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SOPHIE STROLLED INTO the library at midnight only to see Raquel still asleep on the daybed. She smiled and headed to her favourite gentlemen’s club chair and picked up a book from the table.
Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles.
She laughed. Perfect reading with all the mists they’d had.
Raquel peaked open an eye with a smirk. “You bedded her.”
Sophie nodded and leaned onto the armrest. “You haven’t visited in over two weeks.”
“Your grandfather would be delighted.” Raquel dropped her feet to the floor. “And no, the step-brat called a quack to say I was senile. Wanted to put me in a home.” She folded her arms. “A home!”
Sophie flicked her feet up on a footstool. “Then why didn’t you call?”
“Because I was too busy visiting my lawyer in London to ensure she can’t touch my property even if she does commit me to such a place.” She pursed her lips. “I can fight my own battles, thank you.”
“I’m aware.” She waved it off. Raquel had that power older parent-figures possessed: that only she could solve a problem and Sophie was silly for offering help.
“You bedded her for sport because the girl seems to be working extra hard for you?” Raquel grinned her rakish grin.
“Morgan is not meant to be working this evening.” Sophie chewed her lip. It made slipping in and out of the estate more difficult, especially when Morgan liked to patrol where Sophie could watch her and be tempted by her.
Raquel studied her, then cocked her head, then beamed, laughed, and tapped her walking stick to the floor with a clunk. “Oh . . . dear . . . who bedded whom?” She clapped. “You’ve succumbed to the beauty?”
“Hayes do not succumb to anyone.” She leaned her head back and closed her eyes.
“Poppycock.” Raquel yanked the call cord. “This calls for a brandy. She’s an asset to you so make sure you snare her properly.” She laughed and thunked her stick to the floor once more. “Or . . . try without getting caught, ay?”
“I am a Haye. We do not get caught.” Her? Yes, Morgan was in her bed much of the time and in her thoughts and she seemed to get away with more than was proper but caught? Hah.
The maid scuttled in and she found herself smiling only for the maid to take one look at her, shriek, and flee.
Raquel howled with laughter and she huffed out a breath. Hmmph. Maids. Raquel clunked her walking stick to the floor once more, a knowing smile on her face and she picked up her book from the side table. She was trying to be pleasant to the staff, yes, but it had nothing to do with the smile on Morgan’s face when she did, or the way she looked at her with doting eyes . . . no . . . it didn’t. Hayes did not get caught.
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OKAY, KATE WAS some sort of brave, macho, baby guard, that much I will tell you. She’d been in the courtyard for two hours and the only reaction I’d seen was a yawn.
I really wanted to leave her there so I could stay in my nice warm office but Malcom had fallen fast asleep at his post and depressed his radio button so all anyone could hear was his snoring. In all fairness to the guy, he’d doubled back on his shifts to help out but he needed a rest.
And that meant relieving stoic Kate and standing in the courtyard myself. I headed to Malcom first though and told him to go to bed. Yes, I know I’d said two people needed to patrol together but Kate would only be in the hallway. I’d get one of the other guards to patrol past every ten minutes.
Back to the creepy courtyard it was. No mist tonight but the moon was big and bright and made everything look coated in a spooky silver glow. The angle of the moon put my post in complete shadow and the walkway in light. My eyes were playing tricks on me so I kept seeing things move out the corner of my vision or along the walkway but if a kid could hack it, I was going to.
“At least it’s not raining,” I told myself and stamped my feet as they went numb. “Or misty.”
“Quite,” Sophie whispered in my ear.
Yes, I shrieked, I turned, and I didn’t stop my hand and thumped her in the arm. “Will you cut that out.”
Sophie laughed and pulled me into her. “No.”
Instead she kissed the sense out of me. Tasted of brandy.
“Are you distracting me from my duties for a reason or are you seeing which way you can work my heart the hardest?” And where did she sneak up from? Every time. I had great hearing and I never so much as heard a rustle.
“I am retiring for the night and I want your company.” She nuzzled my neck so I inhaled more brandy fumes.
“I’m on duty,” I mumbled none too convincingly. “I’m short staffed as it is.”
“I don’t care.” Sophie kissed over my chin, my cheek.
“You will if you have the police on your case again.” I pushed her back. “Like when Trin and Ruth ran rings around you about Rhys Mead?”
