32

Lou watched the world go by from the hospital window. The sooner someone came and picked her up, the better she’d feel. If she’d had her purse with her, she’d have caught a taxi ages ago. At least Evan had the foresight to bring her leg in, so she wasn’t stuck in a chair.

A bald man wearing a suit and overcoat came in and held out a warrant card. “Dr. Fitzgerald, I’m DCI Haniwell, Cumbrian CID.”

“How can I help you?” she asked. Perhaps they were finally investigating the accidents and attempts on her life and wanted a more detailed statement.

“I wanted to talk to you about a theft. If you could accompany me down to the station, please. I have a car waiting outside.”

Lou sat still, shock running through her. “Theft? Someone’s accusing me of theft? Do I need a lawyer?”

“Not yet.”

“I haven’t been discharged yet,” she said. “I can’t go anywhere.” She glanced up as two men entered the ward. “Dad, Evan, this is DCI…”

Evan nodded curtly. “Peter and I know each other. About time you got here. This is the third attempt on her life in less than a week.”

DCI Haniwell frowned. “I don’t know anything about that. This is pertaining to the theft of documents and photographs from a dig site in Wales.”

“And not in your jurisdiction.” Evan’s tone matched that of the police officer. “You know it and I know it. Can I have a word?”

Lou twisted the sheet in her hands as Evan and the police officer headed into the corridor. “I didn’t take them. This is another ploy by Varian to discredit me. AJ brought the files up with him, but he’s dead.”

“Your notes, I assume.”

Lou lowered her voice. “Varian is putting the kibosh on me again. If he can’t kill me, then he’ll ruin me another way.” She broke off at the confusion on Jack’s face. It wasn’t often now she caught him out with an unfamiliar phrase. “Kibosh…wreck, destroy, wreak havoc, ruin,” she explained. “It’s always the same. I do all the work and Monty comes in and gets all the glory. Well, I’m sick of it. You know the zitahisji is here, don’t you? Varian dragged me off both digs and gave them to him. Or tried too.”

“Mind your language,” Jack interrupted.

She sighed, forgetting he’d picked up a little Agrihan from her over the years. The fact she’d only called him a weasel was beside the point. “Sorry. No, I most definitely am not sorry. I’m tired of being trodden on the whole time. That’s why I already published the Llaremont findings. That’s why I quit my job with Varian. Coming here was a mistake.”

“All of it?”

“Yes, Dad, all of it.”

Evan coughed from the end of the bed. “So, I’m a mistake, am I?”

Lou’s cheeks heated as her gaze travelled up slowly. “Not you. You are the one blessing this place has. Can I leave now, or am I under arrest?” She glanced past Evan for the police officer, but he was nowhere in sight.

“I spoke to him, explained the situation. He’s looking into the attempts on your life and will be by the house tomorrow for a statement.” He paused. “I told him the only things you brought here with you from Llaremont were your personal belongings, clothes, and so on. That was right?”

She nodded slowly. “AJ brought the rest down with him. All of my files from my folder on the computer at the dig site.”

“Don’t worry about that now. The regulators on the tanks, and the tanks themselves had been tampered with.”

She swallowed hard. “What? Varian provided those.”

Evan nodded. “That’s what I told the police. We need to get you out of here. I’ll talk to you back at the house.”

Lou slowly pushed off the bed.

“Do you need a hand?” Jack asked.

She shook her head. “I’m fine.” She sucked in a deep breath. “Let’s go. Sorry yesterday was a total waste of a dive.”

“It wasn’t. Evan stayed by her side as they began walking from the ward. “I found a key in the crypt. I haven’t tried it yet as the box is still in your room.”

“When we get back,” she said. “I want to know what’s in it.”

“Me, too. However, I don’t want you diving again.”

Lou glared at him. “Excuse me?”

He held up a hand. “Don’t take that tone of voice with me. Let me finish…”

“You are not my father. He is.” She pointed at Jack. “And for your information, I don’t do what he tells me either.”

Jack rolled his eyes as he held the main exit door open. “Will you shut up and let the man speak?”

She mimed zipping her mouth closed and tossing the key over her shoulder.

“Thank you.” Jack grinned at Evan. “Miracles will never cease. She stopped speaking.”

Evan shook his head. “I don’t want you diving alone and in non-Xenon gear. That includes tanks, valves, regulators, the whole shebang. I want Frank to check your wetsuit.”

“Good luck with that,” she muttered. “It got cut off me. It was a bespoke one and cost a fortune. There is no way I can afford a replacement. Anyone would think you don’t trust anyone.”

“I don’t, at least not with the important stuff that counts.”

“Does that include me?” She caught her breath. Did she want to know the answer to that question? What if she didn’t count as something that mattered?

“Of course that includes you, Lou.” Evan’s hand brushed against hers, the slight touch thrilling her very core.

If Jack hadn’t been right there, she’d have grabbed hold of it. She glanced over at the car. Two men stood beside it and she stopped walking. One man she recognized, the other she didn’t.

Evan tugged her sleeve gently. “You’re OK. You know Ira. The other man is your bodyguard.”

“My what? Why do I need a bodyguard?”

“Because I say so. Lou, this is Zach Roma, one of my security team. He’ll be guarding you from now on.”

Lou eyed up the stocky, tall, bald man, wearing the trademark black suit, white shirt and black tie. Maybe she’d design a new outfit for bodyguards, something a little more casual that didn’t shout security. Something that would let the secret service blend in for once. She turned to Evan and pouted. “Why do I even need one?”

“There have been three, if not four, attempts on your life in as many days. Varian made a direct threat against you. I’m not losing you.”

Lou glanced at Jack. “Daaaad, Evan’s being mean to me. I don’t need a watch dog or a bodyguard.”

“Don’t bother trying, kiddo. Evan and I discussed this over breakfast, and I’m in agreement with him. It’s either this guy or I get a detachment from the local air base to protect you.” He quirked an eyebrow. “Remember what happened the last time I did that? This time it would be ten heavily armed soldiers. Or one man. It’s up to you.”

“So I’m not getting a choice.” She glanced at the bald security officer. “No offence, Mr. Roma.”

“None taken, Dr. Fitzgerald.”

Lou frowned. “That’s a mouthful. How about you call me Dr. F., and I call you Mr. R.?”

“Sounds good to me.” He paused. “Actually, why don’t you call me Zach? Most people do. I’ll stick to Dr. F. for you though.”

“OK.”

“And before you ask, yes, he dives.” Evan told her. “Not that anyone is diving the lake today.”

She crossed her arms. “How is it? The dam, that is.”

“Not great. I just left it, having been there since first light.”

“That makes breakfast rather early.” She looked from Evan to Jack and back again.

Jack shrugged. “Jet lag.”

“Ah.” She climbed into the car as Evan held the door open. “Evan, are you raising the alert status?”

“It was escalated to amber last night. A low level evacuation order was issued at nine o’clock this morning. That’s for care homes, schools, hospitals, and so on.”

She frowned. “You’re that worried the dam will fail?”

Evan didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to. The expression on his face alone gave away his answer.