam tonight, I’ll drive myself.” He headed to the lounge and glanced over to where Jack sat behind the paper. “Evening.”

Jack stood. “Evening.”

Evan smiled, unsure why he was so nervous all of a sudden. This was awkward, although it shouldn’t have been. A kind of meet-the-parents, but without a proper dating history and without his significant other by his side to help him out. “Have you eaten?”

Jack shook his head. “I ate on the plane, but that was several hours ago.”

“Then we should do that. My housekeeper left dinner for both of us in the kitchen.”

“Do you have many servants?” Jack followed him into the hallway.

Evan shook his head. “No. Mrs Jefferson is the housekeeper and cook. Ira oversees security. I have a gardener who comes over once a week or so. Living in London as I do, I don’t have time to tend to the grounds here as much as I’d like. Even if I didn’t, there’s no need for a huge staff. I’m not adverse to a little dusting or hoovering.”

“What do you do?”

“Civil engineering. Dams mostly, including the Thames Barrier and the one here at Dark Lake. What about yourself?”

“Paper pushing normally, but I was a pilot.”

“I’ve always wanted to do that. I have my own jet but never found the time for lessons.” He named the model and a few of the specs, grinning as Jack’s eyes lit up. “I’ll take you up in it before you leave.”

“I’d like that. Thank you.”

Evan pushed open the kitchen door and signalled his housekeeper. Somehow, he knew she wouldn’t have listened to Ira and left. “Mrs Jefferson, go home. I can manage tonight. It’s about time you had the evening off.”

“It’s no bother, sir—”

He cut her off. “I happen to know your daughter is leaving for university in the morning. Go home and be with her.” He paused. He needed her safe and that meant nowhere near here. Same went for the rest of the staff. “Why don’t you take the next few days off and spend time with her properly. Drive her down to Winchester and settle her in.”

Mrs Jefferson’s face was a picture of delight. “Thank you. I wanted to ask but didn’t like to presume.”

“It isn’t presuming at all. Have a lovely few days and see you in a week.” He winked. “So get outta my kitchen…”

Mrs Jefferson laughed. “Yes, sir. How’s Dr. Fitzgerald doing?”

“As far as I know, she’s OK. Jack?”

“She was almost asleep when I left her. But she’s fine. She should be out of the hospital tomorrow.”

“That’s good. She’s a nice girl.” Mrs Jefferson undid her apron. “I’ll be off then. The plates are in the warming oven. Good night.”

“’Night.” Evan grabbed the oven gloves and tugged open the door to the warming oven. “You don’t mind eating down here?” He set the plates onto the thick oak table. “Just saves carrying the stuff upstairs, only to bring it down again.”

“Not at all.”

He found cutlery and a couple of cans of soda from the fridge. He held them up. “Or I have beer. I picked up the US habit of drinking it cold on a trip a few years ago. Something Lou and I discovered we have in common early on.”

“Beer’s fine.”

Evan put the soda back and took out two bottles of beer. “Can you grab the bottle opener from the third drawer, please?” He took the bottles to the table and straddled the bench. “I used to love eating here when I was a kid. Much less informal than the stuffy dining room upstairs.”

Jack nodded, sitting opposite him. “Do you mind if I say grace?”

Evan shook his head. He was surprised, but he wouldn’t argue. “Sure.”

Once Jack finished praying, he picked up his knife and fork. “Lou speaks very highly of you.”

“Does she?” Evan swallowed. “Is this a ‘what are your intentions towards my daughter’ conversation?”

Jack held his gaze. “Does it need to be? I mean, Lou normally argues every single doctor’s decision. She hates hospitals, yet here she is, staying in overnight because, and I quote, ‘Evan told me to.’ You obviously have some hold over my daughter that no one else has. Including her mother and I.”

Evan cut his meat and chewed slowly, formulating the answer in his mind before voicing it. “I like her—a lot. More than like her. We’ve only known each other a few days, but, yeah.”

“She’s staying in your house rather than a hotel?”

“Under my protection. I’m not sure how much she’s told you, but her hotel room got broken into her first night in the village. Someone tried to—” Evan broke off. “Let’s just say I got there in time to save her from the demise he had planned for her.”

“Say that again.”

“The bloke had her pinned down with a knife to her throat. He was a convicted rapist. The cops have him now; I can assure you of that.”

Jack glowered at him, his knife and fork hitting the sides of his plate with a clunk. “And you just happened to be passing her hotel room, although you have a perfectly good house here? And then invited her to stay at your place rather than finding her another room?”

Evan swallowed and backtracked fast. “She was going out alone in the fog to find somewhere to eat. I stopped her. We spoke for a while, then she went up to her room. I was standing outside, with Ira, my bodyguard, and saw Lou in the window. She waved, I waved back. There was a man wearing a balaclava behind her. We ran upstairs and stopped the attack. She’s safer here. I have CCTV everywhere.”

His phone rang. “Excuse me. Evan Close.”

“Evan, it’s me.” Ralph spoke quickly. “I’ve finished the checks on the dive gear you used earlier. I’m assuming it wasn’t ours.”

“The helmets were. The rest were what Dr. Fitzgerald said Varian Sparrow provided. The wetsuits were our own. Why?”

“The tanks had been tampered with. That’s why she ran out of air. You both would have if you’d been trapped down there. And that’s another thing…”

Evan interrupted him. “Wait a sec, let me put you on speaker.” He eyed Jack. “You need to hear this.” He hit the speaker button and put the phone on the table. “Say that again, Ralph.”

“Both of the tanks had been tampered with. Had you been trapped when the spire fell into the church you’d have run out of air, right along with Dr. Fitzgerald.”

“Are we talking a faulty valve here or what?”

“The regulator had been damaged yes, but the tanks didn’t contain only air. They contained the mixture of gases used for longer and deeper dives. I’m assuming she checked them?”

“I watched her do it. She wouldn’t have dived if she’d known.” Evan closed his eyes. “So they were deliberately mislabelled?”

“That’s my bet, yes. Aside from the fact there’s no way those regulators were certified for use.”

Evan looked at Jack and took a deep breath. “OK. I want you to take photos of the gear. Send a copy of those, plus the report, to the police. Make sure it goes to Sergeant Drake and no one else. From now on, no one dives unless they are wearing our gear and you or I have checked it. How’s the dam faring?”

“Not great. The overspill and run off isn’t fast enough for my liking.”

“How’s the pressure on the gauges?”

“Still rising.” The tension in Ralph’s voice set Evan’s teeth on edge. “Did you want to raise the alert status from amber to red?”

The short answer was yes he did. But that would cause a panic, and he didn’t want that on his conscience. “Not yet. Call the emergency services and warn them of a possibility of a red. I’ll be up there at first light. I’ll make a decision then.”

“Sure, boss. I’ll call if anything changes overnight.”

“Thanks.” Evan hung up. “I had wondered about the tanks when her air ran out too soon. She mentioned that also happened the other day.”

“She shouldn’t be here,” Jack said firmly. “That’s three attempts on her life now—the hotel, the boat, the tanks. What is someone trying to hide? And who is it?”

“That is a long story and one Lou needs to hear. As I’d rather only tell it once, do you mind if it waits until morning? I have an armed guard keeping watch on Lou. She’ll be perfectly safe tonight.”

“That’s fine.” Jack stifled a yawn. “I’m calling it a night. It’s been a really long day, not including the jetlag.”

“Of course. I’ll show you to your room. It’s right next door to the one that Lou is using.”