Oh, I’d read Trin’s notebook entry thanks to Fiona.
Sophie pursed her lips. “I was trying to be helpful.”
“I know.” I smiled up at her. “And they took advantage of you. So I am going to file a complaint.”
“And this would assist me in some way?” She went back to nuzzling my neck. She wasn’t overly interested in her predicament and more in how easily she could persuade me to forget I worked for her.
“Because if they catch Rhys Mead, they are planning to give him immunity in order to get you charged.” I pulled her face to mine so she had to concentrate. “And he is most likely going to say anything not to go to jail.”
Sophie sighed. “Then I expect you to visit.”
My phone rang and I frowned. It was what, one in the morning, who was ringing me now?
“You do not need to answer that.” She deepened her kisses, and then moved to my windpipe. How could I think with her doing that?
But my phone was still going.
“I can say I’m sleeping,” I mumbled and placed my phone to my ear. “Hello?”
“Morgan, it’s Ruth. I need you to come down to the hospital right away.” Wood’s tone was panicked, worried, looking for me to take charge.
“Why?”
Sophie sucked her way over my windpipe.
“Trin has been attacked in her home. She’s unconscious. They’ve taken her into theatre.” Wood grew more breathless, more panicked.
Sophie stopped and studied me.
The thought Trin was hurt rolled my stomach.
“You’re her next of kin,” Wood said like she was pleading. “They need your consent for something. They won’t tell me what.”
“I will take you,” Sophie whispered into my ear. She pulled me into a hurried walk and led me to the driveway.
“Will they take it over the phone?” I was shaking. Right now Trin wasn’t my favourite person but the thought of her harmed floored me.
There was a scuffling.
“Detective Inspector Lloyd?” An older man said.
“Yes. Well, I was a DI. I’m retired,” I mumbled as Sophie took me down the driveway and flicked her fob over the garage that opened up and the lights flicked on. She had about twenty cars, one brand even called a Morgan, which was a handmade brand, but she chose the Land Rover.
“Trin has sustained several blows to her left abdomen. I am certain that her spleen may have been involved, along with her kidney but I cannot tell exactly until I go in.” The doctor let out a weary sigh. “I am unsure if some of her colon has been damaged but I know there is a bleed.”
“Do it.” I wasn’t messing around with internal injuries. Trin was strong and fit with no medical conditions.
“Thank you.”
“I am on my way. Get the nurse to give me the forms.” I nodded to Sophie who roared us down the road as Wood’s mumbling filled the speaker. “You at the same hospital?”
“Yes.” Wood sounded relieved. “I can’t reach her mother.”
“Then I’ll go around there and get her.” I punched Trin’s mother’s address into Sophie’s Sat-Nav and she nodded. Then I hung up. “I have to check on her. I need to know she’s safe.”
Sophie pursed her lips. “I do not expect you to lose your heart because you love me.”
I put my hand on her thigh. “Do I need to check if you’re over the limit saying that?”
She laughed. “I had two but you may drive if you wish to.” She took my hand and threaded her fingers through mine. “Let us hope that your fiancé’s mother is more welcoming.”
“Trin isn’t my fiancé anymore.” I held Sophie’s gaze. “Or are you regretting the girlfriend part?”
Sophie let through her trademark dangerous smile and sped up as we hit the main road. “Not at all.”
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SOPHIE TOOK THE cardboard tray of coffees from the enchanted canteen worker and strolled back to the ward. Matthews had been in surgery for three hours with no real updates. As could be expected, Morgan was distressed by this as were Matthews’ family and Wood.
No one present had asked or explained why she was there but Wood took the opportunity to glare frequently.
Her phone rang and she connected it to her implant. “You are slower than usual.”
The Recluse laughed. “That’s true, Darl, but I caught the little thief at the port. Turns out he was trying to force his mother back to Mead by sabotaging things for her.” She sniffed like such treachery would upset her. “The boy heard both his parents were killed and panicked.”
“And what did you do with him?” She glanced up and down the hospital corridor. Wood could be lurking.
“He’s going to help me out in return for me not sticking a hook through him so I’m using him to pull in some sharks.” She laughed her full victorious laugh. “Oh, and the kid said your trophy was in danger of getting caught trying to cover for you so she fixed hers and little Fiona’s records.”
Sophie nodded and stopped to sip her mediocre coffee. “Was she not meant to be on duty?”
