CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
BALFOUR ESCORTED RAN SOME DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE OTHERS. “So let me get this straight. According to you and your friends, you drove over here to . . . what? Scare yourselves? That’s what I’m supposed to believe?”
Ran shrugged. “You’ve been in the asylum at night.” Balfour had showed up the night of the abduction. “You have to admit, the place is pretty much terrifying. I thought they’d get a kick out of it.”
“Bollocks. You really think anyone’s going to believe that?”
“Maybe not. The alternative is we saw the blue lights flashing and stopped to see what the police were doing. Either way, it’s not a crime.”
“I looked you up, King. One of your hobbies is hunting for ghosts. Paranormal Investigations, right? If there was ever a place to look for spirits, this has to be it. Admit it. That’s why you came. You think this place is haunted.”
Ran just shrugged. “Close enough, I guess. Still not a crime.”
“I assume you have the owner’s permission.”
He nodded. “I do.”
The detective blew out a breath. “As you say, being in this location isn’t a crime. And beyond wanting revenge for the abduction of a young woman—which has yet to be proved and whose identity remains a mystery—you had no motive to kill these men.”
“None whatsoever,” Ran said.
“Since Detective Inspector Leighton has finished her questioning and come to the same conclusion, you and your friends can go.”
“Thank you.”
“We may have more questions. Be better if you didn’t leave town.”
Ran felt an unexpected sweep of relief knowing he couldn’t go back to Seattle—at least not yet.
He delivered the news to the others. They climbed into the cars and all returned to the hotel. Willard had done them a favor, telling the police he knew nothing, just drove people wherever they wanted to go.
Back at the Grand Hotel Sunderland, the team members went up to their rooms, all but Eve and Lucas.
“I need to speak to both of you,” Luke said.
Reading the exhaustion on Eve’s face, Ran drew her a little closer. “I had room service deliver a bottle of brandy to my suite. After tonight I thought we might need a drink. As it turns out, I was right, though not for the reason I thought.”
“I could use a brandy,” Luke said.
“I was praying this would all be over tonight.” Eve gave him a weary smile. “Since that isn’t the case, a glass of brandy sounds good.”
They settled themselves in the living room, Ran next to Eve on the sofa, Luke in a matching chair. Each held a crystal rocks glass filled with amber liquid.
Ran took a drink, appreciating the warmth that eased some of the tension still thrumming through him. “Luke? You had something you wanted to say.”
“Yes. As Eve said, I was hoping we’d make a good deal of progress this evening. Unfortunately, the deaths at the orphanage tonight change the dynamics. They also change our timeline. Two men are dead. From what the detective told us, I’m guessing there’s more than a good chance the second man’s death didn’t happen at human hands.”
Ran had been thinking the same thing. “Whatever is in the orphanage, the power it wields is incredible.”
“It’s a miracle we escaped without injury the night we were there,” Eve said.
“Someone else could wind up getting killed,” Luke said. “We need to do the exorcism now, not later.”
Eve leaned toward Lucas. “What about the children?”
“If things go our way,” he said, “we can make all of it happen at once.”
Eve settled back on the sofa and Ran rested an arm around her shoulders. “I promise you we won’t abandon them.”
“No,” Lucas agreed. “With God’s help, we’ll defeat Satan’s henchmen, release the boys, and show them the way to the Other Side, where they belong.”
* * *
The sound of his cell phone ringing awoke Ran for the second time the following morning. At first light, he had found Eve nestled against him, her fingers stroking over his chest, moving lower. He was already aroused. Eve urged him into her welcoming heat, and afterward, they had drifted off again.
Ran wiped the sleep from his eyes and reached for the phone, disturbing Eve, who made an unhappy sound in her throat.
Ran smiled. Easing her gently away, he sat up on the edge of the bed and pressed the phone against his ear. “King.”
“Alec Summersby here, Mr. King. Sorry to bother you, but this news involves Carlton Fieldhurst. You said I should let you know if anything new came up.”
“I did. What is it, Alec?”
“Fieldhurst has left London for a weeklong visit to his country house in East Gilling. It’s only a bit more than an hour’s drive from where you are now. I thought you would want to know.”
“Interesting news, Alec. I’m glad you called.”
“The thing is, sir, Fieldhurst is having a very exclusive party at the estate tonight. A charity ball, formal affair, over a hundred guests.”
Ran sorted through the possibilities. “Any chance you could get me an invitation?”
“Already done, sir. An invitation for you and a guest. I’ll have it messengered to you at the hotel today.”
“Nicely done. Text me any other pertinent information, will you?”
“Certainly, sir. I shall do so immediately.”
The call ended and Ran looked up to see Eve standing next to him in a silky robe and a pair of fuzzy slippers. She looked delectable.
“I was hoping we’d have a little more time this morning before we had to leave. But life interferes.”
Eve smiled. “Yes, it does. What was that about?”
So far he’d been able to keep her out of this, but he wasn’t willing to lie to her, either. “I’ve had a private investigator, a man who works for me named Summersby, looking into the matter of Anya’s abduction. Summersby has discovered the identity of the man who purchased Anya through a site on the Dark Web.”
Eve dropped down on the bed beside him. “What’s the man’s name?”
“Carlton Fieldhurst. Apparently, he has some powerful relatives, including his cousin, Viscount Melford.”
She eyed him with the certain knowledge he was far from done with Fieldhurst. “You’re going after him?”
“One way or another Fieldhurst is finished. I’m not sure of the details yet. But according to Alec, the man is spending the week in East Gilling. He’s having a charity ball at his country estate tonight. I thought I would attend.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“No, but meeting him could give me a little more insight. It’s always best to know your adversary.”
“Whatever you’re planning, I want to go with you.”
“That isn’t going to happen.”
“You can’t attend an event like that without a date—and I might be able to help.”
Ran thought of the lovely distraction Eve would pose. It could give him a chance to look around. Inwardly, he was relieved that she was far too old for Fieldhurst’s warped tastes. Perfect for Ran, but not for a man who preyed on young virgins.
“All right, you can come. It’s a little over an hour’s drive.” He looked at her in the silky robe that outlined her slender curves, and wished he had more time. “It’s a formal affair. You’re going to need something to wear.”
“I have several things at my house. My ex-husband was very socially active.”
“I don’t want you going back there until we’re finished at the asylum. We passed some lovely boutiques downtown. Why don’t we go shopping?” He smiled. “My treat.”
Eve started to object.
“You’re doing this for me,” Ran argued. “It’s only fair I pick up the tab. Besides, we’ll make it fun.”
“What about you? Surely you didn’t pack a tuxedo?”
“No, but I can have one sent from my apartment in London. It’ll be here by this afternoon.”
“You have an apartment in London?”
“I rented it when I was flying back and forth, negotiating a hotel merger. It took several months to close the deal. I ended up liking London, so I kept it.”
Eve just shook her head. “Of course. A great place to store your clothes. A man can’t spend time in London without a Savile Row tuxedo.”
As far as he was concerned that was true, so he just smiled.
“Fine. We’ll go shopping,” Eve said. “I hope I can find something that meets your approval.” With that she sashayed out of the bedroom into the bathroom and turned on the shower.
Since he liked her best in nothing at all, Ran joined her.