The Recluse chuckled. “She was whining that everybody is weak and scared.”
Sophie smiled. “And she would stand up to the manor when it is in a teasing mood?”
“That’s what I told her, Darl. Gotta go. Boy is trying to crawl his way off the dock.” Sounded as though it would be painful for him.
Sophie cut the call and took the coffees into the ward. She handed hers to Morgan who sat flexing her left hand in the corner of an L shaped seating arrangement, one to Matthews’ mother, sister, and handed the other to Wood.
Wood stared up at her.
“Regardless of your feelings toward me, Morgan would like it if you are hydrated.” She handed the cup to her more firmly, binned the cardboard in the correct recycling facility, and sat beside Morgan. “Have there been updates?”
Morgan shook her head. “That’s good, right? I was in there for hours.”
No, it wasn’t good but it was better than the surgeon wandering out with his mask down and a defeated look in his eyes.
“I am certain they are capable of doing what is necessary.” She slid her arm along the back of the chair behind Morgan and Morgan instinctively curled into her much to Wood’s irritation if the glare was anything to go by.
“Morgan, explain some things to me,” Mrs. Matthews spat as she held up her hand to calm her daughter who was reddening in the face. “One minute you’re here telling me that you are her fiancé, the next you are cuddling up to this lady.” She gave her a respectful smile. “As nice as you are. I don’t know why you are here.”
Sophie cleared her throat as Morgan tensed against her. “I am Lady Sophie Haye. Your daughter and her partner are currently investigating me for murder I believe.” She gave her best smile, hoping it would rouse Morgan’s confidence. “I am also Morgan’s boss.”
Mrs Matthews raised her eyebrows. “Murder . . . I . . . ?”
“Yes. Detective Inspector Wood here believes I’m a serial killer.” Sophie raised her eyebrows. “And that I am seducing Morgan into assisting me.”
Mrs Matthews and her daughter stared at Wood like they wished to assess her sanity. “Ruth?”
“I can’t talk about work.” Wood folded her arms but still managed to sip on her coffee: an impressive feat.
“Not only do they think she’s a killer,” Morgan muttered, glaring at Wood. “But had Trin wear a wire to try and get information out of me. That’s if anything Trin has said since I got hurt is the truth.” She glanced at Trin’s sister. “I didn’t even know about the birth.”
“What?” Trin’s sister looked at her mother then scowled. “She let me think you didn’t care.”
“I do care. I cared about her but she decided to announce while she was treating me like a suspect, that she’d been cheating on me.” Morgan huddled closer. “So, I just want to know she’s okay, then I’m leaving.” She looked to Sophie with pain etched on her face. “Please?”
“Very well.” Sophie smiled down at her, tempted to kiss her to concrete the ambush on Wood.
“Ruth, please explain yourself,” Mrs. Matthews said in that tone only mothers seemed to house in their armoury.
“I can’t explain work procedures, I’m sorry.” Wood glowered at Morgan.
“You better or you can get out.” Matthews’ sister was up, full thick Geordie accent in flow and a look The Recluse would have been proud of. “You’re not a fucking cop here, you’re her friend.”
Sophie schooled her features. Now who was under the spotlight?
“Trin was trying to get the truth out of Morgan,” Wood said as if that was counter-attack. “And although she had finished their relationship, she was still concerned for Morgan’s safety. You saw the head wound she had.”
“I told you I fell.” Morgan stared up at Sophie. “Could you explain how ancient the manor is?”
“Over a thousand years but I’m told by historians there were probably settlements on the site dating back to at least the Iron Age.” She nodded to Morgan who looked fascinated. She did so love the manor. “But renovation is needed in many places and as we’ve had unfortunate incidences of bodies being found on the estate, Morgan was undertaking a search to understand how someone could have deposited them.”
On her prized flowerbed. Best to suppress the irritation.
Matthews’ sister held up a finger, still with a murderous look in her eyes. “You have bodies on your own estate and they think you killed them?”
Sophie nodded.
“That was my reaction,” Morgan muttered. “What murderer dumps a body on her own front lawn and calls in the police?”
Wood got to her feet. “I don’t have to hear this. You don’t know the evidence.”
“Because there is none,” Morgan shot back at her.
“Yes, but as you said, neither Wood nor your ex-fiancé have the required experience.” Sophie set her gaze on Wood. “And although it seems Wood is desperate to prove she is capable, her affections for your daughter,” she said to Mrs. Matthews, “seem to be clouding their logic.”
“Why would you target someone Morgan cares about?” Matthews’ sister perched on the edge of her seat. “Isn’t it enough you have Trin, her job.”
Morgan hunched.
Sophie hid her satisfied smile and centred on Wood who was squirming delightfully. “Do you deny it?”
“Yes,” Wood snapped. “I don’t fancy women.”
“Then why were you going around to her house at one in the morning?” Matthews’ sister shot at her. “Why did you jump when I came into the room the other day?”
Morgan reached for Sophie and she clasped her shaking hand.
“I jumped because I’m paranoid about what everyone thinks, okay?” Wood sank her coffee and hurled it at the bin. Good shot. “Because I was in love with Morgan and I feel guilty . . . I feel guilty because Trin was so busy worrying about how you looked,” she shot at Morgan. “She was stupid. You look more beautiful now than you ever have. I tried to get her to see it but she just wanted this girl she met in a nightclub.”
“Her ex,” Morgan said with a grunt.
“No.” Wood slumped back down. “Younger than that, maybe early twenties.”
“Might I ask if she could have been with this girl earlier?” Sophie crossed her leg and squeezed Morgan’s hand. “Perhaps she might also be in trouble or was the instigator of it?”
“I have people out looking but I don’t know her name.” Wood shrugged at Matthews’ sister and mother who were staring at her. “I’m her friend not her nanny. If she had any sense, she’d have been begging Morgan to take her back.”
Morgan cleared her throat, her eyes glistening.
“What does this have to do with Morgan’s friend?” Mrs. Matthews asked, casting another kind smile at Sophie. “She doesn’t look like a serial killer to me.”
“Thank you for your support,” Sophie said with a half-smile. “However, Wood wants to see me in prison. I do not wish to go to prison. We are at an impasse.”
“It’s my job, Sophie,” Wood snapped and put her hands through her hair. “I know Morgan loves you and you clearly care about her but you killed those people and I have to build a case against you.” She slouched back into her seat. “As much as I’d like to ignore the facts, I can’t.”
“Facts?” Morgan rolled her eyes. “Guesswork more like.”
“Facts.” Wood jutted out her chin. “I have pictures of Sophie in London before Mead was killed, there was DNA at scene where Rampone was killed, she was sleeping with Salisbury and Bunion wanted to expose her past crime of unlawfully killing Eugenie Forthwright.”
Sophie lifted her eyebrows. “As you see, she feels I’m a serial killer.”
“Explain it then.” Wood pulled out her phone and showed it was off, she lifted her top to show she had no wires on. “Off the record, right here, you tell me why everything keeps linking back to you.”
Morgan squeezed her hand.
Sophie held Mrs. Matthew gaze. “Jackie Rampone was my accountant, one does tend to have to fraternize with them occasionally; Rachel Salisbury was company for an evening but left, I have no idea why a reporter was in my flowerbed but I have little love for them so forgive me for shedding no tears over him.”
Mrs. Matthews glared at Wood. “There. Happy now?”
“No.” Wood smiled that sneaky smile. “You ignored London and Eugenie.”
“Because I need not explain myself or my actions to you.” She sighed then met Mrs. Matthews gaze. “Neither will I.”
“London’s a huge city, Ruth.” Matthews’ sister was coming to the defence now. Perfect.
Wood rolled her eyes. “How do you work people so well?”
Skill and nurture.
The surgeon strode out, his eyes heavy and wrinkled around the sides but he wasn’t defeated. Morgan would be pleased.
“Wasn’t the spleen, had to take out the left kidney and she had a bleed in her stomach so we’ve had to staple it but we have her stabilised.” He let through a relieved sigh. “However, her head injury is a concern. She hadn’t regained consciousness before we took her down but I am hoping the surgery will help.”
Morgan leaned onto her knees and gripped her face, shuddering.
Sophie rubbed her back.
“Can we see her?” Mrs. Matthews said.
“Of course. We’ll move her to the Breton Ward.” The surgeon nodded to Sophie and smiled to the family. “It is far more comfortable there.”
Wood met her eyes, shook her head once, turned, and followed the surgeon.
“You won’t need me here.” Morgan hugged Matthews’ mother and sister. “But I’d like you to keep me updated, please?”
They hugged her back and nodded.
Sophie held out her hand and Morgan took it.
“Did you go to London?” Morgan whispered as they walked down the hospital corridors.
“Yes.” She led her to the car and unlocked it.
“Did you kill him?” Morgan asked when Sophie started the engine.
“No, I did not.” Sophie held her gaze.
“Did you kill Eugenie?” She put on her seatbelt as they headed out of the car park.
“Yes.” Sophie focused on the road.
“Is she buried in the flowerbed?” Morgan searched her face as if that would provide clues. “Was Bunion right?”
“Those are Haye Flowers, Morgan. If I’d buried anyone there and dug up priceless plants, Jake would have used me as fertilizer.” She glanced over and smiled. Morgan’s face seemed caught between bemusement and disgust. “They are beautiful.”
“Did you bury her in the forest?” Morgan leaned forward. “I mean it. Please, tell me what you did and if Ruth is right and you’re some crazed lunatic playing with me.”
Sophie slowed the car. “I killed Eugenie with a sword then tried to kill Henry, then left.” She slowed further. “Yes, Ruth is right, Morgan, but I’m not playing with you. Is this what you wish to hear?”
“Don’t do that. Give me a straight answer about Ruth. Did you kill Bunion?” Morgan waved her prosthesis around.
Sophie screwed up her face. “Did you not hear my thoughts on the flowerbed?”
“Salisbury, did you kill her? And Rampone, and that poor security guard who went missing, and that poor person who attended the conference centre or that girl, Peters, who went missing, did you kill them too?” Morgan blurted out her tears. “Why would you kill them, Sophie? Why would you want to hurt them like that guy hurt me?”
She stopped the car. Shut the engine off.
“I would never hurt you intentionally.” She held Morgan’s teary gaze. “Understand this, you do not know me or my heart but you must have seen enough to know that it is highly unusual that you are this close.”
Morgan nodded.
“Eugenie was his but I wanted her and she wanted me and we had an affair. Not just any affair but a passionate, intense, addictive affair that saw us both become obsessed with each other.” She held Morgan’s face in her hands. “Henry caught us. She said she felt nothing for me. So I seduced her once more, planted a sword ready, had Henry catch us again, then killed her.”
“That’s premeditated.” Morgan shut her eyes. “And Rampone left her husband yet somehow worked for you then wound up dead when she stole money from you.”
“Yes.”
Morgan’s chin wobbled. “Salisbury betrayed you.”
“Yes.”
She put her hands over her mouth. “Peters was trying to betray you.”
“Yes.”
“Yet someone is trying to target me. They attacked Trin because of me, attacked Ruth and Trin because of me.” Morgan threw her hands in the air. “Why?”
“Because I hold a deep affection for you.” Sophie turned the engine back on and drove them through Hayefield itself and up to the estate. “Which is why you will move to my room and only leave the estate with an escort.”
“So you make me a prisoner?” Morgan hugged herself.
“No. You can leave as you wish if you are so set on it. You may tell your former colleagues what you like and send me to prison. I will not hold this against you.” She stopped the car outside the gates. “If you leave, do so now before you can be targeted further.”
“What aren’t you telling me?” Morgan was pleading with her now.
“Far too much regrettably.” She nodded to the door. “You take me as you find me, Morgan. I did not ask you to love me but I am happy to accept it.”
Morgan went to open the door, then shuddered out tears. “I can’t. I can’t leave you.”
Sophie drove them into the garage. “Then you let me protect you as you protect me.”
She got out of the Land Rover and Morgan hurried to nestle under her arm. The moon greeted them, bathing the lawns, the Willow-Blossom, bounced off the still lake and the Manor itself. The lights in the windows twinkled as wind rustled the trees of the forest.
“Legally I should step down as your representative.” Morgan looked up at her. “I’m not supposed to help you if I know you’re guilty or lying.”
“Do what you feel is easiest on your conscience.” She smiled down at her and kissed her until she whimpered.
“Which is doing all the completely crazy things I’m already doing.” Morgan leaned her neck back, exposing it.
“Here?” Sophie smiled against her windpipe.
Morgan dragged her from the path. “Here.”
Sophie gripped her wrists and yanked her close. “Very well